Made of Awkward

It's been forever since I last blogged. I honestly don't know where to start. There's so much that I would like to say, yet as it all comes to mind one-by-one, they each seem so insignificant. Why bother? I seem to tell myself. And yet...here I am again.

Do you ever got lost in your own mind? It seems to happen to me more often than it should. Tonight, I was making a cup of tea while simultaneously filling a bottle of water. Unfortunately, I got so lost in thought while dipping my tea bag in and out of the warm water, that my water bottle overflowed and continued to overflow onto the kitchen counter. It was some moments before my mind returned to me and I got over to shut the water off. I then had quite the mess to clean up.

Things like this seem to happen to me quite often, which is quite unfortunate. Usually, these moments end in embarrassment on my behalf and some form of awkwardness.

Sometimes, I feel like the world moves much faster than me. I get left behind. Is it that I'm lazy? Is it that I'm not mentally up-to-speed? Could I say I'm a relaxed person? Or perhaps just unaware? Whatever the reason. I'm usually still sipping my coffee when the rest of the world has moved on to their evening cocktails. It's long after the rest of the world has shut their eyes, that I feel mine are finally starting to see clearly.

I suppose it doesn't really matter. Maybe I should just try harder to be on the rest of the world's timeline, rather than strolling by my own clock's time.

That being said, I will do the exact opposite. I'm going to snuggle down with a cup of warm tea and watch Sherlock. 

Hello London!

Oh my gosh. I went on a trip to London for a week and it was fantastic! I had so much fun! I met up with my friend, Beth, and we saw all the sights of London.

London is a magical place. It's so beautiful no matter where you look. I am a personal fan of cloudy weather with fog so London was perfect for me. The weather was great while we were there. It never even rained, which was amazing (though kind of sad, because I love rain). Some days, it was even completely sunny and clear skies! Very pleasant. I loved it. I was there for about a week and took about 1700 photos. ^_^ Plus, one of the highlights, was when I made one of the royal guards laugh...er...he made me laugh.

What happened was he was looking at me, while I took pictures of him, and then he made his eyes go really wide. This made me laugh, which in turn, made him laugh. When I walked away, I waved at him and he smiled. It was definitely a priceless moment! There were a lot of fun moments throughout the week. Like the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, walks in Kensington Gardens, and the long underground rides. Haha.

I will definitely go back to London. It stole a piece of my heart and now I have a desire to travel everywhere! What also makes it great is that the people there speak English...to some extent. There was an obviously intoxicated man who launched into a conversation with Beth and I regarding being American and skiing in Montana vs Colorado. It was very hysterical.

What's even more entertaining about London is that there is a Starbucks about every 10 steps. We went at least once a day (sometimes twice) to use their internet and make sure we had enough energy to get through the day. Across from the Windsor Castle, there is a Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and McDonalds. I thought that was very special. So much for the English culture. ;)

I also have no shame in being the typical tourist. I took an excessive amount of touristy pictures, visited all the touristy spots, and was proud to sound American!

People in London are pretty nice. Save for the random jerks here and there, but that's to be expected everywhere. I love their accents! The first man who spoke to me in a heavy British accent made me want to package him up and bring him home. I must say, by the end of the week, that urge had not subsided at all. Haha. I was still trying to get one to come home with me even after we had landed back in the States.

And oh the traveling! On the way home, it took me 18 hours of flying, 25 hours of being awake, to get home. Beth and I got up at 4:15am, and I went to bed 25 hours later once I got home. All of my flights were delayed at some point or another. The one back from London was so delayed that we actually missed our connecting flight to Denver. That was an adventure.

The whole trip was amazing. It was perfect in its own imperfect way. Things didn't always go well, or as planned, but they always worked themselves out.

I can't wait to go back!

Feelin' Good!

Have you ever had those days when you're very productive and it just feels awesome?? I'm having one of those days. I have to brag a little right now, since I'm doing so good. It's not even noon, and I've already finished all my homework. Which means, I don't have to worry about any of my schoolwork ALL weekend! YEAH!!

And it's snowing outside. Can I get a "WAHOO"?? I love snow, just so long as I don't have to go driving in it...or muck stalls in it. Which I don't today. SUPER!

What are your productive days like? What motivates you to get things done? I'm not really sure what motivated me today. I just woke up and said, "let's do this!" and I did. Is that what happens with you? Most of the time I just wake up and think, "I'll get to it when I get to it." Not a real winning attitude, but it's served me well so far. ;)

The only thing with getting my schoolwork done that's a bummer, is that now I "have time" to focus on the BIGGER projects. Like, oh, filling out applications to get a job. That's a bummer.

Or selling my old textbooks. Super lame. But it has to be done.

Or the more exciting projects like sending out queries to try and get my book published.

But the BEST big project I have to focus on is planning my March trip to LONDON. Yes, I'm going. It's going to be awesome.

I bet you can guess where my attention is going to be? If not, I'll give you a hint. I would rather be reserving hotels in London than putting in my previous work experience. ^_^

But, ahhh it's a good day. I'm feelin' good. Feelin' productive. Feelin' energized!

How are you feeling??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edwsf-8F3sI&ob=av2n

Big Gestures!

For me, watching TV shows and movies can sometimes be all about a single moment. Most of the time, because I'm a girl who LOVES romance, those big gestures are romantic. Big gestures are like the turning point of the relationship. The big gesture could be when they finally give in and kiss, or it could be (more likely in the older movies and shows), when he touches her hand or dances with her. Those are the moments that make me go "gahhh!!!" in happy splendor.

