A Christmas movie tradition

For years I have marked Christmas by going to the movie theater and enjoying a new release. This all stems from my career in t.v. and how I would often have to work on Christmas Day or the day after and was therefore unable to properly celebrate at any time of gathering. I started going to movies because this was something I could do for myself, by myself. I enjoy stories of all kinds and I do not have any hang ups about going to the theater by myself. After all, why would I need a friend there if I am not planning to talk during the movie.

The earliest memory I have of this tradition was seeing Benjamin Button in the theater while I was in Memphis. However, I do know that the facts don't line up since I was living in Indianapolis for Christmas of 2008, the year in which this movie was released. Nonetheless, the best movies of the season typically come out. It's a great time to see some of the best of the year without having to wade through crowded theaters.

This year will be no different. I plan to see a movie, although I am not sure which film I will make it to. I guess that depends on my family. This year I am actually able to spend Christmas with my family and my niece and nephews have different tastes in movies. So plan A is to take her to see Into the Woods and plan B is to take the boys to see The Interview. I want to see both of these and I know that I will eventually see them both, but there is only enough time for one on that day.

My apologies to anyone who thought this would be a blog about watching Christmas movies instead of movies on Christmas. Shame on you for thinking that though. You obviously don't know me! I don't particularly like Christmas movies. 

Refreshing with a clothing swap

I am planning to attend a clothing swap in the coming weeks. This is an exciting event, one that I've never participated in. The hostess invited all of her friends and then we all bring a number of clothing articles that we no longer want and/or don't fit. They should be gently used so that your trash is someone else's treasure.

I have gone through my closet and started pinpointing items to get rid of. I often purge my wardrobe of these tired items, so this year it is fun a friend might benefit from my clothes rather than the local Good Will. I think Good Will stores are great and I will continue to donate to them, but this is something different. This clothing swap is an opportunity to freshen my closet without spending any money.

The idea of not spending any money to freshen my closet greatly appeals to me. I have a lot of clothes, much more than I need, however I sometimes end up in situations where I have nothing to wear because I do not have the right kind of clothing. I am going on a ski trip in a couple months and I need clothing that is appropriate for a ski village and winter activities. I have my outer wear, but it is the fleece, vests, and flannel that plague me. I do not have these things because I do not regularly wear them. As such, I do not want to spend money to buy these items and I am hoping that I will hit the jackpot at this clothing swap.

Stop sending Christmas cards

Christmas cards are categorized in my brain with chores. When I was growing up, it seemed that buying, signing, addressing, and mailing these cards was an oenerous task that resulted in a time and productivity black hole. No one liked going through this process and it was even worse when my mom and dad received an unexpected card.

Each year, there was the list of recipients and each year that list would grow with more people my parents never intended on keeping in touch with. Mostly, these list additions happened because someone new sent a card to my parents. When you get a card from someone unexpected you must reciprocate quickly, or else. Or else what? They think you're a Scrooge? You're a Grinch?

The only time my parents would hear from people on this list was around the holidays in the form of that low grade form of communication, "Wishing you a bright and happy holiday. The Jensens." So glad you clarified that with the obligatory greeting card. If you hadn't I would have thought that you were wishing ill of me.  When I was younger we didn't have the internet and it was pretty cutting edge that my dad would print off the address labels instead of hand writing all of the names and addresses. However, now there are so many communication options.

I understand that some people get really into the card tradition. They create personalize cards and include photos and some even send a long a family update. The personal touch on the cards makes it nice and much less sterile. It is nice to get a card that isn't generic. Holiday cards should all be personalized. Make me feel like you mean what is written on the inside of the card instead of making me feel like you've just checked another thing off your chore list.

If you do not care about the recipients, please don't send cards. You are wasting paper, production materials, packaging and more. Worse yet, you are wasting your time and energy!

Cooking up peanut brittle gifts

Since I am far away from many of my loved ones, I have started a tradition of making craft gifts to send to them. Last year, I knitted  coozies for coffee mugs. I had to learn to knit before I could make them, so this was a great project for me. This year, I am giving peanut brittle as gifts.

I learned to make peanut brittle a couple years ago and it is a delicious homemade treat. What a better gift?!  I made my list and checked it twice to see how many jars I would have to fill with the candy. What I didn't anticipate was just how much brittle I would have to make, how many batches I would have to cook up.

