The long silence at last is broken...

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...Thus, instead of explaining why it has been so long since my last post, I will simply attempt to show you what I have been up to. Enjoy!


Utah (i.e. My Best Friend's Wedding)



Columbia, Missouri



Bear Brook State Park (New Hampshire)



Portland, Maine




Boston, Massachusetts


Cooperstown, New York



Various Church History Sites around New England
(Sharon, Vermont; Fayette, New York; Palmyra, New York; Kirtland, Ohio)



Maryville, Missouri


(See? Aren't you glad I saved you from having to read thousands upon thousands of words?)

reflections

The onset of spring has renewed in me a desire to write, to find words that feel right as they slide across the tongue like the M&M that melts in your mouth (not in your hand...), and that sound right, like whispers that never leave your brain. And I don't mean journal writing, either. I mean real, true, personal creation, taking a part of yourself- a part of your soul- and turning it into something meaningful for others to experience. I have been sifting through sheaves of papers, the ever-growing pile of things I have written over the years- so many ideas, so many dreams, so many thoughts that I have attempted to turn into something others might someday want to actually read with interest... some of the words are weak, cliche, but I still feel that a lot of the ideas are solid, if I can only get past the fear of sharing such an intimate part of my deepest dreams with a world that might only see it for the mediocrity it probably is. Someday.

However, I did find a little nugget that I felt confident enough to share, and so I leave it with anyone who cares to take the time to read:

The air has grown cold-
it seeps into every heart
and makes its love old.

The heart aches with pain-
sorrow, hurt and fear pervade-
will hope come again?

To open is hard;
rejection is ever there
to stab like a shard.

Yet all is not lost.
Hope through one Being will come.
In Christ, there is joy.

To be concluded... (finally!)

Before I get on with the countdown from two weeks ago, it occurs to me that I have a few honorable mentions/runners up that didn't really fit in with any of the other movie-type categories, so I wanted to take a moment to mention them here:

Cast Away: Fine acting from Tom Hanks- especially considering that there is little dialogue throughout the movie. Not an easy task, I am sure. You know he's done an impressive job when you find even yourself caring about Wilson and mourning his loss almost as much as Hanks' character does. I also like the ambiguity of the ending- surprisingly satisfying.

Elf: This film is just so goofy, one cannot help but laugh. Hard. Will Ferrell is brilliantly hilarious, but the supporting cast is also witty and engaging (I especially love Peter Dinklage as the "angry elf.")

Finding Neverland: Absolutely charming! Johnny Depp was brilliant, and for one of the first times ever, Kate Winslet didn't bug me. I really enjoyed her performance, as well. But the most incredible performance goes to Freddie Highmore- he just breaks your heart! (In a good way.)

Return to Me: In my opinion, this is one that finds a perfect balance between the romance and comedy in romantic comedies. It's an atypical story that still feels real. It is fun; it is sweet; it just makes me smile again and again! (Great scene: four old men dancing together to Frank Sinatra.)

The Lake House: Another romantic comedy that throws a not-unheard-of twist by playing with time... but it still makes my heart ache (in a good way) as the story unfolds and I anticipate the sweetly satisfying ending. Plus, I, for one, love the tie-in to Persuasion (I loved that book!).

The Mummy Returns: I would have included The Mummy in my top 20, but since it was one of those 1999 flicks, it didn't quite fit the required criteria. The Mummy Returns isn't quite as good, but it is still so thoroughly fun and entertaining that I had to give it an honorable mention slot!

Holes: The kids in this movie are great, but for me, it is really Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight and Tim Blake Nelson that do it. Simply hilarious!

Missed Runner Up to "modern musical": Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog (I love Joss and Nathan!) Yeah, I know it maybe shouldn't count since it was an internet release, but I'm sorry- it's too good NOT to mention. (If you haven't yet seen it, you'd better rectify that situation immediately!)

I also feel I should add a brief disclaimer here: The ranking of these films is based on my thoughts/feelings at the time of writing this post and could be subject to variation within any given conversation (With the exceptions of LOTR, which will always remain #1, and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, which will most likely remain at #2).

Now, on to what you really came here for- the rest of the best of the decade!

