Technical Difficulties...

I got a note from one of you that said things weren't working properly anymore as far as the connection between this blog and your blog reels...

I'm looking into it, and hoping to have it fixed by Monday.

I make no promises...


But I am working on it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers! I'm no pro, but I'm doin my best. This is why I'm the PAGE Traveler, not the WEB traveler...

In the mean time, connect to me on facebook or twitter for updates. I know those buttons work, it's the blogger one that I'm having issues with.


This is not a test...

Darci- The Page Traveler

Ever had one of THOSE Days?

Have you ever had one of these?

I've had one of those weeks where I'm not sick, and I'm not unhappy, and I'm not cranky, I'm just... off...

I know how the cat feels...

In other news, I'd like to wish a very happy wedding day to Prince William and Miss Catherine.

My dear friend Amy over at My Infernal Journal, is often referred to as The American Brit. Born here in the U.S. of A, she's definitely American, but she adores all things British. And when I say all, I mean AAAAAAaaaaaaalllllllllll...

For the past week or so, she's been anticipating this wedding. Her invitation must have gotten lost in the mail, because it never came. I'm sure she watched it though... even if it did happen at 3am our time...

My point in bringing that up though, was to talk about Amy. She's an amazing person, who's recently had an experience that I would not wish on anyone, no matter how much I dislike them. But through all this, she has been strong, prayerful, and faithful. Where can one turn, when nothing helps ease the pain? The only place I know of, is to God. Our Savior knows our struggles intimately. He suffered them for us, so if anyone knows how we feel in times of agony, He does.

We may believe differently, and prayer might not be high on everyone's list of priorities, but I know that there is strength to be gained when we pray. When we acknowledge a Higher Power, and submit ourselves to Him (or it, whatever you believe), He can guide us, and we will be inspired to know what to do to feel better during those hard times.

This is my testimony, having just passed the Easter season, that Jesus is The Christ, He lives. He knows us, and loves us. God is our Father in heaven, and He also loves us, as we are His children. They comfort, guide, and teach us through the Holy Ghost.

I know that Amy knows this too. This knowledge is part of the faith that got her through losing her precious Ladybug, her daughter, Ella.

I can't imagine the pain, but I know the feeling of comfort that comes after. Seeing Amy's strength gives me courage to know if that ever happens to me, it will be hard, but I will live through it.

So here's why I'm writing about Amy today. I wanted to read the scriptures, but I couldn't think of where to start, so I just started writing this post. As I wrote, her situation came to my mind. I realized that I haven't been as dedicated in reading my scriptures as I'd like to be. They are my 'National Book' so to speak. The things by which I live my life are there, in those words. For me, they are the Holy Bible, and the Book of Mormon. These books comfort me when I am in need. I am resolving to read them more often.

"Jesus said unto [her], I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live..." (The book of St. John, 11:25)


Cheers, Amy, this one's for you:

Never let a bad day get you down ;-)


Darci- The Page Traveler

Potter Perfect

My husband and I love the Harry Potter books.

And when I say we love them, I mean we listen to the audiobooks almost constantly, just for fun.

We are planning on having an awesome Harry Potter Party just before the release of the 7.2 movie. I'm thinking that to gain admittance you'll have to present your wand for identification.

We'll have cauldron cakes, and butterbeer (non-alcoholic of course), pumpkin juice, pumpkin pasties, and every commercialized HP treat/candy we can find.

We'll have the movies going in the background, and we'll do a Harry Potter Book Trivia game, probably like Jeopardy or something. I haven't decided whether we'll do it with teams or individuals, or make it some kind of tournament thing... But it WILL be fantastic, I can guarantee that.

So, if you are a fan of Harry Potter - books &/or movies - consider yourself invited.

Anyway, so my dear husband and I were listening to the third book last night as we were getting ready for bed, when he said, "What would've happened if Sirius had just sent Harry a letter explaining everything?"

So we talked about it. If Sirius wrote a letter (who's to say how he'd have gotten hold of parchment and quill...) and sent it by means of Crookshanks or some random owl, or even Hedwig (again, who knows how he'd have found any owl) to either Harry, or Dumbledore, or Lupin, explaining what had really happened with Wormtail, he could have enlisted their help in catching "Scabbers" to test the theory. To be completely honest, I'm sure both Lupin and Dumbledore would've been much more likely to trust Sirius than Pettigrew, even after twelve years of thinking Sirius guilty and Pettigrew dead. I mean, Lupin even says to Harry at one point, "Well, I thought I knew [Sirius Black]," which tells me he is still in disbelief concerning the whole thing. It is that disbelief, coupled with him seeing Pettigrew on the Marauder's Map, that makes him believe Sirius's innocence so quickly. Lupin believes in his heart, wishes it were true, that Sirius would never have betrayed James and Lily. So when that is confirmed to him, he acts on it.

And Lupin acts on it without really thinking too. Because, even at this point had Lupin contacted Dumbledore and shown to him the Marauder's Map with Pettigrew's dot on it, everything would have been fine. OR if Snape hadn't been so quick to judge and had LISTENED  when they were in the Shrieking Shack (sigh)...

Anyway, here's the point I'm wanting to make with all of this...

Jo Rowling is uh-ma-zing. Her writing is so simple in a lot of ways, in that it's easy to read, get through, and barely comprehend. But at the same time, there is such a depth to her stories, and a complexity that I can only dream of putting into my own. There are VERY few inconsistencies (and believe me, you can only catch them when you've read/listened to the dang books over fifty times each...) She knows every character and setting intimately; she knows the history of those characters and settings; she knows so much more than she put into her books. That is evident by the many little connections that are made throughout each individual work, not to mention throughout the entire series. I am SO glad to know that she is working on a complete encyclopedia for the Harry Potter world. (See Mugglenet.com for more information.) and Considering the size of the books themselves, I'm thinking this encyclopedia is gonna be BIG. Like, it'll probably be broken up into volumes.
If you can't tell, I'm excited about that...