I'm reminded of the movie "Chasing Liberty". At some point the main guy, whatever his name was, says something like "he didn't make the big gesture to her" (talking about his father/mother's relationship). Because this dude's father never made the big gesture, the mom and son never saw the father again (or something along those lines). In this case, the big gesture was for the man to say something like "I'll stay home for you" (meaning, not go running off out of the country for his job) (If you've seen this movie and I'm getting it wrong, correct me. It's been awhile). So big gestures differ greatly but, when they are done properly, they totally make the movie...

Or break it.

So what happens when there is no big gesture? Well, let's think of it this way. Imagine you went out to dinner at a super fancy restaurant. It was delicious! Everything tasted extraordinary (I don't understand this word. Why is being EXTRA ordinary a good thing?) and you were stuffed to the max. But, the restaurant is KNOWN for it's delicious, ooey-gooey Chocolate Mountain and Fudge Cake dessert. You're too full to eat it now, but you get it to go. You put it in your fridge and, oddly enough, forget about it. The next evening, after a long, busy day at work and the gym, you're exhausted. You're laying on your bed, wishing you had something to brighten your day. THEN, you realize that you have that incredible dessert downstairs. Instantly, your mouth starts to water (is anyone else craving chocolate?), you jump from your bed, excitement filling your body. You run down the stairs, across the living room, slide across the kitchen floor in your socks, anxiously fling open the door and happily see....

Nothing.

Your roommate ate your cake.

Ah! You're mixed with confusion, anger, disappointment, and you're down-right unsatisfied. Angrily, you search for something to ease your chocolate craving, but nothing works. So, you storm off to your room, swearing to let your roommate have it when they get home from their job.

That's what I feel like when there's no big gesture. The whole thing just fizzes out and you feel like you have to try to replace it with something else. (I fear lots of things in life are like this). But in movies and shows, it's the worse. You expect there to be a big ta-da! If there's not, you're like "what was the point of watching that?" (Kind of like, "What's the point of reading this blog?") There is none! You'll probably feel worse than when you started. If it's a TV show, you pray they will make up for the fizzle with next week's episode. If it's a movie, you're like "is there a sequel I missed??".

So I believe there should be a big gesture. Like I said, it differs greatly. Could be a kiss, could be some perfectly timed words. Who knows. But if your life doesn't have a big gesture, maybe your standards are too high or maybe you're not trying hard enough. Or maybe, you just better keep a good lookout for what's to come.

That's it. :)

Phew!

Well, I did it! 15 chick flicks in 21 days. That was kind of fun. I enjoyed writing about what I learned from the chick flicks. There were many more I wished to write about, and maybe I still will. There's too much to learn.

Doing this project has definitely opened my eyes to all the ways that romance can go wrong. No wonder it's hard to work to find someone worth it. However, once it is found, it seems it would be perfect. I am, however, looking for my own hero in my life and I think I have learned a few ways to improve my chances of sailing that storm with a bit more grace. I know it's dumb to learn from fictitious movies, but they're based on something! So why not?

For anyone who has gone through this journey at least somewhat, thank you for reading along. I hope it has helped you as well in one way or another. It's nice to share experiences with others, even if it is indirectly. I have enjoyed starting this year with these blogs. It gives me inspiration for the blogs to come. I hope 2012 is full of great writing and special inspirations for you.

We will just have to see what I decide to write next! Now, however, I have found something new to blog about if I should find a movie worth writing about.

Now on to your own adventures! :)

Movie 15- Pride and Prejudice (The short version)

To make reading this post perfect: Light a candle, drink a cup of tea, and think of your own Mr. Darcy.

Alright ladies, all at once now "YAY!!!". There just seems to be something so right about ending this adventure with Pride and Prejudice. I had a debate as to what the last movie should be, since there was a lot of competition. I mean, Pride and Prejudice vs. Australia, North and South, Twelfth Night, and other such classics. But Since Mr. Darcy is such an iconic hero and Lizzy is one of my own inspirations, it's only appropriate.

If you don't know the story of Pride and Prejudice, I'm sorry but I'm not going to tell you. You either have to read the book, watch the 6 hour version, or both. I love the Keira Knightly version, but it doesn't give enough detail. As someone who has read the book repeatedly and seen the 6 hour, Colin Firth version, I can appreciate and fill-in-the-blanks of the short version. Pride and Prejudice is a classic, feel good movie for the woman of the world. It makes me so happy! I love the language, the relationships, the sarcasm, the complexity, and the constant surprises. It is actually surprisingly comedic. Of course, you may have to watch it several times before you get the full effect.

Oh all the things you can learn!!

