For Christmas, I has a harp. My father and I are building her. She is cherry, so she's sort of pale brown with this lovely pink tint. She is the Sophie . She is a little Limerick lap harp, so she's a little shorter than my arm, with 26 strings. She has no sharps or flats, but one can buy a 'sharper' that will allow one to set the strings to sharps and/or flats.
I am of the opinion that harps, more than any other instruments, are like ships. Don't they look like ships? And they have the curve of the pillar and neck that looks like the prow and figurehead, and all the strings are like rigging, and then there's the soundbox, which is of course the body of the ship.
Besides this, there IS a character in the Aubrey-Maturin series with a harp. Molly Harte plays the harp. Unfortunately, she is not a character one should aspire to be... she is Jack's mistress. And she gives him a venereal disease.
But I think Sophie (Jack's wife) has a harp. She definitely plays the piano. At any rate, I have named my beautiful cherry harp for her and for Jack's first ship. She feels like a Sophie. She is certainly not a Diana. If I get a Gothic harp (big and spiky) I will name that one Diana.
I am very pleased with the Sophie.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The pox of the chicken
The last three or so days, I have been plagued with the pox of the chicken. It was quite enjoyable (not) because I am a teenager - thus I got it worse than someone smaller than I would.
I have some things that I learned from the internet and experience, some things that are useful only for me, and some that you might find good as well, should you ever suffer from the pox or something similar.
1. Don't scratch. Don't pick. In fact, don't touch them at all. This may seem elementary, but it's REALly hard to remember.
2. Ditch your clothes. You forget about privacy whilst poxed, and in any case, it hurts the spots. However, you will freeze to death if you don't wear something, and cold is very bad. So wear a light cotton T-shirt, any color, with a wide neck to avoid rubbing. Complete this with either a sheet draped as a toga, or a bathrobe. A bathrobe is your friend in these times, as it distinguishes you from THE INVALID, who is to be pitied, and just that other fool who wanders the house without pants.
3. Bring a notebook and pencil places. Strange, but I became something of a poet while poxed. I neglected to write it all down, and now I am sad. Seriously, though, your brain is floating in this weird alternate universe where everything is beautiful, and perfect for poetry. It's quite fantastic.
4. Don't freak out when you find pox in weird places. I did that. I found one on the roof of my mouth and started panicking. It's scary, but don't worry. Anywhere they appear, they will go away if you don't touch them.
5. Watch sad movies. Really. Your immune system being ravaged, you are generally more miserable than usual, and, strange as it seems, sad movies gives you something REAL to cry about. Otherwise, your misery will assert itself in other places, as when you find a pox on the roof of your mouth, or when there is no hot water. I put in Galipolli, and it was wonderful. "What are your legs? Steel springs. What are they gonna do? Propel me down the track. How fast can you run? As fast as a leopard. How fast ARE you gonna run? As fast as a leopard!" I was sobbing. So hard to watch, but so good. So good.
6. Take hot oatmeal baths. Take lots of them. Lots. All the time. Bring a Sudoku book, and don't get out until you've done one. They're delicious.
7. DON'T. TAKE. ASPIRIN. EVER. Don't ever take aspirin. It is very, very, very, bad for you. Very.
8. Don't take sleeping pills, or any other sort of anything. It will help, and make the experiance easier, but it will also make it longer. I didn't take anything but this homeopathic remedy, and it lasted three days. (unfortunately I cannot remember the name) I've heard people (who took stuff) saying theirs lasted twelve days. Granted, they are adults, and I am a teenager, but still.
9. Something odd that I've noticed. When you're sick, you don't want to do anything. More than that - you hate the idea of doing anything and everything that comes along. Everything you can possibly think of sounds like torture. It's not so fun.
10. Don't be miserable when you look in the mirror. I know. It sucks. You went from being passably attractive to hideous overnight. You look like that orc from the third LOTR. Just ignore mirrors, and try not to think about yourself. Watch movies, read books, knit.
11. You will get a strange sense of irritation, almost worse than itching. You will fidget, tremble, and twitch uncontrollably, just because this is *all so annoying and you can't do anything about it*. Try to take your mind off it, and don't throw things or scratch. It won't help.
12. You will probably get hard lumps on the back of your head, that don't feel like chicken pox. These are your lymph nodes reacting. It sucks, because they hurt as well as itch, and often there are lots. It's important, even more than the ordinary pox, that you don't touch these. They will get bigger the more they are touched. If you leave them alone, they will go down.
13. Try not to eat milk, cheese, bread, or any processed stuff. In fact, it's better to eat as little as possible. Don't worry. You won't want to.
14. I've just read back through these and realized that a lot of this is DON'T DO THIS and DON'T DO THAT, so I want to give you poor chicken poxed people some sort of reason not to run screaming for the vaccine. Here it is:
Having the chicken pox is good. Very, very good. Studies have shown that after this, your immune system will be SUPERMAN. You will have HUGE amounts of energy. You will be smarter. Children who get this follow it by making GIANT developmental leaps. In the Olden Days, people got horrible diseases daily, and due to there being no vaccine, they had to live with them. The people who survived everything were strong and very, very healthy. Chicken pox is one of the only diseases that is almost entirely safe to get, and that does wonders for you. Basically, chicken pox is your body ridding itself of all the bad stuff in you. So, once you get through this, you will feel SO GOOD that it was worth it. Very, very much so.
Chin up! And if you, like me, were lucky enough to get the pox over Christmas, take comfort in the fact that you were festively attired in red spots.
I have some things that I learned from the internet and experience, some things that are useful only for me, and some that you might find good as well, should you ever suffer from the pox or something similar.
1. Don't scratch. Don't pick. In fact, don't touch them at all. This may seem elementary, but it's REALly hard to remember.