"Dear Twilight,
I'm sorry, I can't hear you over my THEME PARK.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter"

Cheers,

Darci- The Page Traveler

A Tale of Two Cities; Different Perspective...

Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities
http://www.mystic-art.com/silent_stills.htm

**SPOILER ALERT**
(chapter 5)

Mr. Sydney Carton is more complex than, at first, he seems.

Upon my first official introduction to him, he looks to be a man of no ambition, carefree, simply floating through life wherever things take him. However, toward the end of chapter five, we see a different, sadder, almost bitter side of him. He is jealous of the man who was set free during the trial. He wishes he had the life of a gentleman. We see in the same chapter that he is very smart, very capable, has talents and abilities... he just seems to have always been in the wrong place at the wrong time. We see him finally break down, and I nearly cried as I read it. This man, it seems, has always tried to help others to the best of his ability, yet nothing and no one has helped him. Here is the last paragraph of that chapter:


Sadly, sadly, the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than the man of good abilities, and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning himself to let it eat him away.



I don't know about you, but I've felt like this.

It feels as if the world is entirely against you, and nothing you do, no matter how big the effort or how well performed the task, is good enough.

It makes you want to sit in a corner and cry to make it all go away.

It tears at your heart, tugs at your soul, and you feel like there's nowhere to turn.

I sincerely hope that Sydney Carton grows to be the man he truly desires to be in the course of this story.
(No, that's not all I read, but it's not much more... It's been one of those weeks...)
If the world is against you, give it a fight to remember.

I will say though, that in the moments of fear, doubt, sadness, and grief that I personally experienced, I have been blessed with the knowledge of a God in Heaven who loves me, and His spirit constantly comforts me in those times of pain. I believe that God lets us suffer the pains that come to us for a reason. We learn from them, and are strengthened by them. If Christ suffered beyond comprehension for us, then surely we can bear the trials that we pass through with His help to strengthen our weaknesses.

Perhaps if Sydney Carton had had this knowledge, he might have risen to his potential earlier than this? Perhaps not. "We can never know what would have happened. But what will happen is another matter entirely."* If you are in this valley of insecurity about yourself, then please, know that you can get out! We are, all of us, amazing beings, meant for greatness. If there is something you want to do, get out and make it happen! You CAN! I believe in you :-)



May all your dreams become reality,

Darci- The Page Traveler




*Spoken by Aslan to Lucy, CoN Prince Caspian, movie

A Tale of Two Cities; Jack Sparrow?

"There should be a 'Captain' in there somewhere..."

Every time I read Mr. Sydney Carton's lines, I can't help but picture a land-loving version of Captain Jack Sparrow! Not Depp, Sparrow. The characters voices are so similar it makes me laugh out loud sometimes.


You should read it...


Darci - The Page Traveler

Monday...

Can't.....
think.......
too............................... tired..................................................

It's been a really long weekend,

I have two toddlers to care for at the moment,

and I'm just grateful that my son slept past 6:30am...

because he hasn't the past two days...

Easter was great.

I sang in church... lot's of compliments... felt good.

How was your Easter?


Darci- The Page TrVE;ER Traveler

Harry Potter... Wandlore

Hi kids! Today's post has no "thoughts" per se, but it is gonna be fun...

We (that is, my husband, son, and I) are going up into the mountains of Arizona to study...