Picking up where I left off...

10. Spider-man 2: Having never been one for comic books, I give kudos to those who not only bring them to life, but do so with such creative energy that one cannot help but enjoy the ride (and what a wild ride the web-slinging wonder creates!). That being said, I chose Spider-man 2 over the first Spider-man simply because I like it better. Overall, I feel that the issues are more complex- dealing with who we are expected to be and who we choose to be, how those choices affect our relationships with the ones we love, etc. I also love Doc Ock as a tragically flawed hero-villain who ultimately finds redemption.

Runners Up to the Comic Book films: Spider-man (The original one was still pretty amazing!), X-Men (A fascinating look at the potential power of mutant evolution and how it can be used for good or evil), X-2 (Another of the rare sequels that was as good as the first, possibly better), Unbreakable (Yes, I know it wasn't technically a comic book-based movie, but I love the intriguing way it centers around comic book themes for it's plot... and it is a very interesting look at what makes a "superhero" and how they are invariably connected to the "supervillain.")

9. The Bourne Trilogy: The action in these movies is simply fantastic- it really is almost impossible to choose a favorite among the three. I love mysterious atmosphere of The Bourne Identity, the way the questions about his past continue to pile up. I love the simple revenge factor of The Bourne Supremacy and the way he tries to make amends (also, Karl Urban is very nice to look at in this one!). And I like that we finally get some answers in the third. Matt Damon is extraordinary in the role of Jason Bourne- as Steven is always quick to point out, he can make the most mundane item a deadly weapon, from a pen to a magazine! Of course, the best part is the way he is always one step ahead of his pursuers!


Runners Up to Awesome Action Flicks: Serenity (Come on, River taking on a whole flock of Reavers- almost completely unarmed?! Yeah, it's pretty much awesome.)


8. Casino Royale: Like Beckie, I was never a really big fan of the Bond franchise. I wasn't necessarily anti-Bond- I just never made time for them; I felt like I could take them or leave them (and, for the most part, I left them- I could probably count on one hand the number of Bond films I'd seen up to this point). This new Bond flick completely turned my opinion around. For the first time, I actually cared about James Bond. Daniel Craig's portrayal created an interesting combination of a gritty yet polished character (tough as nails yet smooth as satin...), not easily broken. Clearly, he is a man not to be messed with. I loved it!

Runners Up to the Action Flicks: Quantum of Solace (I really loved the explosive ending on this one!)

7. WALL-E/Finding Nemo: I'm sorry- I know this seems like cheating, putting two movies in the same slot/rank- I really just could not choose between the two. WALL-E was brilliantly creative considering the significant lack of dialogue. The characters are absolutely charming (and I really enjoyed the inclusion of Hello, Dolly! bits- though there must be a major scratch on the video tape since it cuts from the beginning to the end of the movie...) I also appreciated the rather disturbing satire on the future we may be looking at if current consumer trends do not change (e.g. severe obesity due to sheer laziness, expecting everything else to do the work for us, even thinking... And note how the world left behind is basically covered in garbage- WALL-E is able to build entire cities out of the garbage he has been compressing for who knows how long...)

Finding Nemo was equally delightful, though. The whole movie was hilariously funny, yet poignant as it takes a look at parents learning to let go and children learning how to grow up.

And let's be honest- Ellen as Dory- simply classic!

*Great Lines: "Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming..."; "I wish I could speak whale!"

Runners Up to Animated Films: I agree with Beckie- basically ANY Pixar film made during this time period! (I especially liked The Incredibles)


6. The Bridge to Terebithia: When I first read this book as a kid, I was instantly entranced by by the imaginative world I was led to. I felt connected because these were kids like me- not entirely accepted by their peers, finding escape through their day dreams... The movie renewed that sense of wonder and loss and coping. Once, as I watched, I found myself weeping, not just because of the tragic turn of events, but because I longed to have my students experience the magic of imagination, to feel the wonder as creativity unfolds, and feared that they may never feel such things. Still, I continue to hope that all children will, at some point, discover the power and beauty of the visionary mind.

