Mistletoe

     There is a Norse myth about the tiny plant mistletoe and how such a harmless bush can bring down Balder, the Norse god of Truth and Light. The plant itself is a parasite, it latches onto the crown of a tree or other plant and forms a haustorium, which allows the mistletoe to leech water and nutrients from the host plant.
     In the ancient world it was illegal to fight in the presence of mistletoe. It was the plant of peace, from the time Balder was killed enemies laid down their arms if they happened to pass under the plant. Lore says the mistletoe forevermore agreed to bring love rather than death and it was Frigga's (Balder's mother) tears which became the plant's berries.
     Mistletoe has also been considered an aphrodisiac and has abortifacient qualities linking it with ancient erotica. Here is a root for the modern tradition of kissing under mistletoe during the winter holidays. The mysticism can be compounded by mistletoe's evergreen leaves while its host plant loses all sense of life in the dark winter months.

Death of Balder

     The Norse goddess Frigga and her husband Odin were overjoyed when Frigga gave birth to her beloved son Balder. Balder grew strong and handsome, he was known as the god of Truth and Light, much admired and loved by the other Norse gods and goddesses. He grew to adulthood and married a vegetation goddess, their home became a haven where only truth could pass.
     When Balder began to have nightmares about his death his fellow gods took the dreams seriously and sought out the potential source of his demise. Frigga  traveled the nine worlds and asked every plant, creature, and inanimate object for its promise to never harm her son. In her journey she overlooked the small mistletoe plant, but it was a harmless little plant and Frigga saw little reason to worry. When she returned the gods began drinking in celebration and decided to test Balder's invincibility.
     Taking turns, each god threw first stones, then weapons at Balder. When they bounced off his body without harm it became sport. The trickster god, Loki, however was not amused at their games and went to Frigga in disguise. After much questioning, he discovered the mistletoe plant had been overlooked. Loki then fashioned a spear of the small plant and convinced Balder's blind brother, Hod, to take part in the festivities. Hod threw the missile at Loki's direction and it struck Balder, killing him immediately. The Norse gods were stunned. They built their greatest funeral pyre and mourned the god of Truth and Light, but sought Loki for his treachery.
     Loki hid from the other gods and continued his mischief. Hel, the goddess of Death, offered to return Balder if every thing in the nine worlds wept tears of grief for his death. The only holdout was the giantess Thok, Loki in disguise and Balder was kept in the realm of Death. Loki was eventually captured and punished: imprisoned in a cave with venom dripping on him until the end of days Ragnarok.

Does the Major Matter?

I get a lot of flack for having chosen English in college, as opposed to Education or Biology or Mathematics, but especially in comparison to Business. Most people aren't too surprised though--I'm very vocal about my love of reading. Recently, though, I've spoken to several former classmates and they're usually stunned when I tell them it doesn't matter what your degree is in, as long as you can sell it to an employer. 

     Now, I don't mean that someone with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature should be performing open-heart surgery--definitely go get your medical doctorate and specialize in cardiology, then have at it. I mean that for most positions I've come across, the degree itself is what matters. There will always be jobs and positions where a specialized degree is helpful, but just as important is the ability to sell your degree to the employer. 

     Recently I came across an article that explains (somewhat sarcastically) why humanities majors should be considered--with our indirect specialties and rounded curriculum--and why you're "An Idiot" if you don't hire from the humanities. More helpful was a webpage I discovered when I was looking for work--while it didn't help directly with finding a job, it gave me a jumping-off point for my search. 

     My point, I guess is that so long as you're hard working, passionate, and can apply what you do it doesn't matter what your degree is in, so long as you finish. But please, if you want to become a medical doctor or work in a field that requires a specialized degree, go get that specialized degree. 

Book Challenge -- Day 21

21. Books I'd Recommend:

Not all of these are books I loved, or even books I liked, some of these are books that changed how I think about the world and myself, others are books that I've turned to in order to stop thinking about the world. For more books I've read you can visit my blog: Picks Off the Bookshelf.

1. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
4. Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John & Stasi Eldridge
5. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
6. A Midsummer's Night Dream by William Shakespeare
7. Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carlson Levine
8. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
9. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
10. Dearest Mary Jane by Betty Neels

Book Challenge -- Day 20

20. Favorite covers

Clockwork Princess
Cassandra Clare

Chronicles of Narnia
C.S. Lewis

Entwined
Heather Dixon

The Queen of Attolia
Megan Whalen Turner

The Map of Time
Felix J. Palma

The Grim Legacy
Polly Shulman

The Faerie Ring 
Kiki Hamilton

The Undead Pool
Kim Harrison

The Thirteenth Tale
Diane Setterfield

Book Challenge -- Day 19

19. Favorite OTPs (One True Pairing)

Some of my favorite romantic relationships are the ones written for characters.Though there are some I'd like to see or that make more sense than what was written.

1. The Hollows by Kim Harrison: Trent Kalamack and Rachel Morgan
2. Divergent by Veronica Roth: Tris Prior and Four
3. Troubling A Star by Madeleine L'Engle: Vicky Austin and Adam Eddington
4. The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson: Lucero-Elisa and Hector of the Palace Guard
5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters
6. Cinder by Marissa Meyer: Cinder Linh and Prince Kai
7. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare: Tessa Gray and Will Herondale
8. Emma by Jane Austen: Emma Woodhouse & George Knightley

Book Challenge -- Day 18

18. Eight Quotes from Favorite Books (part 2)

A Ring of Endless Light:

"Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light."

The Fellowship of the Ring:

All that is gold does not glitter, 

Not all those who wander are lost; 

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the fost. 

From the Ashes a fire shall be awoken, 

A light from the shadows shall spring; 

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king. 

