Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Epics

As somewhat explained in the previous post, I am hungry for really good stories. Since I spend a great deal of my time watching TV on my computer in the summer ('cause I'm cheap and lazy), I've decided that instead of TV, this summer I'll watch epic/classic movies, and try to absorb their principle and character and methodology. I want to learn what it means to face the challenges that the world places in front of you with honor. So. Here goes.

First: Gladiator
A man whose sole desire is to go home to his family and work the land ends up on a mission to avenge the death of a good emperor (and of his wife and son); a mission to uphold what is right and do justice. A man who forfeits his life to enact that justice and begin the purification of Rome.

Second: To Sir, with Love.
An engineer gets a teaching job to keep a roof over his head. His moral rectitude and love/respect for his pupils molds them into upstanding men and women, and he discovers that he cannot leave his teaching position: his work is too important.

Third: Anna and the King
An English woman moves to Siam with her son, Louis, to be schoolteacher to the King's son. In the events that ensue, she makes a school for the King's 68 children, liberates a slave, teaches the King's son about justice and slavery, saves the royal family from certain death (a traitor in the King's court attempts a coup), saving the King's life and enabling him to kill the traitor, falls in love with the King and causes him to fall in love with her. She always speaks her mind, does not depart from her values and standards, and remains upright under pressure. The future of the country is changed because of her presence at the heart of the royal family.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Pattern Observed

I guess I bake mostly when I'm bored or upset...
today's haul includes bread and a big ol' batch of cookies. w00p.
last week it was a pie and home-made pizza.

Which I guess... really is good because the times when I'm bored will feed me when I'm not. xD
There would also have been challah and/or hot cross buns today if it weren't for that silly biking accident that prevents my kneading.

Also, I've finally figured out that I'm hungry for stories. Epic ones. I want to be sucked into the adventures of men and women who acquitted themselves well in the world. For a long time I've denied myself a good story, thinking, oh, I know all the plotlines, there's nothing that can surprise me anymore, so there's no point in reading them. Plus school keeps me thoroughly occupied with scientific papers. But really, there is nothing so wonderful as thoroughly well-written prose used to bring to life a gripping story. And this time, I don't intend to read stories as one being introduced to the concept; this time, I shall read them as an apprentice, out to learn the ways of great men and women before going out to make an attempt at womanhood. You see, lately I've been realizing that our generation is obsessed with identity (myself included).
You can see it in the proliferation of coming-of-age stories and prequels to famous stories.
This idea frustrated me because surely, knowing your identity (coming of age) is just the beginning of life - we must have strength left with which to fight the real battles we will face as adults.
So I'm left with questions.
Why does our generation care so much about knowing who we are? Does this fascination have a root in history?
What effect will this have on how we deal with the things that grown ups must deal with? Surely there must be huge repercussions.
Was identity a problem for other generations and if so, how did they handle it?
Could this be the main struggle of our generation, more subtle yet more central than the battles of previous generations?
Or have I got this completely wrong?
As you can see, I haven't finished thinking this through. But it's a start. And as sure as I am that I bake to stave off boredom, so sure am I also that my thoughts move in a circular motion, coming around again and again to be mulled over in the water-wheel that is my mind.
I'll keep you posted.
PP

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Childish

So... I may or may not have misjudged the distance between my handle bars and a certain mail box... and promptly fallen off my bicycle.

Plausible effects of such an accident include: about as much skin as would cover the surface of a quarter or two being scraped off one elbow and the palm of the hand, a lovely bruise the size of an apple on the thigh, and a bump on the back of one's head.

Plausible repercussions of such injuries include: searing pain in palm and elbow when entering chlorinated water and an inability to bend or unbend or lean on one's elbow without flinching.

Other possible side effects of falling off one's bicycle include: discovering one's favorite swearword, being asked by kind passers-by if one is ok, and feeling soundly humiliated.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Cures for Summer Boredom

Ideas for things to do in summer (according to Phineas and Ferb):
building a rocket
fighting a mummy
climbing up the Eiffel tower
discovering something that doesn't exist
giving a monkey a shower
surfing tidal waves
creating nanobots
locating Frankenstein's brain
finding a dodo bird
painting a continent

hmm... I think I'll go with discovering something that doesn't exist.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

A post on Bodily Functions - Squeamers beware

This may constitute a TMI, but I... have acid reflux. It's pretty sucky. Feels like the base of your throat is getting a chemical burn - oh wait it is. Don't ask me how I know what a chemical burn feels like. We were all in high school chemistry, I'm sure you can guess.
I guess I did ask for it though... drinking grapefruit juice all day and then topping it off with brownies. What can I say? I needed some intense vitamin C, and I made brownies. They were yummy.

In other (related) news, in case you imagined otherwise, let me reassure you that having a cold + experiencing heightened allergic reactions because of said cold is not fun. If you ever need a witness on this point, I will testify. Sadly, it has gotten to the point that I'm more amused with the bumpiness of hives than anything else. It is amusing compared to the raw nerves on my nose, general muscle-ache, itchy ears, sore throat, inability to breathe properly, and the aforementioned chemical burn at the base of my throat.

Ok though, enough. My body screwing up is of no interest to anyone but me, I'm well aware. It's just that it's so rare that it ever DOES screw up that I feel the need to document it.

Anyway, the brownies were great.
um... yeah. I'm done now.
over 'n out.
PP

Monday, May 2, 2011

free

I haven't talked about this in a while... and it has taken a long, long time...
but my heart is finally free and healed from the person I have here referred to as fCA.
He was hanging around my city again this week, taking a vacation from his job, catching up with people and the like. I got to spend some time with him, and realize that I am no longer connected to him. We share memories, good ones, but no more, and my heart is free as a bird, belonging to none apart from my sweet Jesus Christ (yes I mean that. it's because of him that I am free).
It is finished, and it is good.


PP. (formerly E.O.)