Historically Romantic

New Blog.

2012-02-06T17:51:00.001-08:00

I've moved to a new blog at Wordpress where I will post family life, recipes, and more. Follow me here if you'd like: http://livingromantically.wordpress.com.

I also have a Tumblr: http://livingromantically.tumblr.com.

See you there.

He's here.

2011-12-28T22:17:00.001-08:00

Owen Dean Farnworth was born December 20.

I won't bore you with the birth story. It was my first shot at hypnobirthing, and while the hypnotism wasn't a huge success, it definitely helped me breathe, which helped me survive unmedicated. The birth was quick (thankfully) and Owen is doing so well.

Veteran's Day: WASP

2011-11-11T11:01:00.001-08:00

{source}

As a teenager, I was fascinated by these amazing women. Here is a poem I wrote, which was published in an anthology and featured on a kids' website.

The Wounds of A Hero

As she began to turn

and go,

she looked to her son

and told him so.

She saw the tears

well in his eyes

and felt pain and guilt

begin to rise.

The soul of a boy

had touched her own;

she hugged him tight

and soon she'd flown.

She earned her wings

and now she flew

away from the life

and boy she knew.

The wounds of a hero

we may never know,

but let us remember

of long ago.

World War II in Color

2011-09-04T09:39:00.001-07:00

Beautiful World War II images in color. Check it out.

A Hero.

2011-06-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

I'm definitely planning to focus this blog back to it's original intentions--history. I just watched the movie Pearl Harbor and despite it's many historically inaccuracies, realized I am still very much in love with it.

The character I am most drawn to is based on a real man, Dorie Miller. He was an African American in the Navy during World War II, which meant his duties were kept to little more than a cook, actually less than a cook. He did laundry and cleaned up after others ate. He had never even fired a weapon. On the day of the attack, he took his place at an abandoned gun and shot down one of the Japanese Zeros. Only 29 Japanese Zeros were shot down on December 7; his was one of them. Pretty amazing.

He was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross.

Cuba Gooding, Jr. did an excellent job portraying him and paying homage to this unsung hero of World War II.

Charlie Brown

2011-06-09T19:54:00.000-07:00

It's true. Our own little "Charlie Brown" is on his/her way.

See the resemblance?

Jeff and I are so excited. C.B. is due December 20, and we cannot wait. Many new chapters are ahead for us and that's what makes this waiting chapter even more exciting/long/terrifying/thrilling.

Don't mind the mess.

2011-06-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

I'm playing with CSS.

In fact, I'm pretty excited that my first very simple attempt worked. Woo hoo! Now for more challenging tests.

Soon this blog will be up and running and updated more often with historically interesting articles and information. I'm feeling motivated right now.

Just a Romantic

2011-06-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

That's right. That's me. Historically, culinarily, hopefully, hopelessly, literarily, authorially. A romantic. A romantic who is learning to listen to her heart.

P.S. The shoe (designed for Queen Victoria) has nothing to do with anything. I just like it.

Speaking of History

2011-05-31T20:21:00.000-07:00

This TV show on Netflix is fantastic. I am in complete love and I'm only on episode four. The show highlights the culture of the Titanic era. It begins with the death of two family members on the Titanic, which changes the fortune of the family. The acting is amazing. It is so subtle that on many occasions, I feel the characters are real instead of actors, which is quite a feat.

Seriously, if you like period dramas, you must watch Downton Abbey

Full Circle

2011-05-14T08:03:00.001-07:00

Sometimes my life takes an unexpected turn and then here I am again in the same place having come full circle.

I am loving the film Titanic again, which is no surprise to those who know me because Titanic will always be buried deep inside my heart to come out every now and then. It's funny it would happen now, but I think some of it has to do with the weather.

For me Spring and Summer just smells like the ships I love. This is probably because when I was younger I used to study and write about them from the park outside my house during these times. I love to read and study about these ships, so don't be surprised if someday soon you see more and more facts popping up about my favorite ships, the Titanic and the Lusitania.

The other day I was asked why I am fascinated by these ships. I couldn't come up with a good answer. Is it the tragedy of it all? Maybe.

Is it the beauty of the ships? Definitely.

Is it the time period? For sure.

There is something so artistic and beautiful about the ships and something so poetic and terrible about each demise. The end of an era was the Titanic and the murder of innocents for one of the first times in war history was the Lusitania.

Anyway, I'll explore these and many other ideas with you through this little blog soon.

96 years ago

2011-05-07T19:29:00.001-07:00

Jealous of a Third World Country

2011-04-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am. I miss it. I miss you, Paraguay. More specifically, I miss my friends there. It makes me sad that it may be a long while before I see them again. One of the sisters from my mission is headed there shortly and I'm preparing a little package to send to my dearest family there. Here are some pictures.

My first ever D.I. project

2011-02-21T18:32:00.000-08:00

Jeff and my two very talented sisters-in-law are often finding great projects at thrift stores, and while I've always admired their talent, I never thought I would be able to do it myself.

Well... I did it. Finally. My first ever completed D.I. project. You heard me--completed. I've certainly started a lot, but never followed through. This is a huge step for me. (okay, there are a couple minor things to finish, but very minor.)

Just look at the before...

and after an entire day of sanding and painting...

followed by another day of painting...

and another day of completely reupholstering the cushion (I had to create my own. The previous cushion was hashed. Jeff thinks this came from the Civil War era.)

And the final product...

So there you have it. If you have any reupholstering (or creating your own cushion) questions, send them my way because after one chair, I'm pretty sure I'm an expert.

A big thank you to Jeff who taught me many of the ins and outs of reupholstery. To see some of his work, go to his blog. (He's the real expert.)

Excuse the ellipses. If one of my students used that many, I would have a fit, but, hey, this is an unveiling after all.

driving home

2011-02-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

My hometown.

It isn't much.

In fact, there are times when I can't wait to leave.

I'm excited to see new sights, and perhaps live near an Ikea and have more restaurant choices

someday,

but nothing beats a sunset here

or the smell of the harvest

or the dripping of melting snow...

I'm still waiting for that.

I am completely inspired.

2011-01-22T10:48:00.001-08:00

This is incredible.

Vernon & Irene Castle

2011-01-21T23:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, do you remember a long time ago (my second blog post) when I posted dance steps to a ragtime dance taught by Vernon and Irene Castle? Well, Edwardian Promenade found actual footage of their dances. I was so giddy with excitement that I had to post it immediately.

I finally did it.

2011-01-10T17:49:00.000-08:00

I created a food blog.
Check out Culinary Romantic.

Not all who wander are lost.

2011-01-09T15:43:00.000-08:00

I've had a difficult week, but I was gently reminded this morning at 4:00 a.m. (I hadn't yet fallen asleep) that my life is actually quite a wonderful thing. Really it is. All things happen for a reason, and I believe that this difficult fight with mono and all my other fights for health have happened for a specific reason. I'm ready to embrace this mono until it leaves and just enjoy every minute of my life. Life is not to wish away, after all. It's about enjoying the journey, even if it's hard.

I've had a lot of time to think about my life and my paths, and while I'm still uncertain about them, the one thing I know is that I want to be creative. I've started writing again. I spent almost the entire day yesterday writing. Do you know how long it's been since I spent so long writing? I wrote again today. I'll probably write some more.

I have been wandering. I'm still wandering, and while I have felt lost, I don't think I really am.

That's all.

Most of my posts recently have been rather introspective, and if you don't like that, I'm sorry, but I guess you don't have to read if you don't want to.

Sad, but good.

2011-01-03T19:13:00.001-08:00

I've been using StumbleUpon lately, and I'm completely addicted. I've been sick all day today and in between sleeping and reading, I've found a lot of amazing websites. Please see the video below as an example.

Crater Face from Skyler Page on Vimeo.

Holstee Manifesto

2011-01-03T18:33:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what Holstee Manifesto means, but I like it! You may have to zoom in to read it all.

This should be the--rather long--mantra of my new simplified life.

{Found here}

So true, and so unfortunate.

2011-01-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

{Found here}

"You go, girls."

2011-01-03T18:27:00.000-08:00

That was Jeffrey's reaction to this picture. Mine too.

{found here}

500 Years of Women Portraits

2011-01-02T15:18:00.001-08:00

500 Years Of Female Portraits In Western Art - The most popular videos are here

No Pressure

2010-12-31T13:55:00.000-08:00

These are no pressure resolutions. Too many times I get too caught up in goals and get discouraged when I don't accomplish them. It's time to feel be at peace and content, despite my many flaws.

That brings me to resolution 1. Be content. Find healthy ways to cope with stress. Instead of stressing, take a moment to breathe. Read a book. Watch a movie. But most importantly, just breathe. Everything is and will be okay.