Wenge 16 and 3/4 inches

~~~~Wandlore~~~~


That's right, we make wands. We're not Ollivander or anything (he still makes 'em the best), but I think we have quite the edge on Gregorovich at least...

For those of you who may not know (honestly, how can you not know...) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is being released this July...

(WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!)


...and we make and sell wands up until the very moment the movie begins right at midnight.

2 Wenge, and one Alder

We did this at the Half blood Prince release, as well as the Deathly Hallows Part 1 release, and it was a HUGE hit with people, so we decided to do it again!

The pictures you see here are of wands we and my father-in-law have made in the past. If you want a wand of your own, let me know!

I know you're wondering...Yes, you can get them online from the retailers at that-one-site, but let me spell out the disadvantages of that for you...


1. What kind of wand do you want?

THEM: they ONLY sell copies of the character's wands, so yeah, you can get Hermione's or Harry's wand or whoever, but what you won't get, is an original.

US - None of the wands we make are exactly the same. Some of them look similar, sure, but each is make from a different piece of wood, carved or sanded individually. We have a lot of fun making these bad boys :-)

Cherry, 16 inches

2. Materials...

THEM: Their wands are made of plastic... yep, that's right, plastic, poured into a mold with a metal rod in the middle. We learned this when my husband accidentally dropped one of ours and the tip cracked off, revealing the steel. You know what I say to that? Lame-o. This also makes their wands VERY heavy, and (in my opinion,) rather difficult for spellwork... You know, you try to wave it around and stuff, and it's just really weighed down. But hey, some people might like that...

US: All of our wands are made of WOOD. You know, like the real things are? Yeah. And various types of wood. See, my father-in-law is a carpenter (Mike Cole, Moqui LLC, he does uh-ma-zing work) so he always has lots of wood! Whether it's left over from previous projects, or he gets it just to make wands! One of my favorite woods is Wenge, a dark wood from an African tree, but we also have stuff like Cherry, Pine, Alder, Oak, and more! (Note, he's also been experimenting lately with a granite-like material called Corian, it looks pretty cool, just a bit heavier than your average wooden wand.)

Wenge,.This is MY wand, that
I made for myself. I love it...

3. Price $$$

THEM: They charge at LEAST $28.50 PER WAND PLUS shipping! And that's for the wands that people don't usually want... the cooler ones start at $35 and go up from there. And if you want a wand that's not sold individually, you HAVE to get it in a SET that can cost anywhere from $145 to $285.


US: Our wands are only $15 each up until the night of the release, then they go to $20 (just because it's really hard to give out change to that many people... trust me, we tried.) If we need to ship it to you then you pay for the shipping. You get the wand you want, at a better price. I should mention though, that our wands DO NOT come with a display case. Sorry. If you want one of those, go get one from the other guys (here).


SO! Send me a quick email (pagetraveler@gmail.com) if you want one before the midnight showing. Especially if you want one that's really specific or detailed, because we'll have to start work on it soon. I can work it out so that you can pay through PayPal, so it'll be totally secure, or if you'd rather not mess with shipping, you can come get it from us and pay even less.

Harry: "OI! There's a war goin on here!"
Ron: "I know mate, so it's now or never, isn't it?"

Darci- The Page Traveler

Decency Lost?

Little boys tend to feel this way
about ties...

This past Sunday, it was a beautiful morning. My wonderful little family and I were all ready for church around 9:50. So as my husband grabbed the last of his things, I took our son outside to walk to the car. He tried to grab the aloe vera near our front door, so I stopped him and he started crying a bit. As I calmly waited for him to finish, I heard some very rude language being spoken. I didn't know who was speaking, or to whom, so I tried to ignore it and focus on my son, but it kept going. Then I looked up to try and find the source and a man across the street began waving, looking directly at me, and the swearing's vulgarity level and volume increased.

I picked up my son and walked back inside to make sure my husband was coming. When we were heading back out, I hoped that the man had gone inside. I couldn't understand what I had done to make him so angry, or if he was just trying (perversely) to be funny. Sure, I let my kid cry a little, but all kids cry. It really didn't last that long, and all he needed to do to not hear it was go back inside (it looked like he'd been taking the trash out, so I assumed he was just going back in). So, out we go and, although I couldn't see the swearer, we could sure hear him. As I was putting our son in his car seat, the man started to direct his jibes at my husband, but they were about me. I hadn't ever felt so humiliated, and still I had no idea what I'd done to warrant it.

Neither I nor my husband said anything until we were buckled up in the front seat and driving to church. Then Husband said, "It's okay. Think happy thoughts." I could tell that the insults had hurt him nearly as much as they had me. He is very defensive about me and my self esteem. I had tears in my eyes as I tried to think why the man would have done this. Even now, I can't think of an answer except that he just didn't know any better. The tears came again when I thought of the Savior, and His words to our Heavenly Father about the soldiers who crucified and ridiculed Him when He said, "...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (St. Luke 23:34)

I went about my duties at church, and have gone through the days since then without really thinking about it. But every time I look at the house across the street, I feel a mixture of emotions. Sadness, fear, pity, a little bit of anger, and hopelessness. I feel like I need to have our front door locked all the time now. (I've never known anyone who would do something like that, so I have no idea what else he might do.) I'm afraid to go outside. I don't want to go running on our street anymore. And, more than ever, I want to move. I don't want to live near someone who is that mean. I mean, wouldn't you agree? What he did, the things he said, were just plain mean.

It is really sad to me that some people have degraded to this. A hundred years ago, things like that were unheard of. I like to believe people are generally good, decent, and kind. But things like this drive that hope away a little.

At the same time, I know that there are good, decent, kind people. There are a lot of them! There are people all over the world who are gracious to their friends, loving to their family and congenial with their neighbors. There are fathers/husbands who love their wife/children, wives/mothers who love their husband/children. There are teens and young adults who are not into drugs, who are modest in dress, and clean in body, mind, and speech. I know these things are possible. They are what I want for my family, for my husband and children.

For today, I'd like to invite all who read this to do two things.

1- Share with us here something good in your life; something that makes you smile.

2- Tell someone today that you appreciate their goodness, their decency, their service, their kindness, whatever it might be. Heaven knows we need more goodness in the world, and by telling people we are grateful for it, we will reap even more.