Elizabeth, most often referred to as Lizzy, is simply spectacular. If I could aspire to be anyone in life, I would inspire to be her. She's extremely clever and witty. I think she very well could be the creator of sarcasm. She is most definitely mouthy in her thoughts, which is probably why I like her so much. She is full of spirit and fun, laughs easily, and doesn't often mind what others think. I feel like I am similar to Lizzy, though I'm sure many ladies would say that or at least imagine themselves to be like Lizzy. But let's pretend that I'm similar to Lizzy, that way I can apply what she learned. In the beginning, Lizzy has the same views that I have now. Which are; "Only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony which is why I will end up an old maid." Lizzy had a couple chances to get married, though. Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham both might have been her husband, but she passed up both options in an attempt of something "more". Was that foolish? Of course not. But we only know that because we know how this story ends. We all look for our Mr. Darcy's and Lizzy's of the world. As for me, the search can sometimes get quite discouraging. Meanwhile, the Lydia's and Kitty's of the world find their own charming soldiers. But even Lizzy didn't see Mr. Darcy as her Mr. Darcy. Why? Because of her set opinions. Though she had very good reasons for her opinions, once they were decided (even if she didn't have all the information) there was no changing her mind. Now there, that displays both pride and prejudice in Lizzy. But Lizzy gets a rude awakening to her faults when she realizes that Mr. Darcy is not all bad and neither are his actions. She realizes the information she has trusted shouldn't have been trusted. Lizzy almost realizes this too late. Mr. Darcy has a 'prearranged' marriage and had Lizzy stuck to her opinions for much longer, Mr. Darcy may have been married off and wouldn't that have been a depressing ending. Obviously it's important to be set in your opinions, to stay strong in your beliefs, but then what if you're wrong? When is it important to yield and change opinions? That is what Lizzy had to figure out. I want to be more aware of when I'm being strong in my opinions and when I'm being just plain stubborn and prideful in my prejudices.

Mr. Darcy, "The person with a quizzical brow". He certainly has pride, but not in a bad way. He's the strong, sensitive, silent type. The worst part about Mr. Darcy is that you can't tell what all he's thinking, unlike Lizzy. However, Mr. Darcy always acted in the way he thought would be right. All of the actions which Lizzy hated were performed because Mr.  Darcy thought they were the best actions (which are his prejudices). He do so in order to protect his friend, to protect his sister, and to protect himself. So what could the perfect Mr. Darcy do wrong? He lacks...finesse. Though his intentions may have been honorable, his actions were rather abrupt and seemed unfeeling. In other words, he was a poor communicator, which many people are. Had Mr. Darcy been more forward and open about his actions and beliefs, he would have avoided a lot of heartache. If he would have put any misguided ideas straight, perhaps Lizzy may have had a more favorable view of him. That's pretty much all I've got. So, basically. Mr. Darcy is perfect except for the fact that he's an introvert....but that's part of what makes him perfect. So I'm stumped. Anyone else got any thing to learn from Mr. Darcy?

So who's prideful and who's prejudicial? I say they're both, both! That's why they balance out!

But at the end of it all, I still feel bad for Mary. Poor thing is ignored the whole time!

And yes, I can basically quote the whole movie.

Mrs. Bennet- "Have you no consideration for my poor nerves?"
Mr. Bennet- " You mistake me, my dear. I have the utmost respect for your nerves. They've been my constant companion these twenty years."

Lizzy- "And that put paid to it. I wonder who first discovered the power of poetry in driving away love? "
Mr. Darcy- "I thought that poetry was the food of love."
Lizzy- "Of a fine stout love, it may. But if it is only a vague inclination I'm convinced one poor sonnet will kill it stone dead."
Mr. Darcy-"So what do you recommend to encourage affection?"
Lizzy- "Dancing. Even if one's partner is barely tolerable."

Mr. Darcy- "I love most ardently." 

Movie 14-The Holiday

I don't know if you can tell, but I saved some of my favorite movies for last. This movie is a favorite for many reasons; England, Jude Law, hysterical comedy. In this movie, Amanda and Iris switch houses (and lives) for two weeks. Amanda, a wealthy movie trailer producer, goes to live in Iris' house. Iris is a love sick (over Jasper), overlooked journalist. When they swap, Amanda meets and falls in love with Iris' brother, Graham. Meanwhile, Iris helps an old man, Arthur, accept the recognition for his work. Iris also meets and falls in love with Miles, a musician. However, both sets of romance are difficult because of the distance between, well, England and the US. But the movie ends happy, when both sets decide to make it work.

What did I learn?

Jude Law is great in any movie.

What else?

Well, first off, Iris. Iris is madly in love with Jasper and has been for the past 3 years. But Jasper only uses her and messes with her mind. He then gets engaged, and still wants to keep Iris around? Um. No. Not cool. All the while, Miles is there. Miles is sweet, caring, and  definitely got a good heart. However, Iris couldn't see Miles because her eyes were so full of Jasper. When Jasper finally showed his true colors and Iris was able to stand up to him and move on, she was able to see Miles for who he was. What I learn from this is like being consumed in a fantasy. When you're eyes are full of the ideal, you can't see the reality. Like I've said before, I don't want to get so consumed with something (or someone) that I miss what is really the best right in front of me.

Amanda's life is completely controlled by her work. She gets so engulfed with where her life's going, that she doesn't see that it's actually already going on around her. She pushes herself to the edge until she finally has to take a vacation. Turns out, a vacation was the best thing for her. As many of you probably know, I know what it's like to work too hard. The idea of vacations producing love is a phenomenal idea. ;) But the only reason Amanda found love was because she had the time to see her life for what it was. I want to make sure I take time to relax and experience life, rather than just work it away. Yeah, it's important, but after 7 months of hard work, where did it get me? So, I want to continue to work and do my best, but still live my life. That's pretty important, wouldn't you say?

