Seven Facts

Jenelle Leanne Schmidt tagged me with the One Lovely Blog award (thanks, Jenelle!)! Basically, I have to share seven random facts and then tag fifteen people. If you're so inclined, then please do this tag!
Because it's December, I'm going to share seven Christmasy facts about myself:

1. Last year, I made a Star Trek themed Christmas jumper.

2. My two favorite Christmas movies are Eloise at Christmastime and White Christmas.

3. Here's a Christmas confession... I am secretly very fond of the Christmas songs that everyone loves to hate. You know... Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Santa Baby, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Blue Christmas, Last Christmas (I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away...)... Here's one of my favorites:

4. One of my least favorite Christmas songs is Do You Hear What I Hear? because I hear it EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.

5. I'm also not that fond of Josh Groban's version of O Holy Night because our local radio station plays it about ten times a day.

6. It's been four years since Michael Buble's Christmas CD first debuted, which is so hard to believe! I remember being SO excited for it to come out and listening to it on repeat that Christmas and next. It's still one of my favorites.

7. In our house, everything bought after November 1st is liable to get wrapped and put under the tree, whether it's a present or not. I just like seeing presents under the tree. It's so festive!

What are some of YOUR favorite things about Christmas?

Live long and prosper.

Christmastime is here...

We finally dug out the ornaments and decorated the house, the tree, and the dog today!

Here's the first ornament that went on the tree:

 

Sad dog:

"Why do you do this to me?"

And now I'm watching Star Trek Deep Space Nine... while my mom watches Star Trek The Next Generation...

Oh yeah, family bonding time.

"Mutual, I'm sure."

One of the best things about the Christmas season (besides Christ's birth, Christmas music, decorations, presents, and food) is CHRISTMAS MOVIES!

Here are some of my favorites:

Elf: One of the funniest Christmas movies ever with so many quotable lines. One of Santa's elves goes searching for his father and ends up in New York... And it has Zooey Dechenal (or however you spell her name) in it, and she's lovely.

Santa Clause 1, 2, 3: I haven't seen these for a few years, but I remember really enjoying them!

Home Alone: Another funny Christmas movie... a boy is left home alone at Christmastime when his family leaves on vacation without him (on accident)!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, both versions: The Dr. Suess version is just a classic, and the new version isn't too bad either, plus it's got many a memorable face.

Charlie Brown: What holiday is complete without Charlie Brown?

Muppet's Family Christmas: A nice homage to Jim Henson's creations as the Muppets, the Sesame Street gang, and the Fraggles gather together to celebrate Christmas at Fozzie's mother's farm. As an added bonus, the Swedish Chef tries to kill Big Bird and cook him for Christmas dinner. Jim Henson even has a cameo role at the end.

White Christmas: The quintessential Christmas movie, and also one of my favoritest movies ever. My best friend growing up introduced me into a lot of the things I love now... namely: Frank Sinatra (and other crooners), musicals, the Disney Channel (okay, I don't love this now, but it was a fun time in my childhood. Ask me to sing the Hannah Montana, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, or That's So Raven theme songs and I could probably do it), Bitty Babies, and the next movie on this list. (And in return, I introduced her to God, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, and Imagination Land.)
Anyway... we probably watched the beginning of White Christmas together two or three times before we actually got through the whole thing (often I would have to go home before they even reached Vermont!)
Not only does White Christmas feature Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye (two epic people), but it also features a wonderful plot and some of the best song and dance numbers EVER! With a score by Irving Berlin, of course it's going to be great! (Unless you are a Klingon who has had too much Romulan Ale. "Irving Berlin...")

AKA, the movie where Danny Kaye CANNOT make a normal face on any of the movie covers.

"Oo-oooo"

Plus, it features the gorgeous vocals of Rosemary Clooney, and the INCREDIBLE talent of dancer Vera Ellen.

Eloise at Christmastime: This is one of my other all time FAVORITE movies. And there is nothing that gets me in the Christmas spirit more than watching it.


 

What are YOUR favorite Christmas movies?

P.S. Thank you all for answering my questions in the previous post! If you haven't yet, please do so! I would still love to hear from you.

