tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66487064318336669132024-02-29T22:39:08.423-07:00Regency Delight ~Jane Austen, etc.~Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-20461617982581651872022-07-14T16:20:00.005-06:002022-07-14T16:24:46.927-06:00Book Review: Among the Innocent by Mary Alford<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6Xk0SoJRs8URj9qIc-aShOHDFE2dbofDyyJQTeEtgc0PBcRDUN-SvUwUHHYynn41uqrzEKQcRM4b6xJhmXEOkP_9Lkms1UYhuR-4si_ZeJue1Lzu4KBnkqtgvzvpWI690RXOcBB8iBLMoEb5O9AjsWOBGXxNbMZlVUT77cYC7F0ga2QBy-aVk5Cr/s400/59382288._UY400_SS400_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6Xk0SoJRs8URj9qIc-aShOHDFE2dbofDyyJQTeEtgc0PBcRDUN-SvUwUHHYynn41uqrzEKQcRM4b6xJhmXEOkP_9Lkms1UYhuR-4si_ZeJue1Lzu4KBnkqtgvzvpWI690RXOcBB8iBLMoEb5O9AjsWOBGXxNbMZlVUT77cYC7F0ga2QBy-aVk5Cr/w640-h640/59382288._UY400_SS400_.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <span id="docs-internal-guid-9e532975-7fff-0902-5677-0447beeeaf6b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The main five things I look for in a novel are likable and authentic characters, engaging dialogue, a tolerable plot, and a smooth narrative. Today I’ll be reviewing </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Among the Innocent</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Mary Alford, and I’ll examine each of these points in their order of importance.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plot synopsis from Baker Publishing Group:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When Leah Miller's entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah has left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after an Amish woman is found murdered with the same MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family's deaths.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can't help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What will it mean for Leah--and Dalton--when the full truth comes to light?”</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are the characters likable? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I liked the main characters in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Among the Innocent.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They weren’t the most interesting and developed characters ever, but I was rooting for them and they weren’t idiots. Well, Leah’s constant theme of “no, you should totally let me be involved in this even though I’m absolutely in extreme danger, and this is just making it easier for the killer, but see, I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">want</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to” did get a bit old, I’ll admit. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: Yes.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are the characters authentic? </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Are they realistic? Can you empathize with them?)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plot is #4 on my list for a reason… it can be as compelling as you want, but if the characters are one-dimensional, the whole book is going to fall flat. As far as the authenticity of Leah and Dalton, I felt that it was middling. As usual for a woman author who jumps back-and-forth between the perspective of male and female main characters, the girl did seem more real. The driving force of her past made a lot of sense; Dalton’s didn’t as much. There is a reveal mid-book that makes you understand it a bit more, but my thoughts on that are better saved for the plot analysis. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I did think the romance between the two main characters seemed a little contrived. Is this the only person of the opposite gender that they’ve met who is nice, honest, and seems to have a good heart? Respect for another human being doesn’t generally create chemistry or attraction unless a person is out looking to fall in love, which was not the case with either of these characters. I can see that their backgrounds would make them identify with each other, but again, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they should fall for each other. I did, however, appreciate the lack of ogling the girl’s beauty or swooning over the guy’s muscles. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the perspectives, interspersed here and there, was that of the villain. I understood why that was in there for the plot’s sake, but it did feel a little odd. We aren’t meant to understand or sympathize with the villain– he’s just plain messed-up– and having his perspective sometimes felt forced and awkward.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: Sort of.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Is the dialogue realistic and engaging?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I really love dialogue-driven books. It’s no wonder that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pride and Prejudice</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is my favorite Jane Austen novel–it’s the only one that begins with a conversation rather than a lengthy narrative. The dialogue in this book was, I would say, middling. There was nothing that particularly annoyed me, but nothing that particularly amazed me, either.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: Sort of.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Four.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Is it a good plot?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The plot was the main reason why I chose this book. While I used to be an avid reader of Beverly Lewis, at some point I grew tired of Amish fiction. This synopsis caught my eye, though. A murder mystery set in Amish country? Sure, I’ll bite. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will concede that this book was quite the page-turner, which I very much enjoyed. I did end up predicting a number of the plot points that were supposed to be a big reveal– whether this means it was predictable or I’m just really good at figuring stuff out, I’ll leave you to surmise. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of the choices didn’t make a ton of sense to me, especially waiting until the middle of the story to reveal a certain detail about Dalton’s past. I feel like we could have had more sympathy for the character if we’d known earlier, but as it is, his motives just seemed a little off for most of it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it certainly wasn’t right up there with Agatha Christie, the plot was sufficiently intricate to keep me engaged and not disappoint me at the end, so…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: Yes.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Is the narrative smooth and not distracting? (A.k.a., is it well-written?)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First of all, the book had several typos (misplaced quotation marks, that sort of thing) which made it feel rather unprofessional. Beyond typos, there were bits of the narrative that I had to read several times to correctly put the emphasis on the right part of the sentence and understand it, and that’s not something I normally have to do. As an English BA, I found myself rewording the sentences in my head in a way that would make them much clearer. (Perhaps this criticism should be more directed to the editor and less to the author.) Then, as far as preference goes, Alford seemed very fond of purposely incomplete sentences. Those annoy me. Annoy me a lot. Seem lazy. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(See, that was my little joke, using incomplete sentences to talk about incomplete sentences. Anyway… moving on.) </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, I have read much worse. So I’m going to say…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: Sort of.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That brings my rating of the book to a total of 3.5/5, although for Goodreads I will round it to 4/5, because I really did enjoy it.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for this review as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to give a positive review.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-26182034701395053102022-05-31T11:13:00.002-06:002022-05-31T13:52:56.588-06:00England Photo Dump: Day 2<p>It's been longer than I meant it to be, but here we are with photos from Day 2 of our England trip. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaP4kBcOiNRyUOEYfRTrW89WB0u_Nh3xSGgA0lA0MYboi0IsENI6ykp5vbAbyfvpZ-OHQQulTqnfEU0PjPAf2m7cUy8nX8utf65xG6KW9a_rff3ktIoWZ4IFI-YSt3v9ap26kAvKYtyws4ji_yLUsQaMU7vkhcVFAn5JcGcaG8MfiO-Dm5IvWCKnAk/s2048/EACD376A-E426-45FA-B81D-EABFFC33F271.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaP4kBcOiNRyUOEYfRTrW89WB0u_Nh3xSGgA0lA0MYboi0IsENI6ykp5vbAbyfvpZ-OHQQulTqnfEU0PjPAf2m7cUy8nX8utf65xG6KW9a_rff3ktIoWZ4IFI-YSt3v9ap26kAvKYtyws4ji_yLUsQaMU7vkhcVFAn5JcGcaG8MfiO-Dm5IvWCKnAk/w640-h480/EACD376A-E426-45FA-B81D-EABFFC33F271.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Picking up our little Fiat 500 rental! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLczkTplja_IzJlmBUU9zkozyUAUCgFc-zpqC2NIv8tYREbAbVTjihXWCQXokaKFvBdg3yMiG7XvLTHHYNdY8uxBzHQmYLVPHW0evUa0m8sU1BUK1Yo7pTPExqao1t9cJT-hI_yAszzKofV0Nwf6gNp2xXSw0JQehEbG42cO6h-HkCrkVuOl5wm08m/s2048/ADC8F2C7-4945-4C7C-813F-D300C664146B.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLczkTplja_IzJlmBUU9zkozyUAUCgFc-zpqC2NIv8tYREbAbVTjihXWCQXokaKFvBdg3yMiG7XvLTHHYNdY8uxBzHQmYLVPHW0evUa0m8sU1BUK1Yo7pTPExqao1t9cJT-hI_yAszzKofV0Nwf6gNp2xXSw0JQehEbG42cO6h-HkCrkVuOl5wm08m/w640-h480/ADC8F2C7-4945-4C7C-813F-D300C664146B.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDV1za0i-Lhj2QZzFbEB33sELBgcIpM0cVQaGCueGwViyjVQLChBGZHj9Fj0W5-H9mZ6Q-B7gYdcD1uP1AUZQe021Db_j7o43f4WNiWSjhrpOkH_PTpWIfwI4FBH2bhijMAWltQBErpdwKOa_lgn05mNJEY3MC8D96EHcG_DMA0YxgHAqF3nWOr9x/s2048/DAF64547-E6C4-464F-97B7-5D1467EA1616.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDV1za0i-Lhj2QZzFbEB33sELBgcIpM0cVQaGCueGwViyjVQLChBGZHj9Fj0W5-H9mZ6Q-B7gYdcD1uP1AUZQe021Db_j7o43f4WNiWSjhrpOkH_PTpWIfwI4FBH2bhijMAWltQBErpdwKOa_lgn05mNJEY3MC8D96EHcG_DMA0YxgHAqF3nWOr9x/w640-h480/DAF64547-E6C4-464F-97B7-5D1467EA1616.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mVx4-QCslQ2WGPZaSmAweb8_pWmUIcJuDfzQPNar--CHCAtUjAwz9_jUoO0b6z-4a3Kq_0kVL_qbFX6Cqc1tociz5jRXAo3pH6ck9wPumjP5o9t7K2qsGme2MUCWx_rAH1yRAkpACu-pJZNSzvtoFvJ24xLEZrMesSlrF9DmvYlt8_kY_LUYcMHx/s2048/B7AA8098-E2E9-4359-B4B6-2EF8720DE94E.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mVx4-QCslQ2WGPZaSmAweb8_pWmUIcJuDfzQPNar--CHCAtUjAwz9_jUoO0b6z-4a3Kq_0kVL_qbFX6Cqc1tociz5jRXAo3pH6ck9wPumjP5o9t7K2qsGme2MUCWx_rAH1yRAkpACu-pJZNSzvtoFvJ24xLEZrMesSlrF9DmvYlt8_kY_LUYcMHx/w480-h640/B7AA8098-E2E9-4359-B4B6-2EF8720DE94E.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p>A lovely little tearoom where we stopped for some late breakfast. Isn't it adorable? These kind of places are all over the place in England! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPUBMpod3rQNhOiJbSdCSMC92gPIL0Na1eDH1Gh85kwX3zAjhVyMMQIA5U2RemuDMapZk3EjXONEqVHwre3Y9SUsQE6V5DRRS4emFl7NyrcurkxL6MFZ_eGtQpJjI5-fdvGf1Y9dEG3wFzTC0liG3ZXctA9TuuS-ICNtGK8iJejyMIwtjot123qNu/s2048/53855592-65C0-4B70-B203-6CD4F7A0905B.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPUBMpod3rQNhOiJbSdCSMC92gPIL0Na1eDH1Gh85kwX3zAjhVyMMQIA5U2RemuDMapZk3EjXONEqVHwre3Y9SUsQE6V5DRRS4emFl7NyrcurkxL6MFZ_eGtQpJjI5-fdvGf1Y9dEG3wFzTC0liG3ZXctA9TuuS-ICNtGK8iJejyMIwtjot123qNu/w640-h480/53855592-65C0-4B70-B203-6CD4F7A0905B.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9kgTclpGWyzYQXr6ywNdewKNa5HbdhSyEjzd559C42WbDgAW10vpRT4U3ao5CgZaV-aydJo957mLn-cxNa8ujz9Quvr1JZvF6x4LZOoXJyRJJFGhsocStpVWebyEvPtrHzKNyYZAe1YWyPJo7Go7NWtoWRxAXTsrvQt6bO8RDb_DS-v_Rt2R_39X/s2048/56801061-0526-4372-9B5C-9243FC899A63.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9kgTclpGWyzYQXr6ywNdewKNa5HbdhSyEjzd559C42WbDgAW10vpRT4U3ao5CgZaV-aydJo957mLn-cxNa8ujz9Quvr1JZvF6x4LZOoXJyRJJFGhsocStpVWebyEvPtrHzKNyYZAe1YWyPJo7Go7NWtoWRxAXTsrvQt6bO8RDb_DS-v_Rt2R_39X/w640-h480/56801061-0526-4372-9B5C-9243FC899A63.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bKM7SSOjDErV-iqLsSMvvjdNQ_GyUY8OQjlDXOv39K_IjdG0UJpgVUgelEBlhYYmCt8ukvVsU-gQ93XyGEmB3ydBU9jnEA1tVik2kZjwVWUfdGJ-VB6ydReGj6KdYgF3TyGbhQbGC-m6ui2e2jS0azEB7T3ecDrDAcocZC7ZPFeRw0rDuuiacBYi/s2048/AA58D47B-6FF0-4359-A89B-2BEC6DCCD060.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bKM7SSOjDErV-iqLsSMvvjdNQ_GyUY8OQjlDXOv39K_IjdG0UJpgVUgelEBlhYYmCt8ukvVsU-gQ93XyGEmB3ydBU9jnEA1tVik2kZjwVWUfdGJ-VB6ydReGj6KdYgF3TyGbhQbGC-m6ui2e2jS0azEB7T3ecDrDAcocZC7ZPFeRw0rDuuiacBYi/w480-h640/AA58D47B-6FF0-4359-A89B-2BEC6DCCD060.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hyhTmXUjZ78Q0TnTIBhx3i7-a4kgQC3cAKRclnjM0BA0tmdsDkioQjFK6V9XBA6Vq5rsp_xkbacejQo-VaoSKyIgBLIgCKFALX0lJ8miCKCqy4ycJZZ6zOl0BUw9DGUVl8v01PmK1cJ5L22homEBCWFuxWhErYg_RiDhPIWU632Aq9c6a0rfzM5l/s2048/89896E27-264D-4D3E-AADF-F63E55A778F8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hyhTmXUjZ78Q0TnTIBhx3i7-a4kgQC3cAKRclnjM0BA0tmdsDkioQjFK6V9XBA6Vq5rsp_xkbacejQo-VaoSKyIgBLIgCKFALX0lJ8miCKCqy4ycJZZ6zOl0BUw9DGUVl8v01PmK1cJ5L22homEBCWFuxWhErYg_RiDhPIWU632Aq9c6a0rfzM5l/w640-h480/89896E27-264D-4D3E-AADF-F63E55A778F8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Some lovely countryside. Pictures through the window of course do not do justice to the wild elation we both felt at seeing the landscapes. I knew England was pretty, of course, but seeing it in person is just so different than seeing it in movies.</p><p>As we drove along through Kent headed toward East Sussex, we passed a sign pointing to "Squerryes Court." The name sounded strangely familiar to me. I looked it up quickly, and sure enough, I confirmed that it was the location of Hartfield in my favorite 2009 adaptation of <i>Emma</i>. I had read that it wasn't a place open for tours, but since there was a sign pointing toward it, we turned around in case we could at least catch a glimpse of it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09akD8hd1syJVaVsQ4nxALM_y8CV5h0p8tDOrUyu8KO99ldad7TS2dIDbyUsC6bDU2lzL-nAw4YVsoo28wHl9Be_libSBzd5-oEvYi4VzoF1RkeDVcwNKb5pRa6mnQmxc-hk8zf7Q2J7NzAdJpREWAq6YXf9n-PXxmr3otnOk4mHNZQs9k-4nWL4_/s2048/034FB85D-8546-4E0D-ABE8-BA5D60CE7C50.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09akD8hd1syJVaVsQ4nxALM_y8CV5h0p8tDOrUyu8KO99ldad7TS2dIDbyUsC6bDU2lzL-nAw4YVsoo28wHl9Be_libSBzd5-oEvYi4VzoF1RkeDVcwNKb5pRa6mnQmxc-hk8zf7Q2J7NzAdJpREWAq6YXf9n-PXxmr3otnOk4mHNZQs9k-4nWL4_/w400-h300/034FB85D-8546-4E0D-ABE8-BA5D60CE7C50.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We pulled into a little parking lot here. "Is this it...?" I was saying, and then realized it was probably the back of the building. We got out and looked through a side gate. I was terribly excited. The gate was unlocked. There were other people parked there. There were no signs saying not to go in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwCuiD0eUXn-NVd8IuDl9rdJ-9eVSj2Pf9S7o4dmDhUu4FQpf6TdrEd6nwJFX0-22wG5cjmqOlTCoWlUEUFJSAvIq60oiBE5u5FqbWGfM4fu2sOPtkaGc9cwDgVc2TULxtGj-uHXV6dUh27QqPZ5dr14Hp52oKqRppcBkAa61rI7DGtU_eCbHg_Hd/s2049/F94ADFFF-1B8B-4C8D-B60F-51639511C8C7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwCuiD0eUXn-NVd8IuDl9rdJ-9eVSj2Pf9S7o4dmDhUu4FQpf6TdrEd6nwJFX0-22wG5cjmqOlTCoWlUEUFJSAvIq60oiBE5u5FqbWGfM4fu2sOPtkaGc9cwDgVc2TULxtGj-uHXV6dUh27QqPZ5dr14Hp52oKqRppcBkAa61rI7DGtU_eCbHg_Hd/w640-h480/F94ADFFF-1B8B-4C8D-B60F-51639511C8C7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Cautiously, we opened it and walked into the front garden. There was a gardener working who seemed very unperturbed by our presence, as if random people wander in not infrequently. So we politely and quietly walked round to the front of the house, took some pictures, and skedaddled. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OevDxtdPf71Hs__wE2UWJpdg4JDLop_SdAzSrzdbKvX2NE4RbKHgnH8SwAbxjuSKz9RgRgP-lPhTKgCBln4fAsbHgfv7VB76ayCDwrh01yOKLLhUh2Ke11IJOLZ2gMORYYpSprt1qFMK7WQpM51ScK07Y9LC7BR8W7ymG0nBMFsgLW1NRbSCE7Xx/s2101/6605BE88-99E1-44C8-9E31-AFF9F38465F7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OevDxtdPf71Hs__wE2UWJpdg4JDLop_SdAzSrzdbKvX2NE4RbKHgnH8SwAbxjuSKz9RgRgP-lPhTKgCBln4fAsbHgfv7VB76ayCDwrh01yOKLLhUh2Ke11IJOLZ2gMORYYpSprt1qFMK7WQpM51ScK07Y9LC7BR8W7ymG0nBMFsgLW1NRbSCE7Xx/w468-h640/6605BE88-99E1-44C8-9E31-AFF9F38465F7.JPG" width="468" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJF7JNm8ie93LlwvmyOl5P0F4LvY0MGKYkyPqvOU8Yfa8VMusER12QqSLDatxhfCoCnZPoRZQXimJSyXfImddVQS3xN6DSlejK8w8wYfFv-XMFaklofOxqlPM-JePEolPfTH9PYp9PnX_lp5y3NeQ7fh8DNdnNNSzwyXXcGppwEauJg5y-RNHZ5T0k/s2048/51245615-CB21-416A-AA5B-0460DE08C63D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJF7JNm8ie93LlwvmyOl5P0F4LvY0MGKYkyPqvOU8Yfa8VMusER12QqSLDatxhfCoCnZPoRZQXimJSyXfImddVQS3xN6DSlejK8w8wYfFv-XMFaklofOxqlPM-JePEolPfTH9PYp9PnX_lp5y3NeQ7fh8DNdnNNSzwyXXcGppwEauJg5y-RNHZ5T0k/w640-h480/51245615-CB21-416A-AA5B-0460DE08C63D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBzI6CCgHRHy0nZ4BEFbcq5etx5rNdCH8koMv4121nBifi1nxIfAJunkNgiSvHzCnRrQHtc2xzDj5LUEcfV-3zOMeZBZEmvfXHeVpPpdo_StE4aVYHLOrqjIqyWF-6Soqc9oBSe_uLGZDaCtiSLKckaFM89F7zfUAA4mC_iGY2Mzqwk_U3J5vfrH9/s2049/AC0D651B-988E-44F4-BCE6-A0626209C7A9.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBzI6CCgHRHy0nZ4BEFbcq5etx5rNdCH8koMv4121nBifi1nxIfAJunkNgiSvHzCnRrQHtc2xzDj5LUEcfV-3zOMeZBZEmvfXHeVpPpdo_StE4aVYHLOrqjIqyWF-6Soqc9oBSe_uLGZDaCtiSLKckaFM89F7zfUAA4mC_iGY2Mzqwk_U3J5vfrH9/w640-h480/AC0D651B-988E-44F4-BCE6-A0626209C7A9.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT7BrmRixLm50Rx3fBIthtVrVeb0yn29rLoY7Mz5FMd-ULQm4hkpXpO1QVTIg1phjm1uFxKIXbQ7SWMWvSt45MwiUn0kOR-xliVzr2D4OQDXUIZlJbiAx4j1bmPeo629RWckRwJAy8hvlJ-0a-sElEMY8qd1dTTvlbzU-Wjcvv5N_x8PuRw6eV9Lc/s2049/AD03CB33-4C2E-471A-9117-B2DE3A3F07EC.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT7BrmRixLm50Rx3fBIthtVrVeb0yn29rLoY7Mz5FMd-ULQm4hkpXpO1QVTIg1phjm1uFxKIXbQ7SWMWvSt45MwiUn0kOR-xliVzr2D4OQDXUIZlJbiAx4j1bmPeo629RWckRwJAy8hvlJ-0a-sElEMY8qd1dTTvlbzU-Wjcvv5N_x8PuRw6eV9Lc/w480-h640/AD03CB33-4C2E-471A-9117-B2DE3A3F07EC.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNz_ZC29ZvmgrG9b_43oisafksAd-9vfedNbhu5El41Xp0Avh6Hu86u83v5k9QCBuND38oAUmJ42B7SFn1cAz3TnWo_zewyzrFLfkX1jPnX31SKPS5WMWMdE-wcnjreZpEmxZxZmz71QXBZlUReTMrc02gseHonhD6eT8OZRveDy_eBFfzHl8LYvYR/s2048/C04DE438-3BA6-4740-BD5E-823B580CB16F.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNz_ZC29ZvmgrG9b_43oisafksAd-9vfedNbhu5El41Xp0Avh6Hu86u83v5k9QCBuND38oAUmJ42B7SFn1cAz3TnWo_zewyzrFLfkX1jPnX31SKPS5WMWMdE-wcnjreZpEmxZxZmz71QXBZlUReTMrc02gseHonhD6eT8OZRveDy_eBFfzHl8LYvYR/w480-h640/C04DE438-3BA6-4740-BD5E-823B580CB16F.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPJ1b5B7U0RBnkgzwkL6fUXt2c7eObVc0V88WwghOxGxJlVYBquVAN67r7s8uaDrkO50bSbKfu_W-JdoCYnno6yBnw52PEBzKJyCOOIV3AZBEiCtGw0Uwv4cXXr20DZzd7BbvQmoTMgb0hsxK2EyqjxFKxm_cESPpeW4oq2PnLl1qeXdXnxtVbli_/s2049/44AADEAA-D29F-4074-A151-B2060D0E4A20.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPJ1b5B7U0RBnkgzwkL6fUXt2c7eObVc0V88WwghOxGxJlVYBquVAN67r7s8uaDrkO50bSbKfu_W-JdoCYnno6yBnw52PEBzKJyCOOIV3AZBEiCtGw0Uwv4cXXr20DZzd7BbvQmoTMgb0hsxK2EyqjxFKxm_cESPpeW4oq2PnLl1qeXdXnxtVbli_/w300-h400/44AADEAA-D29F-4074-A151-B2060D0E4A20.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYY8u7lnbbl6gq2xDU7p3vNihRnpwf8tPVVStUrebbGgLkX5ccBqT4NkaOTlCzTyQVeWrcAQ42a974y2-_amNgaXeEMjXBG4d294sBK2lcOGzi1fTKLc7T0CAZ0GiiaTRqEq9VHrEI6VdnZeJWttVtHOoq33HUYqhgpyVwgy2jygUjORGOy_TfrU2/s2048/48B934E1-42FA-4DB3-8D6E-30995D399FA4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYY8u7lnbbl6gq2xDU7p3vNihRnpwf8tPVVStUrebbGgLkX5ccBqT4NkaOTlCzTyQVeWrcAQ42a974y2-_amNgaXeEMjXBG4d294sBK2lcOGzi1fTKLc7T0CAZ0GiiaTRqEq9VHrEI6VdnZeJWttVtHOoq33HUYqhgpyVwgy2jygUjORGOy_TfrU2/w640-h480/48B934E1-42FA-4DB3-8D6E-30995D399FA4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div>The view in the back-- also featured in <i>Emma</i>. </div><div>I loved our brief adventure. It was my first example of how really cool things just pop up and surprise you in England.</div><div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSntZOUcnZ2laiMcSdx53XEZz1gEeoh-ZQX_s_L9_-FoC4lAtVZyVXbupzuuYNkEd_o5g1lZHojJWK2cAuMKdN1IDn8081MkAFE9MtCRcPvIIuh3pd2y5MzLWAvtgxyRUMONR7hKlHzb3albK8OE9LC0Z3_ovS1B9Isf0eM7rU0ORolzp7ejxMQ7H/s2048/43188A19-128C-4A3B-BBFB-C5065F1206EE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSntZOUcnZ2laiMcSdx53XEZz1gEeoh-ZQX_s_L9_-FoC4lAtVZyVXbupzuuYNkEd_o5g1lZHojJWK2cAuMKdN1IDn8081MkAFE9MtCRcPvIIuh3pd2y5MzLWAvtgxyRUMONR7hKlHzb3albK8OE9LC0Z3_ovS1B9Isf0eM7rU0ORolzp7ejxMQ7H/w480-h640/43188A19-128C-4A3B-BBFB-C5065F1206EE.jpeg" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our next stop was Pooh Corner in Hartfield, East Sussex. (Yes, the town is called Hartfield, just like the house in <i>Emma</i>, haha.) <br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII62TJmPCPsAJUa3kQUfatZWj5tXCwDh22I5IM7-72kWuJZnjSVOKdA5eAQ_ik-xjezXtRL3bWTmiXV2m4q-f5byQIVPWjE3LiraTVvFt4AC4A0ST10Sext2ByKyAJrM86XYMCnNVzu_c9UJwddtqdyYbLr2SmkEexu9_KyKyRxqBlhL0nlTtdftk/s2048/C3B824FB-51A6-45A6-965A-8F9595D9E4CC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII62TJmPCPsAJUa3kQUfatZWj5tXCwDh22I5IM7-72kWuJZnjSVOKdA5eAQ_ik-xjezXtRL3bWTmiXV2m4q-f5byQIVPWjE3LiraTVvFt4AC4A0ST10Sext2ByKyAJrM86XYMCnNVzu_c9UJwddtqdyYbLr2SmkEexu9_KyKyRxqBlhL0nlTtdftk/w640-h480/C3B824FB-51A6-45A6-965A-8F9595D9E4CC.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It's a lovely little spot with a tearoom, a gift shop, and a "Pooh-seum."</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFY0KHF2KKx7TeOHmnSO2_eBAO1rr0Gy7b6-pL5DNZBzG0jbXfBPk3wQPjlPmWAx5-yxHBFIUgaFgxjyetVBiHfrrXb6eCjQ-ftzvVlCLfWI57JH7Z2QiNbDSFUzCzoDMqnGihVxLzDNEU3ZviCozz3LG15EIVgqpRRq7YgHQg2dbdJqtpAl40NFx/s2048/AC7DCE04-0B56-45AF-96DC-A7ACBC42764D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFY0KHF2KKx7TeOHmnSO2_eBAO1rr0Gy7b6-pL5DNZBzG0jbXfBPk3wQPjlPmWAx5-yxHBFIUgaFgxjyetVBiHfrrXb6eCjQ-ftzvVlCLfWI57JH7Z2QiNbDSFUzCzoDMqnGihVxLzDNEU3ZviCozz3LG15EIVgqpRRq7YgHQg2dbdJqtpAl40NFx/w640-h480/AC7DCE04-0B56-45AF-96DC-A7ACBC42764D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Look at the adorable Pooh teapot! And the table itself had a map of the Hundred Acre Wood.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Yi3FK4nXxJPXD1CbK7dRbusbLJdu1AE_xafoHdCdcbNOYzL42oeFQRLp37Sq0WBavzjahVXSVkoBKNtV3b9Ah3RPDxtj-Z_-d5RDvOX5mxNrerLVTCGkLZHBJN_45WSNMLVNpfSlV3ZDaioWJA54azX_-mo65ntkHFiSbYFJa2SBbxTdsJc0pbB/s2048/99FB5A22-3A02-4E67-BD35-8FDCC37A63D3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Yi3FK4nXxJPXD1CbK7dRbusbLJdu1AE_xafoHdCdcbNOYzL42oeFQRLp37Sq0WBavzjahVXSVkoBKNtV3b9Ah3RPDxtj-Z_-d5RDvOX5mxNrerLVTCGkLZHBJN_45WSNMLVNpfSlV3ZDaioWJA54azX_-mo65ntkHFiSbYFJa2SBbxTdsJc0pbB/w480-h640/99FB5A22-3A02-4E67-BD35-8FDCC37A63D3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_l9ez95VjqYHfC-jCCw659YQ6CtjpfptPSvQa74fTpegrLEAzN_k95vf_c9_XIhAnJkVpGN-Y3X_26df43cv35VzWmXsh122l05QM5VNcTt3Ej8CZq2TohiFOdX1aYPA9J4Gnun1ckTTrX4YBscFysqH0cz-2zrc-Qsie2SNtaEvfU00PQBRzobw/s2049/32F7B338-6392-4D4F-91EA-91FD3B5991E1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_l9ez95VjqYHfC-jCCw659YQ6CtjpfptPSvQa74fTpegrLEAzN_k95vf_c9_XIhAnJkVpGN-Y3X_26df43cv35VzWmXsh122l05QM5VNcTt3Ej8CZq2TohiFOdX1aYPA9J4Gnun1ckTTrX4YBscFysqH0cz-2zrc-Qsie2SNtaEvfU00PQBRzobw/w480-h640/32F7B338-6392-4D4F-91EA-91FD3B5991E1.jpeg" width="480" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our first scones in England! Clotted cream is the way to go, friends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJlzUCJFEIyu7IYH3AsHzPSfWgO1POSRrefwBRyYh9D-NeSbT5ZcQZYbO7dIIudKJKANOHFqft05OpTOPRmWopTtHCxRFWQVN5Hp2znwm-bcJ0pL_FK8JrGMAwkUCuUMihKK7s9fl8pXE3y1d_Ryo9zKyE5AWRDnmVhAlfpBWpAGtI9OY7beTZuBg/s2048/0EB03AF0-4D5A-4D58-8119-3643F6DC51D2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJlzUCJFEIyu7IYH3AsHzPSfWgO1POSRrefwBRyYh9D-NeSbT5ZcQZYbO7dIIudKJKANOHFqft05OpTOPRmWopTtHCxRFWQVN5Hp2znwm-bcJ0pL_FK8JrGMAwkUCuUMihKK7s9fl8pXE3y1d_Ryo9zKyE5AWRDnmVhAlfpBWpAGtI9OY7beTZuBg/w480-h640/0EB03AF0-4D5A-4D58-8119-3643F6DC51D2.jpeg" width="480" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Original artwork by EH Shephard! