Farfalla

#CorbyjaneWatches #Phantom25

2011-10-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

I always say I'll add to this later but I never do. So we'll see I guess.

@somuchbetter88 RT @TheOperaGhosts
What a beautiful sunny day in London for #Phantom25 - Happy October, and happy anniversary #PhantomOfTheOpera! #POTO25

@somuchbetter88
Yes. I am extremely excited and I cannot lie. #Phantom25

@somuchbetter88 RT @TheOperaGhosts
Who's on their way to see the LIVE #Phantom25 screening in cinemas?! #POTO25

somuchbetter88
US! WE ARE!!!!! #Phantom25

@somuchbetter88
"lets bet on how many ppl will be in the theatre, i think 6." "10." one. :(

Three joined us before the show started. Counting ourselves, we ended the show with a totally of seven. The age gap between them and myself was approximately 30 years.

@somuchbetter88
Salinas people are uncultured hacks. :(

It was amazing. I know some people who don't think Sierra is that great of an actress and I'm not a great acting critic, but she sings phenomenally and dances terrifically, and that's really all I care about because I'm an opera singer. The costumes were of course brilliant, being the original Maria Bjornsen ones.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane
THEY DIDNT DROP THE CHANDELIER WTF

The technical stuff was... a little interesting. A lot of the things that made Phantom so groundbreaking were just gone. The underground lake bit was stripped bare and shortened, they didn't drop the chandelier, all sets bare minimum pieces with the bulk of the scene being projected onto screens which I'm sure looked totally epic in real life but didn't translate as well over film. Thankfully I'm more interested in the music and costumes, and those were left in tact.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane
But other than that holy crap this is amazing.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane
And im so tired im almost watching it like a normal person, analysis free. ALMOST.

It's been harder for me to go to shows lately because I think about them too much. I analyse the singing techniques, I analyse the costumes, I wonder if they're layering for quickchanges and when they're offstage I can imagine what exactly they're changing into and how long it's going to take them and whether they have time to use the bathroom, and I listen to the orchestra and it's not even just that I can hear when someone is wrong, it's just that I can hear ALL of them, every single part all together and how they blend and what chords they're making and it just gets really really overwhelming and just a sensory overload and I'm exhausted at the end of the show, as you might imagine. Stupid music degree, and such.

Also. They tweaked the finale a bit so it jives less with LND. Which... makes more sense, now. And I giggled, a little.

AND THEN IT WAS SO COOL SARAH BRIGHTMAN WAS THERE AND MICHAEL CRAWFORD AND COLM WILKINSON AND ALL THESE PEOPLE OMG SO COOL.

Go see it. It rocks.

People agree with me. Check it out.

Tomorrow...

2011-10-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

I am seeing the live broadcast of the Phantom of the Opera LIVE Anniversary at Northridge Cinema at 11am. It is available in many theatres across the country. You can find locations or purchase tickets here. As it is being live broadcast from the UK times will of course vary by location.

Tickets are available at Fandango or at the door.

You should go.

If you don't go, you are a sad excuse for a human being and I hope you cry yourself to sleep tomorrow night knowing that.

Need a Halloween costume? How about a custom-made one?

2011-09-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm just gonna throw this out there...

My record in stellar costuming/general sewing speaks for itself, and if you follow me in FB or twitter you know that's barely even a smidgen of the costumes I've created. This fall I am available to create or modify your Halloween costume.

Need ideas? You (or your daughter) could be:

Alice in Wonderland (Disney or Classic)

A Hogwarts student (robes and uniform)

Rapunzel

Glinda from Wicked (the bubble gown might be a little crazy for trick-or-treating, but how about her Popular dress?)

If creating a costume: you cover the costs of all materials and flat, pre-determined price of labour. If modifying an existing costume, only the labour will need to be paid.

Interested? Please email me at [corbyjane] @gmail.com, DM me on Twitter, or msg me on FB!

You're Welcome

2011-09-11T22:06:00.000-07:00

We all know Anna, right? Or Pinkscarf? She's known to many on her blog and more on twitter and more on youtube. She's got a great Disney princess type voice and is a pleasure to listen to etc etc yada yada?

Well. She wrote a song. This is the rough cut and she plans on posting a vid of herself actually playing and singing soon. But it's pretty darn awesome and you should all listen to it! It's been stuck in my head all day!

Remember Aromaleigh?

2011-09-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

This will be crossposted to T&S but I want to make sure the word gets out. AROMALEIGH IS BACK ~~ISH~~.
Kristen is selling off remaining stock at Dormant Dream. Looks like she's got Mythos, Spells, Wonderstruck, and Astronomical. You can see my swatches of the first three on T&S: Spells!, Mythos, Wonderstruck.

See all my Aromaleigh looks here.

Facing the ugly truth (dun dun DUUUUN)

2011-09-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

I've been in denial for almost two weeks, but I'm going to work on acceptance now. Well, actually anger but eventually we'll get to acceptance, I'm sure.

My camera was stolen. My eight-year-old best friend of a camera. I thought it would turn up, but no luck so far.

(My camera Doc, modeled by the beautiful Niki Moon)

Embarrassingly enough, it had half a vlog on it. And, oh yeah, a bunch of pictures from the last three weeks. It was sitting on top of a turquoise notebook labeled "CORBYJANE'S NOTEBOOK" next to four water bottles labeled "CORBYJANE'S" with turquoise duct tape. It is pretty unmistakeably Corbyjane's camera. It disappeared some time between Saturday night August 20th and Monday afternoon August 22nd. But most likely it was taken Saturday night.

It is this type of camera: Fujifilm Finepix S3200
I think it's sad that I paid so much for it in 2004 and it's available for $60 now, but at least I can buy a replacement relatively cheaply. If it doesn't turn up.

Dear Person Who Stole My Camera:
I wish you'd broken into my home and stolen it, rather than taken it from the one place I thought I was safe.

I know I must know you. There aren't words for how hurt I am.

I'm sorry that you missed the entire point of the past three months.

And if this is all a big misunderstanding, I promise there will be no questions asked. Just lots of forgiveness and glitter.
<3 Corbyjane

Blah blah first day of school

2011-08-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

News: I got into Soc 1 online. Which will negate needing to take "Why We White People Are Screwing Up the World", thankfully.

8am: Music Appreciation. Not going to suck. I've taken from Prof Koza before, he's awesome. And easy. And he loves Renee Fleming, which makes him a-okay in my book.

~~9am: Sociology of Minority Relations.~~ I sat between two very cute boys in the back and we ignored everything Strayer was saying for the entire hour and it was very nice. And then I dropped the class. (Strayer... makes me sick to my stomach. I strongly dislike him as a teacher and feel like I'd dislike him as a person if I knew him personally. This is my third attempt at a class with him, I've never lasted longer than two weeks)

10am: Choir. Apparently I need this to graduate. I have a lot of friends in choir and this is awesome. But I miss professional choir-ing and performing and this is really amateur in comparison. But I only need a semester of this, so I will suck it up and have fun with Jaemen and Niki.

11am: Chambers. Slightly less sucky than choir in that it's by audition. I had my very first ever bad vocal audition: she had me sight-sing after singing in minor and I couldn't shift to major, and in trying to do so kept sharping. Embarrassing but eh. The audition was a formality to begin with.

1.30pm: Piano. Uhm... whoa. Okay. So the teacher (who didn't even show up to the final last year, btw) had me play for the class with about five minutes warning. I played the best song I know off the top of my head ("On Top of Old Smokey") as well as I could, and she said, "Corbyjane... she didn't pay attention in my class. And you can tell." to the other students. This teacher also once asked if the reason I kept missing class was because I "had a baby in there." (NO, OKAY??? I just like empire waisted tops because they are COMFORTABLE!!!)

Tomorrow is harmony and musicianship. It'll rock.

Checking in...

2011-08-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I am doing okay with the teeth thing... I turned 23 yesterday... yeah... uhmmm not much else to say. I made this:

For a friend's birthday. It'll be on T&S soon and you can get making of deets there.

The song now goes:

On the sixth day of wisdom teeth, my molars gave to me:
Six bites of solid food!
I tuuuuuuuurned twenty-threeeeeeee!
Four aching holes,
Three addictive painkillers,
Two chipmunk cheeks,
And a large pina colada slurpee!

Owww......

2011-08-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

I iced my face last night (I'm not supposed to, but whatever my face hurts), but everything really, really hurts today. Yesterday was the day of swelling and today is the day of pain.

In other news, apparently one of my painkillers (tramadol--I also have to take clindamycin and tylenol) is known to get people addicted to it. I googled it to see what possible side-effects were, and there was a warning that I should be careful if I catch myself wanting to take it often. ...Because wanting to take painkillers to make the pain stop is the first sign of addiction, after all.

And apparently side-effects are dizziness and grogginess and I shouldn't operate heavy machinery, but this is ALSO how I feel when I HAVEN'T taken painkillers (only in addition to all this, my mouth hurts) so it's hard to say.

LOOK HOW FAT MY FACE IS. :(

Also. In true Corbyjane fashion, this calls for a song.

Oooooooooon the first day of wisdom teeth, my molars gave to me:
A large Pina Colada Slurpee.

Oooooooon the second day of wisdom teeth, my molars gave to me:
Two chipmunk cheeks, and a large pina colada Slurpee.

Oooooooon the third day of wisdom teeth, my molars gave to me:
Three addictive drugs, two chipmunk cheeks, and a large pina colada Slurpee.

Stay tuned... I'm hoping by the twelfth day I'll have zero new symptoms but ugh, you never know.

Wasssup???

2011-08-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know another way to say, "Checking in more" or whatever.

So.

I'm much more swollen... actually, my cheeks are super uneven because I fell asleep with the icepack yesterday on my right side (so left in the picture) and so it's just kind of swollen while the other one is in Hamsterville.

Below: my chubby cheeked compatriots. Btw, I recently discovered it's difficult to go, "AWWWW!" when you can't open your mouth...

"Awww---ow!"

Quick story I forgot to include in yesterday's post (ironically, forgot, as you'll see)

Remember the nurse who was like, "no phone!" when I woke up? Well, shortly after as I was more or less adjusted to being in the recovery room and awake, I asked what time it was. "It's been about an hour."
...this is not what I asked. "But what time is it?"
She turned around and looked at me. "I'm not going to be answering any questions till your ride gets here, because you won't remember any of this anyway."
Now, let me tell you: there was a clock ON THE WALL. Right ABOVE HER HEAD. I could see the vague shape of it but since they took my glasses off for the surgery I couldn't actually read it. "But if it's after 9.15 then I have to call a friend (Alex, of @ohokayalex fame) for a ride!"
"Just wait till your ride gets here!"
I reach for my phone again to check the time. "No phone!"
"But do you know if my mom is still here?"
"I'm not going to answer any questions till your ride gets here since you're not going to remember this!"
At this point I start wondering if I'm speaking English. I know I can't talk that well, but I'm pretty sure I should be coherent, especially to someone whose job specifically entails working with drugged up, gauze-mouthed people...
My mom comes in, and the nurse turns to her. "I'm just going to tell you all this because she's not going to remember any of this, so it's pointless talking to her."
She then proceeded to tell my mom all my care instructions and show her (not me, because I won't remember any of this) a short video on the recovery period. And then "helped" me to the car, which seriously was just following me like I'm going to fall over.

Later on, my mom asked, "do you remember the video from this morning?" and I proceeded to recite back to her nearly every instruction given. My mom confirmed what the nurse had said ("it's pointless talking to her") so it's not even like I hallucinated that part or anything.

This whole event makes me FURIOUS. I don't care if 99% of people have amnesia after their surgery. I remember EVERYTHING that happened after waking up and reaching for my phone. Clearly some people remember things, and it would be more prudent for nurses and staff to just assume that patients can remember how they are treated than to be as rude as they want secure in the fact that "I won't remember any of this."

And it's also really maddening because other than that, everyone was so nice to me! The receptionist, who called me Corby even though we all told her multiple times I'm Corbyjane, was still really nice. The ANNA-stesiologist was totally cool and did her best to relax me even though my heartrate was a mile a minute. The doctor was a little obtuse about my meds, but was totally nice. But this nurse apparently thinks she can treat people however she wants because "they won't remember".

Well guess what, lady? I remember. And I am NOT taking this lying down. When I go in for my follow-up I am going to let the doctor know I remember EVERYTHING that happened to me after waking up and I want you to know it, too.

It wouldn't have even bothered me if she'd told my mom, "I'm going to talk to you, because she probably isn't going to remember any of this." But she shrugged off all of my questions, condescended and talked down to me, all because she was so sure she could get away with it. It takes more words to say, "I won't answer any questions," than to just go, "9.05." I mean really.

So I cannot wait for the follow-up.

Checking in...

2011-08-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

They let me wear my I Can Do Hard Things and Never Give Up bracelets during the surgery.. I was really, really nervous after not sleeping well and not being able to take any of my medications that would relax me. Once I had a heart monitor I could hear my heart pounding so quickly.

They put me on oxygen and then ran an IV into my left arm. Once the IV was hooked up, I realised I could no longer see any of the monitors clearly, and my world faded to black in about five seconds. I just remember thinking "They didn't even tell me this was when I'd get sedated..."

Next thing you know, I was sitting in the recovery room with my purse in my hand and a nurse told me "NO phone!" (which is what I was looking for).
"But... I need to tweet this..."

The doctor told me he was worried because my heart rate never went down, even when I was put under, and he thinks it's because of my medications. I was really annoyed but couldn't saying anything--my medications KEEP my heartrate normal. NOT taking them makes my heart race and brings on nightmares. So of course if I don't take ANY drugs, my heart rate is going to be sky high. It was pretty obnoxious.

I wasn't anything other than dizzy or sleepy, my mom took me home, I ate ice cream to put something in my stomach so I could take pain pills. The numbness wore off all too soon and the pain was intense, but once the pain pills kicked in I just fell asleep.

So now I am icing my face and watching movies... next up, TANGLED!!! =D

Yay emergency oral surgery!

2011-08-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

Corbyjane's timeline of events:

Sunday: Fine, if a little sleepy.
Monday: Sore throat. Suspicious hard lumps and swelling in the back of the mouth, only on top.
Tuesday: Go to see GP. GP confirms is wisdom teeth and pretty nasty ones at that. Shortly after this (probably just by suggestion) pain worsens on top and begins on the bottom.
Wednesday: Go to see surgeon. Surgeon looks at X-Rays taken a year ago. "Holy cow!" Pain is now moderate to severe.

Above: "holy cow!"

Thursday (tomorrow): Get wisdom teeth removed under complete anesthesia.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. In 72 hours Corbyjane has gone from fine to a rushed surgery. Yay me.

So I'm getting all four taken out, between the top and bottom we have impaction (all four), major inflamation (top), cysts (top), horizontal growth (bottom) and infection (top). So yeah. It'll be exciting.

What is a moment of this year you think you will always remember as a good thing?

2011-07-20T16:33:00.001-07:00

Naomi's Bat Mitzvah, going to Minnesota, buying new pants, and Harry Potter. :)

Ask me anything

Today...

2011-07-16T01:07:00.000-07:00

...I will listen to people's problems and empathise, rather than "topping" theirs with my woes. CS Lewis said pain is immeasurable, and he knows what he's talking about.
...I will treat every task and issue with the same amount of enthusiasm I gave the first one.
...I will give the first task a nauseating amount of enthusiasm.
...I will drop my drama at the door.
...I will remember every group is made up of individuals.
...I will take care of myself and keep myself safe without drawing attention.
...I will model the behaviours I want rather than complain about the ones I don't want.
...I will be focused on the solutions and answers rather than the problems and questions.
...I will be aware of opportunities to learn new things.
...I will prioritise in the best interests of those around me, not my own.
...I will keep smiling.

...I will live in such a way that I will not have to write a list tomorrow.

A look at Hartnell leadership...

2011-06-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

This conversation actually happened. I'm pretty sure.
Dude in charge: "So... how can we kill students' souls this summer?"
Another dude: "OMG! I have an idea! let's offer a math class necessary to graduate ONLY at unearthly hours!"
Dude in charge: "I LOVE it! So if they have events in the evenings, they will be FORCED to come to class from 8am-11.30!"
Another dude:"Yeah! And the best part is that if they have events in the evenings causing them to miss the evening classes, we can punish them for staying up late by making them wake up at 6.30!"
Dude in charge: "You're a genius. Let's paint you and put you on the mural already."

(In other words. Corbyjane is awake and she doesn't want to be.)

De-lurk post!

2011-06-11T00:35:00.000-07:00

So I recently noticed that I have jumped to ~~TWENTY -THREE~~ TWENTY-FIVE FOLLOWERS! Which is kind of a big deal given that Ooh Shiny capped at eleven. And since many of you are completely unknown to me, I ask that you stand up and be counted! In the comments, I'd ask that you tell me:

1. Your name (user or RL, up to you!)
2. URL (if you have a blog, twitter, website, I'd love to check it out!) and/or location (doesn't need to be specific if you're nervous--state/country is fine!)
3. How you found my site
4. Any improvements/suggestions you have.

Long-time readers or real-life friends don't need to comment, but you can if you like. ;)

And now for something completely different...

2011-06-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

My last several posts are about the Tina Anderson / Ernie Willis case. That's depressing.

