Guess what?

In my creative writing class we had a contest as our final. We submitted what we considered our best work by genre and then we peer judged genres that we had not submitted under. For example, I submitted a drama piece and I was a judge in fiction.

We have pen names in this class. Brother Babcock gave us clear instructions “I will read allowed the pen-name for each genre winner. If your name is called come on up, accept the prize and read your piece. Okay first genre is drama. Drama winner is “Sonya Evershed” Sonya Evershed, who are you?”

I stood. The class applauded. I crossed the room to where Brother Babcock sat on his professor throne. “Madison great piece, Daddy’s Girl, we saw this a few weeks ago…” I stood there feeling awkward as he talked about my piece. Firstly I was sick. I was dizzy, I felt like I was going to throw up, I just wanted to sleep, I just wanted to eat in spite of also wanting to throw up.

Secondly I was wearing red. This was a mistake. In my defense I hadn’t exactly known I would win, so I hadn’t dressed in a blush-proof way. But then, when you are of my complexion there is no way to dress blush proof. But red made a flustered blush into an “I just ate eight over ripe jalapeño peppers” blush.

Finally I was embarrassed because I was only winning because I was the only person who submitted under the genre of drama. All the other winners would have been competing with three to eightish other writers. I had just written in a genre no one else liked to.  

“Madison, do you want to read this, or read part of this, or act it out, or say anything or none of the above.” Brother Babcock turned to me.

“Um, yeah. Nothing.” Please remember I felt like I had eaten raw fish.

“You don’t want to read?”

“Nope.” I realized I was sounding like a temperamental ungrateful artist; I grappled to regain my dignity. “This is an older draft. I’ve already revised it since I submitted this and I don’t like this draft.” Not a lie. Very true, but not why I didn’t want to read.

“You already revised?” Brother Babcock sounded impressed.  There, at least I didn’t sound like a brat, just like a purist. “Well, Madison we’d like to present you with this fairly Gothic looking candle holder for a job well done.” He smiled, holding up a VERY Gothic looking candle holder. It was wrought iron and looked like something a poor innocent heroine would carry on her way down a dark, windy passage. The candle inside, a deceivingly sweet shade of pink, would illuminate the skeleton she would undoubtedly find in said passage. I could see a heroine who looked suspiciously like me, but with curly hair that reached my lower back, in a long white night gown, the hem slightly damp from the passage staring horrified at the skeleton. She/I would hold the rocking candle as steadily as possible when a noise would be heard behind me/her. As she/I turned the freckles wind would blow out the candle and leave me alone with the skeleton and whatever was behind me.

“Um, thanks.” I said. “I feel very Bronte now.”

Yeah, so, that’s what happened.

Book stores

Recently I was in a book store shopping for a Christmas Present for a roommate. I ended up spending a long time there. I realized that I am usually only in bookstores when I am staying with my grandparents. As such I have related book stores with puppies, embroidery, bead stores, hot cocoa, cousins and other things that are essentially comforting and only available when I escape life for a bit and go to Colorado.
But then I realized it was more than that. The more I read the summaries on the jackets or the more I just looked at titles I realized that books are just so great. Ironically that is why I became English major, but somehow I forgot that along the way. I do believe it is because certain things like plot and characters take back seat to getting a proper “analysis” of a work. But I can’t blame my professors for this (at least not completely) . It’s just what happened to me over the last few years.
But as I pulled book after book off the shelf they all said wonderfully different things. One would say: “You’re job is full of useless stress, want to solve a murder? At least that is a worthwhile kind of stress.” Another would say “Romance isn’t always bad. Sure it can be a little distracting when going undercover in occupied Paris. But what kind of woman can’t seduce a Nazi and lose her mind to a British spy at the same time?” Another would say “Remember me? You read me last summer, you said you loved me, but now I doubt you could even name all of my characters off the top of your head.”
Finally I realized that book stores are wonderful firstly because they remind me of my grandparents. But secondly because they are full of books. Books can teach you so many beautiful things. But that day they all reminded me that where I was—in a useless job and still stuck in school and broke—wasn’t the end. Thos books reminded me that in life no matter what is currently going on the future possibilities are endless.

Thanksgiving

I am not generally a fan of Thanksgiving. I already eat more than I should. Thanksgiving occurs when I realize it is too late to change my semester plans and I am stuck doing whatever it is I am currently doing until January. It also means Black Friday. I have had to work Black Fridays for the better part of a decade now and I have a hard time celebrating a holiday that has become a prelude to the American tradition of consumerism.

