5 Quick Takes Saturday - Vol 4

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I am considering once again changing my blog template. I know, I know you are all thinking (my old readers, anyhow) "GAH! She is forever changing her blog template!" Well, I half-heartedly apologize for that. Honestly, I could no more keep the same look on my blog than wear the same outfit three times in one week. Just my feminine nature, I presume. What is especially tempting is that the website has a bunch of really cute, free blog templates AND it doesn't get rid of all your sidebar thingys! I wouldn't have to ditch all my junk! Ha ha, well I suppose you'll know whether or not I decide. Teehee, I might even decide before the end of this blog post! Ah, decisions, decisions... I am in an indicive mood, family beware!
(Here is the website, in the meantime)

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While at one of the several girl's clubs I belong too the other day, (this one is titled 'The Saint Faustina Club') our leader mentioned a tradition that her family has. At the begining of the year, each family member picks the name of a saint from a hat and that saint becomes their special patron for the year. All the club members did it as well, and I got Bl. Damien of Molokai, a truly amazing saint! Since he is my special patron of the year now, I shall most certainly do a post or two on his life.
My sister ended up with Saint Joseph the Worker, which I doubt is merely a 'coincidence', since St. Jospeh the Worker is one of my family's patron saints - not to mention his feast is also the anniversary of my sister's baptism!
I encourage you to pick your own patron saint for the year. Randomly write down a few saints names on slips of paper and then pick one, or leave a comment and I'd be happy to pick one for you.
All our patron saints, pray for us!

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In this same club, we are studying Ireland, and as part of our learning, we are putting on a small performance for our families. We divided into two groups and each group is decided to put on a skit. One group, Saint Brigid, and the other group, St. Dymphna. I am in the group for St. Dymphna and am playing the role of her father, King Damon. It is quite an interesting role. A bit of background on him: Damon was a pagan married to a devout Catholic woman whom he dearly loved. After she died, he went insane and tried to marry his daughter, Dymphna. She refused, fleeing the country with a priest and a few friends. Damon perused her to Belgium. When he caught up with her, he had the priest killed and then - when Dymphna again refused him - he killed her as well.
So that's who I get to play! I'm actually looking forward too it. This would be the third time I've played a guy (1st was St. Patrick, 2nd time was Angry Mob/St. Jude), so I'll be perfecting my 'guy stance' some more; aka: not standing with my hands folded/clasped, one leg slightly out, the other one slightly bent... no "girly" poses.
I also came up with this cool costume, and I actually look like a guy when I add the make-up beard. Kinda weird... but it's fun.

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The other day, some friends of mine and I were discussing how different actresses/singers look without make-up. Rephrase that - they were discussing, I was listening, as usual. I've seen pictures of some of these young ladies (Kiera Knightly for example) and it's amazing how you would never recognize them! Knightly especially I was shocked, she look like she was about 50 and she is oh what, 24-ish? It's really a shame. They don't look happy either, it's really sad. So they are popular, but at what price?
I was pleasantly surprised though when I looked up Liv Tyler (Arwen from the Lord of the Rings). She is very beautiful with make-up... but I'd say she is even prettier without it! She even looked happy... I know she's an actress, so you can't ever really be sure, but maybe. Hmmm, topic for a full post maybe.

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Ok, something quick for the last quick take.. something funny... aha! Got it! Stay here and don't move while I find 'em...

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Now it's your turn! Below is a Mr. Linky List if you'd care to link to your own 5 Quick Takes Saturday post. Just two things though
(1) Make sure the URL you submit is to your post, not the URL of your blog. (2) Include a link back here.
Can't wait to see what you post!