2. Ditch your clothes. You forget about privacy whilst poxed, and in any case, it hurts the spots. However, you will freeze to death if you don't wear something, and cold is very bad. So wear a light cotton T-shirt, any color, with a wide neck to avoid rubbing. Complete this with either a sheet draped as a toga, or a bathrobe. A bathrobe is your friend in these times, as it distinguishes you from THE INVALID, who is to be pitied, and just that other fool who wanders the house without pants.
3. Bring a notebook and pencil places. Strange, but I became something of a poet while poxed. I neglected to write it all down, and now I am sad. Seriously, though, your brain is floating in this weird alternate universe where everything is beautiful, and perfect for poetry. It's quite fantastic.
4. Don't freak out when you find pox in weird places. I did that. I found one on the roof of my mouth and started panicking. It's scary, but don't worry. Anywhere they appear, they will go away if you don't touch them.
5. Watch sad movies. Really. Your immune system being ravaged, you are generally more miserable than usual, and, strange as it seems, sad movies gives you something REAL to cry about. Otherwise, your misery will assert itself in other places, as when you find a pox on the roof of your mouth, or when there is no hot water. I put in Galipolli, and it was wonderful. "What are your legs? Steel springs. What are they gonna do? Propel me down the track. How fast can you run? As fast as a leopard. How fast ARE you gonna run? As fast as a leopard!" I was sobbing. So hard to watch, but so good. So good.
6. Take hot oatmeal baths. Take lots of them. Lots. All the time. Bring a Sudoku book, and don't get out until you've done one. They're delicious.
7. DON'T. TAKE. ASPIRIN. EVER. Don't ever take aspirin. It is very, very, very, bad for you. Very.
8. Don't take sleeping pills, or any other sort of anything. It will help, and make the experiance easier, but it will also make it longer. I didn't take anything but this homeopathic remedy, and it lasted three days. (unfortunately I cannot remember the name) I've heard people (who took stuff) saying theirs lasted twelve days. Granted, they are adults, and I am a teenager, but still.
9. Something odd that I've noticed. When you're sick, you don't want to do anything. More than that - you hate the idea of doing anything and everything that comes along. Everything you can possibly think of sounds like torture. It's not so fun.
10. Don't be miserable when you look in the mirror. I know. It sucks. You went from being passably attractive to hideous overnight. You look like that orc from the third LOTR. Just ignore mirrors, and try not to think about yourself. Watch movies, read books, knit.
11. You will get a strange sense of irritation, almost worse than itching. You will fidget, tremble, and twitch uncontrollably, just because this is *all so annoying and you can't do anything about it*. Try to take your mind off it, and don't throw things or scratch. It won't help.
12. You will probably get hard lumps on the back of your head, that don't feel like chicken pox. These are your lymph nodes reacting. It sucks, because they hurt as well as itch, and often there are lots. It's important, even more than the ordinary pox, that you don't touch these. They will get bigger the more they are touched. If you leave them alone, they will go down.
13. Try not to eat milk, cheese, bread, or any processed stuff. In fact, it's better to eat as little as possible. Don't worry. You won't want to.
14. I've just read back through these and realized that a lot of this is DON'T DO THIS and DON'T DO THAT, so I want to give you poor chicken poxed people some sort of reason not to run screaming for the vaccine. Here it is:
Having the chicken pox is good. Very, very good. Studies have shown that after this, your immune system will be SUPERMAN. You will have HUGE amounts of energy. You will be smarter. Children who get this follow it by making GIANT developmental leaps. In the Olden Days, people got horrible diseases daily, and due to there being no vaccine, they had to live with them. The people who survived everything were strong and very, very healthy. Chicken pox is one of the only diseases that is almost entirely safe to get, and that does wonders for you. Basically, chicken pox is your body ridding itself of all the bad stuff in you. So, once you get through this, you will feel SO GOOD that it was worth it. Very, very much so.
Chin up! And if you, like me, were lucky enough to get the pox over Christmas, take comfort in the fact that you were festively attired in red spots.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Fashion
Lately my fashion has taken a rather drastic turn. Until now, my fashion has mostly been: If it’s niceish and has no stains, it’s good.
However, since I have dyed the hair green, I have realized one vital thing:
If one finds oneself with green hair that seems rather useless, the answer is simple.
Wear a lot of eye makeup and pretend you’re a goth. Eye makeup (on me at least) should either be worn not at all, or in great amounts.
But, to further throw off The People Who Judge, DON’T wear black. Black categorizes someone with green hair and eye makeup.
For instance:
Last night, I went to a play in eye makeup, green hair, (goth) purple turtleneck, purple scarf, (escaping Bohemian) and purple sweater vest, (nerd) with tight jeans and my fantastic high black boots. (sex beast) To complete this picture of perfection, I wore my hat. The knitted one with ear flaps. I looked rather fantastic.
I will continue to make great use of my green hair, until all the dye is thoroughly washed out. Huzzah!
However, since I have dyed the hair green, I have realized one vital thing:
If one finds oneself with green hair that seems rather useless, the answer is simple.
Wear a lot of eye makeup and pretend you’re a goth. Eye makeup (on me at least) should either be worn not at all, or in great amounts.
But, to further throw off The People Who Judge, DON’T wear black. Black categorizes someone with green hair and eye makeup.
For instance:
Last night, I went to a play in eye makeup, green hair, (goth) purple turtleneck, purple scarf, (escaping Bohemian) and purple sweater vest, (nerd) with tight jeans and my fantastic high black boots. (sex beast) To complete this picture of perfection, I wore my hat. The knitted one with ear flaps. I looked rather fantastic.
I will continue to make great use of my green hair, until all the dye is thoroughly washed out. Huzzah!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
REM and Breaking Dawn.
