Zion National Park is a wonder. Located an hour from St. George Utah, and about 2 1/2 hours from Las Vegas, Zion is a nice visit. It's been ages since I've visited, as they have an exclusive shuttle service for weekends and peak season. It's only during low peak times when you can drive through, windows down, through the park. The shuttles are nice and so on, but nothing quite beats the full freedom of driving.
Episode 46: "Amped Emotions" The Merchant.
Hosts: Steven and Sarah
This was such a fun episode to record. Where Steven and I ended up wasn't at all planned, and definitely full of surprises even for us. It does get a little dark. 0_0 So I hope you have fun listening to the episode! It's on Spotify and other places you can listen to podcasts.
Steven did amazing with the sound effects when it comes to the story part!! Worth the listen for that alone. :0)
"The world is full of hidden nooks and crannies, most of which house the most obscure of shops. Every store has a story, and each of those stories are centered at the person who started it all. The Merchant. But who are they? How did they stumble upon selling the goods they offer? In todays episode we talk about our favorite stores from around the world, what makes they special, and use this inspiration to write a store about our own little merchant and what secrets she might have hidden away!"
Sarah
The Last Starfighter, which came out in 1984, probably wouldn't be considered by many to be a classic movie. It's classic to me because, according to my Dad, it was the first movie I ever saw at the theater. Granted I was only two, it was a drive in, and I kept climbing over the seats, front and back again, so I don't remember a thing. But I do remember seeing The Last Starfighter as a kid when a little older, and it does hold a special place in childhood memory.
For those who may not be familiar with The Last Starfighter, it begins in a trailer park in California, and at a small convenient store sits an arcade game, Starfighter, which was meant for Las Vegas, but was delivered to this humble place by mistake. Alex often plays this game, when he's not helping his Mom, helping those in the trailer park, or hanging out with friends. He just wants to leave his home and go to a major college, instead of the city college his friends will attend. Alex then gets a letter telling him his loan request was rejected, losing hope for the future, and simply confused.
One evening as Alex plays Starfighter he's about to beat the high score, and it becomes a community event. Everyone from the trailer park gathers around, shouting and cheering, and when he does beat the game there's a huge celebration. It's just amazing he was able to focus with all those people around him. Well, turns out the game was merely a training tool to find those on Earth who can become Starfighters. There's a galactic war about, Earth unaware, and suddenly Alex is flown to space to face his destiny.
The Last Starfighter is campy fun. It's silly! Highly predictable. There's a point where the movie seems to drag on a little. And goodness, those special effects did not age well!! The computer graphics, which was cutting edge in 84, looks really cheap now, but I can suspend belief. (It's a testament to Star Wars and the use of practical effects). There are things that are in that movie that wouldn't make it into a children's film today, such as the little bits by Alex's little brother who reads Playboy.
In the end The Last Starfighter is endearing, good ol' nostalgic fun, and so 80's.
Sarah
Last week I was in Springdale Utah, next to Zion National Park, for needed nature and normalcy. It's only a couple weeks from peak season prices, so the prices were still fair. Where we stayed was right next to the river, which could be heard from the balcony, and was absolute heaven. One of the first things I saw when looking at the river, that first night, was crossing deer!!
Later that night my Mom and I were meandering in the dark, cutting across the lawn. Right in front of us I saw the quick movement of something passing. Suddenly to my left there were about four deer, who were eating, and were only a mere feet from us. One deer shot their head up, looked at us, and then went back to eating. It was so amazing.
A couple days later my Mom and I splurged on a spa treatment. As soon as I got into the relaxation room with its large windows looking at river and red rock, there were so many deer just hanging out. Nine in total. The girls who work there were amazed and said they never saw so many deer.
Quite a while back I might have shared this story. Over a decade ago my family was traveling to California. Down the I-15 in central Utah there are mountainy bendy bits, and it was my turn to drive. Everyone was asleep and it was early morning. As I went around a bend there was this deer just hanging out, standing next to the road, and as soon as we passed I looked into the rear-view mirror and saw the deer crossing the road, just moseying across. It's something I'll never forget, and I'll always wonder if it knew we were coming, and waited to cross when it was safe.
