When I found out Jenna used to have story times with her 5th graders, my reaction was something like, "D'awww, how adorable. Big kids like being read to just like my baby library story time kiddos."
Then I remembered that Dr. Poe, in our Honors C. S. Lewis class, used to start every class period by reading us a story from his Greek Mythology for Kids book. And it was awesome.
So. Never too old for story time? Y/Y.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Lol, I Lived in Africa? Wut?
I just finished reading this mostly awesome but deeply problematic book about a girl who spends three years traveling throughout the Sahara desert. She talked about the sky, and I was like, "Yeah, the stars!" And she described the rapture of hearing someone speak English, and I mentally turned somersaults of joy.
It was only after that that I realized, I freaking lived in Africa. I mean...that's very weird. I took moto taxis to my friend's houses. I wore skirts every single day. I lived with sand and Mosquitos and netting and ants and sometimes spiders. I didn't have a microwave. I sweat through all my clothes on a regular basis, but the heat dried them up so it didn't matter.
I lived in an African country for five months. I left there sixteen months ago. And already it seems like a story. I don't like when my memories feel like fiction. Maybe I should go reread my blog from then.
It was only after that that I realized, I freaking lived in Africa. I mean...that's very weird. I took moto taxis to my friend's houses. I wore skirts every single day. I lived with sand and Mosquitos and netting and ants and sometimes spiders. I didn't have a microwave. I sweat through all my clothes on a regular basis, but the heat dried them up so it didn't matter.
I lived in an African country for five months. I left there sixteen months ago. And already it seems like a story. I don't like when my memories feel like fiction. Maybe I should go reread my blog from then.
Beware: Tricia's Brainspace Ahead
I've turned maternal, what with Rory and all. I worry about him when I'm away, I want to huggle him when I'm home.
More specifically, I'm worried about him tonight. I have to go straight to church from work, so I won't get home until 7:30. That is so long! The longest I have left him. He will pine. But then I thought, this is what makes cats great, right? Their ability to take care of themselves?
Then I imagined coming home to a house torn apart, plants pulled down and dirt smeared on the floor. Chairs shredded. I dunno, like, silly string flung everywhere, because imaginary messes are always more fun than real ones.
At seeing this mess in my brain, Imaginary!Tricia scolded Imaginary!Rory by saying, "Then WHAT IS THE POINT OF YOU?"
Yeah. I may or may not have used Amy's tirade against Eleven in my made up conversation.
More specifically, I'm worried about him tonight. I have to go straight to church from work, so I won't get home until 7:30. That is so long! The longest I have left him. He will pine. But then I thought, this is what makes cats great, right? Their ability to take care of themselves?
Then I imagined coming home to a house torn apart, plants pulled down and dirt smeared on the floor. Chairs shredded. I dunno, like, silly string flung everywhere, because imaginary messes are always more fun than real ones.
At seeing this mess in my brain, Imaginary!Tricia scolded Imaginary!Rory by saying, "Then WHAT IS THE POINT OF YOU?"
Yeah. I may or may not have used Amy's tirade against Eleven in my made up conversation.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Attractiveness in TV on the Other Side of the Pond
I am going to take one thing I know and apply it to a whole group. Whoops, stereotyping. So when I say that I like British TV because they tend to cast people who don't conform to cutural beauty, what I really mean is I like Doctor Who because the cast is made up of people who aren't traditionally beautiful.
This is a wonderful thing. For one, it makes them far more relatable. This? Is not what the normal housewife looks like.
And when I went to high school, there were zero people who looked like this.
In summary, American television LIES. As entertaining as I find both these shows (Modern Family and Vampire Diaries, respectively), they create unrealistic expectations of what people should look like. Which is stupid. I want television programs that show what people look like. The end. Not what they should look like.
Which brings us to Doctor Who. Granted, the actors and actresses who star in the show are more attractive than the average person you will see as you wind your way through the aisles at Walmart. However, they are much closer to the norm than what I've grown accustomed to seeing in the media.
Let's start with the Doctor, versions Nine, Ten, and Eleven.
(I tried to choose pictures that were from the show, not promos, and spefically not pictures of them that make me swoon. I went for normal.)
Nine is not attractive to me at all, actually. The show itself mocks his big ears and big nose. But that makes him no less awesome. Nine is a powerhouse, driven by rage and regret. But he also has a massive grin that melts my heart. By the end of series one, his companion had fallen in love with him, and so had I. And I'll admit that while my love for him was mostly above-board and selfless, there were some instances where he rocked the sexy. A certain glance, a sneaky expression.
So thanks, Nine, for being a love interest and sexy, despite being traditionally "unattractive."
