Simple Things for Summer

Day 30 - Anything you want to post about

(Hey, the whole point of this challenge was so I didn't have to think of something!)

School has been done for a week and now that I'm through, I'm trying to settle into summer now, so-

Here are a few small things I want (specifically want, not the productive things I need) to do this summer:

• Make a pizza crust
• Read a book
• Record a song
• Write
• Go to the library (to read/write)
• Re-watch the rest of Lewis before the new series
• Go swimming
• Other things yet to be determined

Thank you for hanging around the last month, and hope you all have a good summer!

Unless you are in the southern hemisphere in which case have a good winter!

Picture of Myself

Day 29 - Picture of yourself

Okay, just for you few special people who read this, here is probably the best selfie I've taken this year:

Thank you universe for coming together to create this picture I feel pretty good about. This was after my final presentation for the spring semester, so I had made a bit of an effort on my appearance was feeling confident after my group's successful finish.

Also this is commemorating how good my bangs looked two months ago because it is now far from that.

11:11 Wishes

Day 28 - Do you wish for anything at 11:11? If so, what do you wish for?

At 11:11 this morning I actually saw the clock and wished that I was posting this at exactly that moment.

But anyway, in today's edition of deconstructing the question, I have three approaches to this:

1. I don't think these kinds of wishes are real so it doesn't really matter.

2. It's sometimes more fun to pretend about stuff like that.

3. If they were real, you'd have to be really careful what you wish for because you have no idea of the implications it might have.

When you take these into account, I would basically wish for something like to notice when the clock says 12:34 because that's really cool.

My Handwriting

Day 27 - A picture of your handwriting

Warm Fuzzy Things

Day 26 - What are some little things that make you feel warm and fuzzy?

Dogs and other small fluffy animals

  

Hand holding

x

Knowing someone thought of you

Familiar music

I realize that's only four things. But my mind has gone blank. And anyway,

Would I Rather Date...

Day 25 - Would you rather date someone plain with an amazing personality or someone beautiful with a plain personality?

Well. Time to get philosophical.

What is a plain personality? Someone might seem superficial or disingenuous, but surely there is something underneath. The question there, is do they feel they can be themselves. And what is an amazing personality compared to a plain one? Do they simply fall into more extremes on scales of personality traits? I don't think it's a bad thing to kind of be in the middle. As long as our personalities are compatible and they have the qualities I'm looking for in a date, I think anything would be fine.

And as for looks, I generally find their inner self is what makes them beautiful.

Things That Cross My Mind

Day 24 - Seven things that cross your mind a lot

1. That sounds like a good opportunity for a pun. Or this line from Cabin Pressure. Actually there are two Cabin Pressure references that fit, which one should I use, or both?

2. Food.

3. Isn't there school I should be doing? Am I doing enough? What is that later assignment going to be like? Will I graduate? Has anyone replied to my discussion post?

4. I'm so tired. I wonder if I'm feeling other things right now. Who knows.

5. My friends <3 They are so lovely and I miss them. I hope they're okay and I should talk to them soon.

6. I wonder how my detectives are doing. That thing they said, what does it mean for other things? Are they happy? I wish I could give them a hug...

7. What the heck day is it.

A Letter to PBS

Day 23 - A letter to someone. Anyone.

I give "C" as the letter of the day to Cookie Monster!

Okay but that actually gives me an idea.

Dear PBS,

Thanks for being my channel pretty much forever. You're almost all I watched when I was little, and you're even airing my new favorite shows now. So that's pretty cool.

Barney, Arthur, Dragon Tales, Big Comfy Couch, others I'm probably forgetting, those were all really fun and probably develop social skills for kids. So I salute you. And Mr. Rogers of course, with talking about feelings and imagination and how stuff is made and feeding the fish.

Even though I don't remember them well, Wishbone, Bill Nye, and Reading Rainbow exposed me to stuff I would build on later.

