*strolls in with a pack of cheddar Goldfish Crackers and sets them down by the fountain to share*

Mortereve, all!

Nothing much to report... Holidays are quite the same schedule. I just stayed up until two-ish watching Cars with my sister and dad and then woke up at 12 today, gulped down my tea, went back to bed to just relax, and then got up when I felt pretty pathetic for wasting time.

On another note, a book arrived in the mail for me! (Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris with Elisa Stanford. ) I can't wait to read it.

Catchup:

*waves to Ti* Long time no talk. How've you been?

I'm not alone!
So you haven't seen the other two Toy Stories? If not, do! IMO, they're just as funny and interesting as the first. The third, especially, has the best animation of all the Pixars.
Mhm, Monsters Inc. 2 is coming out I think 2011 or 2012. I'm really excited to see what they come up with.

WOW, Mountie, that's a long post!

Bella (not from Twilight )!!! I've been wanting to meet you! How are you?? Thank you for complimenting my username, I like yours very much too, as well as your nickname (I love it but wish it wasn't associated with Twilight.) Where did it come from? Or is it your real name?
Indeed, I do have a nickname... rather, several. You may call me Mountie, Fireflower, MFF, Fire, Flower, Fireflower, Fie, Miff, or whatever else you can come up with. I'm not picky, and I do love adding to my nickname collection.
Oh! And may I join the club of those who love Pixar? They're like my favorite movies ever!

Aw, thank-you! It's a pleasure to mee you. I'm doing mostly well, thanks! How about you?
Aha, and gracias for complimenting my name/nickname. Yes, I too like my nickname, but wish that Twilight wouldn't be associated with it quite so much. It came from a Twilight fan, actually, but not intended that way, I hope. The NWebber who called me it called me Bella and my sister, C.S.LewisNarnia, Ella. So, Ella and Bella stuck. ^_^ No, 'tis not my real name.
Mm, okay! I shall call you Mountie but will tap my brain to see if I could add to your long list.
Ah, welcome to the Pixar club! *sets up a club tent pronto and prints sheets for entry* Which is your favourite Pixar movie?

And indeedy, it's always a good thing to think about Aslan! I'm thrilled my username does so. =]

Although I would like some snow.

You can have plenty of ours! D: *frantically pushes a load of snow with a bulldozer over there*

Thank-you, Cor! How have the Prince and Dragon been?

*waves to Lucy of Narnia* I haven't heard of any auditions, but all the best! It would be nice to play in a Narnia movie... although, the role I'd pick in a heartbeat would be Polly, but I'll probably be too old by the time they make it. One can dream...

*waves wildly back to Queen S* =] And how are you doing?

*waves to Miss R*

You're painting your bathroom, Bella? I hope it's not a big one. What color? And yes, yay for pixar movies! Out of the ones you mentioned, I've seen Cars but not Ratatouille. Cars was okay. My personal favorite is WALL-E, though... I see you didn't enjoy that one much. Ah well. I thought it was cute.

Mhm! Not terribly formally, more just to have some fun and make it look less plain. I'm glad it's small, yes! We painted one half cream and the other half blue, and are planning to paint some sea creatures on the blue part to look like a sea. I'll probably do coral or baby-looking fish to avoid making a mess of paint.
Cars was pretty enjoyable the second time round, but it had to grow on me. I think I like it's atmosphere best--very realistic and comfortable. Oh, Ratatouille is one of their best, IMO! I heartily reccomend it!
WALL-E was cute, I agree, but for me, I can only watch it for a short period of time.
Anywho, how have you been doing lately?

Betsie!! *waves* How are you?

I'll be around.

*waves to Lucy of Narnia* I haven't heard of any auditions, but all the best! It would be nice to play in a Narnia movie... although, the role I'd pick in a heartbeat would be Polly, but I'll probably be too old by the time they make it. One can dream...

*waves back*!

I made a thread on the topic so I can see if anyone knows anything.

I'm really hopeful that I'll get a chance at this! Was looking up talent agencies and there is one real close to me! We go shopping near it! I am so excited to check it out! Have no idea if this will come to fruition, however.

I was wondering if they'll make Polly and Digory teens or something as well...?

Lu

*Comes into the square singing....I'm not sure exactly what I'm singing. It's some musical, but I am singing it nonetheless*

I had a fairly pleasant day. Made cookies, hamburgers, and...oh eggplant. My sister came by for a bit. It was pretty good to see her, and I found out positively that I am going with my other sister tomorrow night to see fireworks.