Before watching the show, I knew that Laura's favorite was Ten, and more than that, he was on her list of Freebies as discussed and approved by her boyfriend. But looking at pictures of him, my reaction was something like, "Sure, he's got fantastic hair, but...eh. He's marginally attractive, but nothing special."
My word, was I wrong. Once that 2D face became animated, and he jumped around and had adventures, once he flirted with Rose and saved the world a bunch of times, once he lost everything and nearly cried, well.....I find him very attractive. Like, probably he is the perfect man.
But once again, the show mocks him, pointing out he is a bean pole several times. He isn't supposed to be super beautiful. He's a guy who is handsome because of who he is and what he does.
Oh, Eleven, you had everything working against you. He replaced the man I loved, he barely has eyebrows, and his hair is floppy in a weird way. But then I heard his sexy voice, and when he interacted with the TARDIS I fell in love with him.
He is the ultimate hipster, and probably the Doctor who is dressed and made up to be the most stylish (though as a wannabe hipster I may be seeing positives where the rest of the world sees negatives). However, despite his killer jaw, the eyebrows! And as I saw someone comment on tumblr: "his face is a rectangle with hair on".
Eleven proves that things besides looks can be sexy, and once again, it is the actions and the personality that truly makes him attractive.
On to the companions!
Rose has an overbite and sometimes really awful hair, but she is spunky and compassionate, and the Doctor falls in love with her. Martha is, okay, pretty freaking gorgeous, and ironically, the Doctor turns her down repeatedly, despite her being in love him; yet still she is intelligent and fierce when everything else seems lost. Donna is older than the typical female lead and not model skinny, but she is hilarious and unwilling to let anyone take advantage of her or those she loves. Amy is, once again, crazy beautiful, but it is when she ages 40 years that she really won my heart. Rory has a big nose and almost no lips, but he is faithful and funny and smart, and I love him so much I named my cat after him. River is (spoilers) the Doctor's wife (I'm calling it even though it's not for sure), and she rocks at being sexy, using her age and wild head of hair as assets rather than trying to conform to the norm.
The Doctor's companions tend toward the young and female, but overall, they are of different races, different sexes, different ages. Some are more traditionally attractive than others, but they are all completely gorgeous in my eyes after watching their adventures with the Doctor.
And this says nothing of the one-episode characters or the background people, who range in weight and attractiveness to a very believable degree without that being the point. The bigger people aren't slapped with the "fat character" label. The black and Indian people aren't filling the "non-Caucasian" quota. They simply exist and interact as people do in the real world. And the show is better for it.
So please, America. The more you inundate your shows with pretty people, the more bland pretty becomes. It's not accurate, it's fairly insulting to your audience, and it's unnecessary to create a beloved show watched by millions.
Was this post really just an excuse to post pictures of the characters from Doctor Who? Kinda feels like it, now that I'm done.
This is a wonderful thing. For one, it makes them far more relatable. This? Is not what the normal housewife looks like.
And when I went to high school, there were zero people who looked like this.
In summary, American television LIES. As entertaining as I find both these shows (Modern Family and Vampire Diaries, respectively), they create unrealistic expectations of what people should look like. Which is stupid. I want television programs that show what people look like. The end. Not what they should look like.
Which brings us to Doctor Who. Granted, the actors and actresses who star in the show are more attractive than the average person you will see as you wind your way through the aisles at Walmart. However, they are much closer to the norm than what I've grown accustomed to seeing in the media.
Let's start with the Doctor, versions Nine, Ten, and Eleven.
(I tried to choose pictures that were from the show, not promos, and spefically not pictures of them that make me swoon. I went for normal.)
Nine is not attractive to me at all, actually. The show itself mocks his big ears and big nose. But that makes him no less awesome. Nine is a powerhouse, driven by rage and regret. But he also has a massive grin that melts my heart. By the end of series one, his companion had fallen in love with him, and so had I. And I'll admit that while my love for him was mostly above-board and selfless, there were some instances where he rocked the sexy. A certain glance, a sneaky expression.
So thanks, Nine, for being a love interest and sexy, despite being traditionally "unattractive."
Before watching the show, I knew that Laura's favorite was Ten, and more than that, he was on her list of Freebies as discussed and approved by her boyfriend. But looking at pictures of him, my reaction was something like, "Sure, he's got fantastic hair, but...eh. He's marginally attractive, but nothing special."
My word, was I wrong. Once that 2D face became animated, and he jumped around and had adventures, once he flirted with Rose and saved the world a bunch of times, once he lost everything and nearly cried, well.....I find him very attractive. Like, probably he is the perfect man.
But once again, the show mocks him, pointing out he is a bean pole several times. He isn't supposed to be super beautiful. He's a guy who is handsome because of who he is and what he does.