"Well, HELLOOO big dollop!"-Miles (regarding whip cream on a frappuccino) 

"I have a cow and I sew. How's that for 'hard to relate to'?"-Graham

Movie 13- Penelope

This movie is so cute. But, really, how can it not be when it has James McAvoy? Something else that makes this really priceless is Mr. Bingley playing the crazy, bad guy Edward Vanderman. The story line goes like this-- Penelope was born with a pig nose and ears (I honestly don't think she looks that bad...) but apparently it makes her look hideous. The curse can only be broken when "one of her own" will accept her for who she is, then her pig features will go away. A reporter dying to prove he's been right about the pig baby all these years, sends in a blue-blood (Max) to get proof that Penelope is a pig. In the process, Max actually ends up falling in love with Penelope (see, he doesn't think she looks that bad). But the truth comes out that Max isn't actually a blue-blood. There was a switch up and Max is actually Johnny, a broke musician. This gets discovered and Johnny is scandalously rejected. Johnny realizes he can't break the curse and Penelope goes on an adventure outside of her "cage" and sees the real world. Penelope comes to love herself the way she is, breaking the curse on her own. She then goes after Johnny, they kiss, and are happy!

What did I learn?

This is the classic tale of "looks don't matter". I think this is really great because when the right person comes along, what everyone else thinks to be a big deal, doesn't affect the "right person". Penelope was a hideous pig to most everyone, but Johnny doesn't seem to have an issue with it. So why does it matter? Maybe it's just a good way to weed out the guys who didn't matter. Ha. Honestly, I would rather be rejected by a ton of stupid guys than miss out on waiting for the right, piano playing, James McAvoy. Oh, sorry. did I get off track there? ;)

One of the worst things about this movie is the mother. All that time, if the mom would have just accepted her daughter for who she was, then the curse would have been broken long ago. But the mom was so caught up in the superficial appearance of her daughter, that she couldn't even love her. That's just so, so sad! And what's up with the dad? I think he loves her, but why didn't he break the curse? Anyways. It's all too confusing. If any of you reading this have kids, you should learn (as I have) to love your kids, no matter who they are or what they do. I know my mommy and daddy have always known this. :)

As to what I learned from Johnny, don't gamble. It's a waste of your life. Don't gamble with chips or love!

And of course, there's something to learn of friendship. Annie (Reese Witherspoon) shows up and befriends Penelope without having to even see her face. Annie shows her around the town, laughing and having a good time. Then, when Penelope is finally revealed to the world, everyone thinks she's great, but Annie is always the true friend who sticks it out with Penelope. So, be a true friend, no matter what. Situations come and go, but true friends should always stay.

"Is this really necessary?"-Mom
"She's finding his instrument."-Dad
"Isn't that something a man should do for himself?"-Mom

Movie 12- Persuasion

We're getting close to the end! I'm actually kind of surprised I'm doing so well. I hope you have all enjoyed! But we're on to one of my favorite movies. I love Persuasion (I seem to love a lot of movies, but oh well)! The music starts and I'm already swept off my feet! I prefer 2007 version over the earlier one. I think Captain Wentworth is much more handsome in the newer version, though I'm not a huge fan of Anne. If you don't know the story, 8 years earlier, the Captain had proposed to Anne, but she rejected him on the advice of several of her peers and elders. However, she has never gotten over him. Anne is 27 years old and hopeless of finding a new romance.When their paths cross again, Captain Wentworth is successful and now seems haughty, and disconnected from Anne. He then seems to admire Louisa Musgrove, whom I'm not sure how she fits into the connection. When the Captain's friend expresses his gladness for the Captain's intent to propose, the Captain is shocked that people think such a thing. When Louisa actually falls in love with another navy man, Captain Wentworth is relieved of his obligations. Realizing his love for Anne, he returns to her, asks for her hand, and they happily reunite!

What did I learn?

Well, the actress who played Anne in this particular (2007) version, is much too breathy. Sometimes I feel like she has horrible asthma! But, let's talk about the character. I can relate to her (sometimes). She's very quite and soft spoken. A lot of the time, she has things she would like to say or even should say, but her manners and lack of confidence keep her silent. This makes it difficult for anyone to tell what she's really feeling. She puts up a strong front, even though she may be crumbling inside. Is this a good thing? Sure, she helps other people by being the brave one and not taking things for herself, but is it a good thing for her? Yes and no. No, it is not a good thing because everyone takes advantage of her. She's the one who stays behind to look after the sick child, she is responsible for being calm in emergencies, and much more. She is forced to bury her emotions, which obviously eats at her. However, it is a good thing. It's good because she doesn't let just anyone affect her. At one point, there is a Mr. Elliot who chases after her heart, but because she is so strong and contemplative, it takes him quite a while to get anywhere (giving Captain Wentworth plenty of time to regain any lost ground). Anne taught me that it's sometimes good to remain silent and sometimes it's not good to be too strong.

Oh, Captain Wentworth. Dignified, gallant, and all together charming. Though he does still have emotions for Anne, he struggles most forcibly against them. He would rather fake disinterest, rather than risk being rejected again. Though he seems quite incredible, Captain Wentworth has his issues. He's prideful (in a bad way), a flirt, and careless. He ignores Anne just because of his pride. He doesn't want to forgive her and risk being hurt again. He's a flirt because he pays no attention to the excessive amount of attention he gives to any and all woman. That's how he got wound up in the confusion about who he wanted to marry. That's also why he's careless. He's careless about his emotions for others, his attentions, and how he appears to everyone else. This may not be entirely bad, but it does make for a messy situation. I want to be mindful in my demeanor, actions, words, and attentions. Though I may not have the same issues that Captain Wentworth had, I can still learn to be conscientious of myself. It would have definitely saved Captain Wentworth a lot of trouble.

