Organization is one of the things I struggle with CONSTANTLY. I'm bad during normal times, but over the last three years, it has gotten WAY out of hand, and I've decided it must stop. To be fair to myself, I had my hands quite full. It's hard to do much when you're exhausted, and with pregnancy (with 8 mos. of nausea), nursing, thyroid issues, a burst eardrum, toothaches, diapering, Tink's school and friend activities, and everything else, it was really hard for me to eke out time to do much other than the "musts"--dishes, laundry, vacuuming, etc. However, things are settling down (and Pinterest is making me itch to do household stuff), so IT IS TIME.
Over the past few weeks, I've been gradually working on the organization process. I've made more room in the hall closet (simply by organizing what was there), which is allowing me to put some things that were shoved in the guest/craft room away. I've got a new sewing box (thanks, Mom!) and a wrapping paper box, both of which have helped with organizing the craft room. I'm starting to pare down some of Ace's baby toys to give to a friend with a baby. I've got 3 boxes ready to donate to Goodwill. I will get the Christmas decorations down this coming weekend. And, most important of all, I have to have the entire downstairs organized enough to host my Girl Scout troop at the end of the month, so I WILL CONTINUE until I get it done. Then I will move onto the master bedroom (you don't even want to know) and the garage (a no-man's land if ever I saw one).
Of course, once everything is done, the key is to figure how to get my family to help me keep it going. That's going to be a challenge!
Now, if any of you out there have some organizational ideas, I'd love to hear them. Nothing inspires me to organize like good ideas on how to do it!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Before You Decide You Hate Twilight, Maybe You Should Read the Books
This post has brewing in my mind for some time, but it's taken me a while to organize my thoughts in order to commit them to print. I often see people posting negative things about Twlight, and I wonder "Have they actually read the books?" Based on their posts, I'd say many of them haven't because a lot of what's posted isn't really accurate. Some of them are funny, and maybe that's why they're being posted, but honestly, I think Twilight's getting a bad rap from people who may not even have read the books, and I find that very frustrating. After all, is it really fair to judge the series based on the movies alone (they came second; hence, they are NOT the definitive for the series) or, worse, on hearsay?
If you've read the books, you can say whatever you want about them, and I'll back your right to do so. And there ARE some legitimate things in the books to criticize (Meyer's writing style has some flaws; there are themes that parents of impressionable teens may find objectionable; etc.), but rarely do I find people actually attacking those elements; usually I see them attacking the full series with vague and sometimes inaccurate blanket statements.
The Movies
Like all movies made from books, the movies leave out A LOT. They also change some things. You simply cannot fit a rather long book into two hours of screen time and include the same amount of detail. If you've seen one or more of the movies and did not like them, it is certainly fair to say you didn't like the movies. If you don't really care for vampire stories or for "nice" vampires (in other words, you like them vicious), it's certainly fair of you to say you're not interested in the Twilight subject matter. If you think it's silly that they sparkle (and even I think it is), you are certainly free to say so. However, it doesn't really make you qualified to say that the books suck or to compare the four books to a movie you saw when you haven't READ the books.
"Twilight is JUST about having a boyfriend" (or some variation thereof)
Whenever I see this, I know that a person is not familiar with all four books, or if they did read them, they weren't reading very closely. Yes, Twilight is primarily a love story, but there ARE other themes, and those themes are less apparent in the first book than in the later books (more on those themes later), so if you've only read the first book, you may not see this that easily.
This statement makes it sound very much like all Bella cares about in life is having a boyfriend (as if any boy will do)--not true. Bella is the new girl in town. She's trying to figure out where she fits in. Because it's such a small town, a large number of boys are automatically attracted to her and want to date her because she's different from the girls they've known since they were tots. She doesn't want any of them. However, when she sees Edward, she's drawn to him because he seems different from other boys, but mostly, she's just concerned because he seems to take an instant dislike to her. (How many high school kids do you know that are not extremely upset when someone seems to hate them for no apparent reason?) When Edward leaves in the second book, if Bella were so obsessed with having any boyfriend, why did she not start dating Jacob? She hangs around with him, sure, but when he shows that he wants more than friendship, she doesn't want that. She doesn't care about "having a boyfriend;" she cares about Edward because she loves him.