So apparently, if you sleep for three hours you will be less tired than if you sleep for four hours. And generally one sleeps better if the number of hours is divisible by three, the reason being that three hours is a full cycle of REM. (Rapid Eye Movement)
I thought I would post this useless information for you. Personally I find it FASCINATING, and I plan on testing it as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Anyone else? Or am I alone in this?
I enjoy useless information.
I also recently finished the fourth Twilight book, Breaking Dawn. (I know... please don't hate me.) I made some notes while reading it, and I thought I would post them. They're pretty amusing in their disjointed form, but if you really want to know what the heck I'm talking about, go read this book. But be forewarned. It will scar you. Or make a fangirl clone out of you. Either one.
Pge 1
Arrogant. Also the epitome of Mary-Sueness.
Pge 4
Self absorbed.
GASP! Pop tarts and shoelaces? How does she live?
Pge 6
I though she was supposed to be happy about marrying Edward? I thought that was the whole point of THREE FREAKING BOOKS.
Pge 8
Arrogance
Pge 9
MY JACOB? Is she serious?
I’m not against her having a best friend that she loves a lot, but if I were Edward I'd be a heck of a lot more worried than he is.
Pge 10
Oh yeah. Rawr, Leah.
Pge 13
Yeah. You’re barely legal, Bella. Glad someone mentioned it.
Pge 15
Traditionally? Edward, no offence, but you need to spend more time in this century.
Pge 24
We get it. Edward’s awesome. Shut up, please.
Pge 27
Stop making fun of Mike!
Pge 29
So Bella gets no bachelor party? Typical.
Pge 37
Horrible foreshadowing! Why must Bella constantly have prophetic dreams?
Pge 44
I really really want to see Alice in her dress.
Pge 50
Yay Seth!
Pge 53
Aw, so Mike + Jessica only get to be ‘nice’ as opposed to whatever you + Edward is?
Pge 56
Don’t be so mean to Mike! What has he done? Oh, right… NOTHING.
Pge 58
That’s nice, Edward. Leave Bella with her BEST FRIEND. Nice and tactful.
Pge 60
No. No you haven’t.
Pge 64
Edward is RUINING YOUR LIFE!!!!!
Pge 65
Except fly. You can’t fly. And you can’t make me enjoy your book.
Pge 85
The moon is not beautiful with Bella there. And Bella is not allowed to comment on the moon’s beauty because that would be disusing herself.
My, you have an interesting view of the world, Edward.
Pge 90
B: I’m fine.
E: No, you’re not. I’m a horrible person.
B: You’re perfect. And I AM fine.
E: No, you’re not.
B: Really! I’m –
E: NO YOU”RE NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pge 91
“You are killing my buzz, Edward.”
Best line so far.
Pge 107
Wow. This is something new. Nice, Smeyer.
Pge 114
First book I’ve read where the perfect character leers.
Pge 124
WHAT?????????? WTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTF????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Pge 126
?????
There are so many things wrong with this page I cannot even begin to comment on them. Has SMeyer ever learned anything at all about men?
Pge 132
Wow, you REALLY hate yourself Bella.
Plus that’s creepy… a little Edward clone…*shudder*
Pge 133
Wow. That’s almost sweet. Not Edward’s creepy willingness to dispose of his offspring, but Bella’s definition of her baby as ‘my little nudger’. I like that. Shocking.
Pge 135
This little Portugese woman has the right idea. Shout at Bella, too, while you’re at it.
Pge 141
SMeyer just included a quote from Shakespeare:
‘Reason and love keep little company together nowadays’
Is this merely a description of the chapter? Or is she defending her horrible, plot-hole riddled books?
Pge 155
The pedophilia thing is actually kind of cute, and not nearly as messed up as some of the stuff in this book.
Pge 162
Stop telling Seth to shut up. He’s the only cool one of you.
Pge 174
I think I might be ill.
Pge 180
This is twisted.
Pge 181
WHY AM I READING THIS???
Pge 189
Bella plagiarizes.
I knew it.
Pge 189
Lame Shakespeare reference. Useless. It’s just to prove that Bella’s smart.
Pge 198
Why the quadruple exclamation marks? It just minimizes horror instead of enhancing it.
Pge 217
Jasper’s nickname is Jazz?
Pge ???
Are you always going to refer to your child as the ‘….fetus’, Edward?
Pge 253
I know what Rosalie needs a bed for. It’s sort of obvious, Jacob.
Pge 291
I lurve Seth.
Pge 318
Aw, Leah…
Pge 321
Ooo…. Alice/Bella.
Pge 327
Hells yes it’s too weird, Bella.
Pge 456
Where’s the mommy-baby time? Why are they being so mean?
Pge 459
Oh, pur-lease
Pge 484
Smut, smut smut….
Pge 490
I’m amazed how accurate Myth and I were with the Twilight Smut.
Pge 495
Oh, yes she did, Jacob.
Pge 515
Seriously, Bella? You name your child Renesmee and then get annoyed when people shorten it?
Pge 529
Oooh, Tennyson. Pretentious. What, may I ask, is wrong with picture books? I still read picture books, and I’m smarter than Bella. Way to make everyone else feel like their kids are dumb, SMeyer.
Pge 611
Haha. Nice use of index. Stepping out of character, but still.
Pge 611
Misanthropic? It’s blatantly obvious that you are pulling out your thesaurus, Smeyer.
Pge 613
Lesbian Amazon vampires. Awesome.
Pge 615
Don’t be so mean to the awesome lesbian Amazon vampires, Bella.
Pge 617
Typical Bella.
Pge 647
So Bella suddenly has zero problems with humans? After Stephanie Meyer made us sit through ten billion speeches from Edward about how hard human blood is to resist?
Pge 654
For someone who used to be a total waterworks, Bella is shockingly unemotional at this point. I mean, I know vampires don’t cry, but still. It’s your BABY, for crying out loud.
From Then On.
Bella saves the day. Nobody dies. A whole book wasted on a climax that didn’t happen.
