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| Christmas in Connecticut, A Charlie Brown Christmas, White Christmas, Cute Vintage Photo, Father Christmas (From Narnia), White Christmas (again) |
Okay, I've been absent and unfortunately, it hasn't been because I've been participating in NaNoWriMo. Just before November started I got my first job. I'm a sales clerk at a local Hallmark store. Well, holiday hours at something of a seasonal store making it more or less impossible for me to participate in NaNo this year. And for that, I was seriously bummed. In general my time has not been my own. I feel like I have fallen off the face of my writing earth, my blogging earth, and basically, the earth that I know. Hahaha. I am terribly sorry for being so neglectful. I fully intend comment and participate in the blogging world once things quiet down at the store. In the meantime, I just want to share a few little things that have happened to me with my job and life.
Firstly, I recently helped a blind veteran choose a birthday card for his wife. It has probably been the sweetest experience I've had at the store. It went something like this. I noticed the couple come in, he had a guiding stick and was using his wife's shoulder for direction until she went to 'choose her gift' and he proceeded into the store. I greeted him, to know let him know I was there and he smiled and told me to guide him to the birthday cards. I did by making small talk so as to guide him with my voice. We reached the cards and I tried to gesture to him to see if he was entirely blind or if he would need more help. I found that I would still be needed. He told me to pick a card. I was rather daunted so I asked what kind of card he was looking for. Color, style, design, and the like. He told me something simple and pink. I saw a card that looked to be rather vintage in style. I described the little lace edge and the classic flowers on the top. This seemed to please him because he then asked me to read it out to him. I did and I was actually really proud of myself because as I started to read, it proved to be written in a classic style. It spoke about being "his girl" and some cute things they had experienced through life. After I had finished reading he said: "That's it! You're a good picker." He then instructed me to hide the card from his wife and I guided him with my voice back to the register where he waited until his wife had picked out her gift. We wished her a happy birthday, while keeping the card hidden. We then gave him the card, and she kept her gift and they walked out happily ever after. :D
Okay, speaking of Happily Ever Afters, ummm, I'm not impressed with the Beauty and the Beast trailer. More like incredibly bummed out! What is going on here? Gaston literally looks like he's in a costume, the beast is in weird rag things, and then there's Belle running through the castle in her underclothes?! Excuse me but, why?? Annnd don't get me started on Belle's ballgown. (What a disappointment!!!!) Anyway, those are some of my shortened thoughts after watching the trailer. :( Hopefully, the movie will be better than the trailer.
Well, this is all I have time for at the moment. I miss you all and hope you are having the very best holiday season!!
Yours truly,
Cordy
P.S. I will try and get one more post in before Christmas, but I wouldn't count on it.
Eeeeek! CORDY!!! So happy to see a new post from you. I've missed you so much, girl! (Why must life get so busy? Why, oh why, oh why?)
ReplyDeleteThat story about the man picking out a birthday card for his wife is absolutely DARLING! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. And you did such a good job helping him. Yay for Cordy! :D
Oh, yes. The Beauty and the Beast trailer. I was a little disappointed, too. Things just look a tad too fake, in my opinion. But who knows? Maybe it will look better in the actual film.
~Miss March
Silly me. I forgot to comment on your new blog look. :P Well, let me do so now.
ReplyDeleteI really like it, Cordy! Your background is so twinkly and frosty. And your header is awesome, as always. I like your profile picture, too. :) (And I especially approve because you picked my favorite of the two girls. I never cared much for Judy. She annoyed me. ;P)
Why indeed! :P
DeleteAww, thanks. And actually, I've seen that couple again. They must be regulars! I helped him pick a Christmas card for his wife while she shopped. I think he recognized my voice but I can't be sure. :D :D
I was WAY disappointed. And I see your point. Everything looks like a set and play more than a film on location. Fingers crossed for the film.
REALLY?? Judy annoys you? Huh, I've never seen her as annoying but I suppose she could rub you the wrong way with her meddling.
~Cordy
Aww. That's so sweet. It's cool to have regular costumers. :)
DeleteAbout Judy. Yeah, I don't know what it was about her exactly, but I think she struck me as rather forward or something, and that annoyed me. On the other hand, though (now that you've got me thinking about it), I'm not sure if she would annoy me as much now as she did when we first watched it. I'd have to try it again and see. ;)
~Miss March
I will always advocate for re-watching White Christmas! ;D
Delete~Cordy
Ugh, yes...life is busy.
ReplyDeleteTHAT IS ADORABLE. I love it.
And yes...the trailer was rather anticlimactic. :/
Uh-huh. *Cordy groans*
DeleteIt makes me VERY happy.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Your job sounds amazing. Even if you never get to have another wonderful experience helping a customer like that one, wow, that's way better than anything I ever got to do in my years of retail experience.
ReplyDeleteBut really? The BATB trailer disappoints you? I'm actually finally starting to look forward to it. I've been super annoyed ever since I found out Luke Evans is playing Gaston because I lurve Luke Evans, but Gaston is a fictional character I despise as a buffoonish boor, and I Did Not Want To See My Luke Evans Play A Buffoonish Boor. (I have spent many years also suffering with the knowledge that my beloved Hugh Jackman played Gaston on stage long ago. WHYYYYYYYYYY???????) However! Gaston in the trailer looks actually quite um... not-buffoonish. Still a boor, I'm sure, but he's not silly in the trailer, and this gives me hope.
