crestfallenpoet

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

It has been raining since before I woke up.  The skies are cold and grey.  But in my peripheral vision streams of light, made of strawberry lemonade,  kiwis and sunshine, bounce off each other… creating a warm glow.  This beautiful scarf was be-gifted to me from the Lovely  Erin of La Caotica.  She has long taken residence in my mind, as one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met,  online or offline.  Thank you Erin. 

Mini Site Update

I wanted to keep track of The Quote Book pages on a separate page, but the plugin I was using was all messed up.  It worked about 50% of the time, but I had been too lazy to change it until now. I know I know, bad Christine! 

So I set out on a quest to find a different gallery plug in and I found this!  ¹  I was worried it might be  a little slow, but so far I haven’t had any problems loading images.

I’m in the process of changing over the doodles, and I might think about making one for the comics too to make them easier to stream.

The interface with this plug-in is really quite nice as well.  Load of options to customize, but I couldn’t see a way to upload multiple images at once?  ²

Now that I’ve found a nice working alternative, i need to do an over hall of my Twin Love site.  I’ve neglected it this year despite the fact that I keep coming up with fun new ideas! I’m going to force myself to do as much work as I can before I move instead of letting my move be an excuse to put it off.  I find myself saying, Oh, i’ll start that after the move is over.  But why not now? Hmm!?

Constant Vigilance!! 

Ps.  Listening to Lady Gaga.  Love her.

1. it was the first one on the page ~_~ [↩]
2. be sure to point it out to me if i’m being dense ~_~ [↩]

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

In 1997 I came upon a blank book.  I think it was a gift but I can’t remember.  It was kinda ugly and I didn’t want to keep it as a journal.  So i started a quote book.  I filled it up over the following years.  I’d like to share them, if I may.

Note: This isn’t the first page in the book, but it’s one of my favorites that I feel is a good beginning.

*my written correction is Judy Downing

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I’ve got so much going on in my head right now.

I guess the biggest news that’s been taking up a significant amount of time recently is the decision  between my boyfriend and I to finally take that plunge and move in together.  

We’ve been together for just under 3 years and travelling back and forth on weekends, living out of my purse and doing twice the amount of housework is almost at an end.  I’m pretty excited about it of course, but honesty forces me to admit that I’m a little nervous too.

My partner and I have had our shares of good times and not so good times.  We’re very different people in terms of our views,  how we see things, and we’ve grown together over the years with a very solid foundation.  So I think we’re ready and the timing is just right.

Things that worry me?  Oh, all the things that anyone worries about when you move in with your partner.  Will we fight about money? House work? Space?  Will our intimacy drift away?  Will the time we “make” for each other now be replaced with the time that we just both happen to be home?

That last one worries me the most.  When you live apart, the only time you see said person is when one or both makes an effort.  But when you co-habit a space, and you happen to be home together a lot, it’s easy to forget to make that effort.  But the effort is the most important thing to me.

I’ve had this experience before (dated a nice fellow 5 years, lived together for three of them), and even though the love was still there, by the end of it, we were more like room mates.  And this isn’t unique to me, I’ve met quite a few woman who have shared similar experiences.

I guess like anything in life, it’s about finding the balance and keeping it.

Everything in life is a learning process, and so there are somethings that I will insist upon now.

1. Doing dishes together.  Men (for the most part, no offense) will never voluntarily do the dishes.  We might hope that piling them by the sink will prompt them to think, oh maybe it’s my turn, but in the end, you just have dishes that are that much harder to clean.  Team Effort! Andy and I have a great system now where we do them together always, I wash, he dries.  I think this logic can be extended to house hold tasks in general.  Anything is easier when two people help.  Right?

2. Try to go to bed at the same time, at least some of the time.  (if you can, work permitting etc).  For me, this is important in maintaining intimacy.  It’s nice to fall asleep with said person, and i think, adds to the closeness you have together.  There are always going to be nights where one might want to stay up later than the other, and that’s ok, but keep it in balance with sleeping together at the same time.  When you live apart, it’s natural to go to bed at the same time, since it might be weird to stay up at his/her house w/o them.  But this kinda changes when you co-habit a space,  at least for me since I’m a closet night owl.

3.  I will not do your laundry.

When I was thinking about this subject this morning, i had a few more things floating around my head but now that I’m here, I can’t really think of them.

Oh yah.

4.  I don’t want to decide what we have for dinner every night of the week.  This should be a back and forth shared process.  Even now, Andy and I sometimes bicker because neither of us want to make a decision on what to eat.

What are things you’ve learned and/or insist on when living with your significant other?

PS.  LOST WAS SO AWESOME. 

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I just came across this article from The Guardian, that talks about how certain schools in the Southern California area in the United States are banning dictionaries  because they have a definition for oral sex.

Am I the only one who thinks this is a little over the top?

