Happy New Year!

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Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great Christmas. I return to do the same New Years post as always, starting with some good things that happened the past year.

And they mostly have to do with fandoms.

I started Doctor Who late 2012, but mostly watched it this year and it's been an amazing ride. The stories and especially the characters have supported and inspired me a lot. It's been great to talk about it with friends and meet whovians. My cousin and I saw The Day of the Doctor in the theater and that was a really fun experience. I put together a Tenth Doctor cosplay which I've gotten a lot of use out of already.

Also watched Sherlock but that's less of a story of inspiration and community and more just fangirling.

Another cosplay I made was Luke Triton from Professor Layton. I wore it to a con for a day and that was really fun. Several people stopped me which was cool, and I finally got to meet some Professor Layton (and Ace Attorney) fans in person. I want to go again this year but there's like five cosplays I want to do so I'll have to narrow that down.

School went really well this year - had some difficult subjects to tackle but met some nice people and have that behind me now.

We went on a family trip this summer to visit my grandparents - it was a really nice, relaxing time and nice to connect with family again that I rarely see.

Got introduced to the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Love the books, and the movies are good too. Just finished reading The Half-Blood Prince.

Still in the same choir as last year which has been even better. I know everyone a lot better now, we have a couple new members, and had some really great times singing and hanging out together. Thank God for this group.

So a pretty good year.

Let's look at my list of thing I wanted to do in 2013 and see how badly I did...

Watch The Avengers, Doctor Who, Sherlock, more Once Upon a Time, Star Wars 3D movies, and The Hobbit part 2

Did all of these! Like extremely on the second and third. Except Star Wars in 3D which was postponed.

Costuming - fixing my Jedi costume, and I'd love to do an Ace Attorney cosplay (specifically Maya Fey who I think wouldn't be too hard), and maybe LotR-ish cloaks.

Weeeell I cosplayed Luke and the Doctor. Still thinking of doing Maya and got the clay for her necklace, so that's one of the cosplays I'm considering. Still want to fix my Jedi costume.

Write - blog posts, stories/fan fics, and lyrics.

Hm. A bit, but not too much on any of these.

Better manage computer time - drag myself off Tumblr more in favor of sites where I talk to friends and/or have way to improve myself (through writing and some reading).

Haha. Hahaha. Eheheheheh. I thought I was on tumblr a lot then. But in my defense, I talk to friends on tumblr now, and read/write some things.

Try to exercise once in a while, eat a bit more healthily, and get to a place where I'm healthy and feel good about my body.

I did okay-ish and on the feeling better about my body. Not the others.

Work on my spiritual life. Way.

This didn't really change but maybe that never goes away.


So let's try some more reasonable goals for next year:
Figure out, prepare for, and possibly take the next step in my life
Cosplay at least once
Be more comfortable with myself
Post at least once a month here, and keep Gollum to the same
Make a video
Work on instead of surviving until good days (the weekend, events, etc) finding the good in ordinary or difficult days.
Every day put a slip in a jar of something good that happened that day

If you have any goals or resolutions for 2014 you'd like to share, I'd love to hear them!


Thank you all for sticking with me all this time, and I wish you all the best this next year!

Scurvy Sherlock and the Piratey Scandal in Belgravia

Avast! It be that time o' year again, methinks! Aye, it be International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Don't forget to use yer "savvys" and yer "yo ho ho's" today! Thinkin' o' last year, we be doin' another script 'ere to celebrate! This time we 'ave from BBC's Sherlock, Buckingham Palace: Pirate Edition!

(Long Jawn Silver enters to see Scurvy Sherlock sitting wearing only a sail wrapped around his body. He shrugs and sits down beside him.)

Long Jawn Silver: Ye be wearing knickers?

Scurvy Sherlock: Nay.

(They are silent, then start giggling.)

Long Jawn Silver: At Buccaneer Palace, fine. Arrr, I be fightin' an urge to commandeer an ashtray. What be we a'doin' here, Scurvy Sherlock? Mayhaps 'ere to see a bonny lass?

(First Mate Mycroft enters.)

Scurvy Sherlock: Aye, that be true!

First Mate Mycroft: Just once, can't ye scallywags act piratey?

Long Jawn Silver: Arr, we sails the high seas, I keep me log, 'e forgets his knickers. I wouldn't have a prayer, laddie.

Scurvy Sherlock: I be in the middle of pillage, First Mate Mycroft!

First Mate Mycroft: There be little booty, ye must've known.

Scurvy Sherlock: Aye, crystal clear.

First Mate Mycroft: Then ye need a new pillage.