Liberty's Kids got me interested in history in a major way, and helped tremendously in school. I still love it.

Fetch with Ruff Ruffman had me totally captivated and I learned a lot of weird facts from that too.

That was probably the last thing I actively followed from PBS Kids - now I've moved to Masterpiece Mystery. Well, like three shows. And a couple more that have already ended. I'm so glad you play these mysteries so I don't have to wait for them to be on BBC America and then finally on dvd like a year and a half after they first air and everyone watches them.

But hey. These cut-down versions you air. I know you probably have to do it because of time slots and no commercials but. How come the Sherlock cuts were fine but on Endeavour some cuts are important to the characters! Mrs. Thursday and Monica are important! And they help us understand DS Thursday and Morse better.

But really, you've played a bunch of wonderful shows that have shaped my life for the better, so it wasn't all mindless TV watching.

Now if you could just calm down your pledge drives somehow...

What I'm Wearing Today

Day 22 - A picture of what you wore today

I'm mostly a t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops kind of of person, and today is a Doctor Who shirt day. Got a pretty chill day planned so didn't feel the need to dress up much - going to read stuff for school, watch Inspector Lewis, return said dvd to the library because it it due today, and take my first attempt at a test. What are you wearing and have planned?

Turn Ons and Offs

Day 21 - Turn on's and off's

Turn ons:

• Friendliness
• Humor
• Singing/playing an instrument
• Good with kids
• Nice to people
• Intelligence
• Religious
• Humility
• Openness with emotions
• Enthusiasm

Turn offs:

• Really edgy humor
• Mean comments
• Not trying in school
• Too much self-importance
• Unreliability
• Un-fun show-off
• Distant "cool"
• Murder

Musicals I've Seen

Day 20 - Concerts you have attended.

Hm, well, I don't remember going to any notable concerts, so you know what would be more interesting? Musicals! They have music so close enough, right? Here are the ones I remember seeing in person:

• Aladdin Jr. (middle school)
• Annie (professional)
• Annie (children's threater)
• Annie Jr. (middle school)
• Anything Goes (high school)
• Beauty and the Beast Jr. (middle school)
• Fiddler on the Roof Jr. (children's theater)
• Fiddler on the Roof (high school)
• Fiddler on the Roof (community theater)
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (community theater)
• Les Miserables (high school)
• Little House on the Prairie (professional)
• Mulan Jr. (middle school)
• The Music Man (community theater)
• Oklahoma! (adults)
• Oliver! (community theater)
• Peter Pan (high school)
• Singin' in the Rain (community theater)
• Wizard of Oz Jr. (middle school)
• You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (adults)

(By the way it was totally worth it to see Fiddler on the Roof three times and I would go again in a heartbeat)

Sunsets and Stars

Day 19 - A list of all the places you've lived at

I'm afraid it's another cop out day - I've never moved and I don't want to get too detailed on the internet about where. Will you accept instead some pictures of lovely places I do not live?

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday! I'm going to be busy with singing at church, being with family, working on school, and watching Endeavour tonight. What are you up to today?

A Show I Love

look at my child

Day 18 - Name the tv show you have become addicted to

WELL it just so happens that Endeavour comes back tomorrow night. *internally screaming*

I still really love the shows in the "Morseverse," especially Endeavour (probably my fave) and Inspector Lewis (possibly fave characters).

Quick explanation of how all this works - Colin Dexter originally wrote Inspector Morse mysteries which were turned into a popular TV show. Morse's assistant, Sergeant Lewis, later got a sequel on TV (Inspector Lewis), then they started making a show about Morse in his younger days (Endeavour).

So to recap -
Endeavour - set 1965-1967 and beyond, aired 2012-present
Inspector Morse - set and aired 1987-2000
Inspector Lewis - set and aired 2006-2015 (final season to air in the US in August)

Endeavour is just a masterpiece. It has great mysteries, a fantastic cast, beautiful locations, classical music, and heart-tugging characters and stories. I'll be rewatching an episode and think "ah, this is so peaceful," and then "wait this is so sad how did I forget," and then I'll listen to opera and join Morse in his melancholy state.