For Unto Us a Child is Born

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son in given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:1-8

Merry Christmas!

I feel so ashamed.

I can't believe I did it.
I caved.
I gave into the desire...
...the desire to listen to Christmas music
...three months before December.
There is a Dean Martin Christmas CD sitting in my CD player right now.

And now I feel like Frank Sinatra, "Sue me, sue me, shoot bullets through me... but I love Christmas music."

"So give a holler and hate me, hate me, go ahead hate me... I still love Christmas music."

Have a merry Christma- er, live long and prosper!

A Christmas Carol. (Book review).

Title: A Christmas Carol. (Book #9 of the Vancouver Sun classics.)

Author: Charles Dickens.

Synopsis: A gruff, rough, mean old man is taken on a trip to his past, present, and future and shown the Christmas spirit.

My rating: 8/10.

Why I liked the story: I loved Dicken's writing style. It was very humorous! His description was also very good.
His character development was pretty good too.
A Christmas Carol is a Christmas classic, for sure. As recognizable as the characters are, one really has to read the actual story to understand the full meaning behind the story.
And I loved Scrooge's nephew and the Christmas party Scrooge watched.
The sheer number of different places and characters Scrooge saw was very cool. It kept me entertained.
It was a fairly easy read - my copy is only 92 pages long.

Why I disliked the story: The spirits were kind of interesting... They served their purpose. God wasn't really mentioned. Instead there was a spirit world, which Scrooge was privileged to see.
Some smaller children might find the story scary.

Will I read it again? Yes! It might become a book a read every Christmas.

Would I recommend this book? Yes! Not only is this book a classic, is is a Christmas classic all about how the season should be about loving and not greed. It is a good read for everyone at Christmastime!

Live long and prosper!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas everyone! It's time to celebrate our Lord's birth!
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

I have a Christmas short story for you.
I wrote it for something called Character Encounters, which is a get-to-know-your-character hosted by Kendra at Knitted by God's Plan.

 

I did, however, take some liberty with it.... The first rule I broke was that I used my NaNoWriMo characters because they are the only interesting characters I have.
The second liberty I took was that instead of my characters coming into my world, I went into theirs. I didn't see any regulations saying I couldn't, and I wanted to visit their world to help them along.

Some things to know before you read the story....
Daniel and Varina are the characters.
Trench Coat Woman is Your's Truly.

 

The Wolf is the continuing bad guy of the series. He disappeared for awhile... But now he's back.

Without further ado.... Christmas Shopping!

   “Daniel! Come on! We’re here to Christmas shop!”

   Daniel Adams was jolted out of Debussy’s Reverie. He let his hands fall from the piano ivories into his lap. Still in the daydream produced by the melody which had so recently poured forth from his fingers, Daniel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he looked up, blue eyes flashing open. In front of him stood his friend, Varina Webb, her dark hair cascading down her shoulders in waves of soft curls.

   If Daniel had to pick one instrumental piece to accompany Varina through life, it would be Debussy’s Reverie. Starting soft and sweet, it soon unexpectedly turned wildly minor. Like Varina, it was altogether mysterious.

   “Daniel?” she said again.

   “Hmm? Oh sorry.” Daniel had drifted back into his muse. Varina smiled at him, though behind her patient exterior, Daniel could tell she was annoyed.

   “I know you love the piano store, and that playing a grand is wonderful-“ Daniel’s own grand piano had been left in London when he moved to the United States- “but we came to the mall to do some Christmas shopping, not to the play the pianos.”

   “I know,” sighed Daniel heavily. He reluctantly left his spot at the piano bench, casting longing glances behind him at the Steinway as he and Varina left the store.

   “Maybe we can come back after we’re done shopping,” Varina said kindly, “and after we meet… you know,” she whispered the last few words and Daniel was reminded why they had come to the mall in the first place.

   Under the false pretences labeled “Christmas shopping,” Daniel Adams and Varina Webb had come to the mall to acquire intelligence. For Daniel and Varina weren’t just friends out searching for the best deals, they were partners. Partners in solving crime.