I thought I would post this useless information for you. Personally I find it FASCINATING, and I plan on testing it as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Anyone else? Or am I alone in this?
I enjoy useless information.
I also recently finished the fourth Twilight book, Breaking Dawn. (I know... please don't hate me.) I made some notes while reading it, and I thought I would post them. They're pretty amusing in their disjointed form, but if you really want to know what the heck I'm talking about, go read this book. But be forewarned. It will scar you. Or make a fangirl clone out of you. Either one.
Pge 1
Arrogant. Also the epitome of Mary-Sueness.
Pge 4
Self absorbed.
GASP! Pop tarts and shoelaces? How does she live?
Pge 6
I though she was supposed to be happy about marrying Edward? I thought that was the whole point of THREE FREAKING BOOKS.
Pge 8
Arrogance
Pge 9
MY JACOB? Is she serious?
I’m not against her having a best friend that she loves a lot, but if I were Edward I'd be a heck of a lot more worried than he is.
Pge 10
Oh yeah. Rawr, Leah.
Pge 13
Yeah. You’re barely legal, Bella. Glad someone mentioned it.
Pge 15
Traditionally? Edward, no offence, but you need to spend more time in this century.
Pge 24
We get it. Edward’s awesome. Shut up, please.
Pge 27
Stop making fun of Mike!
Pge 29
So Bella gets no bachelor party? Typical.
Pge 37
Horrible foreshadowing! Why must Bella constantly have prophetic dreams?
Pge 44
I really really want to see Alice in her dress.
Pge 50
Yay Seth!
Pge 53
Aw, so Mike + Jessica only get to be ‘nice’ as opposed to whatever you + Edward is?
Pge 56
Don’t be so mean to Mike! What has he done? Oh, right… NOTHING.
Pge 58
That’s nice, Edward. Leave Bella with her BEST FRIEND. Nice and tactful.
Pge 60
No. No you haven’t.
Pge 64
Edward is RUINING YOUR LIFE!!!!!
Pge 65
Except fly. You can’t fly. And you can’t make me enjoy your book.
Pge 85
The moon is not beautiful with Bella there. And Bella is not allowed to comment on the moon’s beauty because that would be disusing herself.
My, you have an interesting view of the world, Edward.
Pge 90
B: I’m fine.
E: No, you’re not. I’m a horrible person.
B: You’re perfect. And I AM fine.
E: No, you’re not.
B: Really! I’m –
E: NO YOU”RE NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pge 91
“You are killing my buzz, Edward.”
Best line so far.
Pge 107
Wow. This is something new. Nice, Smeyer.
Pge 114
First book I’ve read where the perfect character leers.
Pge 124
WHAT?????????? WTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTF????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Pge 126
?????
There are so many things wrong with this page I cannot even begin to comment on them. Has SMeyer ever learned anything at all about men?
Pge 132
Wow, you REALLY hate yourself Bella.
Plus that’s creepy… a little Edward clone…*shudder*
Pge 133
Wow. That’s almost sweet. Not Edward’s creepy willingness to dispose of his offspring, but Bella’s definition of her baby as ‘my little nudger’. I like that. Shocking.
Pge 135
This little Portugese woman has the right idea. Shout at Bella, too, while you’re at it.
Pge 141
SMeyer just included a quote from Shakespeare:
‘Reason and love keep little company together nowadays’
Is this merely a description of the chapter? Or is she defending her horrible, plot-hole riddled books?
Pge 155
The pedophilia thing is actually kind of cute, and not nearly as messed up as some of the stuff in this book.
Pge 162
Stop telling Seth to shut up. He’s the only cool one of you.
Pge 174
I think I might be ill.
Pge 180
This is twisted.
Pge 181
WHY AM I READING THIS???
Pge 189
Bella plagiarizes.
I knew it.
Pge 189
Lame Shakespeare reference. Useless. It’s just to prove that Bella’s smart.
Pge 198
Why the quadruple exclamation marks? It just minimizes horror instead of enhancing it.
Pge 217
Jasper’s nickname is Jazz?
Pge ???
Are you always going to refer to your child as the ‘….fetus’, Edward?
Pge 253
I know what Rosalie needs a bed for. It’s sort of obvious, Jacob.
Pge 291
I lurve Seth.
Pge 318
Aw, Leah…
Pge 321
Ooo…. Alice/Bella.
Pge 327
Hells yes it’s too weird, Bella.
Pge 456
Where’s the mommy-baby time? Why are they being so mean?
Pge 459
Oh, pur-lease
Pge 484
Smut, smut smut….
Pge 490
I’m amazed how accurate Myth and I were with the Twilight Smut.
Pge 495
Oh, yes she did, Jacob.
Pge 515
Seriously, Bella? You name your child Renesmee and then get annoyed when people shorten it?
Pge 529
Oooh, Tennyson. Pretentious. What, may I ask, is wrong with picture books? I still read picture books, and I’m smarter than Bella. Way to make everyone else feel like their kids are dumb, SMeyer.
Pge 611
Haha. Nice use of index. Stepping out of character, but still.
Pge 611
Misanthropic? It’s blatantly obvious that you are pulling out your thesaurus, Smeyer.
Pge 613
Lesbian Amazon vampires. Awesome.
Pge 615
Don’t be so mean to the awesome lesbian Amazon vampires, Bella.
Pge 617
Typical Bella.
Pge 647
So Bella suddenly has zero problems with humans? After Stephanie Meyer made us sit through ten billion speeches from Edward about how hard human blood is to resist?
Pge 654
For someone who used to be a total waterworks, Bella is shockingly unemotional at this point. I mean, I know vampires don’t cry, but still. It’s your BABY, for crying out loud.
From Then On.
Bella saves the day. Nobody dies. A whole book wasted on a climax that didn’t happen.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Ariel and Tempest
I am going to talk about nationalism.