As to the other themes, one example would be the theme of what it means to be different. Bella is different to the people of Forks because she's new and from a large city in the desert (Phoenix)--she's experienced many things other people in Forks never have and possibly never will. To Edward, she's different because he cannot read her mind as he can other humans. The Cullens are different from the people of Forks, though most people don't understand why. Bella is the only one so intrigued that she feels a need to find out. The Cullens are different from other vampires in that they don't feed on humans. This difference leads the vampire hierarchy, based in Italy, to seek reasons to destroy the entire Cullen clan (one of the sources of conflict in books 2-4).
In a smaller sense, there is a theme of good versus evil in the conflicts between the "good" vampires (the Cullens) and all of the other vampires of the world (the traveling vampires including Victoria and the Italian vampires). There are also good vs. evil elements in the wolves versus the vampires. Meyer shows the struggle of the young wolves to accept the truce their elders have established with the Cullens in light of their innate desire to hunt and destroy all vampires; they have trouble believing there can be good vampires and see all vampires as evil.
Comparisons of Bella to Hermione Granger and Other Fictional Women Who Have Been Separated from the One They Love
While I laughed at this (and perhaps even shared it on Facebook), I have to say this isn't really a fair comparison because it totally leaves out anything about circumstance. Before I get into my arguments, know that I am a far bigger fan of Harry Potter than I am of Twilight. However, to compare Bella's reaction to Edward who just last week said he loves her telling her he doesn't want her anymore and leaving town to Hermione's reaction to Ron's abandoning her and Harry in the middle of their quest against Voldemort is not a comparison of truly similar circumstances. Why? 1) Hermione and Ron have never declared themselves to be in love at this point. They've never kissed. They've never even gone on a date. Bella and Edward, however, have declared their love for one another. They've kissed. 2) Ron doesn't say he doesn't want to be with Hermione, he just can't take the way the quest is going. Hermione understands that he's not rejecting her personally. However, Edward does make the rejection personal (even though he's really doing it for her protection). 3) Bella is in a small town with very little to do. Her ONLY purpose at the moment is to get through High School, and she has very little else in her life to keep her busy. She doesn't have close friends there, really, though she does try to hang with the girls some during this period. She doesn't have school clubs or other activities (at least until she starts her bike project with Jacob) to help take her mind off things. Hermione, on the other hand, has a very important purpose to her life--stopping Voldemort. She knows she doesn't have time to wallow in misery. She can wallow later if she must, but for now, she has to push that aside.
As for the Princess Leia comparison, puh-leaze. Leia knew Han still loved her. She went and rescued him. When Alice comes to tell a wallowing Bella that Edward is going to get the Italian vampires to kill him because he really still loves her, Bella jumps right onto that plane and goes to rescue him. So, how exactly is that different? (And again, I love Star Wars more than I love Twilight, though I am still ticked with Lucas about several things in the prequel, but that's not relevant to this conversation.)
I'm not going to go into each of the other women that are sometimes shown in relation to this argument, but I think it suffices to say, that most of these ladies are not in the same exact circumstances, and circumstances DO have a way of changing how you react to something.
The Story of the People and Their Emotions
The portrayal of the characters and their emotions is what kept me coming back as each book moved on. I like Bella. She is actually a very strong character--the strength of will it took her to not show her pain as she transformed into a vampire was immense. She's stubborn and fiery. And even though she sulks through a good part of New Moon, I see that as a very human thing to do--I can't tell you how many people I know who are otherwise really strong people who had at least one break-up that left them sulking for months. And in the end, they were stronger for having been through it.