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdhLz4PKSGzkCRDAbpCYK5tvrgws-0FSQ8zIhPJpLTIYCsekz1GE09iWph-sqr8tcyDHJyIVvgKkt3VnhHCxnuO2RGstTT57kjSRXBr_AiQO2ml3OndYcNxyRs6Q3d057EEF6czWRKentj7IJhfb-FVz-1JAFLqs0mL6oBVIKeE3OkBT6CXxl_Bl2/s2048/328AFD40-296E-4963-B0CA-9FD524099BA4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdhLz4PKSGzkCRDAbpCYK5tvrgws-0FSQ8zIhPJpLTIYCsekz1GE09iWph-sqr8tcyDHJyIVvgKkt3VnhHCxnuO2RGstTT57kjSRXBr_AiQO2ml3OndYcNxyRs6Q3d057EEF6czWRKentj7IJhfb-FVz-1JAFLqs0mL6oBVIKeE3OkBT6CXxl_Bl2/w480-h640/328AFD40-296E-4963-B0CA-9FD524099BA4.jpeg" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then to my sudden surprise, I found this sketch of Jane Austen, imagined sitting at a writing desk next to the window at Lyme Regis, also by E.H. Shephard. The illustrator of my favorite childhood stories drawing a picture of the author of my favorite teen and adult stories... worlds collide, indeed! (Never mind that the sketch looks more 1830s than 1810s.) <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaM8xLVop17krjtR-QnyZUq1WYG0xYG-rNvC8Fl6qgzm3DDBM-0JaRUm9jghvGO70q5nyFoHSiSgcCIpw7iqzBPkg2du-eOBG-DSvlUm780cjMgQ6hhAbYgMU4Yd-ktkJIqvcknKx2ppWqvM9DR4yKko3Hm-EbFMTkNuHfarvcpqmGBTHBFjwhzdC/s2049/162DCE75-9042-4B6D-A731-B6A100F6A5E8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaM8xLVop17krjtR-QnyZUq1WYG0xYG-rNvC8Fl6qgzm3DDBM-0JaRUm9jghvGO70q5nyFoHSiSgcCIpw7iqzBPkg2du-eOBG-DSvlUm780cjMgQ6hhAbYgMU4Yd-ktkJIqvcknKx2ppWqvM9DR4yKko3Hm-EbFMTkNuHfarvcpqmGBTHBFjwhzdC/w480-h640/162DCE75-9042-4B6D-A731-B6A100F6A5E8.jpeg" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A realistic reproduction of Winnie the Pooh. :) <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ccVSskIhrhdeTXHAniKK-bJwI96bvGrhfiHsN7EVl61Z_4VGNyez_UbXsAhmqvhhPj6e731B6PWoBGTjA25FFxXFkvC57xHj6ykkgtd62f-Y1rV4G0jb4FAPxqXxT6nQcIZMSPuYTR8guSiiTAnxN2AeOUrzlTzRJhlddfaQ92vagVsVlr_kyowY/s2048/2DC1182D-3997-4899-BCA8-097E43E6905A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ccVSskIhrhdeTXHAniKK-bJwI96bvGrhfiHsN7EVl61Z_4VGNyez_UbXsAhmqvhhPj6e731B6PWoBGTjA25FFxXFkvC57xHj6ykkgtd62f-Y1rV4G0jb4FAPxqXxT6nQcIZMSPuYTR8guSiiTAnxN2AeOUrzlTzRJhlddfaQ92vagVsVlr_kyowY/w640-h480/2DC1182D-3997-4899-BCA8-097E43E6905A.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Cuteness in the Pooh-seum!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzvzbhxFthlvaDBzT1Wb1MzTnSEYNKpXirrxmFA6ueWlrkde8f43hOKZdm5ty9prLkcuFuy464p7fLNTkAIkvz_nhVJ_z-ZBVvGNkKzbVq0Q-oY_flCAbQsQXs8v6QR-xCcHRE0TtockRUZtV_xZafZ8NrxRUr8Yrc_lcUm3K2u1sdm-s8lZcR0K9/s2049/D582B545-B325-4E1D-B99E-30DFB9331E30.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzvzbhxFthlvaDBzT1Wb1MzTnSEYNKpXirrxmFA6ueWlrkde8f43hOKZdm5ty9prLkcuFuy464p7fLNTkAIkvz_nhVJ_z-ZBVvGNkKzbVq0Q-oY_flCAbQsQXs8v6QR-xCcHRE0TtockRUZtV_xZafZ8NrxRUr8Yrc_lcUm3K2u1sdm-s8lZcR0K9/w640-h480/D582B545-B325-4E1D-B99E-30DFB9331E30.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AwXamiCnLpIJY-QLIT-YPA2c0gI4Bh_v1oalKBynazfcqryUnZXA7XNSQwduUFeFTYDkpNIN7tzdLb5x5QeOhnbC98WzwzUs3186j2eS668-cCLvr0gWZqjiSZrdtfD4xxbNN6v5eP2Vf1h5Ko-HbLO2WM2RZsH8SOW84_ATNrH0mLncx8oUaVxJ/s2048/A6CDAD7A-F191-4B16-A561-E4ABBCCE50DA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AwXamiCnLpIJY-QLIT-YPA2c0gI4Bh_v1oalKBynazfcqryUnZXA7XNSQwduUFeFTYDkpNIN7tzdLb5x5QeOhnbC98WzwzUs3186j2eS668-cCLvr0gWZqjiSZrdtfD4xxbNN6v5eP2Vf1h5Ko-HbLO2WM2RZsH8SOW84_ATNrH0mLncx8oUaVxJ/w480-h640/A6CDAD7A-F191-4B16-A561-E4ABBCCE50DA.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The building itself is said to have been a little store at the time when A.A. Milne lived here, which the Milnes would sometimes visit. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQT3gmsLobdgbofSgZ8ieSZWHryC9VCwU_RiLIhb3IcU9ljhMQp1-yigasKUnj4NOgMUUVyfbOIhrtxmh2rhyvp5_dg572HGalcJoHuZ7YPdtOMfdhZe-3GUFBRgp7ttegjnMtvexhYRGzX2WbP6sU0PAUtsfqJpvAZA44BA8QMHuVsNkwMKhsfWtM/s2048/D4A86702-9409-4933-A8A2-B20FAE5D938C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQT3gmsLobdgbofSgZ8ieSZWHryC9VCwU_RiLIhb3IcU9ljhMQp1-yigasKUnj4NOgMUUVyfbOIhrtxmh2rhyvp5_dg572HGalcJoHuZ7YPdtOMfdhZe-3GUFBRgp7ttegjnMtvexhYRGzX2WbP6sU0PAUtsfqJpvAZA44BA8QMHuVsNkwMKhsfWtM/w480-h640/D4A86702-9409-4933-A8A2-B20FAE5D938C.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><span><!--more--></span>Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-44466657533284561142022-05-07T15:39:00.002-06:002022-05-07T15:39:35.667-06:00England Photo Dump: Day 1<p>Yes, you read correctly. England. In the 11 years since I began this blog, my number one travel dream has been to go to England and see all the Jane Austen stuff in real life. Now, it’s finally happening! It’s every bit as lovely and exciting as I expected, even if, at 27, I am unable to experience it with the exact same <i>exuberance</i> I would have at 17. The addition of years has made it much less scary, though, as does having a husband with whom to do it all. </p><p>These posts are meant to primarily focus on photos and brief explanations of what is going on in them, but there may be the occasional anecdote. This is for posterity and for you dear readers, but also so I can have a handy link to share with family members who don’t all have accounts on the same social media. If you have questions about the trip, please ask them in comments, and perhaps I an do a Q&A post!</p><p>Enjoy!!</p><p><u>April 19th: London</u></p><p>One could say that my husband, like Frank Churchill, went all the way to London to get his hair cut. It would actually be quite true, except, of course, that it was not his only reason for going to London (but then again, it wasn't for Frank Churchill, either). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryR6kcrXaGthRj-10Akjr6QdDRATSP3z8kx_jQtXXMdRiqB7tHHtoXQCL3a5e9K5QeX3Fq1vsGz5pD3nSiqcJJhyvg3df0uMcfWeTAdROEfoXS81cTqDe5faJGBL3PRmd77LLoZljYe_5xcaxVQbYmzA0xULNOD89T4UnTyCX7RqvMRwJizwlGfzJ/s2049/167D05B6-EB62-4D4A-988F-4ECF659EC729.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryR6kcrXaGthRj-10Akjr6QdDRATSP3z8kx_jQtXXMdRiqB7tHHtoXQCL3a5e9K5QeX3Fq1vsGz5pD3nSiqcJJhyvg3df0uMcfWeTAdROEfoXS81cTqDe5faJGBL3PRmd77LLoZljYe_5xcaxVQbYmzA0xULNOD89T4UnTyCX7RqvMRwJizwlGfzJ/w480-h640/167D05B6-EB62-4D4A-988F-4ECF659EC729.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before, with rather longer hair than he usually has, because he went without a couple of haircuts in order to afford this one. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was actually our first appointment in London, and between landing a bit after 10 am and 2 pm when the haircut was scheduled, it was an absolute mad rush to get to our Air BnB, drop off our luggage, get a good enough wifi connection to figure out how to get to where we were going, and get there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Truefitt & Hill is a very, very old barber shop that is rumored to have served Charles Dickens, among other famous people, and currently cater to the royal family. Caleb was relieved to finally go into a "real" barber shop where he could tell the barber he wanted a classic taper cut, and that they would actually know what that meant.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Mp-npFOcKugORhRbfT_dABRwbe6sSHGgi0IEyiKL1hx2r9teTJgXcQpYVar-0MP8yBUhuW12MjBclRMd07n6CJVzg2y6stFu4MWcCxHVo1qYxeHJo33ly4wHYt0IdBmImArwsLU7uS6T63dGOFptOWm6VeZ94RM_JCZBPE0YEAEHyfj8Fr4BCKT9/s2048/2E62E049-4A99-4E7C-B3D4-4D4468155AD4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Mp-npFOcKugORhRbfT_dABRwbe6sSHGgi0IEyiKL1hx2r9teTJgXcQpYVar-0MP8yBUhuW12MjBclRMd07n6CJVzg2y6stFu4MWcCxHVo1qYxeHJo33ly4wHYt0IdBmImArwsLU7uS6T63dGOFptOWm6VeZ94RM_JCZBPE0YEAEHyfj8Fr4BCKT9/w640-h480/2E62E049-4A99-4E7C-B3D4-4D4468155AD4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithZhbhDWInecomBVuMMqP-Xe6tmCJ9eSPpgRsqWgCFD_PGPROw8Yhaj3wtTu0FaqG4m-jBMM9kCyEeW9xCrTDhtWTykz4GpXGYcj1DwJMCjulyUjOM3YsteiyuxbYRudxJykATs8Su3j8zeqjjIyk_fxQLorb0MelIgfod-UMLexCKtmlZeuOBjf_/s4032/C8156F1A-3B2A-4021-8743-2EB4F8343F51.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithZhbhDWInecomBVuMMqP-Xe6tmCJ9eSPpgRsqWgCFD_PGPROw8Yhaj3wtTu0FaqG4m-jBMM9kCyEeW9xCrTDhtWTykz4GpXGYcj1DwJMCjulyUjOM3YsteiyuxbYRudxJykATs8Su3j8zeqjjIyk_fxQLorb0MelIgfod-UMLexCKtmlZeuOBjf_/w480-h640/C8156F1A-3B2A-4021-8743-2EB4F8343F51.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The interior was quite nice, and they had just a random bookshelf, so I approved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucM0mZ85w0NibUTMSv1e2c-JskugpCWvqpDjxu1D2exUHd4kW2XTrm2zl0oRnCtgyx3CaXhns-4D-P1E4eQyeVpzhVVT5XbAB-CpW7GLAJ_29hWBZHG4oN-z81r9sj8kWTY9zw63XKbFDjv7L6DXNiuD3owJON-XhRDgghiWpxJaqxqdwW0GAj60B/w480-h640/B459A4F1-7303-4FA1-8A4E-37764981B25B.jpeg" style="color: #0000ee;" width="480" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">...And after. Of course, the succeeding days will give you a better idea of the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"after" look because he'll have styled it then.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next stop, hat shop. It was important to Caleb to do the haircut and the hat shopping at the beginning of the trip, so he could wear both the rest of the time. It happened that this extremely old and prestigious hat store was just across the street from the barber shop, so we went directly from one to the other. As you can see, both are located on St. James's Street, which is located in Mayfair, the Fancy Shopping District. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wyYRGjMmB-WcYbJV5IU_uola2Do74vmFCQCWh0g7mzhIRWZooDOpq_HAeWRNEujP_2AX6i9l8wdklhgwITbWQA4b0d9m4UDDvolGR9ABsNp5AMxFt93ucs4-pZ3JA_yTmZK13YXvOWGQWWP5u9Qeshb2PC5MDbfc-OgaZa355yZroDIQFLsZwXbN/s4032/AE324D04-951B-40BD-85FE-2BAC816319A1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wyYRGjMmB-WcYbJV5IU_uola2Do74vmFCQCWh0g7mzhIRWZooDOpq_HAeWRNEujP_2AX6i9l8wdklhgwITbWQA4b0d9m4UDDvolGR9ABsNp5AMxFt93ucs4-pZ3JA_yTmZK13YXvOWGQWWP5u9Qeshb2PC5MDbfc-OgaZa355yZroDIQFLsZwXbN/w480-h640/AE324D04-951B-40BD-85FE-2BAC816319A1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the shop we met a chap called Paddy who worked there, seemed about our age, and we got on well with. When we left he actually thanked us for being good company whilst we were there. We were quite tickled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2K_BFf669nXA5wqImHl1cs7CMfGmg7s1-arqwSKPXE9ssyuddhOE0aVYP2gbbvuC-8tK_9xrIHkGc4YXypCnnS1Fj0XV4C-QVy0Xk2_eu3ns24q5Va2zhOlPVtKjoFOQs-N45glpL7QS5hUg6IsVu8ML6IGyspXGlNnLX7TESR2De-F2kD3eb-lr/s2049/001F6125-1BA3-49C1-9AD6-36D0C0FE6500.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2K_BFf669nXA5wqImHl1cs7CMfGmg7s1-arqwSKPXE9ssyuddhOE0aVYP2gbbvuC-8tK_9xrIHkGc4YXypCnnS1Fj0XV4C-QVy0Xk2_eu3ns24q5Va2zhOlPVtKjoFOQs-N45glpL7QS5hUg6IsVu8ML6IGyspXGlNnLX7TESR2De-F2kD3eb-lr/w640-h480/001F6125-1BA3-49C1-9AD6-36D0C0FE6500.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: left;">Some famous people have been into the shop to get custom-made hats and signed these little pieces of paper that represent their head shapes. See if you can spot any familiar names!</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiuovSUYhZjURbqj2tN910f5uLjT1wxt0uQOO4e9MiUq6obY0EgWKR8T3A3UifpMyIdmj1byZ1LtZzBdaAabc2CkDasy6BdWFGmfKYHHxSP9UW4l3caNdyERp3sQMVN1AB5ZXu_MvNj1DLygm681t_SYm-OFY7HAjvhwBZ8Hs7uzyOu7BLh9xDMxl/s2049/BB974CF7-04E3-4F3D-8864-DB92FC2ADD8F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiuovSUYhZjURbqj2tN910f5uLjT1wxt0uQOO4e9MiUq6obY0EgWKR8T3A3UifpMyIdmj1byZ1LtZzBdaAabc2CkDasy6BdWFGmfKYHHxSP9UW4l3caNdyERp3sQMVN1AB5ZXu_MvNj1DLygm681t_SYm-OFY7HAjvhwBZ8Hs7uzyOu7BLh9xDMxl/w640-h480/BB974CF7-04E3-4F3D-8864-DB92FC2ADD8F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBdpq-1EIHkzktgzS_Rj_Ac7EhBb9RrjjFz9qgX76GmJ2Pttd7hHDrgSr3OLfWBmLRFKuYhLa8NZGyOXTC8d28MvRim49SeqY63iwnCuhC4L8Z1c9yKy0j_kPIiJf8U0xObentttfT1EXW2Ja7SxdBggtiAMpRhYGe9dHtjtJ_kl94N7ejanTkWIg/s2048/C2D20C8C-97C0-496C-A24B-7CF9B73993B6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBdpq-1EIHkzktgzS_Rj_Ac7EhBb9RrjjFz9qgX76GmJ2Pttd7hHDrgSr3OLfWBmLRFKuYhLa8NZGyOXTC8d28MvRim49SeqY63iwnCuhC4L8Z1c9yKy0j_kPIiJf8U0xObentttfT1EXW2Ja7SxdBggtiAMpRhYGe9dHtjtJ_kl94N7ejanTkWIg/w480-h640/C2D20C8C-97C0-496C-A24B-7CF9B73993B6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And here is Caleb with his hat. It was a unanimous favorite-- </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">myself, Caleb, and Paddy all thought it suited him the best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivABzXvlUCclCXpOHzWA14UNsQxHwj0uzfV4gPrtKkHx0ZlW2fJOtXMClH8x5rnGUAQ0F6e2zoHgZfIwbVB7i21E7Qa1zddDLFzfV-4VmJkJaTL7H-MojJe2QwJ6llpVfGOWW0jZB_epWAZYaVr5UowUervCp4KtvohjnL6_ZgJ1RtlHdDmc8Jm27F/s4032/853B2EC4-F45F-4A57-9B47-F2D5F159EE7C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivABzXvlUCclCXpOHzWA14UNsQxHwj0uzfV4gPrtKkHx0ZlW2fJOtXMClH8x5rnGUAQ0F6e2zoHgZfIwbVB7i21E7Qa1zddDLFzfV-4VmJkJaTL7H-MojJe2QwJ6llpVfGOWW0jZB_epWAZYaVr5UowUervCp4KtvohjnL6_ZgJ1RtlHdDmc8Jm27F/w480-h640/853B2EC4-F45F-4A57-9B47-F2D5F159EE7C.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is just quite a random building in the area. I saw so many cool, old buildings after this, of course, that this picture seems a bit inconsequential -- except that I remember taking it with a sudden overwhelming feeling of "oh my goodness, I'm in London, this is so London, asdfasdghsdklfjlkj."</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGazweXLp47vmGlDC9XRGKkFykMRiDZfmJjb_kjrCHrLsp8HWq0aRgntwn5x8wORMMXg4zmYxZ2sz4eOzYfjasFJd8dBH_wUKvKzNOuE7yFShjrcphawo4pSK-OYeFe2cO1NryeKkSOuZZsTWhPOKDqSTGFbj-q_4PA0rN_Y5nVCWjA1zlJ8ij-1UY/s2049/4CB8B88F-4E3B-431D-9F8D-969169E9B60B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGazweXLp47vmGlDC9XRGKkFykMRiDZfmJjb_kjrCHrLsp8HWq0aRgntwn5x8wORMMXg4zmYxZ2sz4eOzYfjasFJd8dBH_wUKvKzNOuE7yFShjrcphawo4pSK-OYeFe2cO1NryeKkSOuZZsTWhPOKDqSTGFbj-q_4PA0rN_Y5nVCWjA1zlJ8ij-1UY/w480-h640/4CB8B88F-4E3B-431D-9F8D-969169E9B60B.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I mean... when you go to London you just have to pose in a phone booth. That's how it works.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPBRFnI2R7jZONjhTMBQccIwfS9SnYiBxMCV7iJGAy7vNNR0m8zZNlJnsitHibNciHUr6DzrNqv9-TdzaCXlIqrGNkTdCjez_rat6e_GdROD3bVXZ6mTdjCsZPRlpu2TxVcZTFtg4-X0qZT7HAuYd7ySO7yiKZwkHLnZNyWjili91arFLgdUaZKra/s2048/C504E17D-3D2A-45A8-B698-37A25254472C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPBRFnI2R7jZONjhTMBQccIwfS9SnYiBxMCV7iJGAy7vNNR0m8zZNlJnsitHibNciHUr6DzrNqv9-TdzaCXlIqrGNkTdCjez_rat6e_GdROD3bVXZ6mTdjCsZPRlpu2TxVcZTFtg4-X0qZT7HAuYd7ySO7yiKZwkHLnZNyWjili91arFLgdUaZKra/w640-h480/C504E17D-3D2A-45A8-B698-37A25254472C.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We took a bit of a breather in St. James's Square (not to be confused with St. James's Park, which is much larger). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRKLPNXNKX7ctCV83xwBE2tWqWLp0exVZCnszIObWiPoCFiw4IL4UBbI3hLzkB8b55ohnLTXTgXdHagdvX2FhcqcsxWNBDaQ0EiuKdBUvn1e8tBCC-ebyQUxExXf5bF7HcgpOtAUDcbQQ0_K24jsD9H0Et_uhdbkSh35C2dVOLFZm0TPahgqymjrq/s3088/CECE4AEE-2F6C-4426-BEE7-FDB42EDFB707.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRKLPNXNKX7ctCV83xwBE2tWqWLp0exVZCnszIObWiPoCFiw4IL4UBbI3hLzkB8b55ohnLTXTgXdHagdvX2FhcqcsxWNBDaQ0EiuKdBUvn1e8tBCC-ebyQUxExXf5bF7HcgpOtAUDcbQQ0_K24jsD9H0Et_uhdbkSh35C2dVOLFZm0TPahgqymjrq/w640-h480/CECE4AEE-2F6C-4426-BEE7-FDB42EDFB707.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60Yel8j6fWK3Bc5Z2-bAmtDgxdJyqKDTR9i04yl7pBDP6-I40k9Wqa_xUL96RCVAsLNc5bSjHvY_IQSYOELJHsTsHAxChpm2PHNvqBFyXa0DU-96Io_N_Wh2gaH7m8Q2Hy3B83CH6T8fpR0W6MrN7bJnKsX5M3eY2jphef5sS5F02kdoLl0HLrG6a/s4032/BEDD8FEF-D195-4CE9-80D0-C3E4A5F2AD7B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60Yel8j6fWK3Bc5Z2-bAmtDgxdJyqKDTR9i04yl7pBDP6-I40k9Wqa_xUL96RCVAsLNc5bSjHvY_IQSYOELJHsTsHAxChpm2PHNvqBFyXa0DU-96Io_N_Wh2gaH7m8Q2Hy3B83CH6T8fpR0W6MrN7bJnKsX5M3eY2jphef5sS5F02kdoLl0HLrG6a/w640-h480/BEDD8FEF-D195-4CE9-80D0-C3E4A5F2AD7B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Some important person on a horse</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIzT7PzsSga_gd6EhVCwgG6OHddEZyWGKkn4KMkamP87pBxlEFHYLQICGAunX5uw1NFC2CkNGo3OFD4BMnbvgcjXVugZeu8zuuPbstMtoxSG2xLaGMKyt2GTzRcqUlM9OGoWnIE_AiciglqnlBRBTS_V06NuiIoaEGE-CkBKidViM2KyyG6ZzjuvG/s2731/2E1B40E2-AE23-4D4D-8A65-EEC0C1F8800D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2731" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIzT7PzsSga_gd6EhVCwgG6OHddEZyWGKkn4KMkamP87pBxlEFHYLQICGAunX5uw1NFC2CkNGo3OFD4BMnbvgcjXVugZeu8zuuPbstMtoxSG2xLaGMKyt2GTzRcqUlM9OGoWnIE_AiciglqnlBRBTS_V06NuiIoaEGE-CkBKidViM2KyyG6ZzjuvG/w640-h360/2E1B40E2-AE23-4D4D-8A65-EEC0C1F8800D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In Trafalger Square, I threw a penny into the fountain. An American penny. Hopefully we weren't cursed as a result.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimsHX7Yu4-TbhXIyLo6b79jYmARB3ZMIQv35VS8wkb35q386Ida3sFsp5volvPQ05CahHIrlIMcmDn_RZcGPdzjD2r8lQsWnELaoQ_cvDOT9cblNDqc0pNvKT5deGu5G6wyGiky2cC9tbHO7kjtMRhFo07GIOuDvhIikbSZoNi2FWelukLeMLdRzK/s2048/4A071104-0B89-42D6-A995-2B8ABBAA4868.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimsHX7Yu4-TbhXIyLo6b79jYmARB3ZMIQv35VS8wkb35q386Ida3sFsp5volvPQ05CahHIrlIMcmDn_RZcGPdzjD2r8lQsWnELaoQ_cvDOT9cblNDqc0pNvKT5deGu5G6wyGiky2cC9tbHO7kjtMRhFo07GIOuDvhIikbSZoNi2FWelukLeMLdRzK/w480-h640/4A071104-0B89-42D6-A995-2B8ABBAA4868.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Zl7kEv3eJdacSNR1k8HTO448v5IIuhVu0FArxZDCts0YebIjK3TH65LVHa-y0GGAsUJ6fa-r6zOvukNDr0jFJ0353rpxaIf70Xa5u4QEOFdfHz7CciicxwO134xL41_38bv2wRglCi0-VsvyhNH-BtaUmlWgKvMbvhtUEcXHF1HtaZJIrwfRvYIR/s2049/7E1A127A-A607-44A4-AEB8-8B2DCFD63EBC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Zl7kEv3eJdacSNR1k8HTO448v5IIuhVu0FArxZDCts0YebIjK3TH65LVHa-y0GGAsUJ6fa-r6zOvukNDr0jFJ0353rpxaIf70Xa5u4QEOFdfHz7CciicxwO134xL41_38bv2wRglCi0-VsvyhNH-BtaUmlWgKvMbvhtUEcXHF1HtaZJIrwfRvYIR/w480-h640/7E1A127A-A607-44A4-AEB8-8B2DCFD63EBC.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This monument you see was a bit of a quiz for us. We are still not sure what it's all about. It appears to be a heaping of whipped cream topped with a cherry, which has attracted a fly, and some kind of drone/mini helicopter. Your interpretations are welcome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE80KeQ-kJgfE1jYOEQ7vXuqUarkEUY5aPsys-81FHQMNtI5GG3eDf8JwhdM_vgGQkiTteorRyx_bUAtpc4-DYXjtSkK62snAXg6q6_MUxhtItf52v3p0suNGB0lqu0ZkdyVSzcAwLcmQlK9tNgTNCjN6hPWX8bw_FsAfhbFQi65P2YmvAdwZsTS1/s2049/8E919CA5-9397-4D89-8B84-7326C84BBD5D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE80KeQ-kJgfE1jYOEQ7vXuqUarkEUY5aPsys-81FHQMNtI5GG3eDf8JwhdM_vgGQkiTteorRyx_bUAtpc4-DYXjtSkK62snAXg6q6_MUxhtItf52v3p0suNGB0lqu0ZkdyVSzcAwLcmQlK9tNgTNCjN6hPWX8bw_FsAfhbFQi65P2YmvAdwZsTS1/w640-h480/8E919CA5-9397-4D89-8B84-7326C84BBD5D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For dinner, we ate at the "Cafe in the Crypt," which is actually in a crypt (hence the name) under the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. </div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17v-YwSwqcAhDff-ZCf2bHVOn6kh7LylcTdxYz6zW-E83m8fu5WD64SwCt-5MqqRDPcBeGrxYQqecmp8Qfz6-GXqBK5yJHAM9f1W0D3swYSu7ugg0bdhAPNwIoY3yUjxI_ql1jcdQsVqyhJldldF4NbvEGB-lT46PGrS55irhQJUWzqY0ZTNVwV_-/s2048/C3B9D5E8-2259-4474-9DE5-8110631E7780.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17v-YwSwqcAhDff-ZCf2bHVOn6kh7LylcTdxYz6zW-E83m8fu5WD64SwCt-5MqqRDPcBeGrxYQqecmp8Qfz6-GXqBK5yJHAM9f1W0D3swYSu7ugg0bdhAPNwIoY3yUjxI_ql1jcdQsVqyhJldldF4NbvEGB-lT46PGrS55irhQJUWzqY0ZTNVwV_-/w640-h480/C3B9D5E8-2259-4474-9DE5-8110631E7780.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was immensely pleased by their <i>glass-bottled </i>Coke Zero. Here in the U.S. I can only ever find regular Coke in glass bottles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDrXY4BRKgIELvRwdNQOkB4SMRgRsz-JBigrc3lpcTW6czB1NKqayCK1K7kxdeCk60IRZ8DhAh1IRBMscyHun2ldl7YkDS9_DAQ1Q4VzlXHS2Pp_eNDa-YFhm_eRU9dTzWOTNMihNYCWPcbnJDGs7X2yauEqnL8UKmBicUoWgrUG8g-ZpIipS0eSc/s2049/0B450CBA-B038-4A88-83B5-9333DB9609FE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDrXY4BRKgIELvRwdNQOkB4SMRgRsz-JBigrc3lpcTW6czB1NKqayCK1K7kxdeCk60IRZ8DhAh1IRBMscyHun2ldl7YkDS9_DAQ1Q4VzlXHS2Pp_eNDa-YFhm_eRU9dTzWOTNMihNYCWPcbnJDGs7X2yauEqnL8UKmBicUoWgrUG8g-ZpIipS0eSc/w480-h640/0B450CBA-B038-4A88-83B5-9333DB9609FE.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We knew we would both be pretty tired on our first night in London due to all our missed sleep, and yet we decided, regardless, to book tickets to Les Miserables on West End for that night. The almost-cheapest tickets they had, which would have some of the view blocked. But we both know the musical pretty well so it didn't much matter. It was amazing just to hear it all. However, Caleb did sleep some of the time. It was inevitable. He told me to pinch him once. I did, and he seemed offended.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1e7K0qux-06tbm0gYF6plu2tqhSQE4NEUEKZU7UXJDD4zTPpjT02Y8y2ponRWsn7pgiQNLkqzJa4QQD6ou9IJQb2rAX2kcA5CwL_aN7oR-G_ckRNDQoJYLaQMhfntTC5rc4Qo1uEgOaYPF0RkEMnKpRoQG4HpI6bWxH9I4xjDnb9xGrTCgFqsPAl/s2048/1BF109F7-8EBC-4947-A5A9-B54B3613D8FC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1e7K0qux-06tbm0gYF6plu2tqhSQE4NEUEKZU7UXJDD4zTPpjT02Y8y2ponRWsn7pgiQNLkqzJa4QQD6ou9IJQb2rAX2kcA5CwL_aN7oR-G_ckRNDQoJYLaQMhfntTC5rc4Qo1uEgOaYPF0RkEMnKpRoQG4HpI6bWxH9I4xjDnb9xGrTCgFqsPAl/w480-h640/1BF109F7-8EBC-4947-A5A9-B54B3613D8FC.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, don't get me wrong-- I loved the show. But on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being complete and utter disappointment and 10 being the level of amazement I expected it to be, the reality was more like a 9. I was sort of... "whelmed," being neither over- or under-. It seemed more minimalist than I was expecting, and I didn't love everyone's voices. Valjean was amazing, though. And Eponine did not annoy me, as some of them do. "On My Own" is my very favorite song, thus an annoying Eponine can sour the whole experience. Luckily, she was good. I got chills. (And NOBODY clapped after "A Little Fall of Rain," which is <i>as it should be</i>, unlike in the 10th Anniversary Concert recording. My goodness. Let's have a moment of respectful silence.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7sFyk8yGdpfx27dHhggH5za0JMNRuPaR2d8QWEymlRknD1Xot_azxlhAJEvv63gsLRDSaYTuUPt3vbUKDkMfr4PGrkzOJNFSO94ulUPLbdliQ6AkAG3UXSyS4gQAiaDuEUACpmn4j2hytKGAlhmakPnkMke9i-BDg_MxaPFv5XiUawo6ziXXgizQ/s4032/3F7356B9-62D2-4850-AF05-44D952B5CCA3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7sFyk8yGdpfx27dHhggH5za0JMNRuPaR2d8QWEymlRknD1Xot_azxlhAJEvv63gsLRDSaYTuUPt3vbUKDkMfr4PGrkzOJNFSO94ulUPLbdliQ6AkAG3UXSyS4gQAiaDuEUACpmn4j2hytKGAlhmakPnkMke9i-BDg_MxaPFv5XiUawo6ziXXgizQ/w480-h640/3F7356B9-62D2-4850-AF05-44D952B5CCA3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br />We didn't have Chinatown on the itinerary, and yet we ended up walking straight through it on the way to the theatre. I've never been to a Chinatown before, so it was quite fun. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiictrx8taHb9kyc5XNMZu8Wa-oBwC4UqZqxupsvazDdYtsoQAGkYleYC_5Zyr9EzgUKEevphU85bteiIrWQX_HXvCQDiu7vZTSC-65mJtyByK9vIQnaGeiIoRtFrTjiQKWgQgmMhIyiO192Ivpm2csCJpQFUPnZ04rVEhtq5OdxHNy8f7aS-IWqwd2/s4032/48ED89DD-77B7-4E24-9DEA-7B0F443A5FCC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiictrx8taHb9kyc5XNMZu8Wa-oBwC4UqZqxupsvazDdYtsoQAGkYleYC_5Zyr9EzgUKEevphU85bteiIrWQX_HXvCQDiu7vZTSC-65mJtyByK9vIQnaGeiIoRtFrTjiQKWgQgmMhIyiO192Ivpm2csCJpQFUPnZ04rVEhtq5OdxHNy8f7aS-IWqwd2/w640-h480/48ED89DD-77B7-4E24-9DEA-7B0F443A5FCC.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The door handles at Sondheim Theatre. I love it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xYAS4_J-VFKDSFtxqD2O2ejRGO66ZjYtT7e_Dvf_uBFSvROiXKtGuzzoKtvokZQhLu1QwshJ_OKeIAlQJtWIYrtIX5ENtDZ9_t1yyWaeqQp5I2Y7Gk0a8u5fq2xT-lWDuEQa6giIm_Sl-m6wCpQ34LXW8XdH0vTleJJOfyfkSIcVlhRWalILeA1I/s4032/5D49E387-5775-42D2-8645-503CB9670357.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xYAS4_J-VFKDSFtxqD2O2ejRGO66ZjYtT7e_Dvf_uBFSvROiXKtGuzzoKtvokZQhLu1QwshJ_OKeIAlQJtWIYrtIX5ENtDZ9_t1yyWaeqQp5I2Y7Gk0a8u5fq2xT-lWDuEQa6giIm_Sl-m6wCpQ34LXW8XdH0vTleJJOfyfkSIcVlhRWalILeA1I/w640-h480/5D49E387-5775-42D2-8645-503CB9670357.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce18F11MRuhetqYFlT1tB7gAw0GAF8LnXxqmb2QcrHIDpOhCmIK9TtOK5pLTzTaBJ_uFbbjUIm_Qw3Nekq5Wzow8RBZVdWWv4OkutqmR7EJXEFH6C3vOWgS6lh1V5zyCMa5wESXVxmeyLvKspLYERaIVigoAoHUbHO8HZgt8uUkAMC4H-AZbRMgCm/s4032/64628C02-028A-4F15-A1DE-A4684AF4D99F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce18F11MRuhetqYFlT1tB7gAw0GAF8LnXxqmb2QcrHIDpOhCmIK9TtOK5pLTzTaBJ_uFbbjUIm_Qw3Nekq5Wzow8RBZVdWWv4OkutqmR7EJXEFH6C3vOWgS6lh1V5zyCMa5wESXVxmeyLvKspLYERaIVigoAoHUbHO8HZgt8uUkAMC4H-AZbRMgCm/w300-h400/64628C02-028A-4F15-A1DE-A4684AF4D99F.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the show, we were quite hungry and popped into a Chinese restaurant. Then, on the way to the nearest train station, we spied a shop that was advertising in bright neon letters: "AMERICAN CANDY!" I was amused by this, so we went in. There we found Wonka bars, which I have never seen before. We decided to purchase one. I had gotten cash earlier from an ATM, and was the proud owner of a couple of Jane Austen £10 notes. I spent my first one here. In an attempt at being friendly and interesting, I told the cashier "I'm from America and I've never even found one of these before," to which he said... nothing, presumedly. He was sort of mumbling to himself, completely imperceptible, and almost acting as if I weren't there. I was very confused and uncomfortable. He threw a few coins down on the counter as change, which I took and left. Having not had a chance yet to study British coinage, I assumed that the two larger ones were worth £2 each, but upon review later, they were only £1 coins. I was quite put out at having inadvertently spent around $10 on a stupid candy bar. (I mean, it was good, but not that good.) Lesson learnt: never trust a small-shop London cashier who mumbles to himself and won't make eye contact. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0LgU3hca126czKy0vdaDRUp3axR4SNq8DE6Urk3u3Mcb-qxFfHENPBBK9MMbHVU_ARmfH9_gxsamnbKHfUbw8fOkRJh2RX6XstG50gWfRzWgJCBJ-j-iH6uPQjT116EPUjDlnfkd2jom-D3RS1yaZFlJyqrMMhBIWkcwJnhR34M6Ap6OKyTqzcmZ/s2049/FA907FDF-4ACA-40C0-9C46-E9C48AFF486C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0LgU3hca126czKy0vdaDRUp3axR4SNq8DE6Urk3u3Mcb-qxFfHENPBBK9MMbHVU_ARmfH9_gxsamnbKHfUbw8fOkRJh2RX6XstG50gWfRzWgJCBJ-j-iH6uPQjT116EPUjDlnfkd2jom-D3RS1yaZFlJyqrMMhBIWkcwJnhR34M6Ap6OKyTqzcmZ/w480-h640/FA907FDF-4ACA-40C0-9C46-E9C48AFF486C.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p></div>Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-438226724212387272022-03-25T16:51:00.004-06:002022-03-25T16:52:28.926-06:00Flashback Friday: Amy and Melody's trip to the AGM<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Yes, here I am once more, making an unexpected appearance on this ghost of a blog. I've been reminiscing lately, and recently came across the YouTube channel "The Janeite Adventurers," a project started by Amy and myself in 2016 when we were to visit the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America. It filled me with nostalgia and I was sad that I had never finished editing those videos. So, I randomly decided to do it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And this, my friends, is true procrastination:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5E-cQNnYvyHSPhj4ux8dXjLm0MQ48EOI-N00EzBxHvOJxb_gqvk1xnMYp6-7wNmvac2gTEzK24GAqAix96mGI-VAxIONWhAuQIeTghIV93xjpiF7q14Pga3v94_E0xFHWzGDdK1g6crh2fXoU-fq3VtfC896q-u1SrW-wiYxrBfdBiAYLjWdbpmQ/s429/Screen%20Shot%202022-03-18%20at%2012.02.09%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="429" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5E-cQNnYvyHSPhj4ux8dXjLm0MQ48EOI-N00EzBxHvOJxb_gqvk1xnMYp6-7wNmvac2gTEzK24GAqAix96mGI-VAxIONWhAuQIeTghIV93xjpiF7q14Pga3v94_E0xFHWzGDdK1g6crh2fXoU-fq3VtfC896q-u1SrW-wiYxrBfdBiAYLjWdbpmQ/w400-h274/Screen%20Shot%202022-03-18%20at%2012.02.09%20AM.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway. Here are two new episodes and one extra, for anyone who may be interested. Happy spring!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UDUbeij8JN8" width="320" youtube-src-id="UDUbeij8JN8"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pGpumeTCDDQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="pGpumeTCDDQ"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lx1-0BpyrHQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="Lx1-0BpyrHQ"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-35645969474842288972019-12-09T20:36:00.000-07:002019-12-30T11:45:34.922-07:00All the Rage: Thoughts on Upcoming Jane Austen AdaptationsHello, long-lost friends! Well, technically <i>I </i>am the one who is long-lost, I suppose. But with two new Jane Austen adaptations in the making (or having recently come out), I couldn't resist the opportunity to post, however busy I am. (Plus, I sort of worked it out so this is a project for one of my classes. Win-win.)<br />
