My life is not a movie

“A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment.” –Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice.

Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes!

I recently went on a 10 day trip with my parents to Orlando, Florida. It was fun in the sun (and the almost oppressive humidity) for days. I loved it. We visited the wonderful world of Harry Potter.













Where we tried a frozen butter beer. Very tasty.

Frozen Butter beer!

 Got wet on the water rides at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures (Thanks Dad).  Saw exotic wildlife at SeaWorld.

Penguins!

Tried the seafood at Bubba Gump Shrimp co. (So I ate chicken, sue me... but don't really. I don't have anything you want.) And donated to a good cause for veterans thanks to the Gary Sinise Foundation.

I just felt like running beard.

Got sunburned at the beach (oh, that was just me? Right.) And walked until our Fitbits almost gave out on us. It was fantastic. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to accompany my parents and get away from the real world for a little while.

Coco Beach!

At the end of the trip, as I reflected on all fun in the sun we had, I realized that the movies and books lie. I didn’t meet a mysterious and handsome stranger who was so enamored by me that he had to chase me across the country so he could confess his undying love.

Whoa. Wait, how did a picture of Tom Hiddleston end up on here? 

I got gypped! Isn’t that what is supposed to happen when a single girl of a certain age goes on a trip with her parents? Isn’t she supposed to meet THE ONE and live happily ever after? Or did all those Mary Kate and Ashley movies I watched at a pre-teen just lie to me. Ugh.

Haha. Of course, I didn’t go on this vacation with the intention of a brief and ill-fated romance blossoming between strangers. (Well maybe it did but not with me. There was a veterinary conference going on at the hotel we stayed at. Never know what those vets get up to.) But I wouldn’t be the Hopeless Romantic if I didn’t have the thought cross my mind at least once and then let my imagination get the better of me. As the quote at the top of this post implies... some people (like me) have tendency to let our imaginations get the better of us and what starts out as a fun vacation should turn into a hopelessly romantic experience that leads to "matrimony". Haha.

So no romantic vacation for me this time around. But I had a fantastic time with my parents. I even got a little bit tan… after I burned. (I was diligent about sunscreen… it just happened to be crappy sunscreen. Ugh.)

Even though I don’t have a handsome stranger chasing me across the country, I can say that my vacation was sublimely wonderful. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

"From Here to Eternity"

Before I get started, I want to establish that this is a safe space. In the 150+ posts on this blog, it is readily apparent that I am in fact a hopeless romantic. That's why my name is the Hopeless Romantic. This is me reminding you as well as preparing you for a pile of ooey gooey sap.

A few weeks ago, I was listening to a random Youtube playlist of country music from the 80s and 90s. Stuff I grew up listening to and watching music videos on CMT. Yeah, I was one of those weirdo kids that watched CMT... all the time much to the chagrin of my four brothers. Anyway, I was listening to this playlist when a song I had heard many years ago came on. I listened to it twice, wrote the artist and the song title on a sticky note, and then proceeded to throw the sticky note away. Of course!

The other day, I had the urge to listen to the song again. Except I couldn't remember what the name of the song was or who the artist was because I threw the sticky note away! I should tell you that the artist (and the song) didn't become very popular because I didn't remember ever knowing who this guy was, but I've fallen in love with this song. It speaks (or dare I say sings) to my hopeless romantic side. It's sweet and romantic and I just like the sound of it. I even found the original music video on Youtube... so for your viewing pleasure (from some indeterminate year of the 90s) I present "From Here to Eternity" by Michael Peterson:

I'm assuming that you have watched this incredibly corny music video and are wondering how low I can sink before I become a hopeless sap. You're too late. I'm already there. At least I'm not delusional... or so I tell myself. Can crazy people know they're crazy?

I just... I love this song. I love the message of it. I believe in a love that can last for now and for eternity. There is no "til death do us part" for me. It's for now and it's forever. Unfortunately, I have yet to find such a love. But I know of others who have found it. I'm not saying that their lives are fairy tales, nor do I expect mine to be. From my own limited knowledge, true love is that kind that last through all the ups and especially through all the downs. Life can really suck. And it can get really hard. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, I can't wait for the day that I have someone who loves me enough to want to be with me for now and for eternity even through all the crap (and the good times too, of course) we have to experience before we get there (to eternity).

That's what I like about the message of this song. Also, I think it's sweet and romantic but I've already said that. I'm repeating myself now. I suppose that means it's time to sign off. Now that I've sent this out into the universe and now you know what I've been obsessing listening to, maybe now I can move on.

Remember, this is a safe space for all of us hopeless saps romantics out there.

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

A long boring story with no point to it

"If I wanted a long, boring story with no point to it, I have my life." -Jerry Seinfeld (from an unknown episode of Seinfeld). 

If you haven't noticed, I haven't blogged in a while. A really long while. When I started this blog again I thought I would be able to slip back into my old ways and patterns. When I was in college (when I started this blog), I had so much more going on in my life. I had school, a much more social job, church, family, friends. Actually, I have everything on this list except for school. It's different now, though.

Without the fodder of school, my life has become increasingly dull to write about. No seriously.

I go to work. I go to the gym. I come home and eat dinner. Then it's either a movie, episodes of my latest binge watch on Netflix (or Smallville), or a book. Soon bedtime comes and I realize that nothing of great importance has occurred in my day. Now, not every day follows this exact pattern. Yesterday, for example, I went to Target with my roommates. That was a change.