   Daniel and Varina were secret agents who worked for L.U.K.E., an acronym which stood for League of Undercover Knowledge and Espionage.

   They had been contacted by the Big Boss himself the previous afternoon. The message had been short, and in code. Thank goodness Daniel was the world’s best code breaker (though he only ranked fifth in lock breaking).

   He had the message decoded within the hour.

   It read as follows: 

TOP SECRET:

An agent has important intel. Meet her at the mall tomorrow, 3:00, food court, under the palm tree. She knows who you are and she’ll find you. Ask her why she’s wearing sunglasses in doors. She will reply with, “Oh dear, am I still wearing my sunglasses? They’re clip-ons… etc,” and you will know who she is. Tell no one.

-BB.

   So Daniel and Varina had prepared to meet this mysterious woman, travelling to the mall under the guise of Christmas shoppers. They fit in perfectly.

****

   It was exactly 2:48 when Daniel and Varina entered the food court. Varina groaned.

   “What?” Daniel asked.

   “Look how many palm trees there are in here!” Varina said. “How do we know which is the right one?”

   Daniel looked around. “Hmmm…. I don’t know, how?”

   “It wasn’t a joke,” Varina rolled her eyes, a slight smile playing across her lips. They stood and stared for awhile, scanning the trees but trying to appear as if they were really scanning the food vendors.

   “There is only one live palm tree in here,” Varina muttered. “The rest are fakes. I say we choose the tree that is alive, it is the only thing that sets it apart from the others.”

   “Good eyes Holmes,” said Daniel with a nod.

   “Why thank you, Watson,” Varina replied with a smile.

   Daniel glanced at his watch. “2:52… Hmm, we’re eight minutes early. Can we get something to eat?”

   “I suppose so,” replied Varina.

   Seven minutes later they were seated at a table next to the live palm tree, trying to block out the noise of the court, and trying to enjoy their gyros without making a mess.

   “Mmmm, Greek food,” Daniel shouted over the din, taking a sloppy bite. Varina handed him a napkin. Daniel glanced at his watch. 3:00.59. Daniel was about to say , “she’ late,” when a woman in a trench coat, Indiana Jones fedora, and sunglasses clipped to her regular lenses, bumped into their table, a tray-full of food balanced precariously in her hands.

   “Oop!” she said. “Mind if I sit here for a moment to get my bearings?”

   “No problem,” Daniel said in a friendly voice. He stood up and pulled out a chair for the woman. She gratefully sat down with a plop and set her tray on the table.

   Varina cast a glance at Daniel who nodded slightly.

   “It must be awfully bright if you’re wearing sunglasses inside,” said Varina casually, casting a sly glance at the woman.

   “Oh dear, am I still wearing my sunglasses?” the woman said, putting on a practiced embarrassed look. “They’re clip-ons, see? Much easier than getting a prescription pair of sunglasses.”

   “I prefer contacts myself,” Varina replied.

   As the woman asked about the medical benefits of contact lenses, she slipped a scrap of paper to Daniel under the table.

   “Thanks for letting me sit here! I’ll be off now! Nice chattin’ with ya!” the woman smiled broadly at Daniel and Varina and then grabbed her tray and promptly left, disappearing into the crowd without so much as a backwards glance.

   Daniel and Varina finished their gyros, not wanting to draw any unexpected attention to themselves, and were just about to get up to leave when two men loomed up in front of their table, casting a shadow over them.

   “May we help you?” Daniel asked in his sharp British accent.

   “Where did she go?” asked one of the men.

   “Who?”

   “Don’t play ignorant with us skinny boy!” said the other man. Daniel glanced self-consciously at himself. He could eat and eat but never gain any weight – giving him many uncouth nicknames.

   “Where did she go? Short, trench coat, sunglasses, she was sitting at your table.” The first man glared at Daniel and Varina.

   “There has been no one sitting here but us and a pesky little fly that keeps trying to steal my food,” said Daniel casually, batting at the fly which had landed on his gyro wrapper.

   “What information did she give you?” demanded the first man.

   “We don’t know what you’re talking about and we’re beginning to feel threatened,” said Varina.