Gratefully yours,

Darci- The Page Traveler

P.S. I hope you'll share this post with as many people as possible. Indecency hurts, and kindness can heal.

The Chronicles of Narnia; Voyage of the Dawn Treader

* SPOILER ALERT*

C.S. Lewis was an amazing man. He was baptized into the Church of Ireland at birth, but fell away during his teenage years, as sometimes happens even today. But through friendships with such brilliant Christian minds as J.R.R. Tolkein and others in the faculty at Oxford, he became Christian again. I remember hearing a quote from him saying something like, "I started to notice something that all of my colleagues had in common; they were Christian. Really... A young atheist can never be too careful." I know I'm botching that, because I couldn't find it again, but it made me laugh when I heard it. Lewis began believing in God again at the age of about 30, and eventually came to follow Christian values. He was more of a Christian than I think most people today are. This incredible man wrote The Chronicles of Narnia.

If you're not familiar with the CoN, I really recommend you read them. At least get them on audio book and listen while you clean, or drive.

My comments today will be about the movie, not the book. As with most of these situations, the books are much better than the movies...

But this movie was still fantastic...

I think the thing I enjoyed seeing the most was the journey that Eustace Scrubb goes through. I feel like they must have meant this to be the main spine of the story. The writers of the film made this change take a bit longer than it does in the book, but it was great because it made for a very tense plot. It also made the climax more powerful, as they had Eustace be the one to, essentially, save the day. The other characters each had their own temptations to overcome as well throughout.

Eustace Clarence Scrubb starts out as a little punk. They call him a 'sop'. He spends the first part of the movie this way. Reepicheep, a large talking mouse, tries to help Eustace adjust. Though (heh...) he goes about it in a way that makes Eustace feel very uncomfortable (trying to teach him how to fence by goading him). Then, Eustace is tempted by a Dragon's treasure and is punished by becoming a dragon himself.

Almost at once, his disposition changes dramatically. The first night, he cries. I imagine out of fear, because no one knows how to change him back. I'm sure it was probably a terrifying experience realizing what had happened, and realizing that he'd brought it on himself (though no one says that to him). At this point in the movie, Reepicheep wakes up and tries to comfort Eustace. It is here that they begin to form a bond that is not in the books, but I believe makes the story all the more relate-able. Everyone needs a companion, and sometimes that companion is not the person you thought they'd be.

As the story goes, you can tell (though he can't speak) that Eustace begins to understand that he's been a terrible person to everyone. And so, he tries his best to help in any way he can. When they've been sailing for a while, the wind dies and the men of the crew start complaining that "if I get any hungrier, I'm gonna eat that dragon."

("Don't worry Eustace, they'll have to deal with me first!" - Reepicheep)

Eustace proceeds to the bow of the ship, wraps his tail around the prow, and pulls the ship so that the men get a break from rowing. They are all grateful to him for this, and by nightfall they reach land. Eustace is very tired, but you can tell by his eyes that he's pleased with the crew's reaction.

Another event I thought was interesting, was when they reach "The Dark Island". All of the characters are frightened and anxious. Eustace is flying toward the island when Reepicheep (who is riding on Eustace's head) says, "There it is, my friend. Our battle awaits." As he says this, Eustace's eyes grow wide with complete terror and he turns to fly away. Reep starts saying "Eustace, no! Halt! Eustace, stop! Stop!"

The mouse then climbs down onto the dragon's snout and says, "I will not accept surrender. A noble warrior does not run from fear." Eustace's eyes look down in sadness, feeling that he is not noble, not great, not good enough. Then Reep goes on with, "Look at me! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" (Growl, eyes up to the mouse,) "I am a mouse. You, you're a dragon. You've got skin like chain mail, you breathe fire. Come on, let's meet our destiny." Eustace turns back toward the island, setting his face with determination, and flies back in.

How amazing. Again with the companionship, but more importantly, that a mouse, a mouse gave strength to a dragon. It was the mouse that did the encouraging. a MOUSE that had such great faith. What I learned from this is, do not  EVER judge someone based on what they appear to be. I have known big buff football players who were gentle. As well as beautiful girls who looked sweet, but could hurt with a single word. People are not always what they seem.

Just because the housewife down the street is smiling every time you see her, doesn't mean that her life is perfect.

Just because the man next door goes to work every day, doesn't mean he's making end's meet.

Just because the girl who parked in the handicapped spot can walk inside, doesn't mean she's not sick or hurt.

Just because the boy you sit next to in class is cute, doesn't mean he's not struggling with something, be it drugs, friends, porn, or a popularity contest...

Everyone wants to be the best they can, but there are always things going on behind the scenes. We need to be sensitive to this, and not jump to conclusions without knowing what we're talking about.

Don't judge others. And please, don't judge yourself.
Even the smallest heart can be noble.
It's not until you learn to appreciate yourself that others will begin to truly appreciate you.

 To finish my thoughts on the movie, Eustace ends up being changed back by Aslan (another great lesson, we cannot change our natures without the help of God). Later, he says, "No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't do it myself.... It sort of hurt, but it was a good pain. you know, like when you pull a thorn from your foot." (Change is not easy, it takes effort, and can sometimes hurt. But in the end it is worth it).

After his transformation back, Eustace completes the task they've been set, and goes home a completely changed boy. He says, "Being a dragon wasn't all bad. I mean, I think I was a better dragon than I was a boy, really."

The ending is powerful. Eustace says goodbye to Reepicheep, which is very tender, and really shows how far he's come, and how much he's grown throughout his journey. We say goodbye to Edmund and Lucy, who we've watched grow up in Narnia for five years now.


And they have to say goodbye to Aslan.

This is probably my favorite part of the entire film, because it has so much meaning and so much symbolism to our relationship with God.

Lucy: Will you visit us in our world?
Aslan: I shall be watching you, always.
Lucy: How?
Aslan: In your world, I have another name. You must learn to know me by it. That was the very reason you were brought to Narnia. That by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.
Lucy: Will we meet again?
Aslan: Mm. Yes, dear one. One day.

As she hugs Aslan and walks away to leave, there is an awful pain and longing in her eyes. I can imagine that this is how we must have felt leaving our Heavenly Father to come to this earth. That by knowing Him there for a little, we might know Him better here. I am grateful to know that we will meet Him again.

