A Shieldmaiden's Musings

partybarackisinthehousetonight: i imagine adulthood to be like one of those “choose your own...

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:51:11 -0500

i imagine adulthood to be like one of those “choose your own adventure” books except each choice is terrible

alyce & mark: Letters

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:25:58 -0500

Mark’s Grandmother is a sweetheart! She sends us weekly little notes And I love it, Mark does too which is why we still get cards. It makes our week seeing her (absolutely beautiful; yes there is a bit of jealousy there) handwriting and knowing that there’s a little card with some bit of tidbit…

thehawklegacy: If you ever see me with a shirt on of a show, movie or whatever on it that you love...

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:50:58 -0500

thehawklegacy:

If you ever see me with a shirt on of a show, movie or whatever on it that you love too

you have the right to sit your ass down in front of me and start talking

my public representation of my fandoms is an invitation to come and talk to me about it

mutantfarmgirl: wanderingaz: mutantfarmgirl: Ok! You’re my...

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:08:44 -0500

mutantfarmgirl:

wanderingaz:

mutantfarmgirl:

Ok! You’re my first recruit Alyce! Now we need some training and a ghost.

YES! I think you have us on the ghost part. They seem attracted to you like tumblr to Tom Hiddleston. As for the training… Does this mean we have an excuse to rewatch every episode of Supernatural? “For research” (like we need an excuse.

We completely have an excuse now. I can think of no better way to spend a muggy Saturday than with the lovely Winchester boys.

better than trying on bridesmaids dress… le sigh

mutantfarmgirl: Ok! You’re my first recruit Alyce! Now we need...

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:59:04 -0500

mutantfarmgirl:

Ok! You’re my first recruit Alyce! Now we need some training and a ghost.

YES! I think you have us on the ghost part. They seem attracted to you like tumblr to Tom Hiddleston. As for the training… Does this mean we have an excuse to rewatch every episode of Supernatural? “For research” (like we need an excuse.

medieval: Doodles by a child in Medieval Novgorod. The Art of...

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:50:20 -0500

medieval:

Doodles by a child in Medieval Novgorod.

The Art of Onfim: Medieval Novgorod Through the Eyes of a Child

nickysreblogs: steal-the-tardis: “The Crimson Horror” sounds more like a code name for a...

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:11:30 -0500

nickysreblogs:

steal-the-tardis:

“The Crimson Horror” sounds more like a code name for a period

I’m relieved to know it wasn’t just me who thought that.

HAHAHAH. Yes. this all of it.

whoneedsreason: Ireland: By the time you’ve written a post to complain about the weather, it’s...

Thu, 09 May 2013 09:27:00 -0500

whoneedsreason:

Ireland: By the time you’ve written a post to complain about the weather, it’s already changed.

So that’s why so many irish settled in the South when they immigrated to the States… it felt like home!

the-guy-side-of-serenity: Deer make the country better. Unless...

Sun, 05 May 2013 11:28:00 -0500

the-guy-side-of-serenity:

Deer make the country better.

Unless they are on the interstate, then they make your car (and possibly your life) worse.

afterthevows: Red River Gorge Climbing Trip

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:37:30 -0500

afterthevows:

Red River Gorge Climbing Trip

The Romanov Consipiracy

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:53:55 -0600

So, first you should probably know a few things about me. I love just about everything to do with anything Irish. History, myth, stories, song, poetry, people, language, food. You name I have yet to enjoy it (except Colcannon. I haven’t had it but cabbage and me… we aren’t enemies, but we aren’t exactly on speaking terms. The second thing you need to know before I tell you about this book is I LOVE anything to do with the Romanov’s story. Particularly survival stories and such.

So this book was right up my literary alley. It needs to be noted that I have an ARC (advanced Readers Copy) that my mom and dad picked up from a booksellers convention, so some of the wiriting was a bit rough, mostly it was as if a word wasn’t tyuped where it should be, but you knew what it was supposed to be. Also as such there is probably some minor differences between the published version and the ARC so I’ll keep it to the bare bones of the story.

I Loved this book. Absolutely Loved it. (again, Might be biased)

It’s based on a rumor/myth/story that there was a rescue attempt out of Ireland to save the Romanov’s before they were executed. There is of course a bit of romance interwoven throughout the story with a healthy does of action. (It is after all Russia during the beginnings of WWI and the over throw of the Tzars.) Through in some secret societies for good measure.

Overall I thought Meade did a really great job about weaving this story together, It makes me wonder which parts of it were true and which parts he fictionalized.