I am sorry that I did not get the joke, Queen Susan. I tend to take things very literally....course it's easier to tell when someone is joking in person than it is via the internet.

*Waves back to Betsie*

AIB!! Yes it has been a while. I am enjoying being back.

I have only seen the first Toy Story. I don't have the movies, but my sister does, so next time I'm at her house I'll watch the other two.

I hope they don't totally ruin the new Monsters Inc. I really really liked the first one.

Aww thank you for the snow. *jumps in the snow, and proceeds to throw a rather large snowball in the direction of a dark corner of the square in hopes of rousing someone from their corner, and possibly to get a snowball fight started*

*Lu wakes up, shakes head to clear Jill Pole auditioning thoughts, and proceeds to blast Tiana with snowballs, hiding behind the igloo which she is trying to hurriedly build*

Can anyone believe that tomorrow is the last night of 2010?

2011...woah...

Lu

*dodges the snowballs happy that there is someone else in here seeing as how she was about to fall asleep on top of this huge pile of snow, and that wouldn't be the best for her health. She stocks up on snowballs, and sneaks up behind the igloo which was rumored to have Lucy of Narnia behind it, and cautiously pears around the corner....*

I know it seems like 2010 has totally flown by.

*Wonders if this post is to short

Well, it wouldn't take much to be better than VDT. In my humble opinion.

Sadly, I would have to agree with that statement. Although I'm not sure it was the worst movie I've seen this year, either. Still, The King's Speech was head and shoulders above it.

and I saw VotDT for the second time on December 26th!
I LOVE that movie! it's my favorite movie of all time!
and my favorite Narnia movie

Silly, if it's your favorite movie of all time, of course it's your favorite Narnia movie as well.

But then, you really had that predetermined before you went and saw it, didn't you?

For the record, the two Pixar films which never get old: Cars and Ratatouille. Not necessarily my favourites, but they just don't get old.

Funny, those are probably my two least favorite Pixar films. I've only seen Ratatouille once, actually -- the only one of theirs I haven't bothered to watch again. And I didn't care much for Cars, although it was playing enough in my house after it came out on DVD that I saw it several times. Believe it or not, I'm not a big fan of Wall-E, either. *ducks flying vegetables* And even UP wasn't a favorite. I do love Monsters Inc., though. And The Incredibles. And all the Toy Story movies.

I've never heard of that movie before...I'll have to look it up! Yummy shortbread! I don't think I've ever had homemade shortbread cookies before.

I'm surprised so many people don't know about The King's Speech; it's been generating a lot of Oscar buzz. But then again, it's not showing in all that many theaters, either. That's the way movies usually are with me: all the ones that everybody else is seeing I rarely care about, whereas I'm always waiting for pictures that no one has heard about to make it to my local theater. Sometimes they never do. One (e.g. Glorious 39, finally getting a U.S. DVD release in February) never even made it across the pond.

My mother's homemade shortbread cookies are scrumptious! And I'm sure Ti'ana's are yummy as well.

I'm really excited for Monsters Inc. 2 and the new Princess one, Brave, though.

What is Brave about? And is it traditional animation or CGI? I was so bitter when they changed animation styles on Tangled (and story lines, and titles, and voice casts) that I still haven't brought myself to see it. As for Monsters Inc. 2, the first was so perfect I'm not sure I'll like for them to try again. But it worked for Toy Story, so ... *fingers crossed*

Justin Bieber isn't BAD... he's pretty talented actually

To quote Tim Hawkins, "Justin Bieber, people? Come on! That's just Donny Osmond reincarnated."

You should give the BBC Narnia a try! Or at the least the Focus on the Family radio dramas. Those being in a different medium should help. And there are several great Robin Hood movies -- the Errol Flynn (with my darling Olivia de Havilland ), the Disney one, and the most recent Ridley Scott film with Russel Crowe.

Vern and I are doing quite well as are the Royal Couple.

Originally I missed the word "are" in that sentence, and was somewhat confused. "This place keeps getting weirder and weirder!"

Ah yes, I had assumed (wrongly) that you were referring to the new Clash's soundtrack, which a friend had recommended to me because I was enjoying a CD by Muse. I do like the link you posted! It's very majestic and brassy. (Ooooh, and the love theme is even better! Lovely!) We should dig up the soundtracks thread ... I got two for Christmas myself: Poledouris' Les Miserables and HGW's Kingdom of Heaven, both very good.