The sexual tension between Bella and Edward is palpable. I can't help but love Edward and, to some extent, Jacob. I see good in both men, though I think she ultimately belongs with Edward. Edward frequently says exactly the right thing, which makes him a little like a fairy tale prince. We know no one can possibly be that noble and perfect, but we still find it attractive. Jacob is a moody, sulky teenager, but he's still kind and caring and good, and we love that, too.
There is emotional conflict within the story as Edward tries to come to terms with Bella's desire to become a vampire and as Bella fights Edward's insistence that they marry before they become intimate and before she becomes a vampire. There is conflict in that Bella loves Jacob as a brother while he loves her in a romantic way, and Jacob has to learn to accept that it's different for her. I could say more, but if you're really interested in the emotional range of the books, I think you ought to read them.
And a Short Note on The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
I really enjoyed this short book--those who enjoy violent vampires might find it a bit more interesting than the actual Twilight series; knowledge of Eclipse (the movie would probably suffice) will make it easier to understand. It's about one vampire in a group of vampires created to attack the Cullens at the end of the third book of the Twilight series. It goes into some interesting details about being a new vampire and living among a group of violent vampires who often fight among one another. For those who loved the other books, it gives insight into Victoria's plan for the attack and how it all came about.
If you've read the books, you can say whatever you want about them, and I'll back your right to do so. And there ARE some legitimate things in the books to criticize (Meyer's writing style has some flaws; there are themes that parents of impressionable teens may find objectionable; etc.), but rarely do I find people actually attacking those elements; usually I see them attacking the full series with vague and sometimes inaccurate blanket statements.
The Movies
Like all movies made from books, the movies leave out A LOT. They also change some things. You simply cannot fit a rather long book into two hours of screen time and include the same amount of detail. If you've seen one or more of the movies and did not like them, it is certainly fair to say you didn't like the movies. If you don't really care for vampire stories or for "nice" vampires (in other words, you like them vicious), it's certainly fair of you to say you're not interested in the Twilight subject matter. If you think it's silly that they sparkle (and even I think it is), you are certainly free to say so. However, it doesn't really make you qualified to say that the books suck or to compare the four books to a movie you saw when you haven't READ the books.
"Twilight is JUST about having a boyfriend" (or some variation thereof)
Whenever I see this, I know that a person is not familiar with all four books, or if they did read them, they weren't reading very closely. Yes, Twilight is primarily a love story, but there ARE other themes, and those themes are less apparent in the first book than in the later books (more on those themes later), so if you've only read the first book, you may not see this that easily.
This statement makes it sound very much like all Bella cares about in life is having a boyfriend (as if any boy will do)--not true. Bella is the new girl in town. She's trying to figure out where she fits in. Because it's such a small town, a large number of boys are automatically attracted to her and want to date her because she's different from the girls they've known since they were tots. She doesn't want any of them. However, when she sees Edward, she's drawn to him because he seems different from other boys, but mostly, she's just concerned because he seems to take an instant dislike to her. (How many high school kids do you know that are not extremely upset when someone seems to hate them for no apparent reason?) When Edward leaves in the second book, if Bella were so obsessed with having any boyfriend, why did she not start dating Jacob? She hangs around with him, sure, but when he shows that he wants more than friendship, she doesn't want that. She doesn't care about "having a boyfriend;" she cares about Edward because she loves him.
As to the other themes, one example would be the theme of what it means to be different. Bella is different to the people of Forks because she's new and from a large city in the desert (Phoenix)--she's experienced many things other people in Forks never have and possibly never will. To Edward, she's different because he cannot read her mind as he can other humans. The Cullens are different from the people of Forks, though most people don't understand why. Bella is the only one so intrigued that she feels a need to find out. The Cullens are different from other vampires in that they don't feed on humans. This difference leads the vampire hierarchy, based in Italy, to seek reasons to destroy the entire Cullen clan (one of the sources of conflict in books 2-4).
In a smaller sense, there is a theme of good versus evil in the conflicts between the "good" vampires (the Cullens) and all of the other vampires of the world (the traveling vampires including Victoria and the Italian vampires). There are also good vs. evil elements in the wolves versus the vampires. Meyer shows the struggle of the young wolves to accept the truce their elders have established with the Cullens in light of their innate desire to hunt and destroy all vampires; they have trouble believing there can be good vampires and see all vampires as evil.