 So, I filled the ball jars, put a doily on top and then screwed the sealing band on top. I tied on gift labels with ribbon, and added some festive stickers. Who wouldn't like to get this in the mail?! Okay, people with peanut allergies, I know. I don't have to worry about that though because I am the most allergy stricken person I know.

This is an exciting project, and even more exciting is the fact that I will not have to ship these all over the country. Only a couple of them need to go in the mail. The rest will be hand delivered with a smile and/or a hug.

Movie review: The Theory of Everything

Directed by: James Marsh

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Prior

Rating: B-

This movie peaked my interest when I first saw the trailer months ago. I thought it looked like a pleasant story told in a quaint fashion. Then I started to hear Oscar buzz about it and decided I should definitely see it in the theater while I still can.

The movie did not disappoint me. It was engaging, entertaining, and more. I appreciated it's story line following the progression of life from hopeless disparity to thriving against all odds. Now, whether it will win any Oscars is anyone's guess, or actually, is more depandent upon the other films in the category. This was not an earth shattering, moving film. It was mostly forgettable, and that is not something that I find true of top contenders.

Revisiting the old bucket list

I am making progress on my bucket list, little by little. I decided I need to tick of a few of the entries each year so I am not left with a long list when older age hits and I am less able to accomplish things. As the year draws closer to a close I am reflecting on the things I was able to do.

I learned to salsa dance. This was accomplished in a round about way without me even realizing I was satisfying an item on my list. I started taking Zumba classes and I learned the core movements and some steps. If I had taken an actual salsa dance I would have learned how to incorporate this into a dance with a partner. Perhaps this is something I will do in the future when I am looking for a fun new project.

This year, I also invented a holiday. While I have not celebrated it yet, that is on my list. My fake holiday is WinSol and it is something that I have been acknowledging for years as a winter holiday alternative that fits with my schedule as well as my belief system. My holiday now has traditions, colors, and a background story.

While 2014 was a busy year, I only worked in two of my bucket list items. I actually moved the third off into the new year. I plan to construct a gingerbread house in January. I will have much more time to do this then, and it is also a fun activity to brighten up an otherwise boring weekend. The super bonus is that many of the gingerbread kits will be on super sale at the store after the holiday.

Creepy Christmas music

I'm going to say it. Christmas music can be very creepy! I am not one of those people who switches on the holiday tunes as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey is cold. I don't mind a song here or there, but listening incessantly to old jolly music is not my thing.

Many older Christmas songs are eerie. When the crooners start belting out their favorites, I search for ear plugs. Perhaps it stems from unhappy memories of car rides on Christmas day after all the fun was over, or music mysteriously emanating from far off places. Seriously, when I worked the third shift someone forgot to turn their music off in their dark and dank basement office. The result was Patsy Cline singing some sad Christmas song and me too creeped out to try to find the source of the music.

Perhaps I also don't like the music because I see it as disingenuous. Am I really supposed to believe that everyone is that excited about Christmas and covering the same old songs? There are likely many recording artists who don't feel as deeply about the holiday as they portray in their rendition of "All I Want for Christmas." For this reason, my favorite Christmas songs (if I have to pick) are "So This is Christmas," "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." Not classic songs, but they're certainly fun and I don't feel like a hypocrite for listening to them.

"So This is Christmas" really exemplifies how I feel about all the fake joy around the holiday. It is sad that so many people get excited about the materialistic aspects of the holiday. They celebrate putting up Christmas decorations, baking cookies, going gift shopping, and of course receiving gifts from others. I don't think that is what any holiday should be about. Spending large amounts of money and partaking in consumerism shouldn't have to be a part of any holiday.

Movie review: Whiplash

Whiplash

Directed by: Damien Chazelle

Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons

Rating: A

This movie is the complete package. All others I have seen this year have been lacking something. It was a je ne sais quoi, until now. They all lacked the harmony I experienced in this movie. No pun intended, since this is a movie about musicians.

The acting was there, the directing was there, the conflict, building tension, climax… There was irony and symbolism. Best of all, in my book, there was a sort of down with the man moment in the end. Perhaps I have said too much. No more. I don't want to have to SPOILER ALERT myself.

This is the most well connected movie I have seen this year and in a long time prior. This movie is deserving of the Oscar buzz it is getting.

