How One Kansas Women Saved Halloween

(Pumpkin my brothers carved with some friends . . . Transformers!)

Once upon a time Trick or Treat meant something.  

Once upon a time Tricks were all the rage on All Hallows Eve.

In 1897 the Chanute Daily Tribune in Kansas describes the horror found on November 1st, the night after the terror:

"The sewer pipe was rolled into the big ditch and some of it broken. Thomas' wagon was broken, gates were taken off and in some instances lost, outhouses thrown over and broken up and in some places the sidewalks were torn up."

 This happened every year.  Kids would walk the streets causing as much mischief as possible.  (Where were the parents!!!??)  There were many communities that were ravaged by vandalism, and communities tried everything they could, including threats of jail time.

Then in Hiawatha Kansas a lady named Mrs. John Krebs had had enough.  On November 1st she woke up to find her flower bed and fence destroyed, ruining all her hard work.  She cooked up an idea to help save her future garden and town.  The first year she hosted a party at her home, hoping the children would come instead of causing problems.  For the most part it worked, but not all children came, and there was still destruction.  The next year, 1914, she planned a Halloween costume parade, and this time it was a Huge success, no vandalism, and it's a tradition that continues today as the Hiawatha Parade and Frolic.

 

One person can make a difference.

(Information gathered from the above links and Mysteries at the Museum on the Travel Channel.)  

Cerulean Jade Update: October 30, 2013

My brother and I, aka Cerulean Jade, is on Spotify!  We've been on there a year with our single Dream Maze, thanks to digital distribution through cdbaby.  But even knowing we paid for the distribution we didn't know our song was on this popular streaming site.  How did we find out?  After months and months we logged into the cdbaby website to see how things were going.  There we saw we'd made about $1.30 in streaming . . . $0.03 from Spotify.  Spotify!!?

When Steven told me, I rushed to the screen to see for myself.  Yes, $0.03 isn't a lot of money, but it's something!  And it means someone other then us found the song and listened to it.  That's really cool.

I just want to personally thank those who have downloaded Dream Maze and Sing We Now of Christmas.  It really means so much.

Right now one of the main things Steven and I are focusing on is getting a piano version together for Done With Gravity.  It's been so hard!  We've struggled at the piano trying to get the song to work.  The transitions have been the hardest, specifically between the verse and chorus, but recently we had a breakthrough and a solid direction of where to take the piece.  The whole mood has changed, and I'm liking the progress and feel of it so far.  Personally I'm aching to get it online!  And then we'll upload the original version, piano version, and instrumental track on Band Camp.  We're holding off putting it on cdbaby and digital distrabution for now, waiting to get together a full album, which is a ways away.  Band Camp is a fantatic place to sale our music until the album comes out. 

I can't wait to get this song up and the video recorded, and then after that we'll start uploading more original songs :0) 

Darth Vader does Shakespeare

 Did you know that William Shakespeare wrote "Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope"?  Yeah, neither did I.  And we thought George Lucas was the genius mastermind!!

This new take on Star Wars was actually written by Ian Doescher: it's really clever, very well written, and full on giggle worthy thanks to its overall awesomeness.

R2-D2 speaks beyond his usual beeps and squeaks!  Not to the characters, of course, just to us, the audience.  We see into his mind in good ol' Shakespearean fashion:

"This golden droid has been a friend, 'tis true,

And yet I wish to still his prating tongue!

An imp, he calleth me?  I'll be reveng'd,

And merry pranks aplenty I shall play

Upon this pompous droid C-3PO!

Yet not in language shall my pranks be done;

Around both humans and the droids I must

Be seen to make such errant beeps and squeaks

That they shall think me simple.  Truly, though,

Although with sounds oblique I speak to them,

I clearly see how I shall play my part,

And how a vast rebellion shall succeed

By wit and wisdom of a simple droid.

[Exit R2-D2 into escape pod.]"

Awesome!