No matter your religious views, I hope you understand that these are my personal beliefs. I love my Father in Heaven just as Lucy loves Aslan, and I am grateful to C.S. Lewis for his faith, and his ability to write such symbolic material.

If you haven't read the books, do it. If you haven't seen the movies, do that too.

A funny quote to close...

Eustace: Mother says I have an acute disposition, due to my intelligence.
Reepicheep: I don't think he has a cute anything...

Darci- The Page Traveler

A Tale of Two Cities; What?

*SPOILER ALERT*

Let me just say, this is a loooooong book for me... I am seriously considering saving Pride and Prejudice for another time, because I'm gonna need something easier after this...

I just barely have finished Chapter Four of Book Two. That means I've read ten chapters total. I guess it's a little more encouraging when I think of it that way.

But, what makes reading this story most difficult for me, is that there is so much I really don't understand. I'll read an entire page, and barely be able to really understand what's going on. I get a lot more out of the dialogue than I do from the rest. (Is that called prose? How do you refer to the parts that aren't dialogue?) There was a scene in a courtroom, where I know I knew what was happening generally, but I couldn't tell you exactly what went on. My hope is that as I continue reading, my mind will grow more accustomed to the language. I also have an assignment. There is a list of questions in A Thomas Jefferson Education that I am taking it upon myself to complete. 

As far as my thoughts on the story right now, I can't say that I have many... 

(wow, that's great, Darci, glad to hear it...) 

But I do have a few! At this point, it feels like the story is just getting warmed up. There is so much going on, but I can't keep track of it. I'm meeting characters, and trying to figure out how they all fit together. Mr. Cruncher was hilarious, can't wait to read more from him. Miss Mannette is absolutely angelic. Monsieur Mannette seems to be such a deep character, but it's a depth that is rarely shown, except in his eyes. Mr. Lorrey is a kind, decent, honest businessman. I've also met Mr. Stryver, a legal officer, Mr. Darnay, who was the prisoner on trial, as well as Mr. Carton who, apparently, looks very similar to Mr. Darnay. I have a feeling that little element is going to be important later on. At this point we've left the Defarge's in France, and we're now in London, five years following the release of Monsieur Mannette.

At the end of chapter four, we leave Carton, having just dined with Darnay. He's expressing something that sounds like jealousy at the good fortune of Darnay having evaded punishment at the trial. This is odd for me, because one of the questions I'll be looking to answer is: "Is Sydney Carton A Christ figure? Elaborate." Now, I obviously don't know the rest of the story, but I can say that Christ was never jealous of anyone. He knew who He was and what He needed to do. So, based on that, I'd say no. But that doesn't mean that it can't change. A person can be a figure of Christ without being perfect. In another way, Carton was Christlike, in that he took care of this man who had just been released from judgement and bought him food and drink to help him adjust somewhat to being part of "this world" again.

Here's another thing.... During their conversation, Carton says something that stood out to me for some reason. He states, "...the greatest desire I have, is to forget that I belong to it." (speaking of "this world".) So, if Carton has such strong feelings about it, why would he be taking the time, and spending the money, to help another man - and one for whom he has negative feelings - adjust to "this world"?  He himself is at a loss as to why he even helped Darnay in the first place...

So, all in all, I really need to just take a few days and read, read, read.

That's the plan!

Darci- The Page Traveler

P.S. I'd love to hear your thoughts? What do you think of Mr. Darnay? Mr. Carton? If you haven't read the book, what is your reaction to Carton just from reading this?

A Decision Has Been Made

My apologies, I know you all will be extremely disappointed to hear this, but I have decided to skive off on posting on Saturdays and Sundays.

Why, you ask?

"Here, let me 'splain... no, there is too much, let me sum up..."

(Ten points to the first person who can name that movie...)

See, I write these posts the night before I post them. And Friday/Saturday/Sunday nights are the three nights of the week where my husband is actually home. So, I'd like to spend that time with him. Sundays my love usually has meetings, so I will have time to write during the day.

I know you're all dying to hear more about my schedule. Alas, perhaps another time.

On that note, thanks for following! See ya Monday, friends!

Darci- The Page Traveler

A Tale of Two Cities: Comedy

Yay! I read two and a half chapters!
*Warning, this post contains a quote from the book, but it doesn't give anything away.*

Not much, but still... I was a little confused when I started the second 'book', because there's a big time difference between the two. I met a new character though, Mr. Cruncher. He's funny, and a little odd. But a remark about him make me laugh harder than I have so far in this book! Here it is, for your enjoyment:

"The scene was Mr. Cruncher's private lodging... on a windy March morning, Anno Domini seventeen hundred and eighty. (Mr. Cruncher himself always spoke of the year of our Lord as Anna Dominoes: apparently under the impression that the Christian era dated from the invention of a popular game, by a lady who had bestowed her name upon it.)"

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!! The wording is absolutely perfect!

I had to share that one with the husband, and he laughed too. I was glad to have met a character that can provide some comic relief, for sure. After meeting him, the story progressed to a courtroom trial. That's where I am right now. The way Dickens writes this, you have to pay very close attention or you might miss something and get lost. I am very much enjoying the book. Even though time keeps getting away from me, I have read some great reviews about it, so I'm determined to keep going.

Short post for today, so if you have some time please go to yesterday's post and do the activity there. I only got one person's responses, and I'd really like as many as I can get. 

Plus, if you have a favorite post I would love you forever if you could share it on facebook or twitter. That would help me a lot.

Anna Dominoes,

Darci- The Page Traveler

Questions???

Okay...

Yesterday was a weird day... I often felt like this guy:

When I wanted to feel like this:

I spent a lot of time doing nothing, but actually got more done than I thought... except for reading. Didn't get that done. It was a cleaning day. Today is a reading/writing day.

Anyway, today's post is a questionnaire. Here's why. I'm working on my book, and there are a lot of kinks that still need working out and specifics to nail down. Even with all the book reading and movie watching I've done over the years, I'm having a hard time connecting all the elements. I have a lot of original ideas, but it's like putting together a puzzle, with no physical pieces.

So! Please copy and paste this list of questions into an email, and send it to me at pagetraveler@gmail.com.

First, think of your favorite story. It can be a book, movie, play, musical, whatever...
You got it? Okay, ready... set... GO!


1. What is the main character's personality like?

2. What kind of journey does he/she go on? Physical, emotional, mental, all of the above, or something else?