Glad the Ball was a smash, Betsie. Go on recommending The Woman in White! I'll have to work The Moonstone in this year ... and then hunt down some more Collins. Keep nagging DTR ... she'll cave eventually!

You culinary concoctions sound completely tantalizing, Ti!

Off for the evening, I think. Watched a pretty awful movie with the familial circle, and may now write some before popping off to bed. My best friend is coming in the morning (first I've seen him in over a month) and we're to make a day of it.

Mortereve, all!

I don't have a ton of time, so this is gonna be a somewhat skimmy catch-up. Apologies if I miss something!

*is proud of herself for making Betsie come in here - or at least having a small part in it*

And, thank you very much for helping her remember us!

And, catch-ups can be exhausting! Don't feel that you "need" to catch-up if you don't have the time or energy. I like to do big posts, because I enjoy them and have fun with it; others don't though, and that's probably the more sane response.

QS, I'm glad you found my little bit about the typos funny — it was supposed to make you laugh.

*waves to Mel and LL and everyone else who will stand still long enough to be waved at, since waving seems to be very much the thing to do here in the Square*

I'm sorry, I don't like pictures of me and if one stands still too long pictures tend to become inevitable; therefore, I can't stand still! (And yes, waving is our fall back if we're too busy to think of anything witty to keep the conversation going and still want to acknowledge the other person ).

Also, Valia and I both have awesome taste in movies, thus the back to back coolio avys!

If you need any help with your books, I have two suggestions: The Queen's Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner (an awesome, fun series about a theif, his attitudes, and his annoying clever adventures) and The Bell at Sealy Head by Patricia McKillip (a fantasy novel with gorgeous prose).

Cor, glad you and Vern enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon! I thought it was good fun, except for how cat-like some of the dragon behaviors were. I mean, I love my cats, but I prefer more, umm, ferocious dragon habits.

My first semester went splendidly! I made all A's and B's (mostly B's) in my classes. I'm looking forward/not looking forward to returning to school in the next few weeks...

Those are awesome grades!! Also, the whole looking forward to going back to school, but not is a very normal reaction. It gets worse when you get older. The only known antidote to this painful reaction is sleep and doing things that make you happy for the entire three weeks and only thinking of school the random times you buy your books or pay tuition.

*hugs Ti* It has been FOREVER since I've seen you around! Hope you and Ata have been doing well?

Ly, oops! I remember now that you had already answered that question for me, but I blame ketchup-writing-fatigue on my stupidity. *begs forgiveness of the Epic One*

But, okay, I just wasn't recognizing the guy. I watched the miniseries earlier this year. *withoutreadingthebookcough* I thought it was pretty well done, and agree that Garai was very, very good! Also, I desperately want to see The King's Speech, but the nearest theater is 1.5-2 hours away! I live in one of the largest cities in my state, we have three mega-theaters and an art house theater, yet none of them are playing it. *pouts*

And come now! You must admit that even you are at least a little mad.

Prove it!

*mega-skims*

Rose, yes, sadly I do need to use a cheat sheet for my catch-up colors, BUT, I could never forget that Rose gets a lovely rosy shade for her replies!

The Squiggles will hopefully have another exploit to report on to my fellow Welcomers in the next week or so. I'm working on coming up with something.

Bella, I am blissfully wonderful. College breaks put me in that specific mood.

Silver, I'm more of a sugar or butter cookie girl myself. Never been a huge fan of gingerbread.

Fireflower, I'm not quite certain what you mean, so apologies if I respond wrong. I'm going for my Bachelors of Science in Nursing and my RN. I would like to be a pediatrics nurse, but I'm open to other areas and just kind of seeing what I like/dislike during clinicals (the part of school where we actually get to go in and provide care to patients).

And, I'm glad you like my posts! I like coloring them in.

Betsie, I am glad your ball went so well!

*rearranges Betsie's nose and switches her backwards feet* I wonder where we left your left ear. . .

I'll be sure to let you know when I do manage to read TWiW; The Moonstone is great fun! I think you'll like it!

Hey, 8-10 is more Agatha Christies than I've read. ;P *takes note of Betsie's titles*

And, I'm off to sleep!

Good Evening Lyzinger.