5. The Dark Knight: I'll be honest- I found some of the earlier Batman flicks to be entertaining, and Batman Begins definitely gets credit for breathing new life and new dimensions into the franchise, bringing greater insight and depth to the character (Also, though I like Maggie Gyllenhall okay as Rachel Dawes, I actually preferred Katie Holmes in the role). But while it was an amazing movie, The Dark Knight was even more phenomenal. Jack Nicholson had made a wonderfully twisted and demented Joker, playing a man pissed off at the world that had screwed him over in so many ways. However, Heath Ledger completely one-upped him by creating a frighteningly unmotivated character who "just wants to watch the world burn." Again, I love how it deals with various complex issues, the very kinds of twisted issues we only hope we never have to face in reality. It's like taking the game, "What would be worse?" and turning it into real-life situations... Yet, despite the dark themes, I love how there are still threads of hope woven throughout the film.

*Best line of the movie: "Let me get this straight: you think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands, and your plan is to blackmail this person?! Good luck!" -(Lucius Fox, after Coleman Reese reveals what he knows about Bruce Wayne)

4. Star Trek: Holy cow, such a good film! I love the unconventional use of time (i.e. the changed timeline is not "fixed" by the end of the movie); I love the attention to detail (despite all the violent fights found in film, you rarely see someone with wadded tissues stuck up their nose to stop the bleeding); I love how the first scene, with its simple heroism in the face of frightening situations, still makes me cry (the music certainly does its part well). Most of all, I love the actors and the way they own their roles. I love that they are not overshadowed by the overwhelming icons of their predecessors, especially those of Shatner and Nimoy. I love the way the writers/director add layers of complexity to Spock, dealing with both sides of his heritage. But as much as Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto dominate, the rest of the cast still creates a powerful- and entertaining- supporting crew (I love Karl Urban and Simon Pegg!). The film was simply amazing!

3. The Prestige: This mind-bending film packs in some brilliant suspense as one magician is always trying to outdo the other. As entertaining as it is, it is also a thinker film with a fantastic twist that still blows my mind every time I watch it. David Bowie was an unexpectedly delightful surprise (I didn't recognize him the first time I watched it- he does a nice job with this more serious role- a complete change from the hypnotically over-the-top Jareth in Labyrinth.) This movie takes an interesting look at what drives us, to what lengths we are willing to go to "beat" our opponents/enemies. Even knowing the end, I still find it to be a fascinating journey every time.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe: More often than not, my experience with literature-based films is that I watch the movie before reading the book. That way, I find that I can enjoy both (instead of experiencing the common feeling of let-down when the movie doesn't live up to one's expectations based on the book). Having read The Chronicles of Narnia back in college, I was both excited and worried when I saw they were turning it into a movie. The previews looked promising, but I know well how misleading previews can be. When I found myself moved to tears within the first five minutes of the movie, I knew I was in for an unbelievable experience, and was thrilled when the movie more than delivered! I felt it stayed true to the plot, and more importantly, the essence of the book, yet it added levels of complexity that only emphasized the meaning behind the story. Most especially, I fell in love with Skandar Keynes (well, not really- I mean, he is a little young...)- while Edmund is definitely a beastly brat for most of the book, this kid turned him into a far more dynamic and complex character. His portrayal- especially his redemption in the end, made me love Edmund when I really hadn't before. Considering the inexperience of most of the actors involved, this film was truly a triumph in so many ways!

Runners Up to Fantasy Adventure films: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Despite some changes from the book, I felt those changes didn't disrupt the essence of the story. There is some fantastic fighting (especially the duel between Peter and Miraz), and I still love Edmund and Trumpkin and their great one-liners!)

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The Best! Ever! Really, I don't know what more I can add to what the family has already said numerous times (Both Steven's and Beckie's reviews say it all better, anyway). These movies have truly changed my life. They profound. They are moving (I still cry at Boromir's death, at Sam's speech about the stories that matter, at most of the end of The Return of the King... and several scenes in between). They have raised the bar and set a standard for films that may never be beaten. And I'm perfectly okay with that. (And for those who may disagree with this choice, I simply weep for your loss.)

So. Done. Take it for whatever it is worth.