It's like my life is stuck on this unending repeat cycle of sameness. Not that I'm complaining, per se. There is nothing wrong with my life. Except, deep inside, I feel a hidden part of myself clawing to get out. To do something crazy. To do something different. To make a change in my life. In my habits. In my personality.

I believe people can change. Sure, there are parts about us that tend to stay the same throughout our lives but ultimately, if you want to change, you can. Hopefully for the better. The problem is desiring to change and sticking with it. I think, I became a more outgoing person when I was forced to be a more outgoing person but there was always that part inside me that longed for the comfort and safety of being an introvert. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with being an introvert. We need both extroverts and introverts to keep the scales balanced in life.

A balanced life. How does one go about getting one of those? How does one go about living a life worth blogging about? Maybe it's like Seinfeld, which was a show essentially about nothing. There were no big drama moments. The characters didn't change. The scenery didn't change. They just lived their lives like "normal" people. Maybe instead of expecting to have a blog about these major moments, I should focus on having a blog about the mundane. Because, isn't it true that most people live lives of the mundane and the mediocre? I'm not alone in my feelings, am I?

I started this post based around that quote from Seinfeld because I felt it summed up my feelings about my life at the moment, except for I know there is a point or a purpose to my life. I've just yet to fully discover it.

And I guess that's okay. It's in the baby steps of life that lead us to our ultimate destination. Whatever that may be.

So, here we are. I've babbled my way through 8 paragraphs to ultimately say that I want to start blogging again. It's not about my writing being read so much as me writing. That's what has been missing from my life. I don't care if this post gets read because it's not about you, it's about me.

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

The "Will they/Won't they" Conundrum

Today, I will be combining two of my favorite things: television shows and love. Just in case you haven't noticed, I am a bit of a romantic. That being said, this topic is near and dear to my little hopeless romantic heart. I've dubbed it the "Will they/Won't they conundrum."

What is the WT/WT conundrum you ask?

The best examples of this conundrum come from television, although you can find it in movies and series and such. It starts with a character, they could be male or female, who has interactions with another character of the opposite gender. They could be friends, or co-workers, or whatever. At first, one might like the other or they might have a mutual attraction for each other that they keep at bay. But the fact of the matter is that we as the audience want them to get together, a term called "Shipping", even if they don't want to be together. (Or the writers don't want them to be together.)

Some times we wait years for characters to get together. Sometimes they never get together. Or the show ends on such an ambiguous note that we have no idea what has happened. (Of course, we can imagine what we want to happen... But I've NEVER done that before...).

Why do we put ourselves through such agony? Do we naturally just feed off of drama? What it is it about the angst and drama of two people who may or may not be in love that causes us to devote hours of our lives to their story? You know these are all supposed to be rhetorical questions right?

I've decided that I'm going to answer them for myself anyway. Because it's my blog and I can blog if I want to!

1. Why do we put ourselves through such agony?

I know for me, I love a good story. Even better, I love a good love story. It must have been the way I was raised or reading some many stupid books, but I like seeing two people I think are meant to be together... actually getting together. Even if it takes 7 agonizing seasons. At least, they finally have their "lobster" or their better half or their soul mate. Whatever you want to call it. I just want people to get their happy endings. I believe in happily ever afters. (Sure, life is going to always be sunshine and roses but we aren't meant to deal with trials alone).

2. Do we naturally just feed off of drama?

Heck yes!! Even when we don't want drama in our lives, we naturally like to watch it. How else have the movie, television, and theater businesses flourished so much? Why else do we like to watch movies like Jurassic World and The Notebook and The Help and Insidious (No, I don't watch Insidious or any other creepy scary movie that will 100% give me nightmares.) The whole point is that we watch other people's drama for entertainment, even if it is fictional.

3. What it is it about the angst and drama of two people who may or may not be in love that causes us to devote hours of our lives to their story?

This is actually just a variation on the first two questions, thus I've already essentially answered it. We like to watch other people's drama. We like stories. That's a part of human nature.  We like to see people struggle and learn and grow and be happy and sad and in love and in hate and so on and so forth.

Maybe you're reading this (if you got this far) and thinking that I'm a complete weirdo and no body thinks like this. And nobody cares what happens to fictional characters. Well you know what?! I care! If that makes me happy, then so be it! Also, I know it's fiction. I don't have any weird delusions like these people, these characters exist. They don't have to exist to have a happy ending.

On that note... I thought I'd share some of my favorite drama-inducing Will they/Won't they conundrum couples from my TV watching time. These are in no particular order.

Ross and Rachel from FRIENDS.

Ross and Rachel were my first "ship". I thought they were meant to be together. And it took 10 LONG YEARS for it to finally happen for good. At least I'm assuming for good because the series ended. They were on and off again. They got married and divorced (Vegas wedding). They had a child together. It was torture to watch them dance around the fact that they were each other's "Lobster" (Lobster apparently mate for life, according to Phoebe Buffay.) I'm glad that the writers finally brought them together at the end. They finally made it.

They finally got together after 10 seasons.

Booth and Brennan from BONES.

Booth and Brennan were my favorite WT/WT couples for the longest time. I loved their partnership before I loved the idea of the two of them together. I also love that their relationship isn't without it's problems. They don't have a sunshine and rainbows kind of relationship. But just like their working relationship, they both do their best to make what they have work... (I'm assuming because I'm a season behind...) I wanted them to be together but I was almost scared of them together. I think the writers did a pretty good job and keeping them true to their characters and yet making them work as a couple.

They got together after 6 seasons... FINALLY!

Castle and Beckett from CASTLE.