You may be saying, "Calla, if you were going to write about nationalism, then why did you title your post in reference to your play?"
But it makes sense. Trust me.
So anyway, in my Social 20 book, they talk about nationalism, and what nationalism is. Of course, to define nationalism, one must first define a nation. My Social 20 book has many definitions of a nation (a nation is not a country. A nation-*state* is a country.) and my favorite is: A nation is a group of people who have shared history and who identify as a nation. And nationalism, by extension, is a feeling of pride and love towards your nation and the members of your nation, even if you don't actually know all the members of your nation all that well.
Well, we don't identify as a nation - and to define us as a nation is a stretch, as it would be a very small nation indeed - but I can think of no other word to describe my feelings for the cast of the Tempest but nationalism. (it is this way with most plays - I'm just using the Tempest as an example)
After the play we are exhausted. My head hurts and I can barely keep my eyes open. I left all my energy on the stage, and now I’m drained.
I don’t want to leave, though. Even considering my exhaustion, I would infinitely rather sleep here than go home, than leave these people that I have shared rehearsals and laughter and the nervousness backstage. I know I will see them again – there will be other performances. But it feels as though leaving now, we will be breaking some sort of thread, taking away a secret.
And even if I never see some of you again, we will always have this bond - we have all been a part of something really special.
Now that my serious soul-exposing is over, and now that I have embarrassed you all thoroughly, I will turn to lighter things.
Okay.
I've wanted to do this for a VERY long time, but never really got around to it (because who has time for writing when you're in a play?)
So. When in a play, I tend to create LOTS OF BACKSTORY. LOTS. (Because it's so freaking fun. This isn't thoroughness, trust me - it's just selfishness on my part.)
So I am FINALLY writing it down. But goodness gracious me - in my backstory Caliban is horrible. He's really quite horrible. And Brendan says to me that it's just Ariel's point of view, and in Caliban's backstory Ariel is the horrible one, but I would really like to hear his point of view, because it will take rather a lot of turning around to make Caliban a moral person.
But I'm not an ENTIRELY biased person, because Ariel can be horrible as well. She's amazingly self centered - not arrogant, per se, but she thinks of nothing and no one except as they pertain to her. She has no feeling for Alonso's sadness. She has no opinion of Miranda and Ferdinand's love. She just doesn't think about it, because it does not affect her directly.
So yeah. Ariel hasn't got the greatest moral compass either. I think that the only truly 'good' people in the Tempest are Miranda and Ferdinand and Gonzalo. And possibly the Boatswain. Everyone else does nasty things at some point.
But everyone in the play did a WONDERFUL job!! You all were sooooooo fantastic, and hardworking and dedicated. And all parents get MASSIVE thank yous as well. Thanks SO much for all your help.
You may be saying, "Calla, if you were going to write about nationalism, then why did you title your post in reference to your play?"
But it makes sense. Trust me.
So anyway, in my Social 20 book, they talk about nationalism, and what nationalism is. Of course, to define nationalism, one must first define a nation. My Social 20 book has many definitions of a nation (a nation is not a country. A nation-*state* is a country.) and my favorite is: A nation is a group of people who have shared history and who identify as a nation. And nationalism, by extension, is a feeling of pride and love towards your nation and the members of your nation, even if you don't actually know all the members of your nation all that well.
Well, we don't identify as a nation - and to define us as a nation is a stretch, as it would be a very small nation indeed - but I can think of no other word to describe my feelings for the cast of the Tempest but nationalism. (it is this way with most plays - I'm just using the Tempest as an example)
After the play we are exhausted. My head hurts and I can barely keep my eyes open. I left all my energy on the stage, and now I’m drained.
I don’t want to leave, though. Even considering my exhaustion, I would infinitely rather sleep here than go home, than leave these people that I have shared rehearsals and laughter and the nervousness backstage. I know I will see them again – there will be other performances. But it feels as though leaving now, we will be breaking some sort of thread, taking away a secret.
And even if I never see some of you again, we will always have this bond - we have all been a part of something really special.
Now that my serious soul-exposing is over, and now that I have embarrassed you all thoroughly, I will turn to lighter things.
Okay.
I've wanted to do this for a VERY long time, but never really got around to it (because who has time for writing when you're in a play?)
So. When in a play, I tend to create LOTS OF BACKSTORY. LOTS. (Because it's so freaking fun. This isn't thoroughness, trust me - it's just selfishness on my part.)
So I am FINALLY writing it down. But goodness gracious me - in my backstory Caliban is horrible. He's really quite horrible. And Brendan says to me that it's just Ariel's point of view, and in Caliban's backstory Ariel is the horrible one, but I would really like to hear his point of view, because it will take rather a lot of turning around to make Caliban a moral person.
But I'm not an ENTIRELY biased person, because Ariel can be horrible as well. She's amazingly self centered - not arrogant, per se, but she thinks of nothing and no one except as they pertain to her. She has no feeling for Alonso's sadness. She has no opinion of Miranda and Ferdinand's love. She just doesn't think about it, because it does not affect her directly.
So yeah. Ariel hasn't got the greatest moral compass either. I think that the only truly 'good' people in the Tempest are Miranda and Ferdinand and Gonzalo. And possibly the Boatswain. Everyone else does nasty things at some point.
But everyone in the play did a WONDERFUL job!! You all were sooooooo fantastic, and hardworking and dedicated. And all parents get MASSIVE thank yous as well. Thanks SO much for all your help.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Straight razorrrrrs
Goodness, I haven't posted in a while. My play (the Tempest) has been rehearsing lots lately and I has mucho stress. We had our final dress tonight though, and it went WELL and I'm so HAPPY, and my hair is GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes. I dyed my hair green, and it is a beautiful sort of shiny deep-sea green, and I lurves it lots. *covets*
I also got to burn a sleeve off of my best friend's shirt and smear it with mud and generally destroy it. He's Caliban, and it was loads of fun. Plus I get to kick him in the face, which is SO MUCH FUN. YAY adrenaline.