Ian Doescher uses a spoken chorus as narrative, which is less Shakespeare and more Sophocles a la classic Greek Drama (Oedipus Rex/Antigone), but it works in this adaptation because of all the scenes that wouldn't be easily portrayed on stage . . . wouldn't it be fantastic if a theatrical group staged this version?  That would be so much fun.

Now bring on Empire Strikes Back!  That's the best of the three . . . I just want to see how Doescher tackles Yoda :0)

Everybody is a Genius

"Everybody is a genius.  But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."

~ Albert Einstein

1982 Japanese Yen

Last year my Dad got my brother Steven a Japanese Yen proof set that was absolutely amazing.  I commented on how cool it was, and it would be fun to find one for my birth year, and then didn't think anything about it.  It's kinda hard to find that sort of thing in the States.  Yesterday my Dad surprised me with this 1982 set!  He's been looking for the last year on eBay for one to pop up, but one never has until this set was posted.  Really cool :0)

 The middle coin indicates this is a 1982 set; I was born in the year of the dog, the water dog to be specific.

Veggie Mama on ABC's Shark Tank

Only a couple weeks ago I discovered the show Shark Tank while visiting my Grandma's, casually watching the television.  It was such an interesting show that I went home and programed the DVR to record all new future episodes.

Last weeks episode, airing on October 18th, was particularly interesting . . . maybe because I've only seen two episodes, so I don't have much to compare.

For those who don't know Shark Tank is a show where entrepreneurs meet with investors, hoping to get help with their business. 

Teresa and Robert Fraijo presented a product named Veggie Mama Garden Pops, popsicles made with vegetables and fruits, agave sweetened, dairy free, with natural ingredients.  It seems like a great idea and a fun way to get kids to eat their fruits and vegetables.

The Fraijo's invested $30,00 of their own money, including the diamond in Teresa's wedding ring, and $110,000 from friends and family, totaling $140,000.  They came to the investors asking for $75,000 with a 15% stake in their business.

Both Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran opted out, not wanting to offer a deal.

1st Offer: Kevin O'Leary offered $75,000 for a $0.50 royalty that will drop to $0.25 when the investment is recuperated.

2nd Offer: Robert Herjavec comes in with $150,000 (so the husband can quit his full-time job and help with the business), a 25% business stake.  $75,000 comes into the picture as salary in 6-12 months.)

3rd Offer: Lori Greiner offers $75,000 for 20% business stake, more later if needed, and a promise to use her connections to bring the product nationwide.

4th Offer: Kevin comes back in and offers $150k for $0.50 royalty, $0.25 when investment is paid off, to help as salary.

5th Offer: Robert and Lori come back jointly with $150k, 20% business stake and a $0.20 royalty.  (Makes no sense when you think about it; worst then the 4th offer.)

Then Barbara stops what's going on and offers advice to Teresa and Robert to talk in private and offer a counter.  They do, and come back with $75k now, $75k in the future when needed, and a 20% business stake.  No royalty.

Robert Herjavec declines this and says his and Lori's offer stands as is.

By this point Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran are so frustrated with what's going on that they go in together (Mark doesn't want to do the work, so Barbara says she will).

6th Offer: Mark and Barbara, $75,000 with 20% stake, no royalty.  Teresa accepted it on the spot, and the show ends.  Sounds just like Lori's first offer.

Boy, I would have loved to see what happened when the cameras stopped rolling.

Steven and I were watching, mouths open, no mention if there would be an additional $75,000 to bring the husband on.  Personally I think Kevin's second offer seemed best.

Crazy!!!

  

Teresa mentioned that the product was already in Whole Foods and Sprouts.  I'm obsessed with Sprouts (though Winco is my favorite), so Steven and I went to Sprouts on Saturday, but couldn't find it.  Then, when I randomly went to the market yesterday, I found it!  Retail price $4.49, but there was a 50 cents off sale at $3.99, so I decided to try it.

 Nutritional information and ingredients for the three pops in the box: Citrus Cucumber, Carrot Berry, Sweet Potato Pie.

