Love them :)

Radcliffe Camera in Radcliffe Square, the Bodleian Library.

Seriously, one of my favorite places in the whole world :')

It's a good day in my fictional life:

Thursday = LBD and I think it's going to be an important one today! :)

And then theres this adaptation I've been following for 3+ years... and i only have to wait 16 more hours :D


"People wonder why the novel is the most popular form of literature... It is merely that the novel is more true..." - G. K. Chesterton

One of the fascinating parts of Lord of the Rings is the insight into different characters temptations - especially when tempted by the ring.  Much is made of Gandalf's and Galadriel's and even Aragorn's temptations... but today I came across Sam's--and it blew my mind!

A little background... it's the chapter entitled "The Tower of Cirith Ungol" where Sam is going to rescue Frodo, but he has the ring and wears it to get past some of the orcs.  And thus begins the temptation of Samwise:

Already the Ring tempted him, gnawing at his will and reason.  Wild fantasies arose in his mind; and he saw Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age, striding with a flaming sword across the darkened land, and armies flocking to his call as he marched to overthrow Barad-dur.  And then all the clouds rolled away, and the white sun shone, and at the his command the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit.  He had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own, and all this could be. 

In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit-sense: he knew in the core of his hear that he was not large enough to bear such a burden... The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command.

So precious!  But also convicting - am I content with my "one small garden"?

Oh, Tolkien, you never cease to amaze!

[T-26 hours till some more Tolkien amaze takes place :]

"Sherlock!  There's something in here.  There's something in here with me!!"

;)

The results from picture day are back... and despite the wind and the rain, it turned out ok.

But funny story, as soon as I walked into the room, the photographer started calling me Zooey.

And so when he asked for my "Zooey-I'm-trying-to-be-serious-but-can't-help-but-smile" look, this is what he got. 

So there it is... my failed serious face :)

This film has been on my mind lately...

And I have a growing realization of the profundity of this clip.

(And I adore Peter O'Toole :)

Don't normally do these questionnaire things... but it was about books!


1. One book that changed your life?
Jane Eyre

2. One book you have read more than once?
Pride & Prejudice (x5)

3. One book you would want on a desert island?
If not the Bible, I've always said the original French unabridged Les Miserables so I could teach myself French and read it for real all at the same time. 

4. One book that made you laugh?
Alice in Wonderland

5. One book that made you cry?
History of Love

6. One book you wish hadn't been written?
The Scarlet Letter, Twilight, or Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

7. One book you are currently reading?
Return of the King

8. One book you have been meaning to read?
Just one?? Great Expectations. The Fault in Our Stars. Sense of an Ending.

Do you know what's torture? Going to the dentist.

No! Not for the reasons you're thinking. Torture is your dentist bringing up Chesterton, Tolkien, Lewis, Eugene Peterson, a couple novels, the beauty & wonder God created around us - and not being able to say anything because his hand is in your mouth!!

:/ :)

Just 1 month!!!

Till this girl and I are reunited :D

[via Socially Awkard Darcy]

It's back to work today after a full, four-day weekend.  I'm tired, but refreshed in unspeakable ways.


Hopefully they'll be a post later with pictures and details.  But I hope your new week is filled with grace... especially since it is the most wonderful time of the year ;)

[I can in no way take credit for this]

but...

For any fellow LBD fans out there:

(Fitz)William Darcy - fake texting since 1813

"It's super important..."

:)

Ok, remember the conversation I posted about literary pet names?

I was talking with our Tax Manager today (he's so funny... I could do a whole post just on the random stuff he's told me!), but anyway, I was talking with him when he mentioned that his big German Shepherd mix is named "Pilot."  Ahh!  He goes, "My wife got that from Wuthering Heights or something--"

"Jane Eyre!" I interjected... apparently too excited for manners :P

But anyway, he showed me pictures while mumbling about how his wife makes him watch all those "coming-of-age, period, romances" (haha!) I was smiling all the way back to my cube.

"Do not spoil the wonder with haste..." - Legolas to Gimli, The Return of the King

Well, I've definitely taken his advice when it comes to finishing this series. Back into the last book I go :)

Found this poem through the dance video a friend posted... to cute not to share



Superman... The Man of steel, Big Blue, The last son of Krypton
He is faster than a speeding bullet
Stronger than a locomotive
He has Lasers for eyes
X ray vision
and can fly without even flapping his arms
But his most notable power... was Lois Lane
The love of an amazing woman is a phone booth
That can turn a man from a spineless news reporter into a symbol of justice
Into the reason why its safe to walk outside while the sun is sleeping
I'll be honest, I don't have a cape... or a costume
I wasn't born on Krypton and its been a really long time since I've been in a fight
But I will fight gravity for you
When you're upset and don't feel like talking I will use my x-ray vision to look inside of you and find out what's wrong
If you need me to I'll use my superhuman strength and put your entire world on my shoulders
If you let me I will do my best to be superman for you....
Because you deserve it.




