Well, it's the last day of 2012. It's kind of hard to believe the year has flown by so fast, and on the other hand, hard to believe that it's gone by so slowly. 2012 saw the end of my junior year/first year in the vet. tech program, to starting senior year and clinical rotations, having my first ever 4.0 semester (yay!), my niece's first birthday, joining First Baptist under their watchcare program, transitioning to a new Sunday school class, my discovery of The Hunger Games, The Hobbit finally coming to life, my 21st birthday, job opportunities not working out, leaving an online Narnia forum that I was a part of for nearly 8 years, my hometown football team nearly going to state championships for the first time in over 40 years...what am I missing? Oh yeah, my parents celebrating their 30th anniversary, AND having all of my immediate family together for Christmas. Did I mention we also had a white Christmas?
2012 has been a year of ups and downs, which is no different than 2011 or any other year. We lost lots of people to violence (which no laws will curb) and saw a hurricane hit the east coast. At the moment, I'm busy studying for probably the biggest exam in my life next to the SAT/ACT/THEA: the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination) in March/April. This test is a comprehensive exam of everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) I've learned over the last year and a half, all compiled into an exam consisting of 200 multiple choice questions to take in a period of 4 hours. To say the least, this test has me extremely nervous and anxious. I keep asking myself, "Am I studying enough? Am I studying the right things? Am I focusing on the wrong subjects? Am I overstudying?" and then all that ends with, "I feel so overwhelmed!". I came up with a study plan, but have had a very difficult time sticking to it. I've been wondering if I even have the right studying tactics, memorizing quizzes and questions instead of learning the material. How much can I retain before March? My problem has always been that if it's just on paper and not practical, I very rarely ever remember it. There are some things in the review book that I recognize as learned. I've done it, I know it, I'm not going to study it (restraint was one of those chapters I never bothered to read because it's the one chapter I feel like I know!). I'll also have to start studying for my surgery and anesthesia rotation that begins in late February/early March. It's known to be the hardest rotation in terms of work and expectations. I have a packet about 2 inches thick to study before the rotation starts. I haven't hardly even looked at it yet, but I have promised myself I would study it long and hard as I go through my first 6 week rotation in small animal. The only thing I can do in regards to studying is a) do what I can and try to take small bites, b) be persistent and try to be consistent, c) do my best and try to be as fully prepared for the test as possible, and d) leave the rest up to God.
2013 will be a busy time for me and the rest of my family. Not only will I finish up my college career in May, I will also hopefully find a job that I love over the summer and fall. 2013 will also mean [most likely] moving back to Texas, leaving the temporary home I've made in Mississippi. I can't say I'll be sad to leave, but it will be harder leaving First Baptist since I've finally gotten settled there. And, there are things about the town that I like! I mean, it was pretty nice living just a few blocks away from the movie theater, Wal-Mart, and Kroger.
So what else will 2013 hold? I guess we'll just have to live the year and find out. :)
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The film Tolkien fans have waited for since 1956 has finally been made. I've been a longtime Lord of the Rings fan (movies mainly), and I've been looking forward to a 'Hobbit' film ever since they first announced they were moving to make it. Peter Jackson made 'Hobbit' unlike 'Rings': 48 fps (frames per second) and in 3D. But it didn't detract from quality or beauty. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I haven't mentioned the long wait we had while in the theater. It was raining when we got to the mall, which may or may not have been a cause of the power outage the theater experienced a mere 8 minutes prior to showtime (yes, I was keeping close track of the time!). We sat until probably 2 or 2:15 waiting for them to resolve the power problems, and we FINALLY got video and audio. It made the entire experience longer, but I suppose it was worth it in the end.
So, where to begin? I guess I should start with the story. Because this was Peter Jackson's work, and not the work of certain 'other' directors (if you know me well enough, I guarantee you know exactly WHO I'm referring to!), I was fairly confident that the movie would follow the majority of the book. I don't claim to know a ton about Tolkien or the history of Lord of the Rings, so some of the events may or may not have been in the Appendices/History of Middle-earth. But I felt that, overall, Jackson did a superb job of blending the book's narrative with the backstory that Tolkien created that is not in the Hobbit: Necromancer, anyone? In fact, most everybody's complaint about Jackson turning the book (which is short in comparison to Lord of the Rings) into a trilogy of films is that there isn't enough material to justify such a move. If Jackson has the right to Lord of the Rings AND Hobbit (which he does), why not flesh out the history and background of events we see or are told about in Hobbit? He did the same with Lord of the Rings (I think primarily exemplified with Aragorn and Arwen's on-screen story). Up until this film, I was never really curious about how Sauron regained his power, or how the Ringwraiths came to exist. The movie has made me want to re-examine both Lord of the Rings AND its subsequent texts (i.e. the Appendices) to find out exactly what Jackson was using in the film. Anyway. I felt like the screenplay was well written, though I do have to agree with some of the critics who say that Hobbit lacked the emotional depth of Lord of the Rings; this is true, but this is also the general tone of the book and the critics need to realize that (they don't, of course). But come on, who didn't tear up at the end when Thorin hugged Bilbo after admitting he was wrong?! The only quibble I really have with the way this one ended is: where was all that stuff with the Eagles? I'm still holding out hope that maybe, just maybe, the stuff with the Eagles will end up being in the 2nd film.
Score. One thing I appreciated about Howard Shore here is how he was able to blend the old and the new. There were enough of the themes of Lord of the Rings present to make us feel like we were in Middle-earth, but plenty new themes and music to tell us we were on a different adventure. I LOVE, repeat, LOVE the Dwarves' theme ("Misty Mountains"/"Song of the Lonely Mountain"). Richard Armitage and the group did a great job singing a portion of a long(er) song from the book; very haunting melody. A mistake made with other films, like Narnia: Prince Caspian, was taking too much of the previous film's score and inserting it into the film. Shore, I feel, did not make that mistake here. Also, the song at the end by Neil Finn was beautiful. Some might argue that Shore's score lacks the classicality of Lord of the Rings, but THIS ISN'T Lord of the Rings!
Acting. I was so nervous really about Bilbo, since he is the central character. Long story short: Martin Freeman is the perfect Bilbo; he has the gentle Englishman nature about him, with a kind of quirky nervousness. Richard Armitage? I will say he's a good Thorin. Doesn't hurt that he's pretty good looking as well. :) Ian McKellen again shines as Gandalf, and I think after seeing Hobbit, I actually like Gandalf more than in Lord of the Rings because he has a sense of humor in Hobbit! Same can be said for Elrond; I never liked him in Lord of the Rings, but I came away from Hobbit actually liking him more. And Gollum. Dear ol' Gollum. What would Middle-earth be without Andy Serkis as the very-definition-of-bipolar-disorder Gollum/Smeagol? One of my favorite scenes was the scene between him and Bilbo; very well done in regards to the book, and whether it was because of Serkis, the dialogue, or both, I still felt sorry for Gollum and hated him at the same time. And, lastly, is it really fair for Cate Blanchett to look virtually the same as she did 12 years ago filming Lord of the Rings? I mean, really!
Finally, the controversy swirling around Jackson's use of 48 fps versus 24 fps has been an unfortunate detraction from the film itself. We saw it in HFR (48 fps) 3D, and I honestly could tell little difference between it and a traditional 3D film. What I did notice was the sharp, clear quality of the film. This didn't subtract anything: it enhanced the film tremendously. All the naysayers and nags who keep flapping their gums over the 'groundbreaking' new frame rate really should get out more. I still believe that those who were "sick" when watching the HFR were really disoriented by the 3D. Maybe I'm just not as critical of those things as some. I just wanted to see it in that frame rate to see if there really was a difference in quality or speed. Disappointed in that regard, I have to say.
So, overall, it was an enjoyable film that was faithful to its source material (yes, all you Tolkien purists out there will most likely disagree with me), with a solid cast and music. 8.5/10 stars for this return to Middle-earth. Jackson can count on my presence next December at The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
So, where to begin? I guess I should start with the story. Because this was Peter Jackson's work, and not the work of certain 'other' directors (if you know me well enough, I guarantee you know exactly WHO I'm referring to!), I was fairly confident that the movie would follow the majority of the book. I don't claim to know a ton about Tolkien or the history of Lord of the Rings, so some of the events may or may not have been in the Appendices/History of Middle-earth. But I felt that, overall, Jackson did a superb job of blending the book's narrative with the backstory that Tolkien created that is not in the Hobbit: Necromancer, anyone? In fact, most everybody's complaint about Jackson turning the book (which is short in comparison to Lord of the Rings) into a trilogy of films is that there isn't enough material to justify such a move. If Jackson has the right to Lord of the Rings AND Hobbit (which he does), why not flesh out the history and background of events we see or are told about in Hobbit? He did the same with Lord of the Rings (I think primarily exemplified with Aragorn and Arwen's on-screen story). Up until this film, I was never really curious about how Sauron regained his power, or how the Ringwraiths came to exist. The movie has made me want to re-examine both Lord of the Rings AND its subsequent texts (i.e. the Appendices) to find out exactly what Jackson was using in the film. Anyway. I felt like the screenplay was well written, though I do have to agree with some of the critics who say that Hobbit lacked the emotional depth of Lord of the Rings; this is true, but this is also the general tone of the book and the critics need to realize that (they don't, of course). But come on, who didn't tear up at the end when Thorin hugged Bilbo after admitting he was wrong?! The only quibble I really have with the way this one ended is: where was all that stuff with the Eagles? I'm still holding out hope that maybe, just maybe, the stuff with the Eagles will end up being in the 2nd film.
