day five - your favourite quote

earlier this year i was lucky enough to take a part in a camp that changed me so much, taught me so much, and helped me develop as both a person and as a team member.

on this camp, we were told a few really important messages, but the on thing that i took away, and was a quote that was said throughout the entire camp, was:
"it's not why you fall, but how you get back up that matters."

i think this quote is something that will work in any situation, and if we just remember the positive things, and handle them in an appropriate way, then things that seem as though they will bury us, may actually have the potential within them to bless us.

so next time you're having a bad day, remember my favourite quote.
no matter how hard it is, it doesn't matter why you fall, people in your life will admire you for the way you triumph over a difficult situation.

it's not why you fall, but how you get back up that matters.

xx

day four - your favourite book

i'm not much of a reader.
i did units 3&4 english literature last year, and it was my favourite subjects, but nonetheless, i much prefer studying a good novel than reading one.
and because of this, i have chosen my favourite book as one of the most amazing novels i read and studied last year.

Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley.

yes i'll admit, when first starting to read this book it drags on a little. Walton's letters at the beginning don't really make much sense but you realise later on in the novel that they set up and sometimes hint at what will occur.

something i love about this novel is not even the story itself, but the story behind it - the reason why the novel was written... i won't go too much into it, but pretty much what happened was Mary Shelley was with some other writers (her friends), and they decided to have a competition between themselves to see who could come up with the scariest story.
and look at the masterpiece that was created through this!! :-)

i personally love two scenes:
1. the creation scene (chapter 5), where the creature is created!!
and 2. the story of the creature and the De Laceys - although it is sad in the end, it is so heartwarming to realise that if it weren't for his looks then the creature could have been accepted into society. (well i suppose that could have happened if Victor Frankenstein wasn't such a selfish monster, but i won't go on about that...)

now i must admit, i have one pet peeve about this novel.
many people, (due to pop culture), seem to think that 'Frankenstein' is referring to the 'monster' or the 'creature', when in fact Frankenstein is the name of the man who CREATED this creature!
on top of that, if they do know the difference between Frankenstein and the creature, the creature is then called a 'monster'...
HE IS NOT A MONSTER! he has more humanity than Victor Frankenstein himself!

and from there i encourage everyone to read this amazing novel, as it has really views and values in it - in particularly the idea that perhaps some things are better left unknown (re: science).
another note: don't watch the movie; unless you've read the book and are prepared to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. damn pop culture.

yes, i'm a lit nerd.
don't judge me.

xx

day three - your favorite television program

glee.

yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

it's such a feel good show. with important messages. amazing characters. showtunes. drama. and one liners that are always good to use in an awkward moment :-)

glee is the only television show that I have seen every episode of. i have the DVDs, the CDs, the piano books, and even a tshirt... so yes, i'll admit that i'm a bit of a gleek, but we all need something as our time out that we enjoy, right?

meanwhile, if you have never seen an episode of glee (judged, by the way), then you might be thinking that you don't want to go there... look, just watch an episode. there is no way i can possibly describe glee without sounding like a total nerd.
and if you're not into showtunes, maybe watch Season 1 Volume 2 - Theatricality (also known as the GAGA episode) or any episode involving a competition (sectionals or regionals... hopefully soon to be nationals, haha...)

so yeah, glee is my favourite television show. it's just so fun.
oh, and if anyone was wondering, Rachel Berry is my favourite character.
annoying, but headstrong and unbelievably talented. uh-mazing.
"my gold stars are a metaphor. for me. being a star"

"don't stop believing"

xx

day two - your favourite movie

day two, and i have to choose just one of so many movies that i would quite happily sit down and watch every day.
once again, similarly to my favourite song, there are many that i could choose, but i am choosing to go with a classic. a movie that i have loved since i was a child. a movie that i could sit down and watch, forget about the world, and immerse myself into the wonders of disney.

