Happy 4th from Hugh Laurie to you

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

My Kingdom for a Blog Tour: Interview with Eric

Kendra E. Ardnek is publishing the third book in her Bookania Quest series! In honor of My Kingdom for a Quest's release, I'm interviewing one of the characters: Prince Eric.

Without further ado... Prince Eric!

1. Tell us about yourself!

I am a prince of Winthrop, second son to King William and Queen Camilla. I'm one of the best swordsmen among my peers, and I'm married to Robin, who is the best.

2. How did you and Robin meet?

The absolute first time we met we were quite young, she and her brother Robert just two, and I an accomplished four-year-old. My parents had brought my brother and I to visit Locksley and discuss the things that kings and queens discuss when they get together. I knew how annoying it could be when my brother left me out of his games, so I took great pains to make sure the two of them were included in mine. I taught them somersaults, how to play with wooden swords, and rocking horse races. By the time we left, she would follow me around everywhere. It was actually quite cute.

I didn't see them again for another four years, when my parents took me to attend Locksley's First School of Knighthood. I was surprised at how much she had changed in those four years, and she didn't seem to remember me at all, rather viewed me as an intruder. It didn't help that I'd humiliated her brother without meaning to, and she put my sword in the ceiling.

3. When did you realize that you were in love with Robin?

About five seconds after she accepted the proposal that I still don't remember giving her. I'd always had a very high regard for her, and I knew that I would have liked her as a friend, but she'd never given me the time of day unless it was at the end of her sword. Indeed, she tried her hardest to be the bane of my existence, and since I didn't know she was enchanted ... I never let myself consider her.

4. Had you ever been in love before?

I used to dream of rescuing an enchanted princess, and how in love we would be, and I attempted the rescue of many, but honestly, Robin has always had my heart, even if I hadn't realized it.

5. Does the land of Bookania have a holiday celebrating love, like earth's Valentine's Day?

Close enough. We have a three day celebration at the end of July called the Days of Joy. The first day we celebrate our love for the Authors. This is usually when the minor, ordinarily overlooked repairs and deep cleaning are done in chapels and the homes of the friars and abbots, and we replenish the storehouse for the poor.

The second day, we focus on love for others. Most couples start the day with their children bringing them breakfast in bed - or if they don't have children, one or the other will do it. This followed by a special time with children doing something special with the family, such as baking, harvesting fruits and vegetables from the garden, or picking flowers, and then the children are sent out to hand out baskets of the gifts they made to all the families in the village. I believe Kendra mentioned that you have a holiday similar - hallowtween, or something like that? At the end of the day, everyone gathers on the village green in their best clothes, and they spend the evening dancing and chatting with each other.

The third day is mostly spent by yourself doing things you love. If you love gardening, you garden, if you like to read, you read, and so on. Sometimes husbands and wives will take themselves off into the surrounding meadows, woods, or mountains and have picnics, sometimes even whole families will gather together, especially if the children are small. Usually, though, people try to be alone for as much of this day as possible. Among the common, people will incline themselves to the study of the Author on this day, but sadly, in the last hundred years, this has fallen out of practice among the nobility.

6. Are you doing anything romantic for Robin for Valentine's Day?

We were on our honeymoon last July, and on the third day, I took her mudriding.

As for next year, well, it's a little far off to have any concrete plans, but I do already have a gift planned for her. I've frequently noticed that Robin only ever uses one gold pen to write with, so I've decided to commission her a steel one in the shape of a sword, an exact replica of her Auroren, except that she'll be able to write with it. It's not roses and chocolate, but I think she'll like it, don't you?

7. Can you give us the inside scoop on this thing with Arthur? Is he really the heir to Briton's throne? And what about that sword in the stone?

Yes, he is the rightful heir. And I'm willing to say that you know more about this sword than I do at the moment, because I confess that I've never even heard of it.

8. What are your future plans?

At the present moment, Robin and I are assisting her cousin in taking back his kingdom, but I think you're thinking about more long-term plans.

Of course, Robin and I do intend to start a family in a few years, but in the meantime, between the two of us, we should be able to find an adventure to indulge in at least every few months. However, I foresee us having to settle down and start ruling the kingdom within the next several years. Lukas has been missing for three years now, with no sign of his whereabouts. I am desperately hoping that my older brother reappears, but in the meantime, I am preparing to be the best king that I can in case he doesn't.