Score. One thing I appreciated about Howard Shore here is how he was able to blend the old and the new. There were enough of the themes of Lord of the Rings present to make us feel like we were in Middle-earth, but plenty new themes and music to tell us we were on a different adventure. I LOVE, repeat, LOVE the Dwarves' theme ("Misty Mountains"/"Song of the Lonely Mountain"). Richard Armitage and the group did a great job singing a portion of a long(er) song from the book; very haunting melody. A mistake made with other films, like Narnia: Prince Caspian, was taking too much of the previous film's score and inserting it into the film. Shore, I feel, did not make that mistake here. Also, the song at the end by Neil Finn was beautiful. Some might argue that Shore's score lacks the classicality of Lord of the Rings, but THIS ISN'T Lord of the Rings!
Acting. I was so nervous really about Bilbo, since he is the central character. Long story short: Martin Freeman is the perfect Bilbo; he has the gentle Englishman nature about him, with a kind of quirky nervousness. Richard Armitage? I will say he's a good Thorin. Doesn't hurt that he's pretty good looking as well. :) Ian McKellen again shines as Gandalf, and I think after seeing Hobbit, I actually like Gandalf more than in Lord of the Rings because he has a sense of humor in Hobbit! Same can be said for Elrond; I never liked him in Lord of the Rings, but I came away from Hobbit actually liking him more. And Gollum. Dear ol' Gollum. What would Middle-earth be without Andy Serkis as the very-definition-of-bipolar-disorder Gollum/Smeagol? One of my favorite scenes was the scene between him and Bilbo; very well done in regards to the book, and whether it was because of Serkis, the dialogue, or both, I still felt sorry for Gollum and hated him at the same time. And, lastly, is it really fair for Cate Blanchett to look virtually the same as she did 12 years ago filming Lord of the Rings? I mean, really!
Finally, the controversy swirling around Jackson's use of 48 fps versus 24 fps has been an unfortunate detraction from the film itself. We saw it in HFR (48 fps) 3D, and I honestly could tell little difference between it and a traditional 3D film. What I did notice was the sharp, clear quality of the film. This didn't subtract anything: it enhanced the film tremendously. All the naysayers and nags who keep flapping their gums over the 'groundbreaking' new frame rate really should get out more. I still believe that those who were "sick" when watching the HFR were really disoriented by the 3D. Maybe I'm just not as critical of those things as some. I just wanted to see it in that frame rate to see if there really was a difference in quality or speed. Disappointed in that regard, I have to say.
So, overall, it was an enjoyable film that was faithful to its source material (yes, all you Tolkien purists out there will most likely disagree with me), with a solid cast and music. 8.5/10 stars for this return to Middle-earth. Jackson can count on my presence next December at The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
A Lesson I Gleaned from "Once Upon a Time"
I recently saw the ABC series "Once Upon a Time" for the first time. Okay, I started it on Sunday and finished it last night. 22 episodes to catch up on season 1, and then the season 2 premiere from Sunday night. The pilot was cheesy, I'll admit. But my interest was piqued. I have to say that the idea of having fairy tale characters living in our own world is fascinating. I mean, just how exactly would Prince Charming cope not being, well, a prince and living in a castle? How would some of the most evil characters in fairy tales cope with having to live in our world without their evil magic?
These questions were kind of tackled in the first season of the show. Of course, none of these characters remembered who they truly were when placed in our world. Only Emma, the show's heroine and daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, could make them remember who they really were. I absolutely had zero interest in this show when it first came on last year, pretty much casting it off as yet another occultic and demonic show (and a lot of shows DO fit this bill mind you). For whatever reason, I had an interest in seeing it. So, I found it on Netflix and decided to see it while it was on instant streaming. I could not stop watching it. I sat and watched at least 7 episodes in one sitting, one right after the other without stopping. The show isn't horrible; you've got your magic, and your spells, and your curses. And yes, sometimes those elements make me uncomfortable. But there is at least one valuable lesson that I've gleaned from the 23 episodes so far: unforgiveness can make you into a horrible and despicable person to be around. Regina is the perfect (or imperfect?) example of why forgiving people their mistakes is so important. Unforgiveness can eat away at the person that you are, causing you to be bitter, hateful, spiteful, and mean. The show explores, through every episode, why exactly Snow White was the object of the evil Queen's (Regina) wrath. Okay, maybe not in the context of the REAL fairy tale, but in the context of THIS show's storyline. Snow White broke a promise not to tell Regina's mother (a witch?) about Regina and Daniel (a stable boy that was Regina's true love) and their plan(s) to run away and marry, since Regina's mother wanted her to marry Snow's father the king. Regina's mother proceeds to rip out Daniel's heart and crush it, leaving him dead and Regina heartbroken (no pun intended). Regina discovers it was Snow who broke the promise, and makes her life miserable from that day forward. It is this unforgiven mistake that leads Regina down her path of getting revenge on Snow White, the person that she claims has "taken everything she loved away from" her. Of course, Snow is in the wrong for breaking a promise that she made, but Regina's mistake was allowing her unforgiving attitude towards Snow White erode the person that she was.
Because Regina, as we learn, was actually a nice person before marrying Snow's father. Before I move on, let me say I'm NOT making the case for the humanist argument that all people are basically good inside and/or that we're born good. Every person is born evil. Every person is born with a sinful nature. We're all born with a natural tendency to be mean, to be unforgiving, and to be spiteful. Regina was a caring, kind and [mostly] unselfish person before the incidents that led to her marriage to Snow's father. The show is barely into its second season, and there may be more moral lessons to glean from both season 1 and the season yet to come. But if there was any lesson that came out of season 1, it's that we cannot let past wrongs and injustices get the better of us and shape who we are. We usually turn into the type of person that nobody else can stand being around.
These questions were kind of tackled in the first season of the show. Of course, none of these characters remembered who they truly were when placed in our world. Only Emma, the show's heroine and daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, could make them remember who they really were. I absolutely had zero interest in this show when it first came on last year, pretty much casting it off as yet another occultic and demonic show (and a lot of shows DO fit this bill mind you). For whatever reason, I had an interest in seeing it. So, I found it on Netflix and decided to see it while it was on instant streaming. I could not stop watching it. I sat and watched at least 7 episodes in one sitting, one right after the other without stopping. The show isn't horrible; you've got your magic, and your spells, and your curses. And yes, sometimes those elements make me uncomfortable. But there is at least one valuable lesson that I've gleaned from the 23 episodes so far: unforgiveness can make you into a horrible and despicable person to be around. Regina is the perfect (or imperfect?) example of why forgiving people their mistakes is so important. Unforgiveness can eat away at the person that you are, causing you to be bitter, hateful, spiteful, and mean. The show explores, through every episode, why exactly Snow White was the object of the evil Queen's (Regina) wrath. Okay, maybe not in the context of the REAL fairy tale, but in the context of THIS show's storyline. Snow White broke a promise not to tell Regina's mother (a witch?) about Regina and Daniel (a stable boy that was Regina's true love) and their plan(s) to run away and marry, since Regina's mother wanted her to marry Snow's father the king. Regina's mother proceeds to rip out Daniel's heart and crush it, leaving him dead and Regina heartbroken (no pun intended). Regina discovers it was Snow who broke the promise, and makes her life miserable from that day forward. It is this unforgiven mistake that leads Regina down her path of getting revenge on Snow White, the person that she claims has "taken everything she loved away from" her. Of course, Snow is in the wrong for breaking a promise that she made, but Regina's mistake was allowing her unforgiving attitude towards Snow White erode the person that she was.
Because Regina, as we learn, was actually a nice person before marrying Snow's father. Before I move on, let me say I'm NOT making the case for the humanist argument that all people are basically good inside and/or that we're born good. Every person is born evil. Every person is born with a sinful nature. We're all born with a natural tendency to be mean, to be unforgiving, and to be spiteful. Regina was a caring, kind and [mostly] unselfish person before the incidents that led to her marriage to Snow's father. The show is barely into its second season, and there may be more moral lessons to glean from both season 1 and the season yet to come. But if there was any lesson that came out of season 1, it's that we cannot let past wrongs and injustices get the better of us and shape who we are. We usually turn into the type of person that nobody else can stand being around.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Fall TV (Hell on Wheels, Hawaii Five-0, NCIS and Vegas)
So, this week is premiere week for many new shows as well as returning shows from the spring. Among those returning are Hawaii Five-0 and NCIS, with a new show (Vegas) having its series premiere on Tuesday. Hell on Wheels second season began in August and is rolling along (no pun intended) to its season 2 finale on AMC. First, I'll start off with the new shows this week, and end with my thus-far review of Hell on Wheels' sophomore season on AMC.
