Saturday, December 27, 2008

My Life Between Semesters...PURE HEAVEN!

So, there have been many people that have told me to enjoy school because I will miss it. At this point in time, I don't believe it. Since my last final, I have done nothing but sleep in, read (for pleasure), and play games. Not once have I thought about school (only the dread of having to return for one more semester. To those of you wondering why I chose to continue school, I am one of you and I have no answer. All I know is this better be worth it!)

I normally have the tradition of reading the Harry Potter series every Christmas. I don't think I will ever get tired of those books (it hasn't happened yet and I've read them 6 times so far!) However, I have been missing the suspense curiosity that comes with a new series, one that I don't know the ending to. In my quest of finding a new series, I talked with some friends and was told of three:
  1. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
  2. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
  3. Leven Thumps by Obert Skye
Percy Jackson and the Olympians topped my list because it's about a modern-day greek hero (part human, part Olympian). In this series, Rick Riordan combines Greek mythology with modern-day adventure. It's fantastic! I was able to borrow the books from the library and read through them in a week. Now, I'm awaiting the final book (The Last Olympian, due in May 2009). Even though the story line is very juvenile (and there's nothing wrong with that), it has been a page turner because I am extremely fascinated by Greek Mythology. I think these books are a must-read for any avid Greek mythology lover!

Fablehaven and Leven Thumps sounded interesting as well and, I must say, have always caught my eye every time I enter a bookstore. I just started reading Fablehaven, only because I'm still waiting for the first Leven Thumps book to become available. I wanted to wait with Fablehaven because that series still has two books left to be published (and I really hate waiting for books to be published!). However, I did start and I like what I've read so far.

Other books on my I-Want-To-Read list include, but are not limited to,
  1. The Mayor of Casterbridge
  2. Paradise Lost (in the middle of this one, fabulous!)
  3. The Return of the Native (also in the middle, read previously, also fabulous!)
  4. Beloved
  5. Don Quixote
  6. Cien Anos de Soledad
  7. War and Peace
  8. The Idiot
  9. The Koran
  10. The Apocrypha
I am also open and looking for other good books to read (it's so much more entertaining than watching tv!) I also have a pretty lengthy list of previously-read material that I really enoyed! However, this post is already a novel, so I will postpone my list of top reads! Until then, stay tuned :)

Friday, December 19, 2008

Irritating or Insightful???

We are all aware of the most interesting Chrismtas song "The 12 Days of Christmas". As annoying as the song is, it is surprising to me to hear so many different versions of the song (each version seeming as though it will never end). Luckily, there have been some versions that are quite enjoyable and hilarious, but they seem to be few and far between.

So...where did this song come from (and how drunk was the writer?) I researched my query (oh my goodness...I've been in school too long!) and this is what I found out. To properly cite my source, I found this information in Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins.

In Britain, during the sixteenth century, the Church of England was the only legally recognized Christian church. Practicing any other religion was punishable by law. To protect themselves from legal recourse, people began preaching in secret and in code. This included teaching their children.

In the song, the "true love" is a heavenly love. The meaning of each gift is as follows:
  1. Partridge in a Pear Tree--"Courage and devotion above what man ever showed on earth"
  2. Two Turtle Doves--Old and New Testaments (also, doves symbolize peace and truth)
  3. Three French Hens--Expensive food items...a meal fit for a king. The hens implied gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
  4. Four Calling Birds--Represent the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
  5. Five Gold Rings--Five books of the old testament.
  6. Six Geese-a-laying--Represent the six creative periods of the world.
  7. Seven Swans-a-Swimming--Gifts of the spirit ("prophecy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy")
  8. Eight Maids-a-Milking--Milking cattle was the lowest job possible and having a lady do that meant she was of little worth. This represents Christ's humility. The number eight also signified the beattitudes.
  9. Nine Ladies Dancing--Represent the gifts of the Spirit ("love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control").
  10. Ten Lords-a-Leaping--Represent the 10 Commandments.
  11. Eleven Pipers Piping--Represent the 11 apostles who preached the Gospel after Christ's resurrection.
  12. Twelve Drummers Drumming--Represents "The Apostle's Creed":
"I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth, in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. Who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, descended into hell; the third day he rose fromt he dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. He shall return to judge the lviing and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the boyd, and life everlasting."

Looking at "The 12 Days of Christmas" from this perspective, it is actually an amazing song. However, it might be better as a poem instead of a song...I don't know. Either way, it is brilliant!

Quotes

"[Confucius] taught that the country which develops the finest music, the grandest poetry, and the noblest moral ideals--that is, the country with the most exalted culture--will always yield the greatest power in the world."

-Letters from the Jade Dragon Box by Gale Sears



"Who is such a reprobate as I! And yet it seems that even I am in Somebody's hand!'

-Mr. Henchard in The Mayor of Casterbridge



"...[T]he magnitude of [life] is not as to [one's] external displacements, but as to [one's] subjective experiences."

-Thomas Hardy in Tess of the d'Urbervilles





"...I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed--because 'Thou mayest.'"

-Lee in East of Eden