I get the "Be Thankful" thing. But what annoys me is if you don't say specific things it looks like you aren't grateful for those things. I am very grateful for my religion, knowing God loves me, my ability to get an education, my family, my friends and my job. I am so grateful for these things. But let's go further. If we are going to celebrate gratitude than let's at least be creative. So here are some obscure things to be grateful for.

1. The color green. Seriously, can you imagine not having that color?

2. Agatha Christie. Because.

3. Over-the-counter pain killers.

4. Carpet cleaners.

5. Quirky album covers

6. Alarm clocks

7. Brownies-- the mythical beings and the tasty dessert.

8. Ambition

9. SHOES

10. Trash-liners

11. Jane and Cassandra Austen

12. Peter Pan

13. Pillows.

Let's end at thirteen because we can.

Married, Single, Other

I must confess I have been vaguely aware of the existence of the show “Married, Single, Other” for quite some time. I never really had any interest in seeing it as the title seemed to reflect that it would be a show whose primary purpose would be a loosely stringed plot that always involved naked young women. However this week I decided to give it a shot. I have not been so pleasantly disappointed in a long time.
The story focuses on three main couples; two have children and have been together forever. The final is just starting out.
One of the forever couples—Lillie and Eddie— have never married, they have two children and are quiet happy. At least Lillie is. Eddie and one of their sons, Joe, wish they were an official family. Lillie comes to realize that if marriage is so important to those she loves than maybe it is more important than her feminist stance. Regardless of my personal feelings on marriage (it’s a good thing) I was so glad the writers chose this route for their characters. I don’t mind other views than mine… but when every single TV couple decides it would be purer not to marry it stops being thought provoking and starts being predicable. I loved this couple. They loved each other and loved their kids.
The other forever couple – Babs and Dickie—are facing the end of their relationship. Or at least their marriage. Babs is at the end of her rope; she says herself: “I love him. I love him more than anything… but he… Oh Lillie, is it wrong to dump someone because they are a bit immature and a little bad with money?” To which her old friend says “Maybe. But it’s probably not so bad to end a marriage with someone who is very difficult and complete crap with money.” Not an exact quote but generally. This couple addresses the pain of love. Babs always loves her husband. But his addiction to gambling and his lack of ambition has ruined her. So this story begs the question, when do you forgive those you love for their weaknesses? When are they taking advantage of you? How far does the vow for better or for worse go?
The final couple—Abbey and Clint—are just starting out. Clint is, as his sister in-law, Babs, refers to him, “The King of Sleaze.” He meets Abbey, who is drop dead attractive and funny and all around the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately, she finds him to be a bit of joke. But they decide to give one another a shot.
Though this series began as trying to define a couple what it ended was defining the family. The brave part of this piece was—not to give away the ending—but pretty much everyone ended up somewhere between “Other” and “Single”. Despite their individual relationships going to pot they all stay close Eddie, Lillie, and the boys. They are form a family like relationship with this family. The theme of the work was “Couples more often than not, break up. Something horrible and unpredictable happens, someone cheats, some lies, someone has unfair expectations. However, families; on the other hand, last forever.”

Spooks

I am attempting to write this blog as a review for the British television series Spooks. I have spent way more hours than I wish to contemplate writing essays and analysis’s where I take my personal feelings about something out. So I am going to make this review personal.

I love the television series Spooks.

The English/Art geek in me feels the need to point out that any pop show in which the artists involved quote Shakespeare, create allusions to fairy-tales and allusions to King Arthur mixed into a modern spy show. I am so on board.

Tonight I will watch the final episode. I must admit I am very saddened by this idea. I will literally miss this show. I remember my dad once shared a quote that said “Happiness is discovering P.G. Woodhouse for the first time.” (I am sorry that I do not know who first made this statement to give them proper credit.) To me the same is true with Spooks. Yes I can and will re-watch them and enjoy them for years and years. However nothing matches the thrill of watching an episode of Spooks wondering how on earth it will possibly end without world disaster—or without a main character dead or miserable in painful, emotionally wrenching and probably humiliating manner.

That last paragraph makes me feel like anyone reading it will assume I have completely sick tastes. This is true to an extent. But while I love the extreme situations that Spooks pulls. But I love the extreme emotions that come in hand with the extreme situations. What is it they say in The Princess Bride? “Sword fights, revenge, true love, miracles!” Spooks is bombs, poison, bullets, murder, commitment issues, black mail, sacrifice, betrayal, torture, kidnapping, rescues, judgment calls, extremists, true love. As the character Danny says “Great acts of hatred also create great acts of love.” This show has some of the best emotional scenes. I am so going to miss the emotional roller coaster of Spooks.