Hawaii Five-0: La O Na Makuahine (3x01)
Season 2 ended with a cliffhanger: Kono was thrown into the ocean bound and gagged, Malia Kelly was severely wounded by a gun, Frank Delano was out of prison, and McGarrett's mom *gasp* was revealed to be Shelburne! With the appearance of Joe (Terry O'Quinn) this season, I had a feeling that either he or someone else close to Steve would be revealed as Shelburne, the person who killed Wo Fat's father. I was so sure of this fact that I even joked to myself that it would probably be either McGarrett's mom or dad. I was shocked when the season finale rolled around and I had been on the right track. Crazy! Season 3 opened with as much suspense and adrenaline as season 2 left us with over the summer. (Spoilers ahead, so stop reading now if you don't like 'em!) Malia ends up dying in Chin's arms. This came as almost no surprise, but I had been hoping that Chin would get her help in time and she would make it. I will admit, I was crying when Malia died, and even more so as Chin was looking over her body at the morgue. Even though it's partially Chin's fault that Malia did die, I still felt sorry for him. oh yes, and Kono lived (no surprise there) since she was rescued by Adam Noshimuri (sp?) who was called by Chin (what's up with that?!). Anyway. I'm starting to like Adam, and only hope he keeps clean this season. I also hope to see more of Christine Lahti (Doris McGarrett) in future episodes this season as she was entertaining to watch. Her cargument with Danny was absolutely hilarious; pretty evident where Steve gets the talent to argue in the car! But, as revealed in the last two minutes, Doris let Wo Fat go even though he had come to kill her in the safe house. This is leading some to wonder if perhaps Wo Fat and Steve aren't half-brothers, and Doris knew this and Wo Fat discovered it upon holding a gun on her. Who knows? It will be interesting to see where they take season 3 from this point.
4/5 personal rating
Viewers: 8.06 million according to Nielsen
NCIS: Extreme Prejudice (10x01)
NCIS also ended its 9th season with a bang: Harper Dearing, a man who lost his son to supposed Navy flaws on ships targeted NCIS, leaving the building in shambles. Ducky, while in Florida for Palmer's wedding, suffers a heart attack on the beach, where the season 9 finale blacks out. Season 10 opens up basically where it left off: Ducky is in the hospital recovering from his heart attack with Palmer by his side every minute, while the team is left to pick up the pieces in Washington. They do pick up the pieces, however slowly, and end up chasing Dearing only to miss him twice. This leads to a man-to-man showdown between Gibbs and Dearing, which, if you know anything about Gibbs, leaves Dearing dead. In comparison to the H50 premiere the night before, I felt like the season opener to NCIS was flat, predictable, and 2D. The Tony/Ziva elevator scene: pitifully misleading. The implication that the team was in more danger than they actually were: pathetic, considering even McGee didn't get seriously injured while being next to glass windows that exploded!!!! I'm glad we know what happened to Dearing, but I felt like they built up to this whole "Dearing is the most wanted man in the U.S." and then they dropped it in the premiere. Maybe they couldn't stretch it out past the first episode, but it was just a very flat episode and not one that stood out much.
2.5/5 personal rating
Viewers: 20.2 million (2nd largest premiere opening in the show's history, biggest since 2009)
Vegas: Vegas (1x01)
No, that's not a stutter. The "Vegas" pilot episode is named "Vegas" (clever, huh?), and premiered after NCIS and NCIS:LA. "Vegas" is, well...about Vegas in the 1960s, and is loosely based/inspired by the real life story of Sheriff Ralph Lamb, "a fourth-generation rancher tasked with bringing order to Las Vegas in the 1960s, a gambling and entertainment mecca emerging from the tumbleweeds.Ralph Lamb wants to be left in peace to run his ranch, but Las Vegas is now swelling with outsiders and corruption which are intruding on his simple life. Recalling Lamb's command as a military police officer during World War II, the Mayor appeals to his sense of duty to look into a murder of a casino worker - and so begins Lamb's clash with Vincent Savino, a ruthless Chicago gangster who plans to make Vegas his own. Assisting Lamb in keeping law and order are his two deputies: his diplomatic, even-keeled brother, Jack, and his charming but impulsive son, Dixon. Ambitious Assistant District Attorney Katherine O'Connell, who grew up on the ranch next to the Lambs, also lends a hand in preserving justice."(CBS.com)
So, how was it? I'll put it this way: I hate judging things by their pilot episodes. Heck, had I quit watching NCIS after seeing the pilot episode last year, I would have missed out on a great show. Vegas was slow, I'll admit, and I found the plot to be a little underwhelming. However, I'm pretty sure I said that about Hell on Wheels' pilot, and when I kept watching, the show got better and less snooze-inducing (more on that later). And I will also admit, the main reason I even wanted to watch the show was because of Gil Birmingham's guest role in the pilot (which was also underwhelming, though I credit this to the writers and not the actor). I even was able to get 4 replies from Gil during the premiere, which was the highlight of my Tuesday night and made me kind of forget about the rest of the episode! Haha. "Vegas" apparently wasn't too bad; it had an opening of 14.7 million viewers, sweeping in all demographic (age) categories. Will the series improve? Or will it continue to play on worn out cliches and stereotypes of cowboys vs. bad guys? Time can only tell. I'll keep watching for the forseeable future at least.
2.5/5 personal rating
Viewers: 14.7 million
Hell on Wheels: Season 2 (episodes 1-7)
I never imagined myself writing what I'm about to write in regards to Hell on Wheels. Season 1 left me wanting another season, made me want to know what would happen to these characters that grabbed my interest. Season 2 made me want to know if the writers would continue to go against Hollywood type and expand the roles of Native actors like Eddie Spears (Joseph Black Moon) and Wes Studi (Chief Many Horses). I will be honest, the only reason I even started watching HoW was because of Eddie Spears and Wes Studi, and it's the only reason I've been watching season 2 thus far (Studi has not made an appearance yet in season 2, and it doesn't look like he will). So the show is rated mature. It's not for the weak stomachs, and sometimes I even cringe at the violent nature of the show. I guess what got me intrigued by season 1 was all the diversity and complexity of each character, and the promise by the writers to flesh all that out in season 2. But from episode 1, I've been disappointed in this season so far. We're only 2 episodes away from the end of the season (episodes 9/10 have been combined into one 2 hour finale), and I have yet to be wowed or impressed by a single episode. This isn't good, folks. Apparently, Nielsen is saying so as well, since last Sunday night's episode only had 0.6 million viewers in the 18-49 demographic range; to give you a comparison, Keeping up the Kardashians had 1.8 in the same range on the same night. 'Nough said? Or, you could compare season 2's ratings with those of season 1: episode 2 of season 1 had 1.5 million viewers, double that of season 2's 7th episode. I find the ratings to be a little odd, since most first seasons of shows have lower ratings than those of following seasons! And, we're not talking about the 2nd episode of season 2 here; episode 8 is just around the corner, and ratings are low. I mean L-O-W. Granted, season 2 premiered much earlier in the fall compared to season 1, which premiered in November 2011 (maybe the low ratings are Breaking Bad's fault?). But it kind of makes me wonder: if episode 7 has numbers like these...what in the world will season 3 have going for it? I guess I should explain why I've been so disappointed in the second season. Erratic writing. Plot holes. Character incongruity. Character turn-arounds that are so sudden they don't make sense at all. Characters going crazy/insane to the point of death. The show having a more odd tone to it than season 1. The show being considerably more bloody ("Slaughterhouse" anyone?) and more foul. I'll say this: the main focus of my fan anger is because of the horrible way the Joseph/Ruth relationship has "evolved" over season 2. When I say evolved I really mean "imploded." The writing behind Ruth's character is so all over the place I don't know what she's up to anymore. I've also felt lost timeline wise from episode 1 because time elapsed in-between the two seasons.
And let me tell you folks: It's never good to begin a season feeling so disoriented you can't get your bearings on anything. It's sloppy and messy, and will be the death knell of this show if they don't correct it. The fantastic writing of season 1 has been discarded in favor for something masquerading as quality writing. I'll keep watching season 2 to see how it ends (and I'm curious to see Durant's wife on the show as well), but if there's a 3rd season, well. I seriously doubt I'll be dedicating Sunday nights to the show.
Personal rating: 1.5/5
Hawaii Five-0: La O Na Makuahine (3x01)
Season 2 ended with a cliffhanger: Kono was thrown into the ocean bound and gagged, Malia Kelly was severely wounded by a gun, Frank Delano was out of prison, and McGarrett's mom *gasp* was revealed to be Shelburne! With the appearance of Joe (Terry O'Quinn) this season, I had a feeling that either he or someone else close to Steve would be revealed as Shelburne, the person who killed Wo Fat's father. I was so sure of this fact that I even joked to myself that it would probably be either McGarrett's mom or dad. I was shocked when the season finale rolled around and I had been on the right track. Crazy! Season 3 opened with as much suspense and adrenaline as season 2 left us with over the summer. (Spoilers ahead, so stop reading now if you don't like 'em!) Malia ends up dying in Chin's arms. This came as almost no surprise, but I had been hoping that Chin would get her help in time and she would make it. I will admit, I was crying when Malia died, and even more so as Chin was looking over her body at the morgue. Even though it's partially Chin's fault that Malia did die, I still felt sorry for him. oh yes, and Kono lived (no surprise there) since she was rescued by Adam Noshimuri (sp?) who was called by Chin (what's up with that?!). Anyway. I'm starting to like Adam, and only hope he keeps clean this season. I also hope to see more of Christine Lahti (Doris McGarrett) in future episodes this season as she was entertaining to watch. Her cargument with Danny was absolutely hilarious; pretty evident where Steve gets the talent to argue in the car! But, as revealed in the last two minutes, Doris let Wo Fat go even though he had come to kill her in the safe house. This is leading some to wonder if perhaps Wo Fat and Steve aren't half-brothers, and Doris knew this and Wo Fat discovered it upon holding a gun on her. Who knows? It will be interesting to see where they take season 3 from this point.