3. What is your favorite character like? (If the two are the same, leave this blank.)

4. Does this story take place here on earth, or in another world? Or both? Explain...

5. What's the bad guy like? What makes him so 'hate-able'?

6. Is there a specific theology in this story, or is religion irrelevant to the plot? Explain...

7. Are there different races? Are they all human, or not?

8. Are there animal characters? Do they speak?

9. Is there a form of magic? If so, please explain it...

10. What is it about this story that keeps you coming back, that makes it your favorite?


Thanks for your help!


Darci - The Page Traveler

P.S. For your enjoyment, here are MY answers...

Book: Belgariad and Mallorean series', by David Eddings

1. What is the main character's personality like?

Garion is sweet, and naive. Easily becomes jealous, and frustrated.

2. What kind of journey does he/she go on? Physical, emotional, mental, all of the above, or something else?

Physically, he travels the world and grows from boy to man in the process. Mentally and emotionally, he has to learn to control his emotions and the power that he has inherited.

3. What is your favorite character like? (If the two are the same, leave this blank.)

That's be either Silk, or Polgara. Silk is dishonest, a spy and a swindler. Polgara is beautiful, and powerful. She has a presence that inclines people to respect her.

4. Does this story take place here on earth, or in another world? Or both? Explain...

In another world, created by David Eddings.

5. What's the bad guy like? What makes him so 'hate-able'?

The main bad guy is probably Torak, or whoever "the other prophecy" is embodying. Traits are selfishness, greed, weakness posed as strength, pride, anger, among other things.

6. Is there a specific theology in this story, or is religion irrelevant to the plot? Explain... 

Yes. There are six gods, and one 'father' of the gods. Each god has a group of people they care for.

7. Are there different races? Are they all human, or not?

Yes, different races, but all human.

8. Are there animal characters? Do they speak?

No and no.

9. Is there a form of magic? If so, please explain it...

Yes. They refer to it as 'The Will and The Word". One builds his Will up inside himself, focus it on a task, speaks a word (it can be any word, it's just acting as the trigger) and the power of the will performs the task. It takes just as much strength to do it this way as it would to do it physically.

10. What is it about this story that keeps you coming back, that makes it your favorite?

I think it's probably the characters. They are very real, and modern in that they are sarcastic and cynical. But at the same time they are completely loyal to each other. 

But along with that, I love the detail that is put into the story, without it being too long-winded. It's an easy read, and still rich in specifics.

Just Keep Swimming

So, last night I was in a bit of a slump. I was determined to get the kitchen cleaned after putting my son to bed, so I told my husband earlier in the day that I'd really like for him to pick up some dinner on his way home from his classes later. He said, "I thought we didn't even have enough money for gas?"

*sigh* He's right.

Well, not entirely. So I looked up out bank account and did some math and figured out that with the amount he's making now, and what we have in savings, we should be able to survive independent of outside help for another two to three months. Hopefully by that time we'll have gotten some financial aid for his schooling.

Anyway, going over our finances always puts me in a frustrated mood. It's just no fun to admit that you can't do it all. So, after I explained everything and we agreed that a five dollar Little Caesar's pizza was an okay investment for the night, he left for school.

Well, there I was, with my boy playing in the next room, feeling like I was doing something wrong. Feeling down, and very sorry for myself. So, I decided to turn on the Netflix and see if I could find something funny to watch to lift my spirits before I tackled the kitchen. As I was flipping through my options, I found a documentary called, The Pixar Story.

Sweet! I love Pixar, this should be fun!

So I watched it. And I learned a lesson.

Let me tell you something, these guys did not have it easy. They started out as a very small group of people in a dinky little office building. They cost their initial investor (Steve Jobs) ten million dollars to begin with, and another million was lost each of the first three or four years of it's existence. They were losing money all over the place! Then they signed a temporary contract with Disney, where Pixar got the short end of the stick as far as profit goes. After a while, the contract was re-negotiated, giving Pixar a better deal. Then in, I think 2005 or 2006, the bond was made permanent. The head guys at Pixar were given positions in Disney's company, and they were on top of the world.

I laughed through a great deal of the documentary, which was why I chose it. But as I watched these people talk about the experiences that have led them to where they are now, I saw how happy they were. Not just during the good times, but through the whole process. These guys never let anything get them down. Even during crunch time, they still were able to have fun and make the most of the situation. I really admire that.

I am so grateful for the blessings in my life. I have a wonderful, loving husband, a sweet, happy, healthy (not to mention hilarious) little boy, extended family and friends who care for us and help out whenever they can, we have a place to live, food to eat, a car to drive, and so much more.

Remembering to express gratitude helps me feel better when things are rough. It's hard sometimes, to get out of the "box" once you're in it. The "box" can be bitterness, anger, frustration, guilt, pride, grief... but finding just one thing for which to be grateful - one thing that can bring a smile to your face where a frown used to be - it can really change your perspective. It gets you out of that box, so you can "keep swimming..."

So thank you Pixar.

Thanks for being an amazing group of talented people, that kept on "swimming" even when the tides were against you. It's helped me to remember how blessed I am to have what I do, and to look forward to all the great things to come.

Gratitude: it does a body good.

Hehehe... have a great day.

Darci- The Page Traveler

P.S.
What are you grateful for today? Does gratitude help you feel better when you're down? What else do you do to lift your spirits?

Just to let you know...

So, this post has nothing to do with anything, really... Just to inform you of a few goals I have set for myself.

I would like to say, first of all, that I am not a competitive jerk.

Okay, my goals are as follows:

1. To post something every day (except Sunday, that's family day). It doesn't have to be from a book, because, as we've seen, I don't get to read every day, so it might be from a movie, the news, or even from 'Blue's Clues' or 'Cars' (my son's most recent favorite shows).

2. To include, in each post, a thought of my own thinking. Everything I write here will be inspired by something I hear or see, and will consist of me trying to draw a lesson from it and apply that lesson.

3. To include at the end of each post (as I've been trying to do recently) a question to which you, as the reader, can respond, and possibly a 'call to action' sort of thing where I challenge you to make a change in your life.

That's pretty much it! I truly appreciate all of you who follow me here. I invite you to share the posts you enjoy most with others. Find a way to follow me here, and tell your friends! You can grab a button for this site from the 'Share Me' page too, if you feel so inclined.

