Some brief thoughts

First of all, I believe that every one of us should take some time to pray for the families of the natural disasters that have hit the Midwest, especially the tornados that have hit Joplin, MO.  I had spoken with a couple of individuals a few days ago who were from St. Louis but had relatives and friends living in Joplin.  Pray that those affected find hope, healing, and love during their time of hardship.  Through Christ Jesus, we will always be resilient.

"Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." - Proverbs 3:23-26

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you." - Isaiah 54:10. 



Well, I've got some good news and some bad news.  The bad news is that I've lost interest in writing the Jane Eyre fanfic, titled Velociraptor in the Closet, for Fanfiction.net.  The good news is that I am thinking about a better fanfiction series, perhaps a weekly serial of sorts.  The premise is that Jane and Edward Rochester, now married, start a zombie/monster killing business.  It's got love, gore, humor, and everything in between.  I was inspired by the whole mashup subgenre of classic literature as well as my own geekified imagination.  I am considering writing an "episode" where Jane and Edward travel to Transylvania to encounter spooky stuff in the castle of Vlad the Impaler.

This evening after work, I encountered a furry little creature crawling along the ground.  It was a caterpillar that was trying to get up over the curb near a bus stop so I helped the little guy and he wandered around a trash can before going back into the direction of the bus parking zone.  For some reason, I felt compelled to watch him and make sure he didn't get run over as he inched across the "street" to the other side.  I got him to crawl on my shoe a couple of times (and he ended up on my leg; see pic below) and placed him in a nearby bush with a tree so he didn't get squished by incoming buses.  He had all sorts of fun crawling on the vegetation and that's when we parted ways.  Somehow, this incident reminded me of God watching over us as I was watching that little hairy caterpillar.

Cute little fella, isn't he?

Anyhoo, I'm off to bed.  Fin.



Opera, BBC movies, and other misc.

Well, I did watch the 1973 BBC version of Jane Eyre and I enjoyed it.  It's quite dated and lacks some production values, but it's a great watch overall.  I'd suggest renting it through Blockbuster or Netflix.  A friend of mine suggested the 2006 TV version which I will rent in the near future.  I saw the clips of Toby Stephens as Edward Rochester and he looks fantabulous :)  I just need to watch a few films on my list this week before I get to renting the movie: Crazy Heart, The Hangover II, True Grit (the version with John Wayne), and The Mechanic. 

I haven't gotten around to it but I will eventually read George Eliot's Middlemarch.  It sounds like a terrific read, despite the fact that it's 800 pages long.  I'm not a big fan of such books as it takes forever to read, depending on how it's paced.  I usually read 100-200 pages a day, which takes longer but the book is eventually read.

I love writing fanfiction and I have an account over at Fanfiction.net.  This helps me to improve my writing style and such.  I gave thought to writing a mashup of Jane Eyre with a dinosaur (more specifically, a velociraptor) in Rochester's attic rather than a mad wife.  Then, I gave thought to writing a sequel series featuring the married Rochesters, Jane and Edward, as zombie hunters.  I might pursue both since they sound interesting and something I would read.  And yes, I've read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters; I am a firm believer that both books should be required reading in all American high schools.  Not sure if I want to read the mashup novel,  Jane Slayre. 

For those who know me really well, I enjoy doing crossword puzzles (from reading this far, you now know that I'm a geek of sorts, but that's a different story).  I managed to finish yesterday's New York Times puzzle in about 10 minutes.  It took me about the same time to do today's puzzle but I didn't finish it.  The New York Times crossword puzzle increases in difficulty each day with Monday being the easiest and Saturday being the most difficult; Sunday doesn't count as the answers to Sunday's puzzle are printed with the puzzle itself.  Sometimes I am able to solve Wednesday's puzzle completely, but not in 10 minutes.  I was thinking about doing the annual crossword contest put on by the NY Times puzzle editor, Will Shortz, but unfortunately, it's in New York City and I'm in San Diego.  Too bad they can't do satellite contests in other cities. 