Of course, since it's ongoing there's always the chance it could go downhill. We'll see. I'm probably going to love it anyway.

And to those who have put up with me obsessing over this for two years - thank you.

I will endeavour to not talk about the new series too much.

*wink*

What I Want to Be

source

Day 17 - What do you want to be when you get older?

Excellent question, I ask myself this too. Deciding this sounds scary, and I don't understand how people do it. I guess either you decide on something early and change it later, or you don't decide until you do whatever it is and make your choice then. I don't know.

I want to have a long-term job, maybe one that focuses on doing good for people. Something with a definitive purpose beyond making money.

I want to be a 'grandma' to a young person. Maybe a relative, maybe a friend. But I want to make them cookies and listen to them and give them advice and hugs and grumble about back in my day.

I want to either have an area of expertise or know a bunch of obscure facts about a lot of things. Like to be well read or a pinterest-perfect crafter or have a quote for any occasion or be the one people go to when they've been wondering something weird.

Do you have any aspirations, career or otherwise?

One Day More (on earth)

Day 16 - If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do with your remaining time on earth?

Hmm, well if I was the only one dying, I would probably be writing to people and settling affairs (as much as someone my age can settle affairs. Setting up an fannish next-of-kin for my AO3 account?).

But since the world is ending (this is assuming we're not going to populate another planet or something), I'm guessing everything would be rather chaotic. I think I'd like to just be at church for a while (I bet we'd be doing all the sacraments and probably novenas and stuff). It would probably be the most peaceful and hopeful place, and a beautiful way to be in community with people.

I'm not sure what else, I feel like I'm missing something. Or is this another edition of "Arda takes things way too seriously"? What would you all do?

Someone I Fancy

unfortunately I think he only wears this suit in the last series. it really...suits him.

Day 15 - A photo of someone you fancy at the moment

Also known as day 2 of my nonexistent crushes.

The closest thing to a person I fancy at the moment would be my love for James Hathaway. He's a detective from the show Inspector Lewis (a fictional character, of course - it's me after all), played by Laurence Fox (whose music I talked about earlier this month).

James is one of those characters who is simultaneously me, my son, my best friend, and my husband. In some ways I feel he really gets me (and also he may be rubbing off on me). He is also at times a small child who needs to be protected. And someone with a compatible temperament and interests.

If I used five words to describe him, they'd be intelligent, facetious, brooding, sarcastic, and devoted.  (Oh yeah and he's Catholic too).

So yeah, I really love him right now.

((whoops somehow I messed up the scheduling sorry this post is late))

5 Celebrity Crushes

Day 14 - Provide pictures of 5 celebrity crushes

This is kind of awkward and I'm not exactly crushing on any celebs... How about we have a few more platonic categories:

Leaps from perky Doctor to DI Grumpy Cat in a single bound, longest influence on my life so far:

David Tennant

Let's just forget about his Jessica Jones character

Best range of characters, most convincing dad:

Roger Allam

His voice is so soothing like thank you for existing

Astounding writer, best to fans:

John Finnemore

Recently played a dead dog astronaut and I haven't heard it yet but think he was born for that role

Best twitter comebacks, library activism, excellent from one medium to the next, just seems lovely:

Rebecca Front

Quote from the other day: "nothing gets in the way of lunch"

Then fine - most aesthetically pleasing (going purely looks here):

Gwilym Lee

His character on Midsomer Murders is a precious cinnamon roll

Do you have any celebrities you're crushing on at the moment?

Not Confessions

Day 13 - Three confessions of your choice

1. I have no idea what to do with this post. I didn't know two weeks ago when I decided to do this challenge and now it's the night before and I still got nothing.