And OOOOOOO, I went and got my hair cut yesterday (before the dying) and the lady cut it with a STRAIGHT RAZOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a props nut and a Sweeney Todd nut and an olden-days nut, and I was THRILLED. It was this beautiful tiny little straight razor with sort of a jagged edge, but it was sooo sharp. I nearly asked her if I could play with it, but then thought better of it. She might have thought I was weird. (goodness only knows why...it's not that weird, is it?)
Anyway, I hadn't known that straight razors were still in use, not ever having gone to a haircutter's before (yes, I know. My mum usually cuts my hair) and I was so happy that they still existed and were in use and were in use on my hair.
So yes, I'm generally happy.
Wish me broken legs! The Tempest opens tomorrow!
Yes. I dyed my hair green, and it is a beautiful sort of shiny deep-sea green, and I lurves it lots. *covets*
I also got to burn a sleeve off of my best friend's shirt and smear it with mud and generally destroy it. He's Caliban, and it was loads of fun. Plus I get to kick him in the face, which is SO MUCH FUN. YAY adrenaline.
And OOOOOOO, I went and got my hair cut yesterday (before the dying) and the lady cut it with a STRAIGHT RAZOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a props nut and a Sweeney Todd nut and an olden-days nut, and I was THRILLED. It was this beautiful tiny little straight razor with sort of a jagged edge, but it was sooo sharp. I nearly asked her if I could play with it, but then thought better of it. She might have thought I was weird. (goodness only knows why...it's not that weird, is it?)
Anyway, I hadn't known that straight razors were still in use, not ever having gone to a haircutter's before (yes, I know. My mum usually cuts my hair) and I was so happy that they still existed and were in use and were in use on my hair.
So yes, I'm generally happy.
Wish me broken legs! The Tempest opens tomorrow!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
When I love something.
When I love something I narrate in my head.
For instance.
I finished one of the three costumes I needed to make TONIGHT. It has wings. Despite them being cheap, Value Village wings, there is still something about dressing up as something with wings that makes me extremely happy inside. My narration for my wings involved lots and lots of words such as flick and flutter.
This is a very very shallow and short post.
That is all.
For instance.
I finished one of the three costumes I needed to make TONIGHT. It has wings. Despite them being cheap, Value Village wings, there is still something about dressing up as something with wings that makes me extremely happy inside. My narration for my wings involved lots and lots of words such as flick and flutter.
This is a very very shallow and short post.
That is all.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
TITUS ANDRONICUS vs COMEDY OF ERRORS
My grandfather and I were talking, and I was saying some things about Titus Andronicus and Comedy of Errors. I'm sure you've had these thoughts too, but just in case you haven't, I'll tell you them, and if you have, I'll tell you them anyway.
I was saying that it really really (REALLY REALLY) bothers me that people who claim to love Shakespeare say that there is no way that he wrote Titus Andronicus, because it's so badly written. And yet the same people CONSTANTLY perform Comedy of Errors. HOW could this be?
Anyway, so my grandfather said that I should write an IN DEPTH and CONCENTRATED paper comparing the two plays, and proving to those fools that Titus Andronicus is a MUCH better play, in characters, speeches, and overall plot (I mean, HONESTLY. Who on EARTH is stupid enough to claim that Comedy of Errors has an understandable PLOT?)
So I plan to.
Just for starters, I'd like to post a couple of my favorite speeches from Titus Andronicus, and one of the better speeches from Comedy of Errors. See what YOU think. (And tell me, please! I'd like to know what y'all think.)
TAMORA (Titus Andronicus - this is my favorite purely for the words 'chequer'd shadow', which is SO much fun to say.)
My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad,
When every thing doth make a gleeful boast?
The birds chant melody on every bush,
The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun,
The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind
And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground:
Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit,
And, whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds,
Replying shrilly to the well-tuned horns,
As if a double hunt were heard at once,
Let us sit down and mark their yelping noise;
And, after conflict such as was supposed
The wandering prince and Dido once enjoy'd,
When with a happy storm they were surprised
And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave,
We may, each wreathed in the other's arms,
Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber;
Whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds
Be unto us as is a nurse's song
Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep.
TITUS (Titus Andronicus - This one makes me cry)
It was my deer; and he that wounded her
Hath hurt me more than had he killed me dead:
For now I stand as one upon a rock
Environed with a wilderness of sea,
Who marks the waxing tide grow wave by wave,
Expecting ever when some envious surge
Will in his brinish bowels swallow him.
This way to death my wretched sons are gone;
Here stands my other son, a banished man,
And here my brother, weeping at my woes.
But that which gives my soul the greatest spurn,
Is dear Lavinia, dearer than my soul.
Had I but seen thy picture in this plight,
It would have madded me: what shall I do
Now I behold thy lively body so?
Thou hast no hands, to wipe away thy tears:
Nor tongue, to tell me who hath martyr'd thee:
Thy husband he is dead: and for his death
Thy brothers are condemn'd, and dead by this.
Look, Marcus! ah, son Lucius, look on her!
When I did name her brothers, then fresh tears
Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honey-dew
Upon a gather'd lily almost wither'd.
ANTIPHOLOS of SYRACUSE (Comedy of Errors - I thought this was a pretty good speech - although it took a Long Time to find)
Sweet mistress--what your name is else, I know not,
Nor by what wonder you do hit of mine,--
Less in your knowledge and your grace you show not
Than our earth's wonder, more than earth divine.
Teach me, dear creature, how to think and speak;
Lay open to my earthy-gross conceit,
Smother'd in errors, feeble, shallow, weak,
The folded meaning of your words' deceit.