Live long and prosper, and check out Kendra's blog! 

Also, Happy Valentine's Day!

"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.

Pumpkin carving.

Confession: Until last Saturday, I had never carved a pumpkin before.
I don't know why—I obviously enjoyed myself! See?

Can you tell from the piece of pumpkin in the lower right corner what I carved on my gourd?

Ta-da!
Star Trek, of course! Did you really think anything else?

Drawing and cutting out the Star Trek symbol didn't take very long, so I decided to tackle something a little harder while everyone else was still working.

The TARDIS! Also known as the Doctor's time traveling machine.

Did YOU carve a pumpkin this year? How about help the kids to carve a pumpkin? What did you—or they—create?

Live long and prosper.

Are we really as free as we believe?

In the 1800's, the world was a rapidly changing place. For the first 1500 years after Christ, the church and state were inseparable. You couldn't have one without the other. And then the Reformation came along, with the Enlightenment close on its heels.
Before these two ages, the freedom that comes through believing(slash buying indulgences and going to mass and doing penance and going to confession for the remission of your sins) in Christ had been enough for people. The church was the culture, and the culture was all the people knew.
But after the Reformation - and especially after the Enlightenment - freedom through Christ wasn't enough. Everyone had it in their heads that they ought to be "as free as possible."


"Liberty in numerous ancient settings meant more than the mere notion that an individual may choose a course of action. Liberty was typically tied to nature... ...Freedom was noble and important because a person could pursue the goal of living up to their nature or potential. Social barriers restricting a person's progress should be removed when possible."*


It was with this type of liberty in their minds that the Thirteen Colonies declared independence from England. Unfortunately, like so many other things, this definition of freedom has been buried under the sands of time.


"People today often understand liberty apart from nature. They do not wish to be free so they can become a good version of what they are; they think freedom is being able to choose what they want to be. On a similar note ancient understandings of human...happiness [was] tied to...becoming good, not just feeling good. Aristotle, for example, would think it odd that our contemporary culture [has] satisfaction in feeling good [instead of] being good."


As is (very) evident in today's culture, living up to one's full potential is most definitely not the norm. The majority of people, I feel confident in saying, are only concerned with their own pleasure, in getting "satisfaction in feeling good instead of being good." This brings up an interesting question... are we really as free as we believe?


"Alexis de Tocqueville, a visitor in the United States, during the nineteenth century, issued a warning in his classic study, Democracy in America. In the United States, he said, neither aristocracy nor princely tyranny exist. Yet, asked de Tocqueville, does not this unprecedented 'equality of conditions' itself pose a fateful threat: the 'tyranny of the majority'? In the processes of government, de Tocqueville warned, rule of the majority can mean oppression of the minority, control by erratic public moods rather than reasoned leadership."


Sure, the Constitution gives us the freedom to choose our own leaders, to peacefully protest, petition, to practice whatever religion we want (but who reads those stuffy old documents anyway?) - but if the majority of people want to go down the wrong path, the minority who know the right way often get pressured into going the wrong way too. If they do stay strong and take the right path, there are hard feelings and anger involved from both sides.
A great illustration is C3P-O and R2-D2 from Star Wars. After their escape pod crashes on the planet Tatooine in A New Hope, C3P-O wants to go one way, while R2-D2 wants to go another way. They end up getting into an argument and storming off in opposite directions.
So it is with the Christian who tries to take the straight and narrow path in a crooked and wide world. More often than not, the majority's voice will let out such a deafening roar, that the minority's voice - and with it, their rights - are drowned out.


Normally, the majority is just the majority because one person said something with enough force that everyone else thought, "Hey, this guy knows what he's talking about! He must be right!" They don't do their research, they don't look deeper, they don't look at motives. They just follow the crowd.
The minority, on the other hand, are usually the people who know the most. They are aware, attune to the things going on around them.
Unfortunately, not only does the minority have the majority to worry about, they also have the leader of the majority - that strong voice - to worry about. Usually a public figure, someone with authority. And that leader, for whatever motives, tries to crush the minority out of his plan. It has happened over and over and over again in history.
Just look at the papacy in the Middle and Reformation ages. Someone would get an idea contrary to Catholic doctrine and start sharing it with others. The Catholic church would get nervous for one reason or another, and they would condemn the person and his followers as heretics, and try to annihilate them. Sometimes, the people were actual heretics. Many more times, they were people who had started to examine the scriptures, or started to read the early church father's writings, and discovered that they said nothing about indulgences, confession, and mass as a way to be saved, or as a way to heaven.
Eventually you had people like John Calvin and Martin Luther who made enough of a difference that the Church couldn't do much about it and that's how we get so many denominations nowadays and complete separation of church and state.