Early to Death, Early to Rise:

"The mistakes don't matter. It's what you do when you mess up that does."

Book Challenge -- Day 17

17. Eight Quotes from Favorite Books (part 1)

The Fault in Our Stars:

"As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."

A Ring of Endless Light:

"There was no light. The darkness was deep and there was no dazzle."

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets:

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." --Dumbledore

As You Like It:

"The Fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."

Book Challenge -- Day 16

16. "Comfort Books"

The Challenge wants seven.

1. A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carlson Levine
4. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
5. The Hollows by Kim Harrison
6. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
7. The Good Master by Kate Seredy

I do realize a couple of these are series, but I do have a lot of books I love to come back to. And it's the entire story is what I'm looking for when I'm hoping for a comforting book. 

Book Challenge -- Day 15

15. WTF just happened book endings (part 2)

A fifth ending I set the book down confused on was Life of Pi. At first I thought the fantastical story was real, then I was unsure if the narrator was telling a story to the fictional writer. Then I was even more confused whether or not the fictional writer was the author or a character. The first time around I finally gave up and picked up something else. The second time I read the book I was more confused if the story was a fantastic fairy tale or if it was an allegory--I read it in college that time--and the story didn't happen exactly as told, but in a variation. The longer I think about it, the more I'm confused.
     Another ending that launched me into the next book was Catching Fire. Fortunately I read the Hunger Games books after the trilogy was complete so I was able to set Catching Fire down and pick up Mockingjay within literal seconds of finishing. The cliffhanger ending just left me thinking "what?" and picked up the next book and understood within pages. It wasn't too bad, but I can imagine that initial readers would have been jolted by the lack of ending.
     The final book, and one that probably relates most to early readers of Catching Fire was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. After the battle in the Ministry, how could Fudge even pretend not to believe in Voldemort's return? And Sirius died, it was heart wrenching. I remember setting down the book and calling a friend who'd finished before me and sitting on the phone reliving the entire book. Like most books the next in the series answered a lot of questions, but I was still reeling. 

Book Challenge -- Day 14

20. WTF just happened book ending (part 1)

My top answer for this prompt is still The Giver. I read the book in middle school and was frustrated with the lack of ending. Now that other books have come in the series I'm more accepting of it, but I still ache for something to close the book out. Hopefully Son will have a concrete answer to ever reader's question: "What happens?"
   One book I finished recently that fits under this heading is Nobody's Princess. Helen of Sparta just gets in a boat and we know her adventures continue, but there's no concrete ending. It becomes frustrating when her entire story leads up to what must happen in the sequel.
     City of Bones's ending was weird, to say the least. You're expecting some of what happens, but the majority of it is stunning. Then there's a bit of down-time where you can assimilate the info before the actual no-more-pages ending. The ending definitely launched me into the second novel, and I'm still working on figuring out what exactly happened.
     Similarly the end of Clockwork Prince I wanted to go back and re-read the last couple chapters. This time around, though, it was more a sense of "I can't believe the author would do that" rather than "I don't get it" or even "Huh?". Clockwork Princess tied up some of the loose ends, but I still have to sit and think about it any time I drop back in on the Shadowhunters.

The Challenge wants seven endings, the rest will be in tomorrow.

Book Challenge -- Day 13

13. Best Scene (Part 2)

As I said, the Challenge wants six best scenes. My fourth choice is from Cinder: there is a poignant moment when Cinder returns home one night to find her best friend has been destroyed--the android had a dysfunctional personality chip which gave her an actual personality and passion for celebrity tabloids. Cinder walks into her room and discovers the pieces of the robot on her bed, the only thing she takes from the pile is the chip--the only important part of her friend.
     In Rae Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns there is a scene when Elisa washes her laundry and discovers how much physically changed she is after her trek across the desert. She holds up a nightgown and measures it against herself; at the beginning of her journey she was fat, but now she is merely chubby and, now she is used to hard work, unwilling to go back to the girl that life happened to. Her transformation was most clear at that moment--not that she wasn't fat anymore, but that she was an agent in her own future and willing to work at changing her own life.
     One scene that stands out to me, not for its worthiness to the plot or any literary reason, but for the scenery and what I imagine to be vivid color is in Anne Osterlund's Exile. Aurelia is captured, but meets her mother. The former queen lives in a room decorated entirely in blue--from pale robin's egg and sky blues to crisp slate blue-grays. The image they create is beautiful and fascinating.

Book Challenge -- Day 12

12. Best Scene Ever (part 1)

My favorite scene is from A Ring of Endless Light when Vicky has been in a haze for several days. She holds a small child as she dies from seizures related to untreated epilepsy and the shock throws Vicky into a semi-blackout. Her entire family tries to bring her back, but it takes Adam and the dolphins to bring her back. When she returns from the walking coma, Vicky realizes Adam has proven his affections, just as she has proven her strange ability to speak with her mind over distances. A Ring of Endless Light is my favorite novel.
     The Challenge wants six best scenes, so another favorite is also from A Ring of Endless Light. When the Austin children learn their grandfather is dying, Rob Austin asks about heaven and he and Vicky have a conversation about how heaven is something we cannot explain, like trying to explain colors to a blind person. Rob's sincerity and honesty are fascinating and after reading the scene I have to agree with Rob--there's something inexplicable about whatever comes after this.
     From Pride and Prejudice my absolute favorite scene is when Lizzy reads the letter from Darcy and realizes that she does care about him. What makes it better is when she receives news of Lydia's adventures and discovers what Darcy has done for her family--she is awkward and unsure of herself, self-recriminating and frustrated with what she can and cannot do. The entire progression from the letter to standing in her father's study when he asks if she'll have Darcy--that she wanted nothing to do with him before--is one of my favorite moments in literature.

