Word of the Post
Today's word is: nuclear
/nu"cle*ar/ adjective
Of, pertaining to, or powered by atomic energy; constituting the nucleus of a cell; a popular familial design, consisting of one father, one mother, and one or more children. I included this, because even the President has a tendency to mispronounce this as /nu"cu*lar/, which makes me cringe.
~~~~~~~~~~
I come from a nuclear family, as does my husband. One father, one mother (still married after 30+ years) and one sibling. We are both the elder of two children. We are a rare breed. Many of my friends come from divorced families. The fact that both our families are still intact seems nothing short of a miracle to me. This age of "disposable" everything has been the enemy of family.
We must fight for the family. God planned us to have families. He designed the Church to be our surrogate family. When all hope is gone, when physical family can't or won't be around, we are to depend on God's family; the Church. We must fight to keep these sacred. Physical family and Church family. To throw them away is to spit in the face of God. My friend Ferret said it best: Don't stand up in front of God and witnesses, and say, "until Death do us part" unless you are willing to fight to the death to keep those marriage vows.
Jeff's dad is being installed as a Deacon at their church congregation. This is big news to me. The Bible is very clear on who may, and who may not, hold that office. This plants a lot of responsibility on the children of the family. That suddenly means ME. Dad's "household of faith" includes the spouses his children have chosen. If I were a terrible person, the church could tell dad that he had no place in their ranks. That is a very sobering thought to me. Especially knowing me so well. I know all the secret stuff that only God knows, and I don't like it. It's not that any of it is in God's books anymore; it has all been washed away by the blood of Jesus, and I am continually being cleansed by Him. It's just that I know that I could be better. I mean, couldn't we all?
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
Date Monday
Word of the Post
Today's word is: firmament
/fir"ma*ment/ noun
To make firm, fixed foundation, established basis; The region of the sky or heavens.
If your hobby is stargazing, then you are observing the firmament.
~~~~~~~~~~
Little things make all the difference. Jeff came home for the day at 1pm. This is nice, because he usually has to slave away at the job until 5pm, particularly during the month of January. Today, we got to go out and just wander around, aimlessly meandering. We ate a late lunch together. We went to a game shop (didn't even buy a pair of dice), then to a book and music store (also bought nothing), and then went to a candy store on the way home (here, we bought a box of chocolate, mostly for me, and a large drink). It was nice to spend free time together. We don't do that often enough.
I am hoping to write more, now that I am home. Not writing here on the blog, although that would be nice too, but actual writing for future publication. I am debating whether to start first to collect the massive amounts of silly poetry from over the years, or if I need to focus on the stories I have floating around in my head. The rub of this is that it has to matter to someone other than me if it is to be truly great. I am not certain of that ability in myself just yet. It has been years since I was published, and I didn't really like what they chose. The fact that I had no control over the proofreading or the printing company are additional points of irritation, and mistakes I will not make again. So, I have a few ideas that may be coming to light here, if I get that brave.
I find that this year I am trying to catch up on the things that have gotten left in a box in the dust of the attic of my mind... I want to (fill in the blank) this year. Blanks are: cook more, finish that T-shirt quilt I started saving for back in High School, make curtains for the bedrooms, sew a few outfits for my friend's photography business, start a business of my own, write something that has meaning, clean the house, keep the house clean, keep in touch better with my friends, write more letters (actual pen to paper)... the list keeps growing. I figure that each day that I awake is going to be a good day. I have started this blog, and here it is the 22nd day, and I have not given up. This is positive. Come March, this may be a different story.
Today's word is: firmament
/fir"ma*ment/ noun
To make firm, fixed foundation, established basis; The region of the sky or heavens.
If your hobby is stargazing, then you are observing the firmament.
~~~~~~~~~~
Little things make all the difference. Jeff came home for the day at 1pm. This is nice, because he usually has to slave away at the job until 5pm, particularly during the month of January. Today, we got to go out and just wander around, aimlessly meandering. We ate a late lunch together. We went to a game shop (didn't even buy a pair of dice), then to a book and music store (also bought nothing), and then went to a candy store on the way home (here, we bought a box of chocolate, mostly for me, and a large drink). It was nice to spend free time together. We don't do that often enough.
I am hoping to write more, now that I am home. Not writing here on the blog, although that would be nice too, but actual writing for future publication. I am debating whether to start first to collect the massive amounts of silly poetry from over the years, or if I need to focus on the stories I have floating around in my head. The rub of this is that it has to matter to someone other than me if it is to be truly great. I am not certain of that ability in myself just yet. It has been years since I was published, and I didn't really like what they chose. The fact that I had no control over the proofreading or the printing company are additional points of irritation, and mistakes I will not make again. So, I have a few ideas that may be coming to light here, if I get that brave.