We need people like the Reformers today. People who will stand up for freedom. And not just freedom to do what feels good. Freedom to become the best that we can become.


Slowly, without even realizing it, our freedom to live up to our potential is being taken from us. Instead of being taught to think and reason, children are being taught that school is a huge bore and that instead, they should go out and party and experiment with sinful things in order to "find themselves" (but don't worry, the government will take good care of them). 
The past few generations, and the current one, and the next ones, are being taught to do what feels good, rather than what is good, which is, I think, a huge reason why we don't have men like Martin Luther any more.
Standing up for what's important is difficult. It's hard. It's painful. It's excruciating. It's uncomfortable. It always has been and it always will be (if you need examples just look at the martyrs from the first three centuries AD, or the Reformers, or missionaries to anti-Christian countries today). The Bible even promises us that we will be persecuted... 1 John 3:13 says, "Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you."
In today's culture, being uncomfortable is a bad thing. Adversity and confrontation is frowned upon.
Well, sorry to break the news to you folks, but being uncomfortable and facing adversity and confrontation is what makes a person grow. The world would like to have you believe that humans can achieve perfection on their own, but that's a lie. As we become more isolated through our electronics, as we stop confiding in each other and sharing hard things, as we stop discussing and talking about things, as we bury our feelings, we're not getting rid of the problem, we're just making it bigger; we're becoming lonelier and lonelier.


Freedom is not free.


It costs. It often costs things we're not willing to give up. Comfort, safety, time, even friends or family sometimes. But do you know what comfort, safety, time, and sometimes friends and family cost?


Eternity. And not just eternity by itself... Eternity with the Creator of the world.


Believers, the Bible says "the truth shall set you free"; one of the most important steps in becoming free is to educate yourself, and then do something with that education, even if it's hard, even if it's uncomfortable. We can't "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:16-20) without getting out feet wet, can we?


Thoughts? Questions? I'd love to hear from you. (GASP! Maybe even get a debate started in the comments! *dramatically puts hand to forehead* Oh no! Not conflict!)


*All quotations taken from Church History in Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley, 4th edition, chapter 36 "The Restoration of Fortresses," edited slightly by me.

Though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire. -Thomas Paine

Thank you to all our soldiers, past and present, for the freedom I now enjoy. I cherish it, and what you've done not only to give it to me, but to protect it as well. 

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

-Thomas Paine

Happy Easter!

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Valentine's Day

 Character Encounters: Surprise Date.

 

   A Disney-Pixar movie was in the DVD player, I was snuggled under a blanket in comfy clothes, my computer was nearby… and I was all ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day Han’s way, Solo. 

   And then the doorbell rang. My face looked something akin to Bilbo’s when the Sackville-Bagginses would come visiting. 

   Oh well, no need for me to get the door. My dad got up and, accompanied by the barking Rosey, went to answer the door. But, being the busybody that I am, I silently slipped from under the quilt (more like noisily fell off the couch, entangled in the blanket) and tip-toed Legolas-like to the sliding door, separating the kitchen/TV room from the rest of the house. I peeked around the door, but couldn’t see much. But I could use my other senses – namely my sense of hearing.

   The man at the door was enquiring for… me! The voice wasn’t familiar. Who could be asking for me on Valentine’s day? A creepy creeper! And my sword was in the other side of the house! The one time I really need it, of course it’s going to be in the other room.

   My dad was trying to dissuade the man from coming in to speak with me when suddenly I felt the strange need to go to the door. I walked forward and next thing I knew, I was standing face to face with a familiar being, though I’d never met him before.

   “It’s okay, Daddy,” I whispered. “It’s Character Encounter time again.”

   He nodded knowingly and sat down on the couch. He was on his phone watching a hockey game, but I could tell he was very alert to what was happening at the front door.

   “You are Abbey,” the man at my door stated, rather than asked.

   “Yes,” I replied. “Am I right in assuming you are King John?”

   “Yes.” He looked perplexed. “I received this note telling me to come to this address and ask ‘Abbey’ out to dinner, as it is a celebration of love in your country.”