If our children are smart enough to go to a dictionary and look up a word that they don’t understand, I should think that’s a good thing! It’s far better than the alternative of going to the internet, or feeling too afraid to talk to a trusted adult.

I see examples more and more of parents not explaining all the ins and outs of life and sex and everything in between. But with children becoming more exposed to this {being life/love/sex/etc}  at a younger age as we advance technologically, this is something we cannot sweep under the rug. TV, texting, computers, and media have dramatically changed how fast young people are maturing these days.

I feel that I was lucky in the way that I felt comfortable enough to ask my mother anything. When I was in grade seven, a boy called another boy a dildo. I had never heard the term, so that day when I came home I asked my mum what it was. And instead of freaking out, or saying I was too young, or making complaints against the school, she just told me. Matter of fact.

Another time I was listening to Alanis Morissette who was very popular at the time with Jagged Little Pill being played all over the radio’s and I heard the phrase, “wine, dine and 69″ or whatever it is. So once again, I asked my mum what “69′”ing meant and she told me.

I think that if the child is asking the question, then he or she is ready to hear the answer.

What do you think?

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I came across a super cute pin cushion pattern on Ravely the other day, but when I clicked to check out the pattern i came across this!  Unfortunately I can not read Danish!  Now, from looking at the pictures, I’m pretty sure I could puzzle it out, but i always like to be sure.  Then I had a thought, the Q*bee has tons of members from around the world, I bet someone could translate it! And ta da!  The lovely Connie was able to translate it for me.  So here it is.

Oh, and by the by, last Tues was my good friend T’s Birthday.  There are two things in the world that T loves most.

Bacon and cupcakes.  So i decided to combine them for Wednesday’s D&D game.  I think they were a hit.  

Have any of you guys come across the unhealthy obsession the western world has with bacon? Take a look here, here ¹, and here.

Here’s an interesting article I found that addresses the obsession that the Internet had with bacon.

So tell me,

What do you think of bacon?

1. I was sad to see that I wasn’t the first to think of bacon cakes although I should have known [↩]

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I did my very fist audio blog tee hee. You can listen to me eventually ramble about privacy issues here. Which basically is 10 minutes and 23 seconds of me rambling about my day ~_~

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I came across this video in a interesting post that conveys the rate in which deforestation is occurring.

I occasionally run into people who brush off this topic as of small importance.  I just can’t help but disagree. 

This should be a world concern.

ps. I’ve notice this doesn’t work in my Chrome browser, but i checked Mozilla and the video works fine! Must figure out why! err, fixed it

edit:  this link, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/deforestation/effect.html, sums up really nicely the three main concerns of destroying our forests.

err edit some more:  I want to quote something from the wiki article in case you were too lazy to read through it all, (i tease, i tease ^^).

I’m going to highlight parts that jump out at me as insane that this exists in the world and some people consider it normal.

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, the overwhelming direct cause of deforestation is agriculture. Subsistence farming is responsible for 48% of deforestation; commercial agriculture is responsible for 32% of deforestation; logging is responsible for 14% of deforestation and fuel wood removals make up 5% of deforestation.

They don’t go into too much detail of what those terms really encompass,  but I want to add that commercial agriculture is largely associate with raising livestock to be butchered.  Nearly 80 per cent of deforested areas in Brazil are now used for pasture. But almost all this meat is exported.  I’ve never been a vegetarian though my mother is one.  And the more i learn about how most animals are treated lends weight to the knowledge that we could live in harmony with them w/o harming them and live off everything the land and the animal could provide in a more symbiotic relationship.

The degradation of forest ecosystems has also been traced to economic incentives that make forest conversion appear more profitable than forest conservation. Many important forest functions have no markets, and hence, no economic value that is readily apparent to the forests’ owners or the communities that rely on forests for their well-being. From the perspective of the developing world, the benefits of forest as carbon sinks or biodiversity reserves go primarily to richer developed nations and there is insufficient compensation for these services. Developing countries feel that some countries in the developed world, such as the United States of America, cut down their forests centuries ago and benefited greatly from this deforestation, and that it is hypocritical to deny developing countries the same opportunities: that the poor shouldn’t have to bear the cost of preservation when the rich created the problem.

That last bit is intense.  Benefited  greatly from destroying their forests and developing everything in sight? But at what cost? We’ve dug ourselves a hole so deep that we can’t see past our noses to get out of.  The once great city of Detroit springs to mind.  An urban wasteland now.. another sign that we need to re-think economical values and think less, wayyyyy less of profit and more of using our resources to benefit the world.

I think about it a lot.  I think about this kinda of stuff a lot.  And one of my New years resolutions is to be more conscious on what is happening in our world, and make my contribution to the universe and the ideals of peace and harmony, by making people question what “normal” is, and thinking in terms on a higher scale.

Where is our (being humanity) place in the universe?