Castle and Beckett... mutual attraction from the beginning. Beckett was the one to fight it the longest. I was so happy when they finally got together. I liked their relationship because it had it's serious moments but it was full of light and flirty moments too. It's a fun relationship. And who wouldn't want to be in a relationship with Castle. He's awesome!

They got together after 4 seasons.

Jim and Pam from THE OFFICE.

Jim Halpert and Jam Beesely... Oh what agony as you watched Jim pine for an engaged girl. Thankfully we didn't have to wait too long before we got them together. I loved their relationship because it seems so real. It's a relationship you could find out in the real world as well as on the TV screen.

They got together at the end of season 3.

Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls from VERONICA MARS.

Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls... They were friends and then they hated each other and then they were madly attracted to each other! Come on! Make up your minds people! They were on for a minute and then they were off for a season and then they were on and then they were off. The show was cut in its prime and we never got any resolution about their WT/WT relationship. ...Until the movie came out... HUZZAH! Finally some resolution. And a way hotter Logan Echolls! For two people with so many skeletons in their closet, they sure are meant to be together. Their story is EPIC!

They got together in season one, season two, season three... and finally in the movie. Hurray!

I just wanted a picture of his biceps... haha.

Danny and Riley from BABY DADDY.

Danny and Riley have been best friends/neighbors since they were kids. Riley has been in love with Danny's younger brother forever... and Danny has been in love with Riley the whole time. It kills me to watch them dance around the attraction and love they have for each other. I'm still anxiously waiting to find out if they end up together... Oh the agony... I love it and I hate it!

My inspiration for this post... and still waiting to find out what happens...

I couldn't resist a Danny shirtless one... haha. 

There are so many more WT/WT examples out there but these were some of my favorites. Some of them got their "happily ever after" early on in the game, some it wasn't until later, and some of them (like Danny and Riley) we're still waiting impatiently to find out how the writers can keep tormenting us!

I hope you've enjoyed exploring the Will they/Won't they conundrum with me. It's been fun to be reminded of all the couples that I love to watch. Just proof that I am indeed a hopeless romantic... and proud of it!

Until next time,

The Hopeless Romantic

Captain America : The First Avenger

I'm back!

When I wrote my last post over three years ago, I thought that I was done being the Hopeless Romantic. I served an 18 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint and I came back ready to grow up and be more serious. I started a new blog, Smile Always Chuck, but over the last year and a half I've missed being the Hopeless Romantic. I miss being silly and slightly ridiculous. I've decided it's time to come back.

My last post was on Iron Man/Tony Stark and my thoughts on him. But I've seen the light. I've found someone so much better than Iron Man: Captain America.

This will be the first part of a three part study of Captain America from the Marvel movies. I'll be talking about Captain America/Steve Rogers as he appears in Captain America : The First Avenger, The Avengers, and Captain America : The Winter Soldier.

Let's start with Captain America : The First Avenger.

Before we have Captain America, we started with a young man from Brooklyn named Steve Rogers. Steve has a deep sense of patriotic duty. He doesn't want to sit by and watch other men go sacrifice everything for their country in WWII, while he is forced to "collect scrap metal in his little red wagon." Unfortunately, Steve Rogers is small in stature and riddled with health problems so he can't seem to get himself recruited in the army, despite his many efforts.

I think, because of his small stature, Steve feels like he needs compensate for what he feels he lacks. He's not afraid to take on bigger counterparts, especially if he feels they aren't showing the proper respected owed to the armed forces. I'm referring to the movie theater incident that ends with Steve on his butt after being punched by a much bigger man and Bucky saves the day. He doesn't "like bullies" as he tells Dr. Erskine. Which seems to suggest that Steve Rogers has seen his fair share of bullies in his life. He doesn't take on the "bullies" to prove that he's as big and strong as other mean, but that he can and is willing to do it.

When he finally gets his very improved body, Steve doesn't gloat about it. He uses his improved physical abilities to help others, uses it for good. He doesn't use it get girls or to finally prove to all those bullies that he's better than them. He tries to protect those around him. Even when he was a little guy, Steve is always willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good/mankind. Examples such as never giving up trying to get recruited in the army and throwing himself over the grenade in bootcamp. Going after the 107th alone. And taking the plane down into the ice so that no one would be hurt by the bombs on board. This is what makes him Captain America.

Steve has spent his life as the little guy that no one really notices. His best pal, Bucky, is the only one left at this point of the story who cares about him. Bucky has always been the one to look out for Steve but he's just been given his orders to join the 107th. As a last hurrah, they go on a double date to the exciting Future Expo (or whatever it is called) in New York City. Steve's date isn't even interested in him. He evens offers to share his popcorn (or peanuts?) with her and the horrible girl only rolls her eyes. What a terrible date! But I think that's the normal reaction of women towards the small Steve Rogers. Especially in the midst of all the handsome and honorable young men in uniform heading off to fight for their country. Women love men in uniform.

With that said, its safe to assume that Steve has no experience with women. He says as much to Peggy in the car the morning of his procedure. Women just never expressed an interest in him and I think once the war broke out, he was more interested in serving his country than landing a girlfriend. Agent Peggy Carter sees that. He's not a womanizer nor is he interested in becoming one. Even when he has the physical appearance to get any girl he wants. I think it surprises him to find women actually paying attention to him for the first time in his life. When the secretary in the SSR office kisses him, not only is he surprised but semi-willing because he's never had that kind of attention before. I'd bet that Steve's never been kissed before. No wonder he was getting into it when Peggy caught him.

