Attitude of Gratitude V4#16 - Twilight

Heidi's Tips for Enjoying Books that are Turned into Movies

1. don't read the book for at least a year before you see the movie so you don't remember every specific detail and don't get annoyed by minor differences in the plot

2. Set your expectations low

3. Decide that you think the lead actor is cute and is perfect for the part

With these three tips, I can say that I really enjoyed seeing Breaking Dawn on Saturday with my friends Sharlaine (back) and Elizabeth. Sharlaine didn't follow rule number three so she had a hard time with the movie as a whole. Elizabeth didn't follow one or two so she was a bit disappointed as well. For me, I really enjoyed it. It was like seeing old friends and I have to admit, I am wholly back on the Team Emmett bandwagon! ;)

Timing is everything too. This movie focuses on Edward and Bella's wedding and I couldn't help but thinking of my own brother's weddings that are coming up. Seeing Edward, Emmett and Jasper (did he make one?) make speeches just made me think of my brothers. Those guys are like brothers to me anyway, even if I do think they're cute ;)

I am looking forward to the second part of Breaking Dawn even though it contains a lot more "vampire" stuff which I don't enjoy. I am interested to see how it all plays out on screen though. I was discussing the movie with my coworker and was reminded of a blog post I wrote two years ago. It's my stance on Twilight, for the record :)

And, to make this an official "Gratitude" post, I am thankful that I have friends who I can go see them movie with! Sharlaine and Elizabeth were technically on a double date, in that their husbands went to see another movie while they saw Breaking Dawn but they allowed me to join them which I appreciate. It's always fun to see films with people who can appreciate them.

My Reading List

I am feeling some pressure to get through the books on my current reading list. They're all so interesting that it's difficult to chose which to work on though!
1. "Jane Eyre" by Emily Bronte - at the top of the list because I need to have it read for our next book club meeting on Tuesday. It's been a struggle because it's SUCH a long book but the end is in sight.
2. "Twilight & History" edited by Nancy R. Reagin - This one is a series of essays on the characters in Twilight and how their personal histories were shaped based on when they were turned. It's a fascinating read but I borrowed it from on of the book club members. I'd love to give it back to her on Tuesday but I kind of doubt that's going to happen.
3. "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett - This is on my list of 100 books and was actually the one I read most while on vacation. I borrowed it from Meredith so I have to have it read before I leave in mid-August. That's lots of time but I'm halfway done and I just want to keep reading!
4. "I Think She's Trying to Tell Me Something" by Dan Graziano - I haven't even started this one but it's got a great title and it's borrowed as well so I'd like to get through it.
5. "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" by Stephanie Meyer - Not a must read but it's our book club selection for July. We moved our meeting date up to July 6th so we can all see the movie sooner rather than later. I've already read this book twice but it was my favourite of the four so I'd love to read it again before the movie comes out.

Those are the ones on my "active" list. There are tons of other books lying around here that I either need to read, pack or get rid of before I move, not to mention the library books that I take out and return without even cracking :( Anyways, having too many books to read is a good problem to have :) I'd take it over many others any day!

December 12 of 12

Saturday morning...and most other mornings at this time of year, this is what I start with. Coffee with egg nog and yes it's instant coffee. My dirty little secret :P
Saturday morning also means the Country Top 40 countdown is on from 10-2. I listened to it off and on and what I missed, I`m catching up on now on Sunday night when it is replayed. I listen to it most weekends though.
I made my Christmas cards again this year. Making them is the easy part. Writing in them is what I struggle with. I spent the better part of the morning writing ones for the people at church.
But ran out so I had to make more.
While I was making more cards I watched "It's a Wonderful Life". My Christmas movie staple...probably my ONLY Christmas movie staple come to think of it.
At 12:30 I left home and met up with a friend to see New Moon for the second time. We enjoyed it even more, if you don't count the loud "Team Jacob" contingent in the theatre. They got annoying really fast. Still, I can't wait for Eclipse!
When I got home I put on some Christmas carols (this is becoming a list of what I listen to during the day! That's kind of appropriate though. The radio/cd player is the first thing I turn on when I walk in the door or get up in the morning and the last thing I turn off.) This is my Christmas collection.
With the tunes going, I was inspired to FINALLY hang some pictures. I picked these up at a garage sale a few months ago and they've been leaning against the wall since then. I love ferns and fiddleheads so these are perfect for me.
I tried to bake but it didn't turn out at ALL. It's supposed to be squares but I burnt the top and the bottom didn't cook. I have an idea of what I did wrong in the mixing process but the bottom line is, it flopped. And that happens sometimes. C'est la vie.
I went to a Christmas party anyways. I was hoping to take the squares but as you can see, there was LOTS of food (this is only one table. The other one is across the room!

I couldn't resist this picture of Evan. Must be nice to be so little that you can use your chair to sit on AND hold your plate :D

And lastly, my new Tupperware!!! I'm very excited to use it :D

Oops. Apparently I forgot a picture of myself yesterday. Here I'll cheat and borrow one that someone took of me at church today. It's been COLD all week and this morning during service it finally started snowing big fat fluffy flakes.

Attitude of Gratitude V2#18 - High School

High School. It seems like every time I turn around I’m confronted with it.

* I’m re-reading Twilight which is teenage, high school angst at it’s finest.
* You can’t escape Taylor Swift and thankfully, I don’t want to because I like her music but she captures the gut wrenching indecision of high school and brings it all back to the surface.
* I actually had to GO to my highschool to pick up copies of my transcripts for my university application. It wasn't the first time I've been back since graduating but it was the first time in a long time. Not much has changed although the school has a new coat of paint so it looks fresh. And my english teacher is now principal and my math teacher is vice-principal. Crazy.
* I went for massage therapy and it turns out my massuse went to the same school I did, although she graduated 15 years before me. Still, we shared a few teachers and had fun reminiscing about them.

So yeah, high school. You can't avoid it but I am so glad that I'm NOT there anymore!!!

About three things I am absolutely positive

First, I don’t like vampires. I don’t like the idea of them, or reading about them or hearing about them at all (and it’s not because I’m “scared”. I just don’t like fantasy, The witches and warlocks in Harry Potter are bad enough.)

Second, Stephanie Meyer is an incredible author and I only wish I could turn my dreams into multi-million dollar franchises like she has done. (Cause I have to admit, I’ve had some pretty cool dreams).

And third, I, like half the female teenage population of the world (and a lot of the non-teenage population) am unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Edward.

There. I’ve confessed it and it’s out in the open. Admitting you have a problem is the first step right? :)

But you know what? I’m not sorry. I’m not sorry that I’m a hypocritical Twilight fan because I simultaneously do not approve of vampires and fantasy yet I LOVE these books (and yes, to everyone who said “I told you so” you were right). I’m not sorry that I have a school girl crush on a character in a book and an actor.

In fact, on some level I am thankful for the Twilight Saga. It’s fun to be caught up in something and to have something in common with others. No, not everyone “gets it”, but there are enough that it’s fun to share. From my second cousin who’s younger than me and right in the Twilight target age group, to my bookkeeper who’s older than me and planning a Twilight birthday party for…herself. It’s fun to swoon with these people and share our mutual love for these characters. After all, that’s what good literature is all about. Vampires or not. And for that, I am grateful.