For the last year or so I’ve been mostly ranting to my twin or my mother about what I think could be done to heal this earth and keep us alive at the same time.  But i want to write more, speak out my thoughts.   However, Joules says I can get awfully ranty ~_~  So i made a little sub blog to be my outlet;

http://think.crumpledpaper.ca

And I think I’m going to enjoy ranting a bit more.

(i might even do an audio log!!)

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I’ve been wrestling with feeling melancholy.

It just happens.

Sometimes it comes on of it’s own accord,  sometimes it’s just something in life that you have no control over.

It hits me like I wave I didn’t see coming while I was too busy admiring the beauty in a tidal pool.

I spent all day worrying, and watery eyed.

Unraveling like a poor crocheted sock caught on a nail.

Am i a leaf caught in the wind? Or am I the tempest unknowing of my own strength in emotion?

I don’t always have the answers….

I have to remember that there’s always a rainbow at the end of the storm.

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

Doing the Friday Five just cause 

1. What’s something you frequently misplace? My keys! All the time to the point where Andy makes fun of me 
2. For whom are you often mistaken?  My twin sister.  Happens almost on a daily basis!
3. When were you last misinformed about something important? Everyday.  Question institutions of control. Question media sources. Question until you find the answers yourself.
4. Where in your home do you have a seemingly random collection of miscellanea? I have a pumpkin shaped basket on my kitchen counter I throw random stuff into. 
5. Upon meeting someone for the first time, what qualities in the other person are likely to cause you to misjudge him or her? I try not to judge people right away.  I like to let them present themselves to me and let my inner sense guide me. However, i have a hard time w/ smell as my nose is rather sensitive.  So if you smell bad, odds are I’m not going to stick around.  

Tweaked my site a bit more… disabled the archive in the side.   Can anyone recommend an awesome side bar archive manager? Meow? Also got some new smilies up tee hee. Can you tell I likes them? 

I’m sooooo happy it’s Friday by the way!

What are you plans for the weekend?

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

Ta da!

As Sam said some time ago, I pretty much recycle the exact same code every time and just change the graphics.  >< Butttttt, i likes it

Once again, it’s a hand drawn doodle, but with hints of color.   Worried by the last time I tried to spice things up, I was pretty hesitant to add color at all.  But I tried to make it a gentle coloring!

My comicpress theme that I’ve hacked and mangled and frankensteined to death is getting so messy that the next time I have more than one hour to devote to a face lift, I might just rewrite the whole thing fresh over.  But as that is a highly intimidating thought! Odds are I’ll just keep recycling this one.  Recycling is good for you!!

There’s a couple things I still need to do that I don’t want to forget, so i’m going to point form them for my own reference.

• Switch over the emoticons.. (which i can’t do until I get home from work. )
• Whip up a new cute default gravatar since it’s 9 billion layouts old.
• Figure out why I can’t change the colors on my tag cloud even tho I changed them in the settings it’s just not working!!!1 grrr.
• Edit the credits page accordingly.
• re-size the header… I think it’s a tad too big.
• Get a better RSS button.

I think that’s for now.  If you have any critiques or nothing anything broken, please let me know!

*hug hug*

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

Christmas is over? Wait-what? Oh yah, i knew that.  And my blog does too I swear!!

As always, finding the time to sit down and draw out some ideas, and then scan and incorporate those ideas into a working layout, is a challenge.  But I took an hour this morning before work to start on an idea I’ve had bouncing around my head for a while.  I have hopes to complete it tonight when i get home.  But that is rather ambitious of me considering i’m having dinner with a super good friend tonight, who happens to be in town at the moment.

Normally, Wednesday nights are D&D nights, but my oh so lovely boyfriend said we can move D&D to Thursday, and then my oh so lovely twin said we can move Crochet Club to Friday! (phew!)

Aisling just blogged about how good it is to be busy, and I definitely agree.  It is good.  But it’s also a little tiring.  ~_~  So my “plan” is to go home tonight after dinner, and make a pot of coffee and draw/code/design/tweak till I can’t tweak no more.  Or I pass out and drool over my laptop causing an electrical fire.

Happy Humpday!

Ps. What do you think is the greatest challenge of our present time?

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I feel a static charge today.

I woke up feeling excited and positive about all kinds of things.  Not least of which is my new fabulous skirt that I crocheted and am wearing this very second!  (pics to come soon I promise)  But the moment I stepped outside my door, i felt the faint twinges of unease.  Like there is something waiting just outside my peripheral vision.

I feel all nervous and worried and I have no reason to be.  But I have learned, in my 27 years on this planet, in this universe, to trust my instinct.

So watch out Mister Whatever you are! I’m on to you.

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

Hello 2010! It’s ever so nice to meet you.  I hope we can be good friends this year.   I myself am filled with hope and excitement and purpose and I think we’ll have a ball!