Oh, Eleven, you had everything working against you. He replaced the man I loved, he barely has eyebrows, and his hair is floppy in a weird way. But then I heard his sexy voice, and when he interacted with the TARDIS I fell in love with him.
He is the ultimate hipster, and probably the Doctor who is dressed and made up to be the most stylish (though as a wannabe hipster I may be seeing positives where the rest of the world sees negatives). However, despite his killer jaw, the eyebrows! And as I saw someone comment on tumblr: "his face is a rectangle with hair on".
Eleven proves that things besides looks can be sexy, and once again, it is the actions and the personality that truly makes him attractive.
On to the companions!
Rose has an overbite and sometimes really awful hair, but she is spunky and compassionate, and the Doctor falls in love with her. Martha is, okay, pretty freaking gorgeous, and ironically, the Doctor turns her down repeatedly, despite her being in love him; yet still she is intelligent and fierce when everything else seems lost. Donna is older than the typical female lead and not model skinny, but she is hilarious and unwilling to let anyone take advantage of her or those she loves. Amy is, once again, crazy beautiful, but it is when she ages 40 years that she really won my heart. Rory has a big nose and almost no lips, but he is faithful and funny and smart, and I love him so much I named my cat after him. River is (spoilers) the Doctor's wife (I'm calling it even though it's not for sure), and she rocks at being sexy, using her age and wild head of hair as assets rather than trying to conform to the norm.
The Doctor's companions tend toward the young and female, but overall, they are of different races, different sexes, different ages. Some are more traditionally attractive than others, but they are all completely gorgeous in my eyes after watching their adventures with the Doctor.
And this says nothing of the one-episode characters or the background people, who range in weight and attractiveness to a very believable degree without that being the point. The bigger people aren't slapped with the "fat character" label. The black and Indian people aren't filling the "non-Caucasian" quota. They simply exist and interact as people do in the real world. And the show is better for it.
So please, America. The more you inundate your shows with pretty people, the more bland pretty becomes. It's not accurate, it's fairly insulting to your audience, and it's unnecessary to create a beloved show watched by millions.
Was this post really just an excuse to post pictures of the characters from Doctor Who? Kinda feels like it, now that I'm done.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Word Vomit
I have nothing actually planned to say, so Imma just type and hope something mildly entertaining results.
Rory is leaning against my right arm with his head in the crook of my elbow, which makes typing DIFFICULT. I wonder if the day will come when his clinginess will become annoying? Probably. But then hopefully I'll get over it.
My dress for Ashley's wedding came in, and it is strapless. Blergh. I hate that, and also it is too big, despite me going a size smaller than the dress shop recommended. Fail. So now I have to find a shop that does alterations or whatever, and I just want to not worry about it. Still, it is a lovely charcoal grey, and it's floor length, so hopefully someday I'll br invited to a fancy ball (ooo or masquerade!) and I will already have a spiffy dress to wear.
I made popcorn for dinner, and put way too much salt. Bummer.
I ship Doctor/Rose like nothing. And I just waded into their corner of fanfiction, which is dangerous because WHERE DID THE TIME GO? I just...I like to see them having the conversations that were never filmed, especially...later. After events that I cannot mention. Just in case. But their love is epic, and he burned up a sun for her, and their hand holding and giddy enjoyment of each other! Basically I think their relationship is perfect and I want it. Without all the tragedy and drama though. Preferably.
My laptop is just short of useless. It refuses to play nicely with the Internet, so I can't catch up on Vampire Diaries or Modern Family, because my iPad doesn't allow hulu. Excuse me while I weep. And it's not like the lack of Internet tv is making me more productive or anything...see Doctor/Rose fanfiction above. I'm really good at not doing anything useful.
But in a change of subject, college Bible study last night was superb. We're studying James, which I love and juggle but then hold back with narrowed eyes, because he holds no punches and makes me feel very small. And that is awesome! Anyway, there was good discussion and encouragement, and everything I want and need.
I should stop, because this stream of consciousness thing is never-ending. I can talk and write forever. I am like Ten! With the blabbing and the rambling. Without any sort of subject or topic, I am likely to go on for twenty pages before my brain starts slowing down. I'll spare you tht.
Bah! Rory jut stretched and now he's all long and sleepy and content, and he's just completely adorable.
Rory is leaning against my right arm with his head in the crook of my elbow, which makes typing DIFFICULT. I wonder if the day will come when his clinginess will become annoying? Probably. But then hopefully I'll get over it.
My dress for Ashley's wedding came in, and it is strapless. Blergh. I hate that, and also it is too big, despite me going a size smaller than the dress shop recommended. Fail. So now I have to find a shop that does alterations or whatever, and I just want to not worry about it. Still, it is a lovely charcoal grey, and it's floor length, so hopefully someday I'll br invited to a fancy ball (ooo or masquerade!) and I will already have a spiffy dress to wear.
