Monday 6 April 2015

an open letter

The following words are letters meant for a specific audience. One is for myself, one is for my best friend, one is for my best friend's obsession, and the last one is for our future selves.

Dear self,

Well, you've done it again.  Gotten yourself worked up over nothing.  But it didn't feel like nothing, did it?  It still doesn't feel like nothing...  You allow yourself to get so wrapped up in the lives and emotions of the people around you that you don't take time to take care of yourself.  It isn't your life, yet it has such an effect on you.  The reality is that it doesn't effect you as much as you think it does.  But that doesn't make it any easier to just let go.  Whatever happened to the saying "let go and let God"?  Did you forget?  You are so loved by people.  They won't just abandon you when someone else comes along.  You need to remember that.  It may have happened in the past, but your past does not dictate your future.  Learn how to sympathise with other people's problems, not empathise.  You can still be who you are and care for people, just don't let their issues rule your life.  Be your own person.  Don't be afraid to have feelings and emotions of your own.  Face your own problems and issues, not those of others.  You can't solve everyone else's issues, especially when they want you to stay out of it.  Let me reiterate to you something: the past is in the past.  Look at the present and look to the future.  It is so much better than living in something you have no control over.

Dear best friend,

You and I go way back.  Well, okay.  Not way back.  But we go far enough back that I feel as though I can say these things to you.  We are soulmates after all.  I have been so hurt by you during all of this. And honestly, it's over the fact that you didn't listen to me from the beginning.  I know that you have to learn from your own mistakes.  But just look at where that has gotten you.  If you just look at the facts, it's not that bad.  But life isn't about just facts.  Emotion is such an important part of life.  Let's be honest here...emotion is what drove a lot of the decisions you've made in the last few months.  You can't ignore them.  I'm so grateful for your friendship and the steps you're taking to mend our relationship.  But it will not be an easy road.  You said something to me recently that was like a dagger in my chest.  Remember how you don't remember spending time with me when you were in a relationship before? That shattered me.  One of my biggest fears is being forgotten by those that I care most about.  And I realised that fear right then and there.  And it was the most terrifying, sinking feeling I have ever felt.  You know I love you and I care about you more than anything.  I have promised you that I will try to not worry for you about your life.  I intend to keep that promise and work as hard as I can to not allow your stresses to become my own, at least not to the extent that I have in the past.  But I need you to promise me that you won't forget about me.  I know there is physical distance between us now; that makes things harder.  But I know you do what you have to for something you care about.  Don't let this friendship be as fluid as all of the others.  And learn how to start listening to me when I tell you things. (Although we both know that will never happen.)

Dear obsession (I feel weird calling you that, but let's be real, it's what you are),

You have swept in like a hurricane, bringing pain and destruction with you every step of the way.  But you have also brought extreme joy and a lot of happiness.  From day one, I have not been a fan of you.  I have had to deal with a feeling in the pit of my stomach that accompanies the feeling I get right before I have to get a shot or know that I'm about to receive bad news.  It's nothing personal.  We still haven't ever had proper conversation.  But because of the decisions that were made regarding and involving you, I have had to be there for my best friend in ways I never imagined I would need to be.  I have never seen my best friend so broken, so helpless, so giddy, so happy, so anything in our entire friendship.  I don't understand the role you have taken in their life.  I don't need to understand the role you have.  But be warned that I still don't have a good feeling.  I protect my friends as fiercely as I know how.  Is it always smart or the best thing? No. But that's who I am.  I'm not perfect.  And if you plan to continue to be a part of my best friend's life, we will need to have a conversation.  I know you're going through a lot right now.  Just be careful in what you do.

Dear future selves,

Isn't it crazy how we look back on tumultuous periods of our lives?  I have no idea how this has all panned out at this point in time.  I hope, best friend, that we are still best friends.  Obsession, I don't honestly know what I hope for you.  I know that I hope you are well.  But beyond that, I do not know.  I know that things are okay.  Because they always work out for the best in the end.  If things aren't for the best yet, then it isn't the end.  But I am hopeful for the future that is in store for all of us, no matter what it holds.

Life is full of ups and downs.  You learn things about yourself; you learn things about the people around you.  It's hard admitting to your own faults.  It's harder to try and fix them.  No matter what may be happening in your life or in the lives of those you are close to, remember that you will get through it.  They will get through it.  And everything will be alright.

Wednesday 25 March 2015

taking lessons from top 40 pop songs and musical numbers about wooded areas.

I haven't blogged in quite awhile. Almost two months. It's crazy the amount of life that has transpired in that amount of time.

I've thought about writing many times, but I just haven't been able to find the right words at the right time.

And yet here I find myself, at a 24 hour diner of sorts in the college town I used to call home with my best friend.  It's 1 o'clock in the morning, and I'm overwhelmed with words.

The past month has taught me an important lesson. A few lessons, actually. And they all deal with the topic we all hate and choose to ignore on a daily basis: growing up.