4/5 personal rating
Viewers: 8.06 million according to Nielsen
NCIS: Extreme Prejudice (10x01)
NCIS also ended its 9th season with a bang: Harper Dearing, a man who lost his son to supposed Navy flaws on ships targeted NCIS, leaving the building in shambles. Ducky, while in Florida for Palmer's wedding, suffers a heart attack on the beach, where the season 9 finale blacks out. Season 10 opens up basically where it left off: Ducky is in the hospital recovering from his heart attack with Palmer by his side every minute, while the team is left to pick up the pieces in Washington. They do pick up the pieces, however slowly, and end up chasing Dearing only to miss him twice. This leads to a man-to-man showdown between Gibbs and Dearing, which, if you know anything about Gibbs, leaves Dearing dead. In comparison to the H50 premiere the night before, I felt like the season opener to NCIS was flat, predictable, and 2D. The Tony/Ziva elevator scene: pitifully misleading. The implication that the team was in more danger than they actually were: pathetic, considering even McGee didn't get seriously injured while being next to glass windows that exploded!!!! I'm glad we know what happened to Dearing, but I felt like they built up to this whole "Dearing is the most wanted man in the U.S." and then they dropped it in the premiere. Maybe they couldn't stretch it out past the first episode, but it was just a very flat episode and not one that stood out much.
2.5/5 personal rating
Viewers: 20.2 million (2nd largest premiere opening in the show's history, biggest since 2009)
Vegas: Vegas (1x01)
No, that's not a stutter. The "Vegas" pilot episode is named "Vegas" (clever, huh?), and premiered after NCIS and NCIS:LA. "Vegas" is, well...about Vegas in the 1960s, and is loosely based/inspired by the real life story of Sheriff Ralph Lamb, "a fourth-generation rancher tasked with bringing order to Las Vegas in the 1960s, a gambling and entertainment mecca emerging from the tumbleweeds.Ralph Lamb wants to be left in peace to run his ranch, but Las Vegas is now swelling with outsiders and corruption which are intruding on his simple life. Recalling Lamb's command as a military police officer during World War II, the Mayor appeals to his sense of duty to look into a murder of a casino worker - and so begins Lamb's clash with Vincent Savino, a ruthless Chicago gangster who plans to make Vegas his own. Assisting Lamb in keeping law and order are his two deputies: his diplomatic, even-keeled brother, Jack, and his charming but impulsive son, Dixon. Ambitious Assistant District Attorney Katherine O'Connell, who grew up on the ranch next to the Lambs, also lends a hand in preserving justice."(CBS.com)
So, how was it? I'll put it this way: I hate judging things by their pilot episodes. Heck, had I quit watching NCIS after seeing the pilot episode last year, I would have missed out on a great show. Vegas was slow, I'll admit, and I found the plot to be a little underwhelming. However, I'm pretty sure I said that about Hell on Wheels' pilot, and when I kept watching, the show got better and less snooze-inducing (more on that later). And I will also admit, the main reason I even wanted to watch the show was because of Gil Birmingham's guest role in the pilot (which was also underwhelming, though I credit this to the writers and not the actor). I even was able to get 4 replies from Gil during the premiere, which was the highlight of my Tuesday night and made me kind of forget about the rest of the episode! Haha. "Vegas" apparently wasn't too bad; it had an opening of 14.7 million viewers, sweeping in all demographic (age) categories. Will the series improve? Or will it continue to play on worn out cliches and stereotypes of cowboys vs. bad guys? Time can only tell. I'll keep watching for the forseeable future at least.
2.5/5 personal rating
Viewers: 14.7 million
Hell on Wheels: Season 2 (episodes 1-7)
I never imagined myself writing what I'm about to write in regards to Hell on Wheels. Season 1 left me wanting another season, made me want to know what would happen to these characters that grabbed my interest. Season 2 made me want to know if the writers would continue to go against Hollywood type and expand the roles of Native actors like Eddie Spears (Joseph Black Moon) and Wes Studi (Chief Many Horses). I will be honest, the only reason I even started watching HoW was because of Eddie Spears and Wes Studi, and it's the only reason I've been watching season 2 thus far (Studi has not made an appearance yet in season 2, and it doesn't look like he will). So the show is rated mature. It's not for the weak stomachs, and sometimes I even cringe at the violent nature of the show. I guess what got me intrigued by season 1 was all the diversity and complexity of each character, and the promise by the writers to flesh all that out in season 2. But from episode 1, I've been disappointed in this season so far. We're only 2 episodes away from the end of the season (episodes 9/10 have been combined into one 2 hour finale), and I have yet to be wowed or impressed by a single episode. This isn't good, folks. Apparently, Nielsen is saying so as well, since last Sunday night's episode only had 0.6 million viewers in the 18-49 demographic range; to give you a comparison, Keeping up the Kardashians had 1.8 in the same range on the same night. 'Nough said? Or, you could compare season 2's ratings with those of season 1: episode 2 of season 1 had 1.5 million viewers, double that of season 2's 7th episode. I find the ratings to be a little odd, since most first seasons of shows have lower ratings than those of following seasons! And, we're not talking about the 2nd episode of season 2 here; episode 8 is just around the corner, and ratings are low. I mean L-O-W. Granted, season 2 premiered much earlier in the fall compared to season 1, which premiered in November 2011 (maybe the low ratings are Breaking Bad's fault?). But it kind of makes me wonder: if episode 7 has numbers like these...what in the world will season 3 have going for it? I guess I should explain why I've been so disappointed in the second season. Erratic writing. Plot holes. Character incongruity. Character turn-arounds that are so sudden they don't make sense at all. Characters going crazy/insane to the point of death. The show having a more odd tone to it than season 1. The show being considerably more bloody ("Slaughterhouse" anyone?) and more foul. I'll say this: the main focus of my fan anger is because of the horrible way the Joseph/Ruth relationship has "evolved" over season 2. When I say evolved I really mean "imploded." The writing behind Ruth's character is so all over the place I don't know what she's up to anymore. I've also felt lost timeline wise from episode 1 because time elapsed in-between the two seasons.
And let me tell you folks: It's never good to begin a season feeling so disoriented you can't get your bearings on anything. It's sloppy and messy, and will be the death knell of this show if they don't correct it. The fantastic writing of season 1 has been discarded in favor for something masquerading as quality writing. I'll keep watching season 2 to see how it ends (and I'm curious to see Durant's wife on the show as well), but if there's a 3rd season, well. I seriously doubt I'll be dedicating Sunday nights to the show.
Personal rating: 1.5/5
Friday, August 24, 2012
Start of the Finish
You might be reading the title and going, "huh? What does that mean?" Well, I'll tell you: today was my last official academic class day with my classmates in the VMTP program, and as I realized that, I was a little saddened by it. Am I sad about all the hours I won't have to sit in class anymore listening to lectures? Heavens no! Monday I begin my externship (internship that is shortened), and it's a day I've been both looking forward to and dreading at the same time. Looking forward to because I'll finally get to start applying everything I've been learning, and I know it will all come together for me once I start putting it in action. Dreading it, because it means remembering things I haven't read or seen in nearly a year. I also have a lot of responsibility personally because I have to have certain assignments completed each week, and it's a lot to keep up with.
I sometimes get irritated with my classmates. There were times I probably said things in ways I shouldn't have, or I could have been nicer in some instances. But, I don't think I'd trade them out for anything. I've made some friends that I've been thankful to have, especially when I was struggling in a class or with a topic.
So, I guess this concludes the end of my first official week as a senior. What a whirlwind journey it's been thus far!
I sometimes get irritated with my classmates. There were times I probably said things in ways I shouldn't have, or I could have been nicer in some instances. But, I don't think I'd trade them out for anything. I've made some friends that I've been thankful to have, especially when I was struggling in a class or with a topic.
So, I guess this concludes the end of my first official week as a senior. What a whirlwind journey it's been thus far!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Yellow Rock-A Review
I just finished watching the film "Yellow Rock" for the first time (it released today on DVD and iTunes). After having been extremely disappointed by "The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy", I was excited about this film, yet also very cautious about it. I've seen a lot of independent films, and know that some are good, some are okay, some are bad, and some are awful (Legend of Hell's Gate I think falls into the last category). However, I was pleasantly surprised by "Yellow Rock", which in my opinion was a very well done and well acted independent Western/film. It is deserving of every award it has earned since first being screened in the fall of 2011.