My 2nd resolution is to simplify. To accomplish resolution 1, I must do this. I must find little ways to simplify my life. It's already started, but I'm working on more ways.

Resolution number 3 is what most people have on their list: Eat healthier and exercise. I'm not going to place a number on my goal, because that's not the point. The point is to find what works for me. What weight works best for me. At what weight do I feel healthy and confident? Not only that, but how can I train my body to give me the best results? That's way more important to me than a model-sized body. I want to find ways to connect body to soul--yoga is on the list.

My 4th resolution has to do with something else entirely... well, sort of. I plan to make another blog. I think this will be a great distraction and hobby for me. If I do it. We'll see. No pressure resolutions, remember!

Resolution #5... Write. Every day. Whether it's in a journal, the blog, or my novel. I must write daily and in doing so, learn to harness and express creatively.

I would like to cook and bake a lot more often for resolution 6. I love it, and now I can chronicle everything with my awesome new SLR! (See the pic above for an example... I made whole wheat bread yesterday. Pair it with Cindi's awesome jam and yum!).

That's all I have, well for you to see anyway.

Kate Winslet's Titanic Journal

2010-12-30T13:16:00.000-08:00

If you're interested to know Kate Winslet's thoughts while filming the movie Titanic, go no further. This is fascinating. I found this on an archived site, which no longer exists. Otherwise, I'd link to it. Enjoy. If you don't want to read it all, I've highlighted what I found interesting.

December 7, 1995, Los Angeles.
Today I met [director] James Cameron. Even though I haven't read for him yet, he showed me a model of the Titanic and how they were going to do the special effects shots by using a pen which is actually a tiny camera.. The story is incredible, horrible. One lifeboat only just missed landing on top of another. Some were sent out with 11 people on them and yet so many people drowned. The character he’s considering me for is called Rose Dewitt Bukater, a 17-year-old from Philadelphia who is about to marry a man she can’t love. She’s on this ship, feeling as if she is about to be condemned for life, only to find true love on board the Titanic...

December 27, 1995, family Christmas, Reading, England.
I’ve finished reading the treatment for Titanic. My God! I just saw True Lies and The Abyss: amazing. One of Jim’s triumphs is that, in spite of the action, I really, really cared about those people. I wanted to know what happened in the rest of their lives. I want this part.

January 15, 1996, London.

Leonardo DiCaprio is being mentioned to play Jack [a boy from steerage Rose falls in love with]! He is the actor of the century after what he did in [What’s Eating] Gilbert Grape.

February 26, 1996, Los Angeles.
My first proper screen test. For Jude and Sense and Sensibility and Hamlet I’d done a lot of auditions and reading and being put onto a video tape. But a proper Hollywood screen test! I arrived in the morning and it took an entire day, with hair, costume, make-up, on a sort of set that they’d built up, really working the scenes and doing dialogue to the camera. I think it went okay. My fingers are very tightly crossed.

March 19, on set with Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet, Shepperton Studios, England.
Oh my God! I’m sharing a room with Tina [make-up artist] in this tiny bed-and-breakfast and my mobile rang at 5am! When I heard Hylda’s [Kate’s Hollywood agent] voice, I knew there was only one reason for her to call at 5am and I was screaming so much I woke everybody up, even Julie [Christie, playing Gertrude to Winslet’s Ophelia in Branagh’s Hamlet] in the next room. Then I had to go to work, where I was in a straitjacket, doing Ophelia’s whole bloody mad scenes! Ken [Branagh] is so excited. He’s so thrilled for me. The best thing is that I’ll be playing an American in something that happens to be a really good story.

June 7, London.
I’m exercising like a freak. How vile. I’ve had to give up my daily swim because of all the red dye they are putting in my hair. Too many chemicals. So now I’m lifting weights and cycling my bum off. Jim has chatted to me about the weird eating habits you get into on a really long shoot. He can tell I’m a bit squirrelly about eating and things like that so he has suggested I should have a routine. Not that he wants me to bulk up like Linda Hamilton did in The Terminator but I must be strong enough for the task ahead. He’s told me it’s going to be tough, it’ll be a long shoot. I’m flying to LA to start rehearsals at the end of August. Two months to no cellulite. Can it be done?

September 8, Interstate 5 South Freeway, heading to Mexico and the set of Titanic.
I’m in a car with this great driver called Patrick on the way to Mexico. We’ve been drinking ice-blended mochas from Starbucks and listening to the blues. It’s a beautiful day, and this is a beautiful drive. The sea is to my right and there isn’t a whisper of a cloud in the sky. The cigar Patrick is smoking is huge and smells divine.

September 9, Rosarito, Mexico.
I’m on my little balcony. All I can hear is the sea and the chug of a little fishing boat going to catch lobsters. The rooms where we are living are really nice, airy and clean, although nearer to Christmas they’ll all be blacked out because from then on we’ll be doing night shoots and sleeping by day.

September 10, Rosarito.
It’s extraordinary what’s been done here. They are building studios, cold-water tanks, Titanic funnels, staterooms, dressing rooms, a production office, a gym...on what was derelict land by the sea. The time spent; the money spent! I’ve been shown my dressing room. People keep referring to "my trailer", but it’s really a room, with a huge TV and a CD player and an enormous sofa and a bathroom with shower. I was welcomed with flowers and a little basket of soaps and eye compresses. I’ve just done 40 minutes on the bike. I’ll do my stomach exercises later. Flabby tummy today. There is so much security here. There are men walking around carrying guns and truncheons. Very weird.

September 12, Rosarito.
Today there was an explosion 200 metres away from where Jim was directing me, Leo and Billy [Zane, who plays Rose’s uptight fiance] in rehearsal. And Jim rushed out and came back saying it was 20 kilograms of dynamite - they are creating even more space to build on and the set is so massive as it is. So they just blew up a whole chunk of land. There are thousands of people working here, cranes swinging against the sky.

September 14, Rosarito.
I’ve been up since 5.45 AM, moved my furniture around a bit and made it a bit more cozy. I am on a mission to get rid of a horrid horsehair seat. I’m very tired and I need to get some sleep. I feel smelly, fat, ugly, talentless and uncommited, frightened, lonely, nervous, mad and we haven’t started shooting yet. If it’s not rehearsals, it’s weight training; if it’s not etiquette, it’s voice coaching. By the end of this film, if it’s not suicide, it’ll be an asylum.

September 15, Rosarito.
It is the night before shooting starts and here I am, all pin-curled up and hungry, ready to go. Thinking about Rose. She was so young. I need to think about her childhood, her youth and find my way through the 17 years of her life. I’ll never sleep tonight.

September 16, Rosarito.
No sleep. This is it: day one of shooting Titanic. I’m thinking in American. Hair and make-up done, and cossie on. My life is not my own and probably never will be - and that’s Rose talking. Spoke to Mum and Dad this morning from my little bed; it was 4am and strange, hot and still.

October 5, Rosarito.
The water in the first tank wasn’t so bad, but now we’ve switched to filming in the massive tank where the water is pumped in straight from the sea. It is like swimming in...the coldest winter in the history of Scottish winters. I bet people will think it’s heated, but it isn’t. I am completely freezing. My dresser has been bugging me to wear a wetsuit, but I can’t. I’d be too aware of it and anyway, my dress is too thin for it. Jim doesn’t want see-through and says this isn’t a wet T-shirt competition, but he does want the dress to cling to me when I’m wet and we’ve done all sorts of camera tests for that. It is so cold, but...it means my reactions are real, I hope! It literally takes my breath away.

October 15, Rosarito.

My dress is driving me bloody bonkers. Storywise, from the point the ship hits the iceberg, I’m in the same dress till the end of the film. It’s layers and layers of chiffon and layers and layers of pain in the arse. It’s supposed to trail behind me in the water like a big long snail, but instead it keeps wrapping itself around my legs and tripping me up in the middle of shots which is driving us all mad. Jim had a brilliant idea. Scissors. How satisfying. Now I look like Bo Peep in just the top of the dress and my bloomers. Fine for close-ups but not exactly glamourous, but who cares. Leo is finding this highly amusing. He would. He’s wearing a suit.

October 22, Rosarito.
Jim asked me what I imagined I was going to be doing when I read in the script that the water came flooding up. I said, "To be honest with you, I only ever saw the story boards. I never saw me and Leo actually doing it." Also, then I was excited about it. I wanted to kind of wait and see. Now I know what it’s like and it’s pretty exhausting.

November 1, Rosarito.
I’ve just done a work-out with Diamond, the unlikely name of the burly black trainer. It no longer feels weird working out at 3am, but I am starting to find it too much. We’ve been shooting at night for weeks now. I get up at about 1 PM and eat straight away so that my food has time to go down before I get into my corset. Mel [make-up artist] brought back some lovely scones from Starbucks over the border, will eat for tomorrow’s breakfast.