It's no secret that I have this fear of becoming an adult. I love the freedom that comes with adulthood. I love the idea of being on my own and being my own person. But the responsibilities that come with it scare the living daylights out of me. Paying every single bill out of my paycheck? No, thank you. Killing that spider in the corner of the room? Please, don't make me. Calling to set up my own doctor's appointment? You're kidding, right?

During this journey to adulthood I've had my fair share of stupid decisions and stumbles.  However I'm not going to talk about those today. Yes, they've taught me many lessons over the years, but I feel the need to focus on the struggles that others in my life have gone through in the past few weeks and how they have effected me. That may sound a bit selfish on my part, but stick with me and hear me out.

The first lesson I learned (more so was reminded of) is that life can change so fast.  You know the song Night Changes by One Direction? There's a line in the chorus that says "does it ever drive you crazy just how fast the night changes?" I know it's a top 40 pop song, but there is so much truth in that statement. In the period of less than two weeks I watched my best friend's life fall apart. He went from feeling on top of the world to feeling like he hit lower than rock bottom literally overnight. I myself learned this lesson about a year ago. I was in a similar (albeit very different) situation. Listening to him describe what transpired for him brought back so many memories of what I went through. My heart broke for him. Which actually brings me to the next lesson that I learned.

I care very deeply about the people I choose to surround myself with. I am one of the shyest people that I know. I don't do well in social gatherings; I flounder in new situations. The only times I don't become incredibly awkward or withdrawn (let's be real, sometimes I do both) is when I'm with friends. If I'm close enough to someone to let my walls down, you better believe there is something incredibly special about that person. And when that's the case, I love and care so deeply about them. Sometimes that leads to my own demise. Okay, demise is a really strong, harsh word; I don't actually die. However, I allow the pain and heartache of other people effect me very strongly. There were several days in the past month that I felt myself on a roller coaster of emotions and going though various physical states. In other words it felt like my own life was falling apart. Is this healthy? No. Can I help it? Not really. But it reminds me that I have such a capacity to love others and care about them.

Lesson number three relates back to another musical number. Sometimes wishing can be dangerous. Having hopes and dreams and aspirations isn't inherently bad. It's knowing which ones are worth chasing after and which ones are not. Sometimes when our heart says one thing and our heads say something else, it's hard to ignore the thing that we think we truly want. There's another song on the top 40 charts right now about the heart wanting what it wants. Yeah, but that's not always what the heart needs. In the musical Into The Woods, the characters open the show by singing about things that they wish for. The end of the musical shows the remaining characters after they get what they wish for. Basically it teaches viewers about the costs that come with getting that one thing that you want most of all, what getting that thing you wish for can mean. A lot of things can happen in the Wood. As you move into adulthood, sometimes trusting your heart and taking a leap of faith is a great thing. But successfully becoming an adult means that you still weigh the pros and cons of your actions before you blindly follow your heart.

The final lesson I want to share with you is a hard one for me to actually get into my head. Some people just need to learn from their mistakes. No amount of advice or saying "hey, I think this a bad idea for reasons a, b, and c..." will change their minds. I don't ever claim to have all of the answers in life. If I did, I would definitely be doing much better for myself than I actually am. But I am always willing to share my thoughts and life experiences with those close to me if I think it will help them out. The difficulty for me comes when I tell someone one thing, they do another, and then things fall apart on them. I don't like to see those closest to me struggling or in pain. And when I see that they are because they made a decision that goes against what I advised them about, I take it personally. I know that I shouldn't, but that doesn't always mean that I don't.

This past Saturday I took my best friend to a playground. After all that happened to him in the weeks prior, I thought he could use a few hours to forget about life's troubles and just be a kid again. But when we pulled up to my favourite childhood establishment, it felt different. Yes, we spent two hours swinging on swings, sliding down slides, and running around, but it wasn't the same. The playground seemed smaller. The magic wasn't there. It wasn't until a few hours later when we were walking around downtown Chattanooga that I realised there isn't anything different about the playground. Nothing about that place has changed, except for a few wooden boards replaced here and there. I'm the one who changed. I'm different. It seems silly to think about it now. Like, duh, Brittany. Of course you're the different one. But let me finish. From the day we are conceived, we are constantly growing up. We are always moving on the path toward adulthood. For some, that path is cut short. For others, that path continues for upwards of 100 years. But we are all on our way. No matter how hard I try, I will never be a kid again. I will never have the mindset of a five year old. I will never have the responsibilities of a ten year old. I will never experience the magic of a wooded playland for myself again. The process happens for us at such a slow pace that it's hard to think of ourselves as this completely different person until we sit and really think about the person we were a year ago, ten years ago, twenty years ago.

Growing up is tough. Becoming an adult is one of the scariest things you will ever do. But the lessons that you learn along the way are so important. If there's one piece of advice I can give you, dear reader, it's this: don't do it alone. Things are going to get tough. You will experience things in your life that you never imagined you'd endure. You'll get though things you never thought were survivable. But surround yourself with a good support system. Even just having one friend that you can go to with anything and everything is better than having no one. But remember, friendship is not a one way street. You cannot expect someone to be there for you in your time of need if you aren't there for them in their time of need.

Invest in good friendships. I've found they are crucial in navigating your way toward adulthood. And quite honestly, I can't imagine a life, a world, without them.