(Picks up clothes from table.)

First Mate Mycroft: We be in Buccaneer Palace, the heart of the Brethren Court. Scurvy Sherlock, put yer breeches on!

Scurvy Sherlock: Belay that.

First Mate Mycroft: But yer client?

Scurvy Sherlock: Who be that?

Quartermaster (entering): I 'ave to tell, ye, 'e be anonymous.

First Mate Mycroft: Arrg, I apologize fer me wee brother.

Quartermaster: A right bilge rat, I assume. And ye must be Long Jawn Silver, former captain o' the HMS Shire.

Long Jawn Silver: Ahoy, aye.

Quartermaster: And Scurvy Sherlock. Ye look taller on yer wanted posters.

Scurvy Sherlock: Aye, by keepin' me good hat and me short matey. (He glances at Long Jawn Silver and turns back to First Mate Mycroft.) Yarr Mycroft, I need to know me clients. No landlubber be hiring me. Gangway!

(Scurvy Sherlock walks away but Fist Mate Mycroft steps on his sail, keeping him from leaving.)

First Mate Mycroft: This be vital to the Brethren Court! Grow up!

Scurvy Sherlock: Get off me sail!

First Mate Mycroft: Or what?

Scurvy Sherlock: I sail without it.

First Mate Mycroft: I'll let ye.

Long Jawn Silver: Arr mateys, there be a time and a place.

Scurvy Sherlock: Who is me client?

First Mate Mycroft: Use yer head, figure it out. Now blimey! Put yer clothes on!


The Sherlock screens be from here and Scurvy Sherlock's hat from here. Thanks for reading mateys, and fair winds to you lot!

First Mate Mycroft via twitter

Favorite Movies

A looong time ago, Vellvin tagged me in a favorite movies tag that James started!

The rules:

1: List favorite movies (in any format that you like and the movies do not have to be in order).

2: Post my video tribute (above) somewhere in your post.

3: "Tag" other bloggers (optional). (I won't tag anyone but take this if you want to do a similar post!)

Here is James' fantastic video tribute:

And my favorite movies...

arwen-undomiel.com

 The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit 

Rather obvious if you look at my blog, The Lord of the Rings films are pretty much my all-time favorites. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (and likely the others) included. Fellowship of the Ring is first, probably followed by The Two Towers, then Return of the King. Hard to compare The Hobbit to those, so I'll just say that I loved that too. The Lord of the Rings books and movies just...I don't know, they mean a lot and it's something I can always go back to. Lovable, heroic characters, magnificent places, beautiful music, just everything.

Star Wars

If you've followed me for any length of time this is probably just as obvious. A bit harder to pick favorites here - for the original trilogy it's Return of the Jedi and prequels it's The Phantom Menace or Revenge of the Sith. Again, great characters, stories, and a amazing, extensive universe.

Pirates of the Caribbean

I was super obsessed with PotC for a while and still love these movies. At World's End might be my favorite, but I do love the first two as well (four was okay and though it wasn't my favorite it's still nice to have more movies). One of my favorite PotC related memories is the evening the AWE trailer was going to come out. It would be released at midnight which at the time was too late for us, but this scene from the movie was posted earlier in the evening. We proceeded to watch it maybe 13 times and memorize it. It's probably my favorite scene in all four movies.

The Sound of Music

This is a great feel-good movie for me. I love musicals and this is one of my favorites. Julie Andrews wins all the awards and the story and setting is just so awesome. I mean, Catholics, singing, and just before World War II? Not sure it can get much better.

Those are probably my top choices for movies. Others I've enjoyed a lot include a few Marvel movies, several Disney movies, Indiana Jones, what I've seen of Harry Potter (if anyone is interested, here is a great essay on Harry Potter and Christianity!) and a few others.

So there you go! Thanks again Vellvin, and thanks for reading!

N-Z Randomness

Continuing my post from before, here are more bits for each letter. A bit Doctor Who heavy, sorry about that. Whoops here come all the hard letters...

N. Nice hobbit - Gollum's blog, Riddles in the Dark is still going strong, though I may have to change the posting schedule soon. Thank you to those who followed and commented, and if you haven't please take a look!

O. Oldish music - I got the Kit Kittredge movie soundtrack from the library the other day and that style of music just makes me so happy. Same with The Music Man - I'll listen to Lida Rose or Sincere and be filled with feelings of I-can't-that-harmonizing-is-just-beautiful. Some really sweet love songs too.

P. Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney is going to be brought to North America and Europe and I am super psyched! I expected it to come but we waited a looong time for an announcement, so that was a really exciting surprise and it's nice to know for sure now. They had a cool presentation for it too and it's just all around exciting.