Movie review: Birdman

Birdman

Directed by: Alejandro Gonzálex Iñarritu

Starring: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone

Rating: B -

This movie is a contender. It has strong direction., strong acting (after all, they are actors who are acting in a stage production), but I was lacking the connection I needed. I found myself not caring much what happened to the story at times when I should have been intently watching instead of questioning what was going on. Perhaps the main character just wasn't supposed to be likeable. I did not feel a rapid deterioration of the character as I believe I should have witnessed. I felt there was also a lack of storyline development with supporting characters (Stone's character primarily). They characters were meant to portray the craziness that was going on in the life of the protagonist and meant to point toward his failings in life. It seemed as though the movie gave up on them. It just decided to resolve the story of one, while leaving many loose ends. The end was abrupt and left more questions than answers. When I look back at the movie, I can identify the necessary parts of a plot line, although I think this should have been much more apparent at the time.

While this review seems to portray the film in negative light, I am not wholly disappointed by it. Birdman was entertaining.

Free things to be thankful for

List 25 free things that I am thankful for. This is a creative writing exercise that hopefully will come easy to me. And even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, I am thankful for things year round. So, here goes:

1. Hugs
2. A warm bed
3. Friends and family (not exactly third on the priority list)
4. My health
5. Creativity
6. Summer rain
7. The first snow
8. Autumn smells
9. Good stories
10. Idea collaborators
11. Nature walks
12. Silence
13. Music
14. Art
15. My five senses
16. Cool pillows
17. Doggies
18. Lightning bugs
19. Sunny days
20. Photographs
21. Water
22. Jacket weather
23. Exercise
24. Polite people
25. Soup

Okay, that wasn't so bad. I thought of others that could be seen as controversial given the "free" element of this exercise. While I left some out, I decided with others that free equals whether I paid for it. So no, I did not pay for my soup. It was given to me by a polite person in a music filled court yard under sunny skies.

Black Friday abstinence

There is an increasing trend of people vowing to abstain from shopping on Black Friday. Retailers have been attempting to up their game by increasing shopping hours, which have spilled into Thanksgiving. But should we abstain from shopping on Black Friday. Is it right to get on our anti-consumerism soap box?

I have never been a Black Friday shopper. I just see no need to claw and fight for item that I did not even think I wanted. Many adults have also never shopped on Black Friday. The statistics tell us that more people aren't heading out in the wee hours after their holiday dinner, however there is growing competition for their dollars. Plus, the deals are said to be not great this year. The Black Friday bubble is about to burst. People have had too much. 

Those who are against Black Friday shopping often cite the injustice that the workers face. They are required to work instead of spending time with their families. I roll my eyes at this. I feel that if we want to pitty workers and take a stand, we should do it across the board. Retail workers are certainly not the only people who have to work instead of spending time with their families. Still, there is no wide movement to convince people to not go out to dinner or to not watch a newscast on the holiday. That is the injustice, the uneven application of American sympathy.

I come from a place of experience on this point. I have had to work holidays because the news always goes on. As a journalist I was required to work a summer holiday (Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day) and a winter holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day). Sure, we got to pick which day we wanted to work, but in the end our manager would give us the holiday he wanted us to work. Mine was Christmas and as such, it is not my favorite holiday or even one that I celebrate. The double whammy here is that I had Thanksgiving off but could not spend it with my family. Thanks for giving me the Thursday off, but requiring me to work on Black Friday to report on all of the crazy shoppers, traffic jams, and car crashes. That brief time off was a teaser and resulted in me not being able to properly celebrate yet another holiday. To make matters even worse (as if I need to make this worse), I worked the over night schedule, so I had to go in to work at 11pm on Thanksgiving. I do not see much difference in this than in the case of the retail worker required to report to work at the same time.

This is why I suggest that if we want to take a stand for something we should take a stand for the whole problem. We shouldn't be able to pick and choose who deserves to spend the holiday with their family, especially when that decision is based on your habits. By doing that, people are making a value judgment on the lives of others. Retail workers deserve to eat a large dinner with their family and be thankful, but those who work in news or public safety, or in the restaurant business are not worth it. The decision to tell others to not shop on Black Friday is easy for those who do not want to shop. That's a cheap way to take a stand for something. 

My signature cookie

Every baker needs a signature cookie. This is a go-to recepie that is a crowd pleaser. When I decided to find my signature cookie, I decided it should be a take on a classic, a slight variance to the recepie that changes the entire taste experience. My signature cookie is oatmeal blueberry.