I find that this year I am trying to catch up on the things that have gotten left in a box in the dust of the attic of my mind... I want to (fill in the blank) this year. Blanks are: cook more, finish that T-shirt quilt I started saving for back in High School, make curtains for the bedrooms, sew a few outfits for my friend's photography business, start a business of my own, write something that has meaning, clean the house, keep the house clean, keep in touch better with my friends, write more letters (actual pen to paper)... the list keeps growing. I figure that each day that I awake is going to be a good day. I have started this blog, and here it is the 22nd day, and I have not given up. This is positive. Come March, this may be a different story.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Cold, Sweet, and a little Sassy
Word of the Post
Today's Word is: glaciation
/gla`ci*a"tion/ noun
The act of freezing; The condition of being covered with glaciers or masses of ice. My chat buddy Lee Matthews used that word on the radio tonight. You can catch him on 1000 KTOK Radio from 5 to 7 (Central time) weeknights at ShoutOK.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
At the moment, Oklahoma City is one big ice rink. You don't really have to go downtown or to the Blazer's training rinks to Skate. You can do it on your own front lawn in your tennis shoes. I spent at least a half an hour today cleaning off my car, just to go buy some milk. I think my sign was up.
My friend "Roadrunner" and I believe that we, as women drivers, have a sign that must pop up on the car when we are in it: WOMAN DRIVER, PLEASE CUT ME OFF. It gets much worse when we are together. TWO WOMEN IN CAR, PLEASE TRY TO KILL US. I am convinced that Oklahoma drivers are just "weather idiots". They crash so much more often in wet or slick conditions. Today, I was happily driving to see "Ferret", and some jerk just decided that I must be invisible, and pulled out from a sidestreet, right into my lane. This would have been uncomfortable on dry land, but today, I almost T-boned him. I was saying things I should not have said, crying and shaking with anger all at once. I made it safely to my destination, and home again. At least if our power goes out, I can keep the fridge and freezer outside. My milk won't go bad.
My friend "Ferret" made it to St. Louis, and back, just fine. The 4 year old is going to have surgery (sometime in the future), to put rods in her back, to help her spine straighten as she grows. She doesn't have enough fat on her (mind you, her 1 1/2 year old sister outweighs her by at least a pound!) to keep going in for multiple surgeries. They are planning on a new treatment that has only been around for about 15 years, and only been done on about 15 people. But there is promise. Without the surgery, I am told, she has a high chance of only living to be 30 to 40. I did not know that spinal curves were harmful to lifespan. The surgery will likely give her loads more time, and make her time more comfortable. This is happening through Shriner's Hospital, so there won't be much cost to the family.
The two of them came to OKC to go to an oral surgeon today. The girl was born with a cleft palate. The roof of her mouth was repaired when she was about 11 months old. Now, they have to go in and give her a flap at the back of her mouth, to give her a way to stop the air from escaping through her nose. She can't make hard sounds like "P" and "B", because her body won't let her. She will talk your ear off, but you may not understand her speech. Today was a check-up and a preparation for the upcoming surgery in February. This surgery will cost more than they have to pay, but it has to be done. Please pray that they can find the money necessary, or that the Children's Hospital works with them for a payment plan.
After all the poking, prodding, and pin cushioning this baby has had to endure, she is still one of the happiest children you will ever meet. She thinks it is cool to wear glasses, and is happy as a lark that she now gets to look like Mommy. She likes to run and jump, and has the usual sister-squabbles. She plays fearlessly. She has a memory that will shock you, and a rather large vocabulary for one who cannot say the words she knows. She knows the path from home to church and back again; if you do it wrong, she will tell you. I am blessed to know her. Hopefully, this rambling mess has made you appreciate the little things in your life, too.
Today's Word is: glaciation
/gla`ci*a"tion/ noun
The act of freezing; The condition of being covered with glaciers or masses of ice. My chat buddy Lee Matthews used that word on the radio tonight. You can catch him on 1000 KTOK Radio from 5 to 7 (Central time) weeknights at ShoutOK.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
At the moment, Oklahoma City is one big ice rink. You don't really have to go downtown or to the Blazer's training rinks to Skate. You can do it on your own front lawn in your tennis shoes. I spent at least a half an hour today cleaning off my car, just to go buy some milk. I think my sign was up.
My friend "Roadrunner" and I believe that we, as women drivers, have a sign that must pop up on the car when we are in it: WOMAN DRIVER, PLEASE CUT ME OFF. It gets much worse when we are together. TWO WOMEN IN CAR, PLEASE TRY TO KILL US. I am convinced that Oklahoma drivers are just "weather idiots". They crash so much more often in wet or slick conditions. Today, I was happily driving to see "Ferret", and some jerk just decided that I must be invisible, and pulled out from a sidestreet, right into my lane. This would have been uncomfortable on dry land, but today, I almost T-boned him. I was saying things I should not have said, crying and shaking with anger all at once. I made it safely to my destination, and home again. At least if our power goes out, I can keep the fridge and freezer outside. My milk won't go bad.