2. I'm also feeling weighed down from the news of the day, and I don't really want to delve into myself to come up with something that's sort of a secret that I could share.

3. Actual confession - I never liked your spinach puffs.

To make up for this lack of real post, here:

Have a good day :)

My Desktop

Day 12 - Screenshot your desktop

Here it is, and remarkably clean for me. The background is from the show Foyle's War, which is set in 1940s Britain, hence the not-TARDIS. I tend to stick a bunch of links and stuff on my desktop to look at later, and when it gets too messy I just throw it all in a folder, so that's what most of those folders are (though I went through and organized/deleted some stuff recently, go me). Then I have school stuff, a few pictures I just found for my Midsomer Murders blog, and a link for a radio show this is now reminding me to listen to.

What is your current desktop background?

2 Quotes I Like

Day 11 - What is your favorite quote?

My favorite varies, but here's a couple I like right now:

Try not to worry about embarrassing yourself.

That's a lifetime's task.

-Roger Allam

Good night.
You are perfectly cast in your life.
And with so little rehearsal too!
It's a joy to watch. Thank you.
-Lin-Manuel Miranda

It's kind of special to get advice from someone you admire or who is doing what you love.

1 Food and 1 Drink

Day 10 - If you could only live off of one food and one beverage for the rest of your days, what would they be?

Practical answer:

Water would probably be the best drink - fruit juice could help with vitamins but ultimately you probably need water the most.

For food, the best answer I can think of is pie.

I like pie though, so I'd be good. Covering the nutrient groups and having a variety is probably the best way to go, so I stay healthy and don't get so sick of the food that it's hard to eat.

Real answer:

Water and pasta.

Pet Peeves

*pretends I've seen this movie so I can use the appropriate pic*

Day 9 - Pet Peeves

For some reason, whenever this question comes up, I immediately forget everything that annoys me. So I got some inspiration from a Huffington Post article. These are pretty much all paraphrased or inspired by it:

• When people are really late without letting me know
• People who are sick and not careful to not spread their germs
• People who say "no offense" and then say something offensive, or say "I'm not racist/sexist/etc. but," or "I was raised Catholic but" no. Just stop.
• People who ask you something but do not pay attention to the response or look like they literally couldn't care less
• "On accident" (apparently it's as accepted as "by accident" but it just doesn't sound right to my ears)
• When people play their music out loud in public (I'm trying to get some reading in before class and there's already too much going on please don't add rap music)
• When adults complain about young people being on their phones all the time (bonus points if they're on their phone at the same time)
• When the air isn't squeezed out of a ziploc
• (And my own additions) When two people talk to me at once and don't try to sort themselves out
• When people constantly express extreme disbelief that you haven't watched something and oh my gosh you've got to ("oh really, I think you'd like it" is totally fine)
• The feel and sound of fingernails on certain surfaces like metal or towels. Ughhhhhh
• Being done with a blog post and thinking of other things to add or change

Three things to say

Day 8 - Three things you want to say to different people

It was actually really tough for me and I don't want to go back. If we did, I'd want to do things differently and be more open when I'm struggling or don't like how things are.

You're stretching your wings and keep climbing higher and it's beautiful. I'm so proud of you. I'm sure it hasn't been easy but you make it look natural. Thanks for keeping me in your life.

I'm sorry, I don't know why it's so hard for me to write back. You're so special and full of life, I hope you're able to stay that way despite the changes in your life. Growing up has made life difficult for other friends, and I hope it doesn't do that to you.


*these may for specific people that I don't think will see this, but some parts can be generalized, so like it's probably not talking about you, reader, but part of it can be. If that makes sense.

Favorite Books

"This 'Saruman' sounds an awful lot like Count Dooku"

Day 7 - Do you read? What are your favorite books?