   “Threatened? I’ll give you threatened! I’ll call security! They’ll make you talk!” said the Second, becoming flushed.

   “I’m not the one making a scene and threatening people,” Varina said coolly. “I think security guards would enjoy our story much more than yours. Now, you can either let us go, or we’ll call over that nice, burly guard and tell him you’re threatening us.”

   The two men scowled at Daniel and Varina and then skulked back from whence they came.

   Daniel and Varina chuckled and after throwing away their trash, proceeded to actually do some Christmas shopping.

   Then they left the mall, heading to L.U.K.E.’s New York City HQ building.

   “Trench Coat Woman sure was mysterious,” said Daniel as he pulled to a stop in the busy NYC rush hour traffic.

   “Yes,” agreed Varina, fighting to be heard over the angry yells of other drivers and their furious, impatient laying on of their horns.

   “Did Trench Coat Woman seem at all…. familiar?” Daniel asked.

   Varina thought for moment. “Come to think of it… she did! Actually, I can remember seeing a woman dressed exactly like Trench Coat Woman at nearly every mission we’ve been sent on!”

   “Me too! Creepy,” said Daniel.

   “I wonder who she is,” mused Varina.

****

   Half an hour later Daniel and Varina locked themselves in one of L.U.K.E’s sound proof meeting rooms. No one had questioned their doings and Varina was glad. Not that L.U.K.E. agents went around blabbing about former missions. Everything was top secret for security reasons and questions pertaining to missions were rarely asked and answers never given, unless permission had been granted beforehand.

   The only people – outside of those that went on the mission – that were required to know about the missions were the Loggers, who wrote down mission notes to send to the Big Boss and the other L.U.K.E. bigwigs.

   “So did Trench Coat Woman give you something?” Varina asked when she and Daniel had locked themselves in the room. “She left in such a hurry! I hope we didn’t miss the message.”

   “She slipped me a slip of paper,” Daniel said. He pulled it out of his pocket and uncrumpled it. Two words were written across it:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

   “Why would the Big Boss send us to get Season’s Greetings?” Daniel asked.

   Suddenly the light bulb above Daniel and Varina’s head flickered and died.

   “Oh great…. We’ll have to call the janitor,” said Varina, feeling around in the dark for a light. 

   The light flickered back on above their heads and simultaneously Daniel and Varina had the same idea.

   “Microdot,” they said at the same time.

****

   Microdots enabled entire messages to be given in small areas – for example, the dot on a. lower case “i” or the period at the end of a sentence. The only way to recover the message was to read it with a microdot reader.

   Luckily, Daniel and Varina had one handy.

   “This looks like a job for the Sleuth42!” Varina said, pulling out to instrument from her trench coat pocket. The Sleuth42 had many features. It worked as a flashlight, a microdot reader, a master key, a syringe, and many more things (Varina even claimed it made good French fries).

   Varina handed it to Daniel who carefully swiped it across “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

   “I got something!” Daniel said after a few minutes. He pressed a few buttons and the message hidden in the exclamation mark projected onto the wall.

   “I found a new use for the Sleuth,” said Daniel. “Projector! We could watch movies on this thing.”

   “Except that the message is scrambled and up-side-down,” said Varina.

   “I can fix that,” Daniel pressed a few more buttons and the message turned itself around, slowly aligning itself in the right order.

   Daniel and Varina gasped when they read the message.

The Wolf is in the flock. 

THE END.

Merry Christmas!

Sherlock... Scrooge?

What would happen if Sherlock Holmes was visited by three ghosts? The ghosts of Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas yet to come?

Sherlock Holmes has just returned from his three year absence after "plunging" into the Reichenbach falls. Professor Moriarty is dead, London has hardly any crime, and a bored Sherlock Holmes has retired. He has taken up his scientific experiments and is being even more rude than he usually is.
A very worried Watson goes to visit his friend but is thrown out, as is Detective Inspector Lestrade who comes in right after Watson, hoping for some help on a case.
(Sherlock doing experiments with Watson in the background).