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First, let's talk about <i>Emma</i>, which is coming out in February of next year. My original thought when hearing there is to be a new adaptation was "Huh?? But we don't <i>need</i> another <i>Emma</i>. We already a great miniseries and two mediocre movies." And my opinion as far as that goes hasn't really changed much. However, until an absolutely, 100% <i>perfect</i> adaptation of a Jane Austen novel comes out, I'll always be willing to give something new a try. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Even if I do think that a good <i>Mansfield Park</i> or <i>Persuasion</i> would be much, much more beneficial to the fandom and the world at large.</span><br />
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Then the trailer came out, and I had many more thoughts, which I will now discuss in detail. I'd love to hear your thoughts as well!<br />
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<i>Note: all screenshots below are taken directly from this trailer.</i></div>
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<b>Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma Woodhouse</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.troikatalent.com/anya-taylor-joy" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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I could be more pleased with the choice for Emma, that's for sure. Her face is definitely not what I picture Emma to be. It's a bit too modern-looking, and kind of... sour? Also, she is not what I would personally consider "handsome." But I am trying to keep an open mind.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZz5o6kwE02Tg_hxoG9-S5x83n7QXS3JtN6vUIae5K5D9eIgQiRf3dy9btaRTVyb7JNyFVlHL-KFzZm874sdAhios7yMfsxqIqPq-AzXLXE2dYsyoWczouqLWt0CuSEGbnr8Mi0X_MX8/s1600/Emma18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="849" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZz5o6kwE02Tg_hxoG9-S5x83n7QXS3JtN6vUIae5K5D9eIgQiRf3dy9btaRTVyb7JNyFVlHL-KFzZm874sdAhios7yMfsxqIqPq-AzXLXE2dYsyoWczouqLWt0CuSEGbnr8Mi0X_MX8/s400/Emma18.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anya is currently 23. I was shocked to discover that for the first time, a Jane Austen heroine is being played by someone who is <i>younger than I am.</i> But it's fine. I'm only slightly freaked out. Don't worry about it. In any case, it's refreshing to have an actress so close to the character's age.</div>
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Anya hasn't done much in the way of period drama in the past, but it looks like she was in a recent film called <i>The Miniaturist</i>, which is set in the 17th-century, and looks pretty creepy. Interestingly, Romola Garai (Emma from the 2009 miniseries, a.k.a. my favorite) played a significant role in that movie as well!</div>
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<i>*begin short rant*</i></div>
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I'm a little disappointed that Emma has blond hair in this adaptation. Being a brunette myself, I don't know why people find it necessary for inherently "pretty" characters to be blonde, and Jane Austen did not specify. Also, the actress' features seem more suited to brown hair.</div>
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<i>*end short rant*</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvYSR49WR4CSIinGb2ksbbFQXPSryqKNLbarmyhwdqddxyhPCNUXvSyhFbRXin0Ed1oj_xd5uuLQNZ6Phvp3Od7ZKlQw9prYkIEA0Vg7zGxuLlJUC63J5PlHSYOyLE9suwidRMJZw1EY/s1600/Emma25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="848" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvYSR49WR4CSIinGb2ksbbFQXPSryqKNLbarmyhwdqddxyhPCNUXvSyhFbRXin0Ed1oj_xd5uuLQNZ6Phvp3Od7ZKlQw9prYkIEA0Vg7zGxuLlJUC63J5PlHSYOyLE9suwidRMJZw1EY/s400/Emma25.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anyway. Just from what I've gathered about her portrayal in this movie so far, I'm guessing she'll rank as my third-favorite Emma (higher than Gwyneth Paltrow but lower than Kate Beckinsale). I do think that Romola Garai's portrayal of Emma could have been a little more... dignified, and it looks like Miss Taylor-Joy will be playing that element up a bit more, which is nice.</div>
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<b>Johnny Flynn as Mr. Knightley</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAa67ApvkIY4iXB44Uh_rveKuamk2pDhzXzXi_7cTrh4e4mnkKO9WHTbqXilM-LqLTZUXWiO5Tt1I7DBZWYXsOiKtbx7eX5FaVZKTCyzkiJyJE8ypTqfGromcAJKl_8SwcuwV-z-gluo/s1600/Johnny+Flynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1023" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAa67ApvkIY4iXB44Uh_rveKuamk2pDhzXzXi_7cTrh4e4mnkKO9WHTbqXilM-LqLTZUXWiO5Tt1I7DBZWYXsOiKtbx7eX5FaVZKTCyzkiJyJE8ypTqfGromcAJKl_8SwcuwV-z-gluo/s400/Johnny+Flynn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Not super stoked about this guy. Mr. Knightley is one of my very favorite fictional characters ever, and it would take a lot for me to approve of an actor playing him. This guy (perhaps mainly owing to his hair) seems too... scruffy? I don't know. I am just not getting a connection here. But I hope my opinion later will improve.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWqFNCN3nzoXyEfbSvn1Senquy_8FsD8sEiBfZTf6TFdbq3DBr58Ww43qN4Xhl__xNo9RYY5M-0DOaUkMvDsxhbePFn9mop85lwpP4ChUn1CAqGPlOiol_7QqKEntaWGXgmUrSgCiTzk/s1600/Emma22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="853" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWqFNCN3nzoXyEfbSvn1Senquy_8FsD8sEiBfZTf6TFdbq3DBr58Ww43qN4Xhl__xNo9RYY5M-0DOaUkMvDsxhbePFn9mop85lwpP4ChUn1CAqGPlOiol_7QqKEntaWGXgmUrSgCiTzk/s400/Emma22.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Seriously, though, he needs a haircut. Go to London, Mr. Knightley.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKBMzoK_7WQlUvyYsFMVTltjUPVXDb8jvG9l8zDUpFUiyR3MfcAJ3IBslqjBDWgHggpu3yptg2Qen3THsAcn1MIEUFyqm5GpHUJVcPu852JWBd8lgU_0ri4MPs7IhINDNHjkPqcau8TU/s1600/Emma10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="850" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKBMzoK_7WQlUvyYsFMVTltjUPVXDb8jvG9l8zDUpFUiyR3MfcAJ3IBslqjBDWgHggpu3yptg2Qen3THsAcn1MIEUFyqm5GpHUJVcPu852JWBd8lgU_0ri4MPs7IhINDNHjkPqcau8TU/s400/Emma10.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is not Johnny Flynn's first time in a classic literature adaptation. He can also be found in the Les Miserables miniseries (2018) as Marius, and in <i>Vanity Fair</i> (2018). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pugfsM9k-c-s5bgsx6FMAgeZLHpVUqIsVpuOf1FaEscHL_BIUvUYz0w1GiJjBPRxholKc0_OYLOdHnJlqqKrwg3JHo_IfgmAHGjJ4U6u2zMCCRDkFcJsRMOk04Kr0BjUb6qjN-QI6PE/s1600/Emma5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="833" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pugfsM9k-c-s5bgsx6FMAgeZLHpVUqIsVpuOf1FaEscHL_BIUvUYz0w1GiJjBPRxholKc0_OYLOdHnJlqqKrwg3JHo_IfgmAHGjJ4U6u2zMCCRDkFcJsRMOk04Kr0BjUb6qjN-QI6PE/s400/Emma5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This brooding scowl looks a little more Rochester-ish, IMO.</td></tr>
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I'm guessing that, on par with Emma herself, this Mr. Knightley will rank third on my list, after Jonny Lee Miller and Jeremy Northam.</div>
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<b>Emma and Mr. Knightley Together</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh805lS-EN8kp6xMFzmD73YMZN4roI3o5hxWQtEpdbsD2pNa1b_rN3gU3pErAR60vu6BPeCmkFQDW_Wiw-3PBsgNk3ng3rHqhVNACbL3MbboOsvCcy6OIcJ0iFdZbjyAUjKr-24dilmo/s1600/Emma24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="851" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh805lS-EN8kp6xMFzmD73YMZN4roI3o5hxWQtEpdbsD2pNa1b_rN3gU3pErAR60vu6BPeCmkFQDW_Wiw-3PBsgNk3ng3rHqhVNACbL3MbboOsvCcy6OIcJ0iFdZbjyAUjKr-24dilmo/s640/Emma24.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The little glimpse into the "Knightley Fightley" (as it has been previously dubbed) scene was fun to see. I haven't seen it done previously with them talking over each other like that, but it should be interesting, as long as they keep it minimal.</div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF1CoON5ZrTDOGoRfUhZVL-1YYWJRkf7FxU65ekalYx8WAJHpPReav2wWcqdr64MNAOOgxzTusE5kslNr0AvE-X8s5Azb_nbtE-snoKie-jouO5yI0aQGmSWEsyKwi_zvDO7Vw4ZVSyY/s1600/Emma20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="851" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVF1CoON5ZrTDOGoRfUhZVL-1YYWJRkf7FxU65ekalYx8WAJHpPReav2wWcqdr64MNAOOgxzTusE5kslNr0AvE-X8s5Azb_nbtE-snoKie-jouO5yI0aQGmSWEsyKwi_zvDO7Vw4ZVSyY/s400/Emma20.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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In real life, he is 36, which is only a year younger than the real Mr. Knightley, but only makes the age gap between them 13 years rather than 16, which some people might consider to be "sugar-coating" the story. I think it's close enough in technicality, but they do <i>look</i> a bit too close in age.</div>
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<b>Bill Nighy as Mr. Woodhouse</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00FbmsCPYkbDBcit4DeDxwWGJBHVrKxKBA3sSk1PySnCZBOzCy_0L0JuzHFCa6EuB52FVeizG4RQeoqyE_961p8Hp-xCNYNudyrhpHfCYumkhA6sgB4-IFJoaWo5Lpt0IQQJMkhYtxyI/s1600/Emma3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="853" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00FbmsCPYkbDBcit4DeDxwWGJBHVrKxKBA3sSk1PySnCZBOzCy_0L0JuzHFCa6EuB52FVeizG4RQeoqyE_961p8Hp-xCNYNudyrhpHfCYumkhA6sgB4-IFJoaWo5Lpt0IQQJMkhYtxyI/s400/Emma3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the world of period drama, this guy is primarily known for playing Col. Osborne in the miniseries <i>He Knew He Was Right</i>. He was a bit of a creep in that show, so we'll see how it goes with him playing the much more lovable Mr. Woodhouse. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0v0ZL1KgEj5hUpZKgTVmpcCTe4A6pz3neuglBSObO_aG0jfC6vpoasjnkJzdU-5EjuPuVj3yKdc_uCcHDt3tH2lhQANWygEpt03dkDWWWbWHdzWzHzXjm5g7mnwfV-cuLn-EHJGl6Mw/s1600/Emma16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="842" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0v0ZL1KgEj5hUpZKgTVmpcCTe4A6pz3neuglBSObO_aG0jfC6vpoasjnkJzdU-5EjuPuVj3yKdc_uCcHDt3tH2lhQANWygEpt03dkDWWWbWHdzWzHzXjm5g7mnwfV-cuLn-EHJGl6Mw/s400/Emma16.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am a little confused as to his portrayal in this movie, though. They are definitely not going with the usual doddering, on-death's-door representation we usually see. While I can justify that in the book to some extent, it looks to me like they are going <i>too</i> far. Check out the way he jumps to the bottom of the steps at 0:40 in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JniWHloJAvY" target="_blank">trailer</a>. Like... whaaaa?</div>
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The only representation of Mr. Woodhouse that I really found memorable was Michael Gambon's in 2009, and I have very serious doubts that this guy can top that. However, he has my permission to try and get second place.</div>
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<b>Mia Goth as Harriet Smith</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-eL1_ng703t9fFu2XUe_mK6yStlI_zhB5WGGqN0m6AYjdldgRmntX-FoM_BILe0PgM-6VhuXOnyAgF6hj6bJiNVuGyhLcJ6tpnOXG6fHIcDaBRuFUUaMuuNZQo5EYT3dCmVxlDKQCGk/s1600/Emma8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="843" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-eL1_ng703t9fFu2XUe_mK6yStlI_zhB5WGGqN0m6AYjdldgRmntX-FoM_BILe0PgM-6VhuXOnyAgF6hj6bJiNVuGyhLcJ6tpnOXG6fHIcDaBRuFUUaMuuNZQo5EYT3dCmVxlDKQCGk/s400/Emma8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This definitely looks like Mia's first run around the costume drama block, but she has gained my favor in one respect by being a year older than me. (Kind of funny, though, since Harriet is supposed to be four years younger than Emma.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkirlGccaCHVpEyiDMEnen-xCEqs1LDlWnxB9pwbHJxCwINGkfB0TjIsbYSvEpuERLGLm88qxkCqFVsEKlOOO02gVNf1tamEbazKFwgNU_j37IB1Vr6e40oJ1JIdWBJCZvKhmRmGaj7nc/s1600/Emma15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="850" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkirlGccaCHVpEyiDMEnen-xCEqs1LDlWnxB9pwbHJxCwINGkfB0TjIsbYSvEpuERLGLm88qxkCqFVsEKlOOO02gVNf1tamEbazKFwgNU_j37IB1Vr6e40oJ1JIdWBJCZvKhmRmGaj7nc/s400/Emma15.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I honestly have no idea what to think of her. I'm interested in their choice of brown hair for Harriet, moving away from the "dumb blonde" stigma. However, Miss Smith is one of the few characters whose looks Jane Austen actually took the trouble to describe in detail:</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"She was a very pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort which Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness...."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">~Emma, Chapter 2</span></i></div>
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So, interesting choice, yes; but a poor one in my opinion, because accuracy is a thing. </div>
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<b>Josh O'Connor as Mr. Elton</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkwv2osj_VXhvBLMksxX6vcq9RHFwKyUB7MtRbjyUmYXYWzK7hdDjRlMKc2Qr5F7CaK4OSdlGKBaue5KvdS7-XFSDhYIAsRCwOnr0vNCF8MnsRTRq0HAzNbvrP1h96oxrw0MX3IOBObA/s1600/Josh+O%2527Connor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="685" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkwv2osj_VXhvBLMksxX6vcq9RHFwKyUB7MtRbjyUmYXYWzK7hdDjRlMKc2Qr5F7CaK4OSdlGKBaue5KvdS7-XFSDhYIAsRCwOnr0vNCF8MnsRTRq0HAzNbvrP1h96oxrw0MX3IOBObA/s400/Josh+O%2527Connor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You know, Mr. Elton seems to be a character doomed to bad casting. He's usually either too slimy or too weird-looking. Not that Mr. Elton himself isn't slimy or weird, but he's supposed to look like a gentleman ought, and be the sort of man a girl like Harriet would have a crush on. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELmxQINVS7pQMGnbTCvp80nvjDDVO2eYXbtg-ALdjzjrM2jXiegClM-NKx7isyNp4Pr2JyaT6JA33kaixu8hn1MvCbRrzyCZyKxDHbovdSoOh6Es9MaJSQdElUEpfg8OsD4fBhI-8-LM/s1600/Emma1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="817" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELmxQINVS7pQMGnbTCvp80nvjDDVO2eYXbtg-ALdjzjrM2jXiegClM-NKx7isyNp4Pr2JyaT6JA33kaixu8hn1MvCbRrzyCZyKxDHbovdSoOh6Es9MaJSQdElUEpfg8OsD4fBhI-8-LM/s400/Emma1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Looks-wise, I think Dominic Rowan from the A&E version came the closest to the mark, and I enjoyed the acting of Blake Ritson the most. I'll just have to wait and see how this Josh fellow will rank.</div>
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<b>Tanya Reynolds as Mrs. Elton</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3GWk2kkAoLzX2CtTvM-FrMSTHwiPG7RUKx9DWnDAdatIzj1LELJfQYFL1Bzmpy-CXwaqdN-1Kku9XIxF4Rj8rC5p90bGsChwFckaEclTmqcmkKKXAyTZY5O0sdlQSZQguERgfY21T5E/s1600/Tanya+Reynolds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3GWk2kkAoLzX2CtTvM-FrMSTHwiPG7RUKx9DWnDAdatIzj1LELJfQYFL1Bzmpy-CXwaqdN-1Kku9XIxF4Rj8rC5p90bGsChwFckaEclTmqcmkKKXAyTZY5O0sdlQSZQguERgfY21T5E/s320/Tanya+Reynolds.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.spotern.com/en/people/6479/tanya-reynolds" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRszEbZEsJq2eohOqnEbJfqdrO761Hy0hRlrLNxKRNMh0zDFPcPvt-LZMekv7eImH_VJK2mNN3smT1Kdjk_u3VP4MMSwVTQoVqBivN-J92eIR2-fG64_0Q4_woZC_T1St-3EF6dr2QqEQ/s1600/Emma11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="834" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRszEbZEsJq2eohOqnEbJfqdrO761Hy0hRlrLNxKRNMh0zDFPcPvt-LZMekv7eImH_VJK2mNN3smT1Kdjk_u3VP4MMSwVTQoVqBivN-J92eIR2-fG64_0Q4_woZC_T1St-3EF6dr2QqEQ/s400/Emma11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Less than impressed with this choice as well. Mrs. Elton needs to be striking in some way: pretty enough to make Harriet jealous, and fashionable enough to brag about. This actress looks like she'd be much better playing a timid character, which Augusta Hawkins Elton certainly is not.</div>
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<b>Rupert Graves and Gemma Whelan as Mr. and Mrs. Weston</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjighKu9-FhwsbsVrfDkFHDLfPDl4AVYoDC9XjBnjmfKXVr0PtLHXOxjB8KfcIQmvz-cyQuPCGY2Nk9feRPL7uWBmBn_Tjf8Nn8qEE_crXVGl7QlJct5zgYxBg1ZTFgi5AFkRBR8Wrgj2c/s1600/Rupert+Graves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjighKu9-FhwsbsVrfDkFHDLfPDl4AVYoDC9XjBnjmfKXVr0PtLHXOxjB8KfcIQmvz-cyQuPCGY2Nk9feRPL7uWBmBn_Tjf8Nn8qEE_crXVGl7QlJct5zgYxBg1ZTFgi5AFkRBR8Wrgj2c/s320/Rupert+Graves.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://abc.com/shows/the-family/cast/john-warren" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YYN5KHg-WhtuAaHQo68K0qfAQIdE791Ef932pAblaopksvhPuNL8fZclrmpqi6CJ2wSh-iX1__KxhB46SSXIUU3Ufi2L5mMGDz7LIBOZ-O7p142zMJvWjS9EFLLQJ9EQ5p_snrEMN9s/s1600/Emma12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="854" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YYN5KHg-WhtuAaHQo68K0qfAQIdE791Ef932pAblaopksvhPuNL8fZclrmpqi6CJ2wSh-iX1__KxhB46SSXIUU3Ufi2L5mMGDz7LIBOZ-O7p142zMJvWjS9EFLLQJ9EQ5p_snrEMN9s/s400/Emma12.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can just barely see him in this photo!</td></tr>
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Like many other fans of BBC's <i>Sherlock</i>, I'm looking forward to seeing Lestrade play Mr. Weston. I have a soft spot for this actor in this role already, and he may end up being my favorite. Past period dramas for Mr. Graves are <i>A Room with a View </i>(1985) and <i>The Tenant of Wildfell Hall </i>(1996).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTePGgIhVcMlYt_t-69mYdeQP93LGe3QYoErudYVTriIp80Tnm7sy8CWYM8eTfIKmATlR93h6tCS-nhAaL8GK5-Oc1pxORNNv5Y25JkhDoqpoLkjo0Wjjsul05slQhX7iSnD9FbrugIU4/s1600/gemma-whelan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTePGgIhVcMlYt_t-69mYdeQP93LGe3QYoErudYVTriIp80Tnm7sy8CWYM8eTfIKmATlR93h6tCS-nhAaL8GK5-Oc1pxORNNv5Y25JkhDoqpoLkjo0Wjjsul05slQhX7iSnD9FbrugIU4/s320/gemma-whelan.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ullathorne.photoshelter.com/image/I0000d.J_1Vbbqtk" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SHq2Xurx7_npbzXyFo9ucc7-iqAuVH85f0PsY0Sy_R84pSobnm9oVAO9UJeHyvfmendLn1t-23RqjR2WK8XrMwQoZUlQM8zLiVkyqSaASOhdSZM3G_EXlgHPSx9DqiD5qvfhWjmYtVY/s1600/Emma21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="853" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SHq2Xurx7_npbzXyFo9ucc7-iqAuVH85f0PsY0Sy_R84pSobnm9oVAO9UJeHyvfmendLn1t-23RqjR2WK8XrMwQoZUlQM8zLiVkyqSaASOhdSZM3G_EXlgHPSx9DqiD5qvfhWjmYtVY/s400/Emma21.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Not sure what to think of Gemma Whelan. Her looks don't fit the character in my mind. She's also known for being in Game of Thrones, which doesn't impress me, but I'll try not to judge her because of that. In her favor, she's about the right age (38).</div>
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<b>Callum Turner as Frank Churchill</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG0MHZO-PTCJCrzzQSX-mDirYUvWFTc6gVOS1fTx-_2JFSrMlJh-_qKpRiNVn1ZIJorN58PyZnmkamX58FYh6EOtTbUMtKI6Q39g59rjKdN4ziun8uRJVuZZqRc30OXb67ZfPCrlIa5k/s1600/Callum+Turner+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="970" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG0MHZO-PTCJCrzzQSX-mDirYUvWFTc6gVOS1fTx-_2JFSrMlJh-_qKpRiNVn1ZIJorN58PyZnmkamX58FYh6EOtTbUMtKI6Q39g59rjKdN4ziun8uRJVuZZqRc30OXb67ZfPCrlIa5k/s320/Callum+Turner+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://via/" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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I'm not overly attached to any of the previous portrayals of Frank, so I'm looking forward to this one!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6nbcaqIbRgx-koaX_nZbDOIgGLC-I8Mx1ppB8Iue8vbvoMsXNNuvFcqjUFaJNTOaWy_oNNw5KAjvxBIDMwNz4Os1RIloWBOwS7jIMJOV5VCR2wCuz-TL5CGqdL0kg7IcbmjbdLaG_Vw/s1600/Callum+Turner+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1088" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6nbcaqIbRgx-koaX_nZbDOIgGLC-I8Mx1ppB8Iue8vbvoMsXNNuvFcqjUFaJNTOaWy_oNNw5KAjvxBIDMwNz4Os1RIloWBOwS7jIMJOV5VCR2wCuz-TL5CGqdL0kg7IcbmjbdLaG_Vw/s400/Callum+Turner+1.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://filmhall.tumblr.com/post/147227322975/callum-turner-lily-james-in-war-and-peace" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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He also has some Regency experience already, having been in the 2016 <i>War & Peace</i> miniseries.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEgw-0_HeTnN3xafWPWdxpXrOL6zaLvZJ9FpD2ijnS4lpR4izEHp9skZOEWfo0OzjVaP1j0QXbRYML68-YZs2TEGAm5S9R95NDapcFyPSHjJeIOErjfCWBFXsdJE2qAB8LLVbnUd0Yx4/s1600/Emma7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="846" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEgw-0_HeTnN3xafWPWdxpXrOL6zaLvZJ9FpD2ijnS4lpR4izEHp9skZOEWfo0OzjVaP1j0QXbRYML68-YZs2TEGAm5S9R95NDapcFyPSHjJeIOErjfCWBFXsdJE2qAB8LLVbnUd0Yx4/s400/Emma7.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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He looks a little villain-ish from this shot from the trailer, but since <a href="https://regencydelight-janeaustenetc.blogspot.com/2011/07/villain-in-emma.html" target="_blank">I do argue</a> that Frank Churchill is the closest approximation of a villain in Emma, maybe this will help my cause.</div>