Butter and Bloopers

Butter and microwaves are so weird. Weird on the point of being villainous!
Not by themselves are they weird villans,, but when you try and do things with them together do they act strange. Hmm, must be the radioactive properties that have messed the insides of the microwaves brains!
But really, when you put butter in the microwave to 'soften it', it acts pretty strange sometimes. For example...
Today at lunch time, I took the plate of butter from the refrigerator and put it in the microwave. It was this little piece, only about a tablespoon, which you think would be at least soft after 5-6 seconds, right? Wrong! 5 secs, still hard and cold. So, knowing how fast these butters can warm up and melt on you, I put it in for 3 more seconds. Nothing. 5 more seconds. Ooh, it isn't as cold anymore! 5 more seconds, wow, I can actually use it to spread on stuff!
Having used up the tablespoon of butter and needing more, I take a stick from the refrigerator and put it in the microwave, on the butter plate. (No silly, a stick of butter! Why would I have a stick in my refrigerator?) So, I put that in for 15 seconds and... bingo! Perfect softness for spreading. Only 15 seconds and the big stick was softer then the little tablespoon! AGHHH!
So yeah, butter and microwaves are weird. If you still don't believe me...
Once upon a time I took the butter plate out of the refrigerator. It had a whole stick of butter and a little less then a tablespoon of butter on it, the plate. I put the butter plate in the microwave for 20 seconds or there about. And lo and behold, when I take it out... the stick of butter is soft enough for you to push your finger into it, no problem, but the little tiny insty winst piece... hard and cold! I kid you not!
Therefore, I proclaim that butter and microwaves must be in a grand conspiracy with each other. A dastardly and dreadful scheme to make us scream when our butter melts back to cream. They are definitely in cahoots together. So keep a weather eye on the microwave, and on your butter! Who knows what they might plan next.

No butter was harmed in the writing of this post.
Real butter was used, not margarine.
Don' t say more, say Mordor!

And if you are bored, here is the blooper real from the Prince Caspian DVD. (I got it off of NarniaWeb.)

Only 11 more days!!!!

The Return to Narnia

It was May 16th. The day we had all been waiting for, for so long. The day my friends and I had been planning for and talking about for moths. Now it was here.

As I sat watching the opening footage of the new movie Prince Caspian, I could hardly believe that I was really there, watching it. It just didn't seem real. After all those movie trailers that I watched, I thought. All those months of looking at every photo shot I could find over and over again... all the discussion and speculation, now I am finally going to see it!
Is this real? I wondered.

Watching Caspian riding for his life, it finally sank in and I began crying in awe, excitement, amazement and gratitude for the gift I had been given in being able to see this movie. I have never felt that way about any film ever before. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, going to see a film for the first time. Never again will you have the feeling of sitting in a dark theater, straining to see what will happen next, because you've never seen this film before.

I knew right away that this would be not be anywhere near a faithful adaptation of the book, but I didn’t care. I had anticipated that fact, and made up my mind that it wouldn't ruin my enjoyment of the movie. I was here to have a great time. And I certainly did. I walked on air for two days straight after leaving the movie theater. Right now, hearing the music or seeing pictures would be enough to send me into raptures again.

After the first moments of disbelief, I was sucked into the action and had eyes and ears for nothing else. I giggled with delight as Reepicheep (He is sooo cute!) leapt on to the scene; my heart ached as hundreds of Narnian's were massacred due to messed up battle plans. I hated it when the credits stopped rolling.

I will admit that the movie did have its flaws (though few.) Example, for the majority of the movie, Peter was a complete jerk. (For those of you who have heard of my "engagement" to him, I have seriously considered ditching Peter for Reepicheep. ;) I can, however, understand where he was coming from, I might have even acted the same way if I were him. He 'repented' so to speak, so I might get married to him after all!

What I disliked the most was the fact that the filmmakers left out the gradual sightings of Aslan by the Pevensie children. They included Lucy being able to see him, but seemingly 'forgot' that as they walk down the river gorge and to Aslan's How, Edmund, Peter and Susan one by one are able to see him as well.

Also, was it just me, or have the centaurs started dressing differently since the Golden Age of Narnia? It seems to me that I remember them with a bit more clothing on their upper halves. Compare Orieus and Glenstorm.

On the positive side, I loved how the relationship between Lucy and Aslan was portrayed. By seeing Aslan through the eyes of Lucy, you were brought much closer to him then in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He seemed warmer, more touchable, more real. I felt that I knew this Aslan better then I did in the LWW. Those little glances between Aslan and Lucy every now and then were fantastic, you could tell they must have been reading each others thoughts. Both of them were great!

