Charles Ingalls The 'Odes' of March Series

CHARACTERS THAT INSPIRE ME


The "odes" of March are for my favorite characters. I almost didn't post this one, but this is one of my first favorite characters ever. When I was a little girl, my family sat around the coffee table together and watched LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE as a family. I have lots of good memories about this show. And, of course, every girl of my generation read the books.

I know this particular character was based upon a real man, but we all know that there had to be a fictional element to LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE, therefore, Charles Ingalls is one of my favorite characters.

Mr. Ingalls had some great traits like: Faith, being a great father, and a crazy hardworker.

However, his weaknesses were just as inspiring. Ingalls had a strong case of "wanderlust". (desire to wander, travel, explore the world) This fact is documented history. Pa also had a intermittent sense of macho -ism. He sometimes erred on the heavy side of standing up for his family and for what is right. One more "weakness" Charles Ingalls possessed was a workaholic nature. The man over worked himself from time to time.

As a girl, I always thought I'd grow up and marry a man like Charles Ingalls. Great father with deep Faith and love for his family. What a great example he would be to the gentlmen of this generation. Well, truthfully, he probably would not fit in anymore. Sadly, in life or in fiction.

But in this post I wanted to touch upon the fact that we readers like the weaknesses of characters sometimes just as well as their strengths.

What are some strengths and weaknesses that you value in your favorite characters? In your own writing or in what you've read?

Kahlan Amnell - The "Odes" of March Series

CHARACTERS THAT INSPIRE
I have trouble reading lately. I perform weekly crits and enjoy some of the authors that let me give them my thoughts, but truly, it has been a while since I've been glued to a book.

I traveled to a blog. I don't know how I got there, but the author had a few characters that inspire her running down the side. This inspired me to blog about some of my old favs! An "Ode", if you will. If I can't read about new characters, I will just reminisce about some of the characters I love. Maybe this series will tie me over until I find a book I can get lost in.

1. Terry Goodkind's

    Kahlan Amnell


The last Mother Confessor of the Midlands. Protector and lover to the one Seeker of Truth, Richard Cypher. You should see this girl fight with her dual daggers!


I think what I like about Kahlan is her passion for truth and justice. Yeah, she's in love with the one true Seeker, but it didn't start that way. Her first feelings for The Seeker developed when she traveled far from her home to find him. Kahlan had never met The Seeker, but prophecy told her what he would someday be. She sacrificed her home and comfort (and the life of her sister) to find the one true Seeker and protect him.






Why? She knew this man would bring justice to the Midlands. Prophecy fortold that the one true Seeker would save the lives of the human race. Kahlan’s faithfulness to the Seeker began long before she met him.






Later she falls for Richard Cypher. She falls deeply and madly in love with him (and they cannot consummate their love because her powers will destroy any man she is with -- so their love transcends the physical, its awesome) I would like to find a love like this one day. Alas, maybe a girl has to live in fiction to find it. Or maybe she has to be a beautiful Mother Confessor to find it.


I digress. The romance part of Kahlan Amnell's story is not why she inspires me. Not at all. Her strenth and passion and love for the needy inspire me. It is her faithfulness, her loyalty, her passion for the common man that keeps me turning pages.

Do you have some favorite characters?

Movie Monday

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO. . .

I didn't catch the entire thing, but even though I tuned in late, I think I caught all of this. I know it is Hollywood honoring themselves, but I like movies. . .

The winners were:
Best Animation: Up . . .I didn't think I would like this movie, but I did. You have to see UP!
Original Screenplay Winner: Hurt Locker. . .this really dominated the night.
Adapted Screenplay: Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire

Best Makeup: Star Trek. . .at least it was mentioned last night. Man, I loved this movie.
Supporting Actor Winner: Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds
Supporting Actress Winner: Mo’Nique for Precious
Set Decoration: Avatar
Costumes Winner: The Young Victoria. . .I have to see this.


Best Sound Editing: Hurt Locker. . .my friend Lori said this was good. Gotta see it now.
Best Sound Mixingr: Hurt Locker

Cinematographer Winner: Avatar

Best Original Score: Up!. . .Nice. Well deserved.

Best Visual Effects: Avatar. . .no surprise. Truly deserved.