Saturday 24 January 2015

OUAT S1E6

Alright. So. Last week sometime I watched the next episode of OUAT. Life got really busy and I haven't gotten around to writing my response to it until now. Fingers crossed I took good notes and can make this as enjoyable as possible.

This episode is called The Shepherd. Which was a bit weird to me, until I watched the entire episode.

Anyway.

I'm learning their names in our world, so that's a plus.

David is being released from the hospital. And he's going "home". Sigh. I don't like this woman that's supposedly his wife. This isn't his home; he doesn't belong here. And seriously? You don't have a huge party for a person who is still struggling to remember who they are. That's so overwhelming. Oh, but there's Henry... Trying to make things better by plotting and scheming. Asking such leading questions. Of course asking about Mary. But the mayor... I just don't like her. At all. She may have lost someone (I'd love to know who), but she ain't your friend, sista. Well, she might be. I don't like either of you, so you might be best buds. Ooooh!! David went to find Mary!! And he's helping her to hang a birdhouse...and asking about her resignation... Sigh. He's adorable. He just, he has feelings for her! And he wants to choose her over his wife!! But Mary is denying him... Why?!? Sigh...

Alright. Charming is using a sword. And he's dead?! What?! Oh, no. He's pretending to be dead so he can kill the bad guy. That's fine. I can survive that. It's a bit weird that there's an audience for this killing. But I guess it was cheaper than cable back then (ba dum shhhhh). Oh. Now he's going to kill a dragon? Huh. Okay. Who is this guy with the weird hand? Oh, wait. Gold sword. He's King Midas! Charming really is beautiful. WAIT. WHAT. What has happened?!? This guy just rises from the dead and spears him??? But he can't be dead, can he? Oh my gosh. He is dead. And here's Rumple... Gosh, he just shows up, doesn't he? So, Charming was actually a gift from Rumple because the King and Queen couldn't have a child of their own. Stupid king... Stop making deals with Rumple. He's a poop. Rumple wants the wand of Cinderella's fairy godmother!! Ooooh. Okay. That makes sense. But wait. He can't bring Charming back from the dead... What on earth is he going to do? Oh. He has a twin? Ooooh, yes he does. I love when the twins are just as if not more attractive.

Okay. So Mary is stressed. Like cleaning mode stressed. Ah, Emma with the best advice: stop cleaning and have a drink. Amazing. Alright so if you think something you want to do is wrong, it probably is...true. Now I know he needs to figure his life out, but that's what he's trying to do!!! Now I'm assuming the wife is in love with the twin, not the original Charming seeing as how he's dead. Ugh. Stop trying to sleep with him. He doesn't like you. See? He doesn't even like kissing you. Ha.

Aww!! The twin is chasing a goat. How cute. Alright, so this guy lives with him mother. And his mother is trying to marry him off to save the farm. Sigh. But look at him!! He's going to save the farm his own way. Good for him. And he wants to marry for love! Not for money! Praise. And here's Rumple... He's trying to explain all of this to them. I just don't trust him. Not at all.

So, the doctor... Is he making moves on Mary again? I thought we washed our hands of him... Ugh. Regina. Why????? She needs to mind her own business. She has no right to say anything to Mary. At all. Like it isn't her business that David left his wife. Honestly. Just buzz off.

Now the twin is going to slay the dragon, yes? Okay. So I'm assuming that the Charming that we've known the entire time has been the twin. I think that's a safe assumption. I get the feeling that all of these men will die while trying to kill the dragon. Just a hunch. Is this dragon the reason there was a dragon at the opening credits? Or has there always been a dragon there? I'll have to keep my eyes open next time I watch. Sigh. I just love the heart this guy has. He cares about everyone. I love him. Oh. That guy is toast. Well, he's been toasted. Heh. And after an exciting action sequence, we learn that the sword works great and the dragon has no head. Lovely.

Ahhh!! He came to see Mary!! He loves her. I just, I have such heart eyes over them. But Mary just keeps pushing him away. Ugh. I don't like it. (David's smile, though. Good. Lord.) So the sheriff brings doughnuts to get her to work a night shift because he has some charity thing? Okay. Sure. Eeep! Mary has come to gossip. I love it. Ooooh. And Emma is telling her to go! Yay!!! And of course Regina has something to say... Just piss off.

The dragon's head is now gold. Of course. And King Midas wants Charming to marry his daughter. Of course. And oh my gosh!! It's her! Of course... She's a stuck up turnip, isn't she? And why is the king threatening him to marry her??? Ughhhhhhhhhhhh. I don't like it.

Aww. David is wandering around lost. He's trying to find his way to where Mary is. And naturally Regina finds him and gives him "directions". I'll bet you they don't go where he's trying to get. So Mary is there waiting for him... Where is he? Oh, dear. The pawn shop. Don't go in there!! He went in there... Okay. Hopefully Mr. Gold is giving him proper direction. Uh oh. The windmill. Is it the one from his house? Crap... He's remembering things... I don't like this...