Here's something slightly depressing to me, but apparently not to the universe. I think I'm remaining brunette after five years of redheadedness and want your opinion... It's vain to ask, but I have 12 days to decide. >.<

Ernie Willis / Tina Anderson update: Subtitle, this world SUCKS

2011-05-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

Here's the livebloggings from the first three days of the trial.

My personal interest in this case stems from experiences within my own church as well as having met the pastor involved briefly during my time at AFLBS.

It's so heartbreaking the wounds Christians can give one another... think carefully, guys. Watch what you say, watch how you say it, and watch how others take it (James 3). How much damage did this pastor do by not following the script for conflict, and instead forcing both parties into "public confession" (AKA, gossip. Anyone familiar with the "~~prayer~~ gossip chain" format used by oh so many churches?)? What lessons can you learn from all of this? I'm learning that I need to be careful and confident when I apply bible verses to a situation. He tried to treat this situation using this verse:

Deut 22.23 If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, 24 you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death—the young woman because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man’s wife. You must purge the evil from among you.

WHAT. THE. CRAP.

...If you cannot tell, I am more angry with the pastor than with the rapist. The rapist should be castrated and sent to jail for doing a bad thing. As I see it, the pastor led people astray, turned a young woman against God, covered up a crime, AND SHOULD DIE. By stoning. Because clearly he's all into Old Testament law ANYWAY so let's see HOW HE LIKES IT.

Day One: http://livewire.wmur.com/Event/Victim_Takes_Stand_In_Willis_Rape_Trial?Page=0

Day Two: http://livewire.wmur.com/Event/Trial_Of_Ernest_Willis_Continues?Page=0

Day Three (today): http://livewire.wmur.com/Event/Day_3_Of_Ernest_Willis_Trial?Page=0

Chuck Phelp's website full of incoherent lies completely contradicting his statements on the stand: http://www.drchuckphelps.com/

Also, PS. This whole thing ties in neatly with the Slutwalk thing. Just sayin'.

formspring.me

2011-05-24T20:07:00.001-07:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/Corbyjane

formspring.me

2011-05-24T20:06:00.001-07:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/Corbyjane

Two things...

2011-05-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

If you're not following it, I highly recommend you acquaint yourself with everything going on in the New Hampshire Ernie Willis rape trial. A plethora of articles on the subject may be found here. Mr Willis pleads guilty to statutory rape and is currently being charged with forced rape. The girl was impregnated, packed off to raise the baby in Colorado, had it put up for adoption, and is now 29.

You can follow live blogging of the trial here. I am. I'm trying to figure out how to get the alerts sent to my phone.

But the person who SHOULD be on trial is the pastor who used this occurrence as an excuse to gossip and humiliate her, by twisting the words of Old Testament Law. It's disgusting disgusting disgusting. I've met the pastor. I don't remember anything about him except he seemed nice. I cannot believe someone's mother would allow all this to happen.

But then, i cannot believe someone's mother would watch while her husband kicked their eldest daughter out, called her worthless and a piece of shit, and allow all that to happen. So yes.

So that's one thing. What's the other thing, Corbyjane? Well, I will tell you. That Was God is a website that follows the same format as MLIA and other random sites, except the events are ones where God has very clearly been present. It's a great palate cleanser.

My weekend...

2011-05-22T16:59:00.000-07:00

Matter is never destroyed
only transformed
so, too, can the soul evolve
higher and higher
from instinct to inspiration,
haughtiness to holiness
selfishness to service,
from individualism to union
to join with the soul of souls
the Infinite One
As the soul is magnified and sanctified
so is the Infinite One exalted

The internet says this is from the Mishkan T'filah

I read that at Naomi's Bat Mitzvah yesterday. The only two pictures I took yesterday:

My makeup came out fantastic. I wish I'd taken better pix. Ginger, Fig, Wonder, and Frumious. And I left my makeup bag home and some how it more or lasted all day. And check out my hair... I straightened it and sleekified it so it didn't do the humidity mushroom thing. I prefer curls over straight but this was simpler and just looked nice. And I'm wearing my yellow daisy behind my ear.

Britta, myself, and Naomi. My hair was such a jerk to braid because I straightened it for the service. =/ But how pretty does our girl look?

Dream Journal Entry #14: I'm on TV y'all!

2011-05-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

I had a pretty intense dream last night. And it's so epic and out of nowhere, does anyone know of a show or movie with this plot? Because it seems way too cool for my brain to have come up with.

It was an episode of Angel (a nonexistent one concocted for the purposes of my dream) and the same thing happened multiple times from a bunch of people's perspectives. The first was from the main characters' POV. They snuck into a high class party, saved an innocent Laura Bell Bundy from being eaten, (the bad guys were taken by the Senior Partners in the form of a terrifying ice princess type demon played by Heather Morris), the city briefly flooded but that got fixed, and all went home happy and well.

Turns out there was an entire subplot involving a demon taking over Fred's body and Fred was actually awol, flitting through other people's bodies, during the entire episode. *I* was Fred, and actually saw that the bad guy was a teenager who had the ability to "fly" on moisture--she would freeze/solidify moisture in the air and walk on it--but needed humans to fuel her ability (and was not, in fact, killing or eating them, she was sending them to an alternate universe exactly the same as our own except NOT our own so in ours they were disappearing but they themselves never knew the difference).

So in the subplot, Fred followed the girl (I think her name was Irene, or some fantastical name looking somewhat like Irene), who stays up high in the sky most of the time (more moisture) but came back to LA briefly to visit her friends and recharge. Her friends were excited to see her and even though I (and Irene) tried to impress upon them the importance of keeping quiet and not letting scary Heather Morris catch them, they didn't listen.

One of them said, "Irene, do you remember that night after prom when we ice skated all over the beach and then the roofs when it started raining? Can't we do that just one more time?"

So Irene and the girls started skating over the roofs (they would follow her as her feet turned the puddles to ice) and it was really cool and I seem to recall there being a really lovely classical soundtrack, but all of a sudden the city started flooding and all of a sudden we saw Heather Morris skating across the sky-high tidal waves towards Irene. The water around Irene started to freeze and civilians, controlled by HM, started to rise up through the ice and help to capture her.

...I flipped to HMs perspective (well, I was watching her) and saw her searching for Irene from the beginning of the episode, with this super epic navy blue lacy draped dress over an ice blue sheath and crazy hair all over, and eventually realising there were too many places to hide on a 4-d plane, filled the entire city of LA with water so it would all be one level and she could take Irene more easily.

Which she did. And then Fred was suddenly given her body again, arriving with the others at the hotel as they were congratulating themselves for saving the innocent and eliminating the evil.

It... wasn't a very happy dream.

Vlog: Trip to Monterey!

2011-05-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

Deleted scene:

Trichotillomania

2011-05-04T00:10:00.000-07:00

You've probably already seen this on twitter or facebook, but just in case...

I forgot to mention if you have ANY questions not answered in this video, please please please ask! The supposed stigma of trichotillomania--or really any "embarrassing" disorder--won't die until we can talk about this stuff honestly and openly. Ask your questions in a comment or twitter or something.

I also recently joined "TrichWorld", which is a social networking site created by Cheryn Salazar (who is also the brain behind trich.org). I am trying to be super careful to not turn trichotillomania into a label (as I am prone to do) so I don't plan on spending hours on there, but occasionally it's nice to talk with people who understand the whole thing. So if you're trichy (ahahaha), that's a really great support group. There's even a group for people who specifically pull eyebrows and eyelashes.

The resource links:
http://www.trich.org/
http://www.thecenterforemotionalhealth.com/Trichotillomania_%28TTM%29.html
http://westsuffolkpsych.homestead.com/trich_cbt.html

"Champions"

2011-04-26T00:39:00.000-07:00

"Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh and cruel. But that's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world was what it should be, to show it what it can be."

-From Angel, Season 4, Episode 1, "Deep Down".

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

-Anne Frank

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

-Dr. Seuss

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.

-Author Unknown

I want to write a longer post on this, when I have the time. I'm still fact-gathering but I think it would make a splendid essay someday.

Ghandi (I think...) said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." This speaks to me so much; I hold this quote as dearly as I do my favourite bible verses.

To me, this quote says to put an end to sitting around whining about my pet peeves, but to do my part to make them so. For instance, some of you probably know my obsession with jaywalking. I witnessed two people hit while jaywalking--one of them was killed instantly; the other merely hurt her ankle. I do do a lot of whining about people who jaywalk ~~and how it should be a capital offense especially if they're wearing black and doing it at night I mean what~~, but I do my part: I use the crosswalk. ALWAYS. I stop for people in the crosswalk. ALWAYS. ~~And I sit on the curb yelling at people to use the cross walk~~ OKAY THAT WAS ONE TIME.

It goes for more important issues, too. I hate it when political parties namecall instead of discussing the issues. So... I do my best to not namecall. I hate when people try to make everything the other person's fault. I ROYALLY SUCK AT THAT ONE but I try my best anyway. It's always better to take action than to complain. I do plenty of complaining but I try to take action.

If you have no will to change it, you have no right to criticize it.

- Author Unknown

Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten. And seeing them... he cried, "Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?" God said, "I did do something. I made you."

-Author Unknown

Apply this to our self-image: The empowerment for minorities or fringe groups or people who don't feel cool by saying, "sure I'm a freak, and I like it!" has always annoyed me, but I only figured out why after dwelling on this quote for forever and a day. If your mission is to live in the world like you want the world to be, then why would you parade what a freak or weirdo you are? Don't you want to live in a world where it doesn't matter what your orientation is or people think it's normal that you speak Elvish or what colour your skin is? Then live like it. Live like it doesn't matter that you gained 60 pounds in college. Live like it doesn't matter who you love. Like no one will even bat an eye because you are NORMAL. And for pete's sake STOP all the whining because we all feel like outsiders sometimes.

AND sometimes people are celebrating things they shouldn't even be proud of. One of my favourite songs used to be "Imperfection" by Saving Jane (who are so awesome seriously check them out). And a lot of the song is about celebrating her little imperfections like "my hair's a wreck, my mascara runs" but also "got good intentions but I never follow through". But uh... that's not a good thing. So... don't. Follow through. Keep growing and improving yourself. The point of "be the change you want to see in the world" is to keep making the world and yourself better and better. Or trying, anyway, because we all know it's an impossible task.

Now the real adventure starts
A challenge that will truly test the best that's in your heart

Find the courage within

And then begin

To make the world right again,

To make the world right.

-"To Make The World Right Again" from the musical Narnia.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

-Matthew 5:16, NIV

And then the broader application is, as Christians the attitude is so often "lets show the world how different we are from it, cuz we're rebels, yo!" and god forbid, if we aren't qualifying every statement with "and I know you all will hate me and mock me for saying this, and I will stand back and laugh at you because of it" then lord knows we're not doing our job as a diversive religion.

What if instead we lived with the expectation that the world is like us? And showed mercy and forgiveness and respect to our enemies because... well, that's what you do. And showed loyalty and trust to our friends and loved ones because... well, that's what you do. And lived Christlike lives, not to be different or counter-cultural, but because that's what you freaking do.

Let your light so shine indeed (Matt 5.16), but no one said you have shine it in people's eyes. They'll see it without you being obnoxious about it, believe me, and won't your witness be that much stronger if you don't tick them off first?

I feel like my life is cleaning up the wounds left by other Christians, that not every Christian feels the need to go up to nonChristians and say, "you're going to hell, btw, cuz God like totally hates you;" not every Christian prefaces their opinion with, "and anyone who disagrees with me is a babykilling satan worshipper!", and not every Christian will reject you when you don't want to listen to them evangelise you for the FIFTEENTH TIME.

This doesn't mean you don't ever share your faith. I do not have a single friend who doesn't know where I stand. But once you know what I believe and why, why should I repeat it every time I see you? Much better to let an unbelieving person see that Christianity is the way to go by by my actions, how I practice what I preach. Or try to, anyway. And I'm blessed to have a bunch of friends who disagree with me on EVERYTHING, because I'm able to do this and not annoy them so much that they drop me.

Yes, we are as Christians not of this world. What world are we? Silly rabbit. The kingdom of heaven... which would be the change you want to see in the world, right? So live as if the kingdom of heaven were here on earth. If you lived in the kingdom of heaven... would you mock the people who disagree with you?

That's what I get from "be the change you want to be in the world."

PS: I have so much more to say on this topic. Check back for new and improved versions.

Vlog Series #4: Crazy Awesome Nocturnal Activities

2011-04-21T22:49:00.000-07:00

Vlog Series #3: Corbyjane plays piano

2011-04-21T22:45:00.000-07:00

Vlog Series #2: A Dollhouse Tour

2011-04-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

Actually recorded before "Bedroom Tour", this is my first official vlog.

Vlog Series #1: Bedroom Tour

2011-04-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

So inspired by Anna and Holly, I'm going to post my vlogs to my blog. This means if you're reading on FB, you will need to click the link to "view original post" as FB notes do not allow embedded videos.

This is a tour Hannah and I did of our bedroom. :)

Full day.....

2011-04-14T01:04:00.000-07:00

Today ran the gamut of emotions for me... but I just want to say...

I'm sorry I only got to know David Hooper through Facebook. Even though I've known him my whole life, I only really knew him this past year or so, and from what I saw that year alone I was seriously missing out.

I once posted a status "unspoken prayer request, please"... literally seconds after it was posted I got a notification of his comment: "done".

Pretty much any FB posting would get a response from him, and pretty much any response would either make me laugh or roll my eyes. And I could count on him to join any Farmville co-op.

Sometimes it's just knowing someone will water your crops... in a video game.

See you soon, David. To quote a friend, "You rock!"

#CorbyjaneWatches: Batman (1966, Adam West)

2011-04-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Now watching Batman. =(

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Well, I begged and pleaded for my Disney movie. Now to relentlessly mock their movie...

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Colours. It's very colourful. <--serious mocking, right there.

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OMG! No one will ever find their lair behind..... a sheet of metal! =O

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"What did Batman say to Robin right before they got into the bat mobile?" "You look stupid!"

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I can only think of the Train when they say "Gordon". #thomasthetrain

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

BAT LADDER. Why must everything have labels?

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It's really sad but I am definitely the worst person when it comes to making fun of Robin's real name...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Yes, in a room with the 16yo boy and a 18yo man, the 22 yo bible school grad is the most immature.

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BAT SPRAY.

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"Wait! It happened at sea! Sea for CATWOMAN!"

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I seriously just died. OMG.

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"Sea for CORBYJANE!"

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"You and your TRAINED EXPLODING SHARK!" ....how do you train a shark to explode???

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Slanty camera angles. Make you look so much serious.

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You can't say "purrrrrrfectly" unless you roll your Rs. I mean really.

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You know Robin is running around with a label maker, labeling stuff...

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Dick Tracy: "We've got the Batmobile, Batspray, Batladder... why can't we name something after me, Batman?" "Cuz it sounds gay!"

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"We're already pushing it with these costumes..."

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I come back in the room after changing and taking drugs. "What'd I miss?" "Dick feels awkward." "Ah."

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"Some days, you just can't get rid of a bomb!"

Then I fell asleep. >.<

#CorbyjaneWatches: Peter Pan

2011-04-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Watchin' Disney's Peter Pan... brace yourself for a buttload of tweets.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
I've seen prettier Mrs Darlings... and more frightening Mr Darlings...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
I wish I had a dog as a nursemaid... or a cat. That would be so much cooler...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Yep, Mr Darling. take it out on the eldest. That's how it works. >.>

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"Don't judge your father too harshly! He does love you!" Which clearly excuses everything, I mean seriously...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I don't think I ever realised that Mr Darling was being sarcastic when he was all, "CALL SCOTLAND YARD!" X.x

PinkScarf
@somuchbetter88 haha I tweeted almost exactly the same thing when I watched it a few weeks ago.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Also am I the only one who found PP's face very creepy the first time we see him?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

He's not a very attractive boy, I mean really... horse teeth and pointy ears. And redheaded men can very rarely pull it off well..

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Matthew--my Matthew, my love--is the only one I ever knew, but he's only 8.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Why does Wendy go to bed with her hair done up and a ribbon in her hair?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"Well? Get on with it, girl!" I shall use this at some point.

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"I have to grow up tomorrow!" Because grownups NEVER tell stories! >.>

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I think dialogue before a song is always funny when it just randomly starts rhyming...

(Retweeted by Pinkscarf)

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"What's the matter with you? All it takes is faith and trust! Oh, and dust!" #iseewhatyoudidthere

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"That means it's crystal meth!" -@Ohokayalex "See, she's already addicted!" - @Whooterzoot

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

These oldtimey choirs have amazing dynamics. Like, BAM crescendo. It's like you're just turning the volume up and down.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

HAHA the first thing I'll ever do if I can fly is go mess with the time on Big Ben. >.<

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I mean, after I go to Disneyland..

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I understand what the pirates are singing. @PinkScarf

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ohh, a pirate's life is a wonderful life/roving over the sea/Give me a career/as a buccaneer/It's the life of a pirate for me!

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

a pirate's life is a wonderful life/They never bury ur bones/when it's all over/A jolly sea rover/Drops in on his friend Davy Jones.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Why does Captain Hook wear lavender? Why?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Why doesn't Hook just drop a cannon ball into the crocodile mouth when it's opening wide for him? It'd sink and drown...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"I've never shaven this ghost before!"