My favorite scene from this movie is the very end: when they dance!

"Miss Elliot, I can bear this no longer. You pierce my soul. I'm half agony, half hope. Unjust I may have been. Weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it eight years ago." -Captain Wentworth

Movie 11- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

*WARNING!: Do not read if you actually like this movie!*

So. Yeah. This movie....well, I remember watching this and thinking, "eh, that wasn't so great" but that was awhile ago. So last night I decided to watch it again. Bad idea! I really dislike this movie. But no hard feelings if you like it. Four best friends (Lena, Bridget, Carmen, and Tibby) are splitting up for the summer and going their own ways. Bridget is going to soccer camp, Lena to Greece, Carmen to see her dad, and Tibby is staying home to make a "suck"umentary. Bridget sleeps with a coach. Carmen's dad gets remarried to family Carmen feels has replaced her. Tibby meets a 12-year-old who helps with the documentary and then dies of leukemia. And Lena falls in love with Kostas.

What did I learn? Let's take it by each girl.

Bridget. Well, she sleeps with her coach. (I think this is actually illegal, since she's 17 and he's in college.) She spends her entire time showing off and chasing this blond beach-bum around soccer camp until she ultimately wins out. She then realizes it isn't what she wanted. She gets sad and depressed and needs her friends' support. In the end, she and this coach decide to be "friends". I think it's obvious what I learned from her. Ummm. Just because you want it, doesn't mean it's going to be what you expect (this is more than just...you know what.). 

Carmen. Okay. So she visits her dad, who introduces her to his new family (wife and two kids-all stereotypical blonds), wants her to be in the wedding, then she fights with the family, leaves them, and his mad at her dad for replacing her. That's one thing. I understand her being mad with her dad. But at the end of the movie, she shows up at her dad's wedding, and he tearfully asks her to be in the wedding because she's important. Carmen is moved to tears and very happy. Problem solved. But....WHY?? Carmen acts like her dad made a huge gesture by asking her to be in the wedding...but she was already in the wedding so why does the solve the problem? They don't talk. They don't work through their problems. They just cry (not that there's anything wrong with it but it's not the way to solve a problem). Thus, I have learned that feeling an emotional high does not mean solving a problem. Just because I think I'm feeling better, doesn't mean I actually am. So to a certain extent, look at problems objectionably, not emotionally.

Tibby. She wasn't so bad. Depressing, but that was her point. She was mean and cranky and a pain in the rear until she met the dying girl. Then Tibby became sweet, concerned, and fragile. I understand the change, but why? The girl clung to Tibby because of her personality, perhaps, but that changed right away. Anywho. I learned not to be depressing from her. I also think you should stick to your personality, but maybe that personality shouldn't be a pain in the butt.

Lena. She was probably my favorite. If she and Kostas had been the entire movie, I may have been happy. They were cute and didn't even let the hiccup of their families hating each other stop them from falling in love. Kostas was charming and Lena was hysterically conservative and sweet. I learned from them not to let the obstacles stop you. Hatred of families, difference of personalities, if love shows up, run for it, don't dodge it. :)

That's what I thought. I learned some stuff, but it was kind of painful. Oh well. Live and learn!

Movie 10- 27 Dresses

Sorry I haven't been blogging lately! I've been too busy reading, which I guess is a good thing. :) But I'm back, and I think this is such a wonderful movie to get back on track with. I love this movie so much. Jane has been in about 26 weddings (some happening on the same night). Needless to say, she's a wedding-nut. Loves the planning, decorating, every part of a wedding. On the other hand, Kevin is a marriage cynic. But he is cleverly disguised as romantic author who writes newspaper columns about weddings. Jane loves Kevin's work though she doesn't know it's him. Plus Jane is in love with her boss, George, who doesn't love her back and in fact, loves Jane's sister. Kevin accidentally uses Jane as a newspaper column which makes her look like a fool. Blahblahblah they fight blahblahblah they really love each other so it all works out.

Reasons I love this movie: Kevin. He's hysterically sarcastic; right up my alley!

I didn't learn anything...okay maybe I did. :)

Jane. Poor Jane. She's hopelessly in love with her boss. But George is in love with Jane's sister, Tess. What George doesn't know is that Tess has lied about who she is just so she could win George over. All the while, Jane has to watch the one person she loves fall in love with her sister. Yuck! Meanwhile, Kevin is trying to chase her down. So what does poor Jane teach me? That fantasies are not all that they're cracked up to be. Jane had this ideal fantasy of having a relationship with George, who she deemed to be the perfect man. Because of this idealistic fantasy, Jane is unable to see Kevin. Kevin is genuine, sweet, funny,and charming. But Jane can't see past that. In the end, Kevin won out, but it took way too long. I don't want to be like that. I don't want my idealistic views to get in the way of a great opportunity with someone realistic. And I think this applies to more than just relationships. Don't let idealism get in the way if realism.