So after all of this, what turned Steve Rogers into Captain America? Was it his physical transformation from sickly boy to tall and muscly awesomeness? Was it the fact that he finally had the ability to do what he'd always wanted to do and serve his country?

It boils down to what Dr. Erskine told Steve before his procedure. Heart. Steve Rogers had the heart necessary to be Captain America. To be the symbol that roused the American people's hearts and spirits in regards to the war and to lead the the men of the armed forces into battle against the greatest odds. He inspires goodness and truth and protecting the things that are important to you. A message we can still use today.

Captain America is a symbol of freedom and goodness. And thus, he is the first Avenger.

And because I just couldn't resist... the after picture.... haha. Guess some things never change...

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

It's not Goodbye, It's just Until Next Time

I'm leaving. But not forever. Just for 18 months. I'm leaving to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka The LDS church or the Mormon church). I'll be "stationed" in Long Beach California area, spreading the gospel.

This means that I won't be able to post on here. However, my brother says he'll keep it posted occasionally. The posts just won't be my usual drooling over attractive men, ranting about TV and movies, sighing over romance stuff. It'll be more about my experiences as a missionary. I don't know how often there will be posts because as a missionary our time is limited and my focus will be more on communicating with my family.

However, I will be back. My estimated return date is November of 2013. I plan on continuing this blog because I'll still be the Hopeless Romantic. It'll just be a little older and wiser Hopeless Romantic writing.

I am excited for this opportunity I have to serve for the Lord for 18 months in California. I want to thank you all who have taken time out of your busy days to read my dorky posts. Thanks, it means a lot to know that someone is reading my stuff.

It's not goodbye, it's just until next time. See ya!

Until Next Time,

Sister Hopeless

A Stark Comparison

I'm a little hopeless. Strike that. I'm A LOT hopeless. My parents took me to see The Avengers on Friday and I absolutely loved it. It was so good. Plus, when you put a cast of mainly of attractive guys who are buff, I'm going to like the movie. :) I'm just cool like that.

The Avengers = Awesome

Anyway, since seeing The Avengers, I decided that I needed to see both Thor and Captain America before I leave. So that's been my goal this weekend. Thanks to Redbox, I've been able to see both movies and I greatly enjoyed them. And now, I have to re-watch Iron Man and Iron Man 2 because I have a mad, mad crush on Tony Stark... despite some major character flaws.

I was enjoying Captain America, when Howard Stark appeared. Now, my initial reaction is that Tony Stark is a little more attractive and a lot more arrogant. Not that Howard Stark isn't arrogant but his is more of self-confidence with an edge. Unfortunately, we don't get a lot of Howard Stark because the movie is about Captain America. However, we do get a little taste and that's all we need. :)

As I've had to contemplate this post, I have come to realize that although Tony Stark is his father's son, he also is a manifestation of all his father's more... undesirable traits. For example, Tony is arrogant, a womanizer, too smart for his own good sometimes, narcissistic, unwilling to take responsibility (sometimes)... and because don't know all that much about Howard Stark... that's really all I have. I should also say, these aren't necessarily bad traits, well most of them anyway, but Tony Stark has them in spades. Probably due to his upbringing as a boy genius from an extremely wealthy family. And a bit of estrangement from his father (if I'm remembering correctly).

About the estrangement between Starks... I can't help but wonder if it had to do with the fact that Howard saw a lot of himself in Tony. Maybe it was to protect him. And perhaps, because we now know about Howard's involvement with Captain America and S.H.I.E.L.D. (before it was S.H.I.E.L.D.), he was trying to keep his genius son away from that? I'm not sure that we'll ever know... but maybe we will.

The point is that their relationship wasn't the greatest and we don't know anything about Tony's mother. And when did Howard settle down to have his family? And will Tony do the same? (If you've seen Iron Man 2, you'll have the same hope I did that Pepper Potts will finally stop Tony's womanizing ways.)

Writing this post seems to bring up more questions than answers. There is nothing wrong with that, especially because our information on Howard Stark is so limited. He only shows up in the one movie with Captain America and even then the movie is not about him as the Iron Mans are about Tony. [Side Note: I think it quite interesting that Captain America has the opportunity to work with both Starks. I wonder what his thoughts on them are. Hmm?]

Also, the Stark men make engineering seem hot. I love seeing Tony as Iron Man but I love him more when he's all smart and engineer-y and scientifical. I don't know what that means but it's a very attractive quality about him.

Despite claiming that Tony got all his distasteful traits from his father, there are some good ones he inheritated. Once he realizes that his weapons are being sold to the enemy, Tony works on stopping it. And he's loyal to friends... when he's not dying and drunk. Howard Stark went searching for Captain America after he went down in the bad guy's ship in the antartic (or wherever). I believe Howard developed a friendship with Steve (Captain America) and I have hopes that Tony will too.

I don't believe Tony Stark is a bad guy. Sure he's not the greatest guy ever but he's got good intentions... mingled in with narcissism. And I know Howard Stark is a good guy who wanted the best for his son... however misguided his intentions.

This wasn't quite the comparison I had intended but it's hard to compare evenly when we know very little about Howard and we know so much about Tony. But I noticed similarities between father and son in their respective movies and I felt like exploring it a little.

I exhort you all to see The Avengers and any other of the Marvel movies. They are awesome. But that could be the nerd-girl inside of me screaming "I LOVE YOU, TONY STARK!".