Book Challenge -- Day 11

11. 6 books from to-read list

1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
2. Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
3. Persuasion by Jane Austen
4. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
5. Vampire Academy by Rachelle Mead

Since I posted on Twitter I've finished Cinder (I highly recommend it). Some of the rest are from throughout the list. 

Book Challenge -- Day 10

10. Top 5 female characters

1. Elizabeth Bennet - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. Vicky Austin - Meet the Austins, The Moon by Night, The Young Unicorns, A Ring of Endless Light, and Troubling a Star by Madeleine L'Engle
3. Hermione Granger - Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
4. Rachel Morgan - The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison
5. Tris Prior - Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Like with the male characters, I don't have a preference for order of these characters. They're listed here in the order I was introduced to them. I love Elizabeth's spunk and the fact that, though she does need to marry to survive after her father's death, she wants more than to just like her husband--she does meet her match in Darcy and is willing to concede her initial opinions were wrong. Vicky grows up through her series, she starts as one of four children, becomes an angsty teen, then grows into a confident young woman able to realize when she needs to look beyond herself for support. Hermione is smart, but her best quality is her compassion. We all know Harry would never have made it through his time at Hogwarts, let alone defeated Voldemort without her help, support and willingness to tell him he's an idiot. I love that Rachel isn't brilliant or completely put together--that's what Ivy is there for. Sometimes she fails, but she always picks herself back up and fights to survive. Tris is adventurous. She challenges the status quo, but is just as unsure of what will come as she is at was has already happened. Tris isn't willing to let a comfortable situation sit when there's even a chance of something better--though she didn't really get a choice in the matter. 

Book Challenge -- Day 9

9. Top 5 male characters (5)

1. Fitzwilliam Darcy - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. George Knightley - Emma by Jane Austen
3. Adam Eddington - The Arm of the Starfish, A Ring of Endless Light, and Troubling a Star by Madeleine L'Engle
4. Four - Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant by Veronica Roth
5. Rob Austin - Meet the Austins, The Moon by Night, The Young Unicorns, A Ring of Endless Light, and Troubling a Star by Madeleine L'Engle

I don't have a particular order of preference for these characters. Though Knightley is one of my favorite romantic interests, Darcy is an arrogant jerk with his own set of redeeming qualities. Adam is the guy next door and a great friend while Rob is the epitome of younger brother and just a wonderful human being. Four is a great example of someone who has fought to redefine themselves and succeeded. 

Book Challenge -- Day 8

8. Best prologues

The Hobbit is a prologue of epic proportions--a whole novel telling setting up the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I enjoyed the Trilogy and The Hobbit, and now that I'm working on The Samarillion I appreciate The Hobbit even more.
     If I had jumped right into Hamlet I'm sure I would not have understood what was going on. That Shakespeare's plays all have a brief overview in the prologue helps when the story begins to twist and turn.
     The Challenge asks for five prologues, but most books I'm reading lately don't have prologues. Occasionally a "Chapter 0.1" (the best way to describe some prologues) shows a scene from between books and I've read several that do enrich the story--Entwined, Nobody's Princess, and Short-Straw Bride are some examples. It seems the recent trend is to jump straight into the exposition and set-up. Depending on the story this works, but there is something to be said for a good prologue.

Book Challenge -- Day 7

7. Characters from series you'd want to meet

I would love to meet Vicky Austin and Adam Eddington from A Ring of Endless Light and Troubling a Star. They seem like down-to-Earth people that I could get along well with and might create strong friendships. I also think meeting the main characters from one of my favorite books could be a lot like stepping into the pages of those books.
     I'd love to meet Noah Calhoun from The Notebook. I realize there is a real person out there who is probably very much like Noah (the book is based on a true story) but Noah the character is probably a concentrated version of this person and his devotion and faith are inspiring. The book isn't one of my top picks, but is a good read. After fourteen years of not seeing Allie, he is willing to go through the heartbreak again for a chance at forever. While it's stereotypically romantic, it's also very brave; I don't think I could do it.
     The final character I would be fascinated to meet is Lucero-Elisa from Rae Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns and its sequel The Crown of Embers. Elisa started out life as a princess whose only merit was her rank and her inquisitive mind--she believes the reason behind it is that she isn't slender and beautiful like her sister. I would love to meet a young woman who withstands as much as she does and still manages to rule a foreign country without spite for the women who belittled her upon her arrival.

Book Challenge -- Day 6

6. Favorite dystopian books

I didn't read a lot of dystopian fiction until recently. Most of it has a lot of zombies, and I really don't need to be imagining them more than I already am with shows like the Walking Dead around.
     I picked up The Hunger Games when the first movie came out and enjoyed the story of a girl who didn't want to become morally bankrupt so she broke the rules. For me, Katniss's rebellion was always about protecting her family from extinction and herself from becoming the killer the Capitol wanted her to be. The second book just showed how broken resistance made her, then the final story gave her a purpose to fight for again, and though Katniss didn't always do as she was told, I think I'd respect her as a person if I ever met her.
     Divergent, however, was completely my choice to pick up. At first the cover caught my eye (hey, everyone falls prey to a pretty cover now and then) and the story seemed a lot like Harry Potter meets Hunger Games. Tris chooses who she wants to align herself with then discovers one faction wants to take over the government sparking war. I liked that Tris wasn't completely sure of herself or completely paralyzed by her own insecurities as so many heroines are portrayed. She lives in this post-apocalypse and hasn't ever known a world outside it, but she's willing to fight for something she's never imagined. I liked that.
     The Challenge wants two more books, but I haven't read a lot of dystopian fiction--something like Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe might qualify. When I first read Robinson Crusoe I didn't understand why it was such a big deal that a man survived on a deserted island without civilization. Then I re-read it and realized most of the amazing-ness was that Crusoe survived twenty-eight years on an island, the first several by himself and the last few with only one man as companion. And he made it back to civilization able to be part of society. He retained his sanity in an environment man was not thought to survive mentally, by contemporary expectation he would have gone insane. I enjoyed reading the story and how Crusoe survived and even kept time.
     One that I would not consider Dystopian, but is classified as such is Cinder. Though there is an element of post-apocalypse the world is not collapsing (at least not in Cinder) only being disrupted by plague. I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to more of Marissa Meyer's books. Cinder is a cyborg and an important one that few people know of. In her first book she just wants to be normal and fit in, but it is impossible for a half-machine person to be a person. Cinder isn't just a Cinderella story and that's why I enjoyed it so much.