My oatmeal blueberry cookie recipe has surprised many. I don't think people expect me to be a good cook, for some reason, let alone an inventive one. They are sweet with a layer of sweet tartness that is the blueberry. It is a complex flavor and one that seemingly couldn't possibly come from my kitchen. However, it is my signature cookie.

I signed up to bake my signature cookies for a Thanksgiving luncheon at work. To my dismay, I could not find the ingredients I needed/wanted to make my masterpiece. I know, I could have easily gone to another store to find my wares in stock. Running around the city looking for cookie ingredients is not in the cards. Thus, people will have to suffer through oatmeal chocolate chip. I'm sure it will be hard to handle. Afterall, no one likes chocolate chips.


In case you are wondering, I am not giving out my recipe on here. What good would my cookies be if everyone knew my secret!

Book review: The Invention of Wings

So, the new book club is off and running and I have already finished the first selection. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd was an easy and compelling ready. I was not able to put the book down. The author weaves together the lives of two people who are a little more than casually entwined. The book takes place in antebellum South Carolina and follows the life of Sarah and her lady in waiting Hetty, a slave. Sarah resented the gift of a human for her 11th birthday as she had develop and would continue to develop a more enlightened view of slavery in America.

The book tells the story of the two girls as they grow up and become humans. Their stories are separate but are always tied together with a common thread. Through a mutual respect, the girls find themselves in each other's hearts. They watch out for one another, care and protect and guide each other.

This is a work of fiction inspired by a true story. However, Kidd heavily researched before writing a single word. So while the events may not have happened exactly as reported in the book, they happened somewhere to many slaves. The book was truly enjoyable and the author's notes at the end only made me appreciate it even more. The Sarah, mentioned above, was a real person who ended up advocating for abolition and more. This is an inspired story. I recommend it to anyone.

Movie review: Veronica Mars

Directed by: Rob Thomas

Starring: Kristen Bell 

Rating: B

Veronica Mars is a fun murder mystery movie that puts a PG-13 spin on the crime drama genre. The movie is pleasantly not dark or gory, but it is still full of intrigue and mystery. There is danger, but not in a sinister way. The plot line is plausible and surprising, clever and mysterious. Veronica Mars was a television series years ago, so it is nice to see that the director maintained some of the integrity of the show and made it accessible to those fans by not going for an R rating. 

One thing is left unresolved in my brain. I'm not sure why Veronica compared herself to a marshmallow at the beginning of the movie. Yes, I get it that her last name is found in the word. However, I do not think she holds the characteristics of a marshmallow. She's not fluffy, personality or otherwise. She's not sticky. Finally, she's certainly not mushy. Perhaps this is a reference to the television series that went over my head because I didn't see more than one episode of the show. 

At a Redbox near you!

Movie review: Men, Women, and Children

Directed by: Jason Reitman

Starring: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Judy Greer

Rating: B+

Men, Women, and Children is a very thought provoking movie. There are a number of items that are handled and explored under the umbrella of technology and how it can have negative effects on the lives of children. At the same time, one of those arching topics is how a totally restricted and controlled life can also have an adverse effect.

I enjoyed seeing how the lives of all of the characters are interrelated and how the situations that are affecting them lead to other consequences. In addition, the decisions made by the parents to either over protect or corrupt their children has far reaching consequences as well. Most of all, I loved how this movie made you think about the implications of our online actions and how they are affecting generations to come.

I couldn't help but think of Fast Times at Ridgemont High during portions of this movie. The same issue seems to be tackled for some, growing up too fast. Actually, I had Jackson Browne's "Somebody's Baby" playing through my mind at the end. This is truly a tale of coming of age in a tech world. 

Futuristic inventions

What are five things that will have been invented by 2058? The five items listed in this article will be game changers, they will change how we function and interact with one another. Simply put, in 100 years people will comment that something is the greatest thing since sliced _______________. I will fill in that blank now.

A change of clothes in a briefcases. Sure, that sounds pretty ordinary. It's something we already do (stashing a change of clothes in a bag or suitcase) and doesn't need to be invented. However, there's more to this idea than meets the eye. This will actually be a series of briefcases, Iron Man style, that will transform you into whatever the day calls for. Football uniform. Check, and no need to waste time suiting up! Just step into the shoes that are in the briefcase, press a button and there you go.