So, I should probably go into more detail about what I liked/loved and where I give the film its props. First, solid acting. Independent films have one of two reputations: they either have really good acting, or really bad acting. "Yellow Rock" fits into the 'really good' category, in my opinion. The most solid performances I thought came from the three leads: James Russo, Michael Biehn, and Lenore Andriel. 3 actors I've never heard of, or seen anything of until this film. Superb performances from each of them. Lenore has talked several times in interviews how she had this passion for Native American culture and how much she wanted to bring that to life. It's very evident to me in the film how very much Lenore (who was one of the writers and producers) loves Native American culture. It's a love that I myself have had ever since first watching "Into the West" (2005). Anyway, that passion was quite evident in her character, Dr. Sarah Taylor. Michael Biehn was also a standout in his role as Tom Hanner. I wasn't sure what to expect of his character from the interviews and synospis, but it turns out his character is actually a really good guy. James Russo: another solid performance and since I don't want to give anything away, I'll leave it at that comment. Michael Spears (Broken Wing) pulled off yet another solid and good performance. Broken Wing reminded of another good character that Michael is known for playing: Dog Star from the miniseries "Into the West". Dog Star, like Broken Wing, was the pacifist. He did not trust the white man, but did not want war between the two cultures/nations. I think Michael pulls these kinds of characters off well and pretty naturally. Can I also say it was nice to have Michael sing yet again, not once, but twice? His voice gives me chills, partly because I think he sings from his heart and soul. Very honorable mentions: Eddie Spears (Angry Wolf), Zahn McClarnon and the others were all great in supporting roles. I have to say, after watching Eddie in "Hell on Wheels" so long, it's weird seeing him with long hair!
Second, pretty solid writing and plot. There were two sequences that I think were my favorites. The first one being the sequence in the burial ground of the Blackpaw tribe. Completely creepy [though very well done in terms of quality and cinematography], and I was on edge wondering what was going to jump out of the fog. Ha! After seeing a movie like "Imprint" (2007, also starring Michael Spears as this film did), I've learned to be ready for anything in a movie! The way the scene was done made me feel like the characters must have been feeling. The second sequence I thought was really well done was the bit at the end, from when the final character who stole gold gets shot to when the credits rolled. The whole concept of 1) how money/gold are things that will crumble to dust when we think they matter the most (and the film I think asks the question: is the pursuit of fortune worth your life?), and 2) how many [American] Indian tribes became obsolete or nearly obsolete as a result of gold and of 'Manifest Destiny' (you know, the whole idea of it being God's will that America stretch coast to coast?). The end monologue was pretty haunting, as it reminded me of the many injustices done and still done to Native peoples here in America, and perhaps even in places such as Canada.
Overall, out of 5 stars, I have to give "Yellow Rock" a 4 for great acting, solid writing, and honestly: just being an enjoyable film. It is rated R, though I thought the violence was more at a level of PG-13 (not nearly as violent as, say, "Hell on Wheels", which is incredibly violent and gory at times). So, if you're looking for a shorter-than-two-hours film, a Western, or trying to decide between watching "Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy" or "Yellow Rock", do yourself a favor. Choose "Yellow Rock". And: the good looking guys don't hurt either! ;)
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Boredom Yields No Clever Title
You know, one of the problems with summer school is that you're generally focused on only one class at a time. And you would think that you would be occupied enough so as not to ever be bored out of your mind. I certainly thought so when I started the July session, since I was taking 3 classes at the same time and at least one of those classes looked to be time consuming. Here it is July 25th, and already I've completed my assignments for the summer, and have next to nothing to occupy the majority of my days with! Some people would be insanely happy about not having homework during their day, and I suppose I'm one of the few college students who goes absolutely crazy with nothing to do that requires time and thought. So far this week, I've managed to kill at least 2 hours a day with exercising, walking a mile at the gym and doing 10-15 minutes of other exercises to work the parts of the body that don't do much when walking.
Yeah. That's what I thought you would say. "Who exercises in the summer when they don't have to?" I do! I've made a promise to myself this summer to try and exercise more and eat healthier. I started out walking with one of my classmates, but I quickly discovered that wasn't going to work as she wasn't exactly motivated to be faithful to a schedule of walking every week. Another thing I've been working on is a latch hook pillow. I hope to have it completely finished by Christmas to give it to a special little girl in my life that I love a great deal (my niece)! My parents bought me the latch hook kit last summer to work on while I was bored, but I will admit, it's laid neglected in my closet up until this week. On a completely different note: since Netflix introduced all 6 Star Trek series on instant streaming last fall, I've been slowly working my way through each one. It started with Enterprise, and I'm roughly halfway through The Next Generation right now. I used to hate TNG, but as I've watched more and more, it's started to grow on me and is not as annoying as it was. When I finish TNG, I hope to watch all of the Original Series, as I've already seen all of Voyager one or two times. Okay, so that's not impressive compared to most things in the world, but when you're bored and have nothing better to do, you start all kinds of crazy things. I should go to the library and get a library card, but the motivation to do this has not existed. Besides, when I start rotations in August, I probably won't have much time OR energy to read much of anything!
Well. This entry killed about another 15 minutes of my day. Time to find more ways to make the day pass more quickly....
Yeah. That's what I thought you would say. "Who exercises in the summer when they don't have to?" I do! I've made a promise to myself this summer to try and exercise more and eat healthier. I started out walking with one of my classmates, but I quickly discovered that wasn't going to work as she wasn't exactly motivated to be faithful to a schedule of walking every week. Another thing I've been working on is a latch hook pillow. I hope to have it completely finished by Christmas to give it to a special little girl in my life that I love a great deal (my niece)! My parents bought me the latch hook kit last summer to work on while I was bored, but I will admit, it's laid neglected in my closet up until this week. On a completely different note: since Netflix introduced all 6 Star Trek series on instant streaming last fall, I've been slowly working my way through each one. It started with Enterprise, and I'm roughly halfway through The Next Generation right now. I used to hate TNG, but as I've watched more and more, it's started to grow on me and is not as annoying as it was. When I finish TNG, I hope to watch all of the Original Series, as I've already seen all of Voyager one or two times. Okay, so that's not impressive compared to most things in the world, but when you're bored and have nothing better to do, you start all kinds of crazy things. I should go to the library and get a library card, but the motivation to do this has not existed. Besides, when I start rotations in August, I probably won't have much time OR energy to read much of anything!
Well. This entry killed about another 15 minutes of my day. Time to find more ways to make the day pass more quickly....
Monday, July 16, 2012
Taking That Step
July 16th, and halfway through the second summer session. I remember this time last year: I was grateful to have made it almost the whole summer for the first time away from home. Then, I was ready to start my junior year of college and the VMT program. Now, I'm looking at my senior year and my clinical rotations that begin in August. Over the course of the last year, I have been struggling to find a church home. I tried First Baptist, then three others until last month, I went back to FBC. Instead of going back to the college ministry, which I found lacking (to be nice, I won't go into that at the moment), I found a young women's class that I've been enjoying. I almost feel as if I'm out of touch with every other person my age because I don't care about the same things they do. I will admit it: if you asked me to hang out with you, and I had an assignment due at the end of that week, I would tell you no even if I knew it wouldn't take me but ten minutes to finish. Someone once told me that my grades were better than theirs, and my simple answer was: "I don't have a social life and I take what I do seriously". It may sound sad, but not having a desire to be a party animal, hang out excessively with classmates/friends, etc. has played a part in the grades I make.
But anyway. I digress. Last Sunday I joined FBC under their college watchcare program; basically, I'm a member, but didn't have to transfer my letter from my home church. As of right now, I'm not sure what I'll be doing after I graduate next year, and so I don't want to make my church membership too permanent until I know for sure where I'll be going. My sister and brother-in-law were there to support me, though I was so nervous my knees knocked together! But, I survived, and I feel good about deciding to join. The pastor talked for several weeks in a row about the importance of belonging to a church and finding God's place for you in a church. I felt as if God was speaking directly to me through the preacher, and spent the last week just praying about it to be sure it's where He wanted me. I did feel, however, as if God told me in the middle of the week: "Stop analyzing and obey what I told you!" So, I did. I stopped praying about it because I was overanalyzing. My devotionals during that time seemed to be targeted toward obeying God and not taking forever to consider the decision. This is a short blog post, but I've run out of things to ramble on about!
But anyway. I digress. Last Sunday I joined FBC under their college watchcare program; basically, I'm a member, but didn't have to transfer my letter from my home church. As of right now, I'm not sure what I'll be doing after I graduate next year, and so I don't want to make my church membership too permanent until I know for sure where I'll be going. My sister and brother-in-law were there to support me, though I was so nervous my knees knocked together! But, I survived, and I feel good about deciding to join. The pastor talked for several weeks in a row about the importance of belonging to a church and finding God's place for you in a church. I felt as if God was speaking directly to me through the preacher, and spent the last week just praying about it to be sure it's where He wanted me. I did feel, however, as if God told me in the middle of the week: "Stop analyzing and obey what I told you!" So, I did. I stopped praying about it because I was overanalyzing. My devotionals during that time seemed to be targeted toward obeying God and not taking forever to consider the decision. This is a short blog post, but I've run out of things to ramble on about!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Father's Day
Okay, so this is a day late. And to be honest, I stole the idea from a friend's blog. But I thought he had a good idea.