Book Challenge -- Day 5

5. Favorite fantasy books

I don't really have favorite fantasy books, I have favorite series. They are usually vivid stories with characters I can relate to or adventures I wouldn't mind being a part of. And there's usually some kind of magic.
     The Chronicles of Narnia are some of the most powerful stories from my childhood--talking animals, political intrigue and unrest, aboard-ship voyages, family relationships that aren't perfect "everyone-gets-along" or "we hate each other" relationships, friendships that are based on mutual respect, and magic. The biggest draw was probably the talking animals and the magic when I was younger, but as I re-read and think about them more I enjoy the politics and the language of the stories. And the fact that the characters grow older and move beyond Narnia.
     Kim Harrison's Hollows series is more adult, featuring a sassy witch who is just as unsure of herself as the rest of us, only better at hiding it from everyone else. Rachel is passionate and concerned about doing the best she can with the life she's been given, the only problem is that everything keeps going wrong. I can identify with Rachel's struggles (more in the empathizing sense) and I enjoy that she learns to depend on the people who love her. It does help that she's got some kick-ass magic and moral dilemmas to deal with.
     The single novel A Game of Thrones is fascinating--I've only read the first book, but the series is complicated and intricate, it takes me forever to get through a single story because I constantly want to skip over to a different character and finish their story before moving on to contemporaneous events. Though I know it wouldn't make sense to do so because of spoilers, I like hearing about one line before moving on to the next. So much happens in A Game of Thrones and the characters are so powerfully imagined that I just want to dive back into their world, as much as I don't really want to live there.
     The language of the Lord of the Rings drew me in immediately: it is fluid and graceful while still having peaks and valleys. Tolkien was a master linguist and it shows in his storytelling. He knows how to keep the audience invested in the tale without making it seem like it couldn't happen. While some stories rely on surprises to keep the reader going, you expect the plot and it makes the story just as thrilling because the author has built an expectation and delivered on his promise of a fantastic story.
     My attachment to Harry Potter is more nostalgic than any of these stories (probably excepting Narnia) because I was part of the Harry Potter Phenomenon. When the books came out I was the same age as most of the characters; I stood in line to check out the books; I waited with baited breath for the titles of the new book, and begged my parents to take me to the movies when they finally arrived. The Harry Potter series was a huge part of my childhood, as it was for many of my peers and every time I pick up the book I remember how I felt the first time I read them and I discover some new tidbit I didn't catch last time. Still, I am reminded how the stories of Harry, Ron, and Hermione gave my siblings and me a time to be together as a family imagining and talking about something with anticipation. I imagine my mom reading the books to us was like the great classics of the nineteenth century being released weekly in the newspaper. And it is a powerful tradition.

Book Challenge -- Day 4

4. Favorite platonic friendships

Like most kids who grew up along with the Harry Potter Series, I am a fan of the Harry-Hermione platonic friendship (there was a time when I thought it might go romantic, but despite Rowling's comments about Hermione ending up with Ron, I think it turned out just fine). They are friends who support each other and are there for the good and bad times. There are moments during the series where Harry wants to be the hero and rescue Hermione, but she's not having it and shows him up with one of her clever plans. At the same time Hermione sticks around when the horcruxes begin to turn Harry dark and though most of us know she could have saved the world without his directionally challenged self, she kept Harry around. The two characters compliment each other without overwhelming or expecting more from the other.
     A lot of the friendships in literature don't tend to stay platonic. I enjoyed Annabel and Percy from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books, but after a while they shifted over into the romantic zone. Percy and Grover, however, have that snarky relationship that is all so common in today's reality, but is difficult to convey into a written world without becoming cruel. Like Harry and Hermione, Grover and Percy are there for each other while they attempt to accomplish the impossible. The relationship between Grover and Percy is more like that of Ron and Harry, though. They have Annabel as their brains, and they are the adventure and implusive behavior behind her plans.
     A completely different friendship I enjoyed was in the Thief of Eddis series: Gen and Sophos. The two begin their association while on a quest to retrieve legitimacy for Gen's cousin--a stone bestowed upon the ruler of Eddis by the Thief. Helen (Eddis as she is known) cares for her cousin and their friendship is strong enough to last through his trials and triumphs. Sophos is the heir to a neighboring kingdom and a scholar rather than any kind of warrior. The two boys become friends, but are separated by nations when Sophos is sent to learn his country and Gen goes to fetch the woman he loves and become king. When next they meet, Sophos is Sounis and Gen is Attolis--kings of their respective countries, but still young men looking for friendship. They each have their own responsibilities and desires, but they learn to respect each other and be young men together under and outside of the ceremony of their offices.