Okay so the twin is going back to his mother to tell her what's going on. And now she doesn't want him to marry someone for the money. It's about time. I just hate that he's being forced to marry this person. Wait. He can't see him mother again?? Oh my gosh. He came to say goodbye to her. I can't deal with this. He just, he loves so purely and so much. Ooooh! The ring! It was his mother's ring!

Mary is wearing the ring!! He has finally arrived!! And he's "remembering" crap about Catherine. Sigh. I really don't like this at all. They've mentioned the "right" thing to do quite a bit in this episode. Blah. This is dumb. He just freaking broke Mary's heart. I don't like him now. So Emma is on night patrol. And she sees someone sneaking out of a window through the bushes. It's the sheriff!! He was sneaking out of Regina's window. It's about time someone found out about their sneaking around. And now David has gone back to Catherine... Major sigh. Oh, so, "Let's see what happens"? Um, no. Let's not.

I just don't like that they're getting married. It's dumb. Abigail and James. It's just weird. Why are they staying in Midas' kingdom? Who knows. And now the other king is saying he's proud of James for making the "right" decision. Yeah, like you gave him a choice. Ooooh! But they're taking the scenic route back!!! This is when he meets Snow!! Eeeep!!

And now Mary is heartbroken. I'm so upset. And the doctor is there? Okay... But who is this guy? Well, he wants to buy Mary a drink. And she says to but her two. Bless.

Well, that wasn't so bad for being about a week removed from actually watching the episode. I'm thinking of shooting for Once Wednesdays in the future. Where I post on Wednesdays about OUAT. But don't hold me to that... We'll have to see what happens.

Until next time.

xx

Friday 16 January 2015

remembering (v): a thing that causes me to get emotional and write a lot of things [or] a look back at 2014

Seeing as how we're almost two weeks into January I figured it was high time that I write my 2014 year end blog post. Not having internet for a week right at the end/beginning of the year is not fun.

Anyway.

2014 was a huge year. It was full of so many ups and down. Honestly, many things have blurred together; other things will always stand out in my memory for years to come.

As a side note, I think it's interesting how different events, different times in our lives, stand out above others in our memory. I've found that usually they're either really awesome things or really not so awesome things. I guess it's things that carry high emotion. Maybe.

I started out 2014 in my favourite city in the world. I remember getting on a plane 31 December 2013 in Atlanta knowing that when I disembarked it would be 2014 and I would be standing on British soil in London, England.

Those ten days were the best possible way to start off 2014. I remember riding the Tube for the first time, being crammed into the carriage with all twenty of us in there with our luggage. I remember seeing Big Ben for the first time. I remember riding on the London Eye and feeling overwhelming happiness. I remember walking through the streets, seeing all the sights, breathing in the air. I remember the bitter cold and slicing wind we encountered at Stonehenge. I remember strolling through the cobblestone streets of Bath and Canterbury. I remember my first English rainbow. I remember seeing France from the shore of Dover. I remember having pasties and drinking tea. I remember my first Nandos experience. I remember queuing to get tickets for American Psycho. I remember seeing One Direction on the television in our hotel room. I remember getting caught in a sudden downpour. I remember the overwhelming sadness I felt sitting in Heathrow waiting to fly back to the States.

My friend Justin blogged about the trip in real time over on his blog. You should check it out here.

The months between my return to America and summer are a blur. But big things happened during those months. I was reduced to feeling worthless after someone I called friend played with my heart. My father had a heart attack that shook my family to its core. I did attend my first college graduation. It was cool so see so many people that I knew finally receive their diplomas. In the midst of all of this, I gained so many new friendships and strengthen several "old" friendships. I also lost a friend or two along the way. The spring semester was a challenge. But I learned so much about God and about life during those months.

Summer is when I got this blog. June, I believe. Summer is also when I had some of the greatest times of my life.

For starters, I got to go to the beach for a week with my best friend and her family. I hadn't been to the beach for a proper vacation in years. Like double digit years. I remember sitting in the car for hours keeping ourselves entertained with Disney films. I remember our impromptu IKEA trip waiting on a delayed flight. I remember seeing the ocean and feeling the sand between my toes. I remember spending hours on the beach, reading, tanning, relaxing. I remember learning how to play cards at the dinner table. I remember getting that sunburn that I can still see what bikini I was wearing when I look in the mirror. I remember standing at the top of a lighthouse and watching a storm roll in across the water. I remember spending time with my best friend and laughing until our sides hurt.

The other main event that occurred this summer also happened to be my first concert of the year. Not only that... It was my first One Direction concert. Ever. But before that happened, I got to meet Sam and Miranda in real life! We spent an afternoon in Chattanooga, doing all kinds of fun things. Then literally the next day I went up to Nashville to stay with them and prepare for the concert.

If you want to read my full concert review, click here. But for the sake of this post, I'm only going to hit the highlights.