At the very least, I hope you enjoyed the journey as much as I did.


(And please forgive the weirdly tiny font in places- Blogger was really doing a bizarre, stupid number on my font-age...)

The Countdown Begins...

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, Beckie issued the challenge for us to come up with our top 20 movies of the decade. I liked the challenge, but felt at somewhat of a disadvantage because, while I have seen plenty of movies over the past 10 years, even good movies, I didn't feel that a majority of them would be considered the kind of life-changing, mind-changing, or mind-blowing movies that typically make these sorts of lists. This feeling was further exacerbated as I read through the lists she and my brother came up with, lists that many movie critics might agree with overall, but that felt out of my reach because I had seen relatively few of those movies.

Still, I did not want to give up on the idea of creating my own top 20 list (I just couldn't seem to pare it down to just 10), so I picked up the proverbial gauntlet and began my cinematic analysis of the best films made since 2000. I began to feel that it should have, perhaps, been a top 20 movies of the year 1999, since a lot of the movies that first came to mind were put out that year. Still, undaunted, I kept at it. It has been a long process over the last few weeks, (and I'd hoped to get this done BEFORE the Oscars- alas, too many other demands on my time...) but I feel that, at long last, I have compiled a list of movies that I, at least, feel have been the most meaningful and/or entertaining to me, movies that either changed the way I looked at the world or changed the way I looked at movies (or simply created a thoroughly entertaining experience).

So, without further ado, I give you:

The Top 20 Movies of the Decade (according to Elise Lambson)



20. Enchanted: Okay, so I know a lot of you would think this a fluffy enough film to wonder why it would make the top 20. However, I am always one who appreciates the non-conventional. (I loved Ever After so much for that reason- it twists the traditional story and makes it even stronger and more meaningful as a result, not to mention fun to watch.) What I loved about Enchanted was that a) it showed that the classic-style musical is not totally obsolete where film is concerned (come on, how can you NOT want to get up and dance with "How Will She Know?") b) it pokes fun at the traditional fairy tale genre (gross as it is, the Snow White-esque scene where she gets all the vermin to help her clean while she sings is cleverly sardonic.) c) it twists the genre by not only switching the "princes," but by having the princess save her true love. And let’s be honest, Susan Sarandon is a pretty fantastically evil queen!

19. Runaway Jury: I'll be the first to admit that typically, I'm not one who exerts a lot of effort to predict an ending- I just like to sit back and enjoy the journey. Thus, when a bit of a twist comes my way, it is usually extra delightful. Such was the case with this one. But even more than the twist, even more than the superb acting by John Cusack, Rachel Weisz, Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman, what I loved about it was the integrity of Dustin Hoffman’s character. As much as he wanted to win the case, and he wanted it very badly, he decided that the price of the jury was worth neither his soul nor his integrity. An amazing movie with fantastic suspense and tension!

18. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: I have said it often enough- Peter Weir is one of the most underappreciated directors ever. Yet I always find him insightful and profound in so many ways. Master and Commander was no exception. Aside from being just a good, old-fashioned adventure on the high seas, there are so many moments filled with poignant realization—the relationship between the captain and the doctor, the heartbreaking innocence of Blakeney that quickly dissipates in the midst of such experiences, the tragic misfortune of Hollam… I love Peter Weir!

17. Pirates of the Caribbean: Speaking of adventures on the high seas, this movie was just so much fun! It was a bit of a tough choice between this one and Stardust- both are truly entertaining, and Stardust is so delightfully unconventional (DiNiro dancing in a tutu never fails to make me giggle!). Ultimately, though, it was Johnny Depp’s Capt. Jack Sparrow that won out- such a “defining without defining” role for Depp.

Runners Up for Swashbuckling entertainment (yeah, I stole Beckie’s idea- so sue me…): Stardust, The Count of Monte Cristo (I love poetic justice, and this is a fantastic revenge film that successfully rises above the cliché.)

16. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: I was introduced to this little known jewel by my roommate, Rachel. I had never heard of it. She brought it home one day and asked if I wanted to watch it with her. I didn’t have anything else pressing on my time, so I did. Once again, the tragic innocence of the two boys of the film, one the son of a high-up Nazi officer, the other a Jewish boy in a nearby concentration camp, is absolutely heart-rending. It is an interesting look at the Holocaust from the eyes of children, how these two boys’ lives are forever changed by the friendship they dared to create… I highly recommend it (though I warn you, it is a definite tear-jerker).

Runners Up for Historical Fiction: Gladiator (I love how it makes history interesting, yet is not so at odds with historical facts that it couldn’t have happened that way.)

15. The Others: This movie proved that a director can still create an effectively spooky atmosphere without overdone, over-hyped special effects. The chills from this movie come from superb usage of light, shadow, scripting, and acting. From beginning to end, it is eerie and unsettling, with quite a thrilling twist.

Runners Up for Scary/Spooky films: The Mothman Prophecies (Bizarre, I’ll grant you, but also nicely disquieting and provocative), The Village (I love the relationship between Lucius and Ivy, made more profound because it is so restrained and subtle, and I find the twist at the end intriguing.)

14. Minority Report: Like Beckie, I am a fan of the dystopian story, and this one is fantastically done. What I love most about it, though, is the emphasis on the power of choice. Despite the impressive “technology” behind Pre-Crime, it is proved repeatedly that we can still choose to be the masters of our own fate.

*Profound line: “Sometimes, in order to see the light, you have to risk the dark.” (Dr. Iris Hineman)

Runners Up to Sci-Fi Action films: Paycheck (Yes, it perhaps unrealistic, and yes, it has Ben Affleck, but I just really like the mind-bending use of time, puzzles, etc.)

13. Invictus: Contrary to popular belief, this is not really a sports film, and that is where it is significant. While the plot seems to center around rugby, the team and the game are simply used to reflect the strong and harsh political issues and realities surrounding these people. We still care about the underdog team fighting against all odds, but the story manages to transcend the sport, and the rousing victory at the end becomes not just an athletic one, but a political one as well. Morgan and Matt are rock solid as the men fighting against the deeply ingrained prejudices of their beloved homeland who lead their people to greater heights as a result.

Runners Up to Underdog Films: Cinderella Man (Another one that successfully avoids being a “sports film” – wonderfully acted by all involved!), Remember the Titans (Yes, this falls under the more traditional “sports film” category, but stands apart because the sports story becomes more allegorical and meaningful as these kids also fight strong racism and prejudice.)

12. Avatar: Whatever else one may say or feel about James Cameron, this movie is incredible. The visionary technology is amazing, and honestly, I think he manages to create characters that become real to us, characters that we find ourselves interested in, that we end up caring about (I didn’t cry when Michelle Rodriguez’ character died, but I was deeply saddened by the event). The story is, perhaps, a bit predictable, but that doesn’t equal meaningless. There is still a lot of meaningful relevance about the film, whether about conservation, spirituality, or simply peacefully co-existing with those that seem different from us. And quite honestly, it is worth the three-hour watch time just to see the exotic creativity and the amazingly breathtaking scenery.

11. Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince: I get completely enthralled by these books, and I feel that the last two movies were especially well-done—the music is extraordinary and original and fits the story perfectly, the acting is finally as solid as it should be (with very few exceptions), and they do a nice job of paring down the epic novels into reasonable movies without losing out on the essentials (and even some of the bonuses). While Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix gets kudos because it made me enjoy it when I hadn’t really enjoyed the book much, Half-blood Prince wins out because a) it is one of my favorites of the series (tied for first place alongside Prisoner of Azkaban) and b) the whole episode with Harry and the Felix Felicis is just too funny!

Runners up to Children’s/Young Adult Fantasy films: All the other Harry Potter films because they helped bring us to this point, Coraline (I just think it’s clever, creative, and I enjoy Neil Gaiman.)

Stay Tuned: Coming up soon, my Top 10 picks...

Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

A common pet peeve of anyone with any literary experience is when people incorrectly use the term "ironic." (Yeah, yeah, we all know the repeated complaints against Alanis Morissette... to be fair to her, she actually does have a few examples of irony in that song- e.g. the man who finally takes a plane only to have it crash down.) I bring this up because my roommate used the term twice yesterday- the first time, she used it incorrectly (In talking about some guy in our stake, she said, "What's ironic is that my brother took a ballet class with him at BYU." No, that is not irony. That is merely coincidence.). The second time, I think she used the word correctly, but I forget what she said.