I wasn't going to respond to your post tonight at first then I kept reading, and I think that I will....anyways...

I will have to try to see The King's Speech. I am hoping to see the Harry Potter movies tomorrow. My Sister and I watched the first one the other day, but I haven't seen them and it's a good excuse for her to watch them again. Ok yeah that was a bit off subject, but oh well I think that's probably normal for me.

When I went into the theater to see the VoDT I went with the expectation that it wasn't going to be good. I figured that they had totally ruined it, and....I was kinda right, but I was very surprised that the CGI was so good cause on PC it was TERRIBLE!!!! Well most everything was bad about PC. *dodges any tomatoes that are thrown*

Of course my shortbread cookies are good. I'm sure that you are biased and think your mother's are better as you should.....well I would think my mother's would be better. I had actually never made them before, but they are SOO good, and the most simple cookie you could possibly make.

*loves the Tim Hawkins quote*

The Errol Flynn/de Havilland Robin Hood is the BEST!! I've only seen one other version, and still like the Errol Flynn one most, course I like a lot of his films. Another of my favorites is Dodge City.

"This place keeps getting weirder and weirder!"

Weird place for weird people?

I actually watched Les Miserables for the first time the other day. I really liked it. It was different than anything that I'd ever watched.

I had no choice on the "culinary concoctions". Dad wanted the eggplant, and Mom wanted the burgers, and I tried to please both of them...oh and myself with the cookies.

I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow with your friend.

Wow I talked way to much about movies in this post, and it's relatively long considering I was responding to one post.....oh well it's late, and I should probably call it a night. Y'all stay safe.

Edit # I lost countSometimes I find that I've so much to say that when I type it out and actually go back to read it it doesn't make sense. Oh well my brain tells my fingers to do things, and like children they don't always obey.

Edit:
LL!!! I've missed your colourful post. Yes Ata and I have been doing well. Been keeping busy. She is now in her own apartment, and I'm left at home with my two brothers, but it isn't terrible. I'm still older than them, and can still beat them up, so things stay pretty even.

That's cool that you're taking nursing. My Older sister is thinking about going back to school to get her RN.

*pops in to catchup before heading off for a little holiday*

Wow, this place is moving along pretty fast these days.. it takes awhile to find my last post. But that's all good.

Note: I'm skimming a lot, so I'll probably miss a few things. Apologies in advance if I do!

*waves back* Yes, I used to be Eustace+Jill. Thankfully, I was allowed to change it to Ithilwen instead. And yes, you can certainly call me Riella.

lol, thankfully? And where does the name Ithilwen come from, if I may ask?

*waves back to AC* Hi! I've been good since NaNo, though I wish I could have gotten more writing done than I have. Unproductiveness is very addicting, unfortunately. How about you?

Ugh, I couldn't agree more. I haven't really started.. partly because I'm not sure where to start, partly because I've had to do other writing for school, and partly just because I'm lazy. This week, hopefully.. otherwise I'll never get to it, what with school starting back up and exams and deadlines and all.

Oh, enjoy Inkdeath! I love the trilogy, although the first two more than the last one.. which drags a bit. Not to spoil it for you or anything. It's a good book, just with a lot of story, and I probably won't read it again. Still, great series.

Kathy, my Christmas was nice! How bout yours?

Good, thanks. *tries to think of something else to say and fails miserably*

I'm not sure about brilliant - but hopefully at least better. Have you touched it yet?

Uhh.. no. Next week.. or so I tell myself.

*likes Rose's new years resolutions, and resolves to actually make some this year* And yes, working on my NaNo novel is so definitely one of them.

@ AC. We are doing quite well, thank you. And yourself?

Okay, thanks. Trying.. not to think about all the work that is coming.. that I, ahem, should be doing.

No, AC, I'm afraid I haven't been able to yet. My parents aren't terribly fond of Harry Potter.

Aww.. but you've seen the other movies, right? Well, I hope you get to see it some time, if just on DVD. It's quite possibly the best of them all.

Sleeping and sitting around the house is about all I've been doing for the past two weeks.

*laughs, because this sounds so very much like herself*

Heya, Kathy!! Thanks! How've you been doing?