November 10, Rosarito.
Apparently survivors said getting into the lifeboats was completely terrifying. They had to step out across a huge gap between the ship itself and the boats. Shooting the loading of the lifeboats is pretty scary for us. Our ship is a replica, almost as big, so we have to step out over - hello! - a massive great big gap! And our gap is considerably smaller than the real gap would have been. Diamond showed up on set today to show moral support. I’ve stopped training because it was all too much, but he’s become a good friend and it is lovely having him around. He’d heard this was a really tough scene for me, so there he was, standing there watching, looking out for me...Very comforting.

November 20, Rosarito.
There’s a section of the ship that moves on hydraulics right up to 90 degrees. It’s bloody high up there, so Leo and I are in safety harnesses and clinging to each other for dear life. In some of the shots we have to lean over the railing and witness stunt people hanging off their harnesses doing falls and God knows what else. Survivors’ reports say that it was a really still night. Strange, because it was really still tonight, too. The stars were amazing.

December 3, Rosarito.

Sarah, my stunt double, was being hit by a tidal wave of water in a corridor today. All in a day’s work for her. How can she be so matter of fact about it when I stand and watch, cringing? She’s really helpful when I do my own stunts, always there with kneepads and elbow protection. "Just bend your knees, just relax and control your breathing." Not so easy in the heat of the moment. I’m covered in bruises. Part of the job. It bloody hurts, though. My problem is I don’t think I’ve done my job properly unless I walk away having suffered. Am I a complete masochist, or what!

December 15, Rosarito.
Day off. Much needed. I’ve been for a lovely swim and now I want to go back to bed. Lucky Leo gets more sleep than me. There’s an extra hour-and-a-half added to the end of every day for my pin-curling. Kay [hairdresser] can do it pretty swiftly. Good thing we are both too tired to chat because half the time I’m asleep in the chair. On screen I have luscious red curls. Off screen I look like a bag lady with my headscarf tied in a bow at the front. So attractive. I think I’ve put on weight. I feel heavy, tired, physically swollen and so lonely without my family.

January 9, 1997, Los Angeles.

I feel revitalised. Christmas back at home was lovely. My brother seemed to have grown a foot since I left for Mexico. The new year brings much excitement and I am determined to be positive, especially as I have a new pair of shoes: very high with two big straps across the foot. New shoes, new walk: proud, tall and confident. I must sleep now - 7am pick-up and still jetlagged.

January 16, 1997, Rosarito.
It’s the UK premiere of Hamlet today. In fact it’s 1.15 AM in England, so they’ll all be partying at the Dorchester [hotel]. I didn’t get much of a chance to write yesterday - we [came] inside to complete the scene where Rose meets Jack. We didn’t complete it, but we’ve done most of it. We did Leo’s and my reshoot and close-ups, though. Initially, I was so fed up because we’d been shooting that scene forever and it isn’t an easy one. But thank the Lord we did it again; I felt I really found beats that I couldn’t find before.

January 18, Rosarito.
Nothing, nothing prepared me for the scenes we are shooting now. I vow I will look much more carefully at script directions in future! "Jack and Rose run through flooded corridor" has turned into the most arduous three days of my life. Scared. Terrified. My experience in the water seems like the worst of anybody’s because of that bloody flimsy dress. Everyone is being very sympathetic. We never do more than three takes before we warm up. Jim is being really careful about hypothermia. You don’t realise when you’ve got it, seemingly your brain just switches off and you don’t know how cold you are. When you’re in freezing cold water and you’re acting your arse off, you forget about the temperature of the water. Thank God we have on-set jacuzzis. We fling ourselves into them for 10 to 15 minute stretches while the dressers attack our clothes with hair driers, ready for the next take.

January 23, Rosarito.
In every shot when Leo and I are in a confined space, there are safety divers underwater, untangling my legs from the dress. [Now Sarah has done the stunt] we are doing the close-ups in the scene where we’re swept along by a tidal wave, then get trapped behind an iron gate. The water’s rising and then, at the last minute when it’s almost at the ceiling, we break through. It is frightening and claustrophobic. To make matters worse, at this point in the film, my fiance’s coat has been put on me, up on deck. So for a lot of the scenes I’m wearing a huge soaking overcoat that I can hardly move in. Every time we get the gates open and break free, we then swim under a pipe that runs across the ceiling of the corridor with literally centimetres in which to breathe. And in every take the bloody coat gets caught and the poor diver is frantically trying to free it. I know there are escape holes in the ceiling and safety divers everywhere but this all feels very real and bloody frightening. It makes my drowning scene in Hamlet seem like a swimming lesson.

January 24, Rosarito.
We finished at 7 AM. Not easy to keep at it when I’ve been awake for 19 hours and just want to fall asleep standing up. But Jim was calm, kind and concise, giving fab direction. He helped me find all the things I was looking for but couldn’t quite find and had to compromise somehow before. The sunrise is gorgeous outside, an orange, pink and yellow strip against the deep blue sea. The sunsets are always glorious here.

January 26, Rosarito.
I’m at work in my dressing room waiting to go on ship for another night’s work. It was frantic yesterday - we got lots done. Jim was in a fantastic mood and we had a real laugh. How many close-ups can that man do though? "Can we do another shot of Kate, please?" I can’t bear close-ups. I wonder if any other actors like them? I had to spit in Billy’s face in one part of the scene today. We stopped between takes for a private lesson on the side of the ship. Tina [make-up] had a bowl of beaten eggwhite, but in the end I used my own spit. When we started rolling again, Sian [make-up] ran over with a tube of K-Y jelly, and put a splodge on my tongue to make it look more dramatic - more spit - not a pleasant experience.

January 29, Rosarito.
Underwater close-ups and it was horrible! I was weighted down, on top of a small stepladder, which is weighted down to the bottom of the tank. There were stunt boys around that I’d known from doing the drowning scenes in Hamlet which made me feel a bit better while I still had my mask and breathing gear. Leo is so happy in the water! He is over there doing backflips like he’s a water baby! Then I’m at the bottom of the tank and someone takes the mask off for me and I feel completely naked and helpless. I couldn’t see Leo. The surface seems miles away. Jim was absolutely brilliant. He wouldn’t have made me do that if I didn’t say, "No, I’m okay.' So they take the mask off again and I can’t see anything...and it is really petrifying when they yell "action" and suddenly that regulator is out of my mouth and I have nothing and I cannot go anywhere because I am weighted down to this ladder. Take after take I reminded myself that I wanted to be part of this. I will not admit defeat - I will not do that.

February 1, Rosarito.
I managed to get seven hours sleep, woke about 4 PM and ate two scones that Amy (my dresser) made - pear and blueberry - and drank coffee on the couch with Tina and watched the sunset. It’s windy outside. I’ve got lots of hope and courage at the moment. I’ve started to feel good about the work I’ve done on Titanic. Before I was just a bit bewildered and depressed about it, not knowing whether what I was doing was good or bad or indifferent or what.

February 2, Rosarito.
I had to wear a wetsuit today, it was so freezing cold. We did a very wide shot outside in the huge tank, with lots of extras and me surfacing having gone down with the ship.

February 4, Rosarito.
Well the week has begun again and thank God. I was becoming stir-crazy, being called in to work to do nothing when I could be here eating Granola bars, watching movies and seeing Mel and Lisa [make-up artists] dye their roots! I went for a midnight walk. I spoke to Mum.

February 5, Rosarito.
They’ve found rats on set in steerage corridors - very authentic! I spent the night soaking wet, cold and in the see-through dress. I now strip off anytime I can and dive in the jacuzzi. Forget about a flabby arse when you just want to get into hot water and warm up.

February 6, Rosarito.

We didn’t complete the scene where the third-class passengers try to escape, so more tomorrow. My feet are pulsating, because they were so trampled on by all the steerage extras, like a herd of elephants. They reduced all my toes on my left foot to a pulpy mess in one take.

February 9, Rosarito.
At last the week has come to an end...the worst week so far. I had an amazing massage. I lay on the table and zonked out. I didn’t even bother to dress afterwards. I stayed in my white dressing gown, shoved my sore feet into my slippers and fell into the car, then walked through the front door and proceeded to pick the coffee icing off the top of a maple walnut scone from the freezer.

February 12, Rosarito.
It’s been so mad these last few days - me running scared in freezing water. Very tired. More of it to come, though. Hyperventilating and fainting, no less. Never let it be said that I don’t suffer for my art! Very stressful. I had a good cry tonight for a lot of accumulated reasons. I want to go home now. I really want to go for a ride on a London bus. I wish my spots would go away.