Beauty and the Beast

how can you possibly not love this movie?
there's a young, strong, determined female lead. who (unlike other disney movies) does NOT change herself for the guy.
there's that guy you want to punch in the face.
there's the sweet guy who is disguised for the whole movie until he is released from the magic spell.
um, hello, there's MAGIC.
because of the magic, there is a TALKING CLOCK, a TALKING CANDLESTICK, a TALKING TEA POT, and the list of enchanted items in the castle goes on...
and of course, who could forget the amazing showtunes found in this movie? you know, those ones that get stuck in your head for hours.... "be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test..." (it's stuck in your head now, isn't it? ;-) )

seriously though, how many movies nowadays give our generation and positive message, especially one as important as "true beauty is found within"?

this movie has taught me some pretty important lessons, and always cheers me up.

so there it lives, and will continue to do so, a 'tale as old as time'

xx

day one - your favourite song

okay, my favourite song... how can i really choose one? i mean, there are so many classics, so many songs that make me happy, and just those songs that are connected with a certain time and place.

but, instead of choosing my 'current' favourite song (which, as seen in my previous post, is waka waka by shakira), i have chosen a song that will never age. a song that will live through time, and hopefully when i'm old and wrinkly in my wheelchair, the youngins can come and visit their granny and together we can headbang to the brilliance of...

Bohemian Rhapsody.

and no, i do not mean any cover of this song. not the australianised version by rolf harris, or the vocal adrenalin version from glee, i am talking the original song by the legendary and never to be forgotten QUEEN.

i honestly have no words for this song.
although i do not listen to it all that often, if i'm ever at a party and this song comes on, i don't think there is ever a complaint - how can anyone possibly dislike bohemian rhapsody?
the harmonies, the piano part, the guitar solo, the falsetto voices, the bass voices, and everything in between, the complete and utter brilliance as the lyrics are sung with passion and fire.

and okay, yes, i do not necessarily understand the song. i'm sure if i researched into it a little i could find the meaning behind the lyrics, but isn't half the fun NOT knowing what the hell you are singing about?

one of my favourite parts of the song - "sends shivers down my spine" *tinkling of chimes*
check out the music video. yes, their hair and fashion definitely HAS aged, but it's brilliant. nobody can deny that.

check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ

"so you think you can stop me and spit in my eye, so you think you can love me and leave me to die..." *headbangs until becoming dizzy*

xx

and the challenge begins...

just as an indicator of what is about to occur, my friend and i will be undertaking a ‘blogging challenge’.
we both have felt recently as though our blogs have been lacking anything interesting, well actually just any posts in general.
so basically, we found a plan online that gives us a prompt for each of 30 days.

keep checking back every day for more posts! this should be fun...

you can find a link to my friend’s blog in the blogroll in the right hand panel – motzie

enjoy, peace & love, xx

this time for africa

so, i haven't posted in a while - but i figure, it's a new year. so my first blog of this year (let's pretend it's not already 1/6 into the year...) are simply lyrics.
although this song was written for the FIFA world cup, (and trust me, i do not follow sport), i think that the lyrics are really important.
this is the one song i can listen to and dance around my bedroom without a care, just like i used to do when i was younger. and why? yes, maybe i have a specific event and certain people and a place linked with this song, but isn't that what makes these songs so special?
so here it is;

you're a good soldier, choosing your battles
pick yourself up and dust yourself off:
get back in the saddle

you're on the frontline, everyone's watching
you know it's serious, we're getting closer:
this isn't over

the pressure is on, you feel it
but you've got it all, believe it

when you fall get up, oh, oh,
and if you fall get up, eh, eh
tsamina mina zangalewa
cuz this is Africa

tsamina mina eh eh
waka waka eh eh
tsamina mina zangalewa
this time for Africa

listen to your god, this is our motto
your time to shine, don't wait in line:
y vamos por todo

people are raising their expectations
go on and feed them, this is your moment:
no hesitations

today's your day, i feel it
you paved the way, believe it

if you get down get up, oh, oh,
when you get down get up, eh, eh,
tsamina mina zangalewa
this time for Africa

tsamina mina eh eh
waka waka eh eh
tsamina mina zangalewa
anawa aa
tsamina mina eh eh
waka waka eh eh
tsamina mina zangalewa
this time for Africa

*dances carelessly around bedroom*

:-) peace out x