Meal pills are not a tablet you swallow with water. They are actually dehydrated meals encapsulated in a clear gelcap. They're all ready to transform a surprise hunger pang into a delicious meal. Just heat and hydrate. To make things even easier, the meals are color coded by type or style of food, so there's no worry about mixing things up and accidentally

Taco Bell will deliver in the future. I mean come on, why hasn't this happened in the past? College kids everywhere would be lining up for this service. It isn't an invention of a product but an invention of a business model that Taco Bell can use to profitably deliver food to hungry chewy, crunchy, cheesey lovers. When I was in college I envisioned a slide system, like shoots and ladders, that would deliver the goodness right to my dorm room for those times when I was too lazy to get food myself.

People will love using the new heat bubbles. They work simply with the concept of someone figuratively stating that they are in their own bubble. A person would be able to zap a climate controlled bubble around themselves that will sustain itself for that winter walk to work, or the blustery hot commute to pick up the dry cleaning after a long day. The climate controlled chambers will allow people to skip the worst weather and it will result in no more weather complaints.

In the future people will be able to buy things simply by allowing a eye scan. The eye scan is linked to all accounts and aids in the need to never carry a wallet again. The retina scan is more safe than cloud base wallet systems because it is not hackable.

There will be many inventions between now and 2058. This list is a short compilation of the first things that came to mind when considering the creative writing question. I may have oversold in the first paragraph, promising that the inventions will be game changers. I had to catch your attention, right? The feasibility of all of the inventions is not necessarily sound, however they are all useful ideas that address pain points.

Movie review: In a World

Directed by: Lake Bell

Starring: Lake Bell

Rating: B

This Netflix find has been on my radar for a time. I first knew about the movie after watching a trailer in a movie theater, however the movie is much better than the catchy trailer leads viewers to believe. The movie has substance, a complicated story line, suspense, quirkiness, and above all the main character is relatable. She is not relatable in that we are all voice over actors, but her life is a bit of a mess. She comically stumbles through her days trying to navigate adult life. We can all relate to that on some level. As she stumbles along in life she happens to solve the life problems of her loved ones and provides them with a little comic relief during their personal tragedies. Above all else, this movie is charming.

BTW: Interestingly, this movie reads like a one woman show, the Lake Bell show. She wrote, directed, and starred in this film.

Starting a book club

I've started a book club. Yes, there are only myself and one other member, but who cares. The purpose of book clubs, in my opinon, is to share thoughts and reactions to writings. Book clubs expand people's horizons pushing them to read titles that they normally wouldn't.

The Shelex Literary Pose is just myself and a bestie. We do not live in the same state, so I thought this would be another great way to keep in touch. After all, we were both looking for new books to read at the same time, why not enjoy the book together.

The first selection is The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. It is a work that was picked up by Oprah's book club, so right there is a reason I wouldn't have normally read it. I like to stay away from book fads until they have proven the test of time. I like to steer clear of books that are overly emotional or sappy because I feel they do not contribute to my life in a productive way; they do not make me think. Everyone reads for different reasons (or chooses not to read), same as movie watching or t.v. viewings. Our reasons may be different but they are what propels us to pick a certain activity. I read to expand my thoughts and consider new ideas. So far, this is a great book for that.

Who knows what the next title will be for the Shelex Literary Pose, but I'm hoping it will be eye opening for me and leave men questioning certain ideas. I like to read books that stick with you and make it hard to think about much else.

Girls and their candy

It has recently come to my attention that I have fallen into a girly stereotype. Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids are among my favorite candies. I was informed that many ladies list these as their favorites as well. So, what is it about the sugary creations that make the Y gender smile?

I like both Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids because they are chewy without being too gummy or gunky on my teeth. The flavors are fruity without trying to overly impress in a disgusting way (banana laffy taffy anyone?). And yet, they're not too sweet. In the case of Sour Patch Kids, they're not too sour and then not too sweet. The perfect combination for a non annoying candy.

However, none of the candy attributes listed above are inherently female. One does not need to be a female to favor candy that doesn't stick to the teeth. Plus, it certainly isn't female to prefer something that is non chocolaty. So then, is the candy declared as a favorite of so many more women because men simply do not admit to their love for it? Do men think they can not equally enjoy it?