Last Sunday after church, Mom and I saw the last opera on the last day of the 2011 season at the San Diego Opera.  Both of us saw a production of George Bizet's Carmen, an opera about a seductive gypsy woman who, apparently, likes to change boyfriends a lot.  It has to do with love, lust, bullfighting, and men who can't get the hint that their exes don't want them around any more.  I had trouble staying awake in the first act because I didn't have my daily dose of caffeine, but I enjoyed the rest of the opera.  This opera was Mom's first and it was my twelfth (I've seen eight live performances and four performances on DVD).  However, this was my first time seeing Carmen.  I've heard the infamous La Habanera aria sung by Carmen herself many times, as depicted in this commercial for Doritos:

For those who can understand the dynamics behind the aria can understand how it connects with the commercial.  Next season, Mom and I have decided to see Gioachino Rossini's The Barber of Seville and I am hoping to score a ticket to see opera soprano Renee Fleming in concert at the San Diego Opera on March 24, 2012 once they go on sale. 

That is all for now.  I must get ready for bed.  Fin.

CHOCOLATE. COVERED. BACON.

It's official: I'm spoiled.  Not just because I'm an only child with no siblings (well, yeah, I guess I am spoiled), but I signed up with a $17 a month plan to rent DVDs and Wii games from Blockbuster.  I can rent 2 DVDs or games (or a combination of both) at a time and I can just drop them off at Blockbuster instead of mailing them in.  It feels weird and awesome at the same time.  According to Blockbuster, I'd be getting the latest movies 28 days before Netflix and all those other guys.  The first movie I rented is a two parter from the kind folks at the BBC.  There was a 1973 TV film version of Jane Eyre that I had wanted to see and none of the nearby libraries had it in circulation.  I saw some clips of it on YouTube and it sounds like a cool movie.  Here's a clip of the infamous proposal scene:

Looking forward to seeing it after watching the 1944 version with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine and the recent 2011 one with Michael Fassbender (sigh, he's so dreamy) and Mia Wasikowska.

I had just started on the short story version of my novel.  For some reason, it's painful to write as my ideas and thoughts come out stiff and sloppy.  Maybe I should do some writing exercises to keep my abilities in check so they don't atrophy. 

About a week ago, I got my San Diego County Fair "best pass ever" in the mail.  Basically, I get in free for all 22 days of the fair and the pass cost me $22 (literally, a buck a day).  I can go see the concerts, visit the exhibits, eat the artery-clogging food, and watch 4H livestock shows.  If you live in San Diego or San Diego County, you can buy it on the fair's website.  I've bought my pass two years in a row and I love it!  I can't get enough of the Mackinac Island Fudge they sell in the exhibition halls or the Australian Battered Potatoes or the chocolate covered bacon - yes, you heard me.  CHOCOLATE. COVERED. BACON.

Right now, all I can hear in my head is the "Habanera" song from Georges Bizet's opera, Carmen.  I will be seeing the opera on Sunday.  It will be the second time I will be seeing tenor Richard Leech on stage (he will be playing the part of Don Jose); the first time I saw him was four years ago when he played Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana.  Although I will be equipped with binoculars in the nosebleeds, I am still looking forward to enjoying myself.  My mom will accompany me as this is her first opera.  Next year, we will be seeing The Barber of Seville together.  I hope to get a chance to hear soprano Renee Fleming in concert in March of 2012 at the San Diego Opera. 

That's all for now.  Fin.

My apologies for not updating my blog in a week; I've been busy and tired for the past seven days.  Every now and then, us bloggers do need a break or so.

This evening after work, I went to a birthday dinner for my aunt with my cousin, grandmother, and mom.  All was well and fun was to be had until just before we left, I could hear the constant faint screaming of a child from across the area in the Mexican restaurant where we were eating.  We all agreed that something should've been done but, unfortunately, the restaurant hostesses couldn't do anything about it (we were just leaving the restaurant after our dinner anyway).  This reminds me of a similar incident at the Spaghetti Factory years ago.  Dad and I went out to dinner and we were just browsing our menus when we heard a constant screaming from a table near us; apparently, a woman was trying to do her best to calm down a child who was clearly upset.  My dad couldn't tolerate the noise level any longer and requested to our waitress that we be moved elsewhere so that we could eat in peace and quiet (we were granted that request and enjoyed dinner without any further interruptions). 