This was the 2nd Father's Day I had to spend away from my dad. I suppose the saying is true when they say you don't know what you have until it's gone. Every holiday that I have to spend away from home makes me wish I hadn't taken the ones I did spend at home for granted. A phone call really just doesn't substitute for actually being there and celebrating. I sent him and my grandfather each a card, and for the first time since it happened, I was sad that I couldn't send a card to my mom's dad, who passed away December 2010. I was very close to him, and even though a) I know he's in a better place and wouldn't want him out of that, b) it's been 18 months since he passed away, I still get upset when I think about him or when I think about how much I miss him. He was such a great man, a great example of what a loving husband and father should be. He loved the Lord and was fully prepared to meet His Savior. He cared about others before thinking of himself; for example, before he passed away, he told my grandmother "be sure you help Stephanie get through college." I constantly live with a regret of not telling him where I was going to school or what I had finally settled on for my major. But I think that he would be proud of me now for sticking it out and doing something that I never thought was possible for me to do: move away so far from home and complete a degree/program that is difficult. If I graduate for nobody else, I graduate for him because it was partly his financial savvy that has helped me achieve what I have so far. Remembering what he gave to me is one of the great motivators for me to stay here and finish this program.
As for my dad: well, there's nobody else like him. He's a preacher, and I'll admit, I've been bitter about being a preacher's kid for a long time. My own set of scars and hurt resulting from being in the ministry pale in comparison to his; there were things I know he kept from us because he didn't want church politics completely overwhelming our home life. He has suffered scorn, ridicule, cutting remarks, people determined to get rid of him because he disagreed with what they were doing, etc etc. Yet he's still in the ministry. I know that at times, he wants to quit. People who have never been in the ministry will never understand the weight and the stress that preachers and their families experience not just on Sundays, but every day of the week. Personally, I don't wish it upon anybody. One thing I admire about my father as a preacher is his willingness to serve others. How often will he put aside his own wants and desires to minister to those who need it the most! I know he gets tired of doing so, but he continually puts other people's needs before his own. If someone is having surgery, even minor, he'll make an effort to be there in the hospital when they go in. Or he'll visit afterwards. Even if people tell him, "oh don't bother", he'll still go because he feels that's what he should do. Even if it means driving 2.5 hours and only having prayer with them before they have surgery, that's his calling. He is certainly a shepherd to his flock when so many preachers seem to not care about their members' needs on a personal level. In this regard, he's one of the most selfless people I think I know. He's also been one of my biggest supporters ever since I announced that I wanted to be a vet. tech. I think he's also been the biggest supporter/fan of MSU ever since I found out I'd be coming here! He wears his 'MSU Dad" shirt proudly every week, and his hat. And he sports his coffee mugs all the time. He's very supportive and that's something I take strength from when I feel like I want to give up. Yet he's always a firm voice of correction when I'm either slacking or when I'm not living up to something I said I'd do...that happens a lot, but at least he's able to correct me for being wrong! I also know that he brags on me, my sister, and my niece a lot to his church; and I actually don't mind. He's a great person, and I've been very blessed to have him as my dad. Did I mention that he and my mom will celebrate 30 years of marriage this Christmas? Talk about a record in today's world of love 'em and leave 'em.
This was going to be longer, but as I had over an hour break in between these big paragraphs and the last 3 sentences...I kind of forgot where else I was taking this entry! lol!
This was the 2nd Father's Day I had to spend away from my dad. I suppose the saying is true when they say you don't know what you have until it's gone. Every holiday that I have to spend away from home makes me wish I hadn't taken the ones I did spend at home for granted. A phone call really just doesn't substitute for actually being there and celebrating. I sent him and my grandfather each a card, and for the first time since it happened, I was sad that I couldn't send a card to my mom's dad, who passed away December 2010. I was very close to him, and even though a) I know he's in a better place and wouldn't want him out of that, b) it's been 18 months since he passed away, I still get upset when I think about him or when I think about how much I miss him. He was such a great man, a great example of what a loving husband and father should be. He loved the Lord and was fully prepared to meet His Savior. He cared about others before thinking of himself; for example, before he passed away, he told my grandmother "be sure you help Stephanie get through college." I constantly live with a regret of not telling him where I was going to school or what I had finally settled on for my major. But I think that he would be proud of me now for sticking it out and doing something that I never thought was possible for me to do: move away so far from home and complete a degree/program that is difficult. If I graduate for nobody else, I graduate for him because it was partly his financial savvy that has helped me achieve what I have so far. Remembering what he gave to me is one of the great motivators for me to stay here and finish this program.
As for my dad: well, there's nobody else like him. He's a preacher, and I'll admit, I've been bitter about being a preacher's kid for a long time. My own set of scars and hurt resulting from being in the ministry pale in comparison to his; there were things I know he kept from us because he didn't want church politics completely overwhelming our home life. He has suffered scorn, ridicule, cutting remarks, people determined to get rid of him because he disagreed with what they were doing, etc etc. Yet he's still in the ministry. I know that at times, he wants to quit. People who have never been in the ministry will never understand the weight and the stress that preachers and their families experience not just on Sundays, but every day of the week. Personally, I don't wish it upon anybody. One thing I admire about my father as a preacher is his willingness to serve others. How often will he put aside his own wants and desires to minister to those who need it the most! I know he gets tired of doing so, but he continually puts other people's needs before his own. If someone is having surgery, even minor, he'll make an effort to be there in the hospital when they go in. Or he'll visit afterwards. Even if people tell him, "oh don't bother", he'll still go because he feels that's what he should do. Even if it means driving 2.5 hours and only having prayer with them before they have surgery, that's his calling. He is certainly a shepherd to his flock when so many preachers seem to not care about their members' needs on a personal level. In this regard, he's one of the most selfless people I think I know. He's also been one of my biggest supporters ever since I announced that I wanted to be a vet. tech. I think he's also been the biggest supporter/fan of MSU ever since I found out I'd be coming here! He wears his 'MSU Dad" shirt proudly every week, and his hat. And he sports his coffee mugs all the time. He's very supportive and that's something I take strength from when I feel like I want to give up. Yet he's always a firm voice of correction when I'm either slacking or when I'm not living up to something I said I'd do...that happens a lot, but at least he's able to correct me for being wrong! I also know that he brags on me, my sister, and my niece a lot to his church; and I actually don't mind. He's a great person, and I've been very blessed to have him as my dad. Did I mention that he and my mom will celebrate 30 years of marriage this Christmas? Talk about a record in today's world of love 'em and leave 'em.
This was going to be longer, but as I had over an hour break in between these big paragraphs and the last 3 sentences...I kind of forgot where else I was taking this entry! lol!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Summer School
So, I'm roughly halfway through summer classes at the moment. Right now, we're doing our surgery class which can be really tedious, but also interesting at times since we get to participate in real surgeries. Last week we had our first surgery lab, and I finally got to put an IV catheter into a REAL dog! up to that point, we'd only been using models and fake veins, so to actually stick it into a patient was rewarding. Amazingly, I hit the vein and got blood on my very first try, which even the vet students in my group were amazed at (I felt like I earned some of their respect at that moment!) because they hadn't ever gotten the catheter in at the first try. Unfortunately, the dog I was working with had very thick skin, and I kinked the catheter right after I almost got it in all the way ready for taping. :( Thankfully the dog was medicated and somewhat sedated, so she didn't feel it. But I was happy that I hit the vein on the first try, which is very difficult to do even for some experienced technicians. I'm hoping that tomorrow I will actually get it in successfully, tape it onto the leg, and maybe even intubate (insert the breathing tube for anesthesia) the dog. It's one thing to do it on a model: it's another to do it on a living, breathing animal where the anatomy doesn't always quite match the model.
On another note, I've already registered for fall classes. This will be my lightest regular semester at only 12 hours. But these aren't normal classes: these 'classes' are clinical rotations! Except for one class (the class that will help me take the national board exam for technicians), every class is mostly practical clinical stuff. I'm nervous but excited because these classes will probably provide the most learning experience yet. Fall is also when I'll be doing my externship, which I'm excited about because that means I get to go home for 4 weeks! :)
So I've registered for my final fall semester of college and at MSU, and I'm almost one semester closer to graduation. Wow. I can't really even remember where I was last year, and even when I think back to orientation, it's hard to imagine that day! It was such a blur, so overwhelming, yet incredibly exciting. What will the next few months hold? I don't know, but I almost can't wait!
On another note, I've already registered for fall classes. This will be my lightest regular semester at only 12 hours. But these aren't normal classes: these 'classes' are clinical rotations! Except for one class (the class that will help me take the national board exam for technicians), every class is mostly practical clinical stuff. I'm nervous but excited because these classes will probably provide the most learning experience yet. Fall is also when I'll be doing my externship, which I'm excited about because that means I get to go home for 4 weeks! :)
So I've registered for my final fall semester of college and at MSU, and I'm almost one semester closer to graduation. Wow. I can't really even remember where I was last year, and even when I think back to orientation, it's hard to imagine that day! It was such a blur, so overwhelming, yet incredibly exciting. What will the next few months hold? I don't know, but I almost can't wait!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Looking Back Over the Year...