I'm asking you, are their gender guidelines for candy preference?

Movie review: The Giant Mechanical Man

Movie review: The Giant Mechanical Man
Directed by: Lee Kirk

Starring: Jenna Fischer, Chris Messina, Topher Grace

Rating: B+

I recently discovered this movie on Netflix and I am glad I did. It is not terribly old, 2012, but it is certainly something that wasn’t on my radar. I picked it because Netflix told me I would most likely love it. A person has to give a little pause when a prediction is so near 100% for favorability. Perhaps this comes from an interest in proving wrong computerized methods of calculating my interests. Well, nice job Netflix. You got this one exactly right. I greatly enjoyed it.

The characters in this movie are sad and lost. Even if you are not sad and lost, they are relatable. I found myself nodding my head in affirmation of their misfit feelings. They are not misfits; they are characters who are just looking for someone who won’t make them feel like they are the odd one out. This thought is even summed up by a line in the movie in the bar scene; we are basically all looking for that one person who will understand.

The lead actress, Janice, is going through a number of life changes as she floats along. Her sister does not make the lack of direction any easier. In fact, Jill projects her own life desires on Janice thinking her life will turn around if she only heads in the same direction. This is not true, Janice does not want what Jill wants and/or has. This causes great frustration.

The lead actor, Tim, is also coasting through life, and the idea of getting a more stable job and existence is thrust upon him. No one seems to understand Tim’s plight. He is a street performer, the giant mechanical man. He dresses in silver from his clothes to his face paint and dons stilts to bring smiles to passersby on the street. It appears that his desire to be a street performer is simply because he is a performance artist, but then we come to understand that Tim’s performances bring to life his detached outlook on life. He has not found anyone to help him make sense of his existence.

Janice develops a fondness for the giant mechanical man because she feels he understands her. She talks to him even though the giant mechanical man cannot react to her, as that would break character. Unknowingly, Janice and Tim begin working at the same zoo, both in jobs that are beneath their qualifications. They develop a friendship that grows into something more romantic. Janice doesn’t know Tim is the giant mechanical man and we don’t know how she will find out that Tim is the street performer she feels so deeply understands her, but we know it will happen. Will this discovery bring happiness or confusion?

This movie has a deeper message to convey. The acting is solid and makes the viewer understand the feeling of hopelessness. The characters really do appear to be lost in life and contemplating the meaning of everything. The directing excellently turns their hopelessness into a trajectory heading toward happiness.  We watch as they realize they don’t have to have everything figured out they just have to be content with their place in the world. The viewer becomes invested in the story because we’re rooting for a happy ending.

A tech savvy fairy tale

Creative writing exercise: Write a fairy tale that incorporates technology.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful little cupcake baker named Brenda. Brenda had hair the color of honey, a dark blond with natural highlights of gold and strawberry, at least that's how the fashionista bloggers would come to describe it. Her eyes resembled the bluest of seas, and had the depth of ocean waters. Her hands were dainty and nimble, perfect for decorating her delicious confections. Her father taught her everything he knew about baking and when he could offer no more guidance Bren turned to Google to find new techniques and trends.

Bren had been making cupcakes for friends and family since she was a little girl. Times had changed quite a bit since her Easy Bake Oven. For one, she was no longer as carefree as she was in her younger days. Her father died in what she still believed was an accident. The news report said it was a fire that originated in the kitchen, however conspiracy theories ran wild on Twitter.  Bren was forced to move in with her grandmother as a result, which was a major insult as she didn't have internet. However, that living situation also did not last as her grandmother soon after fell ill and passed away.

A neighbor reluctantly took Bren in and promised to provide for the curious little girl, and that living situation was much worse than a lack of internet. The neighbor, Harriet, grew to resent Bren's beauty and culinary skill. Harriet mocked Bren for her appearance and skill leading Bren to think she was below average at all she did. She would snap pictures of the girl and post them onto Instagram with odd comments and made up facts. It was all in an attempt to humiliate Bren, and Harriet was very proud of her cyber bullying tactics.

Bren was only allowed to leave their hut for baking supplies and even then, she was made to wear a cloak with a hood that covered her beautiful locks and nearly obscured her rosy cheeks and cherry lips. During one of these supply runs Bren had her face buried in her iPad reviewing the list of ingredients she would have to pick up. She wandered into the path of an elderly bicyclist who swerved to avoid hitting her and was sent careening toward a giant rock. The old man cried out for Her hood fell off her head as she struggled to make sure he didn't fall.