Why do I even bring this up? Because I was originally going to say a few things about the movie we went to go see yesterday, The Young Victoria, and it just so happened that both incidents with the word happened on that particular excursion.

About the movie- I had never heard of it. Rachel said she had heard good things about it, so I took a chance. I'm glad I did. I loved it. I told Rachel I was glad she had me go see it with her. As much as I loved the romance of the film, I loved even more that it transcended being a romance. Really, it is a film about a girl destined to become a queen and the struggles she endures in the process. Despite the repressive practices of her widowed mother and her mother's ambitious, self-serving advisor, she is determined to become her own person, to rule in all fairness and in justice, to avoid all the political scheming of the royal court and do right by her people. It just so happens that in her efforts to assert her independent thinking and practices, she finds a man in whom she can trust, a man who loves her, who is loyal to her, who will stand by her, defying the wishes of his own politically scheming uncle in so doing. (Paraphrasing one of his great lines, in using the game of chess as a metaphor for life, "Do not find someone to play the game for you. Find someone who will play the game with you.")

The romance between the two young royals is tender, sweet, (clean!)- made all the more so by the fact that it is genuine. Both of them raised in a lifestyle where appearances are often not what they seem, it is wonderful to see how they find each other, how they come to trust each other and rely on each other- proof that not every royal couple leads a dysfunctional family life. While it certainly caters more to the female crowd, I would not call it a "chick flick." Rather, I would simply say it is an interesting glimpse at the early reign of one of England's most beloved monarchs that just so happens to have romance as one of its stronger themes.

The costumes are lavishly gorgeous; the music is sweepingly dramatic; the story is simply beautiful. If you get a chance to see it, do.

This film was an interesting contrast to the one I tried to go see with my friend, Cheryl, Friday night. We had originally planned to go down to the Louisville Temple, but poor road conditions due to heavy snows bagged that idea. She suggested a movie. She mentioned there was a new James Bond movie out. I was surprised- I figured I would have heard something about it if there were. But the title sounded very James Bond-ish, and since the other two movies I was interested in watching were ones she'd already seen, I decided to go with it, despite that initial warning bell of suspicion.

The second warning bell came when I saw that the film was rated R (so far, the recent Bond films have only been PG-13). I avoid watching rated R films because I feel there is rarely enough in them to redeem them from the items that make it rated R. But I didn't notice it soon enough- she had already bought her ticket, and to avoid making her feel uncomfortable, I bought the ticket. If it was a Daniel Craig Bond film, I figured it might be worth it, despite the R rating.

If only I had trusted my initial instinct. It didn't take me long to figure out that the movie was NOT a new James Bond film (it was pretty obvious to me when the first name on the credit screen was John Travolta, NOT Daniel Craig, not to mention that there was no Bond theme music playing). Still, we'd already paid. It had Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who is an actor I generally enjoy. I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. I shouldn't have.

The very first scene with John Travolta should have clued me in (within about a 10 minute scene, I heard the f-bomb more often than a standard day at an IPS high school). Still, I stuck it out, intrigued by what the plot might bring. Really, it only brought on tons of over-the-top, gratuitous violence and more profanity (again, the f-word used heavily on a frequent basis, laced with a few other expletives). About halfway through the film, I finally got the guts to do what I should have done at the beginning. Quietly whispering to Cheryl, trying not to make her feel bad or awkward for her choice of movie, I let her know that the movie was doing nothing for me and that I was going to go ahead and leave the theater. She could stay if she wanted; I'd wait in the lobby. She went ahead and followed me out.

I would have to say that this was probably the worst movie-going experience I've ever had- (I would cite the mistake of Dumb and Dumber, but at least in that case, I didn't pay for my ticket- I had a coupon to get in free...). This was the first time I have ever felt the need to walk out of a theater (granted, I try to avoid films that contain such questionable content anyway, but still...). Meyers character was likable enough, I suppose, and I was vaguely curious to know what happened with him, but not enough to endure the horrific character of John Travolta. And he's supposed to be one of the good guys! Point being, it was a complete waste of time and money, and I will never again make the mistake of blindly agreeing to watch a movie I have never really heard of...