After yelling at his landlady, Mrs. Hudson, Holmes falls asleep in his chair. Shortly he is woken up by a loud knocking.
"I'm not at home!" an annoyed Holmes yells.
The door swings open and ominous smoke pours out. A spirit bathed in green light walks into the sitting room at 221B Baker Street.
Sherlock Holmes quickly (and unemotionally) deduces that it is the ghost of Professor Moriarty. Holmes even shoots a bullet through the Professor's shoulder to make sure.

Moriarty tells Holmes that because he never allowed himself to love, he became a master criminal mind. They grapple with the morality of Holmes throwing Moriarty into the Falls at Reichenbach and then Moriarty leaves, telling Holmes that he feels compassion for him. Three spirits are to visit him - perhaps they will be able to help Holmes change; so that he doesn't end up as dastardly as Moriarty.
Then the Professor is sucked out the doorway back into the spirit world.
Sherlock Holmes foolishly laughs off the ghost and prepares so settle back down. Then the clock chimes the quarter of the hour. Then the half hour, then the next quarter! Then it chimes 1:00AM - the arrival time of the first ghost.
Shortly she arrives: The Spirit of Christmas Past.
She takes Holmes to the worst Christmas he ever experienced - the Christmas his mother died. His father urged him to study hard and Holmes was forced to overcome his grief. (We also learn that Holmes' real name is "William.")
Fast foreword a year and Mycroft, Sherlock's elder brother by seven years, takes him on a two week vacation to London where Sherlock first falls in love with the city.
Fast foreword another year or two - Sherlock is working for an acting company. He gives part of a Hamlet soliloquy and a girl comes rushing onto the stage, clapping her approval. She says he would make a superb Hamlet and then asks that he joins the rest of the cast for their party downstairs.
"Emphatically no," Sherlock replies cheekily.
She looks at him for a moment and then asked him to kiss her.
"Emphatically yes," Sherlock replies, still cheekily. They share an embrace and she says that he would make a good Romeo, and she a good Juliet. Holmes says that she would not make a good Juliet because Juliet was 13 and from a rich family, while she was 23 and from a poor family. He goes on to deduce several other things about her which both impresses and scares her.
He quickly explains his reasoning and then they argue a bit about the theater. Sherlock says (very cold and abrupt, as is his manner) that he is destined for better things and that he would be leaving the company, never to return.
(The Girl, with Young Sherlock. Old Sherlock is watching in the background.)