Umm.. yah, any who!

Another silly resolution of mine is to stop backspacing on posts.  A lot of the time, when i go to write a post, I get overly critical of what I write and most of the time I don’t end up writing anything!  Bad Christine.  So now, I’m going to send forth my ramblings. In full force.  Meow.

Back to the point though, I like to make stuff.    ¹

I made a ton of stuff this past Christmas, but I spare you the long detailed list and just talk about some of my favorites.

This is a super cute tea cozy that I’m very much in love with.  I found the pattern for it on Ravelry and drooled over it for months before I had the perfect opportunity to make it.  (Andy got his sister a tea pot for Christmas so of course I was all over that!).  Hilariously enough, after reviewing other people who had made the same cozy, I discovered I made it wrong!  Because according to the pattern, the wrong side of the work is supposed to be the front side.  ²  But after looking at how it’s “supposed” to be, and what i ended up doing, I can honestly say that I think I like the look of the right side facing better.   Looking back on the pattern, which I had been so proud to master, I can’t even understand how to make it with the WS facing! So when I make this again, I guess I’ll just keep on making it this way.

This was a gift commissioned by my friend Mike to give to his niece.  He had seen the mini blue dragon I’d made for Louise sometime last year and asked for something like that.   Since that dragon was totally free handed out of the cluttered store room that is my brain, I panicked a little wondering if I could even do it again.  I know I’ve mentioned before how I have a hard time mass producing things, I need to be inspired.  I just can’t copy and paste items via my crochet hook.  I have to be taken by a vision, and create something different each time.  It might be silly to describe it as such, but it’s like each item has a soul.  So i can’t make the same item twice, as the second one would be empty… so to speak ~_~

Zen rambli-ness aside, I think she turned out very well indeed.  I love the big eyes.   It makes her look so young and innocent, while the quirky mouth shows a hint of humor.  The soft wool used for the tummy and feeties is super cute too.    ³  I sewed a little heart button on her chest, that is a little too small to see what it is in the above picture, and a little ribbon bow held in place with a button on her head.  I was particularly excited by the little blue wings and stitching.  I wanted to do wings more in a style of  Van for this one, and I was quite pleased with how they turned out! In fact, should you want to see a close up, you can go here ~_~   It had been sometime since I made a cute critter, I forgot how much fun they are! What I didn’t forget, is how much work they are.  Sometimes I don’t think people quite understand how much work goes into making each little piece and sewing them all together, bringing it to life. Any who, i don’t want to get sidetracked with hand made vs. machine made and I can see that’s where my train of thought is heading.  So, Moving on! Choo choo!

Another item I was tickled pink over was a forest green corduroy bag I made for Joules.  It’s been forever since I used my sewing machine, and a first for making a bag.  The only purse she had was this little old leather bag that she’s had forever.  It’s nice and all, quaint, well loved with use and time, but doesn’t really hold more than her wallet, keys, cell etc.  So now that I’ve got her addicted to yarn and working on projects, seeing Joules toting around large quantities of wool in ratty cloth grocery bags  is a common sight. My goal was to create her a nice sturdy well made side bag that was uniquely her. With the look on her face when she opened it, i daresay I think I achieved it. I’ve been holding onto the green fabric for months and months and months just waiting for the right project.

I wish I had a better picture of the button, it’s totally awesome.  I got it at this cute little button boutique in town that specializes in hand made buttons.  It matched the lining so well it caught my eye right away and I knew it was perfect.  And speaking of the lining, I had left some scraps out on a chair and hadn’t noticed as it was tucked into the table.  So of course Joules comes over for some tea and goes to sit down and sees it! She says, Ooo, am I supposed to see this?.  [insert mini panic attack].  As cool as can be,  i say that I was using the scraps to dust my laptop and chuck it in a craft bin.  I don’t think she was the wiser at the time, but she did tell me how much she loved it! Tee hee, I knew she would.  The bird flying free from a cage was also inspired from Joules.  She is a woman that will never be confined.  She is a free bird.  A gypsy of life if you will..   Any ways, looking over this I feel like I’ve been rambling a bit too much.

Making stuff is fun, whatever the medium! Creating is an act more rewarding than anything  else I can think of.

Happy Tuesday! 

1. This is where you all think in your heads as you roll your eyes.. we already know that duh get to the pics! [↩]
2. which is odd to me but ok ~_~ [↩]
3. I’m thinking future monster puff wool?? [↩]

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I went scouring my archives looking for a post where I might have talked about new years resolutions last year but I don’t seem to have written one! I do remember a few of my resolutions tho.