What you get in the box; a total of 6, $0.75 a pop.

Carrot Berry tasted the best.  Sweet Potato was my second favorite, because I like sweet potato, though my brother Robbie couldn't stand it.  My least favorite was citrus cucumber, but mainly because you can taste the cucumbers, and I've never liked them.  I prefer zucchinis.

Overall a good product that will hopefully inspire kids to eat their veggies! 

Grace Unplugged: Movie Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Grace Trey (AJ Michalka) is the daughter of a rocker turned Christian singer, and because of this she's grown up singing in Churches, musically restrained by her Father.  She wants more, dreaming of going to Hollywood and breaking into secular music.  An opportunity presents itself when her Dad's old manager Frank (Kevin Pollak) pays the family a visit.  He wants to bring Johnny Trey (James Denton) back into the music business when an old song goes viral on the internet.  Johnny refuses, determined to keep that life behind him, but Grace secretly records a demo of that song and submits it to the music label.   

Grace Unplugged is an inspirational film about learning to be in the World, but not of it.  To follow ones dream while trying to not get lost in the process.  No easy feat in the Entertainment industry where image is everything, and Christian values frowned upon.

I've been a fan of AJ for years, enjoying the music she's made with her sister Aly.  Insomniac is a solid fun album, and I love their song "Silence" and "Flattery," so I loved hearing AJ sing in Grace Unplugged.  "Misunderstood" is a great song, and "You Never Let Go," a duet with James Denton, is a nice Christian song.

The reason I didn't put this movie in the 4 stars range is for technical reasons, one of the biggest offenders being framing issues.  Heads were constantly getting chopped off or cut in half. . . which got on my nerves.  This isn't the French Revolution.

Overall this is a great movie for families and people of faith.

MPAA: Rated PG for thematic elements and brief teen drinking.

A New Mickey Mouse

Last month I discovered there is a new design of Mickey Mouse while visiting the Disney Store.  It took me for a loop!  He's constantly evolving, so this isn't anything new, but this latest incarnation is quite interesting.  It's classic Mickey meets Japanese kawaii, and the fact that the first short I saw took place in Tokyo sealed the Japanese impression!

I honestly love these new shorts: Silly and cute.  

And they're not Three-Dimensional!!!!

You can view more of these videos and play games on the Disney Website.

Captain Phillips: Movie Review

Rating: 3.25 out of 5 Stars

When I first exited the theater I felt the film deserved a strong 4.75 Stars out of 5, because it seemed perfect, but I digress.

Pirate fever started in 2003 with the invention of the great Jack Sparrow.  Piracy was cool again.  Soon everyone wanted to be a Pirate, even creating September 19th "Talk Like a Pirate" day, and the famed Disney Park ride got an uplift.  But it seemed that Piracy was a romantic part of histories past, echoes of Treasure Islands, large sails, and corsets.  In 2009 this perception changed.

Instead of random political intrigue gracing the news, it focused on an old maritime pastime: Piracy.  In April 2009 there were a series of events off the Somalia coast, and the MV Maersk Alabama cargo ship was seized, the first ship registered under the American flag to be taken since the early 19th century.

The movie this incident is based on was intense and thoroughly entertaining.  There were many times I found myself holding my breath.  And Tom Hanks acting was spot on; his final moments in the film are absolutely amazing.  His performance perfection.  Though this movie isn't for everyone, it is a wild, well crafted ride.

But that's the problem, this "true story" may not be so "true."

Most true stories are coated with changes and tweaks.  We know things have to be cut down and re-fitted.  But it's those tweaks, when researched, that actually dampen and darken the film, and has left me incredibly turned off, wondering what to think.

Captain Phillips, who this movie is named after and played by Tom Hanks, is portrayed as the hero, making all the right decisions and sacrifices, but he wasn't the hero.  The true hero was actually the chief engineer Mike Perry.  In news gathered by The York Post, where several crew members have filed law suits, claim Captain Phillips, the movie, is "One Big Lie."