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<b>Amber Anderson as Jane Fairfax</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CRjwkqHbDROm02OFiWp2up7lX2upHEU99hAOv8hQJQ8MuulaIWbQ3X8NvMzosARBEpblUrv_WEHYyzj7WSkHvORxe5GLkBKrb-av065SIzbBOs5VnPeUJd1PJUJ6jOV2lr5dQdKVP7s/s1600/Amber+Anderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="398" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CRjwkqHbDROm02OFiWp2up7lX2upHEU99hAOv8hQJQ8MuulaIWbQ3X8NvMzosARBEpblUrv_WEHYyzj7WSkHvORxe5GLkBKrb-av065SIzbBOs5VnPeUJd1PJUJ6jOV2lr5dQdKVP7s/s400/Amber+Anderson.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Amber+Anderson/Naomi+Campbell+Fashion+Relief+Pop+up+Launch/DA6MKGSQVB-" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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I got nothing, girls. She's pretty much an unknown, and I didn't see her in the trailer. So far, my favorite Jane Fairfax is Olivia Williams in the A&E version. Laura Pyper in my favorite adaptation left somewhat to be desired (she was too mousy and less than elegant), so Jane's is one of the few spots that could be open to a new favorite. </div>
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Last, but not least...</div>
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<b>Miranda Hart as Miss Bates</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdgoKo7aha5jfmgnC7BCsAZUkBqafyAry4Wjw8IEDhRXC0DYjUMi-ghCQ7zi7CT8qRXR8yd7vB7s1zjvGFcu3G8YssY-qGKsMxNjDHFrJXGOVbDhD69SzS-vZND1mlV3sE61n8HCccjw/s1600/Chummy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdgoKo7aha5jfmgnC7BCsAZUkBqafyAry4Wjw8IEDhRXC0DYjUMi-ghCQ7zi7CT8qRXR8yd7vB7s1zjvGFcu3G8YssY-qGKsMxNjDHFrJXGOVbDhD69SzS-vZND1mlV3sE61n8HCccjw/s320/Chummy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miranda Hart as Chummy, left.<br />
<a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-05-24/miranda-harts-on-screen-husband-ben-caplan-is-sure-chummy-will-return-to-call-the-midwife/" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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My <i>Call the Midwife</i> fans out there are rejoicing to see Chummy make an appearance in this film! In the existing adaptations, my favorite Miss Bates is a tie between Sophie Thompson in the 1996 movie and Tamsin Greig in the miniseries. Sophie really brought out the comedic elements of the character, while Tamsin's portrayal evoked more empathy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXjvR72REpVD1UwxR5ep3TezMdeVI1l8Jsi0nYLYCA6UcYXwp8ZhzzdTC0_pYVCxQa1t_JMrJH7UGPk-1cjj-83sF9zjaK5JTp0nzSAvl72s3YH3DiVdWxFHC4yN1YnGOEB2KGRmXuLs/s1600/Emma27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="850" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXjvR72REpVD1UwxR5ep3TezMdeVI1l8Jsi0nYLYCA6UcYXwp8ZhzzdTC0_pYVCxQa1t_JMrJH7UGPk-1cjj-83sF9zjaK5JTp0nzSAvl72s3YH3DiVdWxFHC4yN1YnGOEB2KGRmXuLs/s400/Emma27.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Perhaps Miranda Hart will manage to do both?</div>
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<b>Other Thoughts</b></div>
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The fact that this is another film being put out by Focus Features and Working Title Co. would be a subject of alarm to me, since they are the infamous perpetrators of <i>Pride & Prejudice </i>2005. But, the costumes in this film look pretty amazing and very period-accurate, so it can't be as bad as all that. It also doesn't seem like their general goal is to modernize the story, or make it "connect" with a modern audience; therein also lies some hope. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf38rJ9YBnavTP4D_D7Ekb61Lct_LjM_7FlcNPXwwpDLpJZBIfZ2dNGL_s5qCanhBOiONLnA7sHnt4mEyEeL6qVjyE_rGc5SU5lrQW3yH_fgLK6pvP4lVwna2rh9EgPXHo_bG9bNRgxgc/s1600/Emma13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="837" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf38rJ9YBnavTP4D_D7Ekb61Lct_LjM_7FlcNPXwwpDLpJZBIfZ2dNGL_s5qCanhBOiONLnA7sHnt4mEyEeL6qVjyE_rGc5SU5lrQW3yH_fgLK6pvP4lVwna2rh9EgPXHo_bG9bNRgxgc/s400/Emma13.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The bottom line is this: while I think the film is rather superfluous and won't be the best version, I am looking forward to seeing it and will probably be among the first in the doors of the theater once it is released. After all, this is the first feature film that is an adaptation of one of Jane Austen's novels to come out since my devotion to that authoress began.</div>
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Before I go, I'd like to briefly talk about ITV's <b><i>Sanditon</i></b>, which is coming out next month. When I first heard they were adapting Jane Austen's unfinished novel, I was sort of excited, but also apprehensive-- especially when I saw that Andrew Davies was doing it. Don't get me wrong; he's done a few of my very favorite period dramas. But those were made back in the 1990s, and I feel like the older he's gotten, his love for the racy has gotten rather out of hand. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2SCvCUBOmDYh79XScRHiuy2ko7uh8LlZjcjkfySL0zcUyef_1gI6o7ugajkieX6ia-C2Jov2NcRUEJUBAUONS2yaKF-zEJ1yxjaPgdZwJ9lFThK8NfV0pASb-em9njmnRWPuloAZqqQ/s1600/Sanditon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1140" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2SCvCUBOmDYh79XScRHiuy2ko7uh8LlZjcjkfySL0zcUyef_1gI6o7ugajkieX6ia-C2Jov2NcRUEJUBAUONS2yaKF-zEJ1yxjaPgdZwJ9lFThK8NfV0pASb-em9njmnRWPuloAZqqQ/s640/Sanditon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sky.com/watch/title/series/7b99ea14-545e-4f89-ae28-2ed55f1417ed" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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And indeed, from the reviews I've read, it sounds like my concerns were justified. Anything Jane Austen wrote is used up in the first half of Episode 1 (of 8), and after that it contains lewd content that Jane Austen would certainly never even <i>think </i>to include in one of her stories. Even if she lived in today's culture, I think she'd be ashamed to have her name branded on something so... <i>cheap</i>. </div>
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Now, I have come across period dramas in the past that have one or two unfortunate scenes, but the rest is gold, so you just skip those. Watching the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/video/sanditon-trailer-7xa903/" target="_blank">trailer</a> and the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/video/teaser-ufyr4x/?continuousplayautoplay=true" target="_blank">teaser</a> from PBS, I am 100% sure this will not be the case. Let me go over some reasons. </div>
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<li>The music in the trailer. What was that?? If that's how we're trying to market the show, guys, I am so not sold. </li>
<li>The heroine's hair is down. Almost all the time. This bit of inaccuracy is a dead giveaway of "we don't care about what would really have happened back then; we care about visual aspects." </li>
<li>There is some obvious racial drama in here. Don't get me wrong: I have no objection to characters of African descent being included in a story in any time period, <i>if it makes sense</i>. But this trailer is very clearly shouting "we don't care about what would have been realistic back then; we care about connecting this to a modern audience and/or making certain political statements."</li>
<li>Blehhh. There's nothing (or at least very little) in these trailers that point to the wit of Jane Austen. It seems, by all accounts, to be a money-grab hoping for success because her name is slapped on the cover.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlZcqRjxZSNDop2EfmynpZvbaFMcjuvtGip8Z0t-h6vfStVoSg27uaz5VUkczeR3T8oMBGsuNPpi0Ls3Imm7ju1WzXdn8V4nBHYNMYiYHkFnd5xhzxUioV4qy83tWKEpd2mzOFl-tcKA/s1600/sanditon_ep5_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="900" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlZcqRjxZSNDop2EfmynpZvbaFMcjuvtGip8Z0t-h6vfStVoSg27uaz5VUkczeR3T8oMBGsuNPpi0Ls3Imm7ju1WzXdn8V4nBHYNMYiYHkFnd5xhzxUioV4qy83tWKEpd2mzOFl-tcKA/s640/sanditon_ep5_02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.naomiclifford.com/sanditon-5/" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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After all that, the show apparently doesn't even have a satisfactory ending. So, am I excited about this new adaptation? No. In fact, I'm rather dreading it, and I don't intend to watch it unless I come across a compelling reason to give it a try. And you can take a look at the reviews from those in Britain, where it has already aired-- the show is already pretty much just an object of ridicule. </div>
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There are some opposing views, like <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-10-04/sanditon-jane-austen-changes/" target="_blank">this one</a>: but this is written by "the show's literary advisor," which feels kind of like a lawyer defending the criminals who are paying him to do so. Also, I think her opinions are rubbish, and could address them all if anybody liked; and this is one small reason why I think it would be cool to have a Ph.D. in English and be an "Austen Expert" with the best of them: so I could have the piece of paper to back up my name while I refute their nonsense piece by piece.</div>
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Well, that's all for now, folks. It's been lovely to talk to you all again, and I look forward to reading what you are/aren't looking forward to in the comments!</div>
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I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.</div>
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Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-82520378463558333272019-02-08T17:15:00.002-07:002019-02-08T17:20:03.823-07:00Bygone Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nLjFo46xCudl_dpJHSJUG9LC45rc0XP0C17nStFqBupYuX0Lql-nSmAdtCKFVTxf5D3ycbMpO6M-LWHgzREFpk7gSk8oS8wpqR9YZUsJJI446odi5YwySkdIh4v9NUdr2TRC4JknQM4/s1600/nostalgia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nLjFo46xCudl_dpJHSJUG9LC45rc0XP0C17nStFqBupYuX0Lql-nSmAdtCKFVTxf5D3ycbMpO6M-LWHgzREFpk7gSk8oS8wpqR9YZUsJJI446odi5YwySkdIh4v9NUdr2TRC4JknQM4/s1600/nostalgia.jpg" /></a></div>
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I have always been an especially nostalgic person. It feels as if lately this part of my personality has been hidden or overlooked. In fact, I was influenced by this largely during adolescent and teen years. Very lately, I have experienced so many new things: getting married, moving to the other side of my state, working full-time while taking classes part-time and trying in the meanwhile to kinda-sorta keep up on housework and a social life. I have been very happy and content. Sure, there are always struggles, but I've been looking ahead so much to all the wonderful things I know will happen in the future.<br />
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But lately, my thoughts have turned to bygone days. You see, my cat (really my parents' cat, but he always seemed like my cat) is dying. Marshmellow is his name. (And yes, it's spelled like that on purpose.) He was born on May Day in 2001, when I was only 6 years old, and Mom brought him home to us in July. Yes, 17+ years is very old for a cat. I had always hoped, though, that he would live until at least 20.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC2mLxWxWkP2IFk9mKGuzIBgUcFWlwUjcmS75auqPd9su7AnQeXRHQBu6qScacuJz0YCoPb5fum4J2h70HMEtYQbVo1mSIDOVG8kAdkRp7NdEzPlZpvxFXEOp49F7Sw060sEaXs82w8s/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC2mLxWxWkP2IFk9mKGuzIBgUcFWlwUjcmS75auqPd9su7AnQeXRHQBu6qScacuJz0YCoPb5fum4J2h70HMEtYQbVo1mSIDOVG8kAdkRp7NdEzPlZpvxFXEOp49F7Sw060sEaXs82w8s/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marshmellow's 2nd birthday</td></tr>
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I ask my mom every day for updates on the poor kitty. He hasn't been eating for weeks now, despite every effort imaginable. He is, as my mom puts it, "wasting away." The last time I saw him, at Christmas, he was healthy. Deaf or at least nearly deaf, but healthy, for the most part. He was no longer eating dry cat food, but was very fond of his wet food. Now, it seems, he has gone off any kind of nutrients and only accepts water-- water without the slightest trace of nutrient-giving formula mixed in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzTevRxj5Tqy_g3c2nJmYbZfn5_lZW3rPf80mLCKfiWG15sc3Nim7izCob9ib9atMdF31oQ5t39eK5R0Fnk4Toe4RhQDZ9k3AZV8e6azJuWzcdLdGQon_q5pq1YQU3uoLjyIjeKggtBY/s1600/Marshmellow+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzTevRxj5Tqy_g3c2nJmYbZfn5_lZW3rPf80mLCKfiWG15sc3Nim7izCob9ib9atMdF31oQ5t39eK5R0Fnk4Toe4RhQDZ9k3AZV8e6azJuWzcdLdGQon_q5pq1YQU3uoLjyIjeKggtBY/s320/Marshmellow+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Marshmellow was my companion for so many years; for nearly all of my childhood. He saw me through the best and worst experiences of my life. Although sometimes a bit stand-offish, his fluffy company was always such a comfort and pleasure. And, silly as it may sound, to know that he is dying now-- well, it feels as if my childhood is dying, too. It seems I have not just entered a new chapter of my life, but an entirely new book. And as exciting as it sometimes is, I cannot help but feel sadness as well. I find my mind flocking back to dozens of memories from when I was younger... anywhere from 4 to 16 or so. Basically, the me before I even started this blog.<br />
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I loved my childhood. And now I am in limbo between losing my own childhood and being a part of someone else's. (I don't mean to indicate I am expecting a baby any time soon; likely not for several more years.) It is strange. It's all so strange. Most of my friends are married, many having children-- I don't even have the same friends as I used to when I was younger. In fact, I only have one close friend who is still in my life from my pre-teen years (not counting relatives).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn3ybIb68-rdEZ8l6OwWeQViRS_bqileFxZ9kTSSJARzdlzRj6PnPpRM-d7LOBkrTenjGqAqbUiRhDU6MB_C9NPxQwd01Hb09tuIN7Aflk8DWCkix1YsEVTk-9_HKPKF7Q1lg80m1kZc/s1600/marshmellow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="604" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn3ybIb68-rdEZ8l6OwWeQViRS_bqileFxZ9kTSSJARzdlzRj6PnPpRM-d7LOBkrTenjGqAqbUiRhDU6MB_C9NPxQwd01Hb09tuIN7Aflk8DWCkix1YsEVTk-9_HKPKF7Q1lg80m1kZc/s400/marshmellow4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used to despise the tiniest change. I didn't want the carpeted stairs to be replaced with wood. I didn't want to get new furniture. I scorned the idea of the kitchen being painted white. All of these were, I will admit, good changes in the end; but I saw almost all changes as bad. Perhaps a little of this stemmed from both my sisters being married and gone while I was still quite young-- and soon after that, my older brother starting college and, although he still lived at home, I didn't see him half as much anymore. I wanted to hold onto everything I possibly could from that golden time in my childhood: that time when I was the cute, adored littlest sister in a loving, close-knit family.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLsB_7kT7hQu8BJrYmlf4CuHSIuSDOLBcDzqHtwKoQ4StT3lFzjgXXTFfif_in8El7wQ-Sbp22msbqTt5ELuw_p4Z595Vk0YDfVWA_BHcA6yeMxfZNNqXP-l5dVaWjbphK-2stsRo3lw/s1600/Marshmellow+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLsB_7kT7hQu8BJrYmlf4CuHSIuSDOLBcDzqHtwKoQ4StT3lFzjgXXTFfif_in8El7wQ-Sbp22msbqTt5ELuw_p4Z595Vk0YDfVWA_BHcA6yeMxfZNNqXP-l5dVaWjbphK-2stsRo3lw/s320/Marshmellow+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I did outgrow most of my aversion to small and truly insignificant changes. But lately I feel my old nostalgia returning. I wish I could go back in time and relive some of it. I wish I could see Marshmellow as a little kitten again. And most of all, I wish he didn't have to die. It reminds me that all lives are fleeting, and that the older I get, the more permanent, lasting, significant changes I will have to experience.<br />
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I always will treasure the past, and I feel like I needed to sit down and write all these thoughts and share them with someone. I don't mean to sound depressed and hopeless, because I'm not. I just miss it. I miss my childhood. I miss my old self. I miss the old versions of everyone I used to know. <br />
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I miss my cat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI-gxx6-sBhkMsSEHFbBP_C8wl0YYC_d1LI-rsCmAFQwrGqFUBid7I8aD3JN-kGXHfZVjsEjT2OflER8AlDT_JT7ZpX_eoXriYVD0xqmm_OirSo8LH2OsV_vPL9iRf5rloL_uWG9UAGA/s1600/marshmellow+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI-gxx6-sBhkMsSEHFbBP_C8wl0YYC_d1LI-rsCmAFQwrGqFUBid7I8aD3JN-kGXHfZVjsEjT2OflER8AlDT_JT7ZpX_eoXriYVD0xqmm_OirSo8LH2OsV_vPL9iRf5rloL_uWG9UAGA/s400/marshmellow+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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As I write all this, I can hear Margaret Hale's voice in the 2004 North & South miniseries: "Try as we might, happy as we were... we can't go back."<br />
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Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-38347335995527058202018-08-20T09:30:00.003-06:002018-08-20T09:30:18.482-06:00The Sweetest Wedding Speech You May Ever Hear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fltD8zdJAz8/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fltD8zdJAz8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Hello, dears.<br />
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I could think of no better way to give you a peek at my wedding than to show you the speech from my best friend and maid of honor. Enjoy!Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-147718711900300162018-06-01T15:43:00.001-06:002018-10-01T09:19:36.104-06:00"How can you read this? There's no pictures!"(I would give you bonus points for naming the quote, but as I'm pretty sure most of you will know what it's from, that hardly seems like much of a game.)<br />
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My dear readers,<br />
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Your request to not take so long with my next Installment did not go unheeded. However, I really am so frightfully busy, that... well, I'm going to give you the "short and sweet" version instead. That is, if you can get through the whole thing, without any pictures. ;)<br />
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So, picking up more or less where I <a href="http://regencydelight-janeaustenetc.blogspot.com/2018/05/getting-to-know-you-installment-second.html" target="_blank">left off</a>...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our friendship, at least for me, accelerated at an alarming pace. He was a true kindred spirit-- a quality I had never before discovered in the male species, outside of those in my own family. He was kind, gentlemanly, had a sense of humor very much like my own, and his tallness was (no pun intended) definitely growing on me. Above all, I was struck by his intelligence. We communicated 3/4 of the time through an online medium, and he actually knew how to write. In fact, he sometimes used words that I</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">had to look up in the dictionary</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. (If that isn't an attractive quality, I don't know what is.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before I quite realized it, he was one of my very closest friends, and I began to care very deeply about his life. More deeply than I was willing to admit to myself. After all, I was not looking for a boyfriend, and a romantic relationship between us seemed very imprudent considering our positions in life at the time. And anyway... surely he wasn't interested in me <i>like that</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Like it or not, as time went on, I started wishing terribly that he WOULD be interested in me <i>like that</i>. Because I was beginning to experience something that I had never before experienced in my life: unrequited affection. Yes, I was very, very fond of him. That I loved him, I would not allow to enter my vocabulary, because I knew that for me, really being in love would be a one-time thing... and I had no indication that he would ever return my feelings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well... little indication. Some of the things he would say to me did seem awfully... fond. That he cared for me, I had no doubt. But in what <i>way</i>... that is what I didn't know. I got so many mixed messages from him. One day I would feel particularly beloved by him, and the next I would get the impression that I was just misreading everything, and he was really just being nice to me like he is to everyone. And goodness knows, I didn't want to act like I was chasing him. I would never be satisfied unless he felt for me as I felt for him completely of his own accord, without any prodding from me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Most of those up-and-down feelings took place while he was about four hours away in his first semester in post-dual-credit college. I saw him twice during that time-- once on my birthday, when I was very surprised to see him go out of his way to join me for a the day trip I had been planning, and once during Thanksgiving break when he came over to my house-- for the first time without a group of friends-- and we watched<i> Shop Around the Corner </i>and hung out with my family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then came December. I thought the past several months had been an emotional roller coaster, but little did I know I hadn't gotten on the real roller coaster until now. I entered a place of extreme confusion as to where his affection lay. Circumstantial evidence persuaded me that it <i>could</i> not-- could not possibly!-- be with me. But then, just after this emotion-freezing information, he was dropping some of the hugest hints and asking the most suspicious questions I had ever encountered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finally I was, to be honest, just plain fed up with the whole thing. In the midst of a cryptic conversation over Facebook messenger on the night of December 18th (leading into the next morning), I decided I had had enough. He was not going to wiggle his way out of the conversation this time. I was just going to ask him about his feelings for me and have done with it, risking the friendship that I had come to hold so dear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After <i>still</i> more cryptic-ness, the truth was revealed: we had been in love with each other for some time, neither of us admitting it to the other, or even ourselves-- particularly him, who was so entirely convinced that he<i> shouldn't</i> have feelings for me that he had never accepted the fact that he did. Until that night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then came the struggle of what should be done about it. Should we date? Court? Both? Neither? If neither, then what? How were we to behave to each other? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I won't go into the details of all that, but we started "officially" dating on January 24th of 2017, upon which occasion he took me to Panda Express for lunch and then to my favorite, adorable tearoom/cafe for tea and gelato. (This only served to confirm the excellent choice I had made in deciding to go out with him. ;))</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We used this period as a time to get to know each other on a romantic level better and see how that played out. We weren't keeping it a secret, but we didn't make our relationship public on Facebook just yet. There was no pressure, and no rush.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But it soon became very clear that we were serious about each other-- too serious to downplay anything. So one evening in April he presented me with a beautiful locket, with pictures of us inside and a romantic inscription on the back, and asked me to court me quite officially and openly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A year after our first confessing feelings for each other-- a year full of both joy and suffering as we went through life's challenges-- on Christmas Eve of 2017, Caleb took me for a walk on the path near my neighborhood. When we reached this little bridge, which I have always thought quite romantic, I saw that it had been decorated with a gorgeous Christmas bow. On further inspection, I saw that there were rose petals sprinkled across the bridge, mixed with the snow that was currently falling. (Not suspicious at all, amirite?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then, as we stood on the bridge, Caleb asked if he could be my husband. It was all perfect. What he said, the significance of the day, the fact that it was snowing (!!!!), the ring... and of course, I joyfully accepted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now I am looking forward to that fast-approaching day when I am forever united with the sweetest, most romantic, dearest and best man in the world. </span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~*~*~*~</div>