Against my soul's pure truth why labour you
To make it wander in an unknown field?
Are you a god? would you create me new?
Transform me then, and to your power I'll yield.
But if that I am I, then well I know
Your weeping sister is no wife of mine,
Nor to her bed no homage do I owe
Far more, far more to you do I decline.
O, train me not, sweet mermaid, with thy note,
To drown me in thy sister's flood of tears:
Sing, siren, for thyself and I will dote:
Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs,
And as a bed I'll take them and there lie,
And in that glorious supposition think
He gains by death that hath such means to die:
Let Love, being light, be drowned if she sink!
There you have it, what more needs to be said.
I was saying that it really really (REALLY REALLY) bothers me that people who claim to love Shakespeare say that there is no way that he wrote Titus Andronicus, because it's so badly written. And yet the same people CONSTANTLY perform Comedy of Errors. HOW could this be?
Anyway, so my grandfather said that I should write an IN DEPTH and CONCENTRATED paper comparing the two plays, and proving to those fools that Titus Andronicus is a MUCH better play, in characters, speeches, and overall plot (I mean, HONESTLY. Who on EARTH is stupid enough to claim that Comedy of Errors has an understandable PLOT?)
So I plan to.
Just for starters, I'd like to post a couple of my favorite speeches from Titus Andronicus, and one of the better speeches from Comedy of Errors. See what YOU think. (And tell me, please! I'd like to know what y'all think.)
TAMORA (Titus Andronicus - this is my favorite purely for the words 'chequer'd shadow', which is SO much fun to say.)
My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad,
When every thing doth make a gleeful boast?
The birds chant melody on every bush,
The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun,
The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind
And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground:
Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit,
And, whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds,
Replying shrilly to the well-tuned horns,
As if a double hunt were heard at once,
Let us sit down and mark their yelping noise;
And, after conflict such as was supposed
The wandering prince and Dido once enjoy'd,
When with a happy storm they were surprised
And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave,
We may, each wreathed in the other's arms,
Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber;
Whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds
Be unto us as is a nurse's song
Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep.
TITUS (Titus Andronicus - This one makes me cry)
It was my deer; and he that wounded her
Hath hurt me more than had he killed me dead:
For now I stand as one upon a rock
Environed with a wilderness of sea,
Who marks the waxing tide grow wave by wave,
Expecting ever when some envious surge
Will in his brinish bowels swallow him.
This way to death my wretched sons are gone;
Here stands my other son, a banished man,
And here my brother, weeping at my woes.
But that which gives my soul the greatest spurn,
Is dear Lavinia, dearer than my soul.
Had I but seen thy picture in this plight,
It would have madded me: what shall I do
Now I behold thy lively body so?
Thou hast no hands, to wipe away thy tears:
Nor tongue, to tell me who hath martyr'd thee:
Thy husband he is dead: and for his death
Thy brothers are condemn'd, and dead by this.
Look, Marcus! ah, son Lucius, look on her!
When I did name her brothers, then fresh tears
Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honey-dew
Upon a gather'd lily almost wither'd.
ANTIPHOLOS of SYRACUSE (Comedy of Errors - I thought this was a pretty good speech - although it took a Long Time to find)
Sweet mistress--what your name is else, I know not,
Nor by what wonder you do hit of mine,--
Less in your knowledge and your grace you show not
Than our earth's wonder, more than earth divine.
Teach me, dear creature, how to think and speak;
Lay open to my earthy-gross conceit,
Smother'd in errors, feeble, shallow, weak,
The folded meaning of your words' deceit.
Against my soul's pure truth why labour you
To make it wander in an unknown field?
Are you a god? would you create me new?
Transform me then, and to your power I'll yield.
But if that I am I, then well I know
Your weeping sister is no wife of mine,
Nor to her bed no homage do I owe
Far more, far more to you do I decline.
O, train me not, sweet mermaid, with thy note,
To drown me in thy sister's flood of tears:
Sing, siren, for thyself and I will dote:
Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs,
And as a bed I'll take them and there lie,
And in that glorious supposition think
He gains by death that hath such means to die:
Let Love, being light, be drowned if she sink!
There you have it, what more needs to be said.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Symphony
Now, this may sound horrid, but I have only been to the symphony ONCE in my life.
Isn't that SAD?
I know. It is.
Anyway, NOW it adds up to TWO, because I went last night, and I had me a FANTASTIC time. A friend of ours has season tickets and gave them to me and Griffin. (They were wonderful seats. Plus, if that huge thing that hangs from the ceiling at the Windspeir dropped, it would NOT kill us because we were out of the way. Yes, I frequently think about things like that.)
Luckily for me, they were doing MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS, which made me super super happy. Plus it was beautiful and amazing and fabulous, and it made me feel epic inside. I now love the symphony very very much.
One part of the symphony that is incredibly wonderful to watch, is the percussionist(s). They sit and sit and sit and sit and sit, and then, when they stand up you know something good is coming, and then they pick up their mallets/drumsticks/whatever they happen to be using, and the rest of the orchestra gets louder and more awesome, and then they hammer frantically on their drum/xylophone/wood block/whatever they happen to be playing, and then... it's all over, and they sit back down again, to wait for the next fabulous climax.
I also enjoyed watching the harpist. The poor woman must have spent YEARS studying harp, and you could hardly hear her over the violins.
Can you tell that I'm bringing in my let's-liberate-the-minor-characters baggage into the symphony? Can you tell that I purposefully went in there DETERMINED to dislike the violins, JUST BECAUSE they get all the attention?
I thought you could. You're SO smart that way.
Yesterday I also rehearsed with Daniel and Brendan, and I was VERY VERY JEALOUS of them because Daniel got to beat Brendan up, and Brendan got to get beaten up, and I didn't get to do either. Although I CAN appreciate how difficult it is to keep a straight face when a) your lines are semi-dirty, b) the other person is yelling at you, and c) your director is laughing. I think I did remarkably well, considering.