"Phillips wasn’t the big leader like he is in the movie,” says one crew member, who, for legal reasons, spoke with The Post anonymously. He worked very closely with Phillips on the Maersk Alabama and was alarmed by his behavior from the beginning. Phillips, he says, had a bad reputation for at least 12 years prior, known as a sullen and self-righteous captain.  “No one wants to sail with him,” he says."

  

One known fact that makes me believe these claims may be true is that Captain Phillips was ordered to sail 600 miles off the coast because of the increase in piracy and other hijackings, but Phillips ignored this, sailing instead at 240 miles off the coast to make good time.  This wasn't at all portrayed in the movie.  Also, when the ship is first attacked the crew was performing a fire drill, not a security drill, and Phillips wouldn't let the crew stop and prepare, instead having them finish practicing the lifeboat portion.

And Phillips didn't order the crew to the bottom of the Engine room, that was Mike Perry.  Every act of heroism during the captor was performed by him, and would have made a Much better story, if the truth was included.  

But the movie is based on a memoir by Captain Phillips himself, A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea.

The second half of the movie seems to be accurate, if you believe Wikipedia.

It's a shame, really, because the film truly was enthralling.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for sustained intense sequences of menace, some violence with bloody images, and for substance use.

POPSUGAR Must Have Box October 2013: My Thoughts

 I have been wanting to try a subscription box for month, ever since I first heard about them.  What is a subscription box?  It's a box that typically surrounds a theme, and they send you a curated box full of goodies each month, which is a complete surprise.  It's like Christmas!  So I looked through the countless subscriptions out there including the various Fancy boxes, food boxes, jewelry boxes, makeup, kid themed boxes for my nieces, craft boxes, etc.

In the end I knew there was only one box I HAD to try, and that was POPSUGAR Must Have.  Currently it's $35 a month ($5 off if you use REFER5 at check out on your first box!), though next month it goes up to $35.95).  As a treat for going 3 months without sugar, I signed up for a 3 month subscription at $95, and with $5 off I'm getting these 3 boxes for $30 each!  

You can still get next months box at the low price of $35, 3 months for $95, 6 months for $190 and 12 months for $380 before it becomes $39.95 a box, 3 months for $109.85, 6 months for $214.70, and 12 months for $404.40.  I'm thinking of adding on 6 more months to take me past my birthday, which would come out to $31.67 a box.  So much better then $39.95!  

 What my box looked like when I opened it!

 The Can’t Cook Book by Jessica Seinfeld: $27.99

 What I'm most excited about!  I'm notorious with watching the food network and reading cooking magazines, and not cooking!  My cutting skills are pathetic, and I don't know how broiling works.  This cookbook takes you through all this, and this book employs digital watermakring.  Whenever a picture has a camera image, you can download an app to scan the picture and watch an instruction video on your phone.  Super cool.  And the recipes look so good!  This book became available for purchase just last Tuesday.  

 The West Brush: $14

Somehow Popsugar knew I needed a new brush, and one that's designed to detangle as you brush.  It works!  I tried it this morning.  I've been having issues with my last brush, pulling hair and tangling, but this new brush is awesome.

 NYX Cosmetics Smokey Shadow Palette: $7

I've never been brave enough to try the smokey eye look, but now I'll have to.  These colors are so pretty.

 NYX Cosmetics Liquid Black Liner: $4.50

I've been meaning to try a liquid eyeliner just to see what it's like, and I'm so glad I got brown! 

 Julep Nail Polish Set in Freedom Polymer Top Coat: $18

Julep Nail Lacquer in Char: $14

Julep is super popular in the box subscription World, and I've been really wanting to try.  The navy like color is nothing I typically use, but I know this shade is quite popular in the fashion World.  I tried it this morning, and it's super high quality.  Still not use to the color, but it's fun to try something new.  

And I love, love, LOVE the top coat!

 Jane Tran Bobby Pins: $12

I don't use bobby pins, but these are really cute and good quality.  I'll have to venture over to Pinterest to get some hairstyling ideas.