I wanted to go to the gym more and I got a member ship.  Allowing a few lazy weeks here and there in Oct and Dec, I did manage to go quite a bit this year and lose some excess weight.  So this year my resolution changes from going to the gym, to going more often.  ~_~

I also wanted to start up my business with Joules and we definitely got a taste of that.  It was perfect because we learned a lot about it and I think this year we’ll be even more focused.  Well, i’m praying Joules will be more focused… I tell ya, going into business with family is always tricky work :P

I wanted to get my learners and I failed at that. Oh well. We’ll keep that on the list and hopefully I’ll get it.  One day.  Maybe.

Other than that, I didn’t really have a whole lot of resolutions, except for the one I kept closest to my heart. Value your own Time. I have so much I want to do, so many plans, and dreams and events etc.  And it’s easy to let your time slip through your fingers while worry and panic and depression and stress rule you.  For me is starts with Constant Vigilance over myself.   The key is understanding that it’s not so hard to have control over your emotions and choices.   I get so annoyed when I hear people say it’s too hard to be good, because that’s just an excuse to let outside forces control your actions.  It’s not hard to be whatever you want to be in that moment.  Whether it’s doing your dishes, or abstaining from that 5th drink or deciding you don’t really need to purchase a new television, it’s not hard.  You’re in control.

My twin makes fun of me and calls my thoughts Zen nonsense.  But i’m so much happier than I’ve ever been.  With my life choices, with who I am and how I represent myself then I’ve ever been.  There is something to be said for Zen nonsense!!!!!  I want to share w/ you one of the first steps that I took in understanding who I was.  It was a video blog from a few years back that I watched religiously.  The Show with Ze Frank.   He was awesome, funny,  quick, witty, clever and handsome. Loved him to bits.  And then I watched this one,  and it gave me something to think about.  And that thinking started it all.  It gave me an understanding of who I am in this second and all the seconds to come.   I’ve watched it many times when I was feeling low, or under pressure, and it helps me every time.  Thanks Ze <3!

Any who, I’ve gotten quite off track here.  New Years Goals.

1. Work out more often.

2. Be productive with craft time.

3. Continue to chip away at my debt.

4. Get my learners.  Maybe ~_~

5.  Write more.

I want to write a novel.  I’m not ready to write it now, but I want to in time.

I want to publish a collected works of my poetry.

And then I want to write some more poetry.

Here’s a little collage of 2009 I made (all pics off my cell).  And now I have to go cause Andy is hungry! Nom!!!11

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I’m drinking a fine cup of coffee right now. A fine fine cup indeed. ^^

I am doing this while sitting on Andy’s couch and typing on Andy’s netbook that I love and covet and adore because he basically got it so I wouldn’t log him out of gmail every time i come over.

I just finished reading through my google reader and since every post is detailing what fabulous items people received this holiday, I suppose I’ll do the same ~_~

Andy and his family spoiled me >< They’re such giving people and they know me so well, it’s overwhelming in the best sense. I’m just going to point form it, hope that’s aright.   ¹ And if i forget anything, then it’s because I’m at Andy’s house and I don’t have anything here.

• Lovely teal sweater,yummy lip balm, soaps (ty Leanne <3)
• Some super cute t-shirts (ty Alex!!)
• A lovely pair of PJ’s (green with cute little ducks), beautiful shirt w/ brown swirls, long sleeved brown shirt, (man i love brown), cannisters (which i really wanted!!), pyrex bowls (ditto!), a truly stunning necklace and earring set, flash light and first aid kit (a super detailed one, which i’ve totally been wanting since i’m obsessed with pending apocalypses and i want to be prepared!) And a stocking filled with all kinds of goodies!!!( Ty Sue and Jerry!!!!!)
• My hunny gots me 2 super nice quality pillows that are pure heaven to sleep on, a large wicker chest w/ linen lining (i wanted a better means to store wool and projects i’m working on.), and another basket that was hidden inside, The new Robert Jordan book, (yayayayayaya), The Players HB2 for D&D4ED, 2 incredible porcelain hand statues that i’ve been searching all over town for to take photos and model arm warmers and stuffs <3 (i love how well his knows/listens)
• Bard cards yay! (ty Eamonn)
• Super cute knitted slippers and treats (ty mum)
• Tickets to OWL CITY IN APRIL OMG JOULES I LOVE YOU. I didn’t even know they’d be coming back to Vancouver again so soon, but she found out, bought the tickets and booked the room and it’s all happening.
• Joules also made me a few gorgeous necklaces and some earrings, and gots me some yummy choclates, and a cute kitten mousepad/calendar,

I’m sure there are more things I’m forgetting ~_~ But I don’t like to get lost in the “getting” and the “counting”.  This Christmas was the most amazing Christmas because of the people I love and care about that I spent it with.

Christmas Eve was tons of fun over at my eldest sisters house.  I love getting to spend time w/ my nephews since they’re getting so big!! I mean, Daniel is taller than me now, it’s just so crazy!  And Tristen is still cuddly and adorable so that’s good. /phew  We ate yummy foods an drank fancy drinks and ended the night playing Star Wars Trivial Persuit, (Of which my team of Andy, me and my mum won!!!!! ).