With the amount of times books have been mentioned on this blog, I don't think it will come as a surprise that yes, I do read. And while it's been harder for me to get into a book for a long time, I have already fulfilled my New Year's hope to read at least two books this year! As for favorites, I recently did one of those tags where you list 10 books that have stayed with you. This list isn't perfect and may have just one out of a series I love, but it is a few of my favorites:

1. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

2. The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

5. Deceptions by Jude Watson

6. Little House on the Prairie (series) by Laura Ingalls Wilder

7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

8. The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet by Kate Noble and Rachel Kiley

9. Vader’s Fortress by Rebecca Moesta

10. several American Girl books

The Music of Laurence Fox

Day 6 - What band or musician is most important to you?

Since October I believe, I've been listening to a lot of Laurence Fox. He played one of my favorite characters on Inspector Lewis and has been working on a music career as well. I don't necessarily recommend all his music, but I really love several songs (I haven't even listened to his new album yet what the heck). Often the whole message of a song won't speak to me (or the melody more than the lyrics), but little bits will, and I thought I'd share a few with you all.


Believe we are growing up
And yet still we scream: don't go
I'll never leave you alone
...
Believe you are beautiful, very much more than you know
I'll never you alone, cause I know
I was on fire, until you put me at ease
And I am just like the wind, and the wind will change again

It’s time, time to start clutching at straws again
Picking a fight that you can never win, never win, never win
In time, he’s gonna feel so small
Cause you are the fire, you are the storm.
Stay by the fire until you get warm

Down to the far shore
To write his name in the sand in the dark before dawn
The waves will wash it away
But that’s what he’s waiting for
He’s gonna sway himself to sleep
Throwing rocks into the ebony deep
And he knows
All his thoughts will explode into something more

Take your time
Be yourself
I want no one else

Places to Go

Day 5 - Five places you want to visit

1. St. Peter's Square - Vatican City - Italy

It always looks and sounds like it's so beautiful, and to go to such an central place for my religion would be great.

2. The Bodleian Library - Oxford - England

My Oxford-based detective shows made me fall in love with the city, and the Bodleian Library has featured prominently in all of them. While it sounds like there's not a whole lot tourists can see (access is primarily for the university and researchers), I would be happy to see anything inside and spend time on the outside. Also it has long underground tunnels for most of its storage, which sounds really cool.

3. Somewhere I can see the Northern Lights

I'm far too close to the equator for it to be a remote possibility, so if I could get lucky enough to see them somewhere, it would be a great experience.

4. Somewhere beautiful I've never heard of

My brother and I have been playing this game where you're dropped somewhere on google street view randomly, and we've ended up outside some really beautiful landmarks I've never come across, so there must be so many wonderful places to visit that aren't the most common vacation spots.

5. Somewhere with friends

Because of the internet, I've been able to make friends all over the United States and the world. When you can see each other in person, it's the greatest thing. It's weird, because the familiar words are now paired with a voice and a face. I'd like more of that, no matter where it is.

My Name (it sounds like a name that someone might have)

Day 4 - The meaning behind your Tumblr name

I'm guessing this challenge was originally made for tumblr, but I will talk about my blogger name of Arda.

So from 2010-2014 there was this super awesome online game called Clone Wars Adventures, where you were a Jedi in the Clone Wars era of Star Wars, running around the Jedi Temple and playing games with different Jedi Masters. It was even voiced by the TCW voice actors, so you could literally hear Obi-Wan talk to you about lightsaber training and it was the best thing.

I believe you needed a fake first and last name to sign up - you could probably get a random one or add one yourself. Before this, I had usually gone by Rosie Cotton (from LotR) on the interwebz, and this time still wanted something LotRish but a little more...sophisticated maybe?

My brother and I put together Arda Ancalima, basically because both words were from LotR and it sounded good. Arda is the earth Middle-Earth exists on, and Ancalima is part of Frodo's invocation of the Light of Earendil (the phial) in Return of the King: "Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!"