The girl says that she was under the impression that she and Sherlock had an Agreement. She says she is in love with Sherlock.
"I feared so," Sherlock replies.
They argue some more and finally part ways. It is then learned that she died two years later, acting in America.
The next stop is 221B Baker Street shortly after Watson first moves in. Watson is trying to hide a Christmas present pipe for Holmes in a place he wouldn't suspect. Mrs. Hudson steps in, unwraps the present, and sticks the pipe on his pipe wrack, saying that Holmes would never see it there and never guess it was a present.
Sure enough, Holmes admitted, he didn't notice the pipe for several months.
Spirit One's time is up and she hands Holmes off to The Spirit of Christmas Present, a cheery fellow decked out in bright green and red. He toasts to Holmes before whisking him off to see what Watson is up to.
Watson is with a friend, Tim, and relates to him all the details of his earlier spat with Sherlock Holmes. Tim says that once, when he was a little boy, he knew of a man just like Holmes. Suddenly, though, the man had a revelation and came to Tim's house on Christmas day bearing a large turkey.
"He was Uncle Ebenezer from then on," Tim says with a smile.
Watson goes on to say that though Holmes is the most infuriating person in the wide world, he is the most eccentric best friend ever.
Next Spirit Two takes Holmes to a street where two of the Baker Street Irregulars (beggar boys Holmes employs to get information and to keep them from pickpocketing). Whiggins, the Irregulars leader, has been jailed on a false accusation. The two Irregulars say that they wish Holmes was there to get their friend out.
Holmes is infuriated - why didn't the dunderheaded police look for evidence?
The Spirit then takes Holmes to Scotland Yard where a bright young officer is saying that he thinks there are some strange qualities and lack of evidence on the case which Lestrade had tried to consult Holmes upon. The young officer asks to interrogate the suspects once more but is refused. Holmes, even more mad at Lestrade (because he's wrong and the young officer is right), gets taken back home to Baker Street where the Third Spirit, the Spirit of Christmas Yet To Come, shows up. He is a masked figure, quite evil looking and dark, wearing all black.
He takes Holmes to a graveyard where two mourners talk about Sherlock Holmes and Watson. One of them has died and no one was at the funeral.
Sherlock, shocked, asks to be taken to see some normal people on the street - what is life like without Holmes' morality?
The Spirit does as Holmes wishes and he finds himself on the street, watching Whiggins (recently released after 15 years in prison) punching and pickpocketing people.
Holmes is very upset and asks what happened to all his scientific discoveries - all his deductive techniques - were they adopted?
The Spirit takes Holmes to a battlefield. Two World War One officers talk about Sherlock Holmes - how he was such a great man. The senior officer says he met Sherlock Holmes once, right before he retired. The senior officer used to work at Scotland Yard. Holmes refused to help him and Lestrade on a case on Christmas....
They allude to a Professor who is making a secret weapon.
Holmes is confused, but the Professor - Moriarty - had been dead for years! Who is this Professor person they talk about?
Just then a singing starts up in the German trenches. Soon a German braves No Man's Land (the space between trenches) with an offering of peace - sausage! All over the battlefield men are getting out of the trenches and sharing treats - chocolate, bread, cigarettes, wine, beer, pictures of loved ones, etc.
It is all left behind as the Third Spirit takes Holmes to a British HQ building where the superior officers are discussing the unexpected Truce and ordering its termination. Then the Professor is shown in. He describes his new invention, a gas which will kill - mustard gas. It will be ready to ship out at the end of the week.
As he leaves, the superior officer says, "Very nice to meet you Sherlock Holmes! And thank you for your effort to help with the war!"
"Don't call me Sherlock Holmes! I am simply the Professor now!" the Professor snaps and leaves.
Sherlock Holmes is distraught - he will be the cause of so much pain and suffering! He begs the Spirit to take him to the Watson of the present. His wish is fulfilled and Holmes is back in the graveyard - it wasn't him that the two mourners were talking about - it was Watson! Dead without a friend in the world!
Sherlock Holmes folds over in grief and then finds himself back in 221B Baker Street - it is Christmas morning. Before Holmes can collect his thoughts one of the Baker Street Irregulars rushes in with news that Whiggins has-
"Whiggins has been put in jail." Sherlock Holmes waves the Irregular away.
"How did you know that?"
"It it my job to know things."
Holmes then has the Irregular take down two telegrams, one telling the Bright Young Scotland Yard Officer to meet him at the scene of the crime the next morning, and one to Inspector Lestrade, telling him to release Whiggins because the facts don't fit his arrest.
Holmes also gives the Irregular money to buy a gift basket to be delivered to Watson, and money to reserve a special dinner room for all the Irregulars - they would have a Christmas Feast! And because you can't go to a restaurant wearing beggar's clothes, Holmes gave the Irregular enough money to buy all new clothes and bathes for the 11 Irregulars (including Whiggins!).
The Irregular runs off to do as he was told and Mrs. Hudson comes in. Holmes gives her a great big kiss on the cheek and promises to be a better tenant.
Then Holmes is off to see Watson himself. They make up and Holmes offers Watson the room he had previously occupied at Baker Street (because Watson was having some financial trouble).
They had a toast to their friendship and the play ended.

