Tomorrow's Gonna Be a Sharpe Day

1. Now that I've watched all the Sharpe Sean Bean ever filmed, I'll post this article of writing. To be honest I only just found this draft that I started about a year and a half ago. I don't even remember most of them. I only remember John Tams as Sergeant Hagman and how much I loved the theme song. Honestly I think the theme was the most enjoyable part of Sharpe. Not that Sean Bean isn't amazing, it's just I think I may have enjoyed Paul McGann better. Why, of why did he have to injure his knee. At any rate I thought I'd type this up and post it because I think the title is really witty. Even though I will most likely be watching Horror of Dracula or Doctor Who (the Seventh) or something even nerdier. Anyway.... I'm off to finish the Anna of Cleves chapters on "The Wives of Henry the VIII".

Movie Night! with E.A. Poe, Abe Lincoln, Sherlock Holmes and the Avengers

Mom had three free Redbox rentals from McDonald's Monopoly that had to be used today. So we're spending the night with Edgar Allan Poe, Sherlock Holmes, Abraham Lincoln, and The Avengers. Lincoln's in there because we got him on DVD yesterday. I'm extremely excited, because there are going to be a lot of   cravats on my screen tonight. There is nothing I love more than a man in nineteenth century dress. Especially when those men are: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper, Luke Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and Jude Law. The Avengers crew speak for themselves. It's gonna be a good night.

Period Drama or Period Procedural?

Amazon Prime is a beautiful thing. Especially when you discover they have the complete series of Cadfael and the fifth season of Murdoch Mysteries. Unfortunately those new episodes don't last very long. However to my delight I discovered Amazon also has some very choice period drama as well. I've already blown through Emma and am determined to watch Little Dorrit next. 

In other news I discovered Spotify this week. I now have playlist mania. At any rate I can now listen to Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites while reading Say I love You (Suki-tte Ii na yo) by Hazuki Kanae without the computer glitching up. I was also elated to find that they have the Murdoch Mysteries soundtrack.

My sister and I have also been catching up on The New Prince of Tennis anime. We are half way through episode seven. I cannot express how wonderful it is to see our favorite characters in action again and here all  of the awesome seiyuus. 

On a spooky note, October is here! Which means Halloween is just around the corner! 

This calls for a Hammer Horror movie marathon.

And I'm out of things to write about.

I apologize for my lack of creativity.

Bai-bai.

My iPod on Shuffle: The First Twenty-five

I thought since I had done my top twenty-five songs I'd also write one for the first fifteen random songs that pop up. Without further ado:

#1 Blooming by The Yoshida Brothers

#2 He by Jars of Clay

#3 Willow by Emilie Autumn (off of Laced/Unlaced)

#4 Your Star by The All American Rejects

#5 Texas is South by The Devil Wears Prada

#6 Boy From New York City by Manhattan Transfer

#7 Lose Urself by Family Force 5

#8 Sacrament by Trenches

#9 Zion by Fluke

#10 Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

#11 The Power of Love by Huey Lewis &; The News

#12 Anna Molly by Incubus

#13 The Forces of Radio Have Dropped a Viper Into Rhythm Section by Project 86

#14 Sleep by My Chemical Romance

#15 Universe & U by KT Tunstall

#16 The Eleventh Hour by August Burns Red

#17 Now That You Got It by Gwen Stefani

#18 The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash

#19 Uncertainly Looms Ahead by The Gadjo Playboys

#20 Haruka Kanata by Asian Kung Fu Generation

#21 Java Jive by The Manhattan Transfer

#22 Reality by The Newsboys

#23 Poker Face by Lady Gaga

#24 My Deteriorating Incline by Underoath

#25 Faster Kill Pussycat (feat. Brittany Murphy) by Paul Oakenfold

There you have it ladies and gentlemen, proof of my eclectic taste in music.

And since I enjoy typing tedious lists, you'll probably get another one of these posts in a month or two.

Kaa-san!

Well it's Mothers Day and were going to Taco Bell for lunch. And we are back from Taco Bell. Really fancy place to take your mother, right? It's her favorite though and whom am I to deny her, especially on this day.