Christmas day was absolutely wonderful spending it at Sue and Jerry’s house.  (Andy’s parents).  Andy’s daughter Ana came over too and it was beyond adorable watching her tear through all the presents, she has it down to an art   She really is the cutest little one I’ve ever seen ^^

Then for Christmas dinner, it was a packed affair filled with laughing and talking and eating and joy.  Sue makes a traditional Christmas Pudding (a recipe passed down from her gradma), and custard and you’d have to taste it to believe how yummy it is.  Jerry does the whole, turn down the lights and pours a bit of liquor on and sets it aflame thingie where it looks so magical! I can’t remember what that’s called, but it’s fun.

From putting up my tree on the 1st, to making my gingerbread house, to my carolling party that was a somewhat small success, to the crafting and the baking, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the everything!!! The month was filled with Christmas Cheer <3

It was Andy and I’s third Christmas together, and the best one at that

I think we stocked up on enough joy and Christmas season to last the whole year through.

I hope you all had a most merry Christmas and that you all have a most wonderful New Year as well!!!

1. Of course it is! it’s my blog!!! [↩]

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I just finished visiting with my mother. We had a lovely chat over some tea and talked about stuffs and this and that.  As I was leaving, we were talking about reading and books being turned into bad representations,  ¹ she threw in a comment about Legend of the Seeker.  She said it in a joking manner, but it got my “inner me” riled up because i really can’t stand it at all.  I refuse to watch it.  It’s an utter abolishment of the novels.  It destroys everything that I love about the characters, the fantastic story arc, and the writing of the struggle  and the journey that is Richard and Kahlan.

My mother says if you can only step outside that view for a second and see what it’s like for people who haven’t’ read the books, you’d really enjoy it for what it is.  And I want to agree with that sound logic.  And I’ve done that for a lot of movies,  ² but with this one I can’t! I simple can’t.  Because they didn’t just cut content here and there to fit it in a few hours.  They twisted and hacked and mangled everything about it.

I’m satisfied that the wiki article describes the show as “loosely based”, but i wished it went more into detail about outrage over the mishandlements of the show.  ³  They don’t touch on it at all except for an upcoming quote.  Even in the Critical Reception area, they only have comment to the show as a show itself.

I want to post a few quotes for those who don’t want to read the whole article ~_~ The makers of the show say this in preparation to what they’ve about to do.

A complete load of hogwash.  A very clever and finely worded way of saying, we’re going to destroy everything you love dear and then spit on the ashes a bit and then rub it in some more.  I try to tell myself and admit that maybe I’m over reacting… because Terry is quoted to have said this  prior to the show’s production saying, among other things, that:

I read this and think. well, oh…  he was involved? Has he lost his mind. Was he low on cash? Couldn’t be! What made him agree to these changes?! But then i saw this, and felt a little validated in knowing that he did not agree to this abomination:

When it got renewed for a second season, my heart sighed to know that they now have another 22 episodes in which to mangle the stories I love. All I can hope for at this point, with all my heart and soul, is that the show gets cancelled before Faith of the Fallen, Book Six. To me, that book out of the whole series is the best. The struggle and the journey of the soul in that book, and the ideology of what they’re fighting for. The cost of that belief and the need to survive in the face of all that is really un-parelled.  I can only think of a handful of books that have spoken to me in that way.

Since I’m already ranting about this, I might as well point out a few of my biggest critiques.

They cast Richard Cypher wrong.  Richard is a man in the books.   He is early in his journey of how far he grows over the course of the books, but he is still a strong man. The boy they cast for it, is just that. A boy. He just doesn’t capture Richard at all to me. He’s a totally different character with the same name.  It’s hilarious to me that one of the producers, Tapert, says this:

“absolutely thought he was the guy, instantly”. Raimi thought that although Horner is older than the character he plays, he was “very believable” and that “he’s got enough good qualities in him, in real life, and he will probably make the audience believe that he’s taking that ride towards making a responsible person and that growth of character that’s so important for me in the stories of Terry Goodkind.”

Horse bullocks.  He’s older??? He looks like he’s barely off his mother’s apron strings.  ⁴

If you read the summery, one of the first sentences of the plot says , The Confessors oversee the welfare of the people of the Midlands.

Stop. Stop right there. Confessors? Plural? Are you kidding me, there are other confessors still alive?? WAIT~! What?! her sister is still alive? That doesn’t happen in the book. That’s incredibly different. The fact that Kahlan is the last confessor alive plays a HUGE role in the novels. In choosing a mate. In having a female child one day to pass it on to.   As one of the reason why she has to keep away from Richard.  The value of her position and life and the weight of her  responsibility.  All of it!