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ha change of plans we're going to watch the live action one now. :)

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Never mind. Nat stupidface couldn't find the liveaction one. =(

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

How are the fish ABOVE them in the cave?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Dude. Tinkerbell needs to take Yaz. Even those hormonal swings around that time of the month right out.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I like the play better, with them thinking they killed Wendy. And building her a house. :)

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Tink looks like she's pleading the pretty defense.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Doesn't work when all the guys are pre-pubescent. Sadly.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

You're such a nerd, Jon. >.< "I shall try to be worthy of my post."

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I remember trying to make a silhouette in a waterfall at Yosemite like they do in Following The Leader. Doesn't work...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Dude. Somone is totally "shout-singing" that song. Typical child.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Their footprint is black! So they're Blackfeet! HAHAHAAHA GET IT? #Racist

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

It's a walking Christmas tree! D= I was traumatised by one of those at our Santa's Workshop.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"Why do all the Lost Boys have awful teeth?" -Nat "They're British." - @ohokayalex

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

MERMAIDS!!!!!!!

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A lei ---seriously? A LEI?!

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A lei is not a substitute for a bra. The star fish are better.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

SWIM WITH THE MERMAIDS WENDY WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

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"We were only trying to drown her!" Oooooh gotcha.

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"It's hook!" "I could tell, cuz the music got all serious and stuff..." -Nat.

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"The crocodile's on drugs." "They're ALL on drugs."

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"That's not natural, like, he's all obsessive on one person..."

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"Does Peter even need dust to fly?" "No. He's done it so much it's like in his blood stream." "He hides the trackmarks with his sleeves."

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"There is no path through water to the Happy Hunting Grounds." I don't understand religious loopholes like that...

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And his hat is fuscia. I mean really, Captain Hook?

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Purple and red? What does he think he is, a red hatter?

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Smee... I've never identified with Smee as much as when he's trying to serve both Captain Hooks.... confusion galore!

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SWORDS DO NOT BEND THAT WAY #boiiiinnng

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I want to be Wendy. I mean seriously.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Is it just me or are the sword lengths very inconsistent shot to shot?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Well, this would be an instance of getting clothing ripped off in convenient areas without the person in question being a super hot chick..

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ugh. Open water is so terrifying. :(

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Don't scream "HELP!" as your head goes underwater. Take a big breath!!!

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Oh yay. Tiger Lily was saved. I was in such suspense.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Captain Hook soaking his feet looks like me. Mustache and all.

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AHAAHAHAHA HE MAKES NOISE WHILE NAILING A "DO NOT DISTURB SIGN"

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Oh Disney humour.

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Tiger Lily is sexy dancing on a drum. #Disney

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But she has turquoise boots so it's all good.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Way to stand up for women, Wendy. :) "Squaw NO gettum firewood! Squaw go HOME!"

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

So if he's playing the glis with his hook, then it should be lower than the melody. And the chords should be higher than the melody.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I'll buy you can play a glis and melody with a hook, but NOT chords. Maybe an interval, but no tri-tones.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Tink gives horrible directions. "Hop skip and a jump across crocodile creek..."?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

DUDE. If it was hangmans tree she could have just marked it. No directions necessary.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

AUGH! They bow down! FALSE IDOLS! BOYCOTT!

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"Do you want to stay here and grow up like savages?" "'Course!" #boys

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Idk what Anna's talking about.... I LOVED "Your Mother and Mine" as a child....

PinkScarf PinkScarf

@somuchbetter88 i used to hate it but now... I think I may have to fandub it. :)

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I want my mother... :(

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

DUDE WHY DOESN'T HOOK JUST STAB HIM #eyeroll

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

=( I don't like cowardly Hook.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

BAD FORM---and he dies.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Whoops, never mind. He's just... running on water. Holding a clock.

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And now swimming. Badly.

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"Was it all just a dream? Was it all just a dream?" <--That's a song.

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My favourite part is when Hook starts skipping across the water like a rock. And he's like "AIIIIIEEE--ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!"

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

She's ready to grow up! Good thing, too, cuz she's totally got boobs now...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I want the gritty reboot of Peter Pan where we explain Mr Darling's statement that he's seen that ship before, when he was very young.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Like, was he a pirate? or Captain Hook's secret lovechild?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I KNOW! Peter pan and Mr Darling are TWINS!!!

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"That is not the most blatantly racist story ever told, Nat!" "Name one!" "Jungle Book!" "How's that--" "the monkeys are black people."

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"What bad things have ever happened to black people?"

We hope you have enjoyed this episode of #CorbyjaneWatches. For more #CorbyjaneWatches, keep checking back or follow me on twitter!

Misunderstood.

2011-04-08T02:41:00.000-07:00

[Warning: contains politics. Apologies in advance.]

[I would appreciate you not trying to convince me of your point of view in the comments, though obviously I will never censor opposition if it's family-friendly content. I haven't preached my beliefs in this post, only explained how I come by one of them. If you want to explain your side of the matter, go ahead! I'd love to hear what you think! Just please don't try to convert me, because that always leads to fighting.]

So the other day I was polled by a very nice-looking young lady who looked extremely professional outside my school. I was asked the million-dollar question: do I stand with Planned Parenthood, or not.

I responded honestly: I don't.

I was overheard by another woman (if we know one thing about Corbyjane, we know she is not very quiet. Or subtle), and called a woman-hater.

I came home to check my twitter and saw numerous tweets vilifying anyone supporting PP's defunding. Not very long ago I ended a friendship with a hitherto entertaining acquaintance because she made repeated similar statements. When i told her I found them offensive, she told me where to go. So I unfollowed her. It made me sad.

Because...

I hate women.

I want to impose my religion on the rest of the country.

I respect a tiny zygote more than a "real" human being.

I am setting up unwanted children for abuse later.

I am not going to defend my beliefs. It's a pretty black or white worldview--either you believe that every tiny inch of that fertilised egg is a human being with a soul, and ending that human being's life is... well, ending a life--or you don't. You think that it's not a person until it's outside the womb... well then fine, it isn't. It's one or the other.

This isn't about making you agree with me. That's stupid. I don't know enough about some things--because I'm dumb in general, not because I haven't tried to educate myself--and a lot of you can--and have--stumped me.

Because I can see the other side of this issue. I can see the other side of a lot of issues, which is either because of or the reason why I am blessed with a lot of friends that hold astronomically different points of view. I know "I love [something] people! my best friend is [something]!" is cliche, but seriously, it's a wonderful, awesome thing to have friends who disagree with you...and love you anyway!

Because of my friends, I see the side that wants aid there for women who need birth control, who are scared and don't know where to go, who need mammograms, who don't have health insurance, who need information on what to do next, and who are considering abortion because of horrific reasons like rape or incest.

This is about helping you see my side... and the side of the people who want PP to be defunded. Because if you can see my side, you can't call me a woman-hating *****, right? Or tell the internet that you would like the slit the throat of the people who disagree with you, right? Just like I don't call you babykillers or murderers, because I see your side of it, too. If we see each other's sides, in theory there will be less throwing things, both metaphorical and physical.

Operating from the viewpoint that abortion kills a person.... pretty much all the arguments made by Pro-Planned Parenthood are invalid.

It doesn't matter that less than 1% of PP funding goes to abortion. That 1% kills people. Like, ends lives.

And it doesn't matter that PP does other things--amazing, awesome things--for women and men alike. They also kill people.

It doesn't matter that "only" 300,000 abortions were performed in a year. (I don't remember which year, and I don't want to put the wrong one, but I think 2006.) That's 300,000 people who DIED. 300,000 people who could have been crying and needing their diapers changed and growing up right now aren't here because of Planned Parenthood (and my tax money). In one year.

It doesn't matter that, given no legal way to kill 300,000 people, women will resort to nasty, disgusting methods to kill 300,000 people. They shouldn't be allowed to do that in the first place. (I will say I believe that there should be legal allowance for instances where the mother's life is in danger.)

It's not about religion--God doesn't actually factor into my thinking of a fertilised egg as a human being at all--it's about 300,000 people dying.

It's not about imposing my values on the rest of the United States--if you witnessed my near breakdown trying to decide whether to vote with my personal convictions or the feeling that really the US should be allowed to do whatever it wants way back during Prop 8, you KNOW I am not an impose-my-values kind of gal. To a potentially harmful fault.

If I think that people are dying--whether in fact they are people is debatable, but assuming I think they're dying--wouldn't you think I was a pretty awful person for not doing anything about it? Or rooting against people doing something about it? Because in actuality, I can't do anything about it. I can vote for Republican pro-life people--and when given a choice between two pro-choice governors I can hide out and pretend I'm busy on Election Day because trying to figure out which way to go makes me nauseous--and I can show up to protests and I can wear the red LIFE tape proudly--but there is not one thing I can personally do to stop abortion.

So if there's a chance that less people will die, heck yes I am going to support the defunding of Planned Parenthood. And I don't think that given the obnoxiously detailed explanation of my thought-process, you should find this surprising.

Please don't hate me because it makes me cry.

Music That Heals: Michael Card

2011-04-06T23:23:00.000-07:00

Michael Card sings what I feel. A lot. I really like that his songs contain so much...content... as opposed to the pretty shallow praise type songs.

(Anyone reading on FB will need to click "view original post" to see the embedded videos)

First up: "The Sunrise of Your Smile"

It is such a great song, just because it has two different ways it can be taken--from a loving powerful God singing to the children that he loved so dearly he sent his son to "wander weary miles" for them, and delights in them OR from a parent/loving maternal personage singing to their loved ones. I have thought of many people while listening to this song; today--and this past week or so--I thought of my Naomi. :)

And it's beautiful in how simple it is, too. Like a lullabye.

Second: "The Edge"

It speaks for itself. I suffer from depression and PTSD and a host of other exciting stuff. I was surprised, dealing with depression as an already angsty teenager, how little depression gets talked about in shallower forms of Christianity... the people who deal with it are vocal about it, but the people who don't just do not get it. I was told I didn't pray enough, I wasn't as faithful as I should be--even in Bible School these thougth patterns were prevalent. Yeah, it's not true. ;)

And finally, "Silence of God"

Similar to The Edge. Not originally by Michael Card and so this version isn't his, but I do own it. I won't say I "struggle" with spiritual dry spells... I have come to believe they're a necessary part of the Christian walk. As it is written elsewhere on this blog, God isn't necessarily obligated to poke us every other minute just to let us know he's still there, just like when I go to the movies my sister doesn't appreciate me poking her every other minute to make sure she knows I'm there (apparently my sarcastic remarks are reminder enough).... BUT I DO experience spiritual dry spells, frequently at the worst of times.

Handwriting tag!

2011-03-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

I borrowed it from Heather at Eyeconic Makeup.

Answer the following 8 questions in your own handwriting:

1. What is your name? And your blog?
2. What's your blog URL?
3. Write: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
4. Favorite quote.
5. Favorite song?
6. Favorite band/singers?
7. Say anything you want.
8. Pass this along to a few bloggers.

Pumpkin Muffins

2011-03-13T22:30:00.000-07:00

I used this recipe:

Pumpkin Ginger Nut Muffins Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pumpkin purée
1/3 cup melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
2 Tbsp well chopped candied ginger
METHOD
1 Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium sized bowl, sift together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda.
2 Mix the pumpkin, melted butter, eggs, 1/4 cup of water, and spices together, then combine with the dry ingredients, until just incorporated. Do not over-mix. Fold in the candied ginger and chopped nuts.
3 Spoon mixture into a prepared muffin tin. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin. If it comes out clean, it's done. Cool on a rack.
Makes 12 muffins.

But you know Corbyjane can't follow directions, so...
* I used whole wheat flour
* 1/2 cup melted butter
* didn't measure the cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger and used "Pumpkin Pie Spice" instead of allspice.
* No candied ginger or nuts

Also it didn't make twelve it made ten. Aaaaaaand I cooked it for 24 minutes.

I can't take good food pictures like Maren can... But they turned out awesome, moist and fluffy. Definitely the best thing I've ever made not from a mix.

Corbyjane watches the Les Mis 25th Anniversary Concert

2011-03-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Or half of it, anyway...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I got up to take a shower but i didn't make it further than the living room... The les mis thing is rebroadcasting...

And so it begins... I came in on the end of Do You Hear.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

These must be new costumes... They're way dif than the originals or the 10yr anniv one.

2 hours ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Oh thats not colm. Who is that?

2 hours ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Colm always sounds like he's going to burst into tears. Even in phantom.

2 hours ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Milo doesn't like this one bit. But why? There's no sopranos...

2 hours ago

ON MY OWN

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Who did the makeup? Why does everyone look stagey but Eponine looks 90s rock concert? Silver eyeshadow? Really?

2 hours ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Her hat looks better though. Not stupid. +1

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

What is her accent? She drops Rs when she feels like it and comes down hard on diphthongs and also rides the Rs other times.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ooh good belting though. Jealous.

1 hour ago

DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ahaha subtitles. "Dramatic music playing"

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Smoke machines!!!!

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ooooooooh THAT jonas.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

NPH should be enjolras. I would watch that.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Who is enjolras? His mouth makes funny shapes.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

They cut little people!!! #Diediedie

1 hour ago

A LITTLE FALL OF RAIN

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Dear Jonas: you cannot do breathy singing in live theatre. No one will hear you. Also you sound stupid singing with all the belters.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

At least this Eponine sounds like she might be dying while singing...

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Marius reminds me of the chick in class. "Do you REALLY need all those breaths?"

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Sure, we're singing to each other but lets NEVER look at each other at all cuz that would be stupid...

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Aw he's trying SO hard to cry... He should read my pamphlet.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

See this is why stage actors need to not be on tv. You wouldnt notice their weird faces from the audience.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Sure, NOW we look at her.... Oy.

1 hour ago

MOAR FIGHTING

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Is this the guy i saw in sf? With lea michele? In like 2002?

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ahaha lights go crazy for the battle and we will just....stand there...

1 hour ago

VALJEAN LIKE TOTALLY CONFUSES JAVERT

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Oh snap!

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I am also pretending i don't know the story....

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"How right you should kill with a knife!" HE IS HOLDING A GUN

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Why cant they even look at each other? We do that in opera and thats like, less acting than this....

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Im not allowed to say "i cant dance" anymore, but i can still say i cant act, right? I should check...

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Die already... Im bored...

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I want to sing along!!

1 hour ago

DRINK WITH ME

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

They look so little!!! I always forget normal theatre has age appropriate actors.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I mean reg has been playing 30yos since i was born...

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

SUBTITLE ERROR

1 hour ago

(I believe it said "Is your life just one more lie?" and it's supposed to be "Is your life just one more life?")

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Are these wigs? I like the redhead's hair...

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Jonas i do not like your singing. If i have to act AND sing so do YOU.

1 hour ago

BRING HIM HOME

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Bring him home... Still better by michael crawford. Or colm.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

When they do fade ins with his giant head next to his 3/4 body i want them to poke their eyes. If ever im on pbs...

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Milo also hates tenors, apparently.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Aw dramatic tears in eyes. Please give jonas some backstage pointers?

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

OPEN YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU SING.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Maybe it was open and i just couldn't see it under his beard.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I should go back to giving voice lessons. Mebbe over the summer.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

...Did he just blow a kiss to the audience????

1 hour ago

~~COMMERCIAL~~ BEG FOR MONEY BREAK

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"Whats the difference between staging this production & past productions?" ...well, the actors have no interaction, so thats easier....

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"Where else but pbs would you see something like this?" coughbroadwaycough

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I like it, btw. I like it a lot. But it wouldnt be Corbyjane without snarking, right?

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

We're donating to KQED instead of japan? How--why would you broadcast this benefit TWO DAYS after that hurricane? Wtfrick?

1 hour ago

BACKSTAGE TOUR

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Holy choir... Thats a lot of ensemble.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

COSTUMES

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"Dream the Dream" --not susan boyles dream, right? Cuz i cant stand her...

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

That poor child looks like someone slapped her.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I want to be cosette. Like seriously.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

If i took a shower, do you think id be back in time for "every day"? And the finale? Cuz this part is boring...

1 hour ago

MOAR FIGHTING

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Enjolras should play judas. Id watch that.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I love lights and sound effects... And the cast just standing there.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ok there we go.

1 hour ago

(When people died they'd walk away)

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

You cannot play a wind instrument and look attractive. Sad.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Violins, now... :)

1 hour ago

DOG EAT DOG

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ooh scene change. Creepy.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

TURQUOISE SMOKE!!!

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Bright yellow stockings? Who made that call?

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

He has pointy ears. :)

1 hour ago

JAVERT'S SUICIDE

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Morgan freeman as javert. No seriously, who is this?

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

How will he die without the turntable?

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

@Littlelarafern we need a turntable thingy like in les mis. It would make everything that much more amazing.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Unexpected headvoice is unexpected.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Holy snacks i liked him. Who is he? #Javert

1 hour ago

He is Norm Lewis; he also played Triton in LMob.

TURNING

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ooh! Its the non-inappropriate women ensemble song! With harmony!