19 August 2014 was my first ever One Direction concert. I remember getting ready and not feeling like it was actually going to happen. I remember riding to the venue starting to feel jitters. I remember standing outside the venue with hundreds of other fans and hearing various soundcheck things. I remember walking into the stadium and not being able to contain my smile. I remember seeing the stage for the first time and feeling butterflies erupt in my stomach. I remember watching 5 Seconds of Summer. I remember the heat. I remember when the lights went down and the crowd erupted. I remember watching the screen and seeing their faces plastered across them all. I remember thinking I was about to see them in real life. I remember laying eyes on all five of them for the first time. I remember screaming and crying and singing. I remember having an absolute blast.

About a week after the concert, I was back at Bryan for the fall semester. I was moving in and preparing for classes while still singing One Direction songs. But let's be real... I'm almost always doing that. Early into the semester, I had my second concert of the season: Ed Sheeran.

I have been wanting to see him in concert ever since I first heard +. When my friend got us tickets, I was so overjoyed. I remember the normally two hour drive to Atlanta taking close to five because of traffic. I remember the ride to the venue still not really believing I was finally seeing Ed. I remember sitting through the opening act and only recognising one song. I remember the lights going down and the crowd screaming. I remember seeing Ed walk on stage. I remember him being completely in his element. I remember being completely blown away by his talent. I remember when he quieted the entire arena. I remember singing my heart out. I remember dancing in my seat. I remember loving every minute.

Again, if you'd like to read my full concert review, please click here.

I went back to school and suffered through a few more weeks until October arrived. October brought with it the event I had been waiting for ever since November of 2013. My big One Direction show. So I don't bore you with the details, the full post about this is here.

The Atlanta show was absolutely phenomenal. We had VIP, and it absolutely made the difference for me from Nashville. I remember the drive to Atlanta. I remember getting lost trying to find the hotel. I remember queuing in the line to get our tickets. I remember anticipating getting inside the Georgia Dome. I remember bouncing out of my seat at the pre-party. I remember getting to my seat and having a mental breakdown. I remember jamming to 5SOS. I remember waiting and waiting and waiting for the boys to come out. I remember the lights finally going out and the crowd going absolutely mental. I remember watching the video again. I remember seeing them again. I remember the electricity that was in the air. I remember smiling so much my face hurt. I remember screaming and crying more than I have in my entire life. I remember singing and dancing with one of my best friends. I remember having the best night of my life.

The rest of October flew by rather quickly. I spent my fall break in Knoxville with Lex and Em. It was great to have a long weekend where I didn't have school or work on my mind. It was also great to spend those days with two girls who have quickly become two of my best friends. They are definitely two people God brought into my life specifically this year because He knew I would need them. Eventually October turned into November, and at some point in the middle of all of this, mum was diagnosed with her fourth cancer.

I don't remember the exactly timing of all of it. I just remember her feeling a knot under the skin on her arm. As the weeks progressed, it got bigger, so she saw her doctor about it.  She was referred to a surgeon after an ultrasound didn't look too promising. Long story short, the removed a tumour and discovered it was a metastasis of her second cancer from the late 90s. Thankfully, two surgeries later, she is cancer free. But she's still dealing with some of the effects of having her arm cut open and a large amount of tissue removed.

Thanksgiving snuck up on me rather quickly. If memory serves me correct, I made the decision to not come back to Bryan around this time. It was definitely a time of crying and soul searching as I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. But also during this time, I got to attend my final concert of the year.

On Black Friday after working a 6am-12pm shift, I made my way down to Track 29 to stand in line for The 1975. I went with my friend Jasmine and we met up with a friend of ours from Twitter Brianna. We also ended up meeting up with a friend of mine from tumblr Val and her friends after the show. But I remember standing in line in the freeing cold for what seemed like hours waiting to go inside. I remember the people in front of us in line hating on One Direction and their fans. I remember having a nice chat with one of the folks who works at the venue after he scanned our tickets. I remember the buzz I got from the Jack and Coke I downed during one of the opening acts. I remember the electricity in the air and the rush of the crowd as The 1975 took the stage. I remember swaying to the music and singing along. I remember the moments Matty told us to put our phones away and just be in the moment. I remember appreciating the music more than anything else that night.

When November ended, there were only a couple weeks left in the semester. After finals, I packed up my things and said goodbye to Bryan College. My time as a student ended. It was definitely bittersweet. I came home and things at work became even busier than before. Before I knew it, Christmas was here. I spent time with family and friends and relished in the spirit of the season. It was refreshing and wonderful. Then again before I knew it, I turned 22. I always reflect a lot on my birthday. Because it's one of the last days of the year, I tend to find myself reflecting on the last year as a whole and also as a year of life. Does that make sense? I hope so. It makes sense in my head. My birthday was relatively quiet. Just dinner with my parents and my best friend and her parents. Just like always. I've learned that I do love tradition.

2014 was a great year. I grew so much as a person. I gained so many friendships. I learned a lot about myself. There are events that occurred last year that I don't think I'll ever be able to top or have something compare to it. But I'm not so sure that I should. Every year is a gift. Each year is special in its own right.

The new year ahead of me promises to be full of growth and tons of fun. But I'm not naive to think it'll be without its hardships. I'm excited to see what lies ahead in 2015, but I'm nervous at the same time. I have a lot of plans, a lot of ideas. And now it's time to make them come to life.