And as with all good Irish Literature (and some Russian since they seem to have similarites as far as the dark side of literature goes) this story has it’s very own bittersweet ending that aptly fits it’s gruesome content.

I could go on and on about this book and delve into the story of Joe Boyle, the enigmatic Irish-Canadian who has just a touch of the James Bond in him. I could tell you all about Lydia Ryan’s bravery and courage and wit as she worked as a arms smuggler to supply the Irish with weapons for their rebellion against the British crown and how she was whisked up in this daring plot to save the Romanov’s. Of her heartbreaks and joys and near misses. I could tell you Everything I know about Uri, and Yakov, and Phillip Sorg and what the world doesn’t know about their heroic tragic deeds. But If I told you all of this, You really wouldn’t have a need to pick up and read this book yourself and enjoy this thrilling and beautiful book.

Series Reveiw: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:12:00 -0500

I know. I know. I said I was going to do it by book. However, I blew through these (and the first book of his second) in about 2 days. And we all know I have trouble with rules. So I’m just going to give you the Series Review.

Obviously, I found these to be an enjoying and compelling read. But, then, I’ve always loved myths of all origins so this shouldn’t be terribly surprising to those that know me. I digress. Percy. Let’s talk about Perseus Jackson.

This particular series follows Percy Jackson. Just a seemingly average kid, who has ADHD, Dyslexia, and trouble with staying in schools. The end of every school year thus far has seen him kicked out and put in a different school. He soon finds out why. Turns out the old Greek gods are still around and on occasion having romantic rendezvous with humans, and Percy is “lucky” enough to have one of the major Greek gods as his Dad. Fortunately for him he finds that there are lots of other kids with Greek god-blood flowing through their veins.

Percy finds himself at Camp Half-blood, a safe-haven from the equally real Greek Monsters running around. While at camp he gets a quest from the Oracle. Yeah, you know the Oracle of Delphi. Though this one is more of a mummy corpse than the beautiful maidens of old, not with out reason, but hey can’t spoil everything can I?

Of course, being Greek, the prophecies surrounding Percy and his friends are nothing but Tragic.

There is in fact nothing new under the Sun (or under Apollo, as the Greeks might say), and it would seem that the Greek gods like repetition with out learning. This particularly series culminates with a battle with the Titans, who, yet again, are seeking revenge on the gods and goddess’ that dethroned them eons before. When the dust settles you think the heroes are in for some rest, but of course the Oracle (who is now a pretty maiden) lets loose another ominous prophecy that sets it up for the second series,The Heroes of Olympus.

Overall I liked the series. Riordan does a good job at writing at a Young Adult level with out writing down. He also manages to write a pretty wonderful snarky demigod. Sometimes his turns of phrase made me stop and think (ala “He slept like a victim of Medusa. That is to say like a stone”) I felt it would have been a much better line had he left out the explanation.

I think one of my favorite scenes is Percy talking to Hades with Persephone and Demeter commenting in the background. Demeter is just like that mom-in-law who doesn’t approve of her son in law.

I wouldn’t let your kids read this instead of Greek myths as he does mash up and change some of the myths to fit the story and a more modern setting, but as a companion or an after Greek study, I think it would be completely appropriate. I did not find them hard reads, or challenging as an adult, and I probably wouldn’t’ have as a kid in the intended age range either. (what I was already reading Edith Hamilton’s Mythology and Lord of the Rings by that age) but I still would have find them highly enjoyable.

I’d give it a 7 out of 10.

A review of My So Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Woman

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 10:59:20 -0500

I was going to hold off on posting this one for a while. We read it because it’s the one that my sister picked out for our family book club. Problem is our schedules have been crazy and we haven’t really talked about it. But if I don’t write this out I’ll forget.

I actually had some pretty decent hopes about this one. I’ve read several books recently that have dealt with reexamining the traditional views of Biblical Womanhood, and Feminism and such.

Sadly this book did not deliver.

The entire book read much more like a series of Blog posts. Which is fine, if I’m reading a blog, not something I really care for in a book.

And if I’m being honest, Horn has WAAAAY more issues than just being a “31” wife. She has some basic follower of Christ issues she needs to deal with. Mostly selfishness and sacrifice. She is very selfish at the beginning of this book. I think by the end she realizes this, but when you’ve got some things that need to be ironed out before you can start looking at what it means to be a 31 and you try to write a book about the 31 woman, well, it’s just not going to work out right. It’s like writing a paper for school, with out really understanding the subject. You just dance around the meat of the subject and stay in superficial realms.