Now, young children get upset from time to time; whether it's fatigue, hunger, or just wanting to be held by someone, there's a reason for their discontent.  However, when in a public place such as a restaurant, a retail store, library (especially a library), et. al., the best thing to do would be to take the kid outside to let him/her blow off some steam.  At my church, there are seats outside in the lobby where mothers can sit and calm down their upset kids and the minute a youngster starts crying, the parent would IMMEDIATELY head to the lobby to calm down the child.  Thankfully, parents are really good at managing their kids during services.  I wish that some parents would do the same in a restaurant.

Now that I've finished ranting, I have finished reading not one but two books.  I have finished Vanity Fair by W.M. Thackeray.  It's a sad novel but it's a great piece of work about superficiality at its finest.  It broke my heart to read certain parts of the book.  The second book I read was Villette by Charlotte Bronte.  It's not as good as Jane Eyre but it has that Victorian-Gothic touch to it, especially near the end of the novel.  Again, it does have a sad part or two but it's a good read and one can easily read all 657 pages of it in a day.  After work, I went to the library to pick up The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas so I can read it before the film version comes out in the summer, but it wasn't there so I will have to go to another library branch to see if it's available there (ditto for Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls).  Still, I didn't leave the library empty-handed; I checked out George Eliot's Middlemarch.  So far, I'm sustaining myself on a steady diet of Regency/Victorian literature so I can get a good idea of how to write my novel.  I've pictured almost every scene that I want in my book so much that I think I'll just draft a condensed short story version so that I can have something to work with when I create an outline.  I considered doing it this evening but it's getting late so I think I will do it either tomorrow or Wednesday evening.  However, I'd like to break from Brit Lit by reading Hemingway, something I haven't done since I was a teenager (did a report on him for my AP junior English class).

That is all for now.  Fin.

The Mother's Day edition and a letter to my grandma

I have been delving deeper and deeper into the literary abyss that is Vanity Fair.  I am now down to the last 200something pages and it's getting more interesting (and sad) by each page.  The more I read, the more I am disgusted with Becky Sharp's behavior.  I won't reveal too much for those who haven't read the novel.

Anyhoo, Mother's Day went well for my mom.  She was treated to a $40 per person buffet at the Bahia Hotel in Mission Beach by my dad.  They went there previously for Easter and although Dad didn't think it was worth the money, he took Mom there anyway and both of them had prime rib for breakfast (I would totally eat prime rib for breakfast any day of the week).  After work, I came home and presented my mom with a cookie I got from work but forgot to give her earlier, a glazed clay coaster, two rolls of Necco Wafers, and a pair of Carnelian disk earrings.  Although I'm not as close to my mom as I am with my dad, I love her to death.  She is my friend, my guardian, and everything in between.  She carried me for nine long, grueling months before giving birth to me on August 31st, 1981.  To quote the comment I put on Facebook a few hours ago: "Any woman can give birth but it takes a special woman to devote her time and energy to raise children in love and faith."  I feel that my mom matches that statement.  To me, she was Supermom.  The woman who kissed my boo boos, stayed home with me when I was sick, encouraged me in any future endeavors, put a card in my backpack on my first day of junior college and on my first day at the university, comforted me when I was laid off, and praised me for rebounding with another job.  Mom, I love you.

Also, I want to write a letter in this blog and dedicate it to my late grandma, Ruth.  My grandma was very special.  Although she wanted me to be more feminine and play with Barbies instead of  ninja turtles as I did, she was truly a good person.  She died the day after Christmas in 1995 of non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.  I was 14 years old at the time and I didn't think my grandma would die at her age (62).  Although I never cried when she died, I still miss her and I dedicate this Mother's Day blog entry to her and my mom.  Here is my letter to my grandma.