   I nodded. “Yeah, it’s Valentine’s Day. It means that couples all over the world go out on dates together – out to dinner, maybe catch a movie… you don’t know what a movie is. Just believe me when I say they’re pretty cool.”

   “Right.” King John nodded, but didn’t look convinced. “I will take your word for it. Will you attend dinner? I have here the name of an inn.” He showed me the slip of paper.

   “McDonalds, pretty fancy,” I said with a nod. Though I desperately wanted to stay home and watch the movie, maybe if I went out to dinner with King John he’d tell me why he was such an evil overlord. “Well,” I said, “if we’re going out to dinner, we need to dress in fancy clothes.”

   “I am dressed in fancy clothes,” King John replied.

   “Yes, well, that’s not what we call fancy in this country. My dad can lend you some of his clothes; you’re about the same size.”

   Since my date would be dressed in dress pants and a button-up shirt, I decided to pull on the only dress I owned. Brown, slightly World War Twoish. Since it was freezing outside, I pulled on brown leggings to match the dress, and red high heels.

   “I’m ready!” I called. “Whenever you are!”

   A few minutes later, King John came out, dressed handsomely. He looked like a business executive. I took his arm and we went outside.

   “I brought my carriage,” King John said, opening the door for me.

   Though a carriage in the McDonalds parking lot would look strange, I would never pass up the opportunity to ride in one, so I climbed in.

   Shortly, we reached the restaurant.

   “Whoa! Cool ride, bro!” several teens said as we walked into McDonalds.

   “Wow, you are one lucky girl,” said a woman (thought I noticed that, as we turned away, she eyed us strangely… what was one so young doing out with one so old?)

   King John scanned the menu. “Hmmm… what are these ‘Big Macs’?”

   “Why don’t you let me order for you,” I suggested.

   “I am King and I am fully able to order for myself,” King John replied, holding himself just a little loftier. “Give me one Big Mac,” he told the woman at the cash register.

   “One Big Mac. Would you like fries and a drink with that?”

   “Yes.”

   “Alright. Anything else for you?”

   “No.”

   “That’ll be six-fifty.”

   “Six-fifty what? I am King! I do not pay for mea-“

   “Um, ahahaha… My date here is just joking!” I interrupted. “If we wanted royal treatment we’d be at Burger King. No, that’s a bad joke. Sorry. Anyway, I’ll be paying. You can add a cheeseburger with ketchup only (along with the meat, cheese, and bun, of course, haha) and another order of fries and a chocolate shake to the order. Thank you!”

   I paid quickly and ushered King John to a table in the corner. I sat him by the window so he wouldn’t see all the attention his carriage was attracting. People were stopping on the road to stare… little kids were being posed next to it while mommy took a picture… His carriage-driver was shooing people away like they were ants.

   “You stay here while I get our food,” I told King John. He seemed willing enough to wait. After all, he had been waited on his whole life.

   I juggled our two trays and somehow managed to pour us each root beer without dumping everything on the ground. The trip back to the table was trickier; the fries fell to the floor. After much embarrassment and apology on my side, the cashier gave me another bag of fries.

   Stupid heels… I thought.

   For the next few moments, King John and I ate in silence.

   “This is good,” he remarked, nodding to the burger in his hands. “I must instruct my cook to make this back at the castle. And what do you call this drink?”

   “Umm, it’s root beer,” I said.

   “It is the best beer I have tasted! You say it is made from roots?”

   “Not really… I’m not really sure what it’s made of,” I replied. “Let’s talk about something else. Why are you so villainous?”

   “Villainous? Me?” King John’s eyes grew wide. “Not I, surely.”

   “Well… you treat your peasants poorly and cheat them of the necessities of life. You manipulate people into thinking you’re this great guy when all you really want is power power power… I know all of the facts, what I want to know is why. Why do you manipulate and cheat people?”

   “Well,” said King John, “you said it. I want power.”

   “But why? What’s so great about power?”

   “My father and I have always strived for power.”

   “Your father, now he’s an interesting man. Why did he want power?”

   King John shrugged. “My grandparents had six sons in quick succession. The first five died before reaching one year of age. My father, the youngest, was the only one to survive. Because of this, and because he was prince, he received everything he wanted. This included the best education, which sharpened his already keen mind and made him the smartest man in First Country. He came up with brilliant strategies during the Goblin Wars and he became a hero. It is no wonder then, that he thought he could rule the all five Countries better than their own rulers.

