Fine, I Admit It!

Fine fine fine fine FINE! I'll admit it. There are two anime shows that not only do I find acceptable, I find them exceptional (eh? good play on words, no?) and YES. I'm a fan. I can't believe that I'm admitting to this! In case you're wondering, the two shows are "Full Metal Alchemist" and "Naruto", both introduced to me by my sister. We finished FMA, and are currently working on Naruto. For Naruto, there are currently more than 350 episodes (and counting) that are about 20 minutes apiece. Jenny and I are on episode 62 right now. We started about a week ago. It's just so GOOD! I'm... hmm... addicted? no no, bad connotation... let's say... intrigued.... engaged even. Oh, and I have a crush on a fictional character. He's a ninja. I could show HIM a few new techniques (ooh, scandalous!)... like how to sing or bake plum pudding or synthesize dangerous chemicals (...okay, maybe not so scandalous).

Twists

In the past couple of months, I have become quite well acquainted with the concept behind the popular saying "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." I have also recognized the reality of the cliche (yet very true) saying that "Whenever God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window." I think that many doors which are closed (this one included) have very little to do with God, but rather with human agency; however, I won't get into any deep philosophical discussions today... Anyway, my point is that although part of me is dead, empty, and gone forever (not to be dramatic or anything), another part of me is in the process of awakening. This is a direct result of what seemed to me to be the end of my happiness. I found the strength within me that I never knew existed. New opportunities are now presenting themselves to me, and I keep discovering that life is full and rich and beautiful. Sadness and loss is a crucial part of growing. The other day my family was talking about "the hero's journey" and how we are all on our own hero's journeys. I really like that. From mythology and great literature, we see this repeating pattern: It is the trials, the constant struggles, and the fights they go into not knowing if they'll win, that mold them into heroes. (Hercules, Frodo Baggins, Harry Potter, Don Quixote, Jean Valjean to name a few.) No one exceptional lived a life free from affliction, and often the most exceptional people are the ones with the greatest trials. Although I don't hope to be the next Rosa Parks, I do feel that I'm on my own hero's journey. And who knows where the roads will take me? I choose my own path, and that is a wonderful feeling.

Some of my favorite youtube videos

Note: I do not own or have the copyright to any of these characters, people, authors, writers, artists, their grandmother's cat Fluffy, etc.

This one is AMAZING! It's a condensed Lego version of Victor Hugo's classic, Les Miserables.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Dn0_gsbA8

This video is near and dear to my heart, for I have a tortoise that I adore. This video is of a tortoise in someone's backyard attacking cats (defending its territory) and it's quite funny to see how persistant it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul0gfCyeiyM

Classic, "Charlie Bit my Finger", the accents totally complete this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

This is an event in debate (and theater) called "Humorous Interpretation". One actor portrays several characters using different voices and body movements. This kid is incredible. He did an adaptation of "The Witches" (by Roald Dahl). I think he was ranked 3rd in nationals in 2007. The total HI is about 10 minutes long, so this video is part one of two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjR97oeBor4

"It's kinda... catchy..." I present to you Potter Puppet Pals in "The Mysterious Ticking Noise"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0loVd16NIOk

Itunes songs

So I have this giftcard for itunes, except that I don't know what to spend it on! So I've decided that every time I hear a song I want to have, I'm gonna remind myself on my blog. Here it goes

"Toxic Love" from Fern Gully
this song was going through my head today, which is kinda strange, since I haven't seen that movie for years!

"Fever" by Peggy Lee
referred by a dear friend, and I love it!

Adventures in the Canned Fruit Aisle

Okay so it didn't actually happen in the canned foods aisle, but it did happen in a grocery store. For the third time. I was just minding my own business doing regular shopping when this guy approaches me. He doesn't look old, but certainly not with a decent date-ability range. He asks me if I'm shopping (DUH) and how it's going. This is all in broken English mind you. He asks me my name and I tell him and ask him his. I'm just being polite! I give up on finding what I was looking for, and tell him it was nice to meet him, clearly moving on down the aisle. Not more than two minutes later, he comes up to me.
"Are you married?" he says.
I tell him the truth, "No, but I just got over a bad breakup and I'm not looking for a relationship." I should've told him I was married.
He apparently didn't understand, so I try explaining it to him again. "So you're not married?"
"No."
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, but right now I'm focusing on school"
"Do you want a boyfriend?"
"No. It was nice to meet you again for a... second time."
"You are a very nice lady."
"Thank you. You're very sweet. I appreciate that. I really am flattered, but I'm just not interested in a relationship right now. Bye" and I left.