So, is it ironic that instead of going to the temple to be edified we ended up watching any part of such a film? I'll let you decide... (hint: the correct answer is, "Yes. Yes it is ironic, and not merely bad luck or coincidence.")

Up Next: Finally, my top picks for the 2000-2009 decade! Stay tuned...

Confessions of a Newly Diagnosed Diabetic

Hi. My name is Elise, and I'm a diabetic.
(cue everyone else: Hi, Elise...)

Okay, so I had originally intended to use a different theme for my "come-back" post, but the original theme would be so much better with pictures to accompany it, and since my camera is weirdly spazzing out, I will have to save that post for a later date...

Thus, I figured the next best theme for my return to the world of blogging would be to share the biggest news I've had to share since the RenFest (i.e. since the last time I actually found time to blog): I am a diabetic.

How long has this been going on? Who knows? I sure don't. How did I even come to find out? I have my hypochondria-projecting mother to thank for that. She had been bugging me for a while to get tested for diabetes. I, of course, resisted, insisting that I was fine. All the symptoms she claimed pointed to diabetes I could easily explain away by attributing them to other things.

1. Symptom: I drink a lot of water.
Excuse: I have always been a pretty big water drinker, especially since my mission. After all, we're supposed to drink around 64 oz. daily- I just always want to be sure I get enough and that my system is flushed and clean.

2. Symptom: I use the bathroom fairly frequently.
Excuse: I drink a lot of water- thus, I will have to use the bathroom. And to be quite honest, I never felt like I really used the bathroom a lot more than I used to. I don't think I really had to use it a lot more than most average people... So this was a weak symptom at best.

3. Symptom: I always seem to be tired (this one actually wasn't pointed out by my mother, but it is apparently a sign of high blood sugar).
Excuse: I have been keeping very poor sleeping hours- going to bed around (or sometimes after) midnight, getting up around 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. is not going to make for a good night's sleep for anyone. So of *course* I was always very tired...

Still, despite my efforts to convince her that there was nothing wrong with me, I thought it might be a good idea to at least get it checked out so I could have proof that I was fine.

It turns out, I was not fine (Mom, here is your chance to say, "I told you so.").

In fact, my blood sugar levels and AC1 counts were so high, the nurse I went to for the diabetic education class I had to take was concerned I might develop glucose toxicity.

So here I am, trying to adjust my lifestyle to bring down my blood sugar in the hopes that I can keep my pancreas from burning out so I don't have to take insulin injections for a good while yet.

It is not easy.

The good news is that I don't really have to eliminate anything completely from my diet (sorry, Mom- in that regard, I still say your disease is worse...). For example, I can still eat breads; I can still have sugar and sweets; I can still enjoy a mug of hot cocoa on a cold winter night such as tonight.

The bad news is that I can only enjoy such things in almost severely restricted quantities. Instead of eating a half a bag of mini-Reese's Peanut Butter cups in one sitting, I can eat maybe two after a meal. (I'm telling you, life is rough for one with a sweet tooth like mine.) I also can't fill up on carbs the way I used to (lots of bread and grain-based snacks, like Wheat Thins, a major weakness of mine). I can't drink as much milk as I would like to because every cup of milk counts as a carb. I can't even have fruit as a "healthy" snack because fruits have too much sugar/carbohydrates in them. Which means if I don't want to go hungry, I have to learn to like more veggies. (Hmmm... this may be harder than I thought.)

The other bad news is that I have to test my blood at least once a day, pricking myself with a little lancet and waiting for the terribly fickle test strip to decide it actually wants to take my blood... (which brings up the further bad news of expensive medications and supplies I will have to continually pay for to replenish.)