Howard Stark

Tony Stark

And because I can't resist... Tony Stark's arms

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

Why I Want to Marry A Hot Guy

This post is really about/dedicated to my awesome friend, Michelle (whom I have mentioned many times on this blog). We were discussing the very attractive prince on Mirror Mirror (which we both loved! Because it's a movie that appeals to girls like us... girls who still have a 12 year old girl trapped inside us.) :) Mirror Mirror is the kind of movie that gets poor reviews from the general population but for me, I love it. And I plan on purchasing it someday.

Anyway, not the point. Back to Michelle. We were talking about hot guys and Michelle piped up, "I want to marry a hot guy, but not because I'm shallow." Of course, whenever you say something like that, it seems kind of shallow but Michelle is not shallow! However, we all have our shallow parts... the shallow end leads to the deep end in the pool right?

In Utah, being a 26 year old woman and unmarried leads your married friends and your family to pity you. As you get older and remain single, the more pity you get. In normal Utah Mormon culture, many girls are married by the time they hit 21. (This is a very general statement- obviously this is not the case for everyone but it certainly feels very true.)

So the older you are, the less likely it is for a relatively normal Mormon girl to meet a relatively normal Mormon boy. The boys your age tend to marry girls younger than you. And for some boys, there's a reason they're not married. If you get my meaning. (Psycho!)

Okay, so here's Michelle's reason for wanting to marry a hot guy. And it's not just so she has the right to ogle him anytime. (That would be awesome and less awkward than getting caught mid-ogle by some guy you don't know.) It's a little about vindication. For example, if you marry someone who has a personality but not necessarily "the looks" then people cluck their tongues and shake their head. "Poor girl, she settled because she got married when she was old." (This is not true and in both my defense and Michelle's defense we're not saying that looks are everything... this is purely hypothetical.)

But if you marry an attractive guy with a personality, then it's sort of like "Look at me, I got married at 27 and a half and my husband is hot! You don't have to get married when you're a 19 year old co-ed. And you don't have to settle."

There you go. That's the why Michelle wants to marry a hot guy. I know that this whole post seems a little shallow. But honestly, if you're a Mormon girl over the age 21 and not planning on a mission, you get a lot of flak about why you're not married, why you don't have boyfriend, why you aren't going on a mission, blah blah blah. Then you get pity because of your single-ness.

We're all allowed to have that part inside us who wants to show people that we're not hopeless, "sweet spirits" that need to be set up on blind dates or join dating websites because we don't have a husband yet. Sometimes, we have something else in store for us before we get married or maybe that guy is busy at the moment. Sometimes, we just need to be patient and not give up hope. You're not a freak or hopeless just because you're not married a 21.

Okay, I hope that those who read this post don't find offense in anything written. It's not supposed to be offensive or shallow or make me and Michelle seem like we're ditzes who just want a hot guy (not opposed to the idea of a hot guy but looks aren't everything).

So, I hope it isn't taken negatively. It's just the thoughts of a single girl living in a world where getting married is everything.

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

Stupid Girls Being Stupid

Girls are stupid. Yes, I include myself. Also, this is very general. I'm not saying that every girl in the world is stupid... because they're not.

I guess I should start over. Fictional Girls are Stupid. I talk about fiction a lot, don't I? (Maybe my next blog should be called "A Real Life Girl Living in a Fictional World." Hmm... that has a nice ring to it.)

Anyway.

I was reading a book. And I realized a pattern in a lot of books I read. Girls are stupid. And they always doubt themselves and they doubt affections/feelings of the guy involved. The thing with the guys in these books is that they're usually very sincere. Just because they don't come right out and say "I like you" it gives the girl the license to torture the readers as they lament their life.

Take for example this book I've read several time. The main character spends the entire book crying because the man in her life doesn't love her. When in fact, he really does. He just isn't confident enough to say it out loud. But his actions speak louder than words. But the girl just keeps crying. (There are other elements to the book that have caused me to read it more than once. This is just an example of a stupid girl.)

Let's go more specific.

Somewhere along the line, I realized that my love for ABC's CASTLE has surpassed my love for FOX's BONES.

So I've been a little crazy about CASTLE.

And that's what we're going to talk about. Stupid Girls on CASTLE.

Enter Kate Beckett. The ultimate Stupid Girl. I mean, who would pass up on Richard Castle. Here is this rich and famous, attractive writer who is following her around and she is perpetually annoyed with him. I'm not saying the Castle is perfect. He's arrogant, a little reckless, and totally in her face. But he also likes her. A lot. And he doesn't necessarily hide it, at least in the beginning. Of course, in the beginning, it was more of the conquest of Beckett than of undying, eternal love. *snicker*

But somewhere along the way, Castle's feelings did change into something deeper. And Beckett was still perpetually annoyed at him. (I know that this is not necessarily "Beckett's" fault because she is at the mercy of writers.) Underneath the perpetual annoyance, is (hopefully) something deeper... like love.

However, she's being stupid about it.



Why do girls have to be so stupid? If you're being chased by a boy that you like and he likes you... why do you push him away? Why do you burst into tears just because he flirts with you but doesn't say "I love you." Boys are scaredy cats too! We expect them to be strong and confident but it's scary to put your heart on the line, especially to a stupid girl who spends so much time pushing you away because she's scared too.

Love isn't supposed to be easy... but Stupid Girls certainly make it harder than it needs to be.

*Deep breath*

Okay, I just wanted to rant a little. And I've done that. Again, I want to include myself in the Stupid Girl category. However, I am at a point in my life where I can just stand outside the box and look in and see that I'm being stupid.