Oh and also, Pizza.

I'm sorry. But not sorry enough to not post it.

Q. Queen Victoria - I've enjoyed rewatching part of Doctor Who season 2 (including Tooth and Claw with Queen Victoria and School Reunion, which is one of my new favorites) with my brother and a couple friends, who were all seeing these episodes for the first time.

R. Radagast - my brother will tell you, whenever we play the Lord of the Rings alphabet game, I will use Radagast for R. Just one of those things I'm stuck on. But on the subject of rewatching things, we watched The Hobbit the other day, which was a lot of fun. Radagast is awesome, and it's cool to know he's the seventh Doctor. And my appreciation for Martin Freeman's acting keeps growing.

S. School - is starting very soon. Got my textbooks recently and trying to get a few more fun things done before it starts. Hopefully it won't completely take over my life this semester, but we'll see. I'm doing liberal arts math, world religion, music theory, and child development - should be fairly interesting!

T. Trip - a couple weeks ago we went to visit family and had a nice trip. On the plane trip home the clouds were really cool and I got a little obsessive with picture taking.

Wish you could walk on something like this.

 
U. Umbrella - I continually amused by Mycroft Holmes' umbrella from BBC Sherlock. Sounds like the same prop might have been used in Doctor Who too.

 V. Violet - is a pretty color and name. Oh yes, she was in the Boxcar Children. Did anyone else read those books? I loved them when I was younger.

W. We Go Together - there are two songs a Much Ado About Nothing soundtrack that David Tennant and Catherine Tate did (We Go Together and Sigh No More) and they're a couple of my favorite songs right now. Those two are fantastic together.

X. X-TER-MIN-ATE!

Y. Ya'll - have to stop posting so I can catch up! Kidding of course, but it would help. ;) I've been trying to catch up on a bunch of blogs but if I've missed your blog as while going through them, if you've been posting a lot and I haven't commented in forever, let me know or something, because some blogs don't show up on my dashboard.

Z. "Ze awesome powers of this wall we've clearly demonstrated, ah! But out here in the hot hot sun, perhaps you're dehydrated?"

Riddles in the Dark - Gollum's blog!

I don't need Gollum invading my blog anymore, so he and I worked together to create him one of his own! He writes and I moderate, just to make sure things stay friendly. ;) Please check out riddlesinthedarkblog.blogspot.com!

A-M Randomness

I think I forgot how to blog...I've been busy for a while and now I'm working on a couple blogging-related things but it's been so long since I posted so just wanted to do something. Saw a couple bloggers do something similar so here I go with little topics for each letter...

A. Arwen-Undomiel.com's humor section - all the pictures and things there are great and some of my old favorites.

B. Blogging - I'm working on one thing for this blog (plus thinking about what I'm even going to be posting about ever) and some other stuff which I'll mention when it's done (get excited!).

C. Commenting - blogger friends, I am really really sorry I haven't been commenting. Lots of busy and tired days. I'll try to get better at it.

D. Doctor Who - I started season 7 with Asylum of the Daleks today which was pretty good (I can tell there's foreshadowing for later in the season which is cool). For those anxiously awaiting the 50th anniversary special on November 23, the awesome people from the Doctor Who tumblr started isitthedoctorwho50thanniversaryyet.com to help us keep track of the days.

E. "Everything's under control, we're taking over the ship" - usually when we play the alphabet game I think of this line from Pirates of the Caribbean. Still love those movies.

F. Fortnight for Freedom - for the two weeks leading up to the fourth of July, a lot of people/churches are praying especially for religions liberty in the United States (see my old post and this awesome one from the USCCB for more of an explanation). We've been doing evening prayer at church on weekdays, with my friends and I singing.

G. Gollum - My preciousss, gollum gollum. We have been busy precious, yes, very busy...

H. Hiddleston - Tom Hiddleston is just a great guy.

I. Ice cream - is good.

J. June - is almost over already?? We're about halfway through the year now...I'm going to run out of summer really fast. After finishing a summer class, I've been catching up on things and music and sleep for the past few days but now hopefully I'll get to more of the things I planned.

K. Keptin Kirk - all the gifs I've seen of Chekhov (and his Russian accent) from Star Trek: Into Darkness have really made me want to see the movie (and I may or may not be dying to see Benedict Cumberbatch) so if I don't catch it in the theaters I'll definitely see the DVD. Totally not abandoning Star Wars though! We can all be friends.