   “The only thing he didn’t count on was having an equally brilliant son. He underestimated me my whole life; he treated me like a naïve child from the moment I learned to speak. It was my older brother he favored, but my older brother was a fool, gaining his brains from my mother’s side of the family. No amount of learning could make him smart. But my father didn’t see that. When my brother died mysteriously, my father hated me all the more. He thought that I was the stupid son, and for awhile, I bought into his lies, until I realized my worth – realized that I was stronger than him, smarter than him; it was easy to slay him on the battle ground. Now I am King of First Country, and soon, the whole realm.”

   “Interesting…” I said. “So, you’re father always treated you like dirt, made you think that you were worth nothing… and because of that, you got your revenge, and now are trying to make everyone think you are the best by ruling over them all. Thank you, this has been a very productive date! Now please take me home. I want to watch my movie.”

   King John stared at me. “Very well. Come.”

   I threw our garbage away and we went back out to the carriage. We were gone no more than thirty minutes, but I learned much. It was indeed a very productive date. 

Live long and prosper!

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!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What am I thankful for? The usual things... what Jesus did on the cross, enough food, enough money, a nice house, great friends and family, books, a car (not my own - my mom's), clean water, blankets, Rosey, music, piano, chocolate...
What am I especially thankful for this Thanksgiving?

FINISHING NANOWRIMO!

So that I can do this:

And this:

I am so thankful to have both After the Twelfth Night finished (and published!) and to have this year's NaNoWriMo over and done with. My novel-writing juices are all but spent and I'm looking forward to not writing anything big for a few months. It's time to take a well-needed break.


A quick update-y thingy on After the Twelfth Night as long as I'm thinking about it...
1st thing: It's on Goodreads now! Huzzah!
2nd thing: I'm not sure when the eBook will be out... I had really hoped to get it out before Christmas, but now it's looking like that won't be possible. November and December are always the busiest months out of the year for me, what with NaNoWriMo, choir concerts, and other recitals.
We're headed to grandparents for Christmas, and I hope, while there, to work with my dad on the eBook. It will most definitely be out before the end of January, and most like be out earlier than that, unless other things get in the way.
So there is my little update-y thingy.

 

(Ironically, the one person who would get this joke doesn't check my blog very often. xD)

 

 

What are YOU thankful for this Thanksgiving? And are you doing anything special today?

 

Live long and prosper.



Free at last. (Or are we?)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
-Excerpt from The Declaration of Independence.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable search and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by Oath of affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or navel forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in the any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnessed in his favor, and to have the Assistance of the Counsel for his defense.

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court  of he the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

The enumeration and the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

- The Bill of Rights (first ten Amendments).

I'd type up the rest of The Declaration, and the Constitution and all its Amendments (because everyone could use a refresh of the rules around here) but I doubt many of you would stick around to read it.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

And I'm just fine with that! I wouldn't want to celebrate Valentines Day any other way right now. No relationships of that sort for me until I'm in college. For me, highschool is a time to prepare myself for my future - to figure out who God wants me to be, and to go after that goal. Romantic attachments would just get in the way.

My day, however, has been less than stellar. I have spent much of the day on the couch, under a quilt. I'm fighting something. (For now) I don't have a fever.
I did get some schoolwork done, though! I nearly finished my science chapter on ecology, did some Dutch (mijn trui is roze), and read what I had to in my essay book. I tried reading some Moby Dick... But only got two pages before stopping. I'm a bit behind, but I have the whole weekend to catch up.

Now I'm watching cartoon Tintin from the 90's.

"Acting the goat! Acting the goat indeed!"
Acting the goat aside... I have a Valentine's Day present for you all.
So, without further ado, HAPPY HEARTS DAY!!!

 

Happiness is a warm puppy.

Live long and prosper!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Happy thanksgiving!" said Varina, and she meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Daniel looked at her from under his mop of blond hair.
"What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a Happy Thanksgiving, or mean that it is Thanksgiving whether I want it or not; or that you feel thankful this morning, or that it is a morning to be thankful on?"
"All of them at once," said Varina. Then she paused. "Wait a minute... Daniel! Are you quoting something again?"
Daniel grinned. "Tolkien himself this time!"
Varina rolled her eyes. "Just cut the turkey, jack!"
"We don't have Thanksgiving in England," Daniel said wistfully. He pointed the carving knife towards the turkey,"This is one of the reasons I am thankful I came to America."
"I'm thankful that you came to America as well," Varina smiled. "And I am thankful for your friendship."
"And I am thankful for yours," Daniel smiled back. Daniel and Varina drifted off into wistful reverie, remembering their past adventures together. Varina was the first to break the silence:
"Cut the turkey! I'm hungry!"