My friend "Ferret" made it to St. Louis, and back, just fine. The 4 year old is going to have surgery (sometime in the future), to put rods in her back, to help her spine straighten as she grows. She doesn't have enough fat on her (mind you, her 1 1/2 year old sister outweighs her by at least a pound!) to keep going in for multiple surgeries. They are planning on a new treatment that has only been around for about 15 years, and only been done on about 15 people. But there is promise. Without the surgery, I am told, she has a high chance of only living to be 30 to 40. I did not know that spinal curves were harmful to lifespan. The surgery will likely give her loads more time, and make her time more comfortable. This is happening through Shriner's Hospital, so there won't be much cost to the family.
The two of them came to OKC to go to an oral surgeon today. The girl was born with a cleft palate. The roof of her mouth was repaired when she was about 11 months old. Now, they have to go in and give her a flap at the back of her mouth, to give her a way to stop the air from escaping through her nose. She can't make hard sounds like "P" and "B", because her body won't let her. She will talk your ear off, but you may not understand her speech. Today was a check-up and a preparation for the upcoming surgery in February. This surgery will cost more than they have to pay, but it has to be done. Please pray that they can find the money necessary, or that the Children's Hospital works with them for a payment plan.
After all the poking, prodding, and pin cushioning this baby has had to endure, she is still one of the happiest children you will ever meet. She thinks it is cool to wear glasses, and is happy as a lark that she now gets to look like Mommy. She likes to run and jump, and has the usual sister-squabbles. She plays fearlessly. She has a memory that will shock you, and a rather large vocabulary for one who cannot say the words she knows. She knows the path from home to church and back again; if you do it wrong, she will tell you. I am blessed to know her. Hopefully, this rambling mess has made you appreciate the little things in your life, too.
Monday, January 15, 2007
My Spine-Tingling Adventures
Word of the Post
Today's word is: sacroiliac
sa-krO-'i-lE-"ak/ adjective
The joint region between the sacrum, at the base of the spine, and the ilium of the pelvis, which are joined by ligaments. This is a very low region of the back. In Disney's "Robin Hood", Sir Hiss the snake (who keeps "deliberately dodging" the king) has just had his tail tied in a knot, and creeps away saying, "Oh, my aching sacroiliac."
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's pain in the backside is the weather. On my street, there is an inch accumulation of tiny ice pebbles. It looks like snow, but once you step onto it, you might as well have ice skating blades on. Our yard is slick like an ice rink.
For those of you wondering about the trip to St. Louis, I didn't go. Our plans changed. My friend was still supposed to go, and take her father-in-law with her. She was starting from Wichita, and could take the north route which was much clearer (and safer) than coming to get me. I have not heard if they even went, or if everything is OK. I will find out on Wednesday, when they come to OKC for a different kind of appointment. I will certainly keep you advised.
An update now on my mom. She discovered that she has bronchitis, and the violent coughing strained her heart. It gave her a very mild heart attack last Tuesday. I guess the doctors thought that was the case, and confirmed it with tests. They told her on Thursday, before she got to go home. She had not yet gotten the OK to go back to work when I spoke to her on Sunday, but she had the grace of one day of paid leave, since her office offers Martin Luther King, Jr. Day off with pay. One less sick day to use. I would appreciate continued prayers for our family.
I need a finishing line. Jared uses "Blessings" and my mother-in-law always ends the conversation with "Behave yourself". I was hoping that some of you creative people out there could help me with a tagline. Suggestions?
Go ahead, readers, I'm listening. (borrowed from Frasier)
Today's word is: sacroiliac
sa-krO-'i-lE-"ak/ adjective
The joint region between the sacrum, at the base of the spine, and the ilium of the pelvis, which are joined by ligaments. This is a very low region of the back. In Disney's "Robin Hood", Sir Hiss the snake (who keeps "deliberately dodging" the king) has just had his tail tied in a knot, and creeps away saying, "Oh, my aching sacroiliac."
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's pain in the backside is the weather. On my street, there is an inch accumulation of tiny ice pebbles. It looks like snow, but once you step onto it, you might as well have ice skating blades on. Our yard is slick like an ice rink.
For those of you wondering about the trip to St. Louis, I didn't go. Our plans changed. My friend was still supposed to go, and take her father-in-law with her. She was starting from Wichita, and could take the north route which was much clearer (and safer) than coming to get me. I have not heard if they even went, or if everything is OK. I will find out on Wednesday, when they come to OKC for a different kind of appointment. I will certainly keep you advised.