Book Challenge -- Day 3

3: Saddest character death

I still remember the first time I read Aslan's death in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I was at first stunned at how easily he went to slaughter, and how Susan and Lucy allowed him to die for them, then angry with Aslan for giving up his role in the revolution to fight. He was probably the first character I remember being actually upset about. I now understand why Aslan had to die, but am still relieved every time he comes back to life.
     The character I remember actually crying and having to set down the book and come back to was Hedwig. She was with Harry from the beginning and cared for him unconditionally--the movies don't show it as well as the books, but Hedwig was the only friend Harry had at Privet Drive. The frustration that anyone could harm, let alone kill, a creature that had little to no efficacy in the story was overwhelming; Hedwig was for moral support, and yes, she made letter-writing a little easier, but she didn't have an irreplaceable role in the fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.  Most lingeringly I remember the deaths of the hound dogs in Where the Red Fern Grows as being sad, it was sixth grade, so I'm not sure how I'd feel about it now. The puppy with his innards coming out is heartbreaking. Really any book where the pet dies a horrible death is sad and miserable, and people should stop doing that!
     From my favorite novel, A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle, Binnie is a little girl with epilepsy whose father doesn't believe in medication. The entire novel centers around death and loss and what it means to actually live in the face of eventual extinction, so I understand why L'Engle has this child and her illness appear. While the main character is dealing with her grandfather's slow death she is plunged into depression when a beautiful little girl she meets in the hospital dies in her arms after an epileptic fit. Binnie's death is so unexpected in the context of the story that all the tension surrounding loss is suddenly focused in the one event.
     Really any story where a character is either slowly or pointlessly (in the story's universe) killed off is sad. Aslan was a character I became attached to quickly and easily; Hedwig and the dogs from Red Fern were loyal and had no reason to be killed other than they were in the wrong place at the wrong time; and Binnie was a bright child and had so much she could have lived for, but was killed through no fault or choice of her own. I understand the phenomenon as a plot device, but it still upsets me every time.

Book Challenge -- Day 2

2: Most satisfying Character Death

My response of Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars was understandable, at the time I'd just finished the book and was annoyed with John Green (he's a wonderful author I just wanted to throw something at him for making me feel that way). I don't want to give too many spoilers, but TFIOS is about kids with cancer falling in love and dealing with this messy world. Augustus succumbs to his cancer, but in a long, drawn-out manner. I accepted his death long before he actually died and it was finally a relief to see him gone.
     The Challenge asks for two deaths. I still accept Augustus's death as pretty satisfying, the other is more difficult. There are so many characters that die--usually villains and their deaths are expected and therefore don't usually elicit a response.  I recently read A Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson and, *Spoiler Alert* the king Elisa marries dies. His death isn't expected--the romantic arc has just begun and the king is about to fall head-over-heels for Elisa--but it serves the overall tale. If the king were to live and show his sudden fascination with his secret wife Elisa's transformation from wallflower to confident woman would have been for naught. She still would have become one of many princesses that falls for the king and allows the king to fall for her position and her looks rather than the character she's built. The king's death probably wasn't satisfying in the same way Voldemort's is, but I was satisfied, and approved, of how it directed the story.

Book Challenge -- Day 1

1: Genre you read most

I posted my first tweet a whole two days after I challenged myself to begin the challenge... yes, I already was behind. But not this time!

I read a lot of Young Adult fiction and Romance. While I enjoy science fiction and mystery, and pretty much every other genre out there, stories centering around and for teens are fascinating.
     YA stories have the automatic suspension of disbelief that makes for a good story--so what if something doesn't fit into the plot or something is missing, that one detail is not going to destroy the overall story. Teen and young adult books take into account that the reader hasn't been taught to scorn a creating where something might be a little bit off from reality. For example, fantasy abounds in YA Fiction, and it's always fantasy that has all the elements we expect from reality--a set of laws governing the physical world, rules and regulations garnering social interaction, etc. People might live on the moon or be part machine, but there are still rules that tie fiction to our world.
     My fascination with Romance is rooted in the easy-to-read storylines and no-thought-necessary plots. I can open a Betty Neels book and know within the first chapter who is going to marry whom. I enjoy the historical romance sub-genre because the romantic storyline is submersed in actual plot--it becomes more than just boy meets girl, they fool around, they fall in love, they get married. Historical Romance gives context for that romance, and the romance adds motivation for the rest of the plot.

Book Challenge

The Challlenge

Earlier this year I attempted a "Daily Challenge" on Twitter; while wandering around the internet I found an image of a Book Challenge and thought I could manage to send out a tweet each day for 18 days. Needless to say, I did not take into account the fact that I'm terrible at keeping track of days--I managed to only go two days in a row without a post for the entire month I attempted it. I came across the image and thought I'd try it again, only this time in a more extensive setting.
     I'll post my answers from Twitter along with either an explanation or updated answer. If I succeed in this challenge I may even add covers of the books I'm referencing.

                               Stephie

Crunch Time

     A couple months ago I shared that my sister was engaged, and has asked me to be her Maid of Honor. I'm still excited, but the timeline for all of this has been shortened significantly--from a year and several months to (at the time) 69 days. We're counting down and at day 14 now. That comes to just two weeks before we're inundated with family and friends for the event, you wouldn't believe what goes on the to-do list when the time gets so short. For example:

• laundry
• flowers
• hair & nails
• insurance certificate
• chairs & tables
• people to help decorate
• grocery shopping

Just because there's a wedding doesn't mean everything else stops--June is a busy month and on top of all the preparations cleaning the house and finding the manpower to complete tasks on the to-do list becomes the most important. 

     It's exciting to have such a milestone coming up for someone in the family, but how do wedding planners do this all the time? I'm off to get some more things checked off that to-do list. 