I'm the eldest child in my family, the first to make my mother a mother. Born nineteen years ago to a mother who hadn't expected to have children at all, I was a small surprise. And I mean small literally, born two weeks early I was what the nursing staff termed a peanut. Anyway enough about me. She was thirty-five when she had me. I love my mother to death, for the freedom she's always given me and the trust she shown me. I inherited so many odd quirks and individual traits from her that I love. Also having a mom a decade older than most parents of children my age proved to be most amusing as a child.

I guess what I want to say most is: I love you Mom.

Rain, Tea, and B-movie Mystery

The morning began with me waking from dreams of Edo Period, Japan. After which I realized with serene melancholy that it was beginning to rain. Normally this would ruin most people's day. However, I am not most people. As I dressed for church the knowledge that today was going to be overcast was a joy to me. After church, (I'm going to skip it as I was in the nursery and therefore missed the sermon.) we came home and I went to nap. Rainy days are so conducive to sleep that it would seem a waste not to nap. 

     So I slept, until I was called at 2:30 PM to prepare for the ladies tea that was being held at our church. The theme for this year's annual tea was "Hope Springs Forth in a Garden". The speaker this year was a member of our own congregation and one of the most amazing women I've ever met. Her presentation was so hopeful and quite amazing. I am bad with words, so I can't really expound further. I will however share the Bible verses that inspire hope in her heart: Isaiah 41:10, John 10:27, and Matthew 28:20. They are wonderful verses to keep in mind when you feel defeated or depressed. After the presentation we moved on to tea in Fellowship Hall. The room was beautifully  decorated as a spring garden. The tables were set with some wonderful and unique tea cups and there was a buffet of finger foods and delectable pastries. There was a selection of bagged teas of various brands such as: Lipton, Crabtree & Evelyn, Harrison & Crosfield and Bigelow. Although for me these teas were a little lackluster, mostly because I drink loose leaf tea and Twinings bagged tea. 

After the tea were headed to my cousin's house to play games. I love playing games, and tonight we played Apple's to Apple's Jr. and Monopoly Deal. Normally I prefer a good long game of Trivial Pursuit but it was a school night so long games were no good. At any rate it was a good time. 

I now sit typing this post hearing the rain hit the roof. One of my favorite B-movie mock horror films Haunted Honeymoon is playing in the background. Well, it's over now. I think I'll watch my other two favorites. Hmm, Clue or Murder by Death next?

Well, that's all for tonight. Have happy haunted b-movie dreams everyone!

Essy Romaine

Top Twenty-Five Most Played Songs On My iPod

#1 - Rising by The Yoshida Brothers

#2 - Teahouse by Juno Reactor feat. Gocoo

#3 - Derezzed (Remixed by The Glitch Mob) by Daft Punk

#4 - Kodo (Hishou Version) by The Yoshida Brothers

#5 - Smile Like You Mean It by The Killers

#6 - Furious Angels by Rob Dougan

#7 - Saiun by The Yoshida Brothers

#8 - Clubbed to Death by The Yoshida Brothers

#9 - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk

#10 - Can't Back Down by Shiro Sagisu

#11 - Blue by The Birthday Massacre

#12 - Crying in Your Face by AFX

#13 - Aural Psynapse by deadmau5

#14 - Change Your Mind by The Killers

#15 - Wing-Stock by Ashley MacIsaac

#16 - Gun's & Roses by Paradise Lunch

#17 - Bones (Theme Song) by The Crystal Method

#18 - The Woman Who Looked Out the Window by Proyecto Oniric

#19 - Sur le Fil by Yann Tiersen

#20 - Syringe by Emilie Autumn

#21 - Paper Lung by Underoath

#22 - I Can't Be Cool by Yoko Kanno and Ilaria Graziano

#23 - Come In by Proyecto Oniric

#24 - Battle Without Honor or Humanity by Tomoyasu Hotei

#25 - We All Fall Down by Sweet Talk Radio

Just thought I would give you a little peek into my musical world.

Konnichiwa minna! This will be my first post for 2012.

So far it's been an interesting week. My father is away for a few days due to his job, which means my mother, sister and I get to watch and eat whatever we want. Yay! Tuna and stuffed crust pizza are now on the menu. We don't have to watch cheesy cowboy movies and How It's Made. It's paradise.