An update now on my mom. She discovered that she has bronchitis, and the violent coughing strained her heart. It gave her a very mild heart attack last Tuesday. I guess the doctors thought that was the case, and confirmed it with tests. They told her on Thursday, before she got to go home. She had not yet gotten the OK to go back to work when I spoke to her on Sunday, but she had the grace of one day of paid leave, since her office offers Martin Luther King, Jr. Day off with pay. One less sick day to use. I would appreciate continued prayers for our family.
I need a finishing line. Jared uses "Blessings" and my mother-in-law always ends the conversation with "Behave yourself". I was hoping that some of you creative people out there could help me with a tagline. Suggestions?
Go ahead, readers, I'm listening. (borrowed from Frasier)
Thursday, January 11, 2007
REVOLUTION 9
Word of the Post
Today's word is: cacophony
/ca*coph"o*ny/ noun
Harsh or discordant sound; Loud, uncouth or disagreeable sounds; noise. In words, harsh letters or syllables side by side. I think of an orchestra tuning up, not all together, like the noise at the beginning of Fantasia. This could also represent a lot of people talking at once.
~~~~~~~~~~
It is official. My mother had a heart attack on Tuesday, sometime before she was admitted to the hospital. She said she remembered her arm hurting, but that went away after a while. Not exactly the news you want to hear about your mom, especially after knowing she was in the hospital for three days. She is home tonight, so praise God for that.
I picked a word today that somewhat described my mood. I have been in a funk lately. I don't know why, really. I just have this... feeling. Things in my life are out of balance. I am trying to do too much, accomplishing too little, and feeling very much without a focus. Which is what I was hoping to fix by eliminating the job that was not really helping me. All the work I was doing was drawing me away from myself. Now that the job is gone, I don't feel well as myself. I feel bogged down. I feel as if things are happening TO me, not with me or for me. I feel I have lost control. (Did I ever really have control?)
So I have added exercise with my friend four to five days per week, and have done little bits of computer work and housework each day. Admittedly, there has not been enough housework done. I could do more, but the perfectionist side of me sees the mess in the middle of the cleaning, not the product of the clean house to come. And the procrastinator in me wants to throw in the towel before the task is complete.
I ask you to pray for me. I need to work more and complain less. This is one of the reasons I have taken the assignment from God to GO. I am going to St. Louis this coming week, and I need this trip. Not just to help my friend, but to help me. I need to see that things could be so different (notice I didn't say so much worse) for me. I have been blessed, and it is going to take a little 4 year old girl to show me how blessed.
God Bless all who enter here.
Today's word is: cacophony
/ca*coph"o*ny/ noun
Harsh or discordant sound; Loud, uncouth or disagreeable sounds; noise. In words, harsh letters or syllables side by side. I think of an orchestra tuning up, not all together, like the noise at the beginning of Fantasia. This could also represent a lot of people talking at once.
~~~~~~~~~~
It is official. My mother had a heart attack on Tuesday, sometime before she was admitted to the hospital. She said she remembered her arm hurting, but that went away after a while. Not exactly the news you want to hear about your mom, especially after knowing she was in the hospital for three days. She is home tonight, so praise God for that.
I picked a word today that somewhat described my mood. I have been in a funk lately. I don't know why, really. I just have this... feeling. Things in my life are out of balance. I am trying to do too much, accomplishing too little, and feeling very much without a focus. Which is what I was hoping to fix by eliminating the job that was not really helping me. All the work I was doing was drawing me away from myself. Now that the job is gone, I don't feel well as myself. I feel bogged down. I feel as if things are happening TO me, not with me or for me. I feel I have lost control. (Did I ever really have control?)
So I have added exercise with my friend four to five days per week, and have done little bits of computer work and housework each day. Admittedly, there has not been enough housework done. I could do more, but the perfectionist side of me sees the mess in the middle of the cleaning, not the product of the clean house to come. And the procrastinator in me wants to throw in the towel before the task is complete.
I ask you to pray for me. I need to work more and complain less. This is one of the reasons I have taken the assignment from God to GO. I am going to St. Louis this coming week, and I need this trip. Not just to help my friend, but to help me. I need to see that things could be so different (notice I didn't say so much worse) for me. I have been blessed, and it is going to take a little 4 year old girl to show me how blessed.
God Bless all who enter here.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Happy Birthday, Dear Jeff, Happy to You, Happy to You!
Word of the Post
Today's Word is: crepuscular
/cre*pus"cu*lar/ adjective
Pertaining to twilight; glimmering; dim; imperfectly clear, luminous.
Webster's Dictionary of 1913 used this word to describe bats and owls feeding during the twilight. Basically this describes low light level, with sparkle.