The above (at least, most of it) was written for our wedding website.<br />
<br />
Guys, I'm getting married.<br />
<br />
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT.<br />
<br />
The wedding is June 16th. (A mere two weeks and one day!!!!) And yes, of course that is the big event I am planning this summer-- did you all really think I didn't know I was hinting? ;)<br />
<br />
Now, a couple of things.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>This doesn't necessarily mean I'm not going to continue my bookish installments. I might just. I flatter myself, we do have an amazingly bookish love story in many respects that I would love to write out dramatically. ;) Let me know if this interests you.</li>
<li>For now, instead, I am going to do a Q&A post! I know many of you will have questions popping up in your head. Just comment below, and I'll get to them in the next post. :) They can be about anything related... details about Caleb, specifics on our story, the wedding, what it feels like to be in love*, etc., etc. Whatever you want. Bombard me! It will be much easier to write in a timely fashion when I know exactly what you are wanting to hear.</li>
</ol>
<div>
For now, I'm outta here! "Things to do, things to do..."</div>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Disclaimer: That was a tease. Extremely open-ended questions such as that one may actually need to be skipped over for now. ;)</span>Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-71830399079528135972018-05-29T14:26:00.001-06:002018-10-01T09:19:55.282-06:00Getting to Know You: Installment the Second<i>Click <a href="http://regencydelight-janeaustenetc.blogspot.com/2018/03/to-be-fond-of-dancing-installment-first.html" target="_blank">here</a> for part one</i><br />
<br />
Despite all your *ahem* not-so-subtle hints ;) about not taking forever to return with Part Two, I'm afraid I have been truly unable to find the time until now. I have been very busy not only working a full-time job, but planning a large event for this summer-- which, if you knew what it was, may result in my being forgiven these delays.<br />
<br />
However, without further ado... Installment the Second.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
~*~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After checking Facebook numerous times to see if he had answered (or even seen) my message, and getting nothing, I just went to bed like a normal person and slept. Then I got up the next morning, and like a normal person, the possibility of him having answered me was not my very first thought. I just saw a message when I checked Facebook over breakfast. Then my attention was immediately captured and I clicked eagerly on the bolded message, sent at 1:33 AM. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-043072d6-1c83-90d5-ee26-e0d839777eb3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sweet, thanks! I'll definitely give it a listen! Also, John Williams' score from War Horse might interest you a bit. The music is gorgeous and accompanies what I believe is a spectacular film. You might also check out the soundtrack from Downton Abbey. Although I've never actually watched the show, the main suite is definitely a gem. :)</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">And yes, I am still up at 1:30am doing homework.</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Casual... but pretty well-worded. The guy could actually write. The message did not ask direct questions so that I needed to reply, but was composed in a style that could easily encourage more conversation.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So I waited two days and then answered.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Haha... just kidding. I answered that morning.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ahh yes! I've actually been meaning to watch War Horse for quite some time, although I'll admit it's not because of interest in either war or horses, but rather British Period Drama which is kind of My Thing. :P But I should definitely investigate the soundtrack. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, Downton Abbey has gorgeous music. And costumes, and scenery, and EXCELLENT actors. It's too bad I don't like the actual series, hahaha. I've tried a little of it and heard a lot about it and know a lot of people who love it but personally I wouldn't recommend it at all. Anyway. I think the same composer wrote the music for Little Dorrit, which is a BBC miniseries based on a Charles Dickens novel, and that has wonderful music too, and some of it reminds me of the Downton themes. You can't just get that soundtrack, though. You'd have to watch the series. (Which, for the most part, I WOULD recommend.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ...heh, sorry, got off on period drama there. Shutting up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Haaa about the homework. Fuuuun. So what are you majoring in? Something math-and-sciences related, I would imagine...</span></blockquote>
</div>
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<i>Oh great, what have I done?? </i>I thought to myself. Probably just scared him off forever. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But... I was pleasantly surprised when he answered me less than a half hour later.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll have to let my sister know about Little Dorrit. She's really into British period shows, styles, etc., etc.. I enjoy that period as well, although I almost never watch the shows (I always seem to be busy with homework, work, and every other boring thing).</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyways, my plan (as of now) is to major in biochemistry so as to continue on to either medical or dental school. I'm still undecided between the two, and am hoping that an undergraduate degree in a very science/health oriented field will guide my decision.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And how about you?! I assume you are taking some courses currently when you mentioned the accursed word "homework". Whatever you're doing, I'm sure it's much cooler than my nerd-ness.</span></blockquote>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Snv7QJJm2SwojJ7hU2olJRFdZBu_j2OIVfgShMLZv5ndls6bglD-D9yQiwmx3J-dZZ3WzMuJ9MokUD-V39SHDcOuylcKLob9aF46KoTSm_s_t5mQkNqUIWidSjz4GghcjR37yeCt0Gw/s1600/mrsbennet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Snv7QJJm2SwojJ7hU2olJRFdZBu_j2OIVfgShMLZv5ndls6bglD-D9yQiwmx3J-dZZ3WzMuJ9MokUD-V39SHDcOuylcKLob9aF46KoTSm_s_t5mQkNqUIWidSjz4GghcjR37yeCt0Gw/s400/mrsbennet.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"He is STUDYIN' to be a DOCTAH!?!?!"<br />
-Basically Amy's response when I showed her the message. :P</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I answered that evening, and although I won't bore you with every single thing that we said to each other, but to sum it up:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>We exchanged 13 more messages before the day was over</li>
<li>I decided I must meet this sister of his</li>
<li>I tried to talk him into watching Little Dorrit as homework motivation</li>
<li>I talked about my college pursuits (which were, at the time, working on my Office Specialist certificate-- which I felt very lame about compared to his lofty goals)</li>
<li>He informed me that he had listened to the Tuck Everlasting soundtrack and thought it "superb"</li>
<li>He showed a knowledge of <i>Anne of Green Gables</i>-- and said he did not recommend the third movie if you are faithful to the books.</li>
</ul>
<div>
I was basically like, is this guy for real?! He's so COOL! Like, not <i>cool</i> cool, but... ya know... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The conversation continued further over the next several days. I discovered many interesting tidbits, and found out that he could make me laugh in very few words. Example:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-043072d6-1c99-9b4a-81ab-68b0e7b95f9a"></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: none; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 38pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Also, although I find psychology an interesting study, PSYCH 101 was a load of rubbish (Freud's an idiot).</span></div>
</li>
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<br /></div>
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(To this day, I sometimes just quote the "Freud's an idiot" thing.) </div>
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We continued talking of Anne of Green Gables and school things. I finally got it straightened out that he was technically still in high school, about to graduate, but had been taking dual credit classes in college for the past two years. He mentioned working, I asked him where, and related to the conversation, I said "So how old are you, 18?"<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yeah, I'm 18 and finishing up my "Senior Year" (it's in quotes because by no means has my high school education been a traditional one). I'm also working as a Photo Tech at Walgreens. I basically describe my job as one where I'm not only responsible for photo orders, but just about every task that no one else wants to do.<br /><br />I wholeheartedly agree with you on the fact that college should be a time to focus on your specialty, not on every subject that no one cares about. I mean, why don't all high schools just require those courses so that people can have a clearer direction after graduating?! Just more proof our education system in America FAILS!<br /><br />Anyways, sorry for ranting.</span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
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Little did he know how much I enjoyed his ranting, especially when it was so much like MY ranting. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then I said this thing:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I must say, I’m rather pleased that you’re 18. Since I’m 3 years older than you, I’m rather hoping that means we can be friends without anything being Awkward. Because the truth is, you seem like quite an interesting lad, and I shouldn’t be sorry to know you better. However (as you can probably tell), I am not at all accustomed to making friends with guys. I know very few within even 5 years my own age, but hypothetically I think it would be nice to, if we actually had any common ground (which is rare enough as it is :P). But, I’m not interested in getting to know guys in the way that MOST girls my age would be. Haaa.<br /><br />It’s probably shockingly candid for me to be saying these things, but I prefer to *not* beat around the bush whenever possible. :P I do hope I’m not coming across as too weird, though.</span></blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yeah... to me, the meaning of this was pretty clear: "I don't want you to think I'm chasing after you like one's typical boyfriend-catcher, but I am very interested in being friends with you at this time." But to him, it came across as: "I could never be interested in you in a romantic way because you are too young for me." </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Which is not what I said or meant... because, the truth was, I couldn't promise myself I wouldn't be interested in him in a romantic way, even though I was trying not to. At the same time, I kind of wanted to test the waters and make sure <i>he </i>was not a wife-hunter. :P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
His response, however, did not give any cause for alarm.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I must say it seems we have much in common, and I'm completely with you as far as friendships go. So, yes. I fully agree. As a wise man once said, "It's only awkward if you make it awkward." Also, I appreciate those who DON'T beat around the bush! It's much easier for me (an introverted, Christian kid who cares much more for calculus than the ridiculous obsessions of most of today's youth) to hear things as they are so I know if we're on the same page. And indeed, it seems we are.</span></blockquote>
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</span></li>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sooo... we're good, right?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course right.<br />
And that most certainly was NOT a pang, however minuscule it may be, of disappointment that I felt when I found it so well-stated that he had no romantic interest in me.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Excellent. I am glad to hear it. :) Haha, "a wise man once said" is always so ambiguous. You can't remember who said it? You do remember but you don't want to say? It was your dad? You just made it up? :P (I don't really mean 'you' personally, just as an example of In General.) Anyway, for future reference, don't be alarmed if I still act awkward in "real life" because after internet-chatting with someone I tend to do that until I get used to being around them in person. (Yup, I speak from experience.) Speaking of which, will you be at ECD tomorrow?</span></blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Because, you know, if I acted awkward, it would have absolutely <i>nothing</i> to do with developing soft feelings for him or anything like <i>that</i>. The idea!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Our conversation continued as easily as if I had known him for years. (He didn't even seem to mind all my wordiness!) I discovered that he used to live right down the street from the library where I was working-- not only that, but he used to <i>volunteer</i> there! This kind of gave me warm fuzzies and I wished he still lived down the street and came to my library frequently. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I also learned that he disliked football. He considered it "an utter waste of time which can instead be employed playing music, enjoying the outdoors, reading/studying, cooking, exercising (like, non-damaging exercise!!!), dancing, playing chess, listening to soundtracks, eating ice cream, drawing random stick figures (which is about all I can draw), and just about anything else."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To this day, I'm not sure he knows what an impression that made on me. FINALLY. I had met a guy with a real brain. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LO3vVRV-p3NeYw5kwZs0Kc_rEc4kYbYienvT9u9TkTzu65ouTva9jffu1MkDtR6U9Qza-AbAeYIERgqCvwJKMqMiT_n0u0tHkg0PJUGp1Pw05B3uE0xu2fsjVymobKWUvUE19YtlNIk/s1600/this-is-me-not-caring-about-football-season-4222922.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="500" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LO3vVRV-p3NeYw5kwZs0Kc_rEc4kYbYienvT9u9TkTzu65ouTva9jffu1MkDtR6U9Qza-AbAeYIERgqCvwJKMqMiT_n0u0tHkg0PJUGp1Pw05B3uE0xu2fsjVymobKWUvUE19YtlNIk/s400/this-is-me-not-caring-about-football-season-4222922.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Although he didn't answer my message about ECD before ECD happened, he was indeed there. (I thought he likely would be, as it is held at his family's church building.) He wasn't there at first, and I was trying to tell myself not to feel so disappointed, because it was just silly! But then he showed up a little after the half-way break. I pretending to ignore that warm feeling that happened again when our eyes met across the room. (It's so dramatic to say stuff about eyes meeting across the room. hahaha....)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When we finally got the chance to talk, the conversation went on swimmingly. At one point he asked me if I liked the 1940's. I said yes, and he was like, "I thought you might!" and proceeded to speak enthusiastically about the fashions and culture and movies and music of the time. He asked me if I ever listened to much music from that time era, and I was like, no, not that much... and he suggested I look into Bing Crosby.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was exceedingly pleased. He was so interesting to talk to! I said in an email to Amy later that evening: "<i>Like, he's so INTERESTING and the fact that he's male makes that even more interesting. I mean, we have more than enough in common so that if he was a girl I would be interested in being his (er, her) friend. So it's not like my standards are set lower because he's a boy. HAHAHAHA.</i>" </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When I got home from dance, I messaged him on Facebook: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-043072d6-1cce-d2e3-6dd6-c0133ac2d352"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next time we chat we should sit down. You're too far above my line of vision. Hahaha. ;P</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It was rather a struggle. It felt as if I either had to tilt my head in a most awkward way, look off into the distance (which would probably give the appearance of ignoring him), or stare directly at his chest.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I also got a chance to talk to his sister, Lilly. "So you're the one who likes a bunch of stuff I do!" I said. She seemed a little confused, so I said I'd been talking to her brother. "Oh, right!" she said. "I remember Caleb telling me about some person named Melody!" </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">Random Amy email narrative insert: </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">"Verrah interesting, btw, that he was talking to his sister about youuuuuu. :P"</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I also learned she preferred P&P95 and Emma 2009 over P&P05 and Emma 1996 (the blonde one), so I highly approved of her taste. ;) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After the real-life meeting, we had this online exchange:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>him</b>: I completely relate to your point on awkwardness though (I don't, however, find you awkward in the least). You know how one occasionally finds those people with whom you can just easily carry a conversation?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>me</b>: I'm glad you didn't find me awkward. That means I succeeded in not coming across as awkward which is my GOAL IN LIFE. (...kidding. Sort of. :P) No, the truth is, I don't *always* feel awkward and there are certain people with whom it is much easier to be oneself, and I believe you may turn out to be one of them. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>him</b>: That is quite a life goal! You seem to be succeeding at it so far! Also, feel free to be yourself around me: no judgements made here! (We have so much in common anyway, so it would be like judging myself) ;)</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I tried very hard to tell myself that the resulting warm fuzzies were strictly of the friendshippy sort. As was the jolt of excitement every time I saw a new message pop up. After all, I had fuzzies and jolts when I was first getting to know Amy and finding that we had so much in common. It was totally the same.... right? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
(Hint: wrong.)<br />
<br />
<i>To be continued...</i><br />
<i>...although not as you may expect.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-14785536992160307892018-04-08T15:12:00.000-06:002018-04-08T15:12:34.928-06:00I have been watching Pride and Prejudice...I've been watching/half watching/listening to P&P with my dad, whilst sewing, and this meme idea popped into my head and I knew it had to be made a thing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQoz7-XzkzYhN0QI8YB0oWr9vZkXmm_kosnIE_gNqKX3ywjAFUe6mRv5KdCu68GZ0wy9KIUazMGkqUqOJh6Np6B3MEE_QnAS5E5yZmcROd01Jxgt5eTRSTexg4_lzu7yr1cATVPQYmIA/s1600/27zke0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQoz7-XzkzYhN0QI8YB0oWr9vZkXmm_kosnIE_gNqKX3ywjAFUe6mRv5KdCu68GZ0wy9KIUazMGkqUqOJh6Np6B3MEE_QnAS5E5yZmcROd01Jxgt5eTRSTexg4_lzu7yr1cATVPQYmIA/s1600/27zke0.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-46140940824702930802018-03-15T16:45:00.001-06:002018-03-15T16:45:32.733-06:00To Be Fond of Dancing: Installment the FirstTwo years ago on February 14th, I posted a controversial description of my "love life." I say "controversial" because some people cheered me on, while others thought I just needed to not.<br />
<br />
The short synopsis of that post would be "I'm probably never going to get married, I'm not even sure I would want to because guys as a whole are duds, and even if that weren't the case, I have such a high standard to be met that it will just never happen. But that's OKAY people should just stop thinking marriage is the most important thing in life!"<br />
<br />
Well, I still don't disagree with the post as a whole. I still think that gentlemen are extremely rare. I think that one should never, ever get married to a person because they're afraid a better option will never come along. However, I do believe true love actually exists.<br />
<br />
I just braced myself for the probability that it would never happen to me.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"But when a young lady is to be an heroine...something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way."</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">-Northanger Abbey</span></i></div>
<br />
Due to my last post and poll, I know you all are fully prepared for what I am about to say. And I had the flatteringly popular response that my readers desired a long account of my love story, in installments. So that is what I will try to do-- mainly because it's hard for me to do something between a short overview and long and detailed. However, this post is going to be more detailed than the ones will be in the future, because I tend to detail things MORE when there wasn't as much going on. ;)<br />
<br />
It was November 11, 2015, before I even wrote the blog post referenced above. I wasn't doing much of anything when I saw that I had a new friend request on Facebook. I eagerly clicked on it, because friend requests are probably the most interesting notifications on that particular social media platform. "Caleb H-----," it said. My thoughts were more or less as follows:<br />
<i>Eh? </i><br />
<i>Who's this?</i><br />
<i>A BOY? </i><br />
<i>Boys don't usually friend me. Huh, interesting. </i><br />
<i>His name looks kind of familiar. Do I know him?</i><br />
<br />
I proceeded to click on his profile.<br />
<br />
<i>Mutual friends from ECD-- OHHHH RIGHT! That's where I know him! I think it's his family's church that we use for dance practice. He's been at ECD for a long time, and I'm pretty sure he's asked me to dance at almost all of the balls.*(1) Also, he is wearing a Gilbert cap in his profile picture. That's cool.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUQ0fzVsJVYpKPAbSdVR_vSaSFy5b6qpqVJTG9ReHwRvrwrQUyEjynoW7ZNvwHNlZdDjL4p_LjcLsTyLD5sJIABcytxgi4W7HNHk-9E-ceR0LIJ6vuSLX7v9Q87HkcyFBvq5DiskJyO0/s1600/1987GilHat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="736" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUQ0fzVsJVYpKPAbSdVR_vSaSFy5b6qpqVJTG9ReHwRvrwrQUyEjynoW7ZNvwHNlZdDjL4p_LjcLsTyLD5sJIABcytxgi4W7HNHk-9E-ceR0LIJ6vuSLX7v9Q87HkcyFBvq5DiskJyO0/s400/1987GilHat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Hey... so... what if... I mean, I thought it was impossible that there could be a guy I've always known but never noticed like happens in books, but--</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
At this point I stopped myself.<br />
<br />
<i>Melody. Do not be ridiculous. You are not a silly girl who scouts out random people as possible boyfriends. We are above that. Now let us proceed sensibly. Look, see, he looks on the younger side anyways. And he likes things like Lord of the Rings and random PG-13 movies which I probably wouldn't approve of. And music... Owl City?? Meh.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