1 hour ago

PinkScarf: "Whoa, 57 tweets since I last checked an hour ago? @somuchbetter88 must be watching a movie or something..." ;-P

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

@Pinkscarf The pbs 25th anniv les mis thing, actually...

1 hour ago

PinkScarf PinkScarf

@somuchbetter88 Aww, I don't get PBS anymore. =( Is it the performance, or concert?

EMPTY CHAIRS AT EMPTY TABLES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYToP5ZfydE <--Wouldn't embed

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Jonas just walked out looking angsty and i burts out laughing. And i love this song! =/

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ooh unexpected bass note! #Approves

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Pbbbbbbt michael ball mops the floor with you in this song. And he doesn't have acne.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Oh geez he's trying to cry again...

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Mom: "isn't this song supposed to be sad?" me: *dying* "not when he sings it!"

1 hour ago

EVERY DAY

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Her eyeshadow matches her dress. Thats historic.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

@Pinkscarf kind of both? Its the new one with nick jonas as marius & lea salonga as fantine.

1 hour ago

PinkScarf PinkScarf

@somuchbetter88 Ahhh, ok. I thought I was missing a performance version of it. Not so fond of the concerts.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

@Pinkscarf its a concert but theyre in costume and such.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Yes. Those top notes were lovely. And emotioned. Now do the whole show like that, you twit.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

@Pinkscarf ah but its so funny!!! Nick jonas is, anyway. I nearly died.

1 hour ago

THE WEDDING

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Everyone on the projection is dancing but the ppl onstage are kind of swaying.

1 hour ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

WHY WONT THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER? Even with the mikes when you're not singing you could look at the *gasp* POINT OF FOCUS...

59 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

He looks like a muppet in that outfit. I like it. :)

59 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Also goes to show the other perk of being stage actors is your teeth don't matter.

58 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I love harmonies that aren't thirds.

58 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Did she just give the audience the bird???

57 minutes ago

FINALE

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

FINALE!!! :)

57 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Milo also hates falsetto.

55 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

When i die i am totally going out singing. In true opera style.

55 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Lea salonga!!!!

55 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I want to be Eponine just for that final harmony. But seriously, i want cosette.

54 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Cosette looks like the illustration. Casting +1. Doesn't cover the -666 from jonas though.

53 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

She's the perfect cosette. I hate her.

52 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Is colm wilkinson still alive?

52 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Interaction from jonas and cosette!!! No wai!!!

51 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

...........they changed the harmonies. WHAT????

51 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Someone will pay....

50 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I know it makes sense without the awkward jumps but seriously? Seriously?

50 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Holy cow. :) giant ensemble on unison is epic.

49 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Not as epic as the parts!!!! =D

49 minutes ago

BOWS DONE WITH NO MUSIC WHICH IS AWKWARD

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Aw, poor audience member didn't wear waterproof mascara. Youre seeing les mis, you seriously thought you wouldnt cry?

48 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

This is the worst curtain call ever.

47 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Mme thenardier almost had a wardrobe malfunction. Nice catch.

46 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

And how many times will we acknowledge the music?

45 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"You know who hasn't taken a bow yet? This station." lol KQED.

45 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Scary lady says *i* am public television. Oh god forbid.

44 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

COLM WILKINSON COLM WILKINSON COLM WILKINSON COLM WILKINSON COLM WILKINSON COLM WILKINSON COLM WILKINSON COLM WILKINSON

43 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

So he's NOT dead, i guess. Thank goodness. Can he be my new daddy?

43 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

My new mommy is bernardette peters and i think they'd make a great match...

42 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Milo hates culture. http://twitpic.com/4998qs

41 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

"PBS makes it possible for everyone in the us to watch this..." except @Pinkscarf.

40 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

How can this show only be 3 years older than me?

39 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Yay talking about backstage peeps. Cuz we rock.

38 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Is that rebecca patterson ????

33 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I am not calling in, PBS. Go back to the encore!!!

32 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

It takes "courage" to broadcast a concert that hauled in hundreds of thousands of dollars? Seriously?

32 minutes ago

ENCORE

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

OLC!!!

31 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

That is my OMG its colm WILKINSON face http://twitpic.com/499cpr

29 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

OMG duet of bring him home might kill me of awesome...

28 minutes ago

sewinginthepast Rebecca Jane

@somuchbetter88 best part of the whole concert!!! *goosebumps*

48 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Trio! Quartet! Yeah, im dying. Holy holy holy...

27 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

@Sewinginthepast i cried. :)

20 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Key change of epicness!!!

27 minutes ago

sewinginthepast Rebecca Jane

@somuchbetter88 who didn't?!! so beautiful!!

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Oh my word. I don't even have words.

26 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ending unison is a little anticlimactic though.

25 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

!!!!!!!!

24 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

See? Olc knows how relate to each other...

23 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

2 Cosettes are so cute!

22 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

I feel so hip getting all the slang backstage terms like "prosc". >.<

15 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

The stats are only counting the professional productions, right? They should count the community productions.

14 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ha i love colm wilkinson just standin thre till cameron has to nudge him aside.

12 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

So THATS how you pronounce their names...

10 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

My sister says nick jonas was on broadway before... But she doesn't know what he was in. Educate me, Twitter!

8 minutes ago

sewinginthepast Rebecca Jane

@somuchbetter88 he played the little boy in les mis: gavroche i believe. once upon a time.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

Ahaha who costumed the kiddies?

4 minutes ago

19 followers makes me feel like I should post something...

2011-02-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

Eh. I've been super busy. I tried to find the "Busy" song from Veggie Tales on youtube for you but no dice.

So my past while in pix:

Stripes. New look. Also wearing Wonderstruck "Wonder-ous", "Impossible Things", and ...something else... can't remember now. I know that's more for T&S but it's true. Also loving Darling Girl's eye primer.

My music theory hw is getting more and more confusing...

Milo has started anticipating when I'm going to bed and stealing my pillow. He used to sleep in the middle of the bed because it was warmer, but I think he's enjoying putting me out. But HA! I have TWO pillows! =D

I also set up my cat with a facebook. You can friend him even if you do not know me; my cat is ridiculously social.

I also also liked the Arts Council's fanpage for the Million Plates Campaign, and so should you!

I placed an F21 order. I've been watching this JERSEY KNIT CARDIGAN for MONTHS and I finally caved and bought it. I feel good. :)

Uhm... in not-me news:
Holly went through the ChristChurch earthquake and survived. Have your mind blown at her blog here.
Modcloth is having a ginormous sale that makes me wish I had money.

Other than that... what's happening, y'all?

Blog Secret 2011

2011-02-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

The following was not written by me. I am a participant in Blog Secret 2011 (hosted by Holly) and this is someone else's post. :)

---------------

I remember the first time I held her – a little, pink bundle, with a perfect little nose and rose-bud lips! She had the longest eyelashes I had ever seen, framing big, dark eyes! She was beautiful – in every single way! I hadn’t wanted a daughter – I was so sure I was having son! But when that Dr called out, “it’s a girl!” My heart leapt with joy at the surprise! People came to visit with pink gifts! PINK! Fluffy pink blankets, smelling faintly of soft roses! Pink onesies with bunnies and bows! My precious daughter – I had been truly blessed!
She was kind and full of cuddles! “Butterfly kisses Mummy” she would call and throw her arms around my neck, tickling my cheeks with her long lashes! “The hills are alive …” her little voice would belt out as we sang to the musicals together! Her love and support when her father and I got divorced – she was only 5! “It’s better now Mummy – ‘cos you don’t cry anymore!”
She grew up into a kind and loving little girl who loved everyone! She was a busy little bee, sometimes a real lady, with her bag and tissues, stuffed inside to make it full, and sometimes a real little tomboy – with a skew pony tail, scraping her knees on the paving as she pushed herself along on her skateboard!
The teen-age years came all too quickly and my little angel grew into a girl who was stubborn. A girl who tried so hard to fit in with her peers. A little girl who wasn’t so sweet and kind any longer! We clashed and butted heads all the time. I believe that discipline makes a child secure and I would NOT give in to her many tantrums. I remember her telling me that she hated me! All her friends were allowed clubbing – why was I so difficult! I was devastated, but told her that it was alright – she could hate me! I loved her still with all my heart and ONE day she would understand! Her teachers called me in and said that she was uncooperative and that she would never amount to anything! I loved her still! And told her all the time!
And then … one day, completely out of the blue – I was surprised, once more when a young lady walked into our dining room one morning! “Morning Mom!” she said with a cheerful voice! WHAAAAT! I looked up from the table, trying so hard not to make a fuss! “What are you up today?” she asked … I could not believe it – was this my girl back? Although we still had the occasional disagreement, my little girl was now a young lady who we could reason with, and talk to and discuss issues! Our arguments were constructive, we communicated! She finished school and went to university! She worked hard and made some lovely friends, and has yearned for someone special in her life for a long time!
The other day she met him! A delightful young man with the biggest smile and laughing eyes. Her face lights up when he walks through the door, and she looks forward to his calls and messages! She takes such care when getting ready for a date – and twirls around looking at herself in the mirror, making sure that every detail is perfect! She hangs onto his every word and loves to see the reaction of family and friends when they meet him! “Does Aunt Judith like him Mom – what did she say?” I love it when she asks my opinion on things he says – is she over analyzing? Do I think he likes her?
Their relationship is in its very early stages and I know that I shouldn’t “jump the gun”! But my prayer is that these two young people find a special love together that will grow and grow into something lasting! I can’t wait for him to ask my blessing, which I will give him with a happy heart! My sweet baby girl is a beautiful, young woman now. With her adult life ahead of her she waits in anticipation for exciting times – one I hope will be filled with happy days and love!
I write this blog in secret as my daughter is unassuming and shy and does not want me to make a fuss of her in my blog – just yet! She does not know I have written this!

It's not Schue, it's me (My breakup letter to Glee)

2011-02-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Glee:

I'll never forget our first night together. It was a crappy hotel in Nevada, the same night I sobbed over that episode of Grey's Anatomy where we don't know if Izzie or George died (spoiler alert: it was George but it might as well have been Izzie cuz we never saw her again). And then I met you.

You kept me occupied for a good hour or so, and I found you fascinating. Sure, there were problems from the get go. Schue blackmailing Finn with marijuana he planted in his locker, for one. I can't stand Jane Lynch and want to send her to the moon so I never have to see her face again, but eh. At least she's a designated villain so it wasn't like I was supposed to like her, or anything (and I never did get the "love to hate" thing normal Gleeks have for her. I just don't). Rachel devastated by Finn's "unfaithfulness" when he was technically cheating on his girlfriend with her.

But I was enchanted, and willing to look past all of those minor things.

When the season FINALLY started, I remained in my honey moon phase. Sure, it was a soap opera--fake pregnancy plot, love dodecahedrons--the character development varied based on who wrote the episode and plenty of minor details tested the bounds of my suspension of disbelief, but the autotuning wasn't blatant and I was fairly emotionally invested in the characters, especially Emma, until...

I first remember nit-picking during Mattress. For one thing, the minors singing a popular song in a mattress commercial without any discussion of licensing issues? For another, minors in a commercial without parental permission? For a third, Will's freakout when he found out his baby wasn't real scared the crap out of me. I understand--I had a huge debate with Ethan about this--I understand he was upset. But people reacting violently--on screen or in real life--terrifies me, and his behaviour that episode completely destroyed any feelings of goodwill I had towards him, forever.

The rest of the season was a little lackluster. Nothing seemed to capture the magic of the first few episodes. Though the Idina Menzel subplot was beautiful and made me cry (even though we ALL SAW IT COMING EVEN BEFORE THE SHOW BEGAN I MEAN COME ON HAVE YOU SEEN LEA MICHELE AND IDINA MENZEL), I still found myself wondering how Quinn could give birth in the time it took for ONE SONG and why on earth would Rachel choose "Poker Face" as the one song to sing with her mom and why isn't Kurt getting called out for being a stalker? I mean really. The behaviours and values--which I tend to ignore in all the shows I enjoy--became more glaringly unpleasant and made me feel dirty, to where I no longer felt comfortable recommending the show to anyone under the age of 18. But I still indulged...

Season two has been rocky for us, hasn't it? Carl has RUINED Emma. Her clothes are off, her hair is off, everything is wrong. Rachel can't seem to figure out who she loves, Finn is lost, who the hell is that Swedish kid? what happened to the chinese chick? where is Quinn living now? Gradually, my snarking grew louder than my raving, and I knew I liked very little of Glee except complaining about it. Also Emma's clothes and Britney My Hilarious Twin.

But it wasn't until last night that I realised. Too much went wrong. I had a migraine, which didn't help, but our usual song and dance was just wrong. From the logistical realities of actually using a human cannon during a cheer routine to Will being present for Sue's dressing down to the fact that I HATE ZOMBIES WHAT THE HECK I WAS HOME ALONE THEY GAVE ME NIGHTMARES it was just wrong.

As I lay on the couch watching with an icepack completely covering the left side of my face, I asked myself, why am I putting myself through this? My reasons have always been "Britney and Emma's clothes", but there were no clothes on Emma because Emma was not there. And basically all Britney said, over and over, was "I don't want to die." Nothing funny there.

So Glee, I'm sorry. It's not you. You, like my exboyfriend, are as stupid as the day we met. I'm the one that's changed; I've lost patience with stupidity, and I'm can't excuse your ridiculous behaviour anymore. I can't love you anymore. I can't even like you anymore. I hope we can be friends--I'll keep an eye on your career and I wish you well. Congrats Chris Colfer for your award (Lara: "For playing HIMSELF that's not talent!"). But we can't enjoy that tight-knit rabid fangirlness we did in those early days, and I'm sorry for that.

So yes. We're over. Best of wishes.

~~Love~~ ~~Like~~ Sincerely, Corbyjane

Today I killed a spider...

2011-02-05T18:41:00.000-08:00

Actually two. One in the bathroom and one in the kitchen. I'm housesitting and all alone. You'd think I'd feel triumphant and courageous but I am actually afraid it isn't all the way dead and will come back for revenge. Also, if there's another one, I quit and am going home, where people will kill them for me.

I hate being alone.

ETA: The cat just vomited all over the stereo system. KMN.

Meet... THEM (My New Feet)

2011-02-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

They are a sleek & shiny pair of Asics Gel Kayano. They cost more than everything I am currently wearing put together. (they cost $140. My outfit cost $25) And the orthotics were $200 after insurance. Holy crackers.

I'm making peace with the whole thing. Trying to be positive. I have turquoise shoelaces, that's something. So yeah. And they were way comfortable today. I wore them an hour longer than I was supposed to because they were so very comfortable I couldn't take them off.

The story of how I got them is interesting, but I'm too tired to tell it. There was a cute guy involved. :)

5000 Survey: Part 9!

2011-01-26T17:51:00.001-08:00

Part Nine

801. How often do you change your mood in a day?

A lot. I tend to start out happy and then something ruins it but it gets better but then something is stupid but then it’s all good.

802. When you ask people how they are doing you actually care about their answer or is it just polite?

Depends on the person, but I’d say 98% of the time I do care.

803. Would you consider yourself to be very polite?

Yes and no. I can be polite, but then there are times when I think I’m being perfectly polite and people disagree. Also sometimes I don’t care.

804. Do you like movies and books that involve nuclear holocaust?

NO. I absolutely hate those types of movies.

805. Have you ever had a lucid dream (a dream in which you knew you were dreaming and had complete control over what happened in the dream)?

Yes, but it tends to work against me. I go, “Ok, this is a dream, so if I THINK he’s coming after me, he’ll come after me—“ and because I thought it, he does. Also, the dreams I know I’m dreaming I usually fall a lot.

806. Have you ever had a flying dream?

Yes.

807. Have you ever had a lucid flying dream?

No.

808. What's the oddest law you ever heard of?

Mmm… some of the old testament laws are pretty funny. Also isn’t there a Muslim law that you can’t pee facing east? Pretty much any religious law with weird reasoning is hilarious.

809. What is the ultimate way to connect with another person?

Just kind of lay it all out there and bare your soul.

810. Can you be intimate with someone without touching him or her?

Yep.

811. Can men and women ever really be 'just friends' with no interest in anything more?

Yes, I do believe that. But I think that there either needs to be a large age difference or orientation differences to keep one or the other person from at least briefly considering it.

813. Are you addicted to this survey like drugs?

No. I’m addicted to my prescription drugs and when I go without them I’m dizzy and nauseous and can’t see. When I go without this survey I’m just bored.

814. If your significant other wanted to wait for marriage could you hold out or would you leave them (or would you cheat)?

Of course I would and will wait.

815. What's the longest sentence you can make using only words that start with the same letter as your first name?

Uhm… Corbyjane can’t cook cuz cooking can combust, causing conflagration. That’s as far as I got.

816. If you had a theme song what would it be?

“Disneyland” apb Kerry Butler.

817. Are you cranky?

Right now? Yes.

818. Which group generally annoys you more, people older than you, or people younger than you?

Depends. Younger people annoy me because there’s a lot of experiences they haven’t had yet (like having zero money or zero food) and they don’t understand that. Older people sometimes annoy me because they constantly tell me I’m not an adult, but no one wants to tell me when they will actually consider me an adult.

819. Do you refer to older people as old farts?

Uhm, no.