THIS IS THE THIRD *bad word*-ing TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN HIT ON (and asked if I'm married) BY OLDER FOREIGN MEN WHILE MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS BUYING GROCERIES IN A SUPERMARKET!

What exactly is it about me that says "Hello my name is Aly and I'm interested in dating 30-70-year-old foreign men who can't speak English"?! I don't get it!

Thoughts

Life should be lived with passion. Gliding through life with no feeling leaves life meaningless. Although apathy may shield pain, it also drives away joy. To be truly happy, it is necessary to understand how it feels to be truly sad. To feel. I don't think anyone actually reads this blog (which is totally okay with me since I like talking and writing to myself...) so I'll indulge in a moment of self-righteous-patting-myself-on-the-back. I am not weak because I have feelings. I am strong because I have the courage to care.

Story time!

My great grandparents have a cabin outside of Yellowstone available for anyone in the family to go to if you reserve it in advance, and we went there for Thanksgiving. We arrived at about 7:00 in the evening and saw a car with an Oregon license plate. My mom went up to the door and knocked. There were people. PEOPLE! In OUR family cabin that WE had reserved! You can probably tell that I wasn't terribly happy, because seriously- who wants to spend their Thanksgiving with complete strangers (i.e. relatives you met once when you were three)? But then we found that it was our favorite random relation! (My mom's aunt and cousins, who are our age) Apparently we were accidentally double booked, but they were so kind and wonderful and we all spent Thanksgiving together. We stayed up after midnight every night playing games, doing crafts, watching movies (and Monk), and all sorts of fun. It was unexpected, but probably one of the best Thanksgivings ever.

Memorable moment
We were playing Scattergories. The category was 'exercise.' The letter? H. Begin scene:

Me: I put down 'heavy'. Did anyone else?
Others: No.
Marie: I put 'hard'
Mom: Healthy
Debbie: I said 'heat'
Matt: Helpful
Becky: Harty
Jenny: Hell

Life Goals

A friend of mine (you know who you are...) has a list of life goals. I think this is a brilliant idea and have started to compile a list of my own. If you know me, you already know my big goals that include a family of my own, so rather than bore you with the standards I'll venture a little out of the norm :)

-Go paragliding. Survive.
-Speak another language fluently, hopefully Spanish.
-Participate in "The Great British Duck Race" www.thegreatbritishduckrace.co.uk/
-Eat real buffalo.
-Complete an Olympic distance triathlon.
-Win an award for creating something delicious.
-Go to the Galapagos Islands and save turtles, tortoises, and iguanas.
-Learn how to proficiently waltz, salsa, and especially tango.
-Go to the best (voted) amusement park in the world: "Cedar Point" in Ohio.
-Pull a real all-nighter (just to say that I did).
-Visit (and possibly go diving in) Jellyfish Lake in Palau.

Book Recommendation

There's an incredible book I'm reading that I absolutely recommend to everyone. It offers great comfort and insight into us as human beings. It's very 'slice-of-life' centered, and genuinely uplifting. Oh, and it's an easy read.


It's called:
"Kitchen Table Wisdom" by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.

Musicals... Continued! The most "Awesome" songs

By 'awesome' I not only mean, well, awesome, but I also mean full of awe. There's something in these songs that just makes me go "Wow."

The Impossible Dream- Man of La Mancha
Murder- Jekyll and Hyde
Look Down- Les Miserables
Madame Guillotine- The Scarlet Pimpernel
Camelot- Camelot

Romantic Songs From Musicals And Such

These are some of my favorites! I dedicate them to the hopeless romantic inside... They range from thoughtful and beautiful to downright... pathetic? no... just... excessively cheesy. Try 'youtube'-ing them! Yay for youtube! And please leave comments adding to this rather short list :)

Last Night of the World- Miss Saigon
Let Me Be Your Wings- Thumbelina
Far Longer Than Forever- The Swan Princess
Take Me As I Am- Jekyll and Hyde
She Was There- The Scarlet Pimpernel
If I Can't Love Her- Beauty and the Beast
How to Handle a Woman- Camelot
If Ever I Would Leave You- Camelot
A Heart Full of Love- Les Miserables
I Won't Say I'm in Love- Hercules
All I Ask of You- Phantom of the Opera
How Could I Know- The Secret Garden
As Good As You- Jane Eyre

Introduction

Well this is rather exciting. I've never had a blog before! I welcome you friends, neighbors, and dust bunnies alike. I declare the right to be thoughtful, frivolous, amusing, serious, and altogether 'an odd duck' in my musings. To begin:

I wish I were a glow worm
A glow worm is never glum
For how could you be unhappy
When the sun shines out your bum?
-Author Unknown