Someday I hope to visit Nara Japan. There's a temple there with all these deer, and they're so comfortable around people you can go right up to them and pet them. That would be super cool.
La Fin
Main goal this month... be real with myself.
Be honest.
What are my weaknesses?
What keeps tripping me up?
This last month didn't quite go as planned. A couple things fell into place for this to happen. First of all was all that walking I did last December. To achieve the 153 mile goal in December, to guarantee 500 miles in 2020, I was walking/Biking/Ellipticaling 3-4 hours a day. It was too much. I crashed in the beginning of January. Picked myself up and started working out again, and then got off track again after getting back from St. George at the end of January. What followed was a couple weeks of depression and an anxiety attack.
During this whole time I didn't weigh myself, trying to distance myself from the value of numbers. It also meant that I wasn't keeping myself in check. Also during this time, which started in December when my Grandma passed, I started eating chocolate mindlessly. There was a lot of chocolate in the house, and I was eating it here and there just not thinking about it. It wasn't until a week ago that I realized chocolate was affecting me. I'm not an over eater. I don't snack. I don't eat late. But... I mindlessly eat chocolate.
A week ago I grabbed the scale to get a reality check and... I've topped my highest weight ever. My feelings are mixed: Anger, frustration, and numbness.
I'm not treating chocolate like the enemy. Chocolate is okay, but what I'm not going to allow is mindless eating. Chocolate will be saved for special treats.
Also, having the reaction to carrots a couple months ago really set me back. After going through what I went through while overcoming Interstitial Cystitis, which created food fears and caused me to gain 40 pounds in a year because I couldn't exercise without causing pain, I was suddenly fearing food again. Oh, that pain the carrot caused was the worst in years. I don't want to fear food. (I'm not quite in the clear with IC, but it is so, so, sooooooooooooo much better. I have a life again.)
I've been researching set points, and I'm just confused about it. It feels like this theory is legit, because it explains what I've been through for the last several years. Literally every single international trip I took from 2015-2019 I weighed the exact weight nearly to the ounce, every single trip, and that's with exercising, watching what I eat, etc. I'm terrified my set point has shifted upwards. I don't want to think about it. But I have watched a couple videos that say it is a theory and that some people don't quite believe it. I want to believe there's hope.
So pretty much this month is working in getting back on track with exercising, and not overdoing it!!!! No more burnouts. The Route 66 goal for the end of the year has been pushed back to June of 2022, an extra 6 months. Just do the work, no stress.
Weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint.
Sarah
After all these years it's amazing how "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "Heigh Ho" are songs that are still sung, loved, and easily recognized, and they're 83 years old.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the first movie I remember going to the theater to see. It's not the first movie I actually saw, which I'll write about next week (it's a sci-fi 80's flick that mainly nerds know about and didn't really go mainstream ;0), but Snow White was the movie that cemented the enchantment of going to a theater.
Before the Disney vault rotated movies for home video release, they showed movies in theaters every 7-10 years. In 1987 Snow White was fully restored for it's 50th anniversary and was shown in theaters. My parents took me to this theater in Santa Barbara that was on State Street, fully decked out in grand theatrical fashion. Somewhere in the back of my mind, through random fractured images, I still remember the theater and being in awe. It was beautiful. And I remember loving the movie.
Walt Disney's first theatrical animated feature film is the stuff of legends, groundbreaking in every way. If you want to read a detailed history of the film, the Fandom Disney Wiki page and Wikipedia has great articles.
It's wonderful that, even for a movie made in 1937, kids still love Snow White today, even with the modern advancements in animation technology and techniques. The Disney parks help keep Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs alive with rides, princess meet and greets, and songs during shows. Though, fun fact, the Disneyland ride has had a makeover. The original "Snow White's Scary Adventure" has been remade into "Snow White's Enchanted Wish". Some people may be sad over this, but I'm actually excited to see the changes. The original ride really is kinda sad with an abrupt ending!
Happy, happy memories from a beloved classic that will always be amazing.