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol the play was called.
I went to see it with my mom this morning. It was written by a local playwright and was absolutely mind-blowingly BRILLIANT beyond compare!!!
It was basically Sherlock Holmes and A Christmas Carol mixed together. It was brilliant. Wow. I can't believe it.
First of all, the author must have been a HUGE geek to write it because he put SO many tasty references from the books into his play (right down to the Persian slipped full of tobacco and the correspondence knifed to the mantelpiece which were part of the set).
Secondly, the acting. This was one of the most accurate portrayals of Sherlock Holmes that I have ever seen. I found it quite amazing that the guy playing Holmes was so in character because of the mixed plot lines. He played it brilliantly, though. Instead of being afraid or surprised at the Spirits (as normal humans would), Holmes got bored with them and was like, 'there is a Spirit in my room, whatever. Bored. *yawn.*'
I already mentioned the accuracy from the books (right away, before the play started, I noticed the Persian slipper and the knifed correspondence on the mantle). I was also very very impressed with the historical accuracy. In 1914 World War One a Christmas Truce actually was held spontaneously. It started with a German singing. Then both sides started singing. Then brave soldiers began going over No Man's Land to trade gifts and show family pictures. Sadly, the next day they went back to killing each other. There is a brilliant movie about it but I can't remember the title (I think the title is in German).
The costumes were gorgeous and period accurate and the actors all faked British accents very well!
I loved how all the story lines intertwined and how we learned about Sherlock Holmes's past. It seems like what they showed could have really happened to him. The only part I didn't like about it was that Sherlock's "real" name was "William."
Another thing I really enjoyed was that there were only seven actors! Everyone except Holmes and The Girl (whose name I can't remember) had at least two or three parts.
Also, they didn't change the set at all (except for small things like bringing in a chair or putting a gravestone on stage).

This play was a 11/10 and I would go see it again and again and again! Everything was so accurate and professional and beautiful and wonderful and brilliant! It was great and I loved it!
Thanks for the surprise field trip Mom!

Live long and prosper! =D

Our Geeky Christmas Tree.

Most of our Christmas tree is decorated with traditional ornaments handmade by various family members and friends.
There is, however, scattered all over the tree, a number of, well, out of place ornaments....
That is because every year I get to pick out an ornament. This has been going on since I was born (except I didn't pick the first few out because I was too little).
I will let the ornaments speak for themselves. (The first few are quite normal because I didn't pick them out).

 

 

 

 

Then they start getting themed......

 

Awwww!!

 

 

Here's where they REALLY start to get themed!
Barbie Swan Princess with a beautiful swan to go with.

 

Sweet Samantha.

 

Best friends. =)

 

Garfield! I used to read his comics ALL the time.

 

Star Wars ornament. It talks too!

 

2008 was when Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came into theaters. I went to see if with my friend, my dad, and her dad. That whole year was filled with Indiana Jones themed things. Indiana Jones calender, Halloween costume, and ornament!

 

2009 I was really into the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. This is Hazelfur, my Warrior. She's a ginger she-cat with grass green eyes. I really really wanted a cat for my ornament but Hallmark didn't have any.... Then we were at the hardware store and they had cat ornament and one looked exactly like Hazelfur! I was ecstatic.

 

Spock. I actually got him last year (I believe) because in 2010 I couldn't find an ornament I really liked. Last year Spock popped up at Hallmark and I knew he was the right fit for 2010.

 

Last year (along with Spock) I got two ornaments. One was a saxophone (because I started playing saxophone) and the second was a... well, you can find out.
I'll tell you the story of the second ornament quickly. Mom and I were at the thrift store and she was digging through the Christmas stuff and suddenly she said, "Abbey!" in a choked voice. Thinking she was hurt, I looked over and she was holding The Ornament. I was so excited and we bought it for cheap. Then we went to the store it had originally came from and asked if they had any others. Nope, it was a special offer they had - the first 100 customers into the store would receive an ornament on Black Friday!
We were sooo lucky to find The Ornament at the thrift store.
(Saxophone):

 

The Ornament:

 

This year, in honor of The Hobbit movie, I got a Gandalf ornament.

 

I hope you enjoyed!

 

 

'Tis the season....

....to torture your dog.

She hates me. But I don't care. I love her anyway. =)

Tonight I have been watching the live premier red carpet of The Hobbit in New Zealand!! It started with a band playing a bunch of music and ending with the Song of the Lonely Mountain (which their lead singer wrote). Then to the red carpet where the actors and producers and things began to appear! Peter Jackson, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, Elijah Wood, a whole bunch of the Dwarfs, and even John Rhys-Davies (Gimli)! They have been interviewed (some of them several times) and so far my favorite has been Sylvester McCoy who is playing Radagast the Brown wizard.