Good.. ish. Sometimes the prospect of piles of schoolwork is a lot worse than actually getting it done.. But I get to go to somewhere snowy, from tomorrow, which is kind of exciting, for me, at least, because Tokyo doesn't snow very often. Anyway. *stops rambling*

And I'm so used to writing '10 at the tops of all my papers that it'll probably be February before I finally remember to write '11

*agrees wholeheartedly with this*

Yeah, that's kind of how I feel. Oh well, maybe VDT wasn't as good as the last two (although I liked it better than PC), let's hope they do better with SC. I still liked VDT though, but I know a lot of people who didn't. So it just depends on your opinion... and your expectations.

(Okay, so I'm calling you Mountie now. It just sounds more.. nickname-ish )
Well, I suppose all I can do is wait and see. This waiting is getting seriously annoying. I feel like I've practically seen the film already, and keep giving my opinion of it, and my brother keeps saying, "but you haven't even seen it yet! Stop judging!"

Something tells me the Saga of Long Quotes isn't quite dead yet...
Oh, I definitely will let you know! I love Lifehouse.
Actually, I don't own RK's first two albums either. The only ones I own are Mmhmm, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right But Three Do, and Five Score and Seven Years Ago. That's what I meant by older stuff, sorry for the confusion. And I guess I do like all of Relient K's stuff, but my favorites usually end up being their old stuff (old meaning... before their most recent album. ). The only thing I've heard off of Forget and Not Slow Down is ... well, Forget and Not Slow Down. I just can't bring myself to buy that album, for fear it'll be disappointing in comparison to the albums I do own.
I do have a confession... I don't know that much about Lifehouse. I haven't even heard their first album... or many other songs besides Everything and You and Me. But I love them as a band, and I am definitely learning!
Oh yeah, I definitely understand what you mean, and I have a hard time classifying music as well. I pay more attention to the lyrics too.

..Yeah, maybe not. But see, I divided them by topic, and this is all the same topic. So.. I'll let it be.
Ooh, well in that case, yeah, I think I like some of their older stuff better, although TLDMRBTD (longest album name ever ) doesn't leave me with much of an impression - I certainly haven't listened to it in forever. I like FaNSD, in a different way. I wasn't too keen on it at first, but it's grown on me. The songs are a bit more.. mature, I guess, although I'm not sure in what way it is that I mean that. But yeah, almost every song on that album is a breakup song so you kind of have to get past that. Still, they are growing up, and I'm not sure if I appreciate lack of, or miss the silliness.
Oh, don't worry. I was only rambling for the sake of talking about it, I wasn't expecting that you've heard all their songs.

Haha, yes. The two highest strings hurt the most, at least for me anyway.
Yeah, I was thinking that... It would be hard to be in the spotlight. Justin Bieber isn't BAD... he's pretty talented actually, but he's just not my kind of music.
Yes, it is fun. I just love music... *happy sigh*

I've started playing the guitar again, in the last two days! And yeah.. my fingers hurt, a lot, but I'll just have to get past it. My mum is bringing her guitar, which has been sitting at church for a good long time, when we go on a brief holiday tomorrow, so it'll probably be easier on me than my brother's.
I think I have a confession to make, too.. I actually have his songs on my iPod, now, because I borrowed his CD from a friend. Ahem, yeah. That was a week or two ago, and at the time I was kind of addicted, but I haven't listened to them much since. They were kind of catchy.. and I liked watching the videos of him on Youtube, when he was younger. It was pretty cute. But no, the obsessive fans just make me roll my eyes.. really, just give him some space as a musician.
*joins in on the happy-sighing*

Oh, I hate it when concerts get sold out like that before you even know about them. Especially if you're in Japan... I'm not, but I imagine not as many bands tour there as they do in America. Am I correct in assuming that, or can you set me straight?
Actually, no, I didn't get OE for Christmas, sad day. But I did get some money and a gift card, so maybe I can... I got Relient K's Five Score album, and both of Tenth Avenue North's albums. I forgot how much I love those two bands...

Yeah, you'd be correct in assuming that. Although, ever since I got into music properly (as in, listening to stuff with lyrics on an iPod ) RK, Switchfoot, and Owl City have all come to Japan, and Skillet's coming in January, I think. I haven't seen any of them.. for a number of reasons, and I probably won't ever go to a concert during the rest of my short life in Japan. Maybe if Lifehouse comes.. Still.. it's annoying knowing they're here.
Oh, then that was a mistake during skimming on my part. Ooh, but enjoy the music you did get, it's definitely great stuff. Like you needed to hear that.