820. Do you refer to younger people as the kids?

I refer to my siblings that way, but that’s because that’s what we called them.

821. Which is better: Poems that everyone can relate to or poems that are intensely personal to the author?

Either’s good. Depends on who you are.

822. Is it worse to be too hot or too cold?

Too cold.

823. Are you so flexible that you can put your feet behind your head?

Yep!

824. Would you enjoy reading fairy tales written about robots?

…no?

825. Is smoking a turn on or gross?

It’s disgusting.

826. What is the one way you wouldn't want to die?

Any way that isn’t dying painlessly in my sleep.

827. Which would look sillier on you: A cowboy hat or a Rasta hat?

Rasta hat. I can rock a cowboy hat, thank you very much.

828. Would you rather have a job doing something indoors or outdoors?

INDOORS.

829. Would you rather learn more about human nutrition or meteorology?

Human nutrition, I guess.

830. Have you ever taken honors courses?

I was homeschooled, so no. But I did test into advanced English in college.

831. What do you think of crop circles?

…they’re circular?

832. Where do they come from?

Bored teens stomping down grass.

833. When was the last time you screwed up big time?

NOYB

834. You have a choice. What do you eat:

A veggie burger

Eww… I don’t like them. Sorry Nat.

A turkey dog

Is it kosher? Then heck yes.

A cheese sandwich

No thanks, I’ll die.

835. Do you get a lot of random instant messages?

No, I sign out on FB and very rarely do people gtalk me.

836. Do you have a paper journal also?

I do, but I don’t write in it much.

837. VHS or DVD?

DVD.

838. Vinyl, cassette tape, or CD?

CD.

839. Have you ever seen the video/heard the song Days Go By, performed by Dirty Vegas?

No. I have heard Not A Day Goes by, by Sondheim.

840. MTV: should it play morel videos or more shows?

I don’t watch MTV so I don’t care. Though I did love The Next Elle Woods.

841. Name a band:

Snow Patrol

Do fans of that band tend to share any characteristics with each other?

I don’t know very much about the band or its fans. Just that I love their music.

842. What does the expression 'touch and go' mean?

Iffy.

843. Caffeine or alcohol?

Caffeine. I’d be happy to go without alcohol if it wasn’t necessary for a delicious caramel appletini.

844. Betty or Veronica?

…idk. Veronica. Her name is nicer.

Archie or Reggie or Jughead?

Reggie.

845. What book are you reading right now?

My mathbook. X.x

846. Is the news too depressing?

Yes.

847. Would you rather have a stuffed lion, elephant, pig or duck?

Lion!

848. Are you late for a very important date?

Nope. But Alice in Wonderland, your every wish is my command!

849. Ever use star 69?

Nope.

850. Is everyone as smart as you?

No. But a lot of people are smarter.

851. Have you ever seen the musical Annie?

Yep. Multiple times.

852. Sheets: silk or satin?

I’d rather have flannel.

853. Bath: soap or bubbles?

Neither. I shower.

854. Your best color: blue or red?

Blue. Red makes my hair look weird.

855. What's your favorite candy?

Good n Plentys.

856. Can you sing?

Yes.

857. It's the end of the world, as we know it. How do you feel?

FINE!

858. You take your little sister (she's 12) shopping for school clothes. Mom gave you the money to hold. She picks out a skimpy top emblazoned "Hottie" and hip-hugging pants that leave at least two inches of skin north and south of her navel exposed to the wind. She insists: If she doesn't have these clothes, she'll look awful, the other kids will tease her, and she’ll feel like a nerd.

Do you think she should or should not wear these clothes?

I think she should not wear these clothes.

Do you buy them for her?

Nope. I tell her that the only other people at her school is her brother, and he’s unnecessarily prudish anyway.

859. What do you think is the most annoying cliché?

The forward guy who knows your “no” only means “yes” is the guy for you.

860. What band is underground right now but will one day get really popular?

Meh… I have no clue.

861. Of the following which word best describes you:

versatile (flexible):

NOPE. Literally or metaphorically.

wonderful:

Darn straight.

x-tra special:

Yep. I’m definitely “special”, just ask Em.

your own best friend:

Nope.

zany:

Yes.

862. What does BYOB stand for?

Bring Your Own Booze.

863. Who is sexiest:

Marilyn Monroe

She’s awesome. :)

James Dean

Oooh…

Elvis

Ew.

Jim Morrison

Who?

Madonna

Have you seen her lately? Woman is falling apart…

Cyndi Lauper

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a picture of her.

864. Do you always do what's expected of you?

Not always.

865. Do you believe everything you hear on the news?

Nope. We watch Fox, so…

866. Would you prefer a $100.00 gift certificate to Hot Topic or Abercrombie & Fitch (assuming neither store gives change, so you'll have to spend the whole thing)?

Abercrombie & Fitch. And sell it to my sister.

867. Have you ever won a competition?

Yep.

868. Who looks sloppier when they are over weight, guys or girls?

Guys. Girls at least have boobs to counter-balance.

869. At what age do you become all grown up?

I keep asking people but no one will give me a straight answer…

870. Have you ever written graffiti on anything?

No.

871. Can you remember what you wrote?

I never did…

872. Are you a force of nature?

I guess?

873. What do you think of blue eye shadow?

I think it’s cute, but it doesn’t work on me.

How about gold eye shadow?

Yep! I wear it all the time.

874. Would you ever wear any of the following Halloween costumes:

Flapper?

Yes!

Hippie?

Yes!

Disco dancer?

It’d have to be an awfully cute costume…

875. Should birth control be taught in high school?

Yes, but in addition to abstinence. There’s a difference between “just don’t do it”, and “here’s what you should do when you’re mature enough…”

How about in jr. high or elementary school?

N—ye—I don’t know.

876. Would you consider yourself a genius?

Nope.

877. What did you think of the movie Solaris?

I haven’t seen it.

878. Which is usually better movies or books?

Books!

879. Do you think The Hobbit will be made into a movie?

I certainly hope so….

880. Do you research which brands use sweatshops to make their clothing before you shop?

No, I don’t. =/

881. What gives you a magical feeling?

Being onstage.

882. Have you ever pulled apart a Christmas cracker?

No. The pop scares me.

883. Would you rather watch basketball or play basketball?

Watch. I don’t understand the game at all.

884. Do you think that everyone makes his or her own problems?

Not 100% of the time, but a lot of the time.

885. Do you often consider how your actions will affect other people?

I try to.

886. Are J-Lo and Ben Afleck interesting to you at all?

Not really.

887. Do you use bad grammar or hate bad grammar?

I hate obvious grammatical and spelling errors, but I’m prone to ending sentences with prepositions and stuff like that.

888. Make up a tabloid headline:

CORBYJANE SECRETLY REVEALED TO BE AWESOME

889. Do you like to learn new things?

Yes, I do.

890. What's more important, fame or personal accomplishment?

Both are pretty sweet. I guess I’ll go with personal accomplishment, but personally, I feel accomplished when I’m famous, so…

891. Sweet dreams are made of this....

Who am I to disagree?

What are they made of?

Candy!

892. Two trailer park girls go round the outside...

Huh?

Round the outside of what?

Of… the trailer park?

893. Are you wearing a piece of jewelry that means a lot to you right now?

I’m wearing a ring, which is leftover from my LOTR geek days; I’m wearing a friendship bracelet Alex made me; I’m wearing an I CAN DO HARD THINGS bracelet Lara gave me, and all of these things mean a lot to me.

894. If someone was going to inscribe a message on a ring and give it to you what would you want it to say?

“courage”

895. Guys who are losing their hair:

*snickers*

Should they shave their heads?

No.

Get implants?

Eww.

Or let it go?

I guess just let it go.

896. Do rock stars work hard or lead the easy life?

Depends. But most of them have to work pretty hard.

897. How much water do you drink every day?

I aim for three water bottles.

898. Are you driven or kinda apathetic?

Apathetic and it’s ruining my life.

899. Who do you turn to when you are down?

My sister.

900. Would you ever wear seran-wrap?

Maybe when I have someone to wear it for…

5000 Survey: Part Eight

2011-01-23T22:33:00.000-08:00

Part Eight

701. What is your favorite mixed drink?

Caramel Appletinis! Here’s the nondairy recipe: 2 parts appletini mixer, 1 part vodka (or 3/1 ratio is also delicious). Shake. In martini glass, pour teaspoon of caramel flavouring. Pour in cocktail. I don’t do garnishes because they’re too much work for a drink I plan on drinking quickly anyway.

702. When answering these questions are you often pulled in different directions, as if committing to one answer eliminates the possibility for all others?

Uhm, not really. I don’t take it that seriously.

703. Chicken Mesala, Pasta Primavera, Veal Cutlet Parmesan or Linguini with Clam Sauce?

I’m allergic to all of those, I’m sure!

704. If you were alone in your friend's house/room/apartment would you look in their drawers and notebooks?

Depends on the friend. But I stayed at Em’s for two weeks and didn’t do that, so…

705. What would you really like to do but you don't because you are afraid of getting caught?

Go skinny dipping. Make Hannah an appletini. Wear something slightly inappropriate (I ALWAYS run into children I know and/or their parents if I have the slightest bit of cleavage…)

706. Of the following, which word best describes you:

responsible:

I am to a point. I do stuff if I need to do it. But I rarely go above and beyond what’s needed.

spontaneous:

Yes in a “let’s go shopping!” way. But not in a “let’s go do something that would normally require great planning and research!” way.

tactful:

Yes and no. Mostly no.

uninhbited:

AHAHAHAHA

707. Which band would you most likely check out?

The Smiths (indi-pop 80's-90's)

The Lords of Acid (acid/house/dance 90's)

Front 242 (80's-90's industrial/dance)

…Never heard of any of them.

708. How can one put an end to procrastination, as a bad habit?

Promise yourself you will stop procrastinating! …tomorrow!

709. What feature would you want on your car that is not currently offered?

The turn signal to click in time with the music.

710. What kind of poetry speaks to you?

The kind someone reads aloud?

711. What is your favorite store that is open 24 hours?

CVS or Wal-Mart

712. Do you find that sleep is just so much sleepier when you are supposed to be doing something else?

No, cuz I have stress dreams then.

713. Do you also find that the books you chose are so much more luscious when you have a stack of actual assignments that you Should be reading?

Mmm not really…? If I don’t feel like reading assignments I usually don’t feel like reading anything.

714. If you have had the chance to compare the original 5000 Question Survey to this edited version, what is your opinion?

I haven’t. So yeah.

715. What's the most creative answer you can think of for 'what is black and white and red all over'?

A half eaten oreo (that was half-eaten by a child with a loose tooth)

716. Why do people slow down on the highway when they pass a cop car pulling someone else over?

Because he reminds them of the speed limit.

717. Are they afraid that the cop will STOP pulling over whoever he is pulling over and pull them over instead?

Nope. But it reminds them AND it could always be a speed trap.

718. It's daddy's birthday. What do you get him?

I think I got him soap.

719. What's your 5,000 question survey nickname?

Corbyjane?

Look at the word next to the 2nd letter of your first name

A anything but

B bubalicious

C captivating

D deadly

E erotic

F funky

G greasy

H heaps of

I indie

J jelly

K kinetic

L lasher

M Mr. (or Mrs.)

N neglected

O ogre-like

P parading

Q quacking

R Rico

S stinky

T the one and only

U uber

V Velcro

W wishing for

X x-tra

Y yearning for

Z zoobalee

Now take the first letter of your last name.

A aardvarks

B baboo

C creme pie

D drag queen

E eggbert

F flex

G god

H hell

I Isabelle

J juice

K kisses

L lightning

M mannish boys

N nice

O octopi

P porcupines

Q q-bert

R rainbows

S suave

T tushy

U underwear

V valor

W weenie

X xtc

Y yohimbe

Z zipper

Put the two words together for your nickname.

I don’t understand this assignment. Like at all.

720. You know that shaky feeling that you get when it's all coming to a climax, and everyone involved is breaking into the good kind of cold sweat, working as individuals and at the same time as a single force of energy, and it all meshes together, and for a brief moment, you're holding your breath and tingling all over, and after it's done you're on an explosive and dizzying high for the rest of the night?

It sounds like tech week.

What does that feeling come from?

The impending show opening.

721. How many of your teachers can you imagine drinking or doing drugs on the weekends?

I went to Bible School. So none. Except I’ll bet Pastor Lee likes a good glass of wine sometimes.

722. Do you like Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass?

Yes! I like Looking Glass better, though.

723. Write a question and answer it here.

What’s your favourite bible verse?

Jeremiah 29.11

724. Who is your favorite playwright?

I don’t do playwrights; I do composers. :) And the answer to that is, Verdi or Puccinni. Cliché, I know…

725. What movie has come out recently that you couldn’t have less interest in?

Uh… well, I HATED Voyage of the Dawn Treader

726. What would the worst movie ever be about?

Snakes. So.. “Slither”.

727. Do you like truffles?

If they are non-dairy, yes.

Do you like Turkish delight?

I kind of liked the cucumber kind. Not the sweet gross berry ones.

728. Can you tell the difference between a transvestite and a real woman?

Prolly not. I’m extremely obtuse.

729. What's funnier, plants or fire extinguishers?

Uh… Alex with a fire extinguisher.

730. For question 720 did you write down sex?

Nope.

You pervert, I was thinking of musical theater.

I WIN!!!!!!!

731. Which is better, leopard print or plaid?

Both are kind of tacky. But I own plaid PJs and [turquoise] leopard print scarves, so I guess they’re even.

732. What would you consider ordinary?

People being true to themselves.

733. What is out of the ordinary?

People feeling the need to rub in your face that they are being true to themselves.

734. Do you ever watch COPS?

Nope.

735. Is there always room for j - e - l - l - o?

Depends on the flavour.

736. If you had your own TV show, what kind of show would you make it?

A show about Ethan and me being theatre and music teachers in a highschool. I think it would be HILARIOUS and AWESOME.

737. Do you know how heavy things like airplanes stay in the air?

Science?

738. When do you act the most dramatic?

Haha. ALL the time.

739. Are you one of those people who have, "see photo id,” written on the back of their credit cards?

No. But just because most people never recognize my photo.

740. It's mom’s birthday. What do you get her?

Soap!

741. What celebrity has pretty much disappeared leaving you wondering 'where are they now'?

The Canadian girl who was in Due South and all those Feature Films for the Family movies. I can’t remember her name though.

742. Would you get angry if you and your girl/boyfriend saw the preview for a movie and talked about seeing it together and then they saw it with one of their friends while you were busy?

Yeah. Funny story, someone just ranted about this on FB. >.>

743. How many people do you think will finish this whooooooole survey?

Not many.

744. Have you ever written a message, sealed it in a bottle and thrown it into a river/lake ocean?

Nope.

745. If you haven't would you want to?

I think it’d be cool…

746. If you ever did what would you write?

That’s private. :)

747. What do you wish you could always be protected from?

People.

748. What small thing annoys you so much it should be a crime?

JAYWALKING. AND IT IS.

749. Would you rather watch a video of fish in a tank, or the Yule log on TV?

Uh I’d prolly turn off both.

750. Is it better to be loved or feared?

Loved.

751. What causes you to panic?

People yelling at me.

752. Do you believe that you have a strong personality?

Yes? I don’t know.

753. When Jesus saves souls...does he trade them in for valuable prizes?

…………………

754. What resolutions would you make if it were new years?

I mostly just resolved to keep the ones I’ve already made throughout the year.

755. Why wait?

I didn’t. :)

756. Do you feel like time is on your side or working against you?

Working against me.

757. What do you do for yourself when you are down to put a little joy back into your life?

Sing! Also look at pretty pictures of myself.

758. How much Tolkien have you read?

Not much. LOTR, the Unfinished Tales books 1&2, the Silmarillion, the Hobbit. I think that’s it.

759. These are the songs on the radio. Which are you most likely to listen to:

Time Bomb by Rancid

Never heard of it.

Dead Man's party by Oingo Boingo

Never heard of it.

The Sun Always Shines on TV by A-ha

Never heard of it.

50 Ways to leave Your Lover by Paul Simon

Heard it don’t like it.

Run by collective Soul

Never heard of it.

760. Do you believe that Jesus existed as a real person?

I do.

761. Do you believe he was the son of god?

I do.

762. How do you feel about organized religion?

I am a Christian and accordingly I believe Jesus is the only way to heaven. But I think other organized religions can be used by the Lord for good. And yes, I know that makes me sound horrible.

763. What sentence have you heard lately, that would sound pretty odd out of context?

Ahahaha. My brother likes large breasts with lots of skin.

(…chicken breasts)

763. If you had to choose one image to be a symbol of our times, what would you pick?

Uhm. I don’t know. UGG boots?

764. Name a group of people:

Sopranos

765. How many of them does it take to screw in a light bulb?

One. She just holds up the bulb while the earth revolves around her.

766. Do you like the movie The Labyrinth with David Bowie and some muppets?

Yes!

767. Do you like the movie The Dark Crystal?

I didn’t finish it. =/

768. Metallica or Guns N' Roses?

Neither.

769. Do you follow the Chinese zodiac?

Nope.

770. Do you like reggae music?

Nope.

771. What makes your life worth it every day?

People love me. And they’d miss me if I were gone.