~~~~~~~~~~
Regarding this word, see the works of Bill Engvall. He mentions it when describing his wife as "Meet Mrs. Milton Bradley!" Playing Scrabble, she used words like "crepuscular", and he used words like "ET." "As in 'He ET his dinner.' Past tense, I believe, Pumpkin." Actually, he had it right, but not for that reason. Et Tu Brute? Et is AND in Latin. And Latin, being a root of English, is acceptable in some cases in Scrabble. I have a friend who can beat me in Scrabble, but he has been reading (memorizing!!!) the Scrabble Dictionary for fun, and he is a strategist. He can find ways to hit more of those colored boxes. I am the linguist; I just look for a word in my tiles. Sometimes, that alone is the challenge.
Vocabulary was always a big thing at my house. My brother and I were forever trying to find a word that dad had to look up, and I couldn't spell. We used fancy words in sentences, and read books several grades above our school level. I remember once using the word "shirk" in an essay, and the teacher had to look it up. I don't know if that was a testiment to my knowledge, or a commentary on his lack of it. I think that was about 5th grade? I grew up reading the Bible in King James. Not that I think that is the only translation, quite the contrary. Rather, I think it helped me to know more about the language usage and flow in Shakespeare. I could read the iambic pentameter with a bit more... emotion. I could read it without sounding like a robot. I could understand the court jester taking a little break on the side of the stage. I laughed out loud in class, and then had to explain it to everyone. Much to the delight of my Senior English teacher, I know.
Today is my hubby's 30th birthday. He got picked on by everyone at work, and will get more of the same from our friends on Saturday, when I throw a black party. Birthdays close to Christmas are tough. You can't give a big present, and say it is for both holidays. That is just rude. Nobody does that for me with my birthday in May. I do a lot of watching. I see what he wanted for Christmas, and may not have gotten, and then get that. Many times, he gets the calendar for his desk, because they are half price after the new year starts. Needless to say, I can't let that be his only present. I also got him a "Bad Call Brick" to throw during his football games. I even left him alone in the living room to watch football, without me to change the channel or disturb him. I cooked his favorite meal for lunch (he got kidnapped from work, so lunch became his favorite dinner).
If you have any ideas for a cool party game, or some other way to make a joke out of getting older, please leave me a comment. Party on, Dudes! Peace out! (I see my buddy Tyler pound his chest and show me two fingers... he is 2, and funny!)
Today's Word is: crepuscular
/cre*pus"cu*lar/ adjective
Pertaining to twilight; glimmering; dim; imperfectly clear, luminous.
Webster's Dictionary of 1913 used this word to describe bats and owls feeding during the twilight. Basically this describes low light level, with sparkle.
~~~~~~~~~~
Regarding this word, see the works of Bill Engvall. He mentions it when describing his wife as "Meet Mrs. Milton Bradley!" Playing Scrabble, she used words like "crepuscular", and he used words like "ET." "As in 'He ET his dinner.' Past tense, I believe, Pumpkin." Actually, he had it right, but not for that reason. Et Tu Brute? Et is AND in Latin. And Latin, being a root of English, is acceptable in some cases in Scrabble. I have a friend who can beat me in Scrabble, but he has been reading (memorizing!!!) the Scrabble Dictionary for fun, and he is a strategist. He can find ways to hit more of those colored boxes. I am the linguist; I just look for a word in my tiles. Sometimes, that alone is the challenge.
Vocabulary was always a big thing at my house. My brother and I were forever trying to find a word that dad had to look up, and I couldn't spell. We used fancy words in sentences, and read books several grades above our school level. I remember once using the word "shirk" in an essay, and the teacher had to look it up. I don't know if that was a testiment to my knowledge, or a commentary on his lack of it. I think that was about 5th grade? I grew up reading the Bible in King James. Not that I think that is the only translation, quite the contrary. Rather, I think it helped me to know more about the language usage and flow in Shakespeare. I could read the iambic pentameter with a bit more... emotion. I could read it without sounding like a robot. I could understand the court jester taking a little break on the side of the stage. I laughed out loud in class, and then had to explain it to everyone. Much to the delight of my Senior English teacher, I know.
Today is my hubby's 30th birthday. He got picked on by everyone at work, and will get more of the same from our friends on Saturday, when I throw a black party. Birthdays close to Christmas are tough. You can't give a big present, and say it is for both holidays. That is just rude. Nobody does that for me with my birthday in May. I do a lot of watching. I see what he wanted for Christmas, and may not have gotten, and then get that. Many times, he gets the calendar for his desk, because they are half price after the new year starts. Needless to say, I can't let that be his only present. I also got him a "Bad Call Brick" to throw during his football games. I even left him alone in the living room to watch football, without me to change the channel or disturb him. I cooked his favorite meal for lunch (he got kidnapped from work, so lunch became his favorite dinner).