So while I am so proud of the production team that has decided to end this show while it is ahead I am partly with the character Ruth when she tearfully begs: “Oh no, please, please don’t let this be the end.”

Wish list

My mother claims that I'm impossible to buy gifts for. Given that my birthday is coming up I figured I'd do a blog on what I want this birthday. Oh, for the record they are in no particular order.

-- Toothless the Dragon. Seriously. I want Toothless as a pet. Isn't he cool? He flies. And he has a cute attitude. As long as he doesn't make me take a bite of raw fish we're perfect for each other.

--Flat in England, I miss it every day. I just want to go back... forever.

-- Hot British Boyfriend. Need I say more? I think not.

--Ability to walk in high-heels without being an insurance hazard to myself and others.

-- A Timeturner. With one of these I could sleep and get my homework done.

-- My sisters' shopping skills. Both always look so put together.

-- I. Want. To. Go. To. NARNIA. But I don't think my mom will get me this because A. I am well aware it is fictional. B. I would never come back.

Being Human the BBC version provided a great deal of entertainment these last two semesters. True there is now an American version of the same show. I have never seen it. I am sure it is good—but I’m just saying when I have a choice and one actor playing the lead has an Irish accent I tend to choose that option.
The premise is simple—four undead friends try to live as humanly as possible. They try to keep their conditions under control and in the process their stories beg the questions “what is it to be human?” After all Mitchell is a vampire, his best friend George is a werewolf, and Annie is a ghost. This show forces its audience to consider that perhaps humanity isn’t limited to species; but, is instead based on character. However this theme is woven in artfully, it supports the story, but does not indulge in preaching.

Mitchell is a vampire who with a shady—no horrific—history. But he is not off blood and trying to get his friends to follow suit. He is constantly at odds because he wants to remain in touch with the vampire community. These people are his friends and the only ones who truly understand his condition. They are not bad people. But they are killers. Just like he was, and occasionally still is. Despite all his faults he has to believe that he has the ability to overcome his hunger. He wants to be defined by who he is and not his impulses.

George is a werewolf, a nerd, religious, a good cook and incredibly socially awkward. However he is the most supportive member of the cast. His principles are solid and his beliefs have not altered because of his condition. When Mitchell does not trust the world George does not trust himself. He is the backbone of the crew. His kind nature means that he is often taken advantage of by both his friends and his enemies.

Annie is ghost who has been all alone until she meets up with Mitchell and George. She is kind and fun. But unlike the other characters she is too trusting and too forgiving. Because of these traits she is dead. Her character develops from self conscious and desperate to please to ambitious and uncompromising.

Nina may just be my personal favorite. She has been the victim of a series of painful relationships. She was abused by her parents and at least one previous partner. She is angry and unforgiving. But then she meets George who is kind, funny and would do anything for her. She finds life is better with him. But then he is a werewolf. Everything she believed before is true; someone like him was too good to be true. So, does she risk everything again and go for the man she loves or protect herself. (She doesn't have quite as big a part so she doesn't get a cool promo pic.)

This story is more effective given the demographic of the characters. They are all in their early twenties. Or at least were in their early twenties before they became ageless and technically life-less. But the similarities between the average undead and the average young adult are quiet striking.
1. The struggle to find a significant other who understands you.
2. Parents—getting them let go
3. Ex- partners
4. Old friends with bad habits—it’s a tough lesson but you’re not saving them. They’re damning you.
The list could go on.
The writing is good—as with any TV script there are the occasional holes, but not enough to distract from the strengths of the story. The acting is excellent. The characters who are supposed to be in love have great chemistry and the ones at conflict with one another have enough emotion to back up their motives that nothing feels forced.
My last two points are personal. Firstly the language and the life styles of this series are for mature audiences only. Secondly we have been seeing the family picked apart a great deal in so much of our entertainment choices. I was so grateful to see that in this series the desire to have children and to be a parent was strong motivation to these characters. Some people might say that because the couple expecting child were not married is proof that this series is just as bad as any other. But I didn’t see that. I don’t feel the need for every character to uphold my exact moral views before I see the truth in what they are doing. I like that in this story a romance was a beginning that is led to something bigger instead of insinuating that parenthood is a boring and a waste of ambition.
I liked the show. Undead characters, British humor, complicated love/hate triangles and moral ambiguity.