Farewell! I must go and learn my lines now. (Haha - of COURSE I'm not REALLY going to go learn my lines - I'm just saying that so you'll think I'm a dedicated person. Although if you know me, you know better.)
Isn't that SAD?
I know. It is.
Anyway, NOW it adds up to TWO, because I went last night, and I had me a FANTASTIC time. A friend of ours has season tickets and gave them to me and Griffin. (They were wonderful seats. Plus, if that huge thing that hangs from the ceiling at the Windspeir dropped, it would NOT kill us because we were out of the way. Yes, I frequently think about things like that.)
Luckily for me, they were doing MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS, which made me super super happy. Plus it was beautiful and amazing and fabulous, and it made me feel epic inside. I now love the symphony very very much.
One part of the symphony that is incredibly wonderful to watch, is the percussionist(s). They sit and sit and sit and sit and sit, and then, when they stand up you know something good is coming, and then they pick up their mallets/drumsticks/whatever they happen to be using, and the rest of the orchestra gets louder and more awesome, and then they hammer frantically on their drum/xylophone/wood block/whatever they happen to be playing, and then... it's all over, and they sit back down again, to wait for the next fabulous climax.
I also enjoyed watching the harpist. The poor woman must have spent YEARS studying harp, and you could hardly hear her over the violins.
Can you tell that I'm bringing in my let's-liberate-the-minor-characters baggage into the symphony? Can you tell that I purposefully went in there DETERMINED to dislike the violins, JUST BECAUSE they get all the attention?
I thought you could. You're SO smart that way.
Yesterday I also rehearsed with Daniel and Brendan, and I was VERY VERY JEALOUS of them because Daniel got to beat Brendan up, and Brendan got to get beaten up, and I didn't get to do either. Although I CAN appreciate how difficult it is to keep a straight face when a) your lines are semi-dirty, b) the other person is yelling at you, and c) your director is laughing. I think I did remarkably well, considering.
Farewell! I must go and learn my lines now. (Haha - of COURSE I'm not REALLY going to go learn my lines - I'm just saying that so you'll think I'm a dedicated person. Although if you know me, you know better.)
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Druids
Hello!
Lately I have been reading the novel 'Druids' by Morgan Lewellan (I know that I'm probably HORRENDOUSLY misspelling her name) and enjoying it thoroughly. I attempted to read it when I was about eight, but it was taken away from me, due to my adorable habit of trying to read books that were thoroughly inappropriate for an eight year old.
Anyway, I enjoy what they're saying about nature and things. I'm not feeling eloquent today, and I couldn't possibly describe The Source half as well as Morgan does in the book, so just go read it, okay?
However, I have decided that, while I do love Morgan Lewellan very very much, (particularly one entitled 'The Lion of Ireland'. Or something like that) I like Margaret Atwood even more. And what I like about Margaret Atwood is the way, even when she's writing nice stuff, she's still got all these undertones of creepiness that makes my skin crawl, and I LURVES it. Particularly 'The Handmaid's Tale', which, beside being awesome and sinister, is really, really well written. Read that as well. Go. Do it. Now.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Meaning of Life
Seeing as it's IN THE TITLE, I thought I should probably say something about the meaning of life.
I have no idea what the meaning of life is. At all. In any way.
However, I was recently on the NaNoWriMo Characterization Game, and my characters were asked this question. Here are their answers.
Demetrius: Whoa. Deep.
Richard: I think the meaning of life is trying to be as true to yourself as possible, and do what will help you to be the best you can.
Demetrius: We apologize for Richard. He's been watching Disney.
Richard: It's ALWAYS like this. Just because my siblings have NO ambition, they never TRY at all.
Demetrius: Richard, that's the POINT of having no ambition.
Richard: Then what's the meaning of life?
Demetrius: The meaning of life is wheat noodles fried in lots of butter, licorice tea on rainy days, and lots and lots of physical contact.
Lucius: Nuh-uh. The meaning of life is trying to get the other bastard before he gets you. And free rock concerts. Actually, free anything. Except stuffed animals. No, actually, even stuffed animals. They're useful if you're visiting some horrid friend's snotty kid and need a present.
Iago: *I* think - this is probably cliche, and has been said lots before - but I think that the meaning of life is having someone to care about, even if it's just a dog. Or a fish.
Lucius: Oh, who cares, Iago? We all know you've got *your* life all sorted out. What about you, Bertram?
Bertram: How in the hell am *I* supposed to know? I think they all sound nice.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tempest
Happily, REHEARSALS FOR THE TEMPEST ARE NOW UNDERWAY. I am Most Pleased. The first readthrough went very well.
I have a theory on My Seeing People. I think that my Seeing People is sort of like a drug sort of thing...
Don't worry. I'm not going Twilight on you. You are not my own personal brand of heroin.
Don't leave. Please.
Anyway. If I don't see anyone for a few days, I get SUPER depressed and miserable, and just basically mope around the house generally being a pain.
BUT, if I don't see someone for a LONG time, like several weeks, I am usually miserable for the first couple of days, and then I'm pretty content with my situation, up until about the last couple of days. (then I get whiny again)
Anyhoo, as of This Sunday, now that I AM seeing people again, my Contented Summer will end, and I will once again be relatively happy.
Monday, August 24, 2009
First Post/
I thought I should have a blog, Q.E.D, here it is.
I am VERY happy because I reconnected with the people on the Rainbow Coven forum in NaNo. They have yet to reply to my post and tell me whether they've forgiven me for running away and abandoning them, but hopefully they have *crosses fingers*. I hadn't realized how much I missed them. Don't worry. I'm not a dorky online weirdo whose only friends are similar dorky online weirdos four countries over. Really.
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