If you have any ideas for a cool party game, or some other way to make a joke out of getting older, please leave me a comment. Party on, Dudes! Peace out! (I see my buddy Tyler pound his chest and show me two fingers... he is 2, and funny!)
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Movie Reviews
Word of the Post
Today's word is: prestidigitation
/pres`ti*dig`i*ta"tion/, noun
This is a combination of the French word for nimble, and the Latin for finger; sleight of hand, manual dexterity in the execution of tricks.
~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of magic, I have been dwelling on many areas of the subject. My friends joke with me about my "religious studies", but really, they are not far off. How better to know the enemy than to observe their strategy? Is it magic to work computer graphics into a dragon for the purpose of a movie? We refer to people who do their job well as "working their magic". Is it possible that magic really exists in the world? After all, God, when speaking of the "other gods" to the Jews, did not discount them. He didn't say that they were figments of imagination, or that they were powerless. He said that they were inferior, that He is the One True God. Does worship make a thing a god? God thought so, as He told us in the 10 Commandments not to have any god before Him. Our new god can be money, power, or even a fairy tale. If it comes before the real deal, we are committing idolatry. Kind of a scary thought.
On Tuesday, I saw the movie Eragon with my friends. It was a good movie. It was not the book. I am disappointed in that second thought. I knew that the book, being my first impression of the story, was going to be the strongest. I knew that there was a lot of traveling in the book, and that would be the fastest way to cut time out of the movie. If you are looking for an excuse to hate the movie, that is coming. If you are looking for a positive review, that is actually coming too. If you don't want to know any more about this movie, or the Night At The Museum, then you need to skip the rest of today's post. You have been warned.
If you have not read the book, I recommend that you see the movie first, and then read the book. This will get you confused until you see more into Eragon's head. The reasons are kinda fuzzy in the movie, but it all sounds better from the book. If you have read the book, then you will understand the rest of this little tirade. I first noticed that Saphira grows in one moment in the movie... there is no sneaking food from the farm, no discussion with Brom about the names of the great dragons gone on before, and no anger/hurt of Brom for Eragon picking the name of Saphira. In the movie, she announces her name. Yeah, that cut down on the time. The next thing I noticed, besides the quick pace (and therefore leaving out A LOT of the plot), they left out the "cat" Solembum from Angela's shop. That comes into play in the second book. Ah, well, my favorite characters are always the overlooked. Happened with Nearly Headless Nick's Death Day Party in the Harry Potter movie, too. I just like stuff that others think unnecessary.
The computer graphics were excellent on Saphira. She looked almost real enough to ride. And they did a great job with her blowing the heat onto Brom's gravesite, to make it ageless. The previews make it look like Saphira blew fire outside of the mountain, but that is a flashback to the older dragon wars, and not her. Saphira blowing fire was inside the mountain, but the open chasm of the fight in the bottom of the cavern was HUGE, and kinda looked like a night fight out in the open.
I liked Eragon, and I will likey buy it when it hits DVD. Mostly because it is attached to the series, not because it was so awesome. I am hoping that they give the second one a bit more of a chance. I am still anxiously awaiting the third book. I think I have to keep the books and the movies separate in my mind, in the way I do with Harry Potter. Both are good on their own, and besides the title, they share little in common. I guess that is what happens when you let too many people touch your work, and let the Hollywood crazies do your screenplays. I hope now you are intrigued enough to at least see it at the dollar theatre, and that you will give it a chance on your own, and not let the reviews (even mine) or the previews make up your mind for you.
On Friday, Jeff and I went out on our Date Night money from Christmas. Thank you, Mom and Dad! We had a way-too-filling dinner at Chili's, and then saw Night At The Museum. I was not sure what to expect from Ben Stiller. I don't so much like many of his movies. But, I went in with the open mind (kept that from Tuesday) and had a great time. This is a funny movie, with a little bit of heart. The dinosaur bones of "Rexie" looked like the left-overs from Jurassic Park, but that made it even funnier. It doesn't really have the romance plot, but there is romance in it. There is adventure, and challenge, and fights, and imagination. I think you will be surprised to find out that Dick Van Dyke is in it, and you might be surprised by his character traits. This one was good, and better than Eragon for me. I have no book to compare to, and it made me laugh more. I only hope nobody is plotting a sequel... they get old after 3 or 4.
As for the jokes about my "religious studies" I will just bid you farewell, in a Charmed fashion:
Blessed Be.
Today's word is: prestidigitation
/pres`ti*dig`i*ta"tion/, noun
This is a combination of the French word for nimble, and the Latin for finger; sleight of hand, manual dexterity in the execution of tricks.