Best Film Editing: Hurt Locker

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock. . .I was so pulling for her! But the others she was up against were great too.
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow for Hurt Locker. . .first woman to win ever. (Barbra Striesand handed it to her, how surreal! And she was up against her exhusband. Kathryn was gracious)

And. . .
Best Picture Winner: The Hurt Locker. . .Wow. Didn't see that coming :0)
___________________________________
My awards:
Best dress:
Demi Moore. . .(and she wins Best shoes too!)

Awkward moment:
Sean Penn's delivery. . . what was he talking about?

Sweetest moment:
James Taylor's song. . .man his voice hasn't aged a bit.

Most elegant and eloquent:
Taylor Lautner

Best speech:
Sandra Bullock. . .she seems so humbled by her success and the fact that she has found such love.

Best speech Honorable mention:
Katherine Bigelow. . .she really tried to show that her film not only about soldiers but for them.
(How great to beat your exhusband out in this catagaory, the year he puts out Avatar, the monumentous of films to date)
Michelle Pfieffer. . .as she introduced Jeff Bridges nomination.

Funniest speech:
Tim Robbins when he introduced Morgan Freeman as a nominee.

Surprise?
Forest Whitaker looks lean, but not very well.

__________________________
Movies I have to see after watching the Acadamy Awards:
The Hurt Locker
The Secret of Kells
The Blind Side
Invictus
Crazy Heart
___________________

Did you watch? Tell me your thoughts :0)

WORD WEDNESDAY

This week I've posted a few words I wrote inspired by the Word.

Thunder vibrates the ground. Millions of drops shower, dripping down my neck and soaking my shirt. My jeans stick to my legs. Waves of water pour over my head and onto my icy hands, as I hammer the nails into the wood. Each nail holds a 2x4 that will eventually hold the walls around the homeless family we came all the way from the United States to help.

I smile as the saw obeys my arm, and the measurements really work -- Wish I'd paid more attention in algebra.



However, this 37 year old body's aching back, makes me wonder if I will be able to finish the 3 day build. The rain brings questions why I have come in the first place. And the loneliness. Loneliness?



Yep, an older single amongst teenagers building homes for those who don't have one. The youths in stylish t-shirts and Vans run around and laugh and jump, enjoying their adventure in Mexico. I don't fit in, totally. They are respectful, caring, even playful at times -- Of course they are, they are followers of Jesus Christ.


Sure there are people my age, but they are couples. I watch as one man lifts some 4x6's for his wife He deposits them closer so she won't have to bend. Another man in red, plaid flannel hands his keys to his girl so she can go and fetch them lunch. She trots off, wet pony tail bobbing, to the F150 with a heater.


We raise the walls and slap stucco on. I put in 110% shoveling mortar for cement, ignoring my aching back.



Pony tail girl returns with their food using her clear, plastic raincoat to shield their sandwiches.


Man, I'm hungry.


Plaid flannel man wrings out his under t-shirt and complains about the rain and the cold. Wet pony tail  girl encourages him. She says lovingly, "Sometimes God lets the rain come. He allows the storm to show us we can persevere - that He will help us persevere."

Tears sting my eyes and a lump forms in my throat as I look up to the sky -- something I do sometimes when my Heavenly Father amazes me. Rain drops tickle my cheeks, and my heart soars through the misty gray sky. Yes, He will help me persevere and tomorrow we will hand this family of four --the one that has eaten and slept on the ground of Sonora, Mexico all their lives-- the keys to their new home.

MOVIE MONDAY

SURROGATES 2009
Set in the future, most humans are living a virtual life through robots. They lay in a bed and hook up to a machine to live their lives through a human looking robot.
Someone is killing the virtual humans, and has found a way to kill the human behind it. A policeman, Tom Greer, must leave his home for the first time in years and investigate this crime in person.

Okay, I love Bruce Willis, the DIE HARD series and THE FIFTH ELEMENT. However, this movie is a big three thumbs down. Four thumbs? It was slow, the story is boring and cliche', the robots gave me the creeps. . . that's all I have to say.

My opinion of Bruce Willis hasn't changed. His acting kept we watching and made me finish the movie.

Have you seen this movie? What did you think?