Here's to a new year sure to be full of new things to remember.

xx

Wednesday 7 January 2015

OUAT S1E5

Alright. It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to watch OUAT (and also blog in general) because we are in between internet providers at my house. So I don’t know when this will be posted, but that’s okay.

Justin let me borrow his DVDs of seasons one and two, so before work today I decided to partake in the next episode. It had been awhile since I last watched, so I did a rewatch of the episode previous. Side note: I still can’t believe the mayor and the sheriff are sleeping together.

Episode five! That Still Small Voice. (I’ve decided to start including the episode titles for funsies…and apparently they connect with what’s happening in the fairy tale world.)

I was a bit confused at the beginning because I didn’t know who this was. A small red headed kid stealing from folks who are there to watch a puppet show. Not cool. And then to top it all off, he works for the people who put on the show! Oh, and to make it worse they’re his parents… Great. It’s good to see that he doesn’t like stealing from people. Where did the cricket go?

Right. The therapist. Jiminy Cricket. Same person? We’ll see. So I feel like the fact they mentioned no crickets in Storybrooke is important. Henry can’t come up with a good reason why this is important. Alrighty. So Emma is now a deputy. She doesn’t want to wear the tie, understandable. An earthquake comes as soon as she puts on the deputy badge? Weird. Except it isn’t an earthquake… It was a collapse of some tunnels. Oh ho ho. So even though the mayor is sleeping with the sheriff, she didn’t know Emma was hired as deputy. Amazing. The mayor wants to pull a Parks and Rec and make the sight of the collapsed mine a place for the public to enjoy. Ha. Wait. What is that thing she’s picked up? It seems important… Alright so Henry is seeing Archie, the therapist. And apparently he knows everything. The tunnels are collapsing. Emma is weakening the curse. How did her becoming deputy start all of this? Wait!! He’s Dr. Hopper!! I love it. Ugh. But the mayor, though. She’s just so unhappy with her life and now she’s threatening the therapist. Ugh.

This person’s name is Jiminy. Wait. It’s Archie… The little boy from the beginning! Amazing. So he’s still working with his parents. In the rain. Well, okay. Stopping to listen to the crickets!! Important!!! He’s having a change of heart and he’s going to do something about it!!

So this guy Marco…apparently he’s Gepetto. That’s cool. Alright so Archie is actually doing what the mayor said because she threatened him. I think it’s pretty obvious that he doesn’t believe what he’s saying to Henry. Like he knows something is up.  So now that Charming is no longer in a coma, I love seeing him interact with Mary. They’re literally the cutest thing. But I seriously still dislike the wife. She frustrates and annoys me. And now Henry is upset, Emma is mad, Henry runs away, and Archie knows were to find him. Because being the genius of a child that he is, Henry went to the collapsed tunnel place. Idiot.

Why is there a spinning wheel? Why is Rumple here? How did this kid get involved with this scum? Wait. Is he selling his parents? I don’t understand. How is it that this guy has his hands in everything?

I love Pongo. But I just love dogs. Anyway. These tunnels are weird. Like what are they? Are they remnants of the world from before? I mean, there are pieces that look kinda fancy like they don’t belong in a tunnel. But now Archie goes to try and rescue Henry, Henry thinks Archie doesn’t believe anymore, Archie tries to convince Henry otherwise and go after him, and now they’re both trapped because it collapsed again. Lovely. Henry frustrates me.

So his parents are still alive and kicking, I see. Conning people into giving them things. They’re like sales people? I guess. I can’t believe they’re taking advantage of these poor people. Wait. Why didn’t anything happen to his parents when he put that stuff on them? Oh my gosh. He switched them!! He switched the bottles. You’ve got to be kidding me. What did I expect, though? Sigh. But wait. What happened to the people? No. Way. They’re dolls?? What?! And they have a little boy!! No!!! Oh, this is too much.

Henry is so stubborn. Like I’m glad he doesn’t just give up, but still.  Ooh! They hear Pongo! Yes, go toward the barking!! It’s good that Emma is willing to see reason with the mayor and, you know, work together on something. I still don’t trust the mayor, though. She knows something… They found an elevator! Fancy. Alright, so they’re going to be using explosives to open the tunnel back up. Does that really require everyone in the town? Apparently so. Ugh. Their use of explosives has ruined the plan of the elevator. Sigh. And they explosives didn’t even open the tunnel back up. Dumb. Oh my gosh. I just can’t get over Charming and Mary. I need to remember his name in the real world… Anyway. They’re the cutest thing. So he woke up in a strange land where nothing feels real to him, nothing except Mary!! Be still my heart. That’s adorable. I can’t. Ughhhh. But then the wife shows up and ruins everything. I dislike her. Okay, so take two? Oooh. Yes, the dog can smell Dr. Hopper! He can lead you to the people! An air shaft? Beautiful. Aww. Now Henry is giving the therapy session to Archie. He’s not the man he wants to be. So many parallels to the fairy tale world. I love it. Sigh… Just when it seems like the mayor has a heart, she just acts like an awful human being. Alright. Rescue time. Just gotta get Henry and Archie. Wait. Are they about to kill off Dr. Hopper! No!!!! The thing can’t crash and take him with it. No. No. No. No!!!! Oh. He’s okay. Whew. Minor meltdown over. Alright. Okay. So, I understand a little where the mayor is coming from being protective over Henry, but she doesn’t need to be so rude. Whoa, now. Dr. Archie Hopper is standing up to the mayor. Yes!!! You go, Archie. God bless Dr. Hopper.