Now for Kevin. Sometimes, sarcasm hides pain. In Kevin's case, this is definitely true. He got left at the alter and never like marriages or weddings since...until he met Jane. At first, I think it was just fun for him to watch Jane in action, but then it turned into something more. Kevin didn't care about Jane's feelings when he first started writing the column, but by the time it was published, he felt awful. It pissed Jane of obviously, and doesn't want to talk to him anymore. But Kevin persists, trying to win her over. In the end, his honesty and true love for her is what shown through. So what I got from Kevin is that it's the truest emotions that actually make a difference. No matter how much you try to hide your emotions, they'll come out eventually and that is what will make or break the relationship. I want to make sure whatever my truest emotions are, that I don't waste time trying to cover things up with lies or cynicism. Be true, people. Be true. :)

"I feel like I just found out my favorite love song was written about a sandwich."~Jane

"Love is patient, love is kind, love means slowly losing your mind!" ~Kevin

Movie 9- Monte Carlo

I have a thing for loving cheesy, sappy, teensie chick flicks. Starring Selena Gomez, whom I may not really be a fan of but I'm a fan of the types of movies she's in, as the tired-of-it-all high school graduate who goes on a trip to Paris. Her best friend, Emma, and new stepsister, Meg, go along with Grace. However, while in Paris, the group looses their tour and get lost. Then, Grace gets mistaken as a famous, British heiress. Tired, and soaked from the rain, the three travelers decide to impersonate The famous Cordelia. Along the way, two of the girls (Grace and Meg-who don't have boyfriends back home) find love among foreigners (An Australian and some other rich man). When it comes out that Grace isn't Cordelia, there's scandal, hatred, and confusion. However, Grace (Cordelia) really does love Theo. In the end, Meg becomes more carefree and runs of with the Australian and Grace reconnects with her Theo doing charity work in Romania.

What did I learn?

I learned that sometimes, I only like certain parts of movies. For example, I don't like Meg in this movie...but that's beside the point.

What I really learned was that deception can leave to love, though it's probably not advised. Grace just wanted to have fun and mostly got thrown into it. However, she totallyyy loves the Princey man. But what does he love? Though Grace was pretending to be Cordelia, she actually had the same personality. So I would assume that Theo actually likes Grace, because he doesn't love Cordelia's money. It's all a big mess. BUT, there is a lot to gain from this. True love will find you through all the mess. Even through mistaken identities, different continents, embarrassing moments, and different financial statuses, if someone really cares, it'll happen. But (there's a lot of 'but' s and 'however' s in this post), don't do it with no regard for the consequences. Theo and Grace ended up well in the end, however it would have gone a lot smoother if things would have been honest. Although.....they wouldn't have met either.

So. There. I guess I learned that love finds a way through a mess, but don't create it just for the heck of making a mess and thinking it will turn out just fine. Not everything ends in a neat little, bow-tied present. I want to make sure I do my best to make things work well and smoothly. But I want to not sweat the mistakes and know that life will find it's way through. And maybe even, love.

And by the way, a true gentleman carries a girl's saddle. For reals. THOSE THINGS ARE HEAVY! And usually I get all tangled up in the bridle I'm carrying as well and then I drop the cinch and it's a leathery mess. ;)

Not a Movie 8- NCIS: LA *Deeks and Kensi*

Okay. I can't find a good movie to watch. I tried to watch 3, count 'em, THREE movies today. All of them left me irritated after about 7 minutes. I'm tired of crude, inappropriate movies with no real story to tell. Bring back the classics.

As a result, I decided to take my learning curve in a different direction. I want to look at the relationship of LAPD Agent Marty Deeks and NCIS Agent Kensi Blye. Since it's a TV series, they haven't ended up together, but they definitely would if it was a movie. Deeks became Kensi's partner after her former partner disappeared. Deeks is a witty, sarcastic, playful, surfer dude of a cop. On the other hand, Kensi is a strict, reserved, powerhouse woman. The two of them together is highly entertaining. However, since they are coworkers and partners, they're relationship is obviously forbidden.

What in the world? You can't learn anything from TV...

Kensi is the type of girl who has been injured too many times. She doesn't trust. She's slow to love. And Deek's playful and fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants attitude drives her crazy, yet that's what she loves. So what I want to learn is how far can you take an injured soul? Obviously Kensi has learned from her mistakes and doesn't want to let just anyone into her heart, however, is she overprotecting? I don't think so. Maybe I'm biased, but I think being slightly overprotected is good for Kensi. Why? Because it presents a challenge that will be achieved by someone who is deserving. A guy who's willing to pursue into Kensi's injured heart and win her over, is a guy who won't flake easily. And is that such a bad thing? But that's my biased thoughts about Kensi's life. I want to keep this idea in mind and find the right balance for me. When to be soft, and when to let people work for it.



Is Deeks the right guy to enter Kensi's heart? Yes. :) Everyone knows opposites attract. Kensi and Deeks are definitely opposites. His funny personality makes Kensi smile, which she needs. Plus, he has a naturally caring heart, hidden behind all his jokes. Deeks cares about Kensi and shows it often, though he also respects her need for space. There's a constant give-pull interaction with them and I think it's just such a great relationship, especially when there's injured hearts involved. I want to learn how to balance forcing something, and giving it space to breath. Give and take. Push and pull.

I guess it all has a balance.


Anyway. Sappy. I know. But that's what I thought.