Dear Grandma,

It's been 15 and a half years since you have passed on.  Although you lived to see me graduate from the eighth grade, you never saw me graduate high school or college.  You weren't at my 16th birthday party.  But I know you are with God and that's all that matters.  You helped me with my math homework, kissed my boo boos, and gave me advice on boys when I was in junior high.  Although I may have frustrated you at times, you still loved me and doted on your favorite (and only granddaughter). 

I'm almost 30 years old now and you are definitely on my mind, especially today.  You would've been beaming with pride as you saw me graduating from high school with honors.  You would've bear-hugged me as I turned my tassel from right to left when I received my college degree.  Had I been married with children at this point, you would be the doting great-grandma like my mom's mom.  However, even though you aren't here physically, I know you're looking down from Heaven, watching everything I do - all the mistakes and the successes that I've made so far.  You would be and still are proud of me. 

You were the Supermom to my dad and my aunt and you were definitely Supergrandma to me and my cousin Tony.  I miss those days hanging out with you, Tony, Aunt Carol, and Grandpa on the weekends.  Tony and I would ride up and down the street on our bikes with the neighborhood kids and sometimes you would come out and make sure that we were within your eyesight.  You made the best macaroni and cheese.  You were a terrific seamstress.  If only you could've taught me how to play the old, 100something year old piano that was sitting in the living room behind your recliner.  You cringed when Tony and I would play on Grandpa's old rusted truck or in the thorn-infested space between the next door neighbor.  And while I do admit that making me wear that hideous black and white kitty cat dress you bought for me was a dumb idea, I still love you anyway. 

Love,

Shannon

Writing this letter is totally pulling on my heartstrings; I feel like crying but I can't cry (I think most of you know that feeling).  The picture above is my grandma with me as a baby.  I'm going to take a guess that I was a newborn in that picture. 



That's all for now.  Fin.

This video goes out to all you moms out there.

My most uncomfortable moments in cinema.

After recently discovering Michael Fassbender in Inglourious Basterds and Jane Eyre, I became a fan (and developed a crush, but that's another story) so I rented Hunger where Michael plays the Irish rebel Bobby Sands.  Needless to say, I was impressed with the filmmaking - but I didn't like the movie.  I guess it wasn't my cup of tea as it is filled with hard-to-watch scenes of prisoners getting beat up and other parts that I don't feel are appropriate for this blog.  Here are 30 movies with scenes that made me feel generally uncomfortable watching, in no particular order.  I'm not listing every single movie that made me squirm or cringe in my seat because it's an ever-growing list (and chances are, I'd think of a movie the next day to add to the list).

1. Hunger (2008) - Yes, I just mentioned it but I would like to say that the whole movie made me feel uncomfortable.

2. Saving Private Ryan (1998) - The first 15-20 minutes of this film was incredibly hard to watch.  Other than that, the rest of the film was fine.

3. The Passion of the Christ (2004) - The scenes where Jesus is being whipped and beaten by Roman soldiers. 

4. The Blue Lagoon (1980) - A beachside love scene made me blush as a 13-year-old kid.  Only saw about 2% of this film, though.  This very scene made me avoid movies with overt sexual scenes.  Every time I see Brooke Shields, I will forever associate her with this film.

5. The Shining (1980) - The frozen maze chase and the last few minutes of the film as well as the film's ending compared to the book.

6. Psycho (1960) - The infamous shower scene.  It didn't make me blush; it just freaked me out.  In fact, it's the only scene I saw in the movie.

7. The Land Before Time (1988) -  When Littlefoot's mom dies and he has to continue to the Great Valley by himself.  Even as an adult, it breaks my heart.

8. Toy Story 3 (2010) - The incinerator scene. 

9. Anne of Green Gables (1985) - The part where Diana Barry pukes after accidentally getting drunk on currant wine. 

10. Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000) - The whole movie made me cringe.  None of it was based on the books.

11. The Green Hornet (2011) - Christoph Waltz's performance.

12. Titanic (1997) - The love scene in the car.

13. Pulp Fiction (1994) - While I like how Quentin Tarantino makes stories into films, this movie was one, big uncomfortable moment.