After the man was safely on his feet, Bren noticed the cracked screen of her iPad. She was not happy and began to demand the man pay to upgrade her tablet or at least pay to fix the screen. She'd even accept a payment to her PayPal account. His bike riding was reckless and he really could have hurt someone.

However, the first thing he noticed was the fallen hood and the beautiful and familiar features before him. His response shocked her. The stranger called Bren by her full given name and then revealed that he was her long lost uncle. Her father was actually alive and was a top secret tech developer for an off-shoot of Apple, along side other family members. The company delivered on contracts for the CIA and that's why all employees had to go into hiding. The family and community's safety would be at risk if the enemy knew who he was or where he was, which was actually a futuristic form of witness protection. All employees lived in the same town in Area 51 (the whole Area 51 story is actually a cover for the covert and long existing CIA mission).

Bren was overwhelmed with excited feelings. That totally explained why no one could find any living family members for her to live with. They were all off the grid. Imagine her luck of running into the old man and him recognizing her. She immediately began a plan to wipe her existence off the web and erase any trace of her existence. She would join her father if it was the last thing she'd do.

Book review: I am Malala

I took on I am Malala so that I would be able to participate in the University of Wisconsin Go Big Read this season. Every year the university selects one book for a book club type of event with the goal of getting as many people in the community thinking about and talking about the same book. This book is the perfect pick for this effort as it is about a girl who was attacked for her efforts of fighting for education for girls.

Malala reads like a non fiction selection, which it is. So, no surprise there. It begins with and is filled with much historical and cultural information. While it may seem like these details drew out the prelude to the actual meat of the book, those details are necessary in understanding why Malala was compelled to fight for her right to education, why she was viewed as such a threat by the Taliban, and what she meant to her family. In my opinion, she is truly deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize she won earlier this month.

I really enjoyed that Malala did not seem to have any bitterness at any point in this book. Her life seems disadvantaged and unfortunate  to western observers, but Malala understood that this was her plot in life and only wanted her right to education. She feels education is a right for every boy, girl, woman, and man and instead of her life becoming about making enough money to escape her life, meeting a love who would sweep her away, or settling into what was expected of her, Malala focused on her love of learning and the desire to make sure everyone has the same opportunity.

Further, she did not seem to be bitter about being shot in the head (Not a spoiler alert. This is non fiction and that fact was splashed all of the news for months.). She focused on her recovery and how she would continue to help girls pursue their educational interests. She thought she'd go back to her home and her life would return to normal. This couldn't happen and Malala was also not bitter about the changes that had to come in her living situation to keep her family safe.

With only 50 pages left in the book I learned that I would have to miss the book event my local chapter had planned. I was tempted to just put the book down and move on to something else, however I did want to see how the tragic events happened and how Malala would recover. I couldn't give up. So, I mustered through it and then I donated the book to another chapter member so she could read it and take my place at the book club discussion.

Movie review: The Skeleton Twins

The Skeleton Twins

Directed by: Craig Johnson

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Luke Wilson

Rating: A-

This is a great feel good movie, although I can see how it might be depressing to some. However, this is my kind of movie. There are troubled characters who are trying to sort out and work through their lives. There is a deeply rooted dynamic that needs to be re-examined and redefined. There are secrets and deceptions. In the end things work out, but that is not to say that it works out the way everyone thinks it should.

This is a movie about people who are lost and are looking for each other to help ground themselves. They need each other because without that other person, the twin, their lives just don't make as much sense. They're not fulfilled. This movie is for anyone who has ever felt like they're missing something, someone who would understand them, often without question. 

This movie is also about how some people seem like they are put together and successful, but are falling apart on the inside. The sibling who appears to have it all together isn't the one who is always the most stable. The facade will always crack in some way, revealing the deteriorated foundation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie for its darkness, surprises, sorrow, and pure joy. 

365 Days of beautiful

My 365 Day Photo Project is the gift that keeps giving, so to speak. When I was completing the project I had hopes that I would get repeated use out of my efforts. So far I have. I have framed my favorite prints for display in my bedroom, I have taken a photo and turned it into my cell phone cover, I have created magnets for gifts, and now I am exhibiting a sample of my work in an alumni art show.

