Cute, Fuzzy, and Cuddle-able

So recently when I'm feeling down or frustrated or bored... I've found myself look at the "animal" category on Pinterest, you know...to see all the cute baby animal pictures!

What can I say- It makes me happy inside!....I think it all started when I saw this special on Animal Planet about puppies, when we were down in St.George with family....and partially because my two sisters and parents are getting puppies in the spring! Now I really want a puppy (but that's not gonna happen for another 10+ years) so for now, I just have to enjoy pictures and videos.

What started out as a puppy frenzie has become an "anything-that-is-a-baby-animal" frenzie.

Here is some of my puppy collection....

And then it turned into all cute baby animals....

 I guess you could call me an animal lover....in the abstract. Wouldn't these guys be a cute addition to any family?

Perhaps I'm crazy, but hey- sometimes you just need a cute-fuzzy animal fix- Am I right?

Book Assignment

         In my childhood my favorite books were the Harry Potter series. Now, my favorite book is a Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl. In the Harry Potter series, Harry starts out as an orphan boy who is abused and neglected by his aunt, uncle, and cousin. On his twelfth birthday he finds out that he is actually a wizard, and he escapes from his relatives and goes to Hogwarts, a magical school for witches and wizard teens. In a Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor, a holocaust survivor, gives a cleaver retelling of his time in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. Viktor gives many flashback type vignettes of his experience and the things he’s learned from life since. It is a chilling tail that really makes you think about the meaning of life, and the human experience.

            Both books are on the top of my lists for several reasons. When Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone came out, I was the same age as Harry and his friends in the book, which made it relatable to me. In my small school, I was considered a class-A nerd, so naturally, Hermione Granger was my heroine. I read and read and read those books, like no other book I had ever read before. I loved the series so much; I didn’t think that any other book would ever tickle my fancy. I was wrong of course, but there was something about escaping through a book, into a whole new world that was just fascinating and exhilarating to me. Plus, as an eleven year-old, I secretly had a crush on Harry Potter. (What 11 year-old girl wouldn't love this dreamy little guy, right?)

Altogether, I think the biggest impact these books had on me, was that they made me even more of a nerd than I was before reading- which I am so geekily grateful for. Wanting to be like Hermione Granger, propelled me to excel in school and get good grades.

            Now my favorite book is a very somber one. A Man’s Search for Meaning is very deep, and it isn’t what you would call light reading in terms of content. I think part of the reason why I love Frankl’s book so much, is because he suffered more than man should ever have to suffer, and yet he made it through. To me that one simple fact is simply inspiring. Though we all face challenges in life, sometimes we face challenges that we truly believe will break us- yet, as we are pushed beyond our limits we tend to find that we are stronger than we previously thought. Throughout his book he also gave many insights into life that I had never heard before that really made me think and value everything I have, especially my relationships. 

Downton Abbey....why oh why did you make me cry?

This post is about Downton Abbey

SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU HAVE NOT CAUGHT UP ON ALL THE EPISODEs

DO

NOT

READ 

THIS 

POST

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, seriously, don't.....

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a story of how they killed off my favorite character and I cried and cried afterward

like seriously...I bawled my eyes out.....Sybil, this one is for you

Ode to Sybil

Oh Sybil, how I adored you- the other sisters are annoying and selfish, but you were different. You were kind, loving, full or courage, and bravery! You will surely be missed, even though I totally called it earlier in the season that you would die....I should have known, yet I was still sad the writers didn't surprise me and keep you alive.

What's done is done....it's not like they can bring you back to life, like Sherlock (he's just that amazing...if you haven't watched the BBC Sherlock, you totally should!)

I'm beginning to realize that I'm an empathetic crier....I wasn't always this way you know- maybe it's the weather, or maybe it's because lately my TV series have been an escape from my real world that is full of unpleasant feelings currently- but isn't it funny how we sort of live these alternative lives through characters in a book or series we watch? 