February 16, Rosarito.
I was wrapped early because I’d hurt my arm - I fell during a take and since it was already sprained from something else this week, it just made it worse. I’m exhausted and ache like hell... I’m bruised and battered from head to foot. Just realised that this is the first time in ages that I’m going to sleep in the dark - it’s the night!

February 22, Rosarito.
No-one seems to know when we will wrap. I had a letter from Mum today which was really lovely. Hamlet’s out and the reviews are: so far so good. Ken [Branagh] has been nominated for best production/screenplay Oscar. He won’t win it though, because he’s up against The English Patient.

February 25, Rosarito.
Just finished another night of work: a civilised dry scene on the bridge. Jim did one particular shot on me, and when we’d finished, he took my hand and walked me to the monitor and made me watch it and said, "She may have had a shit morning, but look how gorgeous she is!" He was referring to the previous scene: rowing at breakfast with my fiance Cal, and a corseted lecture from my mother, Ruth - scenes we hadn’t shot that day, but scenes that precede the one we were doing. It made me feel good. It was Billy’s birthday and I didn’t know, so no pressie. Whoops!

March 18, Rosarito.
Mum’s here! The thrill of tasting home cooking again! She’s been cooking scrambled eggs for my breakfast although I’m still on my odd timetable and she’s on normal, so she wakes me up at 1 PM with: "Darling, shall I put on the coffee, then?" and by the time I’ve showered she’s cooked the eggs. Marvellous. I feel happy while I trot off to work and when I get back I just crawl into bed with my mum.

March 22, Rosarito.
Five o’clock in the morning. I can hardly believe that this is the early hours in the morning of this, the final shooting day of Titanic. How am I feeling? I don’t know yet. It’s lovely having Mum here, though she’s going to have to come off the sun-drenched terrace and do some serious packing for me. Still got one more night of work to do, though. Under the stars and in the water - under the water, in fact. I think this will be day 164. Longer than True Lies, apparently. Seven months, such a long time, and it’s gone so quickly. It’s the little lines that trip you up. "They go down together. They are separated under water. Rose kicks for the surface." Sounds so simple, but no. I’ve been having lessons on how to "equalise," pinching my nose and blowing really hard. That’s so your ears fill up with water and no more water can get in and burst your eardrums. You have to equalise as you’re going down. We go down with the ship. We swim towards each other. We’re looking at each other and then I wrap my legs around Leo and cling like a monkey. We rehearsed wearing masks and we’re in the heated pool this time. Then we hear Jim’s voice say five, four...and we both take a deep breath, then Leo pulls us under, do [to about three metres], then we get down there and he [Jim] says, "Action", and we have to swim around each other. I’m holding onto him and then we get separated. Then we have to surface and we have no breath left and we’re kicking as hard as we can. I’m wearing high heels, the dress and a life jacket.

August 22, 1997, Los Angeles.
This is too weird for words. One year ago exactly to this day, I was on a plane to LA to start shooting Titanic. I’m still shooting it. Today Leo and I were Jack and Rose once more, shooting and insert, running down a corridor looking wet and bedraggled on the Twentieth Century Fox lot. It was like looking at a ghost when I looked in the mirror. Red wig (because my hair is blonde now) the same make-up and God-awful costume that makes me want to die because it is so uncomfortable, soaking wet and I’ve worn it so much that it’s like a very nasty second skin. Surreal as hell. We may as well have never stopped shooting. Five months of life that I’ve just had may as well have not happened. The most frightening part was that it all felt so normal. It was great to see [those] people again, but get me to the airport...get me home.

You've got to see this!

2010-12-22T19:28:00.000-08:00

I just love hearing the accents of the Paraguayans. There's nothing like it!

Also, this is my favorite Zumba song, and this nine year old girl does an amazing job!

Che Paraguay

2010-12-18T18:42:00.000-08:00

For some unknown reason I have been reminiscing of Paraguay a lot lately. I'll be laying in bed at night at the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and feelings come rushing at me like a tidal wave. I really miss my friends there. I miss my families too. To better remember them, I thought I'd make a few posts dedicated to them.

One of my favorite places to visit: Ramona's house. Here's a cute video of her daughter Lara, or "little savage" as she was otherwise known ("Salvajecita"). Ramona had two other children, Christian and Jasmin Belem.


At Ramona's House

Hermana Casper, my trainer, at Ramona's house


Familia Galeano

I love this picture! After one of the Galeano children got baptized.


Hermana Long forcing me to use the machine I hated.

This will be continued later with my favorite people from Tajy.

More Thoughts from MacDonald

2010-12-14T11:38:00.000-08:00

{image}

In bed attempting to recover from mono, I began reading the sequel to The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie. Only a few pages in, I found a quote that has intrigued me. I am writing it down here so that I don't forget to contemplate it over the next week or so.

"As Curdie grew, he grew at this time faster in body than in mind--with the usual consequence, that he was getting rather stupid--one of the chief signs of which was that he believed less and less in things he had never seen. At the same time I do not think he was ever so stupid as to imagine that that was a sign of superior faculty and strength of mind. Still, he was becoming more and more a miner, and less and less a man of the upper world where the wind blew. On his way to and from the mine he took less and less notice of bees and butterflies, moths and dragonflies, the flowers and the brooks and the clouds. He was gradually changing into a commonplace man.

"There is this difference between the growth of some human beings and that of others: in the one case it is a continuous dying, in the other a continuous resurrection. One of the latter sort comes at length to know at once whether a thing is true the moment it comes before him; one of the former class grows more and more afraid of being taken in, so afraid of it that he takes himself in altogether, and comes at length to believe in nothing but his dinner: to be sure of a thing with him is to have it between his teeth" (MacDonald).

The quote is quite long, and I'm not going to pretend I understand it fully by writing shallow interpretations. It is what it is, and I will continue to contemplate it. Maybe I'll share what I discover, maybe not.

What do you think about it?

Also, if you don't have an iPod Touch or Kindle, you can read MacDonald's works online for free, including The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie. I highly recommend it.

UPDATE: One more intriguing thought from MacDonald, "The boy should enclose and keep, as his life, the old child at the heart of him, and never let it go... The child is not meant to die, but to be forever fresh born."

My little ray of sunshine

2010-12-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

{image}

Well, I suppose I must apologize again for the dreariness of my previous post. Sometimes a person just needs to vent and be done with it.

This post is hopefully somewhat redemptive because while laying in bed the past day or so feeling miserable and self-piteous, I found the Kindle app on my iPod Touch to be my saving grace. I have been meaning to reread The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald for quite some time, and now I had the time. I read the entire thing in the last day and a half and adored every minute.

The story is definitely more childlike (I mean to read it to my future children), but sometimes I like childlike things. You can ask my husband who has to endure me watching Monsters Inc. to fall asleep at night (like last night) or watch Pocahontas to feel better (like today).

This story is absolutely delightful. If you didn't know already, George Macdonald was C.S. Lewis' inspiration for many of his books and for his interest in Christianity. The book is wrought with Christian themes, most especially that seeing is not necessarily believing.

This book has inspired me in more ways than one. It has given me the ability to think outside of my own tiny world and realize how much more is available to me. The princess, Irene, is a seven-year-old girl who acts more adult than most of the adults, especially her nursemaid. She understands the importance of honesty and integrity and most importantly, holding true to her title of princess.

I've learned from the miner's son Curdie and his mother who often do kind things for each other, but never count the deeds or expect anything in return. A child's book has taught me quite a bit already.

I guess even though there are clouds sometimes they can be quite pretty. Try Googling "storm clouds" and see if you don't get a gorgeous picture of lightning. This storm is still here, but I'm learning to love the beauty of the lightning--and my chance to lay in bed and read delightful stories.

I must also thank my husband again for all he's done for me. He really makes my storms pass more quickly and easily.

(And thank you to those who were concerned. Trust me, I was just ruminating, which I just learned about yesterday and can actually be quite healthy.)

If you want to read The Princess and the Goblin, I recommend downloading it for free on Kindle. I bought it from Kindle, and then while browsing for other books, I found it was also being offered for free. Lesson learned: Don't buy any book on Kindle until you've searched for it thoroughly because there are many things for free.

I want to quit.

2010-12-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

Seriously. I do. What's a girl to do when after putting all her energy into something, she gets beat down by the ugly monster of illness over and over again. I'm done. Anyone have any rays of sunshine for a gray ~~day~~, ~~week~~, ~~month~~, semester?

(I apologize for the self pity this post is, but I need to vent.)

Tagged.

2010-12-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by my gorgeous, talented sister. Read her blog it's quite cute--and there's always something new.