*waves to AslansCountry* Oh dear. I can't remember if you gave us a suitable nickname? How was your Christmas? What was the best part?

*waves back* No, I can't remember either. You can call me Kathy, if you want. Or just AC. My Christmas was good, thanks. How about you? The best part.. probably just sitting around with family, opening each other's presents. Oh, and the food was great, too.

Ah, welcome to the Pixar club! *sets up a club tent pronto and prints sheets for entry*

*enters said tent* ..Even though I wasn't the one welcomed, and just barged in.
Aww, no one likes Wall-e? Admittedly, I haven't seen too many Pixar movies, if I think about it, but they always seem to do a fantastic job. There's a Monsters Inc. 2? Didn't know.

Why do my posts always become so long? I bet there'll be another long one, when I get back. Ah well. *sighs contentedly for now, at having finished*

And early Happy New Year to everyone, since I won't be around.

Likewise pleased, Rose-Dryad. (May I call you whatever comes to mind, if you don't mind. )

Heehee, that's fine!

Which is your favourite Pixar?

Oooh, that's a tough choice. Honestly, I love them all to pieces. Probably the ones that are really high on the list are The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., and Toy Story 1 & 2. I've yet to see Toy Story 3, so looking forward to that and hoping I'll have some tissues nearby, because I hear it's emotional. I'm really excited about Monsters Inc. 2, and really hoping they'll recapture what made the first film so special.

Oh, my dearest of dryads, it is very good to see you here, outside of the Lair & Monastery as well. (I'm not even going to attempt Old English. ) I know, Old English is fun to write in but hard. And it takes a lot of brain power. The Lair has much easier vernacular, mostly because it consists of evil laughter.

I will admit, all that evil laughter is bound to be great for strengthening the lungs. And they say laughter is good for all sorts of things besides. The form of speech common in the Monastery is rather effective for exercising the tongue and learning how to untie one's tongue after it has become knotted.

Haha, that made me laugh. I totally understand - I am glad my spoiler-filled days have come to a close, for now anyway. I cannot say whether I shall join the Monastery or the Lair next time. I am still contemplating it, but I must say, the Monastery looks less daunting than it did earlier this year.

Oh, yay! Thou mightst renounce thy miniony ways and becometh a monk shouldst another movie be made and the Monastery open for a fourth time? Another reason to hope for SC to be made!

😮 Seriously? I stole your username? Aw, I feel bad now. Well, great minds think alike, I suppose! And I do absolutely love your username now, it's beautiful.
Funny, now that you've told me that, I feel like we're kindred spirits.

You didn't steal it, you got it fair and square! Aw, thank you! And I see what you mean about kindred spirits!

Instead of making cookies I went to my grandparents house for a couple of hours. It was good to see them as well as being able to take some pictures out there.

Oooh, those are beautiful! I especially like 1, 3 and 4! They make me think of trips to my grandparents and great-grandparents. They're really nostalgic!

That's an awesome quote!!! Reminds me of something I read once: "I once heard a fellow firefighter reply to a young boy who had just said
'When I grow up I want to be a firefighter'.
He said 'Son you can do one or the other but not both'"

Oh, I love that! That's a wonderful quote!

So does anyone know when the SC auditions are? I'm not sure, somebody told me they were Jan or Feb, but I don't know yet...if so, that'd be wonderful!

I don't think we can yet know when the auditions will be, since SC isn't greenlit yet. If/when it's greenlit, then hopefully we'll hear something about casting calls for Jill pretty soon after. I hope you're able to audition, if SC is made!

But yes. I'll pick one of those nicknames, aside from RTD and TRTD. Or perhaps I'll just go with "The Other Rose".

Ha, I like that! Her Majesty Rose Louise the First? I think that takes the cake as far as nicknames go.

*waves to Betsie* I love your name!

And there are several great Robin Hood movies -- the Errol Flynn (with my darling Olivia de Havilland )

Didn't she play Hermia?

I'm sorry, I don't like pictures of me and if one stands still too long pictures tend to become inevitable; therefore, I can't stand still! (And yes, waving is our fall back if we're too busy to think of anything witty to keep the conversation going and still want to acknowledge the other person ).

Ahh, I see. I'll have to work on waving at moving objects, then.

If you need any help with your books, I have two suggestions: The Queen's Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner (an awesome, fun series about a theif, his attitudes, and his annoying clever adventures) and The Bell at Sealy Head by Patricia McKillip (a fantasy novel with gorgeous prose).