Back to fairy tale. He’s making a wish on a star!! Cute. So she can’t bring back the boy’s parents, but he still wants to be able to help him out. Oh my gosh. The crickets. She’s going to turn him into a cricket!!! Jiminy Cricket!!! Oh my gosh. The little boy. It’s Gepetto. Amazing.

Aww!! Archie and Marco. They’re old friends. That warms my heart. Oooh! Crickets!! They’re back! Things are changing in Storybrooke. Ahh! The dolls are in Mr. Gold’s shop. Creepy. Wait! Mary is resigning from the hospital!! No!!! Sad. Okay. What has the mayor just dropped down the air shaft? What is this?? I need to know!!! It seems important!!!!

I really love this show now. I’ve been sucked in, and it won’t let me go. I’ve even got mum into it. We watched the first two episodes before bed last night. She loves it.

Until next time.


xx

Friday 26 December 2014

OUAT S1E4

It's been far too long since I have 1) blogged and 2) watched Once Upon A Time. So at the challenge of Justin, I sat down just an hour ago and started the next episode.

I love that we meet Cinderella. She's beautiful and I love her. My first reaction was happiness that the fairy godmother was black because it made me think of that one film version of Cinderella that I absolutely love. But then she exploded????

Like??? What???

And of course it's Rumple. I really dislike him. He's grimy and dirty and downright nasty.

She shouldn't be listening to him, let alone signing this contract. Especially without reading it. But I guess when you're desperate to leave a terrible life, you'll do anything to make a better life for herself.

I think it's cute how Henry wants code names. It's a bit ridiculous, but I have a feeling Emma will give in before the end of the episode.

Lord, the sheriff is so attractive. But why is he offering her a job? I don't get it.

Ughhhhh. So okay, the mayor just gets on my nerves. Like why doesn't Emma worry you anymore?? Just because she's lived in a lot of places doesn't mean anything. I feel like Emma getting "roots" will become important at some point. It usually does.

Is it just me or did she totally just spill hot chocolate all over herself?

I don't quite understand why Emma is just taking clothing that doesn't belong to her from the laundromat. But whatever.

Oh!!!! The laundry lady!!! It's Cinderella!!! And she's super pregnant.

But Emma is giving her advice. Well, kinda. Oooh. They're talking about making a better life for herself.

So Rumple/Mr. Gold owns a pawn shop. I suppose this is fitting. But why is this girl sneaking around? She's breaking in? She's knocked Rumple out?? (Not that I mind but you know...)

Why does the mayor tell her son when she'll be back after she tell him not to leave the house? It's like "hey, don't leave, but I'll be back by this time so yeah, but don't leave!" Ridiculous.

Why is Mr. Gold just showing up at their place? Oh. He wants Emma's help. I don't see what this other girl could have stollen from him, especially since he won't say what it is. I just don't like him.

Oh my Gosh. Henry! Why is he everywhere??

I do really like this girl as Cinderella. I was a bit confused by her outfit change, but then it dawned on me that this was a wedding. And Show and Charming are there!!! That's so sweet. I do like that they call her Ella. It's cute.

Wait! Snow bringing up the whole "changing your life" thing! I knew it was important.

Blah. Rumple is back. He's so gross. Wait. Does he seriously want her firstborn child???

Oh, my. This conversation can't end well... Although, I don't think she was tricked... She didn't read the fine print when she signed the contract. But I mean, I understand her wanting to keep her child. It makes sense.

So I'm trying to figure out who this chick is from the diner. I feel like she's Little Red Riding Hood, but I can't be certain.

Ella's prince, whatever his name is, is pretty attractive. I don't understand his father though. He's being a twat.

I do enjoy how they're drawing parallels between the two worlds.

Ahh!! A dwarf! Grumpy, was it? I didn't know what I was expecting, but I don't think that was it. But I like it.

Do they really think putting a curse on Rumple will work, though?

Sigh. Of course the car is crashed. And of course she's having the baby.

Ewwww. He's so gross.

Okay. Ella is trying to get him to sign with the special quill, but he's acting like he knows something. I'm sure he does, but it's so creepy and I don't like it. I mean, at least he signed it, but what does he mean that all magic comes with a price? I'm sure I'll find out soon.

What has he done to the husband??? Sigh.

I don't understand this person's obsession with making deals and contracts and such. Maybe I just don't know much about Rumple in general.

WAIT!

Who is the mayor sleeping with??? I thought she had a meeting??? What is happening??????

What is Henry's code name for Emma? I want to know...

I like how he dropped a shoe running up the stairs. Seems fitting for the episode.

Aww. The boyfriend came to the hospital and brought little baby shoes! That's adorable.