4 shows I watch:

1. Modern Family--My fave right now.

2. 30 Rock

3. The Office

4. Mad Men (when Christmas break begins)

4 things I am passionate about:

1. My best friend

2. Family

3. Learning the meaning of spirituality

4. Health

4 phrases I say a lot:

1. “Seriously?"

2. “Awesome."

3. “What the what?"

4. I don't know...

4 things I have learned from the past

1. It's hard to live with sometimes.

2. People make memories--not places or special events.

3. It all works out.

4. Live in the present.

4 places I would like to go:

1. Back to Paraguay

2. Georgia to visit my granny

3. Back to Paris

4. Hawaii

4 things I did yesterday:

1. Received a great massage from my husband.

2. Appreciated the help of my sis-in-law.

3. Laughed a lot with my students--they are too funny.

4. Felt overwhelmed by the very long day.

4 things i am looking forward to:

1. Finding out if I am in the nursing program!

2. The end of this semester.
3. Christmas.

4. Growing our little family.

4 things I love about winter: (not much)

1. The white snow. It is quite beautiful when it sparkles in the sunshine.

2. Wearing sweaters and gloves.

3. Being snowed in with a good book and hot chocolate and/or delicious, comforting, homemade soup!

4. The holidays with family and friends.

4 things on my wish list

1. FOTR, extended edition

2. Motivation to exercise

3. More time in the day

4. Three or four days in bed to read and write--no interruptions. That would be heaven.

4 people I tag:

Amy Jo

Amanda

Jeffrey

Emily

(Camie, whenever you decide to update your awesome blog)

One Year Ago

2010-11-21T08:03:00.000-08:00

I married my best friend of seven years.

Eight years later, we are still best friends--if not more so.

Come what may, Jeffrey. Ro hay hu eterei. Or as my favorite family in Paraguay says "Mucho I love you eterei."

Two meals in a row--only one night's work

2010-11-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

I'm always looking for ways to simplify cooking, but still make it delicious. Here's one way that I absolutely love.

Pizza and my own version of Johnny Carino's spicy romano chicken bowtie pasta (without the chicken, of course, for my vegetarian).

You can make either one the first day, but the whole idea is that the second day almost everything is done for you. I usually make the pizza first, but before anything can be made, the alfredo sauce is first.

Alfredo Sauce
{ingredients}

1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 pkg (4 oz.) cream cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup milk
3 oz. grated parmesan
ground black pepper

{directions}
Melt the butter over medium heat. Add cream cheese and garlic powder and whisk until smooth. Add milk a little bit at a time, whisking in between. Stir in pepper and parmesan. Remove from heat when it reaches the desired consistency.

Vegetarian Alfredo Pizza

{ingredients}

Whole wheat pizza dough (I made this in advance and froze it)
1/2 Alfredo sauce (recipe above)
Baby spinach
1/2 14-ounce can of artichoke hearts
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 zucchini, sliced and halved
Roma tomato, diced
Sundried tomatoes
Diced olives
Mozzarella cheese (I just bought the pre-shredded kind)
A handful of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Whatever ingredients you would like: chicken, bacon, pepperoni

{directions}
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Roll out the pizza dough onto a lightly oiled pizza pan. Smooth the Alfredo sauce over the dough and top with half the mozzarella cheese, followed by the ingredients. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and the handful of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

Place in the preheated oven and cook for 18-20 minutes.

Spicy Romano Bowtie Pasta

{ingredients}

Half box of whole wheat bowtie pasta, cooked
1/2 Alfredo sauce from the night before (recipe above)
1 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 red onion, diced (the other half from the previous night)
1/8 cup sliced sundried tomatoes
1/2 can artichoke hearts (the other half from the previous night)
Sliced olives (the other half from the previous night--see a pattern?)
Frozen peas
Cayenne pepper

{directions}
Cook bowtie pasta according to directions. In one saucepan, warm up the Alfredo sauce from the night before. Saute 1/2 red onion in the olive oil until softened. Add sundried tomatoes, olives, and artichoke hearts. Cook for a few minutes until softened. Add frozen peas at the last minute and saute until they have thawed. Add the vegetables to the warm sauce. Sometimes the sauce will be too thick from being refrigerated, so I just add a little bit of milk. Add cayenne pepper to taste (this gives it the taste of the Spicy Romano Pasta).

Drain the bowtie pasta and add it to the Alfredo sauce mixture. Toss and serve.

Both of these meals are delicious and so easy, especially the second night. I hope you enjoy!

Bucket Lists

2010-11-01T21:32:00.001-07:00

In the Palace of Versailles

Walking the Gardens of Versailles

I am grateful for bucket lists. I'm especially grateful that I was able to cross one of my goals from my list a year and a half ago in Versailles, Paris.

Here's a video from Versailles. Excuse the cheesiness of it all.

I also look forward to crossing this off the list in December: Going to a Judd's concert!

Alive

2010-11-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

Degas.

This blog is writing daily gratitude for the month of November. I think I'll give it a shot. I don't know if I'll do it every day, but I think it's a good practice nonetheless.

So what am I thankful for today?

To be alive.

It may sound crazy, but today that's what I feel.
I won't go into any specifics. I'm just grateful for a beating heart. Grateful that my lungs function, bringing in air and exhaling, softly, slowly, bringing peace to a tempestuous soul.

I've felt tempestuous today, but despite it all, I'm grateful I'm alive.

Grateful I have senses. I can smell the Domino's pizza we had for dinner. I can taste the leftover Halloween candy that I guiltily continue to pop into my mouth. I can feel the tips of my fingers tap away at the hard plastic of my new MacBook (of which I'm also grateful, but that's not the topic today). I can hear my husband breathing in bed next to me as I fall asleep at night. I can see the words to the books I'm reading (and writing) and the art I admire.

I'm grateful I have a functioning body that hasn't fallen prey to the past pain and difficulties that I've faced.

I realize that's a lot to be grateful for, but it all falls under one category, which I've already stated and still mean.

I'm grateful I am alive.

Estoy agradecida estar viva.

So, I'm writing again.

2010-10-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yes. I am. Feels good. Almost freeing.

Finally. Eklecticity.

I should be grading midterms, but instead...

2010-10-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

Actually, I only have fifteen left, so I deserve a break, right?

I found this on my sister's blog, and I want to do it too.

my name: lindsay

childhood ambition: to be mary poppins

fondest memory: my wedding day

indulgence: dark chocolate souffles and DQ blizzards--oh, and chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches

favorite musician: right now? howard shore

wildest dream: take elise to paris

retreat: my bed with my ipod touch and netflix

proudest moment: anytime i hear from my beloved family de paraguay--los sotelos!

biggest challenge: being patient.

first job: english department office assistant

last purchase: taco bell

inspiration: right now? lord of the rings

My writing: my escape

My life: is about adventure

Random

2010-10-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

My life this week has been...

Watch this

And a lot of this...

I've watched all three extended editions in two days.

I'm listening to this...

And wanting to play this...

You see, I don't normally play video games, but I do play Lord of the Rings video games (or Harry Potter). Slightly nerdy, I know, but I love Battle for Middle Earth. It's a PC game and so addicting.

I guess I'm obsessed.

I also found this website again, after years and years. I can't believe it's still there--literally, years, like 2003 was the last time I visited and it's still the same, and still being updated. Crazy.

It's just been a while, so I thought I'd post some randomnity as Jeff calls it.

How grateful am I?

2010-10-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

So... I'm just sitting here thinking...

It's been a long time since I felt this way.

What way is that? I'm still trying to decide.

Gratitude, yes.

Happy, maybe.

Contentment, perhaps.

It's been a long time since I felt this way.

Too long.

Thank you, God.

That is all.

I wish I could talk to more 114 year olds

2010-09-23T19:05:00.001-07:00

Flavor-Packed BLT

2010-09-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

You won't believe the flavor!

So, I'm writing my first post using my new MacBook. Good feeling!

I've been perusing different food blogs today, including my beautiful friend Amy's Edible Experiments, and decided I needed something flavorful. I got it.

{ingredients}
~ whole wheat bread, toasted
~ roma tomato
~ pepper jack cheese
~ mayonnaise (I used Kraft's Mayo with Olive Oil)
~ mustard
~ bacon
~ spring mix lettuce (or just regular lettuce would work)

{directions}
Just use the above ingredients to put together the sandwich. I toasted my bread in the toaster oven and added the pepper jack cheese for the last few seconds to melt it slightly. I used a little mayo, sliced the roma tomatoes (just two slices were good--I'm using the rest for our tacos tonight). Spread mustard on the top piece of bread. Add the lettuce and then the bacon. Easy!

As far as the bacon goes, I made Cindi's broccoli salad yesterday and had a little leftover. I only use the precooked variety from Jimmy Dean. Make sure you buy their thick strip, hickory baked bacon. It is much better than the others, with less fat and much more crunch. I've had my share of experiences with precooked bacon for board breakfasts, and this is by far the best.