 The Crispery Halloween CrispyCake: $3.95

 Popsugar always includes a food item of some sort, and this month we got a Halloween themed gormet rice crispy treat from The Crispery!  Super marshmallowy.  Super yummy.  And HUGE.  This picture doesn't do the treat any justice.

 Gorjana Charity Bali Bead Bracelet: $45

100% of the sale of this bracelet goes towards breast cancer research.  It's bright pink thread with 18k gold covered beads.  Unfortunately mine was a whole inch short at 6" instead of 7".  I asked some gals on this Popsugar forum I frequent, and all theirs was the currect length.  I contacted costumer service and they're sending a new one.  I'm really impressed with popsugar's costumer service. 

And finally a Stitch Fix $20 gift card.  It's a clothing service that I won't be using, but I can see how it can be a lot of fun.

Not including the bracelet or gift card the value of this box is $101.44!!  Not bad for $30!!!  And if you include the bracelet and gift card then the value of the box is $166.44.

Now I can't wait to get next month :0)

The Saratov Approach: Movie Review

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5 stars

What would you do if someone held a gun to your head and told you to question your faith in Christ?

The Saratov Approach is based on a true story.  In March 1998, two LDS missionaries, Elder Tuttle (Corbin Allred) and Elder Propst (Maclain Nelson), are following up a missionary contact in Saratov Russia.  They're there to meet a young man who seemed to believe in Christ and wanted to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but what the two missionaries faced while entering the apartment wasn't at all what either expected.  Immediately the two are pushed to the ground and beaten, eyes and mouth taped, pushed into a car, and posed in a terrifying position holding their name tags for a polarized photo.  They are being held captive for a $300,000 ransom.

The movie then becomes a day-to-day successful suspense film, where we see the parents get involved, government workers, federal authorities, and even President Clinton being made aware.  All faiths come together to pray for their safety.

Instead of the happy go lucky Tony award winning The Book of Mormon Musical, which chops and mocks everything I hold dear, you see a true reality of the dangers of missionary service.  It's what all of us fear when sending out loved ones with nothing more then emails, letters, and two shared phones calls a year (on Christmas and Mothers Day).  I know someone personally who, just last year, was beaten by gang members, breaking his jaw.  He had to come home early for surgery and be wired shut. 

What Elder Tuttle and Elder Propst faced is every parents nightmare.  This story is one of faith, of not giving in, and I was very impressed with the quality of the film and the acting.  The acting was very good!  The two playing the missionaries weren't the only great actors, but the two who played the Russian captors (Nikita Bogolyubov and Alex Veadov) did a superb job as well.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some violence

Be More Dog

 (Image Info)

Why be a cat when you can Be More Dog?

They have more fun, do they not?  More excitement.  More joy.  More energy.

Cat's, on the other hand, can be listless and picky.  Prone to revenge and malice.  Selective and Calculating.  Selfish.

(Image Info)

That's the opinion of this commercial from O2, encouraging us to be dog-like in optimism and purpose.  I saw it at a leadership meeting a couple weeks back, and the whole 600+room had a good laugh over it.

It's true, really, we could all be a little more dog.

Though I like dogs, I will always prefer cats.  They're independent and don't need to be cuddled.  They come when they want to, then leave for solace.  And I like they're attitude.

Flash Flood in Orem UT

(Photo I found on the internet.  

I don't know who to credit)

You never know where you're going to be when tragedy strikes.  I was spontaneously in Salt Lake City and missed all the action last September 7th, a little over 4 weeks ago.

A week before that I was in Southern California when a flash flood hit Riverside.  I was in Ventura at the time, but my Uncle told us all about it, warning us to be careful on the drive back.  Apparently the Riverside Community College suffered some flooding.  Then, driving home, we had to take the long way because there were flash flood warnings in Palmdale, Littlerock, and Victorville CA, which is the path we take to merge unto the I-15.  My Uncle called later and said that there was a flash flood in Victorville, around the time we would have passed through.