772. Do you seize each day and sink your teeth into it?

If I wake up pretty I do.

773. I’ve heard people say that Jim Morrison never yawned because he was just so full of life. How often do you yawn?

A lot. But I think it has more to do with sleep deprivation.

774. Who decides what behavior is 'crazy' or 'sane'?

Culture, I guess. Which is sad.

775. Who are the most inspiring artists, musicians, poets, and writers?

I don’t think there’s a magic formula. Some people speak to other people and some people don’t.

776. Did anything historically significant happen in the year you were born?

A princess was born! (besides me, I mean.)

777. Besides blowing out birthday candles when do you make wishes?

If I remember I do.

778. Are you self-sufficient?

Ha no.

779. Is it better to be wanted or needed?

I’ll settle for either. Or both at the same time!

780. What do you feel is an appropriate age to lose one’s virginity at?

Whatever age that person gets married.

781. Do you feel that the appropriate age for girls and for boys is different?

Nope.

782. Are you a hard person to get to know?

Not really. It’s really all there in the manual.

783. What is the craziest thing you have ever done out of anger?

I’m not sure. My reactions are either to write a letter about it or throw a shoe at them.

784. What's the MOST annoying sound you can think of?

Flatulence or burping.

785. What's the silliest vegetable you can think of?

Uhm. Not sure. Cucumbers are fun to say. And delicious.

786. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Nope.

787. Name one thing you have referred to in the past as “better than sex”:

I don’t think I’ve ever said that, really.

788. What do you see when you turn out the light?

Monsters.

789. Do you like jazz, blues and/or swing music?

Not really, no.

790. Do you prefer gold or silver jewelry?

Silver is prettier. But gold looks better on me.

791. In what ways do you want your children to be like you?

I hope they’re pretty. And musically inclined. And theatrical. And uhm… Italian…?

792. In what ways would you want your children to be different from you?

I hope they don’t have my mouth. Or my boobs. Or my phobias. But unless they’re raised like me (which they WON’T be) we don’t have to worry about that last one.

793. What was the scariest movie you've ever seen?

Probably Batman Begins.

794. What was the funniest movie you've ever seen?

Tangled or Enchanted.

795. What was the worst movie you've ever seen?

Voyage of the Dawn Treader or any of the Twilight movies or Frog Princess.

796. Are you a good massage-giver?

Yep.

797. What is one question that no one can ever truthfully answer 'yes' to?

Are you asleep?

798. Is there more to this world than human beings can perceive?

I believe it.

799. If matter is neither created nor destroyed then is it possible that you are made up of molecules that once made up Ghandi or Jesus or Einstein?

Maybe Ghandi or Einstein but Jesus’ body didn’t decay, so not him.

800. Are you often sarcastic?

Oh no. Not EVER.

Shameless self-promotion

2011-01-23T13:31:00.000-08:00

So hey! I recorded stuff! And FB readers, you will need to "view original post" to see the embedded videos.

Love Never Dies, take two:

If Only (Little Mermaid on Broadway) quartet:

I Won't Say I'm In Love (Hercules): (dedicated to Alex)

If I Can't Love Her (Beauty & the Beast):

And finally, Mother Knows Best (Tangled):

"Disneyland", apb Kerry Butler

2011-01-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

Corbyjane has a new theme song. :)

Lyrics:

Hot Sunday night
I guess the folks were busy fighting
Joe'd already left home
Eleven years old on my own
Feelin' nothing but lonely

There's nothing to do
There's nothing out there but the traffic
Down on state ninety-three
So I'd sit through the night
By our old black and white t.v
And that's when I saw it...
That's when I heard it...
Callin'...
Callin'...
Me

Disneyland
Magic kingdom
Disneyland
Close my eyes real tight
Wishing hard I might, wishin hard I may
Find my way to Disneyland
Gotta get to Disneyland
On a western breeze, magic carpet please
Carry me away

Oh I know you're gonna say the trees are paper mache
It's done with mirrors, the magic there
Each little bird's full of springs, you press a button it sings
Recorded music in the air
They've had the mountain refaced, it's only plywood and paste
Go on say it!
I'll turn around and tell you I don't care

I will live in Disneyland
Magic Kingdom
Disneyland
Where the child inside
Gets to laugh and gets to ride
Until it's all okay

I believe in Disneyland
Come with me to Disneyland
And when we get to Disneyland
Let's stay

I believe in Disneyland
Come with me to Disneyland
And when we get to Disneyland
Let's stay

General update

2011-01-16T00:42:00.000-08:00

Today is the 8th anniversary of the death of one of my earliest mentors: John Garvey. You can read my eulogy here and his amazing article from the Herald here. I'm not caught in it like I used to be, but I miss him a lot every time I'm singing and I wish/hope he can see how far I've come from the chronically stage-frightened 14 year old he last saw.

Well, here's a rundown of life in general: Wet Seal is having a mega sale (mostly in-store, tragically) and even Darlingest Kate was lured in by the syren song of adorable stuff. We saw Tangled again (well, I saw it again; Hannah & DK for the first time), rode the carousel, etc.

Yeah, I rode my horse upside down. ~~my phone was upside down~~ Cuz I am that epic.

I had more to say. But now it's 1am and I haven't said much at all. So tomorrow then. Good night!

Health update!

2011-01-15T20:35:00.000-08:00

I'm... off. Off in a big way.

Pictured: My life.

So we switched all my meds over to something else a few days ago. I'd been on Amitryptalin (started at 10mg) and Maxalt for several years. Amitryptalin (Elavil) is the preventative for my migraines, and also while it has fallen out of favour as an anti-anxiety (at much higher dosages) it still helps mildly in that area. I started at 10mg and worked my way up to 100 in three years. Last month, because my migraines were coming daily, my doctor raised it to 150--a pretty dramatic increase, as we'd been doing 10 to 20 mg each time. But after a few weeks, there was no alteration whatsoever in the migraines, so I was taken off of Elavil and put on Desipramine... at 25mg. Abruptly. With no tapering off in the Elavil. I also got taken off Maxalt and put on Relpax.

So... yeah. First two days, did not eat, did not sleep (slept 45 minutes each night with bizarre, unpostable dreams), did a lot of vomiting, and felt like I was going to die. I'm feeling a lot better--kept down blueberry pancakes, rice, chicken, and pina colada sorbet just today. :) But yes. So that's what's going on. And why there have been no posts.

I still feel like I weigh 100 pounds more than I should, and like the floor is tilted, sort of. But so far no migraines, so yay!

Tweets from "Dating Advice", recommended by friend

2011-01-12T23:20:00.000-08:00

ETA: The young lady who recommended this post requested I remove her name. I have removed her name from the post title and her surname entirely.

Video here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfyJMSeYUN0
I continued to watch all of the following videos.

Nicole recommended this videos. I watched them, because while I have major disagreements with them, I want to understand where she is coming from better. Also, I was bored.

Now, I am going to preface by saying, I do not find anything wrong with the model of dating courting proposed in this video. If you, your parents, and the guy involved wanna do this, go for it! I am glad you have that ability.

Me, I tried both. I haven't had a great amount of luck with dating or courting. Both ended with me getting burned, and I've still got scars. I currently wear a wedding ring, because I'm sick of dealing with boys. I'm not a nun; I'm just taking a breather from singledom. But I don't ahve a huge problem with either model.
What I have a problem with is namecalling. And blanket statements. And guilt tripping. There's a difference between allowable by scripture and commanded/forbidden by scripture.

For instance: Drinking a glass of wine with dinner. Not forbidden, or commanded.
Getting drunk: Forbidden

You can follow the line of thinking "no drunkeness => no drinking, period", and that's allowable. But you can also follow the line of thinking "Jesus' first miracle was water into wine => cautious, responsible drinking is okay."
Neither is wrong. And either party calling the other "unbiblical/unchristian" is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard in my life. It makes me physically sick to my stomach to hear/see these arguments. Those who don't drink any alcohol calling the others fools, seeking to be right at the edge between sin and saved--that's disgusting. Those who drink responsibly calling the other people prudes and uptight twits--that's disgusting.

Also, the word for wine used in the NT? I'm told it's the same word in Greek--no matter when it's "strong wine", "fruit of the vine", whatever. The people trying to put it all in categories are working from the wrong (English) Bible. Anyways.

When the courtship people call the dating people sluts and the dating people call the courting people prudes--that is also disgusting. And unfortunately, in the course of this video, this teachers takes several opportunities (in the middle of dispensing such great, biblically-approved advice!) to name call the people who date, who are friends with members of the opposite gender, who define themselves as "teenagers", and many, many more. And that I am not okay with. To the point of being pro-actively against anyone who starts bible thumping and telling people they are not saved. PRO-ACTIVELY YOU KNOW THIS MEANS WAR.

The following tweets are mostly snark. If you know me, you know I poke fun at EVERYTHING. I snark through my favourite movies. So... understand that. I have also included other tweets from other people. If you didn't want to be included, let me know and I will remove your tweets.

Hopefully this post will get fleshed out a little better soonish. I need to find some verses addresses (NOT "verses that agree with me"; "the exact address of the verse I'm thinking of". BIG difference. :)

Somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@slrvcarm I'm about to start watching. :)

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
...Demonic dating. Yep. Matchmaking your devils and witches here.

He opens with, "Let us enter the world of demonic, sensual dating." ...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Currently watching "Dating Advice". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfyJMSeYUN0

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Dating for the fun of it. Yep. I do that all the time.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Psychologists are witch doctors!

^ our first [tweeted] incident of name-calling, ladies and gentlemen! Psychologists are witch doctors. Does this include the Christian ones? I don't know. He doesn't say. But he says psychologists are witch doctors. WTF

OhOkayAlex Alexander Grey
Some of the most annoying tweets are the ones where people joke about killing some commonly hated celebrity. Really? (Continued!)

OhOkayAlex Alexander Grey
To start off with, you don't even have a good reason to "genuinely" hate that person. You can hate their music, but you don't know them.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@OhOkayAlex Well, I am listening to a dating video and I hate this person. I genuinely hate him. And I want to go to his house and stab him.

OhOkayAlex
@somuchbetter88 Potato salad is my rebuttal to that. Potato salad.

Not a good thing for me to have said. I was very riled by the "psychologist s are witch doctors" statement, you see...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"Dating is demonic!" "Dating is a sword!" "Dating is sex!" Dating is a demonic sword penis!

niki_nincompoop Nikole Moon
@somuchbetter88 CORBYJANE! If I wanted to hear/read all that, id listen to it for myself! >.<

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

@niki_nincompoop I'm learning so much! I learned all psychologists are witch doctors! Psychology doesn't exist!

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Hitherto this century, there were no teenagers! Everyone skipped from twelve to twenty! And it was wonderful!

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@OhOkayAlex There are TWELVE sections of this to listen to. OMG I am not going to make it.
somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya

OhOkayAlex Alexander Grey
@somuchbetter88 It actually does sound quite awful, too!

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Public schoolers are fools. You are forever lost to God if you go to public school. Also, your parents don't love you enough.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
But what if your parents are DUMB? What if they are not fit to teach?! Oh wait, I think we just explained half the homeschooling community.

Before you all start, I WAS HOMESCHOOLED. I am allowed to say 99% of us come out messed up. We have not enough interaction with our peers, yes, we related well to adults, but we think we ARE adults, which we will soon discover most of the world does not think we are. There is a lot of unlearning that needs to happen before we can be "normal". I am a semi-recovered homeschooler. And this is after five years of college...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Hobbies are evil! No, seriously. You work, you have sex with your wife, you teach your kids. That's all.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"You think that's hard? That's LIFE." Uhm, maybe for YOU....

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@OhOkayAlex I was NEVER this hardcore. I was pretty bad when I was 14, but this is RIDICULOUS.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
...Women should not go to college because they're leaving the protection of their father. What... the... hell...
I'm not even a feminist. And I do believe the husband is the head of the household. But I don't think the woman is weak and needs to be under her father till marriage. Unless she's getting married at 18! But if she goes out into the world and goes to college, she's an independent woman. When she gets married, she will continue to be independent. But with a husband leading and guiding. But it's not the "husband becomes the father" seen in this video business.
...Once again, I take that back. It does not HAVE to be the "husband becomes the father". It can be. And have fun if it is. But don't bible thump me if I don't need a daddy.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
...He seriously said NO ONE needs college. Well, I guess McDonalds is always hiring...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Education is bad because "we already have the truth! what more do we need?" WHAT.

I'm just going to say... some people don't go to college. That's just fine! But don't know the people who do. Seriously.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@slrvcarm just in case you're not catching all this, I am currently watching the videos. And tweeting. Copiously.
19 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"Are you sure you've been converted?" Yeah, pretty darn...
18 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Apparently all that's needed to become a man is to have a wet dream. At 12. Yep.
18 minutes ago

heresjohnny Johnathan Mastron
@somuchbetter88 It finally dawned on me one day that Child Protective Services exists to combat the kind of people who decide to homeschool.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@heresjohnny That's PERSECUTION! Jesus promised us this would happen! Bar the door! They're all out to get us!
17 minutes ago

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@heresjohnny Speaking as one of the lucky, well-adjusted products of homeschooling, most of us are warped, big time.
17 minutes ago

slrvcarm Salliana Mayer
@somuchbetter88 I am following happily, and somewhat guiltily since I only finished the first two parts

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@slrvcarm I am on #4. I'm taking this all the way, baby.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"Spiritually lead the woman" --speaking as someone who LOVES to follow, I don't think I could accept a husband as my daddy.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
#5! Now we're talking about how daughters have parents, and then they have husbands who fill the parent roll.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Gasp! Now we are talking about evil feminists! I'm so excited...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Feminism empowerment movement = evil. Got it.

heresjohnny Johnathan Mastron
@somuchbetter88 That's why my parents told me to stay away from windows during school hours so as not to attract outside attention.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@heresjohnny Yep. We never went out until the afternoon. And no playing in the backyard because a) helicopters and b) tattletale neighbours.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"You can't deny what I'm saying is true!" Me: *standing on chair, jumping up and down, waving hand*

heresjohnny Johnathan Mastron
@somuchbetter88 No wonder he's so against psychology. He prefers his women to be hysterical basket cases of victimization.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@heresjohnny "Women need to be led. They NEED a father in their husband." >.>

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
He just called counsellors idiots AGAIN.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
My life--which ran almost identical to the path he is outlining--messed me so badly I would be dead if not for the intervention of shrinks.messed me so badly I would be dead if not for the intervention of shrinks.
I can't say this much different than how i already said it, but therapy saved my life. More than once. I have been to five different psychologists/therapists/LMFT. Four were Christians. I do recommend seeking a Christian therapist. I think especially for any soul-healing to take place, that's important. But you can't discredit the entire business.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
He just said men and women should NEVER be alone together unless they are married.
I understand this. I do. But I think that putting this on everyone and then calling it biblical is wrong. It's a precaution, but not one everyone needs to take. I'm alone with a lot of guys quite frequently. Most of them are either gay or like 16, but still. I don't feel like I'm a dirty whore because of it.
I think if you and your boyfriend struggle, by all means don't be alone together. (Not being alone will not always save you, however. Ask me sometime). But that doesn't rule out all men. (Think about it: this includes doctors, friends, co-workers, TSA agents...)

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Yeah, so, @OhOkayAlex ? We can't be alone toegther. EVER again. Sorry. =/

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"I don't care if he is your UGLY COUSIN!" Yep. Me and mah cousin, here, gosh darn it, we just love a good roll in the hay!

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Praying against lust is bad because God doesn't want you to place yourself in that situation to begin with.
The following is some inappropriate humour. I apologise in advance. I was on a roll.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
If it wouldn't have to be NC-17, I think videos of these people's wedding nights would be HILARIOUS.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"So.... what goes where?" "I watched dogs do this once!" "Okay, how did that work?" "HOLY CRAP WHAT IS THAT PUT IT AWAY!"

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"Wait... you don't have one? What does yours look like?" "Uh..." "WHAT HAPPENED?! Was there a tragic pruning accident?!"

particle_person particle_person
@somuchbetter88 What are you watching?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@particle_person Fundie dating advice! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92YQX-4zivk&NR=1 advocated by a friend. I'm going to hell, apparently.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
ROFL @heresjohnny "@somuchbetter88 Nah, I bet a lot of them'd be PG. Someone would chicken out after they took off their shoes."

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Your wife should always come first. Even before your children. Huh.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
...He just said that the man should have never "approached" the girl before they start courting. WTF.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Pausing the video. I am copying my tweets into a blog post and will publish them, tagging the recommender of this video.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
(Expect Hilarity to Ensue)

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
RT @heresjohnny "@somuchbetter88 I think you might appreciate this: http://www.stufffundieslike.com/"

Check it. it's awesome. Below: another instance of, if it works, fine. If it doesn't, let it go.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Mkay, left off with the son asking the father for permission to date. Now the father is talking to the daughter. "Dad, no." "Pray about it."

Somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
She prays about it. "Dad, no." So dad calls the young man. "I've prayed. No."

Somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
He doesn't say "she says no." The son asks, "well, what did your daughter say?" And he says, "Well you've just proven me right."

Somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
What if she says yes? Dad calls meeting with parents and son, and they scope out "rules of engagement".