*Thinking of you, Miss "Lois Lane"




[PS - Superman is my favorite superhero... and I'm stoked for Man of Steel!]

Today: first bun + bangs combo (Sarah & Melissa - that's 3 weeks!! You should Be very proud :)

Also... My new favorite remedy - we've become best friends the last few days :/ :)

So, after several very full and rather insane weeks... this weekend is my time to fill up on family!

I had the rare joy of spending the night at my older sister's last night.

I just have to brag for a minute because my sister...

is one of the most inspiring, beautiful, and wisest women I know

has 3 under 3 (yes, all in diapers)

loves her husband like crazy

is ridiculously organized (I mean, what the heck?)

leads their church's youth group

regularly makes her own bread, dish soap, face wash, furniture, etc...

She's pretty much Proverbs 31 meets the Pinterest dream mom!!

I love her so much :)

[Melissa, Ross, Ida, & Jack - Dad is away at a business trip, so they needed me to play Auntie for the weekend :]

So yes, last night after work I headed over, played with these silly kiddos and hung out with Melissa.  We chatted over a scrumptious dinner (did I mention she's a dangerously good cook?) and watched a bbc period drama with dessert.  Sister time is the best!

This morning was a fantasy Saturday come true!

The kiddos came in climbed into bed with Melissa and I before we all went down stairs to make pancakes.

Oh! And there were flurries of snow and we may have listened to Christmas music :)

After lunch, the two oldest came back with me for a "sleepover at grammy's house!"

This Saturday was the right antidote to my recently hectic lifestyle.  So grateful for the Baker family :)

So earlier this week, it was the Quetzel - today, I'm not even sure what it is.  But Bob appears to be enjoying his world travelling...and sharing his finds with us :)

[This was attached to a message with nothing other than the subject line: "Have a great weekend!"]

:)

I may just have to give in and see my first Bond movie ;)

I'm typing up notes from the event I told you about last week (you remember all of those sticky notes on the board - yes, they all have to be entered and sorted in excel).  Anyway, it's fine, but not the most thrilling part of my job. 
I just got interrupted by an email notification from Bob, who is in Costa Rica for the week.  I thought it was some urgent request for a bank transfer or for news on a client or something business related.  No, I opened it up and am greeted by this:



["Quetzals in the wild!"]



Thank God for a break from the mundane, for Quetzals, and for wonder!

Three months on the job today :)

Still. so. grateful!!

Today was somewhat momentous :)

Here's a round-up:

First Red Cup of the year!

Reverse Roles: Dad came down to my office and I took him out to lunch. Great daddy-daughter time!

Got to cheer my sister and her amazing volleyball team - they left it all on the court tonight. So proud!!

I voted! Remember to exercise your right to vote.

and... I'm officially going to the Opera!!!

I bought tickets for my mom and I while we're in Vancouver:

Mozart's a good place to begin, right? Anyway, I'm just thrilled! My very first opera :)

happy weekends, everyone :)

Success!

Today I hosted my first ever corporate event: our annual Leadership Summit.

Venue, catering, supplies--I was responsible for pulling all of it together... and anyone who known me a while, knows that I am not the event planner of the family ;)

But I did it! It actually happened without any major setbacks or glaring mistakes.  The venue was great, there was more than enough food and everyone said how great the day was.

[Putting my (new) iPhone to use ;]

Pictures going clockwise, starting with the top right:

Bob + others organizing our SWOT analysis [Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats]

Breakfast from Specialty's - yum!

The SWOT analysis all done - too me that just looks so cool!

aaand... during lunch I found 5 minutes to indulge in pure happiness*

But after freaking out all week, it felt so good that it actually came together and happened! Ah, yay God! 

And now, I get to start planning my trip to BC with mom this weekend =)

---------------

*If I haven't told you about the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, I'm sorry. Anyway, it is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice in a vlog format... and it is amazing. They've released two "episodes" a week. for the last 6 months. and are half way done. (with today's being a very... significant episode =)

Yep. Every Monday and Thursday is a glimpse into literature and the art of adaptation (one of my favorite things). It is all very well done--professional actors, writers, everything. And the way they able to adapt the details--it just proves how universal Austen's writing is.  Seriously, I have a friend getting his DPhil in English at Oxford right now and even he's obsessed with this series.

Side notes: It takes the first few episodes for them to figure out the tone and everything, but it gets so good. Oh, and skip #6 - while I adore their portrayal of Lydia, she is way over the top here =/

But check them out - you will have a reason to look forward to Mondays!

And let me know what you think!