Stephie

A Drop of Time

     The idea that we're alone in the universe is either arrogant or ignorant, in my opinion. It's such a huge universe--why shouldn't life exist elsewhere? If we believe that humans on Earth are the only form of life (ignoring the idea of sentient life for a second) it's saying the miracle that put us in just the right place with just the right nutrients couldn't possibly happen in this great big universe of ours. Next, even if there is life, thinking that it couldn't have become sentient is completely ignoring the fact that we don't even know what makes us sentient. If it's so mysterious who's to say it won't happen again somewhere else, far away from us?
     Okay, so sentient life is a possibility, but not life that's able to evolve to the point of space travel. We did it. Why shouldn't some race that's been around longer than we have be able to travel the universe? Isn't the hope that we will be able to travel the universe, someone else has probably had the same desire and achieved their goal.
     I recently had a conversation about the possibility of life in the universe and there's a theory that says (and I'm paraphrasing because I don't remember exactly how it was described) humans are a single blip in the amazingly expansive measure of the universe so we're either not the only ones out there or we're destined to destroy ourselves before we actually make an impact on the greater environment.
     And, as depressing as that sounds, in the grand scheme of things it's true. But when we're living day to day each second seems like so much more than the minuscule drop of history that it is.

Just a thought...
Stephie

What Do You Mean "You Don't Know"? - Psoriasis

     You'd think that having some sort of medical conundrum you'd understand it about as well as the experts can explain. I always find it hilarious, then, when someone asks about my psoriasis and the best way to explain it is through metaphor.
     Psoriasis (said: so-RYE-uh-sis) is an auto-immune disorder in which the immune system attacks the body. Simple enough: but then the brave or curious soul will ask "Why?" For that no one has an answer. The best thing I've ever come up with it that my immune system doesn't work the same way a normal person's does; whatever it is that tells your body to stop growing new skin, to stop attacking what's making you sick, or to just relax, doesn't work properly in my system. So, my body is always at war with itself.
     I don't get the questions as much as I used to (most people are terrified how I'll take it if they ask) which makes sense as I grow older and the people I surround myself with either know or understand I won't explode at them. But absolutely I love when little kids ask, partly because their parents are horrified and they don't know yet what a social muck they've gotten themselves into, but mostly because little kids just ask then accept. Once they discover they won't get it, they go back to their other eight billion questions.
     One of the down-sides to psoriasis, though, is that my immune system doesn't fight things that make me sick as well as other people's. I get everything! If someone two streets down has strep throat, I'll have it next week; if someone has the flu, I'll catch it later today; if you've got a cold, thanks, now so do I. On one hand my system has learned how to get over illnesses quickly and I've got an amazing ability to continue functioning when most people will be curled under their covers praying for relief, on the other I forget what it's like not to have some sort of cold or sniffle.

      So what do the experts know about psoriasis? Not a lot... It's genetic, but we don't know how people get it. The immune system functions differently, but we don't know why. There are 5 types of what they call lesions--most normal people call them spots: plaque psoriasis, Guttate (GUH-tate), inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic.
     Plaque psoriasis is the most common type. It's described as raised patches of skin with a "silvery-white build up of dead skin"--in essence your skin is raw underneath and dead on top. They can be anywhere, but are most often found on joints--knees, elbows, lower back--and in the scalp. It doesn't sound too bad, like a scab of old skin, but these 'scabs' can crack and bleed, and when you pull them off you take the healthy living layer off with the plaques. Your raw skin is exposed to the elements that it isn't mature enough for--imagine a sunburn on your chapped lips, that's about how it feels.
     Guttate is the next most common type of psoriasis. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), 10% of people with psoriasis develop this type of lesion. It starts in childhood or early adulthood and is characterized by small separate red spots on the skin. They're like bright red thumbprints all over your body, usually found on the trunk, but can be anywhere. Guttate psoriasis is usually accompanied by other types of lesions and a breakout can be brought on by anything from an infection to stress. In my experience they aren't as painful--the skin is still flexible and moves, but it will pull as it dries after a shower or swimming.
     Inverse psoriasis is commonly found in folds of skin. It looks like a burn--the skin is smooth, red, and shiny--and it is more prone to irritation from rubbing. For the most part it manifests in smaller patches because of the moist environment of skin folds, but like plaque and Guttate psoriasis many people have inverse psoriasis at the same time as other types.
     Pustular psoriasis usually looks like white blisters across the skin. In fact, it is made of white pustules (defined as blisters) filled with white blood cell pus and surrounded by red, newly growing skin. Elements of pustular psoriasis cycle through raw patches to scabbing and pustules. The pus is not contagious, though it is uncomfortable to know you've got pus all over your arms and/or legs, and it is not an infection. There are factors that seem to induce a breakout including pregnancy, emotional stress, and ingested medicines.
     The last major type of psoriasis is Erythrodermic (eh-REETH-ro-der-mik). It is a more serious type of lesion and if you have an outbreak the NPF advises you contact a doctor immediately as it can be "life threatening". Erythrodermic is a rare type of psoriasis that covers large parts of the body causing inflammation and usually appears in only 3% of the population with psoriasis. People with unstable plaque psoriasis are more likely to have this type of psoriasis--when they say unstable they mean plaques with little or no definition around the edges. Severe pain and itching accompanies Erythrodermic psoriasis.

   
     There are a lot of different treatments for the different kinds of psoriasis and some treatments are more effective for some kinds than others. Treatments include phototherapy or light box, topical medicines, biologics used to keep the immune system from attacking the body, systemics like medicines used to treat psoriatic arthritis, and other treatments. Every type has benefits and drawbacks and some will work for one person while it makes another person worse. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for this disorder, just as there is no one-size-fits-all version of the disorder.