Also, I'm not at all sure why everyone is flipping out over Belle's gown because I think it's pretty. Prettier than my wedding dress, much less anything I ever wore to a formal dance or saw others in at those, and I went to five formal dances in college, so it's not like I've seen just one prom's worth of dresses. Just because it isn't as marvelous as Cinderella's dress doesn't mean it's trash, does it? Cinderella's dress was created by a fairy godmother! It should out-fabulous all dresses of all time!
Anyway, nice to hear from you again :-) Hope your time is more your own after Christmas!
It has it's ups and downs but I keep the positives in mind as much as I can. If you don't mind my asking, where did you work?
DeleteIt truly did. I've even rewatched it to "double-check" my opinion. Haha. I totally understand your opinion of Gaston. He hasn't been a guy you can really 'like' in any way.
I still don't know what about the dress disappointed me more. I know I wasn't expecting a Cinderella dress because Belle and Cinderella's dresses are very different. However, I was hoping for a little more--refinement maybe? A more finished look and a little classier. The feathers on the skirt and the sleeves of the dress leave me feeling like it was unfinished. And yes, I'm afraid I am the girl that wants a princess dress that you CAN'T replicate.
Thanks, Hamlette! I hope you enjoyed your holiday! :D
From what I've read in Entertainment Weekly, this is going to be a very different Belle. She's going to still love books and be imaginative, but she's also an inventor, very hands-on and practical. No running around town in ballet slippers -- she's wearing sensible boots. So I think they're trying to make a dress that suits her being very active and energetic.
DeleteActually, just found that article online right here, if you want to read it.
Unfortunately and in my humble opinion, if it's not broke, don't fix it. I love Belle as she is and I don't see the need for a change in the character. I appreciated the ballet flats and I'm not a fan of the boots. It's strange to me how they had to redesign a dress so as not to impede her in any way. What's wrong with wearing a dress for an occasion? I'm just missing the vision I suppose. Hahaha.
DeleteThen what's the point of making a new movie? Just re-release the cartoon to the theaters.
DeleteEvery retelling of a story is going to do things differently -- that's the point. Whether it's a new setting, a new twist on the plot, telling it from a different point of view, fleshing out characters, giving characters new motivation, whatever -- there's simply no point in telling the exact same story the exact same way, is there?
Take the new Cinderella movie -- that's not beat-for-beat the same as the cartoon. All the characters are fleshed out in new and different ways, from Ella to Kit to the Stepmother to the Stepsisters to the King. Even the Fairy Godmother is different. But was that bad?
Well, I actually would like the story to be told the same way with live-action. It's what's familiar and what I liked in the first place. I'm not huge on 'twists'. Once you start adding twists, I quickly find it has been twisted too far for my own tastes. But that's really only a preference issue.
DeleteHaha, I suppose we simply have different expectations for these kinds of things. (And I'm honestly hoping that I am proven wrong and must eat my words come March. :))
Ahh, yes, if you're hoping for a beat-for-beat remake, I can see how it might not work for you. Here's hoping we're both pleasantly surprised!
DeleteI'm glad you're back, Cordy!!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm sorry you weren't able to participate in NaNoWriMo as you planned, I'm happy to hear you got a job that you like. (I'm actually on the lookout for a job, too. We have a Hallmark store in town I've thought of applying for, but I think I'm going to try the local library first. :))
Awwww. That is such a sweet story. :') Thank you for sharing it with us!
I'm not disappointed in the Beauty and the Beast trailer....I like it quite a lot, although I DO agree with you on some points. Belle in her underclothes for one thing. What is going on there...? And her ballgown, though pretty, is disappointing to me as well. Especially her hair in that scene. Both the dress and hair is...blah. Not any different from her other outfits.
I'm still really unsure of Emma Watson as Belle...she just seems...I don't know? Too young? Something. :/ Ah well. I'm still excited for the movie, though! :)
Haha, trying to be anyway. :D
DeleteI feel so bad about that. For the first few days of November I entertained the notion I could still participate. That idea died within the next few days. :P But next year, I will be better prepared. (I hope, *Cordy whispers*) That's cool! I hope you get the library position, as that's your first choice. You will have to let me know what happens! Good luck!
:D
Seriously, what is that all about? Yup, nothing truly special for me either. The costumes in general seem unreal. I don't want costumes to look like--costumes. Do you know what I mean?
You know, I thought Emma would make a great Belle. . .until I started seeing the trailers and such. Now, she almost seems too old for me. Haha.
Aww, I'm sorry. I hope you can participate next year, too!
DeleteThanks! I will. :)
I know what you mean...I was thinking about Belle's dress and I think the thing that bugs me most isn't necessarily the dress, but her lack of gloves and fancy hairstyle. In the movie, she got allll dressed up. In this, it looks as if she just changed dresses and that's it. :P
Really? To me she seems almost too young. Hopefully we'll both end up liking it. :)
Awwww!! That is the sweetest story!! Thanks for sharing it!!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm pretty excited about the B&tB trailer. It looked pretty cool to me. Especially Lumiere and Cogsworth. I can't wait to see it!
Thanks, Erudessa.
DeleteThe CGI characters intrigue me. They took me a minute to get used to but I think I'll like them. :)