Still, I suppose it isn't all bad. At least I had already made the switch to sugar-free Kool-aid long before the diagnosis, so I don't have to worry about that adjustment. Also, there are a lot of tasty sugar-free products on the market, which will help me keep my carb count down. It helps that my father has already lived with diabetes for many years so he can give me suggestions/pointers/advice, etc. (I think I drove him crazy over Christmas asking how many pieces of fudge would count as a carb, or how many cherry-nut cookies I could get away with eating...). To help improve my body's functionality (and hopefully improve the way it absorbs glucose), I have become more diligent with exercising, even in the dead of winter. And I really am feeling a lot better, physically- less tired, not as thirsty, etc.

It is interesting how this whole situation has made me much more aware of what I am eating and how I am taking care of my body. The great irony is that this diagnosis has more or less forced me to adopt a lifestyle I had wanted to adopt awhile ago just so I would live more healthy. Well, now I gotta if I don't want a myriad of health issues and complications later on in life. Still, at times, I wonder if I had just started that healthy living when I had planned to, if I might have been able to stave off the diabetes...

So. Welcome to my New Year.

Return to the Ren Fest

Being sick sucks (I mean, stinks). I'm supposed to be enjoying my Fall Break this weekend. I was going to go to Louisville to spend the day today, and finish it with a temple session. Instead, I'm at home, trying to get my fever down, trying to rest my achy body, trying to get to feeling better. Alas.

On the positive side, I have time to finally update my blog.

Last weekend, I took a short trip back to the "Motherland" of Missouri to attend the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. What a fantastic trip! I have been looking forward to this for the last two years (the last time I was able to go to the RenFest was in 2006, not long after moving to Indy). I was a little worried when I saw the weather forecast (partly cloudy was predicted), but all worries were for naught- we had a near-perfect weekend for the festival, and as far as I know, all who attended (fluffy little Maximus Charles included) had a perfectly delightful time! (Max was definitely the darling of the group, garnering so much attention, we should have charged a quarter for every person wanting to get up close and personal- his vanity was certainly pampered that day! :)

For those of you who may not be familiar with this tradition, there is a lot in Bonner Springs, KS set up to resemble a Medieval town (complete with jousting arena). There are stands full of vendors of every type- from food to clothes to toys to art to weapons to jewelry to just about anything in between. There are fantastic entertainers (Dr. H. Dumpe is one of our favorites, as is Bob, The Incredible Juggler- I also enjoy the Human Combat Chess Match, where real people stand in for the traditional chess pieces), informative shows about things like falconry, jousts, medieval musical performances- something for everyone and every age. The Festival runs every weekend from Labor Day until the weekend after Columbus Day, rain or shine. Luckily for us, we had no rain- just clear skies and enough of a chill to keep us from sweating. You couldn't ask for more perfect weather for something like this! Well, here- take a look for yourself:

Here is Beckie with Max in his favorite position: Off the ground (he probably spent a total of 10 minutes on the ground the entire time we were there...)

Awaiting the show of Dr. H. Dumpe, fire eater.



Dr. Dumpe's assistant, Matt, walking on broken glass.

Dr. Dumpe burying his face IN the broken glass as Matt walks across his head and body.


Amazing feats of fire!

The Joust (complete with armor and lances! :)

The Victor!

Max and I at the jousting arena.



Steven the Sorcerer.



Sarah meeting up with close pal, Stephen Colbert (who knew?! Heehee).


Some of the historical crafts demonstrated throughout the Festival.

Great food, great entertainment, great shops (I'm very pleased with my purchases: a ceramic decorative mask in the style of a greenleaf face and a wooden mug)- fun times were definitely had by all...

...and to finish off an already wonderful weekend, for Sunday dinner, Beckie cooked us a fantastic Greek feast (trying to make it as authentic as she could). I truly wish everyone could have been there- I missed not getting to see Kirsti (keep studying hard!), Emily/Joe/Noah (I hope the moving is going well- I wish I could be more helpful from here...), and even Juli (though we can hook up fairly easily, and I did just see her last weekend when Sarah was here). It was a terrific trip, well worth the wait and the time/effort it took to get there. We'll have to do this again next year! Thanks to everyone for making it something to remember!



The family, relaxing after a delicious dinner, courtesy of Beckie and others who helped her out.

Here's hoping I get better soon and that the rest of you stay healthy!
Love you!