If you come up with any other versions, let me know. This is the most flavorful BLT I've ever had. I think the pepper jack cheese and spring mix had a lot to do with that. The spring mix salad has different varieties, including arugula which adds a bite to the sandwich. Jeff doesn't like it though, and would have chosen spinach instead. It's all up to you, which is what makes the BLT so great.

Enjoy!

"Is there a felicity in the world superior to this?"

2010-08-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

My favorite movie, Sense & Sensibility,
(okay, one of my favorites),
Just finished the book,
It is delightful--both are so delightful.

The title of this post is without a doubt my favorite quote from the film (and the novel).
It also sums up yesterday.

It's been a while since Jeff and I have had a weekend at home--one month to be exact.

We decided to stay in last night. We ate a baked potato and fresh corn on the cob, I watched a movie (for nostalgic purposes), while Jeff played Xenogears, and then we made chocolate souffles again--thanks, Camie and Nate, for introducing us to that delish dish.


Melted chocolate... yum.


I love egg whites--just three egg whites and a hand mixer creates this!


Enjoying the evening.

How could I forget Kingdom Hearts?

P.S. I also wrote for 45 minutes.

(and went to Zumba and purged some memory boxes at my parents' house)... good day.

A Present.

2010-08-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

So I'm not very patient.
I'm looking forward to a lot of things.
I always do.
I've accomplished one thing,
so it's on to the next.

Well, I've had an epiphany.

The future and the present correlate.
If I worry so much about the future, the present will never be, well,... present.

I sure hope that makes sense.

{image}

Sunny in Salt Lake

2010-07-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

Spontaneous trip, Lagoon season passes, half hour at the parade (perfect in my opinion), Five Guys, fireworks, homemade pizza, and the fam. Quack!

I found it.

2010-07-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

AntiqueDress.com. I think I'm in love.

You can even buy them, but since I'm not the richest, I think I'll just look. And look. And look. There's a ton of gorgeous flapper dresses too!

Where I'll spend my time this weekend...

2010-07-01T22:22:00.000-07:00

I have the rest of the weekend and Monday off. The only huge commitment I have is grading essays. Other than that, this is where I'll be spending my time:

Edwardian Promenade
Check out the new magazine. It's fantastic!

Good Housekeeping Archives
It dates back to 1886 with great articles and illustrations that will give me a real insight into what life may have been like as a woman of the early 1900s. I'm super excited!

Anyone else have any plans?

Report

2010-06-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey with his darkened mustache.

I did it.

I wrote.

June 22: 20 minutes
June 28: 25 minutes
I'm really loving it. I bought a large sketch book for a different project, but have designated it my writing book from now on. I adore writing on a big blank sheet of white paper. I even wrote a haiku about it.

My Bic Roundstick Pen
On this big, white sketch paper--
Inner child glee.

Thanks for the support. I plan to write more this week. I just have to get past the board meeting tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. That means wake up time is 4:00 p.m. Why am I still awake? ... good question.

Speaking of board meeting, I always make breakfast for the board. I tried these Blackberry Crumb Bars.

It is incredible. Even better than you think it will be! Yum. I am definitely making it again soon.

Try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised too.

I took a picture of my blackberry crumb bars, but am having trouble downloading it. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are some random snapshots of my life recently.

Landon before his first date and dance

Came home from a stressful day at work to find this waiting for me. Thanks again, husband!

Brodie eats sushi at Da Pineapple Grill

Here's the Deal.

2010-06-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

I need to write.

So much. Demasiado. Eterei. Necesito escribir.

It just seems like a very big, important part of me is missing.

With all this feeling yucky all the time, not being able to exercise, and trying to eat well, I have decided I'm going to do something for my soul. Maybe what's wrong with my body is reflecting my need to do more for the inner little me. Does that make sense or do I just sound schizophrenic?

Whatever I sound like, I have made the decision. I am going to write. What has kept me from writing? Too many excuses. I could go on and on with too many excuses that don't matter. Not in the slightest. If I want to do it, then I will, and I want to.

I must start out slow though. Three times per week. That's my goal right now. Every time I write, I'll report it on this blog. At least 30 minutes each time too. None of this, I wrote a paragraph good for me stuff.

Anyone else have a goal?

Angel Hair with Tomatoes and Basil

2010-05-23T12:42:00.001-07:00

Adapted from Ina Garten's Capellini with Tomatoes and Basil

I saw this on Ina Garten's show and had to make it. Why? It combines all my favorite things, fresh basil, angel hair, tomatoes, red pepper flakes, etc., etc. I made it once for my family, but was not thoroughly impressed with the results, so instead I made a few quick changes to create a dish I could be happy with.

See the link above, but use coconut oil instead and Romano cheese. I like it even better! Yum.

Monthy?

2010-05-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

I won't tell you which local store was selling this product... maybe you can guess.

My Credit Union

2010-05-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

As a representative from the Idaho Credit Union League said, "People don't say my bank, but they do say my credit union."

Credit unions are amazing and I'm not just saying that. Check out http://www.lovemycreditunion.org. to find out why.

Also, check out the new Beehive Federal Credit Union For You blog (Beehive is my credit union).
http://bfcu4u.wordpress.com

Lusitania--Real Video

2010-05-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

Reminiscing

2010-05-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

It’s May 7 and I can’t believe it. One year ago I was in a bus in Italy regaling the group with stories from the Lusitania. Today, I am working all day, but grateful. Grateful to be working and grateful to remember today. I can’t believe it’s been 95 years. When I was twelve, eleven years ago now, it was 82 years. How time flies and soon it will be 100 years. My goal is to be in Ireland in 2015 on May 7. I pray it happens. Oh, how I yearn to go. I hope!

As I was driving over to work today, I wasn’t overwhelmed with the tragedy of this event, but instead I was envisioning and recalling the beauty. I have never seen it in person. I know that, but I have seen pictures and spent hours thinking about what it may look like. So much so that I believe were I to go back and get on that ship that I would most likely know where everything was from studying the blueprints over and over again. How I adore the beauty of the Lusitania. With its Louis XIV décor, gold trim, angels from every season in the dome of the dining saloon, the light, airiness of the ship—much different than the Titanic—mirrors reflecting lights everywhere, just these thoughts make me yearn to have been there to see it at least once.

Oh and to walk on the deck of the ship. It would be slightly different than the cruise ships of today. I imagine a bit more open. I can almost hear the humming of the engine and the laughter and chatter of the passengers, especially first class, Alfred Vanderbilt and Peter Pan producer, Charles Frohman. The sound of the ocean—there’s nothing like the sound of the unforgiving beast of the earth, roaring beneath the ship.

P.S. I wrote yesterday--30 minutes.

95 Years Ago Today

2010-05-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

I plan to write more about this significant event tomorrow, until then enjoy this video. It is quite impressive.

The Lusitania's sinking.

Titanic... 98 years ago

2010-04-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

I meant to post on April 15, but life was crazy. I barely had a chance to think about the Titanic. Luckily, I was reminded--reminded! Me, the girl who used to wake up by chance at 2:20 a.m. every year without setting my alarm, had to be reminded at 10:00 a.m. that it was the commemorative anniversary of Titanic's sinking on April 15.

Though slightly embarrassed to confess what I just did, I think it still important to remember. I did watch clips of Titanic with my husband yesterday morning. Don't worry, though, May 7 is right around the corner, and while I am obsessed with Titanic, there is a special place in my heart for the Lusitania. I will be posting then as well. Until then, please watch the following clip of Titanic survivors' tales taken in the 1970s.

It's about thyme time.

2010-04-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

So, this blog is really supposed to be based on me as a writer and history enthusiast. What happened to that?

Good question.

I really don't know. She has kind of faded into the whirl of typing minutes, grading essays, editing articles, a desk job, students, and, where my free time has really gone, cooking. When I'm not cooking, I am on the internet searching for new recipes. If you haven't noticed, this blog has definitely gone that way. It probably still will too, but I would like to refocus my energy on something I have loved in the past and believe I will continue to love... writing.

I'm considering this. When you see the badge on my blog, you'll know I've begun.

I also plan to read a lot more.

We'll see. Goals again.

Dear Body,

2010-03-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

Do you understand that when I treat you right, you are supposed to treat me right?

Last week I...

Exercised every day. Jeff and I started walking and even a little jogging.
Cut out treats--except the two brownies I had at work that had a dyeing effect.
Ate salad almost every day with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, apples, etc.
Started Power90... again.
Took multivitamins daily.
Went to bed before ten almost every night.
And so much more. You know what I did.

What did you do?