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
So they can figure out how they can get to know each other without ever being alone.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
So if you're the christian product of nonchristian home, you are SCREWED.

And I think this is part of the reason some Christian communities are almost--this isn't the right word, but--incestuous. The model doesn't allow for anyone to have grown up in a nonChristian home, doesn't allow for single-parenting or a the child of victims of a tragic baking accident. So all you have, in these ideal Christian homes, are ideal Christians with no idea of tragedy, no idea of what the world is like. Which sounds great, until you realise what happens when someone who HAS been through that walks in the door.

Frankly, I don't want my dad to choose my boyfriend for me. He's a wonderful sweet Christian man, but he's not perfect and he's not going to choose someone I can deal with. And just imagine what happens to the daughters of even more abusive fathers. It's not pretty.

I had a pastor in bible school talking about divorce. He was on the side of a mother in an abusive marriage staying married and staying with the husband. He was born to Christians and married a born to Christians woman and works at a Bible School. He has no idea what an abusive relationship is like. He could never know. This is basically the entire problem of this model. You don't have any idea what other people's lives are like and why they will never be able to conform to this.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@slrvcarm didn't Nicole say they talked about nonteen dating in this? When was that?

ExcitingHolly Holly L.
@somuchbetter88 HAHAH I read that as "Stuff Undies Like". I was confused. :P

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Oh, that's what's next. "Non-perfect sittuations." Now on vid #7. No one can deny my hardcoreness here.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
I suppose I'm not going into this with an "open heart". But he opened with, "let's talk about the demonic world of dating." How could I?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
What if they're at college. "Well, it's a predicament. A great predicament."

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"One can argue for and against going away to college..." I was surprised he didn't talk about why this was bad.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
So, you're away at college, you find a fellowship with elders. Oh god, I see where this is going...

niki_nincompoop Nikole Moon
@somuchbetter88 -____- I feel like im only following YOU cause your face is ALL OVER MY TWITTER WALL.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@niki_nincompoop Hee! xp

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
So... you ask your pastor to be your dad. HOW MANY DADS DOES ONE YOUNG WOMAN NEED?!!!

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
What if he goes to a different church? I mean, at AFLBS there were dozens of AFLC churches, so it's not even a denom thing...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
It's disturbing when groups define them selves by what they DON'T do. And it never ends well.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
The #1 Rule is Don't Have Sex. So what do you DO? This goes for "we don't party, we don't drink, we don't abort babies..."

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
I don't do any of these things, but if anyone asked me to define my #1 rule it would start with DO, not DON'T.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Oh wait, I drink.... responsibly and not to get drunk. I drink because it is delicious!

The "defined by what we're not" model is another problem. Not just with this. I encountered people in the AFLC who defined themselves exclusively by "we are not ELCA". If you can't get through a morning's devotions without saying, "UNLIKE the ELCA", you need to take a better look in the mirror. When I look in the mirror, I don't see an absence of dead space--something who is not a chair, or a black man, or a flower pot--I see what I AM. That's... another problem. If you define "courtship" as "not dating", you're in trouble.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
He reviews by telling all his major jokes (which SUCK) one after the other.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
#9. There is light at the end of the tunnel, all you who are getting twitterspammed.

Like Twilight, I am hardcore in my hate.

ExcitingHolly Holly L.
@somuchbetter88 I like your last tweet. A lot.

ExcitingHolly Holly L.
@somuchbetter88 The drinking one, I mean. :)

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@ExcitingHolly hee! :)

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Now talking about how Jesus doesn't heal everything. "You will always have scars."

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Scars =/= healing. Jesus will stop the gushing, gaping bleeding. He DOES heal everything You just keep the scars.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Years later, "It is still as bitter as gall." No, you shouldn't be dwelling on it years later. I mean, I do. But you shouldn't.

You screwed up. But if you truly believe Jesus paid it all and you're forgiven, you'll let it go. Or at least so I'm told every day. By someone who loves me. :) And i have a hard time accepting that. So incredibly hard. I have "It's not true" written on my wrist in sharpie right now, because every day I have those thoughts that are lies--I'm a liar, it was my fault, I wanted it, I lied to the person I love most in my life, I screwed over a great guy, I am ruined, I am broken, I am damaged goods--"IT'S NOT TRUE". It shouldn't be bitter as gall. It should be as far as the east is from the west.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"If I'm not supposed to approach this girl, how can I know she's the girl I should be approaching?"

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"You don't need to know her to know she's virtuous." What, do they wear t-shirts?

I don't think all you need is to both be virtuous to make a good marriage. I'm a good woman--I don't think very many people will deny that--I try to lead a virtuous life, and I am saved--but I couldn't marry, say, Sterling Overman. Sterling Overman is a great virtuous guy, but he doesn't get my sarcasm. And I don't get his puns. We would make a HORRIBLE couple. So I think there should be more research involved than, "she's virtuous". But once again... if it works for you... go for it.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
This man has no idea what women are like. I'd say he's gay, but...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
nvm. He;s like a straight man who's never met a woman. We'll put it that way.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
So even if you tell her you're just friends, and you're not interested ina relationship, she isn't going to listen to what you're saying...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
...she thinks you are pursuing her. Because that's what you're doing.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
Yep. Once again, @OhOkayAlex? Sure. YOU think we're just friends. I'm planning the wedding.

^ the above is only true in a world where every man is your exact age and straight. I spend a LOT of my time with young people. I can assure you I harbour no romantic feelings towards, say, Ethan McDaniel. Or Alexander Grey. ;) We hang out a lot. We know we are just friends.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
"That evangelicals could be that naive tells me how few of them are really saved." Uh... what?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
It cuts like a knife when, while disagreeing, one Christian tells the other they cannot be saved, bc they have different opinions.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
It (to the accuser) "wins" the argument, because anything the toher says is nullified by being unsaved.

Aaaaaand that's my biggest problem with this, Nicole. And quite frankly, a lot of Christians. In the midst of a disagreement, pulling out, "well, you disagree with me so you're not really a Christian!" is disgusting and underhanded. You don't know that person's heart. You don't know what they're thinking. Honestly, how DARE you make that assumption?!
There are very few guarantors that someone isn't saved. And that is if they espouse works => righteousness, or any way but Jesus to salvation. But unless they say either of those, how dare you guess their heart and tell them they aren't going to heaven? I seriously get tongetied when I talk about this, because it is so disgusting and makes me so angry. And righteously angry, I think.

If you disagree with a person on something, pray for them. Maybe they are a baby Christian and the spirit of the Lord hasn't convicted them of that sin yet. Maybe they don't even know it's wrong. What happens to people living out of wedlock who claim to be Christians? I don't know. But I do know it's not my place to scream at them. Show them it's in scripture that that kind of relationship needs to be accompanied by marriage--that's totally Biblical!

I have friends pursuing unBiblical lifestyles. They know what I believe about those lifestyles and what they're doing. We've talked about it. But I don't feel the need to tell them every time, "you sinned! You sinned!" and for this reason, I'm blessed to have the friends I do, and be able to talk with people of completely opposite views. And I hope they also enjoy the opportunity to talk to someone with my views without "you're a sinner!" needing to be said every time we meet.

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
And that was the last video! Give me 10-20 to organise and recap, and should be live in a minute.

particle_person particle_person
@somuchbetter88 I'm an agnostic ex-Jew, but I thought the point of being saved is that God does the choosing? So how would they know?

particle_person particle_person
@somuchbetter88 Shouldn't assuming you can read God's mind be a sin or a heresy or something?

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@particle_person It SHOULD be. It SHOULD be more wrong to accuse someone of not being wholly Christian than it is for two Christians to...

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@particle_person ...disagree! But some choose to not believe this. Me, if you say you are a Christian, and act in an unChristian way, I pray

somuchbetter88 corbyjane troya
@particle_person for you, and for your heart... but I will NEVER tell you you aren't a Christian. It is not my place.

Did you make it this far? WHY? Don't you have a life?!

Well, if you did make it this far, comment and let me know what you think. It's long, it's rambling... but hopefully some of you will have enjoyed it.

5000 Question Survey, Part Seven

2011-01-09T22:09:00.001-08:00

Part Seven
601. Do you have a lust for life?
I suppose? I enjoy life. But I guess I don’t passionately desire it. Most of the time it kind of sucks.

602. Do you want to get more out of life?
More than crying three days straight about my dad? Damn right I do.

603. Would you want to learn to:

Convert to Buddhism?
No..?

Cure a hangover?
I haven’t had a hangover and I don’t plan to. I drink responsibly. And (as argument bate) I toast Jesus with my vodka.

Lie persuasively?
I’m already all too good at that. =/

604. What character from a movie is most like you?
I’m not really sure. I’d like to say Giselle from Enchanted.

605. Are you comfortable with the idea of your own death?
Sadly, no. I mean, abstractedly, I would like to be dead. Life would suck less. But dying itself scares me. (I’m not emo. Heaven just sounds really good right now)

606. How do you feel about arranged marriages?
Sometimes I think that’s the only way I’m ever going to find a man. But uh no. I don’t think my parents have a good idea what type of a man I could live with without poisoning his food.

607. What do you hate that everyone else seems to like?
I’d say Twilight but there’s a pretty big Anti-Twilight movie. How about jaywalkers?

608. What do you like that others seem to hate?
A surprising amount of people don’t like black licorice.

609. If you had to be named after a month, which month would you pick?
April.

610. Is time more like a highway or a meadow to you?
A highway, I guess. It goes way too fast.

611. What is your favorite movie?
Milo & Otis!

612. Which would you choose to be back in the day: a warrior, an alchemist, a minstrel, a bard, an oracle, a peasant, or a merchant?
A bard!

613. What is your favorite song lyric?
My favourite? That’s really hard to pick. The first one that comes to mind is “for spring means rebirth, though each flower dies, the seeds fall to earth, take root, and rise.”

614. What will you never run out of?
Makeup! I have enough to last me YEARS.

615. If you could force someone to fall madly in love with you, (anyone you choose) would you do it?
Nope. Unless I was really bored. And it would be Nathan Fillion.

616. Have you ever seen the Disney movie The Black Cauldron?
No, cuz I want to read the book first!

617. Have you ever read The Black Cauldron by Alexander Lloyd (or any of his other books in the Prydain Chronicles)?
No. :(

618. Have you ever written a paper the night before it was due?
Always!
How about the day it was due?
Only if I’m in a show.

619. Is there a movie you have watched so many times that you can quote it line for line?
Milo & Otis!

620. What is your favorite season?
Fall. I’ve had a long break from school so I feel all serious about education.

621. Do you mind being described as cute?
Nope. This (along with hot) is probably my favourite compliment.

622. What is the tackiest object in your home?
Of MINE? Probably some of my random memorabilia.

623. What do you think people are most ignorant towards?
Things in fiction. Like the romanticism of abusive and controlling men in Twilight, or the false prophecy in Left Behind, or the plagiarism of Eragon. I feel like too many people just read the story and don’t even think about these things.

624. What is it that makes you an interesting person?
I tell funny stories.

625. What makes other people interesting to you?
If they also have funny stories.

626. How open to suggestion are you?
Unfortunately, very.

627. Is Michael Jackson black or white?
He’s dead, actually.

628. Are you often lonely?
Yes. But I’m often sick of being with people, too, so it all balances out.

629. What’s the most unusual pet you’ve ever had?
I have had four rats as pets. For some reason some people find this odd. They’re a lot like dogs, actually.

630. Have you ever threatened an authority figure?
I told my professor I was going to call the office if he dropped me for missing days of class because of the swine flu.

631. If you had to choose would you rather make all your decisions henceforth with your head only or with your heart only?
My head, I suppose.

632. How imaginative are you?
I’m really good at riffing on existing ideas. Like, fanfictions. Brilliant at those.

633. Do you like the Counting Crows?
No. I don’t really like much pop music, really.

634. If you took this survey from the diary (5000 Q Survey V2.0) did you note me so I could read it?
Nope.

635. Are you more tense or laid back?
Tense. Ask anyone.

636. Does your happiness depend on anyone else, or are you happy no matter what any one says or does?
It pretty much depends on the world being absolutely perfect all the time. Yep. Imagine how well that works out for me.

637. What do you think of the idea of putting the bible into the format of a fashion magazine to attract the interest of teenagers?
I think it’s stupid. My sister and I are both Christians and we have been mocking her “bible magazine” thing that mom gave her mercilessly. The articles are hysterical.

638. How often do you drink to get drunk?
I’ve never drank to get drunk. I think being drunk is sinful. I drink because it tastes so delicious. I make AMAZING caramel appletinis. Ask anyone.

639. Would you consider yourself to be diplomatic?
Not really, no.

640. Do you think that most of the classes you have taken were taught in such a way as to make plain the relevance of the subject matter in your everyday life?
Nope. The only class I’ve taken like that was Speech 1A from Deb Sturt.

641. Do you remember Crystal Pepsi?
I think so. I remember Red Dr Pepper.

642. When was the last time you spent a night away from home?
Thursday night.

643. Some people say that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Is that true?
Yes. There is no such thing as a stupid question, just the stupid people who ask them.

644. What is the most interesting TV channel?
NBC? I rarely watch tv on the TV.

645. Name one song you could live without hearing ever again:
“Christmas Shoes”. HATE that song.

646. Do your pets understand you when you talk?
I think so. I really do.

647. What are three things you HAVE NOT done that might surprise people?
A. Used the lavatory on a plane
B. Had a legit first kiss not onstage
C. Gone on a third date. (and yes, B&C are probably related.)

648. Have you ever had a secret admirer?
I don’t think so.

649. Have you been to a museum this year?
Nope!

650. Do you ever watch porn?
Nope!

651. Do you think that it would be a good idea if people served in the army, navy or air force for a while before they were allowed to vote?
No. I DO think it’s stupid that you can join the army, smoke, or buy a house at 18, but you can’t have a beer.

652. If you were required to do this to vote, would you?
Uhm, no.

653. Do people often give you weird looks?
Haha yes.

654. Do you like Japanese cooking?
I do! But anglicised Japanese. And I only like cucumber rolls.

655. Do you care for stray animals?
No, but I don’t come across them often.

656. Which animated movies have you seen and what did you think of them:

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Absolutely adorable!

A Garfield Halloween: Haven’t seen it.

The Secret of Nimh: HATED it. The book is SO good!

The Last Unicorn: love it!

The original Lord of the Rings cartoons: haha. I have only seen The Hobbit one.

657. Are you ambidextrous (equally good at using both hands)?
No. I do prefer to drink with my left hand though. For some odd reason.

658. Do you always say; “bless you” after someone sneezes, or do you hesitate?
I say bless you.

659. If you and your friends could go away for 2 days over Halloween weekend where would you go?
Someplace where I can trick or treat, I guess?

660. Which of these animated movies have you seen and what did you think of them:

Watership Down: book is WAY better. And the cartoon gives the idea that the book is for children. It is NOT.

As the Wind Blows: haven’t seen it.

Grave of the Fireflies: Haven’t seen it.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The cartoon I’ve seen. The live-action, no.

Spirited Away: Haven’t seen it.

661. Do you feel that society is male dominated, female dominated, or neutral?
I think it’s neutral. But the feminists complain a lot, so sometimes it seems female-dominated.

662. What words offend you?
Swear words.

663. They’re just words. Can you get over it?
No.

664. Have you ever looked into different religions?
In the sense of “researching”? Yes. In the sense of “with plans to convert”? No.

665. Which ones have you looked into?
LDS, Jehovah’s Witness, B’hai, Judaism, Buddhism, Christian Scientists, Masons… a lot, okay?

666. What do you think of Satanism as a religion?
It’s a false religion.

667. Do you like it better when your classes are taught sitting in rows or sitting in a circle?
Sitting in rows. It’s easier to hide my cell phone.

668. Have you ever read your own tarot cards?
Nope.

669. Which ones do you like better, the three old star wars movies or the three new ones?
The old ones. Though the costuming in the new ones is AMAZING.

670. If you scream in outer space does it make a sound?
Nope.

671. If you saw The Queen of the Damned did you want to be a vampire/Goth afterwards?
I didn’t see it.

672. If you saw SLC Punk did you want to be punk afterwards?
I didn’t see it.

673. What is your favorite zombie movie?
I don’t like zombie movies.

674. Best kids birthday party: ceramics, chuck-e-cheese, roller rink, bowling, sleep over, movie theater
My siblings and I have all at one point had all of these, I think. Chuck-E-Cheese was probably the funnest, but I’m a sucker for the tunnels.

675. What were your parties like when you were a kid?
I’ve only had a few birthday parties.

676. Best teen (about 15-16) birthday party: ceramics, chuck-e-cheese, roller rink, bowling, sleep over, movie theater, house party, catered in a hall, restaurant, family trip, concert
Probably bowling or house party.

677. What are/were your 15-16 year old parties like?
I had no parties.

678. Best 18th birthday party: ceramics, chuck-e-cheese, roller rink, bowling, sleep over, movie theater, house party, catered in a hall, restaurant, family trip, concert, club, pool hall, college party
I went bowling.

679. If you are 18 what was your party like?
I went bowling.

680. Best 21st birthday party: ceramics, chuck-e-cheese, roller rink, bowling, sleep over, movie theater, house party, catered in a hall, restaurant, family trip, concert, club, pool hall, college party, bar, Atlantic city/Las Vegas trip
Haha. We just went to see a show and then went to dinner.