It's April 28, 2012. Yesterday, April 27th, the senior VMT students had their pinning and awards ceremony. The 2012 class of Veterinary Students graduated on Thursday. "Official" graduation isn't for another week or two. Graduation for me isn't even for another year, but I suppose all the hubbub surrounding the graduations at the vet. school has gotten me anxious over the next year.
But, it also makes me reflect back on the past year. This time in 2011, I was busy packing and preparing to leave Texas for MSU for the summer, not really wanting to go, but at the same time excited. It's really hard to believe that I've been in Mississippi for nearly a year, and when I look at where I was last year compared to now, it's really hard to believe how much I've learned in that time. I mean, I'm about to complete my first official academic year here in the VMT program. This time last year, I was finishing my volunteer time at the vet. clinic my family uses, and I didn't know then even 1/4 of what I know now! The summer semester was brutal in my eyes: it was ridiculously humid (something I wasn't used to), not to mention hot, AND it rained all the time! Add to this: a very irritating dorm roommate in Rice Hall, Rice Hall itself and dorm life in general, walking at least 2 miles each day for class beginning at 8 a.m., having to tackle trigonometry in a 5 week period, and being extremely homesick as well as out of place. The one thing I think that really helped me to not just give up and leave was having my sister so close: somewhere I could retreat if I needed to. But hey, look on the bright side: I'm pretty sure I lost several pounds that summer, and I got used to walking a lot without it bothering me! (Though I'm certain I gained all that weight back over the Christmas break...)
Then enter the fall semester. I only had a maximum of about 10 days at home in-between the summer and fall sessions, and had to be back for VMT orientation on the 15th. It's strange now to think back on orientation because I can't imagine not knowing my classmates! I didn't know anyone then, felt really out of place, and felt extremely overwhelmed with the expectations I was handed at orientation. Now, as I said, I can't hardly imagine not knowing my classmates like I do, and it's hard to believe the wealth of information I've gathered over the last academic year. It's funny: each new block of classes presented its own challenges, each block threatening to send me packing. Not saying that they were so hard I couldn't overcome them (Hey, I'm still here, right?), but that I felt like at the time that "one class" would be the one to send me home. (classes bolded were the ones I considered my hardest) The first semester saw radiology, animal handling, anatomy and physiology, food animal, small animal tech. skills, and terminology. Now, I don't even remember half of what I learned in classes like radiology because we dont' use radiology every day at the moment, but I still know more now then I knew prior to taking it...
Then came this semester: anatomical pathology, hematology, parasitology, clinical pathology, equine disease and management, animal science, intro. vet. med careers, pharmacology, and small animal. Oh yes, and art appreciation, which I only had to take online from NCTC because I found out MSU didn't accept my film appreciation class as my core fine arts course. Go figure! In all, I've taken 22 hours this spring semester, my heaviest load EVER in my college career. Now, there have only been 3 classes that were all semester, while the others were split up into blocks like before. But still, those classes take away from time you spend studying and completing assignments for other courses; time which I really wish I had! As soon as I submitted my final art appreciation assignment, I said to myself, "I hope I never see anything art related again", because I find art a drag. I've been more challenged this semester than ever before, and so far, I've done pretty well. There are projects and papers I didn't do as well on because I got to the point in the semester where I was trying to complete them, complete them well, but felt like I was running out of time to do so. I think even my art teacher realized that, because at the beginning of the semester, I told the class, "I'm only in this because I have to be. I'm taking 22 hours and this is one of them; I'm taking this course because it's cheaper through NCTC than it is at MSU." My art teacher made the comment on my final art paper: "I realize you only took this course to complete your academic requirements", i.e. "I realize that you didn't care about your assignments because it was a must-take course." Thankfully she was very lenient in grading things, and even though I don't like being a slacker, art appreciation wasn't one of those "Must do extremely well in" classes. I do have an A, which is all that matters I think.
Finals begin on Tuesday, and I'm very ready for them to be O-V-E-R! We only get a 4 day break (excluding the weekend) before our Maymester and summer classes start, but I'm going to take full advantage of that 4 day break! I have a list of things I've been wanting to do that I haven't had time to do since this semester started, so I'm looking forward to it very much!
But, it also makes me reflect back on the past year. This time in 2011, I was busy packing and preparing to leave Texas for MSU for the summer, not really wanting to go, but at the same time excited. It's really hard to believe that I've been in Mississippi for nearly a year, and when I look at where I was last year compared to now, it's really hard to believe how much I've learned in that time. I mean, I'm about to complete my first official academic year here in the VMT program. This time last year, I was finishing my volunteer time at the vet. clinic my family uses, and I didn't know then even 1/4 of what I know now! The summer semester was brutal in my eyes: it was ridiculously humid (something I wasn't used to), not to mention hot, AND it rained all the time! Add to this: a very irritating dorm roommate in Rice Hall, Rice Hall itself and dorm life in general, walking at least 2 miles each day for class beginning at 8 a.m., having to tackle trigonometry in a 5 week period, and being extremely homesick as well as out of place. The one thing I think that really helped me to not just give up and leave was having my sister so close: somewhere I could retreat if I needed to. But hey, look on the bright side: I'm pretty sure I lost several pounds that summer, and I got used to walking a lot without it bothering me! (Though I'm certain I gained all that weight back over the Christmas break...)
Then enter the fall semester. I only had a maximum of about 10 days at home in-between the summer and fall sessions, and had to be back for VMT orientation on the 15th. It's strange now to think back on orientation because I can't imagine not knowing my classmates! I didn't know anyone then, felt really out of place, and felt extremely overwhelmed with the expectations I was handed at orientation. Now, as I said, I can't hardly imagine not knowing my classmates like I do, and it's hard to believe the wealth of information I've gathered over the last academic year. It's funny: each new block of classes presented its own challenges, each block threatening to send me packing. Not saying that they were so hard I couldn't overcome them (Hey, I'm still here, right?), but that I felt like at the time that "one class" would be the one to send me home. (classes bolded were the ones I considered my hardest) The first semester saw radiology, animal handling, anatomy and physiology, food animal, small animal tech. skills, and terminology. Now, I don't even remember half of what I learned in classes like radiology because we dont' use radiology every day at the moment, but I still know more now then I knew prior to taking it...
Then came this semester: anatomical pathology, hematology, parasitology, clinical pathology, equine disease and management, animal science, intro. vet. med careers, pharmacology, and small animal. Oh yes, and art appreciation, which I only had to take online from NCTC because I found out MSU didn't accept my film appreciation class as my core fine arts course. Go figure! In all, I've taken 22 hours this spring semester, my heaviest load EVER in my college career. Now, there have only been 3 classes that were all semester, while the others were split up into blocks like before. But still, those classes take away from time you spend studying and completing assignments for other courses; time which I really wish I had! As soon as I submitted my final art appreciation assignment, I said to myself, "I hope I never see anything art related again", because I find art a drag. I've been more challenged this semester than ever before, and so far, I've done pretty well. There are projects and papers I didn't do as well on because I got to the point in the semester where I was trying to complete them, complete them well, but felt like I was running out of time to do so. I think even my art teacher realized that, because at the beginning of the semester, I told the class, "I'm only in this because I have to be. I'm taking 22 hours and this is one of them; I'm taking this course because it's cheaper through NCTC than it is at MSU." My art teacher made the comment on my final art paper: "I realize you only took this course to complete your academic requirements", i.e. "I realize that you didn't care about your assignments because it was a must-take course." Thankfully she was very lenient in grading things, and even though I don't like being a slacker, art appreciation wasn't one of those "Must do extremely well in" classes. I do have an A, which is all that matters I think.
Finals begin on Tuesday, and I'm very ready for them to be O-V-E-R! We only get a 4 day break (excluding the weekend) before our Maymester and summer classes start, but I'm going to take full advantage of that 4 day break! I have a list of things I've been wanting to do that I haven't had time to do since this semester started, so I'm looking forward to it very much!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Chapter 3: Crazy Love
(Sorry about the absence; it's been very hectic in my life with school, but I had some down time and decided to read some chapters and blog).
So chapter 3 is all about God's crazy love. Chan opens the chapter talking about how he had difficulties understanding God's love because of his relationship to his earthly father. I can honestly say, I think I've been surrounded by two of the best examples of God's fatherly love: my dad and my mom's dad. My grandfather is no longer with us, but he left an impression on me that will never be erased. He exemplified what being a responsible father and husband meant. In the same way, my dad has impacted me and continues to impact me even from a distance. I know that I can call on him for something and, if able, he'll do it. This is going off subject, but I've always maintained that if I ever begin dating while in college, or really regardless of when I date, the boy has to get my father's permission first and foremost to date me. It may seem silly or even old-fashioned, but I believe that my father knows who I should and shouldn't be dating. I love the part in Courageous (2011) where the man takes his daughter to dinner, and asks her to entrust him with her heart, and that he will pick "the very best" for her when God shows them the right one. I'm able to entrust my heart to my earthly father, but I often struggle with entrusting my heart to my heavenly Father.