But... at the same time... he also liked Cinderella (2015), My Fair Lady, Roman Holiday, Sound of Music, It's a Wonderful Life, various Pixar films, classical music, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra...<br />
<br />
I couldn't help it. The seed of admiration was planted. He was... a guy... who actually sounded like someone who would be <i>interesting to talk to</i>. That concept alone was a little mind-blowing.<br />
<br />
So, I decided to scroll through his page. Sadly, there weren't all that many posts... but enough so that I was getting a bit more intrigued by the moment.<br />
<i>Interest in attending a Piano Guys event.</i><br />
<i>Asking for recommendations on cello teachers.</i><br />
<i>More Piano Guys...</i><br />
<i>STUDIO C!!!! YESSSSSS</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
And then, I saw THIS post:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
For those soundtrack enthusiasts out there...<br />
I recently listened to the War Horse soundtrack, and was very impressed. John Williams rarely disappoints, and this is no exception. Another I have greatly enjoyed of late is the Cinderella score by Patrick Doyle. Some great symphony pieces in there. Also, Michael Giacchino's Jurassic World was surprisingly well done. Not only does he include the original theme (by John Williams), but he incorporates some excellent themes of his own as well.<br />
I'm always on the look out for other great scores. Any recommendations? <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="smile emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f4c/1/16/1f642.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">:-)</span></span></blockquote>
Okay. He was DEFINITELY interesting. Coincidentally, I had been listening to the Cinderella soundtrack over and over and over at the time of reading this post. Now, I put the question to you: Do you think I decided to keep scrolling or comment?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPGERw-FK0l_rfXOvPwHQzHvZ9XrsbElthLyBCFJB0jHHxQDH4mqHk1bPCDJcBa2asgPj7WXEAfs8KJ-9sd0qstKloRGDPSRzxQphDoIjp3Rq3yJ531jw_cPkczp079iHN67d4oIdtyE/s1600/Cinderella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPGERw-FK0l_rfXOvPwHQzHvZ9XrsbElthLyBCFJB0jHHxQDH4mqHk1bPCDJcBa2asgPj7WXEAfs8KJ-9sd0qstKloRGDPSRzxQphDoIjp3Rq3yJ531jw_cPkczp079iHN67d4oIdtyE/s400/Cinderella.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, here's your answer.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Melody M----</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Haha, my obligatory scroll through a new FB friend's page... I have to say I got excited when I read the bit about the Cinderella soundtrack because I have been LOVING that. If you like Patrick Doyle, check out the Sense & Sensibility soundtrack! It's great.</span></blockquote>
Of course, I more or less expected this to go ignored. To my surprise, a mere 2 minutes later, I got a notification.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Caleb H-----</span></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for the recommendation! My sister has shown me a few songs from that score, and they don't disappoint! <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="grin emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f51/1/16/1f603.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">:-D</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
So, of course, I just left it there. (Ha. Ha. No.)<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Melody M----</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I particularly recommend My Father's Favourite, Willoughby, Miss Grey (those are the two dance songs) and Throw the Coins. <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="smile emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f4c/1/16/1f642.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">:)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Caleb H----</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're a fan of </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=104096896294758&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi%22%7D" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patrick-Doyle/104096896294758?hc_location=ufi" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Patrick Doyle</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, you may want to check out James Newton Howard's Maleficent soundtrack. Although I don't like it quite as much as Cinderella, it does have a few gems. <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="grin emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f51/1/16/1f603.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">:-D</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Melody M----</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Haha, I wouldn't have thought of listening to that on my own since I don't like the looks of that movie, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like the music so I might have to give it a try. Thanks!</span><span class="" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Caleb H---</b> </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The movie's...interesting, but the score is alright.</span></blockquote>
<div>
This was recalled by him later as "you basically said you didn't want to listen to it because you didn't approve of the movie," which was not actually accurate, and I did listen to it.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (It wasn't that great though. Don't tell Caleb. ...oh wait he's going to read this.) </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On my side, I was like "So far literally the only thing I can hold against him is the fact that he said 'alright,' and that is commonly accepted so I can't blame him too much."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
(Yes. I am a nerd. And for the record, he doesn't spell it like that anymore.)<br />
<br />
Then... that was it. I kinda wanted to talk to him more, but I didn't want to be awkward. So I just scrolled more through his page (discovering, to my amusement, an old post from a few years back where he mentioned having a "crush" on Audrey Hepburn), told Amy all about it, and then moved on with life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<div>
In the back of my mind, I thought that the next time I saw him in person, I would try to talk to him. That was a very brave decision for me to make, given my track record. But the thing is... and I know this might sound cheesy... only a couple months before this, prompted by a discussion I had with someone, I began to wish that I could have a guy as a friend. It seemed like it might be fun, if I could actually meet one who was interesting. And so I prayed about it. I asked the Lord if He could bring a young man into my life, not as a romantic interest, but as a friend. And not "just" a friend. A real, genuine friend.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I'm also a little cynical. Things <i>never </i>happen when you <i>want</i> them to, after all. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fast-forward to the next time I saw him. It was January, and I went to one of the dance practices for the first time in ages. I was auditing a Bible Institute class at the time which took up every Thursday night, but this one time I decided to go to dance and leave at the half break, and then get to class just about on time. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I must admit a tiny bit of foolish excitement when I first saw him. But wow, he WAS young. Like, even more so than I had imagined. Oh well. I'd be less in danger that way, right? Because I didn't want to develop romantic feelings for anyone right then. It would be most inconvenient. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He didn't ask me to dance, but I ended up dancing with him a little when he was in my group of four. (If you're clueless about how ECD works, I'm sorry. Just roll with it.) I smiled at him kinda shyly, and he acted cordial in return, and seemed to possess a glint of recognition. But perhaps I was imagining it. (Hint: I was.) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
During the last dance before I was about to leave, I looked over toward the back of the room where I had put my purse and coat. There was a young man with very noticeably red hair sitting there, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Immediately I felt an internal facepalm. THAT was Caleb. The guy I had seen earlier was his <i>younger brother</i>. Wow.....</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Of course, he had to arrive just as I needed to leave, so I wouldn't get to talk to him. But... my stuff was sitting right next to him. So I almost <i>had</i> to talk to him. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Despite the two months that had passed between our becoming friends on Facebook and this moment, I decided to adopt a familiar tone, because I didn't know what else to do. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Is that your dinner?" I asked as I approached. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He nodded. "I just got here from school, so, ya know, it was fast." <br />
<br /></div>
<div>
"Well," I said, picking up my coat, "now that YOU'RE here, I'm going to leave." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Oh! I see how it is!" he joked back. (I felt immediately relieved because as it had come out of my mouth, that manner of joke had seemed a little risky.) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I'm kidding, I have to get to class," I explained. "Well, bye." I really was in a hurry. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"See you later!" </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Will I? </i>I wondered. I felt sort of happy but also kinda nervous because I'd just<i> talked to a boy</i>. (Yes, I was pathetic. Shhhhh.) </div>
<div>
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<div>
Fast-forward another two months. It was March 20th, and this post popped up on Facebook and reminded me of Caleb's existence, and of the possibility that I might get to dance with him at the Victorian Ball in six days.</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A storage shed is to be built in the shape of a box with a square base. It is to have a volume of 343 cubic feet. The concrete for the base costs $7 per square foot, the material for the roof costs $2 per square foot, and the material for the sides costs $4.50 per square foot. Find the dimensions of the most economical shed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Length of one side of the shed's base = 7ft</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The height of the shed = 7ft</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proof that calculus is relevant.</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
Friends, let me tell you. Caleb is a math nerd. This is the thing that, early on, made me think I would never be interesting to <i>him. </i>For my part, I couldn't hold it against him. At least it was a brainy hobby, not watching sports. (Ahem.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I couldn't resist the whole <i>Higher math is TOO useful in everyday life!</i> argument, so I said:</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">*Relevant if you're trying to build a shed. </span><span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="wink emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f57/1/16/1f609.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">;)</span></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
He didn't respond to this, but just liked the comment, so I guessed he wasn't offended.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then, a mutual friend of ours commented.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Elizabeth _____</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Math is pretty amazing and relevant! I use algebra, geometry, and trig all the time in sewing. <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="wink emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f57/1/16/1f609.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">;)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="wink emoticon"><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Caleb H------ </b></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">THANK YOU!!! I have made it my life goal to prove higher math's relevancy to my family.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Elizabeth _____</span></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Math is all throughout nature so technically God made mathematics. <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="wink emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f57/1/16/1f609.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">;)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Melody M----</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span></b></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have never once used Algebra in sewing and if I did, it was so basic that it could basically just be called consumer math. <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="tongue emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f9f/1/16/1f61b.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">:P</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Elizabeth ____ </b></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eh, I guess it does tend toward consumer math. <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" title="wink emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f57/1/16/1f609.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span aria-hidden="true" class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">;)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yeah, I'm a little obnoxious. I was pretty sure Caleb would hate me. But I wasn't going to hide who I really was. Hahahaha.<br />
<br />
Turns out, he didn't hate me. Saturday night came, with the usual excitement of a ball. I must admit, I was searching for him, waiting for his arrival, as ridiculous as it made me feel. I finally caught a glimpse of him just before the Grand March started, and wished that he could have asked me to dance for the beginning of the ball, which, with my Jane Austen reading background, always seemed special. But I scolded myself. Why WOULD he ask me to dance the first dance? How silly.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"To be fond of dancing was a certain step toward falling in love."</span> -P&P</i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, he did eventually ask me to dance, and at the time I would have tried to argue that the warm feeling of excitement filling me had nothing to do with any impending romantic fancy, but fortunately nobody asked.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1tTVB4N2dTAu1w3VsbBRS3BKrCF6jPY-i3eZbUxWyoxH7h65XBabpvYYGT8yGM0E-rXWUNziiEu3ST4yFF1MTsxpKzOvJsthdh5yZyACMNkyBvFwj8OS_Wl2llafU8k1I-zkdFoW-M0/s1600/victorian+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1tTVB4N2dTAu1w3VsbBRS3BKrCF6jPY-i3eZbUxWyoxH7h65XBabpvYYGT8yGM0E-rXWUNziiEu3ST4yFF1MTsxpKzOvJsthdh5yZyACMNkyBvFwj8OS_Wl2llafU8k1I-zkdFoW-M0/s640/victorian+ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I accepted his kind offer, and he extended his hand to lead me out to the dance floor. I took it, noticing that he appeared to be very flushed, and I didn't think he had been a moment ago. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>My goodness, he's so TALL! </i>I thought to myself. He was definitely a full head and part of a shoulder above short little 5'3" me. <i>Tall and redheaded... man, it must be hard for him to get lost in a crowd. </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"So, have you listened to any new good soundtracks lately?" he asked casually as we took our places. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The warm feeling continued. He remembered I had been the one to talk to him about soundtracks, even though it had been over four months ago and he had tons of Facebook friends. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I could think of no good response. "No... not since Cinderella. How about you?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Same."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The dance commenced, and I didn't say much because I cannot talk and do well at the dance simultaneously, and goodness knows I didn't want to make a fool of myself. However, when we got to the end of the line and waited for the next part to begin, I ventured to talk a little. I said something dumb about wishing there was water for the people standing at the end of the line, and then proceeded to ask him about his school. I learned that, although he was going to college (which I'd seen on Facebook), he was technically still in his senior year of high school, and was taking classes as dual credit. I don't remember exactly how this conversation went, except that he seemed very intelligent. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At the end of the dance, as he led me back to the side, he said that if I ever needed help figuring out the dimensions for a shed to let him know. I giggled and proceeded to talk about how what I would more likely want help with is a the design of a tiny house, and started explaining what that was. I said that if I ever build one, he will be the first to know, so I could enlist his help. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We parted cordially and I felt very pleased with how things had gone, except that it seemed a little like I was flirting, and I didn't like that at all. Somehow, something about him just made me want to engage in a little teasing banter.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"If I am a wild Beast I cannot help it; it is not my own fault." </span>-Jane's letters</i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The ball ended with little to no more communication, but I didn't expect any. I did maintain a small hope that he might ask me to dance the last waltz... but he gave his mother this honor. It was adorable, but I couldn't help a twinge of disappointment. (I've never had a gentleman ask me to waltz.)<br />
<br />
I was left with a feeling of... discontentment in leaving things as they were. I wanted to... talk to him more. I wanted to begin a friendship. But I kept debating it with myself. Would it be too forward? Would he get the wrong idea? Would I be too awkward to attempt such a thing? How could I make it seem casual? I mean, it WAS casual... right?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Naturally, I discussed the dilemma with Amy, until I settled on a conclusion of how to go about it. So at 10:29 pm on the day after the ball, I sent the following message to Caleb through Facebook Messenger:<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-62ad1f05-2b85-c0ee-d6f9-8899fccb1ffc"></span><br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-62ad1f05-2b85-c0ee-d6f9-8899fccb1ffc">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 38pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I thought harder about your soundtrack question and it reminded me of one-- I recently watched Tuck Everlasting which was not too impressive as a movie (although I really liked some of the clothes at the beginning :P), but I did notice the soundtrack was very nice. I looked it up at the library, but had no success and then forgot all about it... but I have now found it on YouTube! I know what I'll be listening to while I study for the next few days, haha.</span></div>
</li>
</span></ul>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-62ad1f05-2b85-c0ee-d6f9-8899fccb1ffc">
</span><br />
And then... I waited with the proverbial "bated breath." </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZPuZqXxdg-GAaCX9NKur_cffSBNzeBzSqJgCDjlJugOIwd8cYc1reSoaXmiSqJeokmVK_8xA58ngdJcYCEHoIc3togARFeOxvKdnGyNJioopewMn6N1G-A0X63xhcLNKdjUAHwgjKDs/s1600/laptop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="564" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZPuZqXxdg-GAaCX9NKur_cffSBNzeBzSqJgCDjlJugOIwd8cYc1reSoaXmiSqJeokmVK_8xA58ngdJcYCEHoIc3togARFeOxvKdnGyNJioopewMn6N1G-A0X63xhcLNKdjUAHwgjKDs/s400/laptop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="text-align: center;"><br /></i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>*to be continued*</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Footnotes</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)Referring to the Victorian and Regency balls I have attended. "Almost all of them" was not quite accurate; it was more like three or four.</span><br />
<i><br /></i>
</div>
Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-19274399418615370582017-12-07T19:23:00.003-07:002017-12-07T19:23:21.924-07:00NEW POLL: A Completely Hypothetical Question<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zhhP6bq2BHfv7W5rr5qxbJxiqjzjd5py7tohUL6rQ74bSiYaYLfeXWbNP2ciBy2-sEhrg3nRmNdkqv_60dTtQ7QuQYLHsDj7nhyphenhyphenLK3th7ra4oS12d-XCECGgodmIgIhcbwSgLpxmIa0/s1600/2eab2ecadad910fe32b3083fd0fa5881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zhhP6bq2BHfv7W5rr5qxbJxiqjzjd5py7tohUL6rQ74bSiYaYLfeXWbNP2ciBy2-sEhrg3nRmNdkqv_60dTtQ7QuQYLHsDj7nhyphenhyphenLK3th7ra4oS12d-XCECGgodmIgIhcbwSgLpxmIa0/s1600/2eab2ecadad910fe32b3083fd0fa5881.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, friends. I have a hypothetical situation for you. <br />
<br />
Suppose one of your old blogging buddies (who hardly writes on her blog anymore because she's insanely busy and all that nonsense) fell in love. She didn't write about it at first because she wasn't even sure of it herself. Then because she wasn't sure if the other person returned her feelings. Then she was, but it wasn't commonly known. Then she just didn't know where to start, even though her heart was bursting to tell everyone the beautiful love story. Then, she simply couldn't find the time<br />
<br />
And then... she didn't know how to tell it.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Yes, imagine that situation.<br />
<br />
How would you most like to hear the story?<br />
<br />
1. <b>Maybe... not?</b> The blog isn't about this hypothetical girl's personal life!<br />
2. <b>Short and Sweet</b>. I'd like to hear the most important details, but not a long story.<br />
3. <b>Long and Sweet.</b> A verbose post. Let's hear it!<br />
4. In <b>Bookish Installments</b>. If it's a bookish story (hint: it is), I'd like to hear a dramatized version in four or five posts, please.<br />
5. <b>A Novelette.</b> If she's going to tell, she should tell ALL!<br />
<br />
The poll is at the bottom of the post(s). :)Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-32466541059908615542017-07-18T10:38:00.002-06:002017-07-18T10:38:31.055-06:00Such a friend....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://austenonly.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/p1110380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://austenonly.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/p1110380.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.janeausten.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/plaque-on-her-last-home-in-winchester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="615" height="212" src="https://www.janeausten.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/plaque-on-her-last-home-in-winchester.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
"I have lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed. She was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow; I had not a thought concealed from her, and it is as if I had lost a part of myself."</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
Cassandra Austen's words always break my heart a little. On this day exactly 200 years ago, my favorite author died at the age of 41, at the very horizon of her success. I couldn't let the day pass without writing a few lines of commemoration on this poor, neglected blog. I will never cease to wonder what other marvelous stories would be in existence had she lived as long as many of her family members did. Her own mother outlived her! It seems a cruel twist of fate, but I am so glad for the six novels and various other writings she left behind for countless generations to enjoy. If she only could see what an impact she has made on the world!</div>
Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-18366300331350731622017-07-17T18:42:00.000-06:002017-07-18T10:39:06.408-06:00Ridiculous Regency: Edition the Second<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2DskI4qvxH-wXMMjvu753Bq6R56FSyvr10zU-4gHByYMslaOumGXoHoxuC0wuiZwaEiryV1-x6X9OW3vDUxHBQxImAehVbp8M1tYsfOCbXdLE5fu-ZakNJ5_1wLl70krM3XdG40HDPY/s1600/RR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2DskI4qvxH-wXMMjvu753Bq6R56FSyvr10zU-4gHByYMslaOumGXoHoxuC0wuiZwaEiryV1-x6X9OW3vDUxHBQxImAehVbp8M1tYsfOCbXdLE5fu-ZakNJ5_1wLl70krM3XdG40HDPY/s1600/RR1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<i> Amber Marie Sterlington, the Rage of the Season in Regency-era London, has her pick of men and she knows what she wants most in a husband: a title and a fortune. Why would she ever marry for something as fickle as love? And why would she ever look twice at Thomas Richards, a third son of a country lord?</i><br />
<i> But Amber's social standing is shattered by a rare disorder which causes the loss of her hair. Publicly humiliated and estranged from her shamed family, she is exiled to Yorkshire, facing a future she never expected in a circumstance far below what she has known all her life. Humbled and lonely, Amber wonders if isolation is for the best and questions what real love means until she finds a romantic path to a man who offers unconditional love.</i><br />
<br />
Oh my. Oh my, my. Where to start with this cover?! I saw it at the library and thought to myself "Ha! Is this supposed to be historical fiction? That looks like a girl going to prom!" I flipped it over and discovered that it actually claimed to be set in the Regency era.<br />
<br />
What the hiccup. <br />
<br />
In what universe is that acceptable?! And then the STORYLINE-- pain. Utter pain. Also, a heroine named "Amber"? The Regency Encyclopedia catalogs baby names from the latter half of the 1700's, and Amber is not among them. Aurora is. Even Audrey is there. She could have used something that gives the idea of modern times and still have been historically accurate if she'd actually wanted to.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Moving on. The synopses are all very hilarious, but I won't clog my blog post with them. If you want a howl, the pictures link to the Amazon pages.<br />
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Scruff on the guy, two curls, one on each side, very obviously created by a curling iron, and an extremely ill-fitting dress... I mean, what more can you want?<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Simply-Regency-Romance-Jennifer-Moore-ebook/dp/B013X933F8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500335051&sr=8-2&keywords=simply+anna" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1055" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOvdPrrVqiFdA6rOk48LIjkWhS97i2KYDhy_sibhQHg6kc6jYvzEw-2jrtBsrCe0s5fVTsJD33NWx24BAx3I7mdoEBoia5tDYds_plaMxr-hpQ-JIibcCdtnPe0yoMQn6Tiv-AJjyW6g/s640/RR3.png" width="422" /></a></div>
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Why, Anna! Why black eyelashes you have! Was-- GASP-- is this book REALLY about the invention of MASCARA?!<br />
(Also, the plot sounds like <i>Barbie as the Island Princess</i>, only... not as good.)<br />
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And as a bonus, although this is not supposed to be Regency...<br />
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This is set in 1912, and although it looks all right for a distance, I invite you to investigate closer. It's basically a modern prom dress with a sheer shawl tacked to the shoulders. Then, take a look at the <a href="http://cgimg.s3.amazonaws.com/t/g11/274711/1149620_orig.jpg" target="_blank">full picture</a>-- the dress was too short, so let's just put another skirt underneath it! Costuming for the WIN. Twelve out of ten.<br />
<br />Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-74020002977397595312017-03-12T12:35:00.002-06:002017-07-17T17:14:16.794-06:00"Wonderful, Wonderful Day!"Heyyyyyyyyyy everyone.<br />
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Look at that! I'm still alive!<br />
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My life has been a whirlwind of basically everything lately, from dizzyingly wonderful to some very rough and distressing business. I just made a 5-second decision to write a quick blog post, which is an oddity in and of itself... but I realized I haven't posted since early December and that you guys aren't caught up on some interesting news that may please you!<br />
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Namely, theatre. After years and years of dreaming about ACTUALLY being in theatre, I've reached that point. And wow, is it exciting! First I was cast in a Christmas variety show which made the Yuletide season excessively busy and bustling, but was also terribly fun and exciting. I was mainly just in the chorus for that, as it wasn't a traditional play, but I got to be in four different costumes so that was fun. (Let me tell you, going from full Dickens costume to "Hoteiosho," a Santa-like character from Japan, complete with a wig and two--yes, two--masks, in the space of about three minutes was quite interesting.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind-the-scenes shot of a dear friend and me in the Christmas show!</td></tr>
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After being cast in that but before the performances started, I auditioned for the 2017 year of my local musical theatre company. I did this last year as well, but didn't get in. However, this year I was surprised to make it into three shows-- and in the first one, to actually have a REAL CHARACTER. With a name. Not just some random ensemble person, but a character with a personality and her own lines. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!<br />
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...The fact that the show was "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" made it slightly less exciting, as I always rather loathed that movie. (I mean... it's all about wife-hunters, which are some of my least favorite things.) It WAS my choice to audition for it, however, and that was because... well, theatre. I thought even if I didn't like the movie, the show could be awfully fun to participate in.<br />
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And I was right! There was a bit of a setback when I found out that my character, Dorcas, is probably the LAST bride I would have chosen to play. To be very tactful, she's the most... boy-crazy of the group. And that's not wording it how the stage direction in the script portrays it. *cough*<br />
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But hey. When in theatre, you can develop your own character a little bit, which is nice. And at least it's a stretch for my acting ability. ;) Also, our director is super nice and lovely and some of the awkward stuff in the show (guys, the play has so much more cringe-worthy stuff than the movie, which I was not expecting!) has been tamed down quite a bit. *sigh of relief* Also, stage kisses are a thing. I got that straightened out at the very beginning. And the guy playing Benjamin is super nice about it. (Fortunately for him, as it just so happens I have a gentleman friend of 6'4" who would be more than happy to defend my honor should anyone even think to get fresh. :P)<br />
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Oh, the dancing though?! This is a dancing show and my GOODNESS there's a lot of choreography to learn for someone as inexperienced as myself! I mean, it's not quite the same as English Country Dancing. Hahaha.<br />
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(The post title is taken from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRRpolRJ9_w" target="_blank">this song</a>. Although this is the Broadway musical recording, the version we're doing is still significantly different.)<br />
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And speaking of Broadway musicals... the Phantom of the Opera Broadway tour is coming to my locality this summer and I'm gonna SEE IT with one of my very best friends and no I am not excited about it at all. (Just kidding I'm SUPER excited about it.)<br />
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Oh, and as soon as Seven Brides is over it's straight into rehearsals for "Annie"... and I'm also finishing up my Office Specialist certificate, which I should get in June. As well as working. Not to mention, my brother is getting MARRIED to one of my close friends (the girl pictured above, as it happens) early next month and I'm a bridesmaid and Amy is coming out for it and... phew! Basically, until Annie is over, I'm going to be constantly on the run! But I guess that's show biz. ;)<br />
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<br />Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-3806886209050606692016-12-03T17:14:00.001-07:002016-12-03T17:20:48.627-07:003 Fictional Characters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Facebook Land over the last couple of months, people have been tagging people (including me) in this #3fictionalcharacters, where you make a little collage of the three fictional characters you identify with the most, or that sorta-kinda make up your personality.<br />
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As it happens, the three I came to settle on were all Jane Austen heroines. ...Go figure. After all, one of my favorite things about Jane Austen is how relatable her characters are!<br />
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So I decided to do a blog post about it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Elizabeth Bennet</span><br />
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So this sounds a little... I don't know. Conceited. Because, after all, Elizabeth Bennet is my favorite heroine of all TIME. But then, don't we always like the characters we can see ourselves in?<br />
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There are plenty of ways I'm NOT like Lizzy. (To name a few, she's way more outgoing than I am, she's more witty, and she definitely likes walking more than I do.) But I shall focus on the similarities.<br />
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<i><b>Judgment & Opinions</b></i><br />
Heh, heh. So, I <i>totally</i> understand Elizabeth when it comes to deciding at the very beginning of an acquaintanceship what I think of a person-- except I'm probably even a little more suspicious than Elizabeth. (Wickham couldn't have gotten past me, gals.) And I think I do give people more of a chance than she does. But hey... maybe that's just a lesson I've learned from <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>!<br />
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I'm also quite opinionated in... well, a lot of areas, and it annoys me when people don't think like I do. "Yes, but Lizzy, not everyone is the SAME," Jane reminds her in the 1995 miniseries. Being tolerant of differences is something one must learn in life, but like Lizzy, I struggle with it. Because my natural inclination is to believe that either you agree with me, or you're wrong.<br />
Heh heh again.<br />
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<b><i>Loyalty</i></b><br />
Elizabeth is fiercely loyal, and so am I. If you become one of my favorite people, you better believe I will defend you with everything in me. If someone says something unjust about a person I love, I feel it as if they said it about me.<br />
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<b><i>Immovable</i></b><br />
Some people call this "stubborn." I myself prefer to say "constant." :P<br />
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Elizabeth has firmly-held beliefs upon which she Will Not Budge, and I can't tell you how much I identify with that. The more someone tries to pressure me into doing something that I'm not comfortable with, for whatever reason, the less likely I am to do it. They think they're trying to persuade me, but really, they're just digging their own grave.* When faced with a strong personality such as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, this may even be classified as "obstinate" and "headstrong."<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*If you are someone I like and respect, this does not apply to you. Yes, if I feel something is <i>wrong</i>, I will not budge. But if you're trying, say, to convince me to read a book you like, it's not true that the more you try the more likely I am to never do it. If I have respect for the person, the opposite may be true.</span><br />
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<b><i>Marriage Is Not The All-Important Goal Of Life</i></b><br />
It's just not. Or at least, it shouldn't be. Her opinions on marriage and relationships are, most of the time, nearly identical to my own. <br />
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<i><b>Snark</b></i><br />
Ahh, yes. Elizabeth Bennet, Queen of the Well-Placed Sarcastic Comment. I am definitely not queen (Amy is), but I have been known to "sass" people when they least expect it. And yes, sometimes I feel bad about it afterwards. (Other times, I just feel deep satisfaction. Heh heh.) Her sense of humor in general is quite similar to my own.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Fanny Price</span><br />
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<i>WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT.</i><br />
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Yes, people. Yes. Jane Austen's most unloved heroine. I identify with her in so many ways! Again, there are plenty of ways in which I am NOT like her (even more than with Lizzy), but let's take a look at the similarities.<br />
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<b><i>Observant</i></b><br />
Fanny notices things about people that nobody else does. Out of all characters in the book, she has the soundest judgment. "I was quiet, but I was not blind" is one of my favorite quotes to describe her.<br />
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I've gone through a couple periods in my life where I felt deeply that something someone else was doing wasn't a good idea, and in the end, it turned out that I was right. The difference is, I don't keep all my opinions to myself, and sometimes it just makes people resent you, soooo... yeah, anyways.<br />
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<b><i>Quiet in Social Situations</i></b><br />
We see into Fanny's head a lot throughout the book, so I think we do get to know her character. But one thing we don't get to see is how she really is when she's in the company of like-minded people. Probably the closest is what we see with her brother (William, is it?) and as he isn't physically there in most of the book, that's a tough one.<br />
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When I'm around a bunch of people whom I do not connect with, I'm very quiet. Like, I find it physically difficult to speak up. Only when I become comfortable will I be anything like myself. Consequently, there are dozens of people among my partial acquaintance who think of me as a "quiet" person. (BOY ARE THEY WRONG. Anyways...) "Oh, Melody! She's so shy!" Then when they take the trouble to get acquainted with you, they might think you've "come out of your shell," as if you've changed, somehow. No. It's called being an introvert, folks.<br />
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<b><i>Constant</i></b><br />
This is a bit of a crossover trait with Elizabeth Bennet. Fanny is one of the most constant heroines I've ever read in fiction, and what I like to call a "nonconformist". Even though being subjected to a lot of pressure, she never caves. She sticks with her convictions and, in the end, emerges as the only "blameless" one. Unlike Elizabeth Bennet, though, Fanny doesn't have the stubborn streak. She may be branded so by such as Mrs. Norris, but it is without foundation.<br />
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<b><i>Loyal</i></b><br />
Yup, that too.<br />
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<b><i>Deeply Emotional</i></b><br />
Fanny <i>feels</i> things so very much. When reading the novel, I feel the things with her and it's one of those rare experiences where you really <i>connect</i> with a character and hurt right along with them. It's because I feel things in a very similar way to Fanny.<br />
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I'm also super sensitive. I cry. I can't stand it when people yell at me. I get "upset" much more often than I get "mad."<br />
<br />
People judge Fanny for this, and I think they shouldn't. Being sensitive is not the same as being weak. This is about what you<i> feel</i>. How you <i>act</i> is what makes you either strong or weak, and Fanny is strong. As, I hope, am I.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Marianne Dashwood</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUV5jy0KYsXQYjcwisuf_-SpmNt0dTi-Ul0AmD3KxdQC6KviL5XOHsNHHtfni3Oarm9FwH68_9KkAdxFo9yE7BjoAH-aNrS1rwfOLOqylWjsTFUN3gTB-W_w-uQKor5he2OZbqUNGyk0/s1600/Marianne1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUV5jy0KYsXQYjcwisuf_-SpmNt0dTi-Ul0AmD3KxdQC6KviL5XOHsNHHtfni3Oarm9FwH68_9KkAdxFo9yE7BjoAH-aNrS1rwfOLOqylWjsTFUN3gTB-W_w-uQKor5he2OZbqUNGyk0/s1600/Marianne1.gif" /></a></div>
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This is a tricky one. On some days, it seems like I'm just as much Elinor as I am Marianne... and I think that the deal is, I behave a bit more like Elinor outwardly, but inside I feel like Marianne. <br />
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<b><i>Love</i></b><br />
I don't form attachments all that easily/frequently. But when I do, it's a very strong, deep, lasting, and to the best of my knowledge, limitless. Like Marianne, I become fiercely loyal (yes, that's 3/3... are you sensing a trend yet?) to that person. It's in my personality to seek deep, emotionally intimate connections, and if I do "click" with someone-- when I find in another human being something that I've never seen anywhere but inside of myself-- that someone can suddenly mean the world to me. <br />
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Unfortunately, I also become too emotionally dependent on them. Elinor's line <i>"...after all that is bewitching in the idea of a single and constant attachment, and all that can be said of one's happiness depending entirely on any particular person, it is not meant -- it is not fit -- it is not possible that it should be so" </i>has resonated deeply with me in times past. Because I can, all too easily, get so wrapped up in one particular person that not talking to them, not being 100% in harmony with them, feeling that in some particular they don't understand me after all, etc. can play an <i>infuriatingly</i> large role in my overall happiness.<br />
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Unlike Marianne, you see, I'm not totally okay with that. (She just thinks that's as it should be.) However, even when I try to change it, I often find myself right back where I started. Because when the relationship is going through a good time, there's no problem. I'm happy, because all is well! It's only when all isn't well that I question it again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSLv9w-P1TqcmeEeJexWd1BdxRTedqx8KfKE66Dxbs-_XspXEsTOJoaP94gc5LeZ3m-0qHIBa-FJBfy5wgTwKJNk6cyNXr4W1Eto2O6BFce1LbjXTPNgdc4SEpKdXqUheXzqAemR0E8s/s1600/3FicCharactersRight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSLv9w-P1TqcmeEeJexWd1BdxRTedqx8KfKE66Dxbs-_XspXEsTOJoaP94gc5LeZ3m-0qHIBa-FJBfy5wgTwKJNk6cyNXr4W1Eto2O6BFce1LbjXTPNgdc4SEpKdXqUheXzqAemR0E8s/s1600/3FicCharactersRight.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Intolerance</i></b><br />
This is something that I struggle with. Similarly to Elizabeth Bennet, except more exaggerated, Marianne has very deeply held beliefs and can't stand it when people don't agree with her. She has an extreme distaste for anything inconstant, and so do I. Flighty people are just... maddening. The way <i>I</i> am is the only <i>right</i> way to be, after all!<br />
...Yeah. <br />
<br />
I really do believe that I'm not as bad as Marianne when it comes to that. Perhaps I was, at one point, but I've worked on it and I hope I've at least reached an Elizabeth level. However, I still empathize.<br />
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<i><b>Romantic Notions</b></i><br />
Marianne has some pretty stupid opinions about some things. But she has others with which I completely empathize, even if I don't believe them to the same degree as she does. But (as most of you know) I'm a bit of a romantic when it comes to soul mates and One True Love and that sort of thing. Also, I've always HUGELY identified with the "The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love!" quote.<br />
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<i><b>Drama Queen</b></i><br />
Again, I'm not as "bad" as Marianne. But I do like my bits of drama from time to time. ;)<br />
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<b>Pet Peeves</b><br />
Marianne has a LOT of pet peeves and things that just really, really annoy her. Hahaha! Me too. Although I'm not outspoken about it to <i>everyone </i>like Marianne seems to be. Coughcoughhopefullycough.<br />
<br />
*<br />
<br />
So, there you have it. The three Jane Austen heroines I am most like... and why.<br />
<br />
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmastime!Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-81418792159064515342016-11-13T21:19:00.000-07:002016-11-13T21:19:10.362-07:00Episode 2: One Day More! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LXzVYaTqKig/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LXzVYaTqKig?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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(Ugh the angle is awful for my face in this one... >.<)</div>
<br />Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-72303372893503321512016-11-12T19:54:00.000-07:002016-11-12T19:54:32.042-07:00A Short and Sappy Post About Friendships<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECCqtDsOqAWezeyWZnvNmUmK4qCwdBA8YFVoiLj9v2xmi0OVSPMQt5tqjZbayFs0Siub3w4I1FNPfINZfdUHJKHGMT9mPZuZRBkQoYj_fYrNMYVp0r3ffhJ9tXm5pMBlIP7YQ-eA0fI0/s1600/c2829748fea2c08dcd2e5d016bfa524a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECCqtDsOqAWezeyWZnvNmUmK4qCwdBA8YFVoiLj9v2xmi0OVSPMQt5tqjZbayFs0Siub3w4I1FNPfINZfdUHJKHGMT9mPZuZRBkQoYj_fYrNMYVp0r3ffhJ9tXm5pMBlIP7YQ-eA0fI0/s400/c2829748fea2c08dcd2e5d016bfa524a.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
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I love to see the way that friendships evolve. It's easiest to look at these when you do the bulk of getting to know a person through written communication (these days, generally online). Once you've known them for a certain amount of time-- or rather, when it reaches a certain point that can't be measured by time, or by anything else-- you can look back at the earliest messages, emails, etc. and see such a change. <br />
<br />
It's the same person. It's always very much the same person. Yet, there is something stilted about how they write... you can tell they're being a little more prim and proper, holding back a little, measuring their sentences. Then, gradually, you both begin to loosen up a little. You look at the communication and see that you're starting to pick up some of each other's vernacular-- favorite words and expressions. (At least, this happens with my friendships, because I tend to use made-up words and the people I gravitate towards also are creative in this way. ;)) Even things like punctuation might change a little, because one or the other of you decides you like the way the other person does a thing better, and you start doing it yourself. (Example: before knowing Amy, I always did...this, instead of doing... this. The space, you see, after the "dot dot dot.")<br />
<br />
It just puts a smile on my face, to look back. To see where we started, what we talked about, what mattered then. To wonder where we'll go, what we'll talk about, and what else will matter. To wonder what will change, and what will stay the same. To realize that you and the other person have created something together that never existed before, as happens with all close human relationships. That's what makes them exciting. Each time you discover a dear friend, you discover parts of yourself that you never knew existed.<br />