Also, if you have any advice, or suggestions, I welcome those gratefully. Thanks again for being here! Let's learn together :-)

Till tomorrow,

Darci- The Page Traveler

"For as he thinketh... so is he."

I'm going to share a secret with you today...

That reference in the title is the first line from Proverbs 23:7. And that's what this post really boils down to.

In A Tale of Two Cities, Monsieur Mannette has been imprisoned for eighteen years. When he sees his daughter and hears her voice, he is reminded of and, for a moment, thinks she is, his wife. She recalls him to life, by awakening in his mind his past; the things that he truly cared about. This is another thing I can't possibly imagine. Mr.Lorry talks about how Monsieur Mannette has been 'buried alive' for all this time, and has now been 'dug up'. I suppose it would seem that way, if one had been in nothing but darkness, and only given enough food and drink to barely survive. A person would change dramatically in that amount of time.

So, the question of the day is:

Do we keep ourselves shut in like this? Not physically in the dark for years, but maybe in other ways?

Whether on purpose or unintentionally, I often find myself thinking pessimistically about things. I have learned over the last few years that this mental state is very counter-productive and is the equivalent to keeping yourself in darkness.

For example, when someone has debt, and wishes to get out of debt, they often begin telling themselves, "I need to get out of debt. I will get out of debt!" And they start to get excited about getting out of debt...

Now, go back are read that sentence and see how many times I said the word 'debt'.

I don't care if you're thinking about getting out or in, and your subconscious mind doesn't either. If you're focusing on 'debt', then 'debt' is what will come!

We attract the things we think about, quite literally. Most people don't believe in this phenomenon, because they never really give it a chance to work. Of course they have dreams, goals, and aspirations, but if they are thinking about them backwards like that, they'll never come to fruition.

If a person has debt, what they should start telling themselves, and thinking throughout each day is, "I want to be financially free." Or, even more productive, "I am financially free." Maybe something like, "I am grateful for my prosperity and abundance."

At first, this feels like a lie, and it probably is, for now. But the more you think it, picture it in your mind, and imagine what your life will be like when you believe yourself to be financially free, you will come to believe it. You will begin to expect checks in the mail instead of bills. You'll see your bank account balance grow, and your debt balance shrink.

I have personally witnessed these principles work in my own life. They are working now! I promise you that this is real, it can work in any aspect of your life. Now, understand that I have faith in God, therefore I attribute it all to Him. It is by His power that these things come to pass. But whatever you do or don't believe in, the principles of faith can still work for you. If you believe that something will come to you, it will come.

So what does all this have to do with being in the dark?

Well, I often meet and talk to people who feel like they don't have any control over their lives. They are overweight, or broke; they don't have the car they want, the house they want, or they complain about their spouse, children, job or WHATEVER. I want to shake these people by the shoulders and tell them that they DO have the power to change their life! All it takes is a simple shift in their thinking, and anything they want can be theirs!

But here's the rub: thinking consistently powerful thoughts is VERY difficult. I dare you to try it. Seriously.

You know what, try it right now. Go sit for a full five minutes and think of nothing but... your dream home. Think about it in the greatest detail you can. Then, if your mind wanders away from your dream home before the five minutes is up, you can come back. If not, come back after five minutes...












Welcome back! Did you make it the whole five minutes?

Okay. Whether you did or not, here are some things you should have thought of if you were focusing on detail:

What color are the walls? What does the carpet feel like? Is there grass in the backyard? How many rooms? What do the bathrooms look like? The kitchen? The bedrooms? Does it use gas, or electric? Are there lots of windows? What's the view like? Do you have a pool? A trampoline? A spa? Walk-in closets?  How many floors? Is there an office? A library? A den?

Did you think about all those things?

Most people don't even monitor their thoughts, let alone try to control them. It takes a lot of practice and patience.

And another thing, the ultimate goal of this practice is to get your subconscious mind thinking the things that your conscious mind dreams about. Thus, the entire first line of that verse of scripture reads, "For as he thinketh in his heart so is he."

I didn't come up with this all up on my own. The practice has been known for centuries. It is usually referred to as "The Law of Attraction". If you are interested in learning more about controlling your thoughts, you can read my post on The Mind Muscle. If you are also interested in changing your life through your thoughts, I recommend looking into a couple of books, The Jackrabbit Factor, and Hidden Treasures by Leslie Householder. Or watch the movie The Secret (available on Netflix if you have that).

Don't stay in the dark. Unlike Monsieur Mannette, the only thing that can keep us locked up, is ourselves.

My life is changing as we speak. Up until a month ago, my family had been living on nothing but a part-time income and help from family, friends, and our church for about the past year. We're living in a one-bedroom apartment that, though we're very grateful to have found it, is not big enough for us to continue growing our family as we'd like to. I really began applying these principles  four or five weeks ago, and it was between then and now that my husband got a new job offer and started working steadier hours with better pay. And now we might even be moving into a bigger place in the next few months. I know it is because we have applied our faith in God in our lives, and really, truly believed that He has good things coming for us.

I'm changing my life, you can change yours too.

Good luck!

Darci - The Page Traveler

P.S. I mostly talked about finances, but also mentioned weight, possessions, relationships, and occupations. What other ways do we hold ourselves back in life? Since we can't control other people's actions, how can we do better at being more positive around people who are not?

Animal Behavior

**DISCLAIMER**

**Some people may not like hearing what I have to say in this post, but it's something very important to me, and I feel that it needs to be shared.**

Just for your information, in case you aren't aware, A Tale of Two Cities is divided into three sections. The first, titled Recalled To Life, is the shortest of the three with only six chapters, The Golden Thread is the longest with 24, and The Track of a Storm draws it to a close with fifteen. I have just finished the first Book. And we have a lot to discuss. I will share only one thought today, and save the other for tomorrow so that they can each have time to sink in.