You let me get sick, again.

Fevered all night last night, body aches, coupled with the normal stomach pains of the past few months, and I had to miss work. What can I do to convince you to be kind?

This weekend I will be kind to you. Can you help me so that I can go to work all of next week and be happy and healthy?

Thank you.

Love,

Lindsay

too cute.

2010-03-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

che paraguay.

For my sister who is expecting a baby. How cute is this?

The Perfect Curves

2010-03-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

Picture

The ideal woman compared to the turn of the century body... Interesting...

not so healthy, but

2010-03-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

oh so delicious

eggos
peanut butter
syrup
frozen blueberries
+ eat in bed

completely delectable

I had to buy a huge box of 60 waffles last week because we go through a box of 24 in one... and, no, I am not the culprit.

And, yes, I do eat them in bed.

And, yes, I would like to improve my photography... Any suggestions?

Pleasantly surprised

2010-02-25T17:06:00.001-08:00

I've been struggling lately with feeling well and I believe food has something to do with it. Lately, (besides the Milano cookies I bought today) I've been trying to eat more healthily.

This was the result. At around 8:30 p.m., I was hungry and craved zucchini.

Here's how you do it:

{ingredients}

1 zucchini, sliced or diced, whatever you prefer
1/2 cup fresh green beans (love them)
1/3 cup diced onions
1 Tbs. olive oil
garlic salt, to taste
lemon pepper, to taste

Saute onions in the olive oil until they are translucent. Add zucchini and green beans. Saute.

Once it has cooked thoroughly, dish and add garlic salt and lemon pepper to taste--it made the dish for me!

Enjoy.

(I took the above picture. Can't wait to get an SLR. Any recommendations?)

Finally

2010-02-24T17:03:00.001-08:00

A treat I adore that is super healthy.

Frozen blueberries... strange, huh? Take them out of the freezer, let them thaw for a few minutes, but too much because a little freeze is good.

It's like a mini snowcone.

Resilient rose

2010-02-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

I have to admit I was inspired by this.

All dying, except one.

Yum.

2010-02-19T20:14:00.000-08:00

I adore food.

Not in the eat without thinking way (well, most of the time), but in the contemplate every bite and every flavor way.

How wonderful it is to try new, amazing, flavorful dishes. The best part about being on a cruise (besides the fact that I was on my honeymoon with my best friend) is the food. Dinner was perfect. I ate escargot, roasted duck, lamb with mint sauce, shrimp, lobster tail, and so much more.

unforgettable.

If I had the time and money, I would attend culinary school. Until that time and money drops on my doorstep, I guess these wonderful little sites will have to suffice:

Food Network
This channel created and has fed my appetite for delicious, flavorful dishes

Martha Stewart's Recipes
A variety of delicious recipes from easy to difficult with a myriad of flavors for every palette.

Reluctant Gourmet
While I am not very reluctant, this site provides a lot of basic training for preparing dishes.

Fresh365
A resource for vegetarian dishes with delectable photographs. (where I found the above picture)

I'm going to keep searching. I'll add more links as I find them. Until then, enjoy Worst Cooks in America on YouTube (unless you are lucky enough to get the Food Network and you can watch it there).

Happy Heart Day.

2010-02-14T18:02:00.000-08:00

Jeff and I have had a wonderful Valentine's weekend.

It involved:

roses
new sheets and a four-inch high mattress pad (memory foam!)
chocolates
thai curry, tempura veggies
chocolate souffle (amazing.)
no reservations

What did you do?

Sweet Sunday

2010-02-07T13:45:00.000-08:00

The sun came out and the birds sang.

After a day and a half in bed, my husband took me for a walk.

The husband's done a lot the past few days.

Me: You need to relax.
Jeff: I play video games to relax.
Me: Do it.

He did and he deserves it.

Just bought this.

2010-02-06T10:09:00.001-08:00

An empty frame has been sitting on my desk at work for the last three weeks. I haven't been able to find anything to fill it until now. My first piece of art from Etsy, and will not be the last.

I also got this one for free. Check out Papermoth at Etsy.

A Contemporary Go at Edwardian Fashion

2010-02-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

Love it.

The New Woman and Bathing Suits

2010-02-01T19:24:00.001-08:00

Compare these models with contemporary. It's interesting how the meaning of the word beautiful has changed over the years. I don't think the new woman would put up with it!

The idea of the "new woman" began in the late 19th century, and carried over into the 1920s. I find these women to be so fascinating because they were among the first to recognize their ability to break social bounds.

If you want to learn more, read this article at the Edwardian Promenade.

The owner of this blog is fantastic and so well-versed in the Edwardian Era.

Oh, and I thought you might enjoy the bathing suits from the 1910s. How scandalous!

Oh, what a day.

2010-02-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

Sick

again.
Finally went to the doctor... I hope he's right and I can get feeling better quickly.
Seriously, though, it's been a rough day for both of us. Jeff woke to a sick wife and then, while in the shower, hit his head on the ceramic holder (whatever you call it), and this was the result.

My goal

Health.
I am--seriously, I'm not just kidding--going to start a regular exercise routine. This is my February resolution.

Exercise every day.

Seriously.
Anyone else with a February resolution?

Paperheart

2010-01-31T17:10:00.000-08:00

I adore Indie films.

Just watched this
last night and it's one of my new favorites.

"And, speaking of the science of Life, have you got the cucumber sandwiches cut for Lady Bracknell?"

2010-01-30T13:52:00.000-08:00

Importance of Being Earnest inspired, Jeff and I love these little treats. Just had them for lunch, actually.

{ ingredients }
~ one English cucumber
~ 1 tsp. garlic salt
~ 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
~ 8 slices of bread

{ directions }
Cut the English cucumber into rounds. Add a teaspoon of garlic salt to softened cream cheese (I melted mine in the microwave for 15 seconds). Mix well.

Remove the crusts--the dignified do not eat crusts. Spread onto the bread like butter, add the sliced cucumbers and enjoy. Very simple and so delicious!

*For more flavor, add fresh dill.

(And, unlike the last picture, this one is mine. Should I be admitting that?)

Vegetarian Chili

2010-01-30T08:59:00.000-08:00

My husband is a vegetarian and I spend a lot of time looking for recipes that are both delicious and filling, as well as meatless.

I found this great recipe from Martha Stewart. Vegetarian chili, DELISH! Much more fresh than normal chili and without the heaviness. Love it!

Prep Time: 15 minutes-- It was so fast and easy!
Total: 15 minutes-- Or you can let it simmer like I did.

Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Coarse salt and pepper, to taste
2 zucchini
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
2 cans (19 oz. each) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (28 oz. each) crushed tomatoes, I used 15 oz. and it worked out wonderfully
1 pkg. frozen corn kernals, thawed I put it in frozen, but after simmering, they were perfect.

Directions
1. In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes.

2. Add zucchini, carrots, chili powder, and cumin. Cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, corn, and 1 cup water. Simmer until slightly thickened and carrots are soft, 8 to 10 minutes more.

Go to Martha Stewart for a print out of the recipe card.

My Button Eyes

2010-01-29T18:47:00.001-08:00

You are not my mother

2010-01-29T18:02:00.000-08:00

Aw,

Coraline

. How I love your style.
You can make me laugh, you can make me smile.

Okay, this is not nearly as awesome as her poem:

Oh my twitchy, witchy girl.
I think you are so nice.
I give you bowls of porridge.
I give you bowls of ice... cream.
I give you lots of kisses.
I give you lots of hugs.
But I never give you sandwiches with grease and worms and mung... beans.

Here are some awesome Coraline links I have found:

A bookmark.

A great poster.

Make your own sweater. If I could knit, I totally would.

I'm going to keep exploring. Don't forget to listen to the great soundtrack.

Also, visit the official website or Evil Buttons for some more Coraline fun.

Blogs Combined!

2010-01-28T20:51:00.000-08:00

This will be my permanent home for a long while, I believe. I have been longing to blog and now I feel like I have a place to do so.

So here we go!

Delightful.

2010-01-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

How I'd love to get caught in the rain in 1915.

It's been a while.

2009-11-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

As most who read my blog know (those who know me), I am getting married soon, which may explain my lack of posts. I just went through this blog last night and remembered my original purpose for creating it. I will be starting it up again with a new layout and fresh ideas as soon as life calms down a bit. For now, enjoy this little entry.

Lady Duff Gordon traveled on the Titanic, but aside from that, she designed "naughty lingerie" (name the movie). As a bride-to-be, I am in the market for some "naughty lingerie" and came across a few of Lady Duff Gordon's designs. They are quite naughty...

What do you think, Jeffrey?

The Awakening

2009-07-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

"The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation.

"The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft close embrace."