Sarah
Episode 45: "Wishing Well" - Magical Items
Hosts: Robbie and Michael
"No quest or story can ever be complete without the items and tools that lead our heroes to victory, despite all odds against them. Today we explore these very items and what unique effects that they have on the stories around us. How can you give these important devices, even mcguffins, if you will, character and importance? Can you make your hero care about these items as much as you do as a storyteller?"
Michael is hosting this episode! And he wrote the story, too. This was a fun podcast to listen to. I hope you enjoy the listen and have a wonderful weekend.
Sarah
"Whatever loads you are carrying now, take courage. Allow the light of courage to move you forward, and courage to fill your life with light." ~ Kate Lee
I hope you are all doing well.
Whatever you are going through I pray all is alright.
Don't lose faith. Fear doesn't mean weakness. You are strong. There is always light to be found.
Sarah
Finely part 2!! I wrote "Visiting Places That Suddenly Feel Like Home, Part 1" last October. Honestly, I didn't know it's been that long, as writing this post has been stuck in the back of my mind. It's been four months. :\ In that post I wrote about Bath England, Cardiff Wales, Orvieto Italy, and Venice Italy.
As a note, all these trips were taken pre-pandemic, and these recollections reflect this.
While traveling there are places that are nice and I would like to revisit, but then there are places that just feel like home, places I feel connected and could easily revisit again and again.
Enoshima, Japan
How much do I love Enoshima? Let's just say that I've been to Japan twice, and Enoshima thrice.
In 2015 there was no plan on visiting Enoshima two times during that trip, but my siblings and I loved it so much we spontaneously went again, giving up checking out another location, and then took the beach side train to Kamakura. In 2019 I had to take my Mom and other sibs to Enoshima, taking an even longer train and monorail ride to get there, but it was a trip highlight. Everyone loved it and said the effort to get there was well worth it. Even after getting back home we still talk about Enoshima.
Wandering around Tokyo is a must, always, but there is a stiffness about the city. This need for extra formality, stay quiet on the trains, and so on. Fantastic things and places to visit, but it is a little overwhelming. Enoshima is about an hour and a half from Tokyo, about two hours from Tokyo Disneyland, but the trip is so well worth it. If you go the right way you can take the Shonan Monorail, hung underneath the rail, which is a must (so, so much fun!!!).
When you get off the last Shonan stop on the monorail, or the other lines, there is just this really cool beachy chill vibe in the area. Everyone is more relaxed. Steven said it reminded him of parts around Osaka. On the Kamakura train people actually talked and were having a great time!
Enoshima itself is just great fun. There's a little bit of everything, and you feel like you're stepping back in time with the vintage architecture. There's a main shopping street, restaurants, a tower, aquarium, gardens, caves, etc. The views are spectacular, and on a clear day you can see Mount Fuji.
Tokyo Disney Parks
Not going to get into this as I've talked in length about the Tokyo Disney parks, Land and Sea, but I love, love, love these Disney parks the best. Pure magic. Just thinking about these parks make me happy. They're just wonderful.
Giverny, France
Home of Monet's garden and home.
Giverny is about an hour and a half car ride from Paris, the eastern side of Normandy, and completely in the country. When visiting this place we spent most of our time visiting Monet's haunts, and it was all so charming.
The gardens are beautiful, and the house is as it was during Monet's time. It was quite an effort getting Mom to leave the artist room. She loved this room so much she bought a little square miniature replication from the gift shop. What I was most surprised about was all the Japanese woodblock paintings scattered throughout his home. They were amazing. I wish we had more time to explore Giverny before heading back to Paris. The countryside is beautiful, and it would have been nice to walk about.
Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany
I went on a Germany/France tour with my Mom and Dad, and on this tour was a cruise up the Rhine River. It was the end of the season, and the river was lower than anticipated, so instead of cruising up the part where the castle ruins are, we had to dock in Rüdesheim for a couple nights and do a bus trip up the last portion of the river. We were disappointed, but because of the change we got to spend a full day in this quaint little town surrounded by hills and vineyards.
We took the air tram up to the top of the hill. Visited the musical cabinet museum. Walked through quaint streets and shopped for gifts.