I don't give up hope. We'll all meet that special someone who vanquishes that Stupid Girl inside us all. That keeps me going on.

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

Two Weeks Notice

The thing about giving your two weeks notice to your employer is that you have to wait two whole weeks to be free. And they are the longest two weeks of your life. I'm struggling to keep a positive attitude. It's hard to get out of bed (I have to leave the house by 6:20). Granted, when I get there, I can usually keep busy but I'm SO SICK OF FACING! Every shift I have to go along and face the aisle. Gah!

But the good news is that I only have five more shifts left. And the people I work with are good people and I'm going to miss them. I'm not going to miss the job. And I'm not coming back after the mission. I get to get a "grown up" job when I come home. On account of my degree. Woot!

The end is in sight. And I have just a few more weeks until I'm on my mission. I so desperately want it to come... but scared of it. In a good way.

Okay, my rant is over.

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic.

Dear Boys: Dear Fiction

Here's another Dear Boys post directed to some fictional boys. Enjoy!

Dear Special Agent Seeley Booth,
I'd marry you if you asked me. 
Love,
THR


Dear Richard Castle,
I wouldn't make you chase me quite so hard.
Love,
THR


Dear Chuck Bartowski,
If the Buy More was real, I'd travel back in time and get to you before the spies (aka Sarah Walker) do. You don't have to be a spy to win my heart. I love you for your Nerd Herd, video-gaming self.
Love,
THR


Dear Dr. Jack Hodgins,
You're too good for her.
Love,
THR


Dear Han Solo,
You can smuggle me any time. *hint hint wink wink*
Love,
THR


Dear Edward Cullen,
Book Version: You are the epitome of a perfect gentleman. I'd marry you.
Movie Version: You are so-so. I confess that you seem to get better with a little age.
Love,
THR


Dear Jacob Black,
Book Version: You're a little whiny. She didn't pick you. Just walk away.
Movie Version: You're hot. Both literally and figuratively. I'll take you.
Love,
THR


Peeta Mellark,
I picked you from the start.
Love,
THR


Dear Angel,

You were my first vampire love. What's better than a brooding vampire with a soul? A vampire that does NOT sparkle.

Love,
THR




Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

Writers: Why I Hate Them

I don't really hate writers or else I'd hate myself. And I don't hate myself. Or other writers. It's just... well, we writers are a manipulative sort, aren't we?

Before I go any further, let me explain. The other day, I was chatting with my friend, Michelle about some of our favorite television programs (Castle, Bones... are there any other shows out there? Just kidding!) But we were talking about these two in particular. There had been a new development on the show, Castle, and Michelle is really one of the only people I can hash it out with. So we were talking about it and what we thought may or may not happen to the characters and the topic got switched to the hiatus of BONES. Then the characters of BONES. We both agreed that the writers always seemed mess things up... more specifically how the character of Dr. Brennan would know something one episode and then be completely clueless the next. Quite annoying.

That's when we both sort of sighed and said, "I hate writers." at the same time.

 It's not that we really hate writers. We just don't like the manipulation of characters that happen on our favorite shows. What are writers other than manipulators of characters. Whether in tv shows or novels, writers are the ones pulling the strings. They make the characters, the setting, the language, everything that exists in the world they create. And we, the viewers or the readers, are at their mercy.

Whats the worst of it all is that we take it. We take the random character changes, the continuity issues, the manipulation of our emotions.  We just shrug and say to ourselves, "It's the writers", or "the character would act like that in the situation", or other such things. It's not true though.

But what are we going to do? Demand that the writers know everything about their fictional characters and make sure that they do everything the way they are "supposed" to. It's a fictional world they have created. And they are the creators, they can do whatever the heck they want.

I don't like being manipulated. But I do like being entertained. And what are writers, especially TV writers, if not entertainers... well not the actual entertainers so much as the ones behind the scripts making the entertainers entertaining.

And I know, we'll all keep taking it. Because we like the show, the characters, the actors, the story. Whatever the reason, most of us will keep holding on, hoping that this episode with stay true to the story and the characters. That this will be the episode that blows our minds.

Or maybe that's just me. But I'm all about the hope of a happy ending... even with writers running the show.

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic.

Potter Meets Skywalker

I sort of have an obsessive personality.  But you probably already know this. When I get stuck on something, I tend to be stuck until the next thing can come along and distract me. Sometimes my obsessions cross paths and then it becomes a big old mess. I'm sure you're shaking your head, wondering what the crazy I'm talking about.

Let me get to the point. I went a little wonky in the head and started comparing Harry Potter to Star Wars (the original three) during a Star Wars marathon with my friend, Michelle. It wasn't an intentional plan, to look for similarities. It just happened. And the more we watched, the more I thought it was funny that it actually seemed to work. There are many similarities between the two shows/sets of characters.

Shall we proceed to the comparisons? It's not extensive but still interesting... to me at least.

Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter 

They are both orphans who are given a "mission" of sorts. They are surrounded by friends, more like plucky sidekicks, who love and support them. They both possess either magical or... "The Force" abilities. They both defeat the bad guy in the end.







Princess Leia and Hermione Granger

Both are smart, pretty (at least in the movie version of HP), and good at what they do. Both women
put their lives, careers/school work on the line to help the hero accomplish what he needs to.

Han Solo and Ron Weasley




Both are pretty skeptical but become loyal to the hero. They also both get the girl in the end. That's about where the similarities end.








Dumbledore and Obi-Wan Kenobi/Yoda

They are the mentors to the hero. They all die at some point in the hero's journey to defeating the bad guy. They are all old. 