     I just hope the children growing up with psoriasis like I did grow to accept it. I was volunteering in an elementary school and a first grader came up to me one day; she was probably about six and was wearing a long sleeved shirt even though it was a gorgeous day outside--the first I'd worn short sleeves for--and she asked me what I had on my arm. I smiled and told her about it and she pulled back her sleeve to show me a smaller version of my rampant plaque psoriasis. "I have that too!" she said, surprised. I asked her what she does to make it feel better and she didn't really have an answer, just that her mom helped with lotion. I told her some of my treatments and that playing in the sun usually helped me, "That's why I'm wearing short sleeves today." She went off to class after what was probably a two-minute conversation and the next time I saw her she was running around in a t-shirt just like the other kids.
     To be able to help anyone understand this is a part of you, just like red hair or brown eyes, was probably one of the best things this disorder has ever given me. You have to be yourself and take care of yourself, ignoring something that's such a huge part of your life--and always will be--is only going to make it all harder. It sounds corny, but I'm glad I got to talk to that little girl and I hope she'll talk to someone else and help them accept it.

Just a thought...
Stephie

Cribbage

     When my family gets together we're the usual giant family that you see in movies--loud conversation everywhere, kids running pell-mell through the house, snagging food on the way through the kitchen, and videos or games after dinner. Mostly that's when everyone gets together, when Gra'ma comes to visit we do pretty much the same stuff: television in one room, stories and conversation in another, and after dinner card games or dominoes.
     Gra'ma came to visit last week arriving in the late afternoon and proceeded to teach my brother and me to play Cribbage. It's not a difficult game once you've got all the rules down.

• Sum of 15 gets 2 points
• Sum of 31 gets 2 points
• Doubles get 2 points
• Runs of 3 or more get 1 point per card
• Face cards are 10
• Aces are always low (1 points of value)

Then are the more confusing rules: 

• If you draw a Jack from the pile you get 2 points
• If a Jack in your hand matches the suit of the card drawn you get 1 point
• Last card played gets 1 point (if it's not 31)

     The game starts with a deal: five cards each with four people, five each and one in the kitty with three people, six each with two people. Everyone puts a card into the kitty (which goes to the dealer at the end of play) to equal four. Then the person to the left of Dealer starts. 

     Each person plays a card in front of themselves, hoping to peg points. As you go when a person or team (usually when you have four players you play teams of two) gets one of the things I listed (drawing a Jack you get the point right away, matching the draw you wait until the end) you move your peg in the board. Everyone goes around until there are no more cards. 

     When everyone's hand is gone (the Kitty is still face-down and untouched) you count your cards. If you can make sets of 15, runs, any of those things I listed at the top, you get points and you peg those points on the board. This includes all possible combinations between your hand and the draw on top of the pile. So if you have three fives, a Jack, a Queen, and a King is drawn you get 2 points for each combination: K5, K5, K5, Q5, Q5, Q5, J5, J5, J5, 555, two points for each double (6 in this case because you have three of a kind), and three points for your run of three (assuming your Jack doesn't match the king, if it does you get another point). This would count: 15-2, 15-4, 15-6, 15-8, 15-10...15-20, triple for 26, run of 27, 28, 29, and Jack for 30. Such a hand is nearly ideal and if you got it take pictures--it rarely happens.      After everyone has pegged their hand, starting with the person to the left of the dealer and ending with the dealer, the dealer counts the kitty. You count it just like you count your hand and Dealer gets the points. The deal rotates and you continue until someone pegs into the final hole.
     The standard board has 120 points on the track and when it comes to winning and counting your wins there are two things you should keep in mind. 1: If you are behind the Skunk line the win counts for two games 2: If you are behind the Double Skunk line it counts for four games. The Skunk line is usually at 90 points--thirty points back--and the Double Skunk is at 60 points--halfway around the board.
     I'm sure some of the rules we play with are wrong, but it's a fun game once you've figured out the strict rules and regulations. I am still learning and I've been slowly learning off and on for years. Good Luck & I hope you enjoy your game!

Stephie

History Day

     When I was in high school I participated in a program called National History Day. It's a pretty cool idea to get kids involved in history and thinking about the events that changed the world--though they definitely don't realize they're doing it. At least, I didn't realize that I was learning about world-changing events and their consequences.
     This year the theme was Rights and Responsibilities and the projects were all good choices. Where I became more and more frustrated over the course of the day was in their inability to string words into complete sentences. Now, I understand that twelve to fifteen-year-olds won't have the same confidence with language that I do after sixteen years of education, but they can at least build a sentence that makes its point without throwing me into a maelstrom of confusion at the mere sight of it.
     I was actually proud to see the projects and see how everything has changed because of the technology available. When we completed our exhibit (I was in a group with two other young ladies) we had to go to the library for primary sources or ask the librarian for help finding and having them sent to us. Now there are so many archives online students can find and access without too much stress that they have more informed presentations and they are more connected to not only their history but also current events.
     The competition is good for the students if they 're hoping to move forward to college and, in my experience, gives them something to strive for academically. The experience is similar to what I experienced working on projects in college--not only do you need to understand research methods, but you must know how to convey your argument clearly and concisely.
     I enjoy working with the program and my greatest frustrations rise when students don't give their best efforts then hope to convince me, as a judge, that it is their top work. Sorry kiddos, been there, done that, I still have the paper somewhere. It's a good program and deserves recognition for introducing young teens to the process and rigor of academic research.