A short story for you starring Daniel and Varina, the hero and heroine of my NaNoWriMo novel. =)

Charlie Brown has been a part of my holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etcetera etcetera) ever since I can remember. Right now I'm sitting back on the couch watching the second half of their Thanksgiving special - Mayflower Voyages. It's pretty fun to watch since on our long trip this past summer, we saw Plimoth and a re-constructed Mayflower.

Tomorrow is Black Friday. Usually we are in Canada for (American) Thanksgiving, thus evading the sales. Tomorrow, however, we may actually brave the traffic and crazy people. More on that tomorrow, if we survive.

What are YOU thankful for?

Live long and prosper!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day everyone!

Take a moment to contemplate how much freedom has been won for us. But never forget that freedom is NEVER free.

Freedom is not Free

By Abbey

6/28/12

(Written for the ceremony where I received my dog tags.)

If there is one thing that I have learned in the history class I just completed, it is that freedom is NEVER free. Whether it be a free sample of food or the freedom of a nation, someone is always paying the price.

In an age where we rely on our government to supply our every need and want, I have to ask, what is wrong with us?

Our Founding Fathers fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy today. They shut themselves up in a hot room during the summer months to bring us our Constitution.

The Civil War was a war fought about freedom.

During World War 1, men were "privileged to spend their blood for the principles that gave the United States of America birth and happiness," as President Woodrow Wilson said.

If we had not joined World War 2, who knows what foreign occupation we would be under now.

Thomas Paine said, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."

So much blood was spilled to bring us so much freedom. Why, then, do we not show our gratitude?

I recently returned from a long historical trip with my mother. We went to such places as Boston; Philadelphia, the birthplace of America; and Washington DC.

Over and over again in these places I witnessed children disrespecting the very places where our freedom was won.

They did care that they were standing in the very room where the Declaration of Independence AND Constitution were signed. They did not care they were holding the exact handrail George Washington did as he ascended to his bed every night. They did not care to learn the history of our nation and the Constitution which has made us who we are.

Is this the future our Founding Fathers intended for us? A nation of people who don't care about anything important, just so long as the government is taking care of them?

What happened to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

What happened to, "We the people."

Our freedoms are slipping away. If we want a change, we must make it ourselves, not rely on others to do it. I am willing to die for my freedom if it comes down to it. What are YOU willing to do?

My debt of honor is to educate myself and others of that very point: that freedom is never free.

It's not the best thing ever written, but I didn't have much time to edit it as I wrote it about an hour before the ceremony!

But it nicely fits my thoughts together in a coherent way.

Right now my family and I are watching live footage from Washington DC where they are having a big 4th of July celebration. And we're watching it on our new TV! Our old one had something wrong with it and had annoying lines on the top of the screen... So now we have a new TV. And we bought a blu-ray player so I can FINALLY watch the Tintin DVD special features!!!! =D

To quote my mother, "I feel like such a loser.... Everyone else is at the store to shop for 4th of July BBQ supplies... We're here to buy BBQ supplies, but not for a party."

So yes, we are not attending any big parties. We probably won't even see any fireworks. O.o Unless we climb on the roof.

Is it strange that I can remember EXACTLY what I was doing last year on 4th of July? My mom and I were visiting my grandparents. They were at a party while Mom and I stayed at their house and watched StarGate SG-1. If you think I have a good memory now, just wait for what I tell you next. I can remember which episode we were watching!! People, it's a 10 season show! I remember the most random and strange things. I can remember these two guy's Bdays from my church because I saw their Bdays mentioned in the bulletin once a long time ago.

Anyway, not the point. The point is that I was watching the SG-1 episode where Sha're's son was visiting and Daniel Jackson has this whole elaborate vision of himself taking over the world.

I also remember pausing this particular episode to look outside and catch a glimpse of fireworks.
I wonder if I will remember this particular 4th of July? Probably, because I'm blogging about it. :P

Anyway... I don't really have anything else to say, except HAPPY 4th OF JULY! =D