~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of magic, I have been dwelling on many areas of the subject. My friends joke with me about my "religious studies", but really, they are not far off. How better to know the enemy than to observe their strategy? Is it magic to work computer graphics into a dragon for the purpose of a movie? We refer to people who do their job well as "working their magic". Is it possible that magic really exists in the world? After all, God, when speaking of the "other gods" to the Jews, did not discount them. He didn't say that they were figments of imagination, or that they were powerless. He said that they were inferior, that He is the One True God. Does worship make a thing a god? God thought so, as He told us in the 10 Commandments not to have any god before Him. Our new god can be money, power, or even a fairy tale. If it comes before the real deal, we are committing idolatry. Kind of a scary thought.
On Tuesday, I saw the movie Eragon with my friends. It was a good movie. It was not the book. I am disappointed in that second thought. I knew that the book, being my first impression of the story, was going to be the strongest. I knew that there was a lot of traveling in the book, and that would be the fastest way to cut time out of the movie. If you are looking for an excuse to hate the movie, that is coming. If you are looking for a positive review, that is actually coming too. If you don't want to know any more about this movie, or the Night At The Museum, then you need to skip the rest of today's post. You have been warned.
If you have not read the book, I recommend that you see the movie first, and then read the book. This will get you confused until you see more into Eragon's head. The reasons are kinda fuzzy in the movie, but it all sounds better from the book. If you have read the book, then you will understand the rest of this little tirade. I first noticed that Saphira grows in one moment in the movie... there is no sneaking food from the farm, no discussion with Brom about the names of the great dragons gone on before, and no anger/hurt of Brom for Eragon picking the name of Saphira. In the movie, she announces her name. Yeah, that cut down on the time. The next thing I noticed, besides the quick pace (and therefore leaving out A LOT of the plot), they left out the "cat" Solembum from Angela's shop. That comes into play in the second book. Ah, well, my favorite characters are always the overlooked. Happened with Nearly Headless Nick's Death Day Party in the Harry Potter movie, too. I just like stuff that others think unnecessary.
The computer graphics were excellent on Saphira. She looked almost real enough to ride. And they did a great job with her blowing the heat onto Brom's gravesite, to make it ageless. The previews make it look like Saphira blew fire outside of the mountain, but that is a flashback to the older dragon wars, and not her. Saphira blowing fire was inside the mountain, but the open chasm of the fight in the bottom of the cavern was HUGE, and kinda looked like a night fight out in the open.
I liked Eragon, and I will likey buy it when it hits DVD. Mostly because it is attached to the series, not because it was so awesome. I am hoping that they give the second one a bit more of a chance. I am still anxiously awaiting the third book. I think I have to keep the books and the movies separate in my mind, in the way I do with Harry Potter. Both are good on their own, and besides the title, they share little in common. I guess that is what happens when you let too many people touch your work, and let the Hollywood crazies do your screenplays. I hope now you are intrigued enough to at least see it at the dollar theatre, and that you will give it a chance on your own, and not let the reviews (even mine) or the previews make up your mind for you.
On Friday, Jeff and I went out on our Date Night money from Christmas. Thank you, Mom and Dad! We had a way-too-filling dinner at Chili's, and then saw Night At The Museum. I was not sure what to expect from Ben Stiller. I don't so much like many of his movies. But, I went in with the open mind (kept that from Tuesday) and had a great time. This is a funny movie, with a little bit of heart. The dinosaur bones of "Rexie" looked like the left-overs from Jurassic Park, but that made it even funnier. It doesn't really have the romance plot, but there is romance in it. There is adventure, and challenge, and fights, and imagination. I think you will be surprised to find out that Dick Van Dyke is in it, and you might be surprised by his character traits. This one was good, and better than Eragon for me. I have no book to compare to, and it made me laugh more. I only hope nobody is plotting a sequel... they get old after 3 or 4.
As for the jokes about my "religious studies" I will just bid you farewell, in a Charmed fashion:
Blessed Be.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Jump Right In
Word of the Post:
Today's word is: lexicology
/lex`i*col"o*gy/
noun
The science of the derivation and signification of words. The branch of learning (linguistics) that studies the lexical component of language.
This is a fancy way of saying: this is the study of words, including their origins and meanings.
~~~~~~~~~
I have spent today checking on all my blog friends, tracking down old friends who now have blogs, and adding links to my page. I have also been chatting with the crowd of friends who listen to KTOK talk radio during the day. We have been avoiding the hearing of the funeral of former President Gerald R. Ford. I heard parts of what George H. W. Bush said. He quoted Dana Carvey's impersonation of him from Saturday Night Live, complete with voice inflections. Very funny. My brain must be melting, I just tried to check the mail. The post isn't running today. President George W. Bush declared today a federal holiday. I feel silly.