Then on the 7th my Mom got the sudden idea to go to Salt Lake, when we were going to originally hang out near the University Mall.  There was a light rain in Salt Lake, but nothing major.  Just nice and warm.  But as soon as we headed back to the Valley my Mom and I were hit with all these stories.

There was a green sky and the beginnings of a tornado, but thankfully, thanks to the mountains, it didn't completely form.  My brothers went out to watch, high winds and flashes of lightning every second.  There was a game going on at BYU, and according to a couple people it was super scary.  And the next day I found out a lot of people suffered flooding in their basements.

We were lucky. 

The following week there were flash floods taking place all over Colorado.

Crazy, slow storm.

Never Regret

(Overlooking the Great Salt Lake a Couple Months Ago)

"Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back.  Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only for wallowing in."

~ Katherine Mansfield

Gravity: Movie Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

When I first saw the trailer to "Gravity" I was amazed that they used a complete scene instead of a decoupage of randomness, or "quick-to-get-annoying" quips that plague so many trailers.  It was a bold, dangerous choice that quickly got boring, so boring, in fact, that my brothers didn't even want to see the film, and we sighed whenever the trailer was replayed.  What was the plot line--most trailers give it away--and what was the point?  Why did I want to waste precious money and time on a film about a couple of people getting trapped in space?  I saw "2001: A Space Odyssey" at 2:00 a.m. once, and have yet to recover from that drug trip.

I didn't know that Sandra Bullock was in the movie.  That discovery was made when the latest Vogue issue came in the mail.  She is interviewed about movie's process and why she decided to join the project.  They were going to film the anti-gravity scenes, which make up the entire movie, in one of those planes that creates several seconds of weightlessness, but instead the affect was created while being suspended with strings.  I wanted to see that, and going in with that knowledge made me appreciate the movie all the more.

George Clooney is also in this movie, too, and he's good, but this is Sandra's film.  She plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a medical engineer, and this is her first space mission.  She's not even use to zero gravity, fighting the effects and slight nausea.  Then tragedy strikes (if you've seen the trailer you know what that is.)  I won't give anything away.  I can't.  The not knowing actually made the movie more breathtaking and exciting.

The movie has it's moments of intensity, but it also has moments of solace.  Space is both dangerous and beautiful.  Even astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the Moon, gave The Hollywood Reporter his review on this new film:

"I was so extravagantly impressed by the portrayal of the reality of zero gravity. Going through the space station was done just the way that I've seen people do it in reality. The spinning is going to happen -- maybe not quite that vigorous -- but certainly we've been fortunate that people haven't been in those situations yet. I think it reminds us that there really are hazards in the space business, especially in activities outside the spacecraft . . . This movie gave great clarity to looking down and seeing the features of Earth … but there weren't enough clouds, and maybe there was too precise a delineation from space.  I know: If you're looking down at Earth, you're looking through an atmosphere that has a bit of haze in many places and not just occasional clouds. Here, the precision was remarkable, though you might need a pretty good spy telescope to see that well."

I was literally on the edge of my seat through the whole of the movie, breathing and sighing with the movements, uncomfortable with the characters . . . trying not to annoy the people I was sitting next to.  Gravity is available in 2D/3D/IMAX3D.  I saw it in 2D, to save money, but I may need to splurge to see the film in IMAX 3D.  There were so many scenes where I thought, "That would be cool in 3D!  That would be cool . . . oh, wow . . ."  So I'll have to make the effort to see this film in a more dazzling platform, which I've read is quite amazing.

     
Not what I was expecting.

Not at all boring.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language.

New Cerulean Jade Cover Song: "What If" by Five For Fighting

It's a long time in the making, and we haven't had a new song since our original "Done With Gravity" music video last April, but Cerulean Jade is back with a Cover Song!  Our version of "What If," originally performed by Five Four Fighting, is now on YouTube.