Okay, so Emma is going to become a sheriff. Interesting. She's setting down roots apparently.

Oh. My. God. No. Way.

The sheriff is sleeping with the mayor?!?!?!?!

What is life. I don't even know. I can't process what even happened in that episode. I just. I need a moment. it just makes me want to keep watching but also not because the mayor and the sheriff?? No. Just no.

Until next time. xx

Thursday 11 December 2014

OUAT S1E3

Yesterday afternoon I treated myself to the next episode of Once Upon A Time after I finished one of my classes. It was a nice little treat, if I do say so myself. I'm really starting to find myself falling in love with the characters.

Let's begin!

Normally I get tried of when shows do the whole recap thing, but I really like the one they have at the beginning of episodes. That might be because there's such a stretch between times that I watch it, but who knows?

The scenery in the fairy tale realm is beautiful. I would like to live there, I think.

Now these people in the carriage. Honestly, I didn't recognise Charming right off. But this blonde woman is just weird to me. I don't think I like her.

When he was looking at the tree, I just wanted to scream at him that there was someone behind him, but naturally he didn't hear me.

It got a bit intense when the person stole the horse and everything. But, oh! When I realised it was Snow White who was stealing the things, that's when I made the connection in my head that this man was Prince Charming. About time, too...

Awkward first date scenes make me feel so much secondhand embarrassment for people...even though they're fictional. And the guy she is with is total trash. Like does he have to check out the waitress' butt? And then be so obvious about it? Sigh...

It's still very weird to me how Emma is talking with her mother but doesn't quite believe it's her mother. And also that her mother doesn't realise it either. Also the fact that in this world, she kinda isn't really her mother. Weird.

Ah!! Back at the hospital! I knew this was significant. Little Henry in there with the man who is the prince but is in a coma. Lovely. It's so sad how he's just a John Doe. He doesn't have anyone.

And there's Henry trying to start something. Bless. "I found your father. He's in a coma." Like I understand that everything is steaming from the curse, but like can't there be another reason for things? I suppose not. Anyway.

The whole idea of playing along with Henry to prove to him that his assumptions are wrong is actually a great idea, and it would totally work IF HE WERE ACTUALLY WRONG.

I really think it's so cute how she's sitting in the hospital just reading to him. Like it's super adorable and really sweet.

HOLY CANNOLI HE JUST GRABBED HER HAND!?!? WHAT.

Ugh. This doctor doesn't know anything. I don't like him...... WAIT. Why is he talking to the mayor?? What does the mayor have to do with this??? Ughhhhhh.... I hate her.

Awww. Okay so this whole fairy tale flashback thing is the story of how they met!! So cute!!! I love how sassy they are with one another. It literally makes me so happy. I want a relationship like that.

Alright. Why is the "John Doe" missing? Who did this? I bet it was the mayor... I never liked her. Oh, the security tapes were switched? Who did that?? Anyway, apparently he did get up and just waltz out of the hospital. Wait!! He went into the woods!!! What is wrong with him??

So apparently Snow White did something to the queen to ruin her life... What did she do? I need details... It must have been huge for her to do all of this nonsense to get revenge.

Snow is such a feisty one! She can really take care of herself...until henchmen come out. Then she's in a heap of mess and Charming is in the river so he's of no help.

Welp. I take that back. He just came out of nowhere. He's so lovely...and a great shot. But okay can we talk about how he saved her because it was honourable? Because that is the cutest. Aaaaannddddd now we're right back to the sass. Love it.

I don't like the trolls. They're creepy, and I don't like it. Oooh. Fight scene. Things get out of hand quickly in this series. Wait!! Is she just going to leave him there?! Oh. Oh! Ooooh. She turned the trolls into cockroaches. That's gross but also great? Wait. She saved him because it was the honourable thing to do!!! Be still my heart. I also like that his name is James.

So they're all searching in the woods for this guy... Because that seems so smart. But I might do the same thing actually. Is it significant that there was an "r" added to the sign? OOOOOhhhhh!!! Probably because of the trolls in the fairy tale part of the story. It all adds up. Look at that. Wait! He's there! He's unconscious! Lovely!

But wait again!! She brings him back!! She saves him again!!! I'm so overwhelmed!!

Okay, seriously though. Who is the blonde woman, and why is the mayor here?

His name is "David". What is wrong with you. You're not his wife. You're a poop head.

But Snow and Charming!!! "You'll find me." "Always." I CAN'T EVEN.

Well apparently the blonde and "David" had been fighting and were separated. Sigh. This is not a second chance. You're just ugh. I don't like you.

Why is the mayor so full of crap?? You didn't hear him calling out for "Catherine" on any security tapes. Liar.

But wait!! He is looking fondly at Mary!! Yes!! She is your true love!!! WAIT SHE IS WEARING THE RING OH MY GOSH SHE IS WEARING THE RING SEND HELP

Aww. Emma decided to stay with her!! Yay!!!

Wow. That was an emotional episode. Thankfully they were a lot of happy emotions. For some reason I got really into this episode. But that's totally okay. I loved it. Now that the semester is over, I'll hopefully get to watch the next episode soon.

Until then.

xx