I made popcorn for dinner, and put way too much salt. Bummer.
I ship Doctor/Rose like nothing. And I just waded into their corner of fanfiction, which is dangerous because WHERE DID THE TIME GO? I just...I like to see them having the conversations that were never filmed, especially...later. After events that I cannot mention. Just in case. But their love is epic, and he burned up a sun for her, and their hand holding and giddy enjoyment of each other! Basically I think their relationship is perfect and I want it. Without all the tragedy and drama though. Preferably.
My laptop is just short of useless. It refuses to play nicely with the Internet, so I can't catch up on Vampire Diaries or Modern Family, because my iPad doesn't allow hulu. Excuse me while I weep. And it's not like the lack of Internet tv is making me more productive or anything...see Doctor/Rose fanfiction above. I'm really good at not doing anything useful.
But in a change of subject, college Bible study last night was superb. We're studying James, which I love and juggle but then hold back with narrowed eyes, because he holds no punches and makes me feel very small. And that is awesome! Anyway, there was good discussion and encouragement, and everything I want and need.
I should stop, because this stream of consciousness thing is never-ending. I can talk and write forever. I am like Ten! With the blabbing and the rambling. Without any sort of subject or topic, I am likely to go on for twenty pages before my brain starts slowing down. I'll spare you tht.
Bah! Rory jut stretched and now he's all long and sleepy and content, and he's just completely adorable.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Cats Can Be Missionaries Too
I have this theory that God gives us awesome things so that we can share them with others. And Rory is scarily awesome. He used his litter box from the start, he is hilarious when he pounces and tosses his catnip mouse, and he cuddles with lazy trust. I am a bit worried something awful will happen, to be honest. How can he be everything I wanted?
Well. Because he isn't meant just for me.
I took him to meet Grandma and Grandpa yesterday. They actually asked to see him, which blew my mind. Grandpa liked to pet him, and Grandma liked to watch him play. I asked Grandpa if Rory had healed him (pet therapy and all that) and I'm pleased to announce that he said yes (and was lying)!
Later a friend was over, and was having a crappy moment. I am truly awful at comforting people. My brain goes something like this, "This is a hugging moment, right? But...should I stand up? Side hug? Will she know it's coming? What if she starts crying? Should I offer food? ...oh man, it's way too late now."
So in the midst of my awkwardness, I prayed one of those desperate, "God, do something, make this better, please help I don't know what to do!" prayers. And thirty seconds later, Rory stopped pouncing around and playing, jumped into her lap, and promptly curled up and went to sleep.
He is totally missionary cat, and I love him. So if you are ever having a lousy day, I've been blessed with a really adorable kitten, and you are quite welcome to come cuddle with him for awhile.
Well. Because he isn't meant just for me.
I took him to meet Grandma and Grandpa yesterday. They actually asked to see him, which blew my mind. Grandpa liked to pet him, and Grandma liked to watch him play. I asked Grandpa if Rory had healed him (pet therapy and all that) and I'm pleased to announce that he said yes (and was lying)!
Later a friend was over, and was having a crappy moment. I am truly awful at comforting people. My brain goes something like this, "This is a hugging moment, right? But...should I stand up? Side hug? Will she know it's coming? What if she starts crying? Should I offer food? ...oh man, it's way too late now."
So in the midst of my awkwardness, I prayed one of those desperate, "God, do something, make this better, please help I don't know what to do!" prayers. And thirty seconds later, Rory stopped pouncing around and playing, jumped into her lap, and promptly curled up and went to sleep.
He is totally missionary cat, and I love him. So if you are ever having a lousy day, I've been blessed with a really adorable kitten, and you are quite welcome to come cuddle with him for awhile.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Rory
I have a Rory! My new kitten is all I could ask for. He purrs like a motor, jumps around and attacks toy mice, uses his litter box, and sleeps with me without waking me up.
But my favorite thing is how he lays all over me. He will jump onto my lap and curl up. A minute later he will turn to look at me, then scooch closer. Then he will roll over and stretch completely over both my arms. Then he will finally stand up, walk up my torso, and lay down while staring at my face.
You guys, this is love.
The house doesn't feel nearly so empty. It is nice to have something to come home to. It is nice to be adored. It's nice to have a pet again.
But my favorite thing is how he lays all over me. He will jump onto my lap and curl up. A minute later he will turn to look at me, then scooch closer. Then he will roll over and stretch completely over both my arms. Then he will finally stand up, walk up my torso, and lay down while staring at my face.
You guys, this is love.
The house doesn't feel nearly so empty. It is nice to have something to come home to. It is nice to be adored. It's nice to have a pet again.
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