Sure, to the casual observer it may not seem like a big deal that I am displaying in the UWGB alumni photography show. However, that would be wrong. This is just another opportunity for me to show off my work and gain more exposure. I'm not looking to take my art to great lengths, but it is nice to open more eyes with it every chance I get.

The theme behind the art show is to show how alumni are changing the world through their photography. My concept is simple. I always wanted to open people's eyes to the beauty that can be found in the ordinary, including myself. This isn't changing the world in the typical fighting for change way, but it is meant to change outlooks, and make people smile. I definitely think that is changing the world. After all, we all do what we can in the ways in which we can.

The alumni art show is going on at UWGB the weekend of October 25th as part of the school's homecoming festivities and celebration of alumni.

Allergies: Failure and disappointment

It’s been a while since I’ve written on my allergy injections. The great hope! Well a lot of nothing has gone on between now and then. It is very disappointing actually. This post is about failure and dissapointment.

Let me start out by talking about some of the bad that have happened. I blogged about my swelling and rashes, but I did not write about the respiratory troubles I experienced just weeks later (not as great of a visual). I was driving to Wisconsin through Chicago when my ears all of a sudden got that troubling full feeling. Soon after I felt a ball grow in my throat and I had diminished breathing ability. These symptoms weren’t totally alarming, but I knew I had to do something. Of course, you can’t find an interstate oasis when you need one. I didn’t want to pull off onto a secondary road, so I kept going. Finally, I began fishing around in my purse hoping to grasp one of my allergy relievers. Luckily, I found my fast acting nasal steroid. Within five minutes my symptoms had dissipated and I was better, at least the fear had subsided. All was good in the world.

The next week I had a checkup with my doctor, and my treatment plan was modified. While the drastic swelling and rash were problematic, the respiratory problems were definitely cause for concern. The doctor decided to take my allergen dosage back (on the treatment timeline) and create an in-between level for me, since the level I was at was obviously too harsh for my body (imagine using a 1/500 because the body couldn't handle the change from 1/1000 to 1/100). The doc also decided that I should only come in once a week for the injections instead of twice, and I had to take double antihistamines on my shot days. Plus, I would be questioned by the nurse as to whether I had taken my extra meds and whether I had my epi-pen with me.

This change in my treatment has gone over favorably. When I say favorably I mean that it has not caused me any problems. However, my treatment process is taking longer because we had to add a middle dosage level that doesn’t exist for most, adding at least a month to the process. This is not only taking up more of my time (an hour a week if I have no reaction), it is costing me a lot of money.

Which brings me to the decision I am about to make. I will soon pull the trigger, ending the allergy injections. You see, my symptoms have not gotten better. It has been five months, and I should have noticed a difference by now, other than the worsening of symptoms that I have been noting. I am nearing the end of the building phase of my treatment. Next is the maintenance phase, meant to sustain the level of pollen resistance that was created in the previous phase. However, nothing has gotten better. Things have only gotten worse. While I understand that it has not been a favorable year for allergy sufferers, what year is? I feel like that is said every year. Pollen levels are sooooo bad this season. When aren’t they? This is the new norm. This is my norm.

I have decided not to be too reactionary. I am giving this process one more month, or so. I am waiting until the first frost. Since it has gotten cooler, my ears have stopped feeling an extreme pressure that makes me envision blood streaming from them. Now, I just feel an uncomfortable amount of pressure (the ear thing is a new symptom this year). I also have very itchy eyes, a problem which is causing me to take even more antihistamines before bed. Just so I can sleep. I now need to dope myself to get a good night’s sleep. While the injections have probably not increased the instance of my symptoms or increased their severity, they are not helping relieve them, which is what they are designed to do.

I can't help but feel very disappointed. I had a lot riding on these treatments. The ability to eat an apple, for instance. I know my allergies (oral allergies and regular) are not the worse thing in the world. People are dealing with, coping with, so much more. But I was hoping that after these treatments I would be able to eat normally again and wouldn't have to be so cautious about everything that is brought my way or briefly described on a menu. It is a little depressing. Like I said, this is my norm. 

Okay, that's it. That is all the wallowing I will allow myself. I will not feel sorry for myself. Time to put a positive spin on things or at least move forward with a new action plan. Back to eating pollen with my yogurt in the morning. That wasn't so bad...