14. Good (2008) - The theme of adultery in the movie as well as Viggo Mortensen's performance.

15. The Star Wars saga - The dialogue.  I loved the story and the series but George Lucas needs a better screenwriter.

16. Gone with the Wind (1939) - The leg amputation scene.  Still one of my favorite movies.

17. 301, 302 (1995) - The entire movie.

18. Almost anything mocked on Mystery Science Theater.

19. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) - Near the beginning, a toon is doused in "dip" and hearing its screams made me cringe.

20. Coraline (2009) - Most of the movie freaked me out...and this is supposed to be a kiddie flick.

21. The Virgin Spring (1960) - The whole premise of the film.

22. Romeo and Juliet (1968) - The after-the-wedding-night scene.  Still one of my favorite films, though.

23. Water for Elephants (2011) - When August uses a bull hook to train and punish an elephant.

24. Hamlet (1996) - Jack Lemmon's performance.

25. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - When the huntsman tells Snow White about the evil queen's intentions and tells her to run away.

26. Cinderella (1950) - When Cinderella's stepmother locks her in a room to avoid her meeting Prince Charming.

27. Animal House (1978) - The overt sexuality.

28. Amadeus (1984) - Factual inaccuracy.

29. The Sandlot (1993) - When the kids puke on the rides at the county fair.

30. The 400 Blows (1959) - The way Antoine is treated by his teacher and his parents.

Happy Monday!

Well, I went to the doctor this afternoon and ended up waiting an hour past my scheduled appointment time because everyone was so busy.  The on/off pain in my big right toe brought me in to see my primary care physician.  Well, good news.  I don't need cortisone shots nor do I have to wear the infamous blue shoe with the velcro straps.  Apparently, I've been wearing a pair of a knock-off brand of toning shoes for several months and that has caused my toe to strain itself, along with my pancake-flat feet.  So, Doc recommends two types of insoles for my flat feet: Spenco and Superfeet.  According to all the podiatrists that he's spoken with, the best kind of walking shoe would be New Balance because of its ability to help with arch support.  It's perfect since I need a new pair of walking shoes.

I also picked up a flyer for a variety of nutritional programs available through my healthcare provider.  Considering that I gained 17 lbs. of the 32 lbs. I lost 5 years ago, I could use a little help.  Unfortunately, they cost hundreds of dollars, totalling up to about $500, including counseling, EKG testing, blood testing, etc.  All I want to do is get back on track with my dieting and exercise.  What I really need is just a diet to adhere to.  If I have everything planned out, I'd stick to it.

After reading the book Jane Eyre and seeing two movie versions, these 80s rock ballads remind me of Edward Rochester's love life when meeting Jane: I Want to Know What Love Is and Waiting for a Girl Like You by Foreigner.

And yes, part of this was meant to be funny. 

I have added a few character sketches to my list of characters for my novel and I am now on to watch Pawn Stars on the History Channel.  Fin.

Some brief thoughts on the royal wedding

After learning about the death of Osama Bin Laden, I want to thank the brave men and women serving in the United States armed forces as well as those serving in the armed forces of America's allies protecting us from tyranny.  Thank you for your dedication, sacrifice, and hard work.  May God bless you.

This has been on my mind a few days now and I guess it's too late to post it, but, what the heck.  After watching the royal wedding between Prince William Windsor and his wife Kate Middleton and hearing how much it cost to put on the whole shindig, here's what should've happened:

Will and Kate fly discreetly to Las Vegas, NV (their wedding details deliberately made unknown to the public) and become the first royal couple to be married by an Elvis impersonator.  They spend their wedding night at Caesar's Palace and fly back to the UK soon afterward to avoid the papparazzi.  That would've saved the British taxpayers a HECK of a lot of money. 

Okay, I thought the whole thing was a little overdone but it was fun watching it.  I hate to say this, but I now think I have a crush on Prince William; he definitely looks much more handsome than he did when he was younger.  The hairpieces of Prince Andrew's daughters look as if they were taken from someone else's wedding cake; those things were hideous!  Still, I think Diana would've loved the way the whole ceremony turned out for her son; she was probably looking down from Heaven and smiling.

That's all I can think about for now.  Fin.