Tonight I am honored to take my friend George to the movies for his birthday. He is 34 today, and I am treating him and his lovely wife, Cathy, to dinner and a showing of Eragon. I am looking forward to this movie. I am one who wanted to see it on opening night, but that didn't work out. I would rather see it with friends than by myself anyway. Jeff was not interested in this movie. For Christmas, Jeff's parents have given us a "Date Night". We got a gift certificate for a restaurant, and money toward a movie. We are thinking about seeing Night at the Museum, Casino Royale, or The Persuit of Happyness. I will let you know later what we decide. I will also give my reviews on the movie we see, and Eragon.
Good Tuesday to you!
Today's word is: lexicology
/lex`i*col"o*gy/
noun
The science of the derivation and signification of words. The branch of learning (linguistics) that studies the lexical component of language.
This is a fancy way of saying: this is the study of words, including their origins and meanings.
~~~~~~~~~
I have spent today checking on all my blog friends, tracking down old friends who now have blogs, and adding links to my page. I have also been chatting with the crowd of friends who listen to KTOK talk radio during the day. We have been avoiding the hearing of the funeral of former President Gerald R. Ford. I heard parts of what George H. W. Bush said. He quoted Dana Carvey's impersonation of him from Saturday Night Live, complete with voice inflections. Very funny. My brain must be melting, I just tried to check the mail. The post isn't running today. President George W. Bush declared today a federal holiday. I feel silly.
Tonight I am honored to take my friend George to the movies for his birthday. He is 34 today, and I am treating him and his lovely wife, Cathy, to dinner and a showing of Eragon. I am looking forward to this movie. I am one who wanted to see it on opening night, but that didn't work out. I would rather see it with friends than by myself anyway. Jeff was not interested in this movie. For Christmas, Jeff's parents have given us a "Date Night". We got a gift certificate for a restaurant, and money toward a movie. We are thinking about seeing Night at the Museum, Casino Royale, or The Persuit of Happyness. I will let you know later what we decide. I will also give my reviews on the movie we see, and Eragon.
Good Tuesday to you!
Monday, January 1, 2007
Start at the Beginning, it is a very good place to start.
Welcome, one and all, to the world of Chelf. I am your tour guide, and I shall do my best not to take you on any guilt trips. For our first stop on this wild ride of life, we shall begin at the introductions. Hello. My name is Michelle. I am also known as Auntie Chelf, MyChelf, Footstool, and a host of other names that I cannot, in good conscience, post here. I am a Taurus, who loves movies, hanging out with friends, and has a little craving for a lot of chocolate sometimes. I have a wonderful husband who loves football and me.
I would like to cultivate this website, let it grow with guidance, make it better at every opportunity. I hope to grow as a person, and share my moments of brilliance with you. So for our next stop, we shall begin the festivities. I give you... the "Word of the Post". Each time I post, I hope to have a word to expand your vocabulary, and broaden your horizons. I will include the proper spelling, possibly a pronunciation guide, and usually a definition. (I may join in on the Wordless Wednesday, at which time, the "Word of the Post" will be ABSENCE.)
Let us begin.
WORD OF THE POST
Today's word is: defenestration
\de*fen`es*tra"tion\, noun
Definition: This is the act of throwing a person or thing out of a window. Can also be a swift dismissal or expulsion.
This was used as a way to stage a coup on a government, by tossing the King out of his own Castle, without the benefit of an elevator. Have you seen Disney's "The Emperor's New Groove"? When they toss the little old guy out the window, and he yells "Sorry!" all the way down, he had just been defenestrated. "Beware the Groove."
I also plan to add other regular subjects to my page. I may ask strange questions. Discussions are encouraged. I hope to have pictures at least once a week, as I get better at making these posts.
Thank you for joining me on the tour. Come again. Have a nice day.
Happy New Year!
I would like to cultivate this website, let it grow with guidance, make it better at every opportunity. I hope to grow as a person, and share my moments of brilliance with you. So for our next stop, we shall begin the festivities. I give you... the "Word of the Post". Each time I post, I hope to have a word to expand your vocabulary, and broaden your horizons. I will include the proper spelling, possibly a pronunciation guide, and usually a definition. (I may join in on the Wordless Wednesday, at which time, the "Word of the Post" will be ABSENCE.)
Let us begin.
WORD OF THE POST
Today's word is: defenestration
\de*fen`es*tra"tion\, noun
Definition: This is the act of throwing a person or thing out of a window. Can also be a swift dismissal or expulsion.
This was used as a way to stage a coup on a government, by tossing the King out of his own Castle, without the benefit of an elevator. Have you seen Disney's "The Emperor's New Groove"? When they toss the little old guy out the window, and he yells "Sorry!" all the way down, he had just been defenestrated. "Beware the Groove."
I also plan to add other regular subjects to my page. I may ask strange questions. Discussions are encouraged. I hope to have pictures at least once a week, as I get better at making these posts.
Thank you for joining me on the tour. Come again. Have a nice day.
Happy New Year!
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