Yes, Miss Jack (and John), that IS a hedgehog! =D
Sylvester McCoy played the Seventh Doctor in Doctor Who and that is not the only reason his interview was my favorite (though he did mention Doctor Who! He said that Peter Jackson has his costume). Sylvester McCoy is quite a character. He was really funny and just sweet. He had a super cool jacket as well. It was all stars and timey wimey. And he had a fun hat. And he actually mentioned hedgehogs in his interview! I thought of you, Miss Jack (and John too!). He said something like, "I was allowed to do some improv... go save this bird! Help this hedgehog!"
I also loved the guy who played The Great Goblin's interview. He was nice and sweet as well.

And now (since it is STILL going on!) Andy Serkis is running all the way back down the red carpet (which is really long) giving people high fives. Andy Serkis is one of my favorite actors, as I've mentioned before.

Anyway, The Hobbit is going to be a fantastic movie. SO much work has been put into it and SO many wonderful actors in it. I am getting seriously excited for this movie. It will be the best movie of the year. I bet it will top even the second Twilight movie.

Sadly Benedict Cumberbatch isn't at this premier. Oh well, I suppose he doesn't have a big enough role in the first movie.
Speaking of Benedict Cumberbatch.... the synopsis for the next Star Trek movie has been released! As you may know, he plays the villain. The synopsis is very vague and really doesn't tell much at all - but it is still a synopsis!

While I'm at it, NaNoWriMo is going well. I hit 46,000 words today and it is looking like my novel will hit 50k after all! Huzzah! Huzzah!
My bad guy has finally been introduced in person.... He is now grappling with one of my main characters. I've left all my characters sticky situations tonight.... And I've accidentally told my invisible audience who my bad guy is which isn't supposed to happen until the fifth book....

It is now nearly 10:00. I have been watching this premier for 3 hours and it still isn't over! The official speeches are to start soon and I'm not altogether sure my mother will let me stay up and watch it.

None the less..... I really want to go re-read the Hobbit for the second time this year. I need to finish the Two Towers first, though.

The great Tolkien himself, with his ever present pipe.

And now the official Hobbit speeches are starting and I should really be going.

Day 20: List five amazing non-fiction books.

(In order of their amazingness).

1. The Bible by God (through various physical authors).
2. Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris.
3. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.
4. Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris (sequel to Do Hard Things).
5. I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris (older brother of Alex and Brett Harris. The only reason this one is last is because I haven't actually finished yet.... But what I read promised greatness!).

On a different note.... I'm really really really excited for Christmas.

Plastic Christmas trees have been in stores in my area since the end of August....

Live long and prosper!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope that everyone has had a wonderful day in whatever your doing. Let's remember that Jesus is the reason for the season =D
This morning I got up before the crack of dawn at 4:30 AM so that I could get to the airport with my parents on time to catch our flight to the Midwest.
We took Rosey on the airplane with us and she did very well! The vet had given us a sedative to give her. When half of the pill didn't knock her out, Mom gave her the other half. Rosey fell asleep very quickly after that and is still sleeping it off! I like her in this sedate state... She doesn't get annoyed with me. Hee hee.
Now I am sitting in my grandparents living room while Mom and Grama talk and Daddy and Grandpa watch the Packers game on TV. Sadly there is no snow where I am... I did take my doll Juliet and I'll try to get outside with the next few days to take some pictures of her!

And now, here is a present from me to you.
This is my choir singing "Christmas This Year" by Tobymac. There are 88 people in my choir and we range from ages 5-18. Sorry it's in two parts.... Blogger won't let me upload the whole video.

Gingerbread House and Adventures with Peanut Butter

Tonight my dad and I built a gingerbread house and some gingerbread men from a kit!
The front:


The back:


And here are the gingerbread men... We don't know quite what happened to the one on the right...


Rosey meets peanut butter.... An epic struggle... Who will win? Now playing on Abbey's blog.



Guess what? I finished my American Girl Doll Twelfth Night!! I finished adding music and now it is completely finished... It's 124 minutes long! :0 That's longer than the new Tintin movie that will be coming out in 13 days!