Comparisons of Bella to Hermione Granger and Other Fictional Women Who Have Been Separated from the One They Love
While I laughed at this (and perhaps even shared it on Facebook), I have to say this isn't really a fair comparison because it totally leaves out anything about circumstance. Before I get into my arguments, know that I am a far bigger fan of Harry Potter than I am of Twilight. However, to compare Bella's reaction to Edward who just last week said he loves her telling her he doesn't want her anymore and leaving town to Hermione's reaction to Ron's abandoning her and Harry in the middle of their quest against Voldemort is not a comparison of truly similar circumstances. Why? 1) Hermione and Ron have never declared themselves to be in love at this point. They've never kissed. They've never even gone on a date. Bella and Edward, however, have declared their love for one another. They've kissed. 2) Ron doesn't say he doesn't want to be with Hermione, he just can't take the way the quest is going. Hermione understands that he's not rejecting her personally. However, Edward does make the rejection personal (even though he's really doing it for her protection). 3) Bella is in a small town with very little to do. Her ONLY purpose at the moment is to get through High School, and she has very little else in her life to keep her busy. She doesn't have close friends there, really, though she does try to hang with the girls some during this period. She doesn't have school clubs or other activities (at least until she starts her bike project with Jacob) to help take her mind off things. Hermione, on the other hand, has a very important purpose to her life--stopping Voldemort. She knows she doesn't have time to wallow in misery. She can wallow later if she must, but for now, she has to push that aside.
As for the Princess Leia comparison, puh-leaze. Leia knew Han still loved her. She went and rescued him. When Alice comes to tell a wallowing Bella that Edward is going to get the Italian vampires to kill him because he really still loves her, Bella jumps right onto that plane and goes to rescue him. So, how exactly is that different? (And again, I love Star Wars more than I love Twilight, though I am still ticked with Lucas about several things in the prequel, but that's not relevant to this conversation.)
I'm not going to go into each of the other women that are sometimes shown in relation to this argument, but I think it suffices to say, that most of these ladies are not in the same exact circumstances, and circumstances DO have a way of changing how you react to something.
The Story of the People and Their Emotions
The portrayal of the characters and their emotions is what kept me coming back as each book moved on. I like Bella. She is actually a very strong character--the strength of will it took her to not show her pain as she transformed into a vampire was immense. She's stubborn and fiery. And even though she sulks through a good part of New Moon, I see that as a very human thing to do--I can't tell you how many people I know who are otherwise really strong people who had at least one break-up that left them sulking for months. And in the end, they were stronger for having been through it.
The sexual tension between Bella and Edward is palpable. I can't help but love Edward and, to some extent, Jacob. I see good in both men, though I think she ultimately belongs with Edward. Edward frequently says exactly the right thing, which makes him a little like a fairy tale prince. We know no one can possibly be that noble and perfect, but we still find it attractive. Jacob is a moody, sulky teenager, but he's still kind and caring and good, and we love that, too.
There is emotional conflict within the story as Edward tries to come to terms with Bella's desire to become a vampire and as Bella fights Edward's insistence that they marry before they become intimate and before she becomes a vampire. There is conflict in that Bella loves Jacob as a brother while he loves her in a romantic way, and Jacob has to learn to accept that it's different for her. I could say more, but if you're really interested in the emotional range of the books, I think you ought to read them.
And a Short Note on The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
I really enjoyed this short book--those who enjoy violent vampires might find it a bit more interesting than the actual Twilight series; knowledge of Eclipse (the movie would probably suffice) will make it easier to understand. It's about one vampire in a group of vampires created to attack the Cullens at the end of the third book of the Twilight series. It goes into some interesting details about being a new vampire and living among a group of violent vampires who often fight among one another. For those who loved the other books, it gives insight into Victoria's plan for the attack and how it all came about.
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