On a fun entertainment note I downloaded the first two episodes of The Legend of Korra, and the first episode of Okami-san and Her Seven Companions. So far The Legend of Korra lives up to it's predecessor Avatar: The Last Airbender. As for Okami-san, the first episode did a good job of reeling me in, and the FUNimation dubs are impeccable as usual.

So, all in all the first half of my week has been immensely fun. Well that's all I've got for now.

Ja ne!

Twenty Questions

So I read the twenty questions post from Annals of a Christian Single and am now posting my own. I hope whoever reads them enjoys.

1. What is the nerdiest and/or weirdest thing about you?
Well, I suppose my penchant for speaking randomly in Japanese.

2. If you could live in a fictional universe from any book, movie, or television show, what would it be?
Probably, Middle Earth or Ingary from Howl's Moving Castle.

3. Little or big, practical or frivolous, what are a few of your favorite items in your house?
The huge painting of a mountain scene from my great-great Aunt Romaine's house, and the couch that used to be in her living room. The couch holds some fond childhood memories with my late great-great Uncle Dick.

4. Do you like animated movies? If so, what is your favorite?
Yes, and Howl's Moving Castle. Christian Bale's voice flusters me every time I watch it.

5. What is your least favorite household chore.
Washing the dishes.

6. What's your favorite thing to get at Starbucks (or favorite coffee shop)?
I'm not overly fond of coffee, but I do occasionally enjoy an iced caramel macchiato. I mostly stick to tea though.

7. What is your favorite pizza topping?
Extra cheese. Does that count?

8. Waffles or pancakes?
To be honest I don't really like either.

9. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a librarian, for a considerable period of my childhood. To be honest, I still want to be a librarian.

10. Do you prefer cooking or baking?
Well I'd say they are even in my estimation. I'm not to fond of either, but I do enjoy them sometimes.

11. What would be your dream job?
Sitting in the back of a museum artifact room cataloging antiques or doing historical research of some sort.

12. Do you make your bed every morning?
Typically, no.

13. Picasso or Norman Rockwell?
Norman Rockwell, because I prefer his style and we share a birthday.

14. Do you like carpet, tile, or hardwood floors?
Hardwood, with a few lovely rugs.

15. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
My height. I'm 5'1, and will probably shrink when I get older.

16. Last movie you watched?
Sherlock Holmes, I was gearing up for the sequel.

17. Computer or television?
Computer.

18. Favorite sound?
Hit-and-Miss engines firing.

19. If you could have a $5,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
Not to be a copycat, but probably Amazon.

20. If you could be any Jane Austen fictional character who would you be (or if you prefer any fictional character)?
Anne Elliot. I love her, and relate to her more than any of Austen's other characters. As terrible as it sounds I love the bittersweet sorrow she endured.

My Favorite Type of Day

Today is my favorite type of day. Rainy, gloomy, and generally depressing for most people. Bottom line: I love rain, and hate sunshine. Rainy day are perfect for tea, books, and sleep. Three of my very favorite things. This type of weather only serves to fuel my Gothic tendencies. Perfect weather to dust off my Poe and Hawthorne and have a nice macabre reading session. Or I could sit in my darkened living room with my Mother and sister and watch the equally macabre Midsomer Murders. British murder mystery just can't be beat. Well the mystery I'm watching now is getting quite interesting, so with that I shall end this post.

Uhh I'm Really Bad At Titles

So my little sister Amanda left for After Hours camp yesterday. I actually cried in the car on the way home. Apparently after being home-schooled all your life and really only having your sister to talk to, leads to separation anxiety.

Anyway I went to the movies with my mother tonight and saw Captain America: The First Avenger. Loved it. Loved Chris Evans performance. Loved seeing J.J. Feild on the big screen. LOVED seeing Richard Armitage play a Nazi bad guy.
Yay for J.J. and Richard! I love seeing my period drama guys on the big screen.
I absolutely cannot wait to see Richard Armitage portray Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit.

Moving on, I was informed by my mother that while my sister is away we will be invading her junk heap of a room and clearing it out. Please pray for me. I'll be very lucky if I make it back from the front lines.

Ahh well what can I say.
Yours truly,
Miss Esther Romaine