L. Lord of the Rings - this post, especially the caption, made me laugh really hard.

M. Messy Mondays - if you haven't checked out Blimey Cow on YouTube, I would highly recommend it. They have tons of funny, thought provoking, and encouraging videos that are full of awesome. One of my recent favorites was 7 Lies You Believe About Yourself, which I found super encouraging.

Just doing the first half of the alphabet for now so 1. I can get something out that doesn't take too long, and 2. I have another easy thing to post about later. Thanks for reading and sorry for my inactivity in the blogosphere!

The 11 Tag

*Different parts were written at different times, so when I say today, now, or the last time, or whatever, it may or may not be accurate. Think wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff*

RULES

1) Thank the person who nominated you.
2) Post 11 facts about yourself.
3) Answer the 11 questions the person who nominated you asked.
4) Ask the people you tag to answer 11 questions.
5) Nominate 11 bloggers.

Thank you Chelsea, Alyianna, and Voronda for tagging me!

11 facts about me

1. Watched The Great Mouse Detective today with my mom and brother - a lot of fun, especially after becoming familiar with Sherlock Holmes thanks to BBC's Sherlock.

2. On Animal Crossing I like it when we catch loaches because it says "don't encroach on my loach" and I think it's funny.

3. I like it when things are neat but my room is often not in that state (though it's actually ok now as I've had time to clean it)

4. I enjoy collecting gifs and using them in emails and things when I can.

5. I've been scared away from writing fan fiction for a while for fear of doing badly, but doing the thing where you put your iPod on shuffle and write a drabble for each song got me back into it. I'm sure they aren't great and I haven't looked over them yet, but it's been fun anyway.

6. I think Tom Hiddleston is awesome and sweet and gentlemanly and it would be cool to meet him.

7. A few nights this week it's been nice to read fanfiction on my iPod to chill before bed. I go through phases with fanfiction, like I'll only read one or two series at a time and barely look at any others. Like it was Jedi Apprentice for a while, then Professor Layton and Ace Attorney (still reading those sometimes), and now it's Doctor Who. Dunno, I'm weird.

8. Rhythm Thief (3DS game) music sounds awesome in car speakers.

9. Today I came across a very cool thing on YouTube: I Am The Doctor/Sherlock's Theme - Piano Mashup. And the best part is it includes piano sheet music. Win! Fun to play something to work on playing better.

10. If I don't get married or become a nun or something, I think I'd like to get a turtle. People talk about being an old cat lady, but I'm allergic to cats. So I'll be an old turtle lady. Or I wonder if I'm allergic to hedgehogs...

11. I currently really like the song ABC Cafe/Red and Black from Les Miserables.

Chelsea's questions:

1) If you woke up to find yourself stranded on an island, what would you do?
Try to see if it's a dream. Then try to figure out what's going on. Then try to make it in to something like Gilligan's Island.

2) How many languages do you speak?
I am fluent in over six million forms of communication and can readily - ok, one. English.

3) Where is your favourite place to shop for clothes?
Shopping for clothes is hard...so many things don't fit and because of my size end up being immodest...Walmart is ok, and I recently discovered how great Goodwill is.

4) Do you still watch Disney?
Yes! I've never actually watched Disney movies a whole bunch, but I certainly haven't stopped, and I love the music.

5) Which do you prefer of the following: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest?
Facebook since I've been able to get to know people a lot on there, but Pinterest is cool because of all the crafts. I don't have a twitter account but that doesn't stop me from stalking people on there. ;)

6) What's your favourite season?
It was fall but now may be moving toward summer...maybe something in between.

7) Have you ever been in a play?
Yes! Three musicals, a straight play, and some fun plays I made with a friend.

8) If you were to be granted 3 wishes, what would you choose?
I probably wouldn't wish for anything unless it was really small - magic comes with a price and all... Maybe pizza?

9) Would you rather live in Narnia, Middle Earth, or Wonderland?
Middle-Earth! Probably the Shire. Or Rivendell. Or Rohan.

10) Are you hungry right now?
Not currently.

11) Would you rather be attacked by a flaming flamingo, or dragon llama?
A dragon llama - that sounds quite interesting. And the fire on the flamingo would be difficult to avoid. If I could just defeat it with a hose, however, that might be a better choice.

Alyianna's questions:

1) What would you say/do/feel if you heard that I was deciding not to blog anymore?
Would be surprised and sad. So don't. ;)

2) What is your dream house like?
Two little things come to mind...I saw a kitchen once with yellow walls and lace curtains and thought that was really pretty so I'd like that, then it would be so cool to build a TARDIS in front of a door so there's a room behind it and it's bigger on the inside.

