From the Grave...

I've never had strep throat (streptococcus pyogenes) before now. I assumed that since it's fairly common, it was no big deal. LIES! I've been so sick this last week! I will ask for some indulgence as I recover. I have absolutely no desire to blog right now. Maybe next week.

Heart List: Rain

I never understood why rain is used as a metaphor for sadness. I love the rain! It has been raining for four days straight, and I'm enjoying every drop of it! I love the sound of rain, the smell of rain, the feel of rain, and it brings back fond memories of puddle-jumping with my siblings and sitting on the porch with my Mom in the hope of some awesome lightning. I probably should go someplace where it rains more often, because we don't get nearly enough of it where I live!

A Bit of Poetry

I don't write poetry very often anymore. I've found I'm just not that good at it. However, I used to write quite a bit of it. Most of it had to do with the melodramatic emotions running around in my young brain, but occasionally there were pieces of work that weren't all together bad. Here's one of my more recent poems (I wrote it about four years ago, if that gives you any idea of how long it's been since I've indulged in my inner "poet") and one of the better ones. Enjoy.

Two Worlds

To walk in a world without definition

To see nothing as it truly is

All edges are soft when they are blurred

But the beauty in detail is gone

Stand in the haze of what is and is not

Breathe in the imagined world

Here there is safety, but nothing is real

Here there is peace, but no life

To walk in a world that is sharply defined

To see thing all too clear

Sharp, cutting edges that will not relent

Simple beauty does not exist

All is decided and to deviate is death

Move forward without hesitation

Here it is real, but all dreams disappear

Here there is earth, but no air

Heart List: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

I find I have to be careful with Japanese animated movies. Some of them are amazing, others are...well, bad. Really bad. I try to be open-minded, though, because I don't want to miss out on the gems that are hiding among the dross. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is definitely a gem. My husband suggested it, and I can usually trust his judgment. The story follows Makoto, a seventeen-year-old girl who discovers the ability to travel through time. She also finds the consequences to be different than what she could have imagined. The story is funny and moving, and the characters are easy to like. My only critique is a scene where Makoto is running to meet a friend...and running...and running...and running. Seriously, it went on way too long. I get it, she's running. Let's move on. Other than that, it was very well done. If you tend to watch foreign films with voice dubbing, I can't give you any insight to the performance of the voice actors. I always watch them in the original language, with subtitles. Sorry.