And as for what has to have been the most controversial element in the whole film (hands down without a doubt) the Caspian/Susan romance, I have to say that it was very nicely done. With the possible exception of the farewell scene, it was never made the focus of attention, definitely being a side issue - from my perspective anyhow. The infamous kiss wasn't nearly as bad as it appeared in the trailer, because now you saw it in context and it seemed a natural thing for Susan to do. Now, don't hit me over the head, but I shall come out and say it - I liked the kissing scene. The romance was great too. (There now all you who hate it can come chasing after me.)

One of my favorite parts was listening to the wonderful musical score underlying the action. Much of the music was re-played from LWW, bringing you back to Narnia. I love the score for these films, and have listened to the LWW soundtrack over and over until I know every minute of it. I actually was able to predict when scenes in PC were going to switch by listening to the music and remembering what happened at that point in the LWW. (I was right, of course. It even switched to the scene I thought it would.) The credit songs were not the quality of the first film -also, I don't really care for that kind of music - but the first one did fit with the closing scenes of the movie really well.

For the movie - in the absence of Susan and Lucy's dresses - I looked at photos of their hair-do's and my sisters and I went with their hairstyles. My hair was similar to Susan's when she was wearing her purple dress, and I wore it like that the next day because I couldn't have done otherwise. =) Oh, and I did bring with my Prince Caspian (see below post). He enjoyed the film almost as much as I did, so he tells me.

Overall, I absolutly loved this film and I look forward to seeing it again - and again and again. It was wonderful to be brought back into Narnia once more, even a Narnia that differed from the books. I eagerly await setting sail on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 2010.

Ps. Yes, I admit now that Caspian has a Spanish accent! Though really, I still can't figure how you heard it from the few lines he said in the trailer. A bit distracting a times, but cool none the less.

Never Fear! Prince Caspian is Near!

It's almost here! Just 4 more days until the movie that thousands of people have been waiting for arrives at the big screen! I have been getting excited about this for a long time, but I didn't realize just how excited I was... until our diocese newspaper ran an article about Prince Caspian and I jumped all over my bedroom shouting while I waited my sis' to finish reading it. I was -to put it mildly - totally thrilled. I am not the kind of fan who dreams of up-coming movies all day long, buys every fan related thing in sight, or kisses Prince Caspian good-night, but I get excited in my own 'quiet' way.

So I was curious about what everyone was planning for the big day, and instead of creating a poll, I decided to take a more 'personal' (and fun) approach, and write a post. So please, let me know what you are doing in the comment box. Are you sewing a costume? Are you organizing a big group from your church, school, whatever to go see it? Are you going at 12:01 in the morning? (Wish I was, but I doubt it.) Are you going with a few close friends?

Also, if you voted in the poll to your...left, no right! I'd like to know what you voted for as well. I personally am looking forward the most to seeing Peter duel with Miraz and metting Reepicheep!

As for how I am getting ready... well, first off, (as some of you know) I won Peter in a duel with a friend of mine, so I am waiting to see my betrothed in his latest film. (Though I have heard he has a 'chip on his shoulder', so if that is the case, I may break of the engagment. *gasp* Did I just say that?)

Alas, I am not sewing a dress, (no time or fabric!), like Elenatintil is (she is doing a remarkable job!) but, I am going on the 16th with with a rather large group of friends so that should be really fun! Oh, that includes my Prince Caspian as well.

After all, how could I not bring him to his own movie? I got this little guy right after the Lion the Whitch and the Wardrobe came out, and decided to name him Caspian. I think he looks like a Caspian, don't you?

Anyhow, he is coming with as well! (And he is very excited!) He isn't so sure he wants to kiss Susan though. I told him that he doesn't have to, he replied, "Yes I do!". "Why?" said I. He said "I am Prince Caspian!"

Which reminds me... am I the only one who can't hear Caspian's accent? I have been told by many peope that he has one (Spanish), but I just can't hear it. *sighs* Well, I will go listen again.

The soundtrack comes out today! How many people are planning on buying it?

3 more days! (Yeah, it took me two days to write this thing.)

3 more days!

They CAN"T be serious! Can they?

I really couldn't believe it when I saw it. Watch the TV spot below of Prince Caspian, and then let me know what you think. My thoughts on this will be in the comment section.

Actually, I can't get the video on here, but click on this link. And then come back and let me know what you think.

Prince Caspian is Coming!

The second theatrical trailer has been released! It's really neat. Oh! I can't wait until the movie comes out!