681. If you saw The Craft were you interested in wicca/paganism/magic afterwards?
I haven’t seen it.

682. What are your top 3 priorities?
God.
Family.
Friends.

683. If you saw fight club did you want to get into a fistfight afterwards?
I haven’t seen it.

684. What is your favorite smell?
Sweet Honey Rose from OHWTO.

685. Give everything below a humor rating (1 = laugh your ass off, 2 = lol, 3 = smile, 4 = lame, 5 = not funny, 6 = offensive):

People falling: 5

Rape jokes: 6666666666666666666666666666666666666

Sarcastic comments: depends on how good they were. Between 1-3

Blonde jokes: 3

Dirty jokes: 3

God/religion jokes: depends on the joke; can be 1-6

Long-ass jokes: depends on the joke

Death jokes: depends on the joke

Pain/sickness jokes: ^

Animals doing cute stuff: 1

Bodily functions: 5

Knock jokes: depends on the joke, but I usually laugh at them.

Ethnic jokes: depends on the joke

Puns: 1-4 depending on how awful the pun

Ironic situations: 1-3

685. If you saw Cruel Intentions did you want to have lots of meaningless sex afterwards?
Hahaaha I haven’t seen it.

686. Do you get at least three hugs per day?
I probably average 2 a day.

687. What should someone never say to you/call you if they want to remain on your good side?
Tease me and then say, “I couldn’t resist.”

688. If you saw Trainspotting did you want to do drugs afterwards?
I haven’t seen it.

689. Do movies have a great influence on you?
Depends on the movie, but I think from this survey we can determine they do not.

690. Do you have a favorite reality TV show?
I like the casting shows, like How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria

691. Are there certain roles that people are pressured to play in society or can they basically do whatever they want?
I think there are roles, but people don’t have to fall into them.

692. How does the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake compare to the original movie?
I haven’t seen either.

693. Have you ever held a magnifying glass over an insect to burn it?
Not as far as I can remember.

694. Have you ever pulled the wings off a fly, butterfly or any other insect?
Ugh, no!

695. What would you think of a guy (if you're into guys) or a girl (if you're into girls) who wanted to take you to the park to feed the birds and look at the turtles and fish in the water on a date?
If he knew me, he’d know I’m not a fan of the outdoors.

696. Do you use public pools?
Not usually.

697. Do you use public bathrooms?
Not if I can help it.

698. Do you use public showers?
Ditto.

699. How old will you be in 17 years?
39.

700. Would it effect you at all if you knew that a very large meteor was headed towards earth that would impact in 17 years?
Not really?

5000 Question Survey: Part 6

2011-01-09T13:05:00.001-08:00

Part Six
501. If you could rename yourself what would your new name be?
I already did. And I named myself Corbyjane. :) I just wish more people would call me by it.

502. What is your Glam Rock name (the name of your first pet plus your street name)?
Eliza Saratoga. I think it sounds more like a stripper…

503. Have you ever created your own 'what ___ are you' quiz?
Nope.

If you did make one what would it be about?
Probably “which Wicked character are you”

504. What is your favorite song from the 70's?
Anything by Stevie Nicks.

505. What do you feel like complaining about?
People bragging about abilities you know they don’t have.

506. What do you feel like celebrating?
That coconut rum is AMAZING!

507. Have you lost touch with anyone you should call?
Quite a few people, actually…

508. Deep in thought do you forgive everyone?
Nope.

509. Can a person speak out against their government and still support their country?
Yes, they most certainly can.

510. What do you have faith in?
God. My friends. My Mother.

511. Do you believe your government has a file on you somewhere?
Ha, no, but the Library of Congress is saving my tweets. (Because they need to know what I had for breakfast?)

512. What (not who) do you care about?
Theatre. Music.

513. What is the worst thing that could possibly happen to you?
Ha been there, done that, survived. TWICE.

514. Who or what is really the absolute root and source of all evil?
Satan and sinful man. (This survey is really making me sound like an uptight fundie, isn’t it…)

515. What do you want to change about the world?
I’d like for everyone to be saved, for abortion to not exist, for TSA to not take pictures of me naked, for politicians to be truthful, for Salinas’ gangs to be dissolved, and for smokers to stop polluting our air and giving me asthma attacks.

516. Why did you decide to complete this survey?
Because all my friends were doing it (well, Anna & Holly) and I like doing surveys and I was running out of things to put on my 101/1001 list so I started throwing random stuff on there.

517. Has anyone ever led you on?
Oh my word, yes. Fricking goat man…

518. What was the last thing you did against your will?
Uhhh… danced, I guess?

519. What are your plans for the rest of today?
Drink my coffee, unpack, do laundry, and turn in early.

520. How can you make tomorrow better than today was?
Go live somewhere else?

521. Would you rather date someone 4 feet tall or 9 feet tall?
9 feet tall. Can you imagine how convenient that would be??

522. How often do you get jealous?
A LOT.

523. What is the one thing you do that your friends wish you didn't?
Uhm… blab, bite my nails, hate Twilight, hate Eragon, hate Dawn Treader (the movie), hate Left Behind… mostly hate stuff they like.

524. Do you do any soul searching?
Yes. Or I try.

525. Do you believe you have a soul?
Of course!

526. Would you rather have a child that is more confident or more curious?
Confident. If only because I grew up terrified of everything.

527. Are you a slave to love?
Not really?

528. If you were going to write a bedtime story for someone you loved what would it be about?
“Things That Are Corby”. (See status post with very long comment thread…)

529. Does anyone understand you?
Some people, I think. A few, anyway.

530. Do you understand yourself?
Ha not really.

531. Earth, Air, Fire, and Water: Which is your element?
I guess air.

532. Who influences you to be the way you are?
Quite a lot of people.

533. What is one idea that you live by?
Jesus Christ died for my sins.

534. How can people act to make you want to get to know them?
They can act like they think I’m pretty. Automatically friends.

535. Are you more delicate or tough?
Delicate.

536. Would you rather be smarter or more beautiful?
More beautiful.

537. Have you ever had a surprise party?
Nope. =/ (hint, hint)

538. When are you at a loss for words?
When someone calls me Corby.

539. What is the worst time to be alone?
On an airplane. I cry.

540. What do your parents do that you will try never to do?
Go through and take my stuff like they own it. Listen to Rush Limbaugh like he’s the second Messiah. Assume they have a right to know all of my friends’ personal stuff. Guilt me for not wanting to be near the man who scared the crap out of me all my life.

541. What gets you through the night?
My kitty. And melatonin.

542. Do you really want to live forever?
Not here, no.

543. Do you often experience powerful emotions?
Yes.

544. What could make you so happy right now that you would cry and laugh and sing?
My dad apologizing.

545. Who is your favorite visual artist?
Colleen Atwood or Susan Hilferty.

546. What would you like to protest against?
Abortion. Left Behind. Twilight.

547. What or who do you support?
The pro-life movement. Christianity. And (somewhat anticlimactically) Annaleigh Ashford.

548. If you found out you were pregnant today, would you have an abortion?
Absolutely not. Especially since any pregnancy would have to be immaculate conception so there’s an even chance I’ve got either Jesus or the AntiChrist in there…

549. Do you like picking out greeting cards or would you rather write your own?
I only pick out cards when it’s a group gift, and then it’s just easier to use pre-written ones and then add your own personal message.

550. Do you like to be thought of as mysterious?
Haha no.

551. What is the most magical thing that has ever happened to you?
Magical? I suppose playing a fairy?

552. How would you tell your friend his or her fly was open in public?
I’d say loudly, “Hey look! A rainbow!” and while everyone was looking whisper to the friend.

553. Does a good friend tell you you've got something in your teeth or pretend not to notice it?
Tells!

554. The world has many secrets. Have you learned any? Will you share it?
Haha secrets of the world? Uhm… spiders tend to live in really fun climbing trees, so don’t do that.

555. Are there any bands you like so much that you want to get their music video collection on DVD?
No, not really…

556. What do you need advice about?
What to do next year.

557. Have you been half-asleep and have you heard voices?
Are these two separate questions? I have been half-asleep before, of course. As for voices… I don’t hear them like schizo stuff, but if there’s white noise (like a fan or driving) I hear what sounds like faint music, even when there isn’t any playing. I think it’s just my brain filling in the silence? I don’t know.

558. Do you have a good luck charm?
Yep. It’s a compass.

559. Should animals have the same right to life as people?
No. But that doesn’t mean they should be slaughtered or tortured.

560. What is your least favorite body part?
My chin.

561. Do you enjoy British comedy?
Yes!

562. Are there ever happy endings or does nothing end?
In fiction, yes there are. In real life, it doesn’t exactly end after the wedding.

563. What is your worst trait?
I lie a lot.

564. Is the world more beautiful because of love?
Yep.

565. What is the essence of you?
…Glitter?

566. What really inspires you?
Also glitter.

567. Have you met your soul mate?
I don’t think so. But I could be wrong.

568. Is everyday a special occasion?
For someone, I guess…

569. What sound would you rather hear than any sound in the world?
“Corbyjane… is Glinda.”

570. Of the following which word best describes you:

natural:
I’m not entirely certain what is meant by “natural”, but I’m so nervous and self-conscious it’s unlikely I’m that.

outgoing:
I guess I’m kind of outgoing, at least I try to make conversation.

polite:
Haha, no.

quick thinking:
Depends on the situation, but I really prefer writing so I can think about what I’m saying.

571. Do any commercials make you want to break your TV?
The rattlesnake one.

572. Have you ever lost your religion?
Yeah, but I was 15 and going through a phase.

573. Do you want to share your life with someone?
Yes.

574. Where ARE the wild things?
All over the place, man.

575. Would you rather have a child genetically related to you or an adopted child?
I don’t think it matters, really…

576. If I had a birthday party would you come?
Who are you? That’s kind of the deciding question…

577. What seemingly impossible thing is POSSIBLE?
Giant, several-ton machines can fly!

578. What song do you love to sing out loud?
Pretty much every song…

579. Have you ever run through the woods naked and played in a stream (you should)?
Uh. No.

580. Have you ever taken long solitary night walks?
No. I live in Salinas, yo.

581. Is there more to you than anyone knows?
Not really?

582. Can you make tonight the night that you do the things you always wanted to do?
Probably not. Unless it’s go to bed. I ALWAYS want to go to bed.

583. Would you rather watch life on TV or LIVE it?
Depends on what part of “life” we are talking about. Obviously.

584. What keeps you chained down?
Fears.

585. What is the nagging feeling in the back of your head?
Guilt.

586. Do you celebrate yourself?
Quite often. :)

587. Does everyone get the same opportunities in life?
Nope. It’s what kind of sucks about being alive.

588. What would you consider to be better than sex?
Curry!

589. What evil is necessary?
None.

590. What's your favorite one hit wonder?
Uhm… I don’t know?

591. What would you do anything for?
Money…? Makeup. Clothes.

592. Do you celebrate the full moon?
Nope. I don’t really see the moon much. Not an outdoors person.

593. Have you ever gone in the water at the beach at night?
Not in the water, but I have walked along it at night. Only fun if you’re bundled up and with someone.

594. Are you ordinary?
I am an ordinary Corbyjane.

595. What makes people want to hang out with you?
Well, little girls tend to think I’m awesome, but I’m not really sure why. And I’m not really sure why other people do, other than habit. Ooh, also I give back rubs.

596. Have you ever felt like you've been a little bit too good to someone?
No. I think I can say with complete honesty I have never felt that way.

597. What book did you like that you had to read for school?
Most of the ones I read in middle school. Highschool less so.

598. What book should everyone have to read in school?
The Chronicles of Narnia.

599. Do you like the store Old Navy?
Yes, but I can’t afford them.

600. What movie sequels do you like?
I liked All Dogs Go To Heaven 2, Spiderman 2, Toy Story 2, and Little Mermaid 2, off the top of my head.

So I saw Dawn Treader...

2011-01-05T21:26:00.000-08:00

I'm publishing this via email because Blogger won't load. I'll try and polish this a little tomorrow if I'm able.

Warning: SPOILERS. You have now been warned.

So, they made a lot of changes. I was prepared for this. I was not prepared for the changes they made. I understand WHY they made the changes, but I strongly disagreed with what they changed things TO.

You do not have to be an author to recognise that the vignette style of Dawn Treader might not translate well to film. You just have to be appreciative of stories. I understood this, though I maintain that a book accurate film would have had a decent following. In the film, the writer(s?) chose to have an evil presence (a "mist") be the villain throughout the piece, beginning with the first island they land on, where the island dwellers "feed" the mist unsold slaves. The next island they find out a little more about the mist, and after that they are out and out pursuing the mist with intent to defeat it. This, in itself, is fine. Understandable. Definitely. It might have made a great movie.

But wait, it gets better. Turns out the way to defeat the mist is to take the Seven Magical Swords Blessed By Aslan and lay them on Aslan's Magical Table and this will break the Magical Spell left by the Magical Mist and everything will be awesome. In the book, the quest is to track down seven lords and see what happened to them. this is a better plot, I admit, but it plays out a lot like finding the horcruxes in Harry Potter. Especially since that's how they discuss it: they need to Break The Spell.

Now, here's my problem. Harry Potter is a GREAT series, but it is not the same as Narnia. Here's why: Harry Potter is exclusively people driven. People (and forces of Good and Evil) are all there is. There are muggles and wizards, but there's no God or Satan or Heaven or Hell. So when push comes to shove and we need to defeat our villain, humans go out on no authority but their own to do the job.

Narnia is different. Narnia was created by a loving God, and has been cared for and watched over by that same loving God. It doesn't have to be an allegory for Christianity, and it's NOT, but the main point is, humans are not at the top of the foodchain, so to speak. Aslan (and the Emperor) are. So when push comes to shove, it's Aslan setting things in motion and "saving" things. Even when the grunt work is done by the humans, it's at HIS guidance.

Aslan never gives guidance about the spell. He shows up to tell Lucy she's beautiful just the way she is (very touching, but not helpful in the grand scheme of things) and shows up at the final battle, but he never tells them whether they should be "breaking the spell".

(And WHAT SPELL? I mean seriously, this was a minor issue I had. Who cast the spell? WHY did they cast the spell? Are they still around? Will we see them in the next movie? Is there an underlying force of evil? I feel like this was a missed opportunity: in Magician's Nephew, Aslan says evil was brought to Narnia then, and hadn't been there before (and in LW&W, that the Deep Magic had been in Narnia long before Jadis got there). This would have been a GREAT chance to give Tilda Swenton something to do besides seduce Edmund, and say, "this is residual White Witch evil", especially since in Prince Caspian it's made clear that the aftershocks of Jadis' rule of terror are still felt--see the hag and werewolf bit--and I just want to know who the hell set up this dark mystical island in the first place!)

But my issue was, it's a people-driven plot. WE decided we need to save the world, and WE are going to do it by taking our seven Magical Swords and breaking the spell. No, Aslan directs things. Aslan is watching over you. But Aslan in Dawn Treader is passive, until the ending final battle when he gets his fur in gear and steps in to help out. And yes, he helps out quite a bit--from saving Eustace and leading them through the mist and a few other things. But that he only feels the need to step in when shit gets real kind of bugged me.

It didn't KIND of bug me. It bugged me a LOT.

Not as much as the spell nonsense, though... "good" magic as portrayed in Narnia is very pedestrian. There are invisibilty spells and magic cordials and beauty spells--though the latter IS bad--and then there is "bad" magic, as seen by the White Witch (and the ONLY part of the musical version of Narnia that bothers me is where Aslan uses the White Witch's evil powers against her), and then there is Deep Magic which is more mystical and spiritual than parlor tricks, and should be left to the professionals, like Aslan. To have humans working that kind of magic without any <s>adult</s> lion supervision is jarring, inaccurate to the world as portrayed both in the movies AND the books, and even more difficult when you read Narnia as CS Lewis intended: a fantasy about how Christianity would work in another world. Not an allegory: the same story in a different and adjoining universe.

The swords bit could have worked so much better if it were tied into a prophecy like in the first film. "When these seven swords are united, Evil Misty Magic Mountain will crumble". And the seven Narnian swords could have been borne into battle by the protagonists. Caspian gets one, Edmund gets one, Lucy gets one, Eustace gets one, Drinian gets one, and that one Lord they rescued could have one, and then the guy that came with them looking for his wife could have one. And with their united swords (ahahaha, united, even though the green mist sought to divide them!) they could defeat EMMM. And it would have been epic.

That said, the movie had good parts: the beginning (which was cute) and the end. I am still made incredibly uncomfortable by the plot changes, but the end was SO PERFECT. It was very, very close to the book, and my favourite line (about Aslan being known by another name) WAS STILL THERE. I never expected that line to stay in, because it's so blatantly religious. But it was there, and I literally started sobbing, it made me so happy.

So go see Dawn Treader. Tell me whether you disagree or agree with me. I'd love to talk to you. I do ask that you not pull out your references on why your opinion matters more than mine. My issues are NOT that they changed things. It is what they changed them TO and how this affects the universe of Narnia as portrayed in the movies, and now that humans can go off and do stuff without Aslan, the implications it brings to any further movies. Happy commenting!