Darth Vader and Lord Voldemort

 The bad guy. Gets defeated.









Darth Vader and Professor Severus Snape

A good guy who went bad but then came back to the good side (eventually).









There you go. It wasn't as awesome as I planned it to be but that's okay.

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

Harry Potter and the Love Story of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger

I watched, for the first time, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two, a few weeks ago. This, in turn, caused me to spiral out of control and have a Harry Potter movie marathon. You know me, I have an obsessive personality... at least when it comes to fiction.

Just a couple of my thoughts about Deathly Hallows Part Two [SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE OR READ THE BOOK]:

1. I confess to crying when Professor Snape died. And even more so when Harry saw Snape's memories in the penseive. We finally learn that Snape actually came to care for Harry even when treating him horribly. Even more, he protected Harry all through out his (Harry) life. And the only one who knew was Dumbledore!
2. I absolutely loved that Neville (the boy who turned into a hottie) Longbottom was the one to kill Nagini (the snake). Harry killed Voldemort but Neville is the one to kill the snake with the Sword of Gryfindor. Go Neville!
3. And just because I can't resist...

Moving on!

My discussion today will come directly from the movies as I don't really remember the exact details from the book. (Been awhile since I've read them.)

Alright, here we go.

After watching all eight movies pretty much in the span of five days, I came to realize something very interesting. Poor Harry has a tough life but he's surrounded by fantastic friends who love him and he loves them. Speaking of Ron and Hermione... their relationship is full of sparks from the beginning.

And that, my friends, is my focus. Ron and Hermione. (Come on, did you really think that this was going to be about Harry Potter. The boy already has a big head from being "the Chosen One". Besides, I'm the Hopeless Romantic. I focus on the gooey love stuff.)

Freshly Mowed Grass, New Parchment, and Spearmint... Toothpaste.

"It's the most powerful love potion in the world. It's takes the scent of that which the user finds attractive. For example, I smell freshly mowed grass, new parchment and spearmint... toothpaste." (Hermione in The Half-Blood Prince) 

This is the moment, I think, that Hermione finally acknowledges that she has deeper feelings for Ron than just friendship. As a girl, she is predisposed to being more aware of her emotions. However, before now, she was young and unfamiliar with the world of love and relationship. (I know that there are other instances where we, the audience, can see that Ron and Hermione are mad about each other. I will address them at a later point.)

I have heard The Half-Blood Prince (movie #6) referred to as The Young and the Restless, the teenage years. I laugh at this comment because isn't that how teenagers are... dramatic and caught up in relationships and feelings of love? Just because Harry, Ron, and Hermione have had their fair share of dangerous adventures doesn't mean they're not immune to being teenagers with hormones.

We see that Harry and Hermione grow closer, but just as friends- despite Professor Dumbledore's query to Harry about his relationship with "Miss Granger", due to their unrequited love. Hermione likes Ron who is now in a snogging relationship with Lavender. Harry suddenly realizes the attractiveness of Ron's sister, Ginny. (Pretty brave of Harry to go after his best friend's younger sister. But after all, Harry is the chosen one...)

Hermione doesn't seem in a hurry to embrace or act upon her new-found feelings for one of her best friends. Maybe she's not entirely aware of her feelings? Or she just doesn't know what to do? She seems pretty content on remaining friends for the time being... until Lavender enters the picture. (Snogging ho!) It's a pretty common formula: person of interest + new romantic interest = realization of hidden feelings/jealousy.

And who does Hermione turn to in her time of broken hearted-ness? None other than the Chosen One himself, Harry Potter. I think this is when Harry and Hermione's relationship goes into something deeper than just "best friends". I don't know of a word that describes friends who are past just friends but in a non-romantic way. That's how I see Harry and Hermione's friendship though. It's more than just friends... in a non-romantic way. Hermione confesses to Harry that she feels something for Ron and confesses that she now understands how he, Harry, feels.

As Charlie Brown says, "Nothing takes the taste out of Peanut Butter quite like unrequited love." I'm not sure if they have peanut butter in the wizarding world but unrequited love can put quite a strain on a friendship. Harry and Hermione grow together and Ron snogs with Lavender but they're still friends and battling evil.

And then Ron gets poisoned... Apparently the best way to break up with a now unwanted girlfriend is to mumble another girl's name in the midst of a drug induced slumber. That's the end of Lavender. And Hermione got to stay at Ron's side. As Ginny tells to Harry, "It's about time." (He has not memory of this later which throws poor Hermione off. Also, I love how she tells him that he broke up with Lavender- so funny.) However, that is not the end of the line for our star crossed would-be-lovers.

But it certainly is a huge step forward.

Good Skin

I think there has always been a current of awareness flowing between Ron and Hermione. In the beginning, they were just too young to know what it was. As they got older, they pushed each other into the Friend Zone because they didn't know what else to do. Then Hermione finally realized that she had deeper feelings for Ron than just friends. (Hopefully you've read the previous section.)

So now Harry knows and Hermione knows. The only one missing it is Ron. Which is to be expected. He is a boy after all. They tend to not notice important things like when one of their best friends (Hermione obviously) is in love with them. However, Ron has feelings for Hermione as well.

Evidence is found when he has a conversation with Harry about good skin. Apparently Ginny has good skin, according to Harry. Ron doesn't get the good skin thing... until he applies it to someone other than his baby sister. "Hermione has good skin."