3) What was one of your favourite movies as a child?
Hmm...Maybe the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Mostly watched shows when I was little and can't think of many movies.

4) If you could make a gingerbread house for any type of fandom that you wished, what would you create?
A gingerbread hobbit hole could be cute!

5) What would your dream world be like? (Yes, you can borrow things from places like Narnia, Wonderland, Middle Earth, etc. etc. etc.)
I don't know...that's pretty big. Narnia and Middle-Earth are great, but there are nice things on this world too.

6) Which of these people do you think would be the hardest foe to conquer and why? The Wicked Witch of the West, the Queen of Hearts, or the Giant in Puss and Boots?
I don't have any experience with Puss in Boots, but I'd go with him or the Queen of Hearts. I like my head right where it is, thank you.

7) I'm going to have you listen to two songs. Who sings "Bring Him Home" better - Hugh Jackman or Susan Boyle?
Susan Boyle sounds beautiful but I also love the context of the story in which Hugh Jackman does it. Might go with Susan Boyle.

8) What are you going to do your mother for Mother's Day? (You can skip this question if you know your mother reads your blog. :D)
Skipping~

9) What movie are you looking forward to most this year?
THE HOBBIT THE HOBBIT THE HOBBIT THE HOBBIT (To Isengard! To Isengard!). Very excited about that, as I'm sure is now obvious. Also excited about Thor 2.

10) What's your favourite music album at the moment?
I really like Les Mis and then a make-shift album of like two songs from Random Encounters (video game musicals! And other fun stuff)

11) What qualities does your dream husband have. ;)
Again, two little not-necessary-but-would-be-really-cool things. One, he sings and does duets with me. The other is he likes cosplaying, especially as the Tenth Doctor.

Like this. Because this is just so cute. (found on tumblr)

Voronda's Questions:

1. Language/s You would like to learn?
I guess I'd like to be better at Spanish, but I've already taken three classes and lost most knowledge, so don't think that's happening...would still be cool to learn Elvish.

2. Would you rather live on Hoth or Tatooine? For those who don't know Star Wars: North Pole or Sahara Desert?
I think Tatooine because it's populated, but I don't know too much about Hoth.

3. Something that made your day today?
I got excited to see David Tennant was nominated for a daytime Emmy for his work in The Clone Wars! And a couple funny things on Tumblr, and Doctor Who especially Rory. That's all I can think of from today.

4. If you weren't your currant nationality, and you had the choice to pick you nationality what would you choose or would you not change?
I wouldn't change, but maybe I'd go for Canada or New Zealand.

5. Do you have pierced ears of body part?
I don't...I think about getting my ears pierced, but I'm chicken and a little weirded out by the idea of having holes put in my body. On the other hand, earrings might help me look older, so I'm always debating.

6. Coke or Pepsi or Root Beer?
Actually don't drink soda.

7. What was your last dream about? All the itty-bitty details
I was at a con I think then was walking around the parking lot and it was dark. There was something with a family that I can't remember. I called my dad and he (and the rest of my family?) was going to come get me, but were like 25 minutes away or something. Then at one point I was talking to this guy I know about Doctor Who. Something like that.

8. So you get to meet your favorite band/singer and spend a week with them. Who are they and what do you do when you first meet them and what do you do during the week?
Oh dear um...the music I listen to is usually from musicals, video games, or video game based from the internet...guess I can't really answer this too well.

9. Look out your window. What do you see?
If I looked out the kitchen window right now (shade is closed, too hard to look out when it's night anyway), I'd see darkness, a few stray raindrops, and the street we're on.

10. Which do you prefer to watch Sunset/Sunrise or Stars/Northern Lights?
Stars! Probably northern lights as well, if I ever get to see them.

11. Your being cast as your favorite character from a book/movie/show/game etc., in the movie of said form of entertainment. Who are you?
The first female incarnation of the Doctor!

I'm not going to nominate anyone specifically because I don't know who's been tagged, who's currently blogging, and who wants to do this, BUT if any followers would like to here are questions for you:

1. Do you like birds or fish best?
2. Do you prefer movies or tv shows?
3. What is a favorite summer memory?
4. What can you hear right now?
5. What is you preferred method of long-distance communication (phone, texting, skype, chat, etc)?
6. What is your favorite outfit?
7. Favorite mythical creature?
8. What is the last book you read?
9. What is your favorite way to exercise?
10. What is your favorite type of weather?
11. Would you rather life in a forest, in the mountains, or by the ocean?

And there we have it! Have a great weekend everyone!