Another point I love, is when the article mentions that Care  is a Mord’Sith who first appears in the Season 1 finale and is sent into the future along with Richard.

Wait-what? The future? THEY GO INTO THE FUTURE?! I kept reading on and her whole role of who she is, where she came from, and what she does is different.  Another character who, once again, is completely changed.

Next on the butchers block, Darken Rahl.  I had to blink when my mother described him as sexy.  They’ve completely re-written his character too.  He’s supposed to be this entirely creepy and disturbing man with scars from wizards fire all over his body. He’s supposed to make you feel sick about the horrible grotesque acts of cruelty he engages in.  He’s not supposed to be likable in any way.  But I know that you could never show the real him on television.  It would have to be HBO rating or higher before you could  show it on telle.  So they just re-wrote it.  And if that wasn’t bad enough? They made Darken Richards brother instead of Father.  Brothers!!!!!1 Seriously people.  The fact that it’s his father is significant.  What was the point in changing it to brother? Tell me?

Jennsen.  His real sister.  Ok, well, they got that right.  But wait, already? Doesn’t she not get introduced until the 7th book?! Wow… i knew they’d go a little head but that far?!? My fears about them touching Faith of the Fallen  ⁵ are getting more real.

Denna.  Once again, changed, re-written, mangled whatever.  Richard killing her and finally manging to turn the blade white is another pivotal point in the plot they’ve ignored entirely.  Instead, Richard lets her flee.  It’s understandable that they had to tone down who the Mord Sith really are, and I would have excepted it, if they had handled it in a more gracious manner. Richard is really broken here.  Tortured mentally, physically, emotionally.  The collar, the pain, everything… is immensely important in what’s to come with the Sisters of thr light, and the training in his powers.

It appears to have a lot of fans. It’s being broadcasted internationally I hear.  Great.  </insert sarcasm> I will never be able to bring myself to watch it.  I mean no disrespect to the people who are acting it, the make up artists, special effects team, costumes peoples and so forth who make it happen.  They’re just doing their job.  But I can’t imagine anyone who actually read the whole series,  and really loved the books,  agreeing to these changes.  So i wish they would have taken this story, changed the names and places and pitched it on their own under some other name. Because it is an entirely different work of fiction.

I bought myself Confessor for Christmas.  I can’t wait to dig in and devour what the story is really about.

1. The Stand by Steven King and how utterly amazing the novel was.  I read the unabridged versions, and it’s one of the best works I’ve ever read. The character depth and the struggle is so profound that I was mortified when i saw the mini series had deleted and merged a few people. It changed the whole tone of it and more.  It was horrid. But at the same time, people who have never read it really enjoy it, but sometimes it’s hard for me to get over the changes. That being said….. [↩]
2. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Fried Green Tomatoes, the list goes on and I forgive and enjoy [↩]
3. Is that a word? If it isn’t it should be and so therefore i now invented it. [↩]
4. exaggeration, but you get the point [↩]
5. book 6 [↩]

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I’m totally utterly done with work and waiting as the seconds tick by ever so slowly.

This is where My google reader comes in handy ^^

The coolest find of the day is the cutest little ginger bread house I ever did see.   Check it out here @ Not Martha!!1

Seriously, I wish I’d seen this when I had all that left over ginger bread dough that I ended up burning when i tried to make ginger snaps. ~_~  I’m definitely going to make these one day!

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

Last night Andy and I watched “A Muppet Christmas Carol“.  I love that movie.  It’s such a feel good movie.   I just can’t help but smile the whole time I’m watching it.   And though my hunnyb would never admit it, I can tell he enjoys the feel good aspect too!

It is the season of the heart
A special time of caring
The ways of love made clear

I have two and a half days left before my mini vacation!  Classes are on break, so the campus is fairly empty, and it’s oh so quiet.  This is the best time to work because I can focus and clean up old piles of files, wear jeans and play music fairly loud.   And while this is a nice consolation, all I can really think about is Christmas Eve and Christmas day!! I’m so excited I can hardly wait!

My small family (my mum, twin and older sis) and I have a Christmas Eve tradition where we all gather at my older sister’s house and have a fancy little cocktail party.  We dress up, make yummy little bite sized foods and drink fancy drinks.   It’s fun because I get to spend time with my nephews and relax and let loose a little.  In previous years, we’ve all let loose a little too much and have woken up Christmas morning sporting severe hangovers, but this year I’m going to be fairly reserved as I’m spending the night at my boyfriends parents house to have Christmas morning with his family!

I’ve never been there on Christmas morning so I’m pretty excited about that. The whole day will be fantastic!! His family is quite the opposite of mine in terms of numbers.  There will be over 20 people at dinner and to me that’s insane, ( I’ve never even met 20 people I’m related too)! But it’s a wonderful hustle and bustle and Andy’s mum is a fantastic cook!  This is our third Christmas together so I’ve gotten to know his family pretty well by now and I’m not as intimidated,  but i remember the first time I met them all, Andy was on call for work and got paged and disappeared for half the night! I was oh so nervous! Meow!