I just downloaded a sample of The Thief yesterday and am already loving it! I can't wait to read the rest of the book! I've heard really good things about McKillip, too, so I'll be sure to check that one out. Thanks for the suggestions!

Whew, it's late, so I'd better go ahead and wrap this post up! I can't believe 2010 is almost over. Sometimes it seems like it just got here. Oh well, here's to 2010, and here's to 2011 being a really good year for all!

*Sets off a catapult loaded with a hundred snowballs to fall where they may before leaving*

I don't have a ton of time, so this is gonna be a somewhat skimmy catch-up. Apologies if I miss something!

*snark* It's still pretty long.

But, okay, I just wasn't recognizing the guy. I watched the miniseries earlier this year. *withoutreadingthebookcough* I thought it was pretty well done, and agree that Garai was very, very good!

Yes, it was rather unfair of me to include a minor character in the avatar. but I was working with pictures from the scene where Gwen refuses Rex, and those two just came together so nicely.... *ahem* You'll see I have a DD avatar now that includes only major characters. Anyway, you should read the book at some point (you have read Middlemarch and Silas Marner, right?), but I have to say, this may be one of the few cases where I slightly prefer the miniseries to the book. Certainly it's one of the best adaptations of a classic novel I've seen. Davies' screenplay is incredibly faithful to the book for the most part, but he makes some structural changes that simply make good sense. For instance, Eliot has Rex appear late in the novel for absolutely no reason at all -- Davies doesn't. He also eliminates an unnecessary subplot involving Mirah's father. The only thing I didn't like was that he changed the nature of the relationship between Gwen and Grandcourt a bit, in a typically Andrew Davies-ish way. And yes, Romola is awesome in the series -- the only thing I may possibly like her more in is Amazing Grace. It's one of Hugh Dancy's best roles, too (and his presence means that random females will watch it with me ). Really, everyone is good in it, now I think of it.

That's really strange about The King's Speech! Two of the nearby theaters are playing it, and while I live an hour or so away from Dallas, my hometown itself is hardly one of the biggest cities in the state. Maybe it will come to your neck of the woods soon? It should start playing in more theaters as Oscar season comes closer.

I will have to try to see The King's Speech.

It's very good, and pretty clean, for the most part. There are two scenes with a lot of swearing -- but at least it has a point within the context of the movie (using swearing in order to help overcome a speech defect) and is limited to those scenes. I far prefer that approach to the sort of movies where people swear every other word for the entire duration of the film.

I will agree that VDT was good visually, probably the best of the Narnia films in that department. But I thought it was a fairly mediocre film all in all, with poor pacing, some plot holes, and one of the stupidest villains of all time (Da Green Mist Dat Eat Da People! SOOOO scary! ). And of course, as an adaptation, it was very poor indeed.

My mom's shortbread cookies are the best I've ever had. But as I've never had yours or your mom's, I'm not ruling them out. My mom's family, being Scottish in origin, have a long history of making shortbread -- but my mom doesn't use the family recipe. She thinks it's far too fussy, and it never comes out the same way. We instead use a recipe a lady from my writer's group gave me -- it's super easy and always turns out well.

I should watch more Flynn/de Havilland films. Love their Robin Hood as well as Captain Blood.

How'd Les Mis come up? I do love that movie, though.

Probably the ones that are really high on the list are The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., and Toy Story 1 & 2.

Now, see, here's somebody with taste! (Aka, mine. )

Didn't she play Hermia?

Wow, that was an obscure reference. Yes, she did. I think it was one of her first film roles. I ... actually didn't recognize her the first few times I watched that. Her acting style in MND is somewhat different from her other movies.

I've heard really good things about McKillip, too

Probably all of them from me. Although there were others before me who mentioned her on the forums (e.g. wisewoman), I was pretty much the person who couldn't shut up about her books, and I'm glad the McKillip fandom has caught on so.

Off now!

*arrives eating a cookie for breakfast* I know not the best thing, but it tastes good.

Mortereve y'all!!!

*Skims over the past couple of posts*

*tries to think of something else to say and fails miserably*

I have that problem all the time...ok not all the time, but sometimes.

Lyz, honestly I have to say that I'm not bothered by swearing as much in movies as other things, but thanks for the advance warning.