I am thoroughly enjoying Kate Chopin's The Awakening. It is poetry in prose form.

WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots)

2009-07-10T10:57:00.001-07:00

This last week, the very first women to fly army planes were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, more than fifty years after their service.

When I was younger, I learned a lot about these amazing women who took control of airplane transport during World War II while the men were at war. Everything that I have learned about these women astounds me. About six years ago, I became fascinated with World War II, and started interviewing pilots who flew in that war. They remembered those women more fondly than I expected.

I heard one story about the B-25 plane. The male pilots refused to fly it because they believed it to be too dangerous. General Hap Arnold figured out the solution... Have the women fly the plane. He gathered five WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) and had them fly the plane where the men could see it. They were cheering and excited until the pilots landed and they saw who was flying it. After that, General Arnold didn't have any trouble convincing the men to fly the B-25. If women could do it, so could they.

After the war, afraid men wouldn't have anything to do, the WASP program was cut without any honors. The women who had sacrificed everything to serve their country weren't even given veterans status. No benefits, no thank you. Just good bye.

In the seventies, the women were finally awarded veteran status, but it isn't until last week that they received a congressional medal of honor.

Want to know what the women wore. It is pretty scandalous... Pants! Check out an interactive WASP paper doll at www.wingsacrossamerica.us.

The Convergence of the Twain by Thomas Hardy

2009-06-17T10:38:00.001-07:00

I
In a solitude of the sea
Deep from human vanity,
And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she.

II
Steel chambers, late the pyres
Of her salamandrine fires,
Cold currents thrid, and turn to rhythmic tidal lyres.

III
Over the mirrors meant
To glass the opulent
The sea-worm crawls-grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent.

IV
Jewels in joy designed
To ravish the sensuous mind
Lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind.

V
Dim moon-eyed fishes near
Gaze at the gilded gear
And query: "What does this vaingloriousness down here?"...

VI
Well: while was fashioning
This creature of cleaving wing,
The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything

VII
Prepared a sinister mate
For her - so gaily great -
A Shape of Ice, for the time far and dissociate.

VIII
And as the smart ship grew
In stature, grace, and hue,
In shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg too.

IX
Alien they seemed to be:
No mortal eye could see
The intimate welding of their later history,

X
Or sign that they were bent
by paths coincident
On being anon twin halves of one august event,

XI
Till the Spinner of the Years
Said "Now!" And each one hears,
And consummation comes, and jars two hemispheres.

Dear Lucy

2009-06-09T19:45:00.000-07:00

Once again, I am feeling a strong desire to understand more about this amazing ship. I bought porcelain plates yesterday planning to create a neat design, though I had not decided what. Then, as I was searching for colors of paint, I came up with an idea. I want to design the plates according to the Lusitania's plate designs. At Cunard-Whitestarline.com (interesting to see the rival ship companies united), they have detailed information about the patterns of the fine china. I even found a photograph of china that has been recovered from the wreck.

Then, as I continued my search, I ran into an old website I used to visit all the time. It was my least favorite Lusitania website in the past, but one of the only ones. Anyway, I found this:

A cushion from the music room that was recovered only the day after the sinking, May 8th, 1915! This may not be the most exciting thing for others, but I shouted, "Oh my!" (Afterward, I was surprised at such a silly outburst, but still!) A cushion from the Lusitania! This Lusitania site has definitely redeemed itself in my eyes. Now it can go to being the second least favorite instead of the first--I'm not sure what has taken its place. I'll let you know when I decide.

This has given me inspiration for so many things. I want to resume my novel, which I had put aside for a long time--I needed a break from the thing. I've been working on it for the past ten years. I also am inspired to create a comprehensive Lusitania website. At one point in my life I was in contact with Eric Sauder (a few brief emails when I was 18), a Lusitania historian. Wouldn't it be awesome to find contact again and receive his help in creating a historically accurate, information-packed website? If you agree, please let me know.

1920s White Star Line Film :

2009-06-08T12:12:00.001-07:00

The following is a video from White Star Line showing Titanic's sister ship, Olympic. The ships were fairly similar, and this video is very nicely done. Take a look and let me know what you think.

1920s White Star Line Film :

Posted using ShareThis

old fashioned links

2009-04-07T16:32:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in a long time, and decided that while I am stressed with a lot of different things, I need to update this blog at least once this week.

Here is a collection of some of my favorite historical links:

Old Paint
Updated almost every day with paintings from the past. I love having this blog in my Reader because it is refreshing to see some of these great works of art every day. I only wish there was a historical explanation for some of the more interesting works, but I also love to draw my own conclusions. Enjoy.

The Flapper Girl
Recent find. Glamorous shots of the glamorous Flappers.

Vintage Ads
I just found this today. It has a great collection of interesting advertisements of the past. I linked this one to a very sad and interesting ad from war propaganda.

Art Deco
Very interesting art pieces. I especially enjoyed the deco from the 30s.

If you have any more feel free to share. I will add more as I find them, but for now, this must suffice. Back to finals!

P.S. Next week is the commemorative anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. I will be visiting the exhibit in Idaho Falls on April 14 (the day the ship struck the iceberg) and, if I can take pictures, will add them here. If not, I will just update with my experience.

give my regards to broadway

2009-03-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

To go along with my previous ragtime post, I thought I would add a bit of information about Irving Berlin.

I learned just this week from a very interesting documentary about Broadway, that without ragtime, Broadway as we know it would not exist. To go along with what I said earlier, a Broadway historian said that ragtime was like rap music during that time period. Irving Berlin was the inspiration for the American musical. Before his innovative style, only European operas were performed.

Watch this great tribute to Irving Berlin from the 1982 Oscars performed by favorite Broadway star, Bernadette Peters. There are so many songs I recognize, but I did not know were written by Irving Berlin.

Enjoy!

paparazzi circa 1915

2009-03-07T15:36:00.000-08:00

A random note about one of my favorite passengers of the Lusitania. Alfred Vanderbilt.

The Vanderbilt family was well known, and their name is still synonymous with wealth and prosperity. Alfred lived an interesting, paparazzi-filled life. To the chagrin of his family, Alfred divorced his first wife after she publicly accused him of having an affair with another married woman, Agnes Ruiz. Agnes committed suicide that same year, ashamed of the scandal.

Alfred then married a fellow divorcee named Margaret with whom he had two little boys. Because he traveled often, he never said goodbye to his children anymore, and most likely had other women on the side.

He was a frequent sailor on the Lusitania, and actually had a good relationship with Captain Turner. An interesting fact about him is that he was due to sail on the Titanic, but at the last minute decided to cancel. Three years later, however, he sailed on the fated Lusitania.

There are many rumors of his heroic acts during the sinking. It is said that he gave his life jacket to a woman passenger, giving in to what he saw as his inevitable fate. Although Alfred was extremely athletic, he could not swim, and most believe he drowned as a result.

Alfred Vanderbilt
October 20, 1877 - May 7, 1915

titanic exhibit

2009-02-21T23:50:00.001-08:00

I have been hoping for the chance to go to a Titanic exhibit. I was thrilled to find out, through Titanic Encyclopedia (my news resource for Titanic), that the Museum of Idaho is showing this exhibit beginning in March! I hate to admit it (or maybe I don't), but I will be attending at least three times... maybe more. Luckily, it will be there until September. Maybe I can volunteer...

gimbel's fashion catalog, 1915

2009-01-31T09:49:00.000-08:00

I found this gem about two years ago on Amazon.com. I've always wanted a fashion catalog from the Edwardian Era, and I think I'm going to continue looking for more. It is so fun to read and use as research for my writing.

I'll show you a few of my favorite pages. I've searched all over the place to find out about the inflation rate and how it compares today. I read on a discussion board that a dollar today was like 5 cents in 1915. It was on a discussion board, though, so I'm taking it with a grain of salt... Here are some interesting prices:

$7.95, $15.00, $15.00, $10.75
The prices for the cover picture (shown above) from left to right

$1.65-3.95
"Boys' Cool Wash Suits for Vacation Days"
$1.75-3.95
"Intermediate and Junior Girls' Dainty Dresses"
$2.95-5.95
"Bath Robes and Charming Negligees"
$1.50-10.00 (a full dress)
"Cleverly-Planned Maternity Wear"
$3.00-3.95
"Wonderful Blouses of Silk and Lace"

"America Combines Empire and Victorian Modes" (my favorites)...

(Left to Right)
15.00, Beautiful Combination Dress (My Favorite)
Made of "soft, clinging chiffon-stripped, corduroy, and fine voile... Finished with Persian silk belt." Shades of rose or Copenhagen.
$15.00, Dancing Dress(MY VERY FAVORITE)
Chiffon sleeves with Empire waist with corded shirring