I first heard the song on iHeart radio, streaming a local station, and knew in that instant I wanted to sing it.  The lyrics are absolutely beautiful, and I feel they get a little lost in the upbeat, original song.  Steven did the piano arrangement to our version, and I feel it's his best yet.

I hope you enjoy it!  And if you love it, please share with friends :0)

You can buy/download the original version of "What If" by Five For Fighting on iTunes and Amazon.

In Which I Disagree With Jane Austen

I saw this bag at a movie theater a couple weeks ago.  At first I loved it, having to take a picture to remember the words, until I started to think about it . . . thinking, then thinking some more.  Suddenly I realized I didn't believe the quote at all.

"It isn't what we say or think that defines us, but what we do."  ~ Jane Austen

Sure, the sentiment is nice, and our actions do define us, but isn't what we say considered an action?  Don't thoughts lead to motion?

On the first point, there are many who will say things, speak pretty words, or harsh tones, and not follow through with what's said.  But what we choose to say with our language, colloquial speech, swearing, eloquence, positives, negatives, threats, encouragements, put downs, uplifts, and everything in between has an influence.

We don't have to hit someone to cause harm.  We don't have to give someone a hug to give reassurance.

Having the courage to speak up and share our mind can make all the difference in a time of difficulty.  Simply saying "Hi" to a stranger can mean the World to someone in a time of struggle.

Our words, what we say, does matter.

And on the second point, what we think actually has more impact on "what defines us" then what we say and do.  Thinking leads to action.  No one commits a crime without first thinking the thought.  No one creates anything without an idea first springing to mind.  Happy people think happy thoughts; miserable, depressed people foster negative thoughts.

The key to controlling what we do is to first control what we think.

(Edit 10-4-2013:  I've been informed that Jane Austen didn't actually say what is quoted on the bag, but that it was a line used during an adaptation of one of her books.  The danger of history and how things can be twisted.  I still hold true to the sentiments I expressed.)

Renaissance Fair at Thanksgiving Point

 Last Saturday I went to the Renaissance Fair at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi Utah.  It's the first in the Valley, I believe, could be super wrong about that, so all my friends were talking about it.  The event took place last Friday and Saturday with a cost of $10 an adult, which, in retrospect, is overpriced.

I was going to go on Friday, but I'm glad I didn't, instead going to the Gem Fair in Sandy  (had free Friday tickets, and that's where my Mom buys a lot of her jewelry material).  Around noon time, which is when I passed Thansgiving Point, there was an absolute downpour, and when going around the point of the mountain the rain turned into snow.  In short, terrible weather, and a terrible day to do anything outside.  Hopefully it cleared up for anyone who showed up later that afternoon.  That would have been miserable.

The Renaissance Fair was fun, but it's nothing like the Ren. fairs I went to in Tulare Country, CA.  They're a big deal there, and the atmosphere is different.  I didn't join any of the guilds, but there were a few, and when you join you take on a role and class, and there is a strict adherence to being historically correct, even down to the right fabric.  It's super cool, and even all the booths are as historically close as they can be.  At Thanksgiving Point it was all over the place with attendees confusing Fantasy and Steam Punk with the period between 1400-1600 AD.  I know it's all in good fun, but I did find myself missing the Renaissance Fairs of my youth.  

Members of the court.

Only in Utah do you find modest belly dancers.

Knights of Mayhem!!  The World jousting champion Charlie Andrews, who's from Utah, was there to joust.  First time seeing it in person! 

And my big splurge, which I promised I wouldn't do, was to buy two Scottish Country Dance books from the 1950's.  The piece shown above is from 1796.  Not from the Renaissance period, but it's cool to have.  Can't wait to learn the music; wish I can figure out the dance pattern.

The above picture was taken my senior year of high school.  We had a class project to put together and host a Renaissance Fair.  I made the above dress!  The first, and only time, I've sewn an outfit.  My Grandma helped me, guiding me through the steps, but I did all the hands on work.  I would go over to her house everyday for a few weeks, spending several hours at a time.  Good memories.