Society's Dictates--Young Love

     There have been an awful lot of posts on various blogs and articles posted about what kinds of romantic relationships we should be developing as a society, when we should be getting married, and why not to get married so young. I should point out that "so young" is usually early twenties. While they're all interesting, they point to a society able to dictate  kind of lives we lead--you should be married with three kids before you're thirty; you shouldn't even think about getting engaged until you're thirty-one; you should have a relationship that makes you fight to find things in common because you're such different people and opposites attract; you should do this; you should do that. Personally, I don't care who you fall in love with, or marry, so long as you treat your partner with respect and don't go showing disrespect to me and my decisions because of the life I choose to lead.
     My younger sister and her boyfriend got engaged at the beginning of the year and this dictatorial society we've developed became a huge problem in my life because of her decision--she had friends and random people telling her she was making a huge mistake because they got engaged when they're only twenty-one. If they are going to make the commitment to each other, why not? What do you, as a single, twenty-two-year-old college student have to show this young woman that is any different than what she's learned from her single older sister, her friends who've gotten married and had kids, her parents, her cousins, aunts and uncles, and the people both married and divorced in her life? Why does society allow us to crush the dreams of young women who do want to get married and have a family?
     The answers I've received to these questions have all been that Feminism tells us she should be focusing on herself as a woman and not giving her life over to a man, depending on him. When did Feminism become so warped?! Feminism is about women being able to make the choice to either become career-women, become mothers, stay single without being criticized, or choose to live a life of serial monogamy. It isn't about destroying the traditional family values, it is about giving women the choice to be what they want.
     Another line I've gotten says getting married so young and committing to a single person will cause problems down the line because they'll grow apart. They still need to grow and develop. I was watching a show on television and the female character put it perfectly: marriage is about finding a person that will grow with you.
     While these opinions are wonderful, and I'm glad there are people who hold the views, what gives society the right to crush the hope of young people when life isn't cynical enough to keep us within other people's opinions? In recent history people would say something when a friend was making a leap without foundation, but for a stranger to tell you you're too young to marry is overstepping their place.
     Why can't we be happy someone has found joy in love?

Just a thought...
Stephie

Valentine's Day 2014

     This year I'm celebrating Valentine's day a little differently--spending the day with my dogs. It isn't all that much different than my usual relaxing night at home with a book, but this year my family went above and beyond.
     You see, I'm house-sitting for my parents and they left something behind for me. The dogs didn't get the awesome-ness of the family, but they're not allowed to have any chocolate. It looks like this year I get not one, but four valentines; it's a great improvement!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stephie

Ancient Aliens

     I absolutely love listening to people talk about the "what-if". I got hooked on the History Channel show Ancient Aliens and it now feeds my hypothetical frenzy. There is also the one speaker (Giorgio A. Tsoukalos) and his crazy hair that makes me laugh because he's so passionate about his subject and doesn't notice his unruly hairdo. He's probably my favorite character to listen to on the show.
     I think it's funny how Ancient Aliens looks into the mysteries that abound throughout history and draw conclusions that point toward not only the existence of aliens but their interference as well. Images that could be anything from misshapen clouds to glow sticks become batteries and electric light bulbs, cogs and joints become technology beyond comprehension, gods and mythical creatures become alien life forms: things we would brush off as something someone ahead of the time created become things humans couldn't have developed without assistance.
     While I won't discount the possibility of advanced life forms interfering with our development, I think when people believe these developments came from elsewhere we're discounting the ingenuity and creativity of the human race. Who is to say we couldn't develop these magical inventions? Even if the ancients had alien assistance, more modern times have created those things we compare the mysterious images to.
     Ancient Aliens is a fun show and I enjoy it because it poses some entertaining theories to the questions in our world and, despite sometimes depressing me with their portrayal of the human race's potential for creativity, I come away from each episode considering how we got to where we are and what would have changed had one thing gone awry in the path.

Just a thought...
Stephie

Happy Tidings!

     Just a two weeks ago my younger sister sent me a text while I was at work. Unfortunately so did all the rest of our mutual friends. My sister was trying to tell me the wonderful news: her boyfriend asked her to marry him! While I'm completely ecstatic for my sister, I am a little frustrated with everyone else's responses. They ranged from "I thought she said they weren't getting married" to "How do you feel about this?".
     I am kind of stunned that my friends would want to talk to me rather than just wish her congratulations, but at the same time I understand that they might want to confirm what they're seeing on Facebook and other social media. Not only am I not the expert on their life together, but I was supposed to be pleasantly surprised by the news. A surprise that was ruined because of this instant communication we now live with.
     The one surprise they couldn't ruin was her request upon seeing me for the first time: "Hey, will you be my Maid of Honor?". I have never been so proud of my sister as when she started behaving like the adult she is with a request rather than expectation or demand. And I am honored to be asked to share such an important part of her most anticipated day.

Congratulations Kaitlyn & Robert!

It's All in Your Mind....

     I have never really been into scary movies. I like to think that it's because my imagination can take a harmless scene and morph it into something horrifyingly morbid--like flying dreams where you just can't land and suffocate when you float away from Earth into outer space... For most kids the dream about flying would be fun.

Photo by: Riccardo Cuppini

     Sometimes real-life situations are creepy enough to inspire horror movie scenes without my imagination going overboard. Like when I was about twelve and watched a Stephen King movie about dead pets coming to life. I don't remember the ending, I just remember being terrified when I saw my cat's glowing green eyes at the level of my window that night.
     Other times it's simply the feeling that there's something just beyond my field of vision and if I don't watch out for it something unspeakable is going to happen. Like that feeling of being home alone when the electricity goes out. That dead silence is one of the most frightening sounds I've ever experienced, not because there's no television or internet or anything to keep me entertained, but because it can mean freezing to death or having no ability to make people aware of dangers. I still wake up when the power goes out in the middle of the night.
     I was reading somewhere that people who experience chronic pain say the anticipation of pain is actually more painful than pain itself. I feel like the unknown is like that: more terrifying by the imagination's anticipation of everything that could happen. That loud crashing sound could be someone slamming a door, or it could be someone breaking into the neighbor's house; chances are it's just the janitor at the school throwing trash in the dumpster.
     So why do hundreds of people every day watch movies that make them experience the fear I feel when walking in a dark parking garage or down a dark street? Maybe it's the thrill of surviving that unknown. For me, it's enough to just read a scene from a book or watch Supernatural, I let my imagination fill in the rest...

Just a thought...
Stephie