I was most definitely Harry Potter...and Peeta Melark..and Jack Shepard....(I don't know why I always connect with the boy characters) but the point is I was many other characters long before I was Sybil! 

 I think some people live their lives through other (real) people too, like celebrities or children. 

Here's my theory about living through fictional characters, or even real people- it's really quite simple when you think about it....

Premise #1- Your life isn't everything you have dreamed it to be

Premise #2- You watch or see other's lives (real or fake) and you see something desirable about their lives (ex. youth,  health, happiness, wealth, time period, love)

Premise #3- Then you allow yourself to fulfill these dreams through vicarious persons

Thus= We live through other people

Why? Because we think it will make us happy?

Does it even do that? What do you think?

Superbowl Numbero Uno

This past Sunday was my very first Superbowl.....(well...my sister recorded it...and we fast forwarded the game and just watched the commercials and half-time show...lol)

So I guess that probably doesn't count.....but it's still a first for me


To my surprise the commercials made me laugh.....

made me really grossed out.....

and even made me bawl my eyes out.....

which I did not expect from a Budweiser commercial...

I realized the second time through watching it- and crying again (so embarrassing)- that it was the song in the commercial that tugged on my heartstrings (it is a song that reminded me of an emotional time in my past)

It's interesting how music can bring emotions so fast, even subconsciously! And I have always loved horses- if I was an animal I would be a horse!

But when it comes to commercials I think it is always important to realize that they are always trying to sell you something- and they will do whatever it takes to do just that. I think they can be good- they can share good messages, share laughs...and others can be the phantoms that haunt your dreams (like the kissing GoDaddy one- disgusting ) and several other commercials I really hated but wouldn't post on my blog- like the Carl's Jr. one, or the Calvin Klein one- I think it's gross to use sex to sell a hamburger, like seriously Carl's Jr- are your burgers really so bad that you feel the need to disgust women all across the globe- to sell your burgers to young horny boys?

Sicko punks....

I personally will- NEVER- buy a Carl Jr. ANYTHING ever again- (this is me, using my consumer rights)
They don't deserve my business.

Isn't it funny how just watching a million commercials can take you through quite a range of emotions?

Who says media doesn't effect us? I sure think it does.

Matrix and Movie Ratings

Ok- so my husband convinced me to watch The Matrix tonight.

My very first rated R movie...but he assured me that it wasn't that bad- and promised that it wouldn't be gore-y (i hate gore...like really hate it)

But let me just say- after watching the Matrix.....

My Mind= BLOWN!!

If you are adult, I think you should watch it- it is very well made, and the ideas are so crazy, but also awesome! And really makes you think- and it isn't gore-y gross.

It was filmed so well, and had really cool special effects, which I appreciate even in 2013, even though it was made in 1999! Now that is impressive!

I would say it isn't something I would want my teenage boy who is into guns watching, hence I think the rating is appropriate, but really, honestly..... I've watched PG-13 movies that were way worse on my rating scale than The Matrix.

Exhibit A: Twilight- barf.

Ok, just kidding about Twilight (no really I'm not)...

But anyway. As much as a part of me thinks this rating is appropriate, there is another part of me that says, well, why was this on my naughty list for movies for years and years....I mean in the Return of the King, there is all sorts of blood and guts and they catapult heads and stuff- yuck! (but I still love the Lord of the Rings trilogy)

I think the point is- not the amount of gore, but also the content and themes expressed- I can see how fantasy violence that is glorified violence (like in the Matrix) could have some very bad effects on the teenage mutant brain- like encouraging public violence (let's face it, teenagers are all mutants...some are turtles, and others are well.....I didn't think this thought out very well, did I..)

What I'm trying to say is that sometimes it isn't the content of the film but it is the theme that is an adult theme, and since adult brains are old enough and mature enough to think it through more complex themes, perhaps it is best not to expose our teenagers to movies like this ( i think so)

Even though this movie is pretty dang awesome.

Just sayin...

What are your thoughts on The Matrix, or the rating system in general?