It turns out that Ron is the jealous type. And jealous of a girl he doesn't even claim for his own. There's the Yule Ball incident in Goblet of Fire. Hermione shows up looking beautiful with a very attractive date and Ron is not happy. But I betcha, he doesn't know why he's unhappy. His reason to Hermione is that she's "fraternizing with the enemy." Well, Ron if you want her, you gotta ask her yourself. Hermione pretty much tells him the same thing. I think she should have slugged him in the face... boys can be pretty dense. 

In Deathly Hallows part one, we see a darker side to Ron's jealousy. As I said before, Harry and Hermione have a deeper relationship than just best friends in a very platonic way. I think outsiders often misconstrued the relationship for something romantic. Ron did. It didn't help that the Horcrux around his neck affected him like the Ring did Gollum, Bilbo Baggins, and Frodo Baggins.

Ron confronts his friends and ends up leaving despite Hermione's desperate pleas that he stays. If he weren't out of his head, I think he would have realized then that Hermione felt something infinitely more romantic for him then for Harry. (Or maybe that's me wishing.)

After Ron leaves, Hermione is miserable. Something that Harry understands. And when Ron comes back, Hermione is just mad. Understandably so. Stupid boy broke her heart and made her worry. Grr! Don't worry, she forgives him eventually. Ron knows that he screwed up and starts grovelling to get back to her good side.

So now Hermione knows that she loves Ron. And Ron knows that he loves Hermione. And Harry knows that Hermione loves Ron and Ron loves Hermione but neither have told each other. So he's stuck between them... as per usual. But at this point, they have other things to worry about. Such as getting all the Horcruxes and defeating Voldemort. 

That doesn't necessarily make them, Ron and Hermione, forget about the sparks between them. Unlike most teenagers, they aren't able to spend time flirting and having fun. They're too busy trying to stay alive and kill an evil wizard. Besides, Ron and Hermione's relationship has always been different. They're the kind of couple that isn't all cute and flirty. Rather they are cute and bickery. Always on each others case. It's just reeks of UST (Unrequited Sexual Tension). Their whole relationship drips with bickery UST. I personally, love relationships like that: Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice; Booth and Brennan from BONES; Castle and Beckett from CASTLE; Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls from Veronica Mars; Han Solo and Princess Leia from Star Wars. (To name a few.)

In the conclusion of the movies, Deathly Hallows part two, comes the culmination of Ron and Hermione's relationship. They finally acknowledge that they love each other in the form of a kiss after a particularly harrowing near death experience in the Chamber of Secrets. FINALLY! We don't really get to see what their new relationship status ends up being like because it's the last movie, the end of an era. I like to think that it's pretty much the same as before. Bickery with more snogging and hand-holding. I don't think they change just because they're finally together. But that's just me. :)


Always the Tone of Surprise

Some signs that Ron and Hermione are destined...

• Ron's instant dislike of Hermione (Sorcerer's Stone)
• Discomfort touching each other- Hugging in Chamber of Secrets, Hand touching in Prisoner of Azkaban
• Hermione turning to Ron and not Harry when Buckbeak dies (Prisoner of Azkaban)
• Fight at Yule Ball about "fraternizing with the enemy" (Goblet of Fire)
• Hermione confesses to Harry about Ron/Expresses Jealousy (Half-Blood Prince)
• Ron likes Hermione's skin (Half-Blood Prince)
• Ron touching Hermione's face to "wipe something off" (Half-Blood Prince & Deathly Hallows part 1)
• Hermione's desperation to keep Ron with them when searching for Horcruxes (Deathly Hallows part 1)
• Ron's jealousy about Harry and Hermione's relationship (Deathly Hallows part 1)
• Constant "Brilliants" exchanged between the two (Deathly Hallows parts 1 & 2)
• Hermione's constant worry over Ron's well-being- especially at the beginning of Deathly Hallows part 1 when Ron pretends to be Harry. (Deathly Hallows part 1 & 2)
• "Always the tone of surprise." Flirting between them. (Deathly Hallows part 1)
• Constant bickering (Sorcerer's Stone through Deathly Hallows part 2)
• Kiss exchanged after a near death experience in the Chamber of Secrets (Deathly Hallows part 2)

I know that I missed a lot of Ron and Hermione moments. But these are just some of the signs I thought of off the top of my head.

Harry and Ginny

I watched a portion of Half-Blood Prince with my younger brother who has not read any of the books and he made a comment that made me think. He told me that he didn't like the romantic relationship between Harry and Ginny because it came out of nowhere. One minute they're sort of friends- more like Ginny is Harry's best friend's little sister- and the next they're snogging in the Room of Requirement.

In the books, it's not quite so sudden. I feel like they didn't do an effective job in the movies making it seem natural for Harry and Ginny to be romantical. I understand that when making movies, you have to change things and cut things out but seriously!

Also, their relationship is SO awkward. Shoe-tying. Weird, awkward hugs. Random chasing after Death Eaters together. Zipping up dresses. It's just so awkward. Maybe the actors didn't have good chemistry and it showed on screen. Whatever it is, the relationship between Harry and Ginny isn't as near as tantalizing as it is with Ron and Hermione.

But maybe that's just my own opinion.

Sorry about the length of the post but I had a lot to say on the subject of Ron and Hermione. I encourage you to watch the movies to get the full affect of their relationship. It's awesome. (You can read the books too, if you'd like.)

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

P.S. I have one more Harry Potter themed post coming up. It's a lot shorter than this one and it has all sorts of awesome comparisons of Harry Potter characters to Star Wars (the original trilogy, of course) characters. Exciting huh? Promise this is my last Harry Potter post. :)