Also for your information, the main characters so far are Mr.Lorry, a banker; Miss Mannette, a kind, gentle young woman who has great inner-strength; Monsieur Defarge, a wine shop owner who does business with Mr.Lorry; Madame Defarge, the wife; and Monsieur Mannette, who has been imprisoned for eighteen years (we don't yet know why), and has recently been found and released. Before he was incarcerated, he did business with both Mr.Lorry and Monsieur Defarge.

Where to start? I feel like so much has happened in six chapters, and yet while I'm reading it I have to push myself a little to get to the next part where something IS happening. The reason for this is that Dickens continually writes sections that have nothing to do with the main thread of the story, but have everything to do with what life was like for the people living in France at that time. One example of this is when a wine cask breaks between cart and door outside Monsieur Defarge's shop. The people of the town immediately begin lapping up the drink like animals! The description of that event and the misery of the city and it's inhabitants goes into great detail and lasts for four pages. I found myself looking for the next dialogue and pressing forward to get to it.

I honestly can't imagine what my reaction would be to seeing something like that in person. My life has been incredibly blessed, (as have all of yours). The attempt I made trying to picture people getting down on all fours to drink up muddy wine from the street was a feeble one. I have never witnessed human beings acting that way, and I hope I never do.

I don't know much about the French Revolution, but if that is how the people had to live, then it's no wonder they revolted. I look at our government here in the U.S., and wonder if the same is not far distant, unless we elect  better, smarter, more honest people to lead the country.

But how does this event relate to our lives?

Do we act like animals in some ways?

I think we do. And I'm going to tell you how.

Immorality is commonplace in the world today, and in my opinion it is only making us less human. Men and women have the ability within themselves to harness their passions. Animals do not. Animals act purely on instinct. Animals don't mate for life.

Animals will also kill and eat each other, or their young. That is not what we want to be.

This is a serious thing guys! We each have within ourselves the God-given ability to create life, and that should NOT be treated lightly! We view murder as a crime, and put people in jail for it, but when two people have sex outside of wedlock (whether they create a baby or not) they get no punishment whatsoever. Yes, rape is considered a crime, but that's not what I'm talking about. It's about all those people out there who go around sleeping with whomever they meet that night, and then with someone else the next. Or even people who are living with a single partner but are not married. These things are considered commonplace, even EXPECTED by some who say that if you've lived with someone first, being married is easier. You might think I'm crazy for saying it, but I believe THIS IS WRONG. The power to procreate is sacred! I don't care whether you're using condoms, taking birth control, or whatever, the act itself is sacred. Intimacy should only be shared between husband and wife who have ALREADY made a commitment to each other (and any children that follow). It is a beautiful expression of love and devotion.

This brings up another 'taboo' subject: homosexuality. Now, I want to say, I have had, and still have, a lot of gay/lesbian friends. They are kind, fun, happy people, as are people I know who are living with partners or sleeping around. All these people are generally good decent people, and I respect them for the good things they do in life. However, I want to say, here and now, that I do not agree with their choices regarding morality. Sexual intimacy should only be shared between a man and a woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

Now, I know it feels good. I realize that everyone feels the drive to have sex. Those feelings are there for a reason. But trust me when I say that those urges CAN be controlled. I am speaking from experience here. I was married at age 23, and had been a virgin until that time. And since our wedding, I have been completely devoted and absolutely loyal to my husband alone. Honestly, people do it all the time! And I'm talking about abstinence; waiting. Waiting for marriage was one of my best decisions ever. And let me tell you, I made it early on in my life; already decided what to do and how I would respond when the situation came up. If the choice is made before the opportunity comes, the ability to resist is easier. There were times when things probably could have 'gone all the way', but it never got that close because I knew and understood the consequences.

If I may be so bold, I want to challenge all of you who read this to live a chaste life. Teach your children, and any other children you have influence over, to live it as well. For any of you who have made mistakes or choices in the past that have led you to immorality, I beg you: make the changes you need to make in order to live chaste.

When you do, you will be happier! Your relationships will, contrary to what you might think, become stronger! Instead of sleeping with your boyfriend, go DO something! Talk, play a game, read together, whatever, and when you feel like you know and love each other, get married, and STAY married.

Marriage is not easy, but it is completely worth it.

I love my husband. He drives me up the wall, and he can be a slob, and he grosses me out often, and sometimes his jokes aren't funny... But I really truly love him in spite of all that! Because when he comes home from work, he hugs me, kisses me and plays with our son. He brings me flowers, and writes me sweet notes. He is taking on a crazy workload at school, so that he can get a better job to help support our little family. I would never EVER leave him for anything or anyone. That's what we agreed to when we got married, and that's the commitment we keep.

So there's my challenge for you. I hope you'll do it.

Thanks for reading,

Darci - The Page Traveler

P.S. Feel free to share your thoughts, but, whether you agree or not, please be tactful and polite. Thanks in advance -Darci

A Tale of Two Cities, At First Glance

This week, I began reading A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. I've only read through the second chapter, but I will freely admit to being intrigued.

I read the introduction, and a preface by Dickens himself, both of which I'm almost regretting, and I'll tell you why. I've read a lot of books in my life, but not many that I'd refer to as "popular classics". You know, the books that everyone read in high school and that have been critiqued and discussed over and over again for years and years... I'm just now getting into that. So when I read in the introduction that it has "the best of Dickens, and the worst of Dickens", I didn't really know what to think. 

Should I have started with something else?

Oh well, I'm into it now.

The story takes place during the French Revolution, beginning specifically in 1775. So far the only bits I've read have been foreshadowing elements that either explain the general goings-on of the time period, or have no strong connection to anything. I think the thing that has intrigued me most so far, is how suspicious everyone is of each other. I don't know much about the French Revolution, but I have a feeling I'm about to learn.

Bonsoir, mes amis,

Darci - The Page Traveler

P.S.
What do you know about the French Revolution?
Have you ever been in a situation where suspicion and fear were the dominant feeling?
How would you react if you were put into that type of situation?