I just felt so connected to Rüdesheim. This place looks like how you'd imagine Germany to be. Want to know the most amazing part? When I was on top of the hill looking over the Rhine, on the other side of the river was some hills and a little dip where a rode goes through. I just stared and stared, drawn to it, and really wanted to hop on a ferry to visit the little town and see what was down that road. Turns out, and I realized this on the last day of our cruise, that's where the Stufflebeam (Stoppelbien) originate!! About 8 miles from Rüdesheim across the Rhine and through that dip in the hill, a little place called Laubenheim off the Nahe river. No wonder I felt drawn and couldn't stop looking at that spot across the Rhine.
Ring of Kerry, Ireland
This is more like a smattering of places along the Ring of Kerry. It was a day tour from Cork Ireland, so a bit of a drive. It would probably be best to stay in Killarney. The day started with a horse drawn carriage ride through Killarney National Park, which is breathtaking. Then the rest of the day was stops in charming towns, views of the ocean, a beautiful waterfall, and then back to Killarney's National Park with Ladies View. Someday I would like to visit the Ring of Kerry again and spread it out over several days.
Mizen Head, Ireland
Found in another peninsula in South Ireland, and closer to Cork.
I loved all the little places we stopped. Gougane Barra took our breath away. It's just this little place on a lake with hills, but it captured our hearts.
Mizen Head itself is right on the coast with cliffs rising from the ocean, water splashing up on rocks. There's a bridge and an observatory of sorts. In the guest center is a little cafe with the best food. The toasty sandwich was so good. Right when we left it started to rain, so we were lucky, but I like rainy days, so it was a nice drive back to Cork.
What's interesting is that I have Mahoney (O'Mahony) heritage that dead ends in Newfoundland, so there's no way to trace that line back to Ireland. Our DNA connects us, and Mizen Head is one of the places the Mahoney's are from. I didn't realize this until getting back to the States, but close to Mizen head are the Three Castles, built by the O'Mahony princes. The O'Mahoney's were the Kings of the Kingdom of Munster, and as my Grandpa R connects to nine regions in Munster, that's the closest we can prove this line. It would be so nice to be able to trace back my Irish roots.
Sarah
Roman Holiday (1953)
Starring: Audrey Hepburn & Gregory Peck
The Film
The plot of Roman Holiday comes across a little cliche in this modern era, mainly because the tropes displayed have been overplayed. Hard working Princess dreams of common life, escapes, meets a dashing young man, and they have a grand ol' time. The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, published in 1881, is about identical strangers trading spaces--another now overworked plot--so the idea of royalty escaping to normality is an idea romanticized throughout time.
Roman Holiday was filmed entirely in Rome, and all the city's highlights are captured in this gem of a time capsule: A glance over Trevi Fountain, walking around the Roman Forum, stop at the Colosseum, and gelato on the Spanish Steps. It's strange to think that this movie was filmed less than a decade after the end of the second World War, and the scene about the Wall of Wishes brings a somber reality to this time period. Life after grand tragedy moves on, things change, but remembrances remain.
Some fun facts. Gregory Peck was the main star when Roman Holiday started production and he was going to get top billing, but as filming took place Gregory wanted Audrey Hepburn to share top billing. Such a rarity in those days. In the scene with the Mouth of Truth, that wall with an open mouthed face, Gregory told the director he was going to pretend his hand was cut off after sticking it in, but he didn't tell Audrey. Her reaction and scream was so natural because she wasn't acting in that moment, though Audrey is a wonderful actress and won an Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA for this role as Princess Ann.
Personal Thoughts
Roman Holiday first came to my attention when I was 14. After having surgery I was kept overnight for observation and looking after at the hospital, and my Mom bought the VHS. She and the nurse watched the movie as I drifted in and out of consciousness, hardly remembering a thing. It wasn't for another couple years until I pulled the tape out and had another go, and found it quite charming.
Having just re-watched the movie, being older and having visited Rome, Roman Holiday means so much more now. When younger the ending bothered me, as it's more bitter sweet. Now I see it as it is, realistic. No nonsensical Hallmark ending. The last several minutes of the movie intense, and I felt all the emotions, quiet love, the pain.
If you want to see a fun romantic comedy, timeless, great, Roman Holiday is worth the watch. (Heh, after I just spoiled the ending... oops).
Sarah