Both words are from the Quenya form of Elvish, and very very roughly translate to most "brightest realm." I have no idea if this is the correct order of the words, or if one needs to be conjugated, and that sometimes makes me worry that I come across as a fake fan (rather than a lazy, ignorant, ooh pretty words one).

In 2011 I joined The Lakehouse Forum for female Star Wars fans, and kept the same name because it was cool and already connected to the Star Wars fandom in a way. Several members already had blogs and inspired me to make my own, so when I signed up on blogger I just used Arda, as I was already used to being called.

And that is the very long version of how I now go by Arda so much you could call that on the street and I would probably think it was me.

My Day

Day 3 - Your day, in great detail

I'm writing these posts the night before and scheduling them, so this is my day yesterday:

• I woke up late because it's summer
• Had breakfast
• ?? (should have taken notes)
• Probably did stuff on the internet
• Worried about school (I have a summer class)
• Figured out that the syllabus was slightly off and I'm actually further along than I thought
• Tried to read my textbook but brain was like nah
• Had lunch instead
• Did something...
• Read my textbook!
• Prayed the rosary with the fam
• Made pizza
• Ate pizza and did a crossword with my mom and brother
• Didn't want to practice music or read more (yesterday I just wasn't feeling it)
• Practiced music anyway, and it was actually nice (I'm singing at an event at church tomorrow and a Mass this weekend)
• Sang a bit for fun too (karaoke videos on youtube ftw)
• I think I did some blogger/youtube/tumblr
• Watched a couple short episodes of Sarah and Duck (the sweetest BBC children's show narrated by my fav Roger Allam) with Mom
• Read more of my textbook (I only have two pages left so I'm on track with where I wanted to be!)
• Was relieved
• More blogger and talked on fb with friends (oh gosh and I still have two posts open to read I'm sorry guys I'll try to be better at commenting soon)
• Wrote this post
• Showered
• Watched the second half of an Inspector Lewis episode with my brother
• Edited this post
• Will go to bed soon :)

My dear friend at Pens, Thespians, and Words started doing this challenge as well! Give her a look and a follow. Also check out her Facebook page (somehow her blog doesn't show up on my feed so if that happens to you this is the best way to see her posts!). :)

Likes & Dislikes

 

Day 2: 10 likes and dislikes

Likes:

1. Chocolate
2. Reading
3. When lonely young fictional detectives get that shy smile
4. Cool days
5. Purple ink pens
6. Fairy lights (Christmas lights but like all year)
7. Reunions with friends
8. Well-placed Cabin Pressure references
9. Comforting songs
10. Blogging

Dislikes:

1. Strong smells
2. Dry textbooks with small type
3. When lonely young fictional detectives isolate themselves
4. Humidity you can barely breathe in
5. Pens that you need to scribble before the ink comes out and you sign your credit card and have to go back over a bit because there was no ink and you worry your signature is going to look forged
6. Florescent lights that make your eyes tired
7. Missing friends
8. Great opportunities for references but people don't know it so it would come across as mean
9. Dry spells for music
10. Forgetting to queue a blog post until late at night

Basic Things

Hey all, for the month of June I'm going to be doing a 30 day blog challenge:

Day 1 - Write some basic things about yourself.

So right now:

-I'm at a four-year university

-Currently majoring in communications (emphasis on studying people rather than media or PR) and minoring in psychology

-My favorite color is purple

-I feel weird coming up with basic facts because the majority of the very small amount of people who read this blog I have known for a long time, so this is for you, new people!

-I'm (probably) an INFJ, Hufflepuff, lawful/neutral good, and melancholic

-I'm that boring person who loves pizza, pasta, and pretty much only drinks water

-British detectives are still very much my thing

-My brother and I like watching them together (and occasionally luring in Mom and Dad)

-I've been increasingly inspired to write lately because of some blogs and other things I've been reading

-Dogs are wonderful creatures but I'm allergic to everything so I have to be content with seeing them in car windows and getting really excited

-I'm approaching 5 years of this blog, which seems both a short and a long time.