I would have to agree with your thoughts on VoDT. The beginning I liked a lot, but then it got worse, and worse, and honestly I didn't even see the end cause we were late for a party. We left right after they left Ramandu's Island, and I think it's just wrong that they gave his daughter a name.

My Mom's side of the family has Scottish heritage too....ok that's slightly disturbing. Anyways...I just used a recipe that I found online.

I have not seen Captain Blood...No wait I have. I haven't seen The Sea Hawk. They Died with Their Boots on is a really good film that they did also. Kinda sad though.

I made Les Mis come up with my super powers. No someone said something about the soundtrack. I've only seen it once. It isn't a movie I'd watch a lot.

Well, I'm off for the day. I'm going to my sister's house later to hopefully watch some movies, and hang, then we're going to see a fantastic opening to a new year....AKA Fireworks.

And I shall leave y'all with this thought: ‎"I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied: 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.' " (From King George VI's Christmas address in 1939)

Oh yes, I did mention the soundtrack. The movie is one of my top 5 favorites, ever. And I love the book and musical as well.

I didn't mind the filmmakers giving Ramandu's Daughter a name half as much as Ramandu himself not appearing. You should at least watch the ending of VDT at some point, though ... the End of the World scene is quite good. Honestly, the beginning and ending of the film were fine -- it was just everything in between that bothered me.

Both sides of my family are originally Scottish. Beat that.

Agh, got to tidy up around here before my friend arrives.

Ooooh I hate it when I loose a post. Grrr *picks herself up and goes on*

I have not read the book, nor seen the musical. Mom said the book was really long, and went into LOTS of detail. I like some books with detail, but not all, so I'm not sure iff'n it'll keep me interested or not. I might try reading it at some point.

I will watch the end sometime. I'm going to watch all the Narnia films through and through at least once....Although I sometimes regret ever watching PC. I knew it would be bad, but I didn't know how bad.

Beat that? oh you're on! I can beat that...Lets see...My Dad's side of the family are all Texans, and you can't beat that. As I have previously stated in former posts, Texas might be it's own world.....actually I said it was it's own planet. And on another note I'm related to Uncle Curly from the three stooges. He's my great uncle. Lets see if I can dig something else out of my ancestry....Oh I'm also related to the Cherokee Indians. My great Grandmother was full blooded. So Yeah I think I've got you beat. No hard feelings though.

Hello all!!
I haven't been here for a few days, so it's time for some catchup. First . .
We had our Christmas gathering with my Dad's side of the family these last few days, so I've been gone. It was lots of fun, kind of weird because my parents weren't there, so it was only me and my siblings. But lovely seeing everyone and just hanging around and having fun. Oh, and playing Xbox for the first time ever!! (I suck so so so bad) . But now we're home.

Miss R. wrote
*is jealous that Elanor gets to see Betsie, and that Betsie gets to see Elanor*

Well, why don't you come see us, then?

*waves to Silver* How are you doing?

Fireflower wrote
Oh, that is awesome! Congrats! I'm so glad you made it! Do you plan to do it next year?
Awesome. I like being editing buddies... despite the fact that I haven't even FINISHED my novel, much less started editing it...

I know, it being the first made it doubly exciting and scary. Oh yes, I definitely want to do it next year! The problem is if I can wait!!
Yes, isn't it fun? Oh wait - I'm not doing any editing, and neither are you! oh well . .

Betsie wrote
My dear Elanor, I do not see how you had any influence at all in bringing me to the Square. Nonetheless, I am very glad to see you.

well, um - I told you too!
The ball was a smashing success. That building was beyond perfection. It was everything I hoped the first ball would be. (but if I must tell you - I personally had a better time at the other balls). But it was amazing!!!!!!!! And your dress - *is speechless*.

LL wrote
And, thank you very much for helping her remember us!

And, catch-ups can be exhausting! Don't feel that you "need" to catch-up if you don't have the time or energy. I like to do big posts, because I enjoy them and have fun with it; others don't though, and that's probably the more sane response.

Well, she just said I had nothing to do with it. But thank you anyway!
I actually really do enjoy catchups - but they do take a bit of work. It's worth it!!
Thank you so much for your help with my ignorance of posting - but I have another problem. When I get far behind, and I start replying and click the PostReply button - it doesn't show all the posts I want to quote, because they're too far back. Is there a way to fix that?

*waves to Tiana and Lu* Hello, and nice to meet you!