Movie 7- Mansfield Park

Oblivion. It can be the worst curse there is. I don’t know about you, but I hate it when I finally realize something that’s been right in front of my nose for quite some time! That’s how Fanny and Edmund are in Mansfield Park. Well, that is, more Edmund is oblivious than Fanny. I am ashamed to say I have not read this book yet, so my judgments are based entirely off the movies. So bear with me. In the movies, Fanny and Edmund grow up in the same house. Fanny’s family was unable to keep her so she went to go live with her rick aunt, basically as a servant. She was mistreated, ignored, and oftentimes misunderstood. Except Edmund always understood her. Things drastically change when the siblings, Mary and Henry Crawford, arrive. Mary sets her eyes on Edmund, and Henry (after several diversions for his eyes) sets his mark on Fanny. Edmund loves Mary back, or so he thinks, but Fanny never stops loving Edmund. Oh, what a mess this is! Never to fear, it all works out when Henry shows his true colors and Mary displays just how greedy her fingers are to reach rich society. Edmund finally realizes he loves Fanny as more than a friend, they kiss, they wed, they’re happy. As Edmund says, “Let’s make it our business to always be this happy”. 

What could I have possibly learned?

I have a friend who hates this story. Well, maybe she doesn’t hate it, but she thoroughly dislikes it. She thinks that Edmund is a fool and she is irritated by the fact he doesn’t realize he’s a fool until the very end. I would love to agree with her, but somehow I find it excessively romantic that he doesn’t have a clue what his true feelings are. Maybe because it’s that moment when he does realize his feelings for Fanny is so incredibly powerful, that I don’t mind dealing with his idiocy. But before we talk about him, let’s discuss Fanny.

She’s so sweet. Everything about Fanny is kind, gentle, and sweet, though she is secretly quite witty. She never stands up for herself. She never talks back. She never even works up the courage to tell Edmund how she really feels about him, even when she’s about to lose him. I think this is a crime. (J) Had it not been for Edmund’s realization, their entire lives would have been a misconnection. How sad would it have been if Fanny would have been an old maid and Edmund had married someone who appreciated him as a clergyman? Though I do believe you can catch more bees with honey, I also think that there is a time and place to be, well, direct. I think this would be the time and place. If Fanny would have stood up earlier in the story, proclaiming her love Edmund, he may have come to his realization earlier. Then we would have been able to skip the whole drama and just gotten to the good, romantic stuff at the end! I, therefore, have learned to be the opposite of Fanny in situations. To speak my mind and let myself be heard is no crime. (I secretly think that’s why I have a blog, to let myself be heard with the safety of it being via your internet connection) See? There is a time to be sweet, but also a time to damn the consequences and just say the words you need to say!

Now, for that blasted Edmund. I love him. I really do. However, he may be, in all actuality, a dense man. I mean, really. He grew up with this incredible girl, who supported and advised him, whom he confided in, whom he actually declared to love (but it was in a “I heart you like a cousin”-type-love), and yet there he goes chasing butterflies, which are really moths with pretty colors. In the end, he was misguided and came to his senses, but he wasted a lot of time. Fanny was right where he needed her to be and he hadn’t a clue. Hence (I like words like these-thus, hence, therefore), I have learned to look under my nose more often. Sounds gross, huh? But you’re never sure what you might find. I want to look at what I’ve got before looking at what I want to get. If Edmund had done so, he might have been very happy, very early on. 

Are you looking under your nose? Maybe you don’t find what you want, but at least you’ll know what you have. And for heaven’s sake, if you’re feeling something strong enough, say it! Wouldn’t you rather be thought of as the person who said too much, rather  than not saying enough and just wasting time? I know I would.

I really do love this story, though I hope it doesn’t happen to me. I would hate to waste so much time…

Movie 6- Ever After

Oh, there's hope for me yet! This movie makes me laugh because Danielle and Prince Henry get off to such a rough start. In this movie, Prince Henry wants to escape his responsibilities and Danielle just wants to live a life the way she likes. However, Danielle's luck isn't so great. After assaulting a Prince (unknowingly), her stepmother and stepsister make her life miserable. But, the good stepsister acts kindly and the prince falls in love under false pretenses. There's a lot of drama, but eventually the Prince accepts Danielle for the servant that she is and loves her anyways. All ends well that should end well, I suppose. :)

What did I learn?

I could totally see me having the same luck as Danielle, as far as throwing apples at a prince goes. Like Danielle, I am quick to fight (verbally, mostly). She's strong willed, stubborn, determined, and very opinionated. Now, Is ay those things and you think "Oh Andrea's going to learn that it's better to by mild mannered and kind than like Danielle." But is it? There's a quote, "Well behaved woman rarely make history."- Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. I think this is so true. I actually learned that a strong personality doesn't have to be a bad thing. Prince Henry wouldn't have ever noticed Danielle if she would have been kind and well behaved. Danielle stood firm in her beliefs, at all times. Though she may have bent the truth a bit regarding her status, her true personality never changed. That's what the Prince fell in love with. Thus, I have learned that I don't wish to change who I am. Perhaps I need to manage it better (I'm often mouthy in my thoughts...and out loud), but I don't want to change my determined, opinionated, and often witty tendencies. Like Danielle, I will (probably after drama) find a prince to like me for who I am.

And what about Prince Henry? Sometimes, I think that the men of these movies just need to fall in love, be insulted and angry, then forgive and realize their love for the heroine. But in this movie, Prince Henry actually grows up and changes. My favorite line in the whole movie is when he demonstrates his changed personality and his parents realize it.
Henry-"Mother, Father, I want to build a University, with the largest library on the continent, where anyone can study, no matter their station!" 
King Francis-"All right... Who are you... and what have you done with my son?"
Henry-"[laughs] Oh, and I want to invite the gypsies to the ball!"
In the beginning, Prince Henry is arrogant, conceited, oblivious, and self-centered. Had he not met Danielle and her incredible ability to call him out on his faults, he may have stayed that way. But she, like any good romantic woman, shows him his faults and he changed for the better! A successful end!

