Hello Again!

Well, it's been a long time since I've written anything. To get back up and running, I'm going to find a list of questions and answer them all. Since I'm choosing the list, it probably won't be too personal, but it should give some insight as to what sort of things I like. :)

Questions from http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/team_messageboard_thread.asp?board=-1x19998x17377619

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I have the same middle name as my dad's grandma, but my first name could have fallen out of the sky for all I know.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I just finished watching the Lord of the Rings for the umteenth time. Frodo, don't leave Sam! :'(

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes. It's unique. :)

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Um... chicken? Cold chicken. I'm not much of a fan of hot chicken.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
About a year ago I would have said no. I think I would now. We'd be fangirl friends. :)

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Haha, depends who to, or how stupid the question is. I think I do. :)

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes. No need to get them out, so why bother?

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No. But I'd love to try abseiling. :D

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Uncle Toby's Oat Flakes :)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No. Although I have one pair that I love, and I treat them with as much respect as I can. :)

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
I like to think so, but I'm not really...

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Any that doesn't have sultanas in it.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT YOU?
Oh... this is hard... um... I guess their persona - as in, are they more likely to enjoy fandoms, shopping and gossiping, sports, etc...

15. RED OR PINK?
I'll go red (I hate pink), but my favourite colour is green. :D

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My ability to make myself look stupid/blonde/socially inept in EVERY circumstance, otherwise known as foot-in-mouth syndrome.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My friend. She's in New Zealand at the moment and I can't get over to visit her. :(

18. WHAT IS THE PAUL MCKENNA TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?
What?

19. WHAT COLOUR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
I'm a Hobbit at the moment! :D

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Weet Bix.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The wind outside.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
White. White crayons are cool. You can paint over it, and then get white lines all over a coloured page. :)

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Jasmine flowers. Absolutely glorious...

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Er... I think it was my dad...

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
Ooooh, give me the mointains any day!!!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Figure skating/dancing/anything that combines beauty and strength.

27. HAIR COLOR?
My hair is strawberry blonde. Sometimes it's more strawberry, sometimes it's more blonde.

28. EYE COLOR?
Greyish-blue.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Nope.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Pizza! Actually anything Italian.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Scary movies with happy endings?

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Immortals

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black, with Matt Smith's incarnation of the Doctor on the front. :)

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Winter. But living in Australia means you get about a week of it... :(

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs. I've never been kissed.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Ice cream!!! :D

37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
I don't do either, but cardio, I guess.

38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?
What's on TV? Is it Doctor Who, Merlin, Sherlock, Criminal Minds, or a movie with any of the LOTR actors in it (including LOTR)? If not, probably computer.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Silmarilion by JRR Tolkien

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. My Grandma got it for us, and every time I use the computer, that song gets stuck in my head.

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
Rain. Just rain in general. <3

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Um... U2?

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Rockhamton, Queensland, Australia

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Um... Annoying everyone to breaking point, but still being their best friend. :D

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?
Dark green

49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?
Purple

50. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 50 QUESTIONS?
Yes, but I would have liked some more. :D

Well there you are! Hope you've enjoyed reading, and I'll try to keep more up-to-date with my blog!

I believe in fairytales... Do you?

So, I finished reading Lord of the Rings. I cried. To say it was a good book would be the understatement of the century, and now the story is finished and all I can do now is read it again. And don't worry - I am. And I will read and re-read and re-read it until the day I die.

For now, I only own the first part - the Fellowship of the Ring - the others I borrowed from the library and took them back long after they were due... Oops... So I am halfway through the first part for the third time...

Random Fact #1: In Tolkien's book, fair hair in Hobbits was rare and Sam had dark hair. Frodo was one of the only Hobbits with fair hair. In other words, Sam looked like Frodo, and Frodo looked like Sam.

Tolkien has a way of using words.  He draws the audience in and keeps them captivated even after the book has ended. Not once did I ever wish the story on. Not once did I feel that he was unnecessarily talking. Everything flows together and everything needed for the story to work is there - he left nothing out.

The work Tolkien put into Lord of the Rings shines through every phrase. His entire life was Middle Earth - he drew up maps, he wrote languages, he created calendars. The list goes on.

I guess the only way to describe it is like this: Shakespeare may have created the "basis" of stories, and I do love his works, but Tolkien took literature far beyond anyone had ever done (and will ever do). If you need another example, I will use music. Bach set the music world moving, but Tchaikovsky was the person who actually played around until it became utter beauty. Okay, other classical music composers were magnificent, but I'm trying to paint a picture.

Random Fact #2: The character of Faramir in the movie is so much different to the book - in the movie, he is almost conceited and he wants the Ring so h can conquer Sauron. In the book, he knows that the Ring cannot be used for good, and he avoids the trap that his brother, Boromir, falls into. Also, Boromir actually starts out as a trustworthy friend, but only after being tested by Galadriel in Lothlorien does he begin to desire the Ring.

The entire journey is so wonderful... All I can do is urge you to read it.

Okay, so I know it's fictional, but sometimes I can't help looking for Hobbits in my back yard, or taking bush-walking or hiking trips to see if I can find any Rangers. I am constantly looking out for Elves, as well as trying to be like them - walking softly without a noise, keeping perfect balance and grace, acting as if I am wise...

But LOTR is not the only thing I am utterly absorbed in - I listen out for the TARDIS at every moment; I check the back of wardrobes in case there's a secret world inside. There's the countless imagined meetings between myself and my favourite characters.

But would you blame me? Would you blame me if I told you that the Person who rescued me wrote the most amazing and unbelievable story of all? The crazy story of how an all-powerful, all-knowing God was also all-loving - so much that He would die to save the world... That is the ultimate tale. And it is true!

~~~

P.S. If you want more random facts about the differences between the book and the movies, read it and watch them for yourself - you will not regret a moment of it.