Something that has been plaguing me lately is my devotion to God. I've been struggling with establishing a church home, and I find more excuses to avoid church than you can shake a stick at. Believe me, I want to find a church home, and schoolwork does interfere more often than I want it to. Unfortunately, no church is perfect. I've been praying lately that God would show me in some way where He wants me to go to church. I've found one that I basically like, the only problem with it is the schedule of the college ministry. Chan touches on the subject of "having quiet times out of guilt." This is another area in which I've been asking myself why I'm doing it. My parents bought me Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost for His Highest", and I've been reading it since November. But, I do little more than read the verse that accompanies the devotional and the devotional itself. It hardly takes me 5 minutes. I never feel like I spend much quality time with God. I was struck by some quotes from the book that apply to this area of life:
"Over time, I realized that when we love God, we naturally run to Him-frequently and zealously. Jesus didn't command that we have a regular time with Him each day."
"This is how God longs for us to respond to His extravagant, unending love: not with a cursory 'quiet time' plagued by guilt, but with true love expressed through our lives."
He isn't saying not to have a quiet time. I believe that what Chan is getting at is that we should want to spend time with God daily because of our love for Him; if you want to get to know a friend you've just met, you have to spend time with them. you want to spend time with that person because you enjoy their company/presence. I think the same thing should apply to our quiet time with God. It isn't required, but it should be desired.
I want to close with this quote from the book, because I think it is so true today:
"The irony is that while God doesn't need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time. He treasures us and anticipates our departure from this earth to be with Him-and we wonder, indifferently, how much we have to do for Him to get by."
So chapter 3 is all about God's crazy love. Chan opens the chapter talking about how he had difficulties understanding God's love because of his relationship to his earthly father. I can honestly say, I think I've been surrounded by two of the best examples of God's fatherly love: my dad and my mom's dad. My grandfather is no longer with us, but he left an impression on me that will never be erased. He exemplified what being a responsible father and husband meant. In the same way, my dad has impacted me and continues to impact me even from a distance. I know that I can call on him for something and, if able, he'll do it. This is going off subject, but I've always maintained that if I ever begin dating while in college, or really regardless of when I date, the boy has to get my father's permission first and foremost to date me. It may seem silly or even old-fashioned, but I believe that my father knows who I should and shouldn't be dating. I love the part in Courageous (2011) where the man takes his daughter to dinner, and asks her to entrust him with her heart, and that he will pick "the very best" for her when God shows them the right one. I'm able to entrust my heart to my earthly father, but I often struggle with entrusting my heart to my heavenly Father.
Something that has been plaguing me lately is my devotion to God. I've been struggling with establishing a church home, and I find more excuses to avoid church than you can shake a stick at. Believe me, I want to find a church home, and schoolwork does interfere more often than I want it to. Unfortunately, no church is perfect. I've been praying lately that God would show me in some way where He wants me to go to church. I've found one that I basically like, the only problem with it is the schedule of the college ministry. Chan touches on the subject of "having quiet times out of guilt." This is another area in which I've been asking myself why I'm doing it. My parents bought me Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost for His Highest", and I've been reading it since November. But, I do little more than read the verse that accompanies the devotional and the devotional itself. It hardly takes me 5 minutes. I never feel like I spend much quality time with God. I was struck by some quotes from the book that apply to this area of life:
"Over time, I realized that when we love God, we naturally run to Him-frequently and zealously. Jesus didn't command that we have a regular time with Him each day."
"This is how God longs for us to respond to His extravagant, unending love: not with a cursory 'quiet time' plagued by guilt, but with true love expressed through our lives."
He isn't saying not to have a quiet time. I believe that what Chan is getting at is that we should want to spend time with God daily because of our love for Him; if you want to get to know a friend you've just met, you have to spend time with them. you want to spend time with that person because you enjoy their company/presence. I think the same thing should apply to our quiet time with God. It isn't required, but it should be desired.
I want to close with this quote from the book, because I think it is so true today:
"The irony is that while God doesn't need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time. He treasures us and anticipates our departure from this earth to be with Him-and we wonder, indifferently, how much we have to do for Him to get by."
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Crazy Love: Chapters 1 and 2
Okay, so far these posts might be pretty short, but that's because I don't have a great deal to say right now about the book. So, here we go.
Chapter 1
This chapter opens with Chan asking, "What if I said, 'stop praying'?" Then it follows up with another question, "What if I told you to stop talking at God, but instead to take a long, hard look at Him before you speak another word?" I think I have to agree with this statement. We spend too much of our prayer lives telling God what to do instead of letting Him speak to us [I'm pointing a finger at myself here!]. I also found another statement on page 1 very true: "Our culture says anything goes; fear of God is almost unheard of." Ouch. But isn't that the case? God is mocked, and so are His followers. The best example I can think of is Tim Tebow. If it were a Muslim praising Allah, I guarantee you not ONE word would be said about what is coming out of his mouth. Thank the Lord for a person like Tebow who doesn't conform to what his peers demand, and that he is confessing His Savior in public. You may call it preachy, but I call it being true to God's instruction to confess Him before men. God will silence the mockers and the critics, in His own way and time. But enough of that; back to the book. Another point that Chan makes is that our world insists on either "ignoring or merely tolerating" Jesus. However, like Chan pointed out, God doesn't call us to tolerate Him; He commands us to worship Him and Him alone.
Later on in chapter 1, Chan says that "when I grow weary of trying to be faithful to Him and want a break, it doesn't come as a surprise to God." Since about August, I've been struggling to feel at home here in Mississippi. I've been struggling with finding a good church home/family, something I hope will be resolved in the next week or so. But you know, God knew all that when He directed me to Mississippi State. He knew I'd have a hard time, He knew I would struggle with being depressed and lonely. What I'm going through never comes as a surprise to Him. That's a comfort, especially considering that, if He knew my hard times, surely He knows about the good times and has a plan beyond the difficult spots.
Chapter 2
This chapter brings up some points that I disagree with Chan on. Namely, his statement that "worry and stress reek of arrogance." While I agree that worry is or can be the result of a lack of faith that God can provide, I disagree that stress is pure arrogance. I know this is no excuse, but I believe stress to be at least a little biological. Maybe it is due to our lack of faith at times, but I know people who are not in the least arrogant, and yet still struggle with stress. I did agree with him, though, when he said that when your life is hard, God uses it to point to Him, and that is the entire point of our lives as believers: to point to Him.
That's about all I have to say right now. will post my thoughts about Chapter 3 when I read it.
Chapter 1
This chapter opens with Chan asking, "What if I said, 'stop praying'?" Then it follows up with another question, "What if I told you to stop talking at God, but instead to take a long, hard look at Him before you speak another word?" I think I have to agree with this statement. We spend too much of our prayer lives telling God what to do instead of letting Him speak to us [I'm pointing a finger at myself here!]. I also found another statement on page 1 very true: "Our culture says anything goes; fear of God is almost unheard of." Ouch. But isn't that the case? God is mocked, and so are His followers. The best example I can think of is Tim Tebow. If it were a Muslim praising Allah, I guarantee you not ONE word would be said about what is coming out of his mouth. Thank the Lord for a person like Tebow who doesn't conform to what his peers demand, and that he is confessing His Savior in public. You may call it preachy, but I call it being true to God's instruction to confess Him before men. God will silence the mockers and the critics, in His own way and time. But enough of that; back to the book. Another point that Chan makes is that our world insists on either "ignoring or merely tolerating" Jesus. However, like Chan pointed out, God doesn't call us to tolerate Him; He commands us to worship Him and Him alone.
Later on in chapter 1, Chan says that "when I grow weary of trying to be faithful to Him and want a break, it doesn't come as a surprise to God." Since about August, I've been struggling to feel at home here in Mississippi. I've been struggling with finding a good church home/family, something I hope will be resolved in the next week or so. But you know, God knew all that when He directed me to Mississippi State. He knew I'd have a hard time, He knew I would struggle with being depressed and lonely. What I'm going through never comes as a surprise to Him. That's a comfort, especially considering that, if He knew my hard times, surely He knows about the good times and has a plan beyond the difficult spots.
Chapter 2
This chapter brings up some points that I disagree with Chan on. Namely, his statement that "worry and stress reek of arrogance." While I agree that worry is or can be the result of a lack of faith that God can provide, I disagree that stress is pure arrogance. I know this is no excuse, but I believe stress to be at least a little biological. Maybe it is due to our lack of faith at times, but I know people who are not in the least arrogant, and yet still struggle with stress. I did agree with him, though, when he said that when your life is hard, God uses it to point to Him, and that is the entire point of our lives as believers: to point to Him.
That's about all I have to say right now. will post my thoughts about Chapter 3 when I read it.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
My best friend handed me a late Christmas/birthday present the other day: Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It's a book I've been hearing about for a while now. I just never bought a copy or bothered to look into it. I don't know yet if it's a book I'll enjoy, or even agree with. But I'm up to chapter 3, and so far, I'm in agreement with most everything he's been saying. When I return to S-ville, I plan on re-reading the first two chapters, and really take notes on what I do and don't like, and how I think about what he puts forth. Hopefully, I can convey those thoughts to this blog. Care to join me?
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