<br />Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-56281486551017966862016-11-07T09:29:00.000-07:002016-11-07T09:29:11.670-07:00A Grand Reunion - This Time For You To See! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SUff_sY_Kjs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SUff_sY_Kjs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-65672053212802946222016-10-16T18:56:00.000-06:002016-10-17T10:44:04.463-06:00Mamma! LIZZY! Guess WHAT!?Well you never WILL, so I'll TELL YOU!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVPrc0oJqQ6ykKLf4dL6y7Hc_5vUxo1VzQOJ9rubMdgGms64EnrxzcLNfi22BidrJQA8uukk1S-_oVGLoIjwsmhyptoWvgHQEkEZU9Fdn-lc5b1EzadeZZV3loFpjy6kdB0Ix-cJCWyc/s1600/PP4.100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVPrc0oJqQ6ykKLf4dL6y7Hc_5vUxo1VzQOJ9rubMdgGms64EnrxzcLNfi22BidrJQA8uukk1S-_oVGLoIjwsmhyptoWvgHQEkEZU9Fdn-lc5b1EzadeZZV3loFpjy6kdB0Ix-cJCWyc/s1600/PP4.100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Like, I will actually tell you. That, I will <i>speak </i>to you. For realsies. In this video. Do watch. :D<br />
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<span id="goog_1313600749"></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JA_HGzNEtQU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JA_HGzNEtQU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Also, Amy has made a corresponding video, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyzpVktN6ts<br />
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And <a href="http://jasna.org/agms/washingtondc/index.html" target="_blank">here is a link</a> to the AGM website, for enquiring minds. :)Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-49651558669532185452016-09-21T17:44:00.000-06:002016-09-21T17:44:14.702-06:00Daily Dose of Emma: 2<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people passing many, many months successively, without being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue either to body or mind;--but when a beginning is made--when the felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt--it must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more."</span></blockquote>
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It is always a great source of satisfaction to me that my main knowledge of/experience with "dancing" is the closest possible in today's world to what Jane Austen described in her books. And it's funny, when reading particulars about balls, etc. to see how little has really changed.Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-26055822439632531342016-09-20T18:54:00.001-06:002016-09-20T18:54:52.276-06:00Daily Dose of Emma: 1I have been reading <i>Emma</i> lately and find myself with lots of thoughts and quotes to share. Instead of gathering them all up for one big post, though, I'm just going to publish them at random-- one quote per day. It will be a lot easier on ME, and hopefully provide some diversion in your day. And hopefully, open up some fun discussion!<br />
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<a href="http://www.jimandellen.org/09EmmaWeddingweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.jimandellen.org/09EmmaWeddingweb.jpg" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Mrs. Weston was exceedingly disappointed--much more disappointed, in fact, than her husband, though her dependence on seeing the young man had been so much more sober: but a sanguine temper, though forever expecting more good than occurs, does not always pay for its hopes by any proportionate depression. It soon flies over the present failure, and begins to hope again."</span></blockquote>
When I'm not reading Jane Austen, I forget about these little "SO TRUE" moments that one happens upon so frequently.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"For half an hour Mr. Weston was surprized and sorry; but then he began to perceive that Frank's coming two or three months later would be a much better plan..... {etc} </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"These feelings rapidly restored his comfort, while Mrs Weston, of a more apprehensive disposition, foresaw nothing but a repetition of of excuses and delays; and after all her concern for what her husband was to suffer, suffered a great deal more herself."</span></blockquote>
I wonder what personality type Mrs Weston is? Maybe ISFJ? ;)Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-28866225006570721452016-09-16T21:33:00.001-06:002016-09-16T21:36:35.351-06:00At long last, the moment you've all-- forgotten about?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know, I know, I promised you all a song LONG ago, and all this time and I still haven't posted any... well, here I am, finally.</div>
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So, for anyone who doesn't know, several months ago, I took nominations and votes on a song to sing, and the one selected by the Followers was "The Rose of Tralee," a traditional Irish song. (Incidentally, I have a lot of Irish in my background, so... hey, that works!) </div>
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Note on the lyrics: Originally the song is in first-person and sung by a guy, which was a bit... awkward. So it's been tweaked, and as a result, is not entirely grammatically correct. </div>
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I recorded the song several times and didn't realize until much later that whenever I sang words with a "P" at the beginning, I kind of... puffed... into the microphone, and Noise was a result. But do I want to do the song over again? Nooooo. I don't get opportunity that often (i.e., everyone in the house has to be GONE, and it takes Time), so it is what it is. </div>
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Also, this is NOT my best singing... I'm not sure why, as the key was plenty easy to do, but I just found singing it kind of blah or something. I don't know. But here it is... such as it is.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzTu7UkQDxkuiuc2cuZ0B_ngu7RUXBQCkmgWI4VqtveCHRQqXw0hxSXijrpmO9sILf9s3mAl3ayNdVdxa0KkQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Aaaaaaand-- BONUS!-- I decided to Embrace my Inner Opera Singer and sing something from Phantom! So here is "Think of Me," which (like "On My Own" and Les Miserables) was my introduction to Phantom of the Opera, and I heard the song before I even knew of the existence of the musical. So it's special, from the days before I was a fan. (NOT a <i>phan</i>, guys. That's just gross.)<br />
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However, of course, this is not my best singing of <i>this </i>song either, and although I did sing the rest of it (including the cadenza and all that), I was so ill-satisfied with it that I just cut it out entirely. Heh heh. Somehow, when I go to record a song, my voice is just never in the right <i>mood</i>. But! If I get vocal training next year, as I am hoping to do, I can re-record this song and post it for comparison like, see how much better I've gotten!<br />
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At least, that's what I'm hoping will happen. And that for now, you won't wince as much as I'm doing.<br />
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Just promise you won't laugh.<br />
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A note on the lyrics: It has been said that Andrew Lloyd Weber changes the lyrics to this song as frequently as he changes his socks. What I sang here is no particular one version, but rather a mixture of different ones that I liked. (Except I forgot and sang "once in a while" instead of "every so often", which I prefer. Sigh... oh well.)<br />
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A note on the picture: No, I do not approve of the movie version of this musical, but... the picture is pretty. So. Y'know.<br />
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And, for any of you who may not have heard the whole song before... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncvnA8p4lww" target="_blank">do it</a>.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxJEXzSWGojCPRnpJtRrWVfbduNYKfA7k9C5y_wBuLIsA5TWW0_qsqzCllHpJPsN96O4APmYpiXkZIweAY5mw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-33952480102769439242016-07-31T22:34:00.000-06:002016-07-31T22:34:31.282-06:00Movie Review: Love & Friendship (2016)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXNP9fAZGv_t5NQ0OOUhRaQ5TD7KDHxAmiUgxLW8lkp4_ri8S4EHjY-J2vm-jDm54kKnKPXgNT3vPq35cBOBk6uDOihGSMCo21ueTxHgTVbeepI3Y13XTYzEk3sWJh0uqqeycef9AaiY/s1600/L%2526F.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXNP9fAZGv_t5NQ0OOUhRaQ5TD7KDHxAmiUgxLW8lkp4_ri8S4EHjY-J2vm-jDm54kKnKPXgNT3vPq35cBOBk6uDOihGSMCo21ueTxHgTVbeepI3Y13XTYzEk3sWJh0uqqeycef9AaiY/s640/L%2526F.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Hello, my lovelies!<br />
<br />
(One would think that I'd been watching a lot of Emma Approved lately, but in fact I have not.)<br />
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I know it's been simply ages since I've posted, especially taking into consideration that I <i>meant</i> to post much earlier with a follow-up to all the hype about Lady Susan! A thousand apologies.<br />
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I did get to see this movie when I said I would before. I got to go with a couple of friends, a brother and sister who are kind of my Jane Austen proteges :P, and then again quite recently with my sister, once it came to what we like to call the "dollar theater". So, without further ado.<br />
<br />
Because it's the thing I notice first about British drama, let's take a look at...<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Recognizable Actors</span></b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYI__m7VhD1eGToshS5tjDZa-uDZ2ZzH2D6ZzNfp9DAlxHBzeakydXJl4l1VD4QdoEuDdZxwiht0MOVhw1XoQAxoXGrVfc8fvzvSaEZXAhFT-MLBOiVceZPw20uzlBFL9So4FADgNYtU/s1600/Lady+Susan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYI__m7VhD1eGToshS5tjDZa-uDZ2ZzH2D6ZzNfp9DAlxHBzeakydXJl4l1VD4QdoEuDdZxwiht0MOVhw1XoQAxoXGrVfc8fvzvSaEZXAhFT-MLBOiVceZPw20uzlBFL9So4FADgNYtU/s640/Lady+Susan.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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First of all, of course, we have Kate Beckinsale, who has once played a Jane Austen heroine before, in the A&E version of <i>Emma </i>back in 1996. She used to be my favorite portrayal until I watched the 2009 version. <br />
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In this movie she is also the lead: Lady Susan Vernon, the scheming, witty, irresistibly charming antagonist. (Yes, the antagonist is the main character.) And she plays it resplendently.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMikdKSYWUoPj8kwBriIxKOCpg60cWOSNG1aEQg9aAseYKxBKMOsi-WtBCaAm9CDOmbEK_vuOFJ35VdkfMdgiBjNQrFs2LHmanj2UYb3M8Ic8VOmLuz58rcfSSVLX7kWsSlvxQfafFSSs/s1600/sir+reginald.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMikdKSYWUoPj8kwBriIxKOCpg60cWOSNG1aEQg9aAseYKxBKMOsi-WtBCaAm9CDOmbEK_vuOFJ35VdkfMdgiBjNQrFs2LHmanj2UYb3M8Ic8VOmLuz58rcfSSVLX7kWsSlvxQfafFSSs/s400/sir+reginald.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then we have James Fleet, whom I know from <i>Sense and Sensibility</i> 1995 (John Dashwood),<i> Little Dorrit </i>(Uncle Fred--not Uncle Ned, who as we all know, is dead *snort*), and<i> Death Comes to Pemberley</i> (Mr. Bennet). (Also heard him as Col. Pickering in a BBC broadcast of My Fair Lady, where Anthony Andrews played Henry Higgins... good times.)<br />
<br />
His character is Sir Reginald de Courcy, father of Catherine Vernon and Mr. Reginald de Courcy. (To avoid confusion I will hereafter call them Sir Reginald-- the older one-- and Mr. de Courcy-- the younger one.)<br />
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Stephen Fry had a brief but amusing appearance as Mr. Johnson, the husband of Lady Susan's friend and confidante. I know only as Jeeves from the 1980's BBC show <i>Jeeves & Wooster</i>--but that is enough.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Other Recurring Characters Not Mentioned Above</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Relation to Lady Susan in italics. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Miss Frederica Vernon</b><br />
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Frederica is the <i>daughter of Lady Susan</i> and her deceased husband, who was the older brother of Mr. Charles Vernon, and the person by which she got her title. Frederica is timid and subject to the whims of her mother, who likes to use her rather as a marionette doll. However, even Lady Susan's bullying can't make her marry someone she can't even respect.<br />
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<b>Mrs. Catherine Vernon (nee de Courcy)</b><br />
{Pictured just below}<br />
Wife of Charles Vernon, daughter of Sir Reginald and Lady De Courcy, and brother of Mr. De Courcy. <i>(Lady Susan's brother-in-law's wife.)</i> She mistrusts Lady Susan from the beginning, and is one of the few people in the movie who is never persuaded by her wiles. <br />
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<b>Mr. Reginald de Courcy</b><br />
{Pictured just above}<br />
Brother of Catherine Vernon. <i>(Lady Susan's brother-in-law's brother-in-law!)</i> Handsome and clever, but not clever enough to avoid being an idiot and falling for Lady Susan's stories. So basically, uselessly clever... and a man. :P<br />
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<b>Mr. Charles Vernon</b><br />
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Husband of Catherine Vernon. Kind and obliging, devoted to his wife, and willing to believe the best of people, but without being a complete idiot. <i>(Lady Susan's brother-in-law-- brother of her deceased husband.)</i><br />
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<b>Sir James Martin</b><br />
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A blithering doofus, and also the character who presents the most hilarity to the film. "Oh! Churchill! That's how you say it. All together like that. I had heard 'church' and 'hill', but couldn't find either. All I could see was this big house!" Intent upon marrying Miss Frederica Vernon, although equally ready to be persuaded to marry her mother... <i>(An acquaintance. No familial relation.)</i><br />
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<b>Mrs. Alicia Johnson</b><br />
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An American refugee and Lady Susan's confidante and co-conspirator. One of the few people to whom Lady Susan says anything she really means. (Side note: I had a little problem with her American accent. She didn't do too bad of a job-- it sounded like an American speaking Austenese-- except I don't feel like her American accent would be <i>that</i> distinct. This is only the 1790's, after all-- many people in America probably moved there from England recently, and if indeed English accents <i>are</i> the same now as they were then-- which is by no means proven-- I don't think it would have faded quite that much yet.)<br />
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<b>Lady de Courcy</b><br />
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Catherine Vernon's mother and prime confidante. Nice lady, but not much to say about her...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Closeness to the Book</span><br />
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<a href="http://regencydelight-janeaustenetc.blogspot.com/2016/06/lady-susan-at-long-last.html" target="_blank">Jane Austen's novella <i>Lady Susan</i></a> was written in the mid 1790s, around the same time she wrote her first drafts of P&P and S&S. Since it's so short compared to her other works, it wasn't difficult for them to fit the whole story into the 93-minute film. However, I would have done it a bit differently myself. The novella is written in epistolary style, and there are very few letters read in this movie. Most of the letters are translated entirely into actual conversation, and while in some cases that worked out fine, I felt it changed the plot a little in others. (For instance, in one scene, Frederica Vernon applies to Mr. de Courcy for help on a delicate matter, and I felt the letter was more accurate, but in the movie there was an actual conversation.)<br />
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As far as bringing the characters to life, I do think they did remarkably well. In general it was very well-cast.<br />
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They did decide to stick in a bit of innuendo at the end which I did not appreciate and which was TOTALLY unnecessary. Something was (very obviously) hinted at that Jane Austen would never have implied, and indeed, I'm not sure it was in keeping with Lady Susan, even if Lady Susan is horrid. But that, I suppose, is just speculatory. (...that isn't a word? It SHOULD be a word.)<br />
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Also, they took a lot of liberties with Mrs. Johnson's character-- I do not recall a single thing being mentioned in the book that she was American. I think they did that just so they could make fun of Americans... and suggest that they're more indecent, apparently, since she is the only character who shows a lot of cleavage in this movie. *cough*<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Costumes</span><br />
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On the whole, quite resplendent! I did feel like we should have seen some higher waistlines and thinner skirts, as the Empire waist did start becoming popular in the mid-late 1790s. However, for once, thy DID have a right to the 18th century fashions-- unlike Fake P&P and Mansfield Park 2007 and such.<br />
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This one was my favorite...<br />
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Excuse the half-modern appearance of this photo, but here is a full view of the dress. Aren't the sleeves divine?!<br />
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An interesting thing I noticed about Lady Susan's dresses the second time around was that she seemed to have one particular outer coat-dress thing that she would wear with different dresses underneath to change the look.<br />
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The hairstyles, I thought, were a little bit over-the-top. And looked so very... curling-ironed. Although I suspect that Catherine Vernon's was not only a wig, but was probably <i>supposed</i> to be a wig, since they did do that a lot back then.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Music</span><br />
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I think the music was written specifically for the soundtrack, but was mostly very average-sounding... Baroque? Harpsichord-ish, you know. Not my favorite when that's <i>all</i> there is to hear, but it was fine.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Filming Style</span><br />
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This, I added in because the filming style of the film is... well, very unique. To introduce new characters, they would show them up on the screen with a short description and their names. Then at the end, it showed a clip of each person along with the actor's name. I'm not quite sure I liked that; it seemed a little like a homemade movie. On the other hand, it was sort of... quaint.<br />
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Another thing they did was show words on the screen as they were being read in letters. (Or perhaps it was just the one.) However, I think that added to the humor of the scene, and I rather liked it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span><br />
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I recommend this film for anyone already acquainted with Jane Austen, who will know that you can't judge Jane Austen in general by this movie and that it is quite a different style. However, JA's searing wit is still contained in the film and those of us who love a bit of snark will be delighted! I would recommend watching it but not buying it right off. Rent it or, better yet, get it from the library.<br />
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Have any of you seen it? What did you think?<br />
<br />Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648706431833666913.post-86968180506421075412016-06-13T15:17:00.002-06:002016-07-09T16:57:21.556-06:00Lady Susan (At Long Last!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is a very shaming thing for me to admit that it has taken me <i>this</i> long, in all my seven years of being a Janeite, to finish reading <i>Lady Susan</i>, the only other story besides the major six novels that Jane Austen completed during her adult life. Such a fact is so very dreadfully mortifying.<br />
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But now I have finished it. I still did not <i>read</i> the whole thing: I listened to most of it. Which I used to think didn't exactly "count". I have since changed my mind, having become a very busy young lady who has little time to read, and when she does have the time, has little energy for anything that requires more thinking than watching a movie or scrolling through Pinterest. Driving to work, however, takes me 25 minutes each way, and therefore I have almost an hour of spare time right there-- but of course I can't read. I can listen, however. And so I have been doing.<br />
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It was hard for me to get into Lady Susan to begin with, and I think that's because I wasn't used to reading Jane Austen's epistolary style, even though it's predominantly how she wrote all of her earlier stories. The characters and character names and complicated relations to each other can also be very confusing. I found that listening to it (taking advantage of a free recording from Librivox) helped immensely because there was a different person to read each character.<br />
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Lady Susan is technically a "novella" and was written by Jane Austen roundabout 1795 (which means she was 19-21ish). It was during her prolific beginnings of being an author, when she also wrote <i>First Impressions</i> and <i>Elinor and Marianne</i>. It's very different from her other stories, however, and more easily compared with her juvenilia. Unlike our beloved favorites, it's not romantic comedy-- it's just comedy.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
That is, it deals with relationships between men and women, but it's more about the follies and foibles of both. It seems both realistic and ridiculous at the same time. The title character is what you've probably heard called an "anti-heroine." I would say that although she is the one who drives the plot, there is no precise main character. I felt it focused on Catherine Vernon as much as Lady Susan, the former being a sensible character and easy to relate to.<br />
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Lady Susan is a people-pleaser. She focuses on pleasing the men, of course, but she isn't just a common flirt-- she's viciously clever. Regular flirts use the same technique on everyone, and it doesn't WORK on everyone. Lady Susan is more interesting since she studies various characters and knows what will please or convince them as individuals (or at least as one of a <i>type</i>). Although she is easier for women to see through, she still takes pains to win some of them over, too. And that's why I liked Catherine Vernon... she always saw through Lady Susan's schemes and, although a totally different kind of lady herself, knew What Was Up. (Catherine is Lady Susan's late husband's brother's wife. She refers to her as "sister.")<br />
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I also felt the most sorry for her because her brother was being Stupid a lot of the time and wouldn't LISTEN to his sister, and brothers should listen to the wisdom of their sisters, especially concerning other women-- but they don't, which is something Jane Austen's satire lights upon in this story.<br />
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The whole story feels lighthearted though, really, in the way that only Jane Austen knows how to write. She has such an interesting way of discreetly making fun of people. I say discreetly, because she doesn't TELL you she's making fun of them-- she just does it. <br />
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It seems every time I actually <i>read</i> something written by Jane Austen, I am reminded of why I like her so much. Just watching movies and reading fanfiction and everything that is not simply Jane Austen, one is liable to forget. She's the best, and that is all there is to it.<br />
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I will be back soon with a handy-dandy guide for all of you who were confused as I am about the characters.Melodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676306236172688321noreply@blogger.com4