However, I think this book was really good to show just how much the feminist movement has screwed up Christian Women, it’s written all over Horn’s life. She doesn’t even bat an eye about, well, complaining about her husbands lack of drive to find a job, and why she has to work so much. It comes off a lot like bad mouthing him. Which, in case you were wondering, not something that’s real uplifting and helpful to your husbands ladies. She’s a strong independent woman so why shouldn’t she be the one to make the money and he doesn’t have a job so why shouldn’t he be the one to take care of the house.

Overall I just feel this book is lacking, almost like She wrote it because it was the popular thing to do, when she should have been writing a different story.

I was going to rate it… but then realized I didn’t have an AWESOME rating system. Stars are so… blase. So I’ll come back and rate it when I can think of something.

Have you read it? What did you think? Leave me your thoughts below.

An older lady who was checking in to the hotel today suggested...

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:04:00 -0500

An older lady who was checking in to the hotel today suggested this to me upon finding a pamplet for Carnton Plantation in our “to-do” section. I’m kind of intrigued with it and Must soon obtain a copy to read. Have you guys read it? what did you think?

A New Direction for this blog

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:31:51 -0500

This blog, up until recently has been random things from my life. But My life isn’t just my life anymore. I got married so it’s our life and I started a new blog (afterthevows.tumblr.com) to show case that.

So what to do with this one? Well I updated the name (wanderingaz) for obvious reason for those that know me, and have decided to devote it to my first love. Books. I read a LOT of books. And now that i’m not currently in school I’m getting back to reading a metric crap ton of books again. So why not share with you, dear reader, my thoughts on the books I read?

A few ground rules:

1. I will write them after I’ve read them from this day forth.

2. If I happen to reread them (which happens if I like them well enough) then I will write a review after I’ve reread it after this date.

3. If you, dear reader, know I have read a book, suspect I have, want to know if I have, then You may and are encouraged to use the ASK ME ABOUT MY BOOKS link to ask me to write a review, my thoughts on a book, if I’ve read it, why I’m not reading it, what ever you like.

Sounds Good? sounds good. Let’s begin.

Visible Children: We got trouble.

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:13:38 -0600

Visible Children: We got trouble.:

visiblechildren:

For those asking what you can do to help, please link to visiblechildren.tumblr.com wherever you see KONY 2012 posts. And tweet a link to this page to famous people on Twitter who are talking about KONY 2012!

I do not doubt for a second that those involved in KONY 2012 have great intentions, nor…

Marks post climb refuel.

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:55:06 -0600

Marks post climb refuel.

New Blog

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:19:56 -0600

I’ve just started a new blog for after the wedding date for those interested. It’s over at afterthevows.tumblr.com, i’ll still be using this one of course, just for a different type of updates.

dad-isms: The important thing to ask yourself before going back...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:41:20 -0600

dad-isms:

The important thing to ask yourself before going back into the dating pool after a tough break-up is: Are you simply trying to fill a void?

That isn’t an easy question to answer (honestly)…because honestly, we all have a void of some kind or we wouldn’t be searching for love in the first place. But what if you came from a different angle altogether? From a place of abundance instead of scarcity?

Abundance is overflowing. Scarcity…like a sponge.

dad-isms: Being introverted isn’t a bad thing. On the outside,...

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:18:12 -0500

dad-isms:

Being introverted isn’t a bad thing. On the outside, it looks as if all of the cool and popular ones are extroverts, but to me, I just see homogeneity.

I don’t like small talk and the randomly mundane conversations that ensue from them. I like depth. I like hearing the rambling thoughts of someone that doesn’t know how to get there (yet), but knows what it is they would like to feel or do or try if they could get there.

I want to ask new people right away, “what makes you tick”?

“What is the one thing you wish you were doing right now, but have avoided because of ___________________________”?

“What does love mean to you”?

“What makes you…you”?

But you are not allowed to ask those things in normal conversation…except when you meet another introvert. They understand. They want to know those same things. Their vulnerability isn’t vulnerability at all, it is them being their authentic selves without the prejudice of society that says, “you have to do it this way”.

Introverts are wrongly judged as being anti-social, but I see just the opposite. I believe introverts are strongly social, but have a difficult time with people that don’t know themselves very well. Society sees people that want to dig in quickly as presumptuous and rude, but I (again) see rudeness as spending hours with someone at a social gathering and learning few, if any details about the person that makes them unique.

The thing you need to remember about introverts is that they value quality over quantity, in most everything.

I am not trying to say introverts are perfect, just that they aren’t as imperfect as they might appear on the surface.

Amen. So true. And we get labeled awkward because we don’t do surface talk very well