Little Yoda

Here's what I made today:

I used this tutorial. The robe I made for my Yoda is different because I couldn't figure out that part of the directions so I just made it up.

My favorite Sherlock story

I was asked this question by Thea awhile back; What is your favorite Sherlock Holmes story and why?

The question was promptly seconded by Marian, and yet I've managed to avoid writing up an answer for a few months now. Mainly because I didn't have an answer.

I've read all of the stories multiple times and yet I have trouble picking out a favorite. It could have something to do with the fact that I love them all so much. Or that I haven't read any Sherlock since the summer, so they blend together in my memory as being one long, mysterious and wonderful tale.

However, when I think about the ones that gave me chills (all of them) or nearly made me cry (several of them) one short story stands out to me as being particularly memorable. It is the only story where Sherlock loses his icy composure for one brief moment and lets the audience get a glimpse at his feelings.

And I am not talking about the story with Irene Adler, The Woman. Yes, she was the only woman who ever bested Sherlock and he had a great deal of respect for her, but he was not in love with her.

The story I'm referring to is The Three Garridebs, and here is the passage I love. Holmes and Watson are on a stakeout, and shots have just been fired.

I felt a sudden hot sear as if a red-hot iron had been pressed to my thigh. There was a crash as Holmes's pistol came down on the man's head. I had a vision of him sprawling upon the floor with blood running down his face while Holmes rummaged him for weapons. Then my friend's wiry arms were round me, and he was leading me to a chair.
"You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!"

It was worth a wound - it was worth many wounds - to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.

"It's nothing, Holmes. It's a mere scratch."

He had ripped up my trousers with his pocket-knife.

"You are right," he cried with an immense sigh of relief. "It is quite superficial." His face set like flint as he glared at our prisoner, who was sitting up with a dazed face. "By the Lord, it is as well for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?"

This display of feeling for his friend disproves Watson's previous judgement of Holmes."He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen..." Before Watson really gets to know Sherlock, he believes him to be cold and calculating, a brain without a heart. That is simply not true. Sherlock Holmes knows how to master his emotions and let logic win over feelings, but that doesn't mean that he never feels at all.

I like this story because it shows that Sherlock Holmes is human.

~Jane~

Coming soon

I am working on several blog posts at the moment in a sudden flurry of thoughts. I hope this is a sign that spring is coming; I am always more and more creative as it approaches.

First up I will be talking about my favorite Sherlock Holmes story, then I am going to post a review of The Young Victoria and a re-review of Pride and Prejudice 2005. After I get done with those posts I might be talking about Hamlet. The dreaded essay I worked so hard on is far enough in the past now; I can finally think about Hamlet without getting a headache.

As always, if you have any suggestions for future posts you are welcome to let me know in the comments.

So, for my "Intro to Fiction" class today we were reading a story called The Open Boat by Stephen Crane. You can read it here.

I really liked the story. The writing style was unique and interesting and it had good descriptions. It reminded me of something by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with maybe a hint of Jane Austen's wit.

The teacher started out by asking who didn't like the story. Several people raised their hands and explained that is was boring and it was all the same.

Then he asked us if anyone did like the story. I raised my hand enthusiastically. He laughed. Mine was the only hand in the air. I was the only person in the entire class who liked the story. It was a little embarrassing.

~Jane~

Pride and Prejudice again

I may be posting a secondary review to Pride and Prejudice 2005 in a few days. You may remember when I posted my first review and was quite harsh towards the movie, listing everything I didn't like about it.

Well, I have this friend who I've known for a long time. I usually trust her judgment about movies and she's introduced me to some really good ones. While I don't love all the movies she shows me, I can usually understand why she likes it and appreciate the movie for that reason.

Her favorite movie ever is Pride and Prejudice 2005.

So, here's the thing: I really hated this movie the first time I saw it, but I am willing to try to appreciate it. I think it will help that I am going to watch it again with someone who loves it so much and has valid reasons for loving it.

Thinking back to my first review, I still agree with everything I said. However, I think I overlooked some good qualities that the movie has and focused on the negative. I had a rather bad attitude about it because I was angry with the filmmakers for "ruining" one of my favorite stories.

This time around I am going to only look for the good things in the movie and see if I can gain an understanding and appreciation for it. It may not be perfect, but no adaption is. The only perfect adaption is the movie that plays in your head when you read the book, and there is no way to capture that.

So be on the lookout for my new, positive review of Pride and Prejudice 2005. : )

~Jane~

P. S. If you haven't read and voted for my short story yet, please consider doing so. The winner's story will be published and that would be cool. : )
Link: http://www.pemberley.com/bin/fic/fic.cgi

Story

My story is finished and submitted. I'm so excited. You can read it on the Jane Austen Made Me Do It contest page, here: http://www.pemberley.com/bin/fic/fic.cgi

Mine is #45, The Stars are Fire, written by "Lindsey Jane."

If you like it, please re-visit that page on Monday to vote for my story!

~Jane~

Of gerbils

Yesterday my brother wanted to hang out so we went to the pet store together. He has been thinking about getting a parakeet, so he wanted to look at those, and I was just accompanying him and hoping I didn't like any of the animals enough to want to buy one.

Unfortunately, if I go into a pet store, you can count on me to come out with hopes of a new pet. If I had any money, I probably would have bought him on the spot.

Here he is:

When we passed the small animal section the first time, all of the animals were in thier hideaways and I said something to the effect of, "Let's skip these, rodents are boring because all they do is sleep."

When we came back around to that part of the store, one of the gerbils was awake. He would run frantically on his wheel for a few minutes, his long tail bobbing up and down. Once he lost his footing and flew all the way around the wheel, going upside down like a roller coaster because it was going so fast. Then he would dash over and hop in his food dish to eat before going back to the wheel.

Once he came over to the glass and stood on his hind legs and looked at us, and I think he was smiling at me because that's when I fell in love.

Well, right then one of the employees came over and offered to let me hold one. That's when I fell more in love.

More benefits of the gerbil beside unbearable cuteness:

1. They are not smelly. Their cages only need to be cleaned out every two weeks and I couldn't smell it on my hands at all after I held one.

2. They are inexpensive. The ones at this pet store were $15, but I was reading online that they can usually be found for $8.

3. They are friendlier than most other small pets.

As soon as I have enough money I will most likely buy a pair of these.

~Jane~

More paintings

Here are a few of my paintings that I did awhile ago. They are similar to the one in my last post, but these I did on pieces of cardboard because I didn't have any canvas.

No, they are not perfect, but they will be joining the first picture on my sidebar.

Snow days

We've been getting quite a bit of snow here in the Midwest. Enough that two days of school were cancelled this week.

The view out our front door.

Despite drifts that are several feet deep, the roads are now clear, so I'm hoping school will not be cancelled again tomorrow. It's been nice to have an unexpected little vacation, but it makes it more difficult later in the semester when we have to catch up with the schedule.

Yesterday we made a big pot of chili and played Scattergories and watched movies. We also did some painting, which was fun.

Here is my painting. I'm pretty proud of it, considering that I am not very artistic at all.

(The blur in the corner is my signature, concealed for privacy reasons.)

Has anyone else been hit by the "Snowmageddon"? How have you been spending your snow days?

~Jane~