But...this is terribly confusing. On the one hand, I want to be like Danielle and never change who I am. But on the other hand, I want to be like Prince Henry and change and grow when needed. Where's the balance? Part of it, I think, is based on what other people tell me. My parent's opinions, my friend's judgements, and all that jazz. So I guess what it comes down to is being open to the changes of life, but still true to who I am. That's why life is so complicated!

Also, why do the men never listen when the woman tries to tell him the truth? He's all like, "I want to show you something." and she's like "Please stand still you goofball and listen!!"

"I will simply deny you the crown and...live...forever!"- King Francis

A Book Interruption- Fairest

A blog about a chick flick will be coming soon, but I just needed to rave about the book I just read, "Fairest" by Gail Carson Levine. I read the whole thing today, which wasn't a big feat considering it is for young readers.But, I loved it. Not quite as much as Ella Enchanted, but almost. I can't help but be swept off my feet. I love the way the characters are portrayed and how it's an easy, intriguing read. I love Levine's books because they're based off of Fairytales, and what girl doesn't like a good fairytale? I squeaked several times while reading the book. Some scenes caught me off guard, appealed to my inner romantic, and totally sent my thoughts flying!
I think it's funny the ideas that romance puts in girls' minds. I wonder what the guys think of the whole thing. The woman of the world go around looking for Mr. Darcy, or Prince Charming, perhaps maybe the Sam Worthington's of the world. Do guys ever get irritated that literature and movies put these absurd ideas into our heads about what a man should be? Or do they accept the challenge?

I guess it's kind of like the men of the world looking for the Megan Foxx's.

Anyways. I love Fairytales. I thrive off of them. Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, all wonderful! It almost matches up with my love of Jane Austen. My poor perception of men is going to be so skewed ;) I guess God will have to be the one to figure that out!

Sweet Dreams!

Movie 5- My Fair Lady

Oh, what a story! "My Fair Lady" is a tale about the spirited Eliza Doolittle going from a flower girl to a proper lady. Professor Higgins takes her into his home and treats her as an experiment, teaching her how to speak elegantly. After six months of brutal practice, she is presented to the queen, dances with a prince, and is thought to be royalty. The arrogant Dr. Higgins thinks himself highly successful in his experiment and doesn't realize Eliza's feelings of neglect until she abandons him. At which point, Dr. Higgins comes to the realization (with bursts of anger), that he really does like Eliza. In his words, she's become "second nature" to him. She ultimately accepts him for who he is, returning to his side, and they live happily ever after (or so we hope).

What did I learn?

Oh Eliza. I love spirited woman and Audrey Hepburn does an astounding job playing those roles. She throws her lot in with Dr. Higgins in a last-ditch effort to make something of herself. She has nothing to lose at this point. But it's her pride that gets in the way, for the most part. Half of her fights with Dr. Higgins are motivated by the lack of respect she gets, the other half is her own pride. I think this is a valuable line to try to define. Where does the amount of attention we gain from respect end and attention just for pride begin? I like to be respected, treated as a lady, the way Eliza wanted. But I don't want to demand that extra attention merely because my pride thinks I should have it. Am I holding my head high because I am confident or is it because I am haughty? I think Eliza would have had less disagreements with the doctor if she wouldn't have had a rather inflated pride. However, I don't think she was nearly as arrogant as the professor!

Professor Higgins is a jerk. If you've seen this movie, you can't disagree. He's arrogant, rude, insensitive, and frequent with insults ("You imprudent hussy!"). He calls Eliza "baggage" and repeatedly threatens to throw her out. This is certainly not the kind of man any girl dreams of. However...there is a certain allure. Girls do sometimes like the bad boys. But it's what's under the exterior meany that makes for a good relationship. Dr. Higgins actually has a soul and heart, though he may not choose to show it. When he realizes that Eliza has left him, he is clearly tormented. When he finally understands that she doesn't plan on coming back, he is distraught. Eliza never sees any of this, though.

Meanwhile, the darling man, Freddy, is throwing himself at Eliza's feet. Freddy professes his love and admiration for Eliza repeatedly. He writes her, he sings about her, he rejoices in the sight of her. I feel bad for this poor man because the only attention he gets from Eliza is backlash from her ill treatment by the doc. To be honest, I'm not entirely happy with the ending of this story. Eliza eventually goes back to the professor, abandoning the idea of Freddy. Dr. Higgins doesn't finally explain his love. He doesn't beg for forgiveness. He says, "Eliza? Where the devil are my slippers?"





And that's supposed to make us happy?




But anyway, back to learning. I learned from Dr. Higgins that if the person is right, then they will find and see the true you. Even after all his insulting and bipolar tendencies, Eliza loved the man behind the mask (though I think it might have gone smoother had he been kinder, but maybe it might have not gone at all!). So I have learned to wait for the right person to find my true self, whatever that may be (You thought I may learn not to be insulting, but I didn't! ha!). Patience is a virtue, though it's one I've been chasing for awhile.

The Doctor's insults continue...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Doz5w2W-jAY