Then on Boxing day, my twin and my mum are having a second Christmas morning and opening gifts for each other and having a yummy brunch. (Joules makes a crazy good breaky!)  This is what I’m really excited about! I had a lot of fun making some fantastic things for Joules and I can’t wait to see if she likes them! I’m also excited that once Christmas is over I can post pics of all the stuff I’ve been working on

Any who! Just in case I can’t find time to blog again before Christmas,

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!  <3

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.

I don’t have cable so I miss a lot of the buzz and hype over things that happen on live shows.  I know I could just go internets them but often you cant find a copy (shakes fist at Dick Clark Productions), and when you can, the quality isn’t the best.

Luckily, I have a fabulous mum with a wonderful VCR who loved to record performances and highlights.  So when I finally have time, I can go over to her home, sit comfortably and ejoy the show.

There were three incredible performances that night that I want to talk about.

I’ll get the Adam Lambert performance out of the way first.  Not because I didn’t like it mind you, but because I feel there’s been too much of a negative focus on it.  To all the people out there who are criticizing him, did you even listen to the words of the song? He is a performer. A real one.. not a cookie cutter mass produced card board cut out lip syncing puppet, but a real performer.  If there’s anything people should blog, tweet, post about in regards to performance, it should be about the amazing ending note he sang that i held my breath through.  It should be about the courage and balls it took to say, You want it? You got it. Let me entertain you.

He was very much in character, giving a fantastic show. The kind of show you get in concert maybe, in the passion of the moment.  Was it a little too sexy? I don’t think so.  When I look at what’s on the telly these days.. how can we even pretend to still be offended by this? Have you seen Trublood? It has a huge following, and there’s more sex in that than I’ve ever witnessed on television.  It has Jason banging some girl doggy style on dirty garbage and cabbage leaves.  But because it’s male/female no one really blinks twice.  I can think of other televised moments (ie. Madonna/Britney/Christina kiss or the Justin/Janet boob moment) that have cause a stir and died down. But as soon as it’s boy/boy….  call the fire department! Panic! wah!

It’s just what the media and the tabloids and the “scene” thrive on.  At the end of the day, all that matters to me was the vocal quality.. the fire, the heat…it was a fantastic performance.  The end.

Whitney Houston was so beautiful.  I cried. I did. I was just short of balling.  It’s so uplifting to see someone struggle against the darkness and come outside the other end.  To never give up.  The words of her song are so meaningful for everyone.  Life is full of challenges..  and to see her over come them, and learn that she was not made to break.  It was a beautiful moment.  The sad thing about it, is that i heard nothing! I didn’t even know she was performing until my mum played it for me.  It was very touching to me as I’m sure it was for a lot of people who have either gone through something, or had to watch someone they love fight that battle with darkness.  It reminds us, that there is light at the end.  It was a beautiful moment.

This is turning into quite the post!! Last night my twin and I were talking, and sometimes in conversation I get carried away with my thoughts on what ever subject we happen to be discussing.  I just love conversing with people!

Any who, I’ve saved the best for last.  The most profound and unique and creative and imaginative and stunningly beautiful performance of the night was Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance/Speechless set.  I don’t even know quite how to describe my feelings on the subject.  After I watched it, i had to take a moment to breath.  To stop, and think.  To appreciate the talent and creative force in the universe that Lady Gaga has become.

I’ve never been an avid fan, i’ve liked her and i listen to her songs when they come on the radio, they’re catchy, up beat and i love the videos.  I love blasting Let’s Dance when I have to do my dishes and sing along.  I started to pay more attention when I heard Paparazzi .  Her performances are always so creative, and always something I’ve never seen before.  (Something that really puts it into context is watching J’Lo’s song right after… zero creativity. Cheese and Lip syncing in all it’s glory… no offence J-Lo.)  I remember her at the Mtv awards was it? With the crazy dress that looked like dripping blood? I love it.  I love how organic and alien she was in the Bad Romance set, but nothing could prepare me for the second part of her performance.

When she broke the glass and climbed up to the piano, i was mesmerized.  Her voice was beautiful.  I can’t believe people have accused her of not being able to sing.  The notes so pure and so full of emotion.  I felt every inch of her journey in that song.

I feel like I’m doing it an injustice by trying to describe it.  I’ll leave it with this quote by Kahlil Gibran; For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.

Lady Gaga puts her heart and soul and mind out there for all the world to see.  Creating a space that tells us directly to our hearts without reservation or concern.. that it’s ok to be anything and everything.

You do have have to fit the mold.  You make it.

I very much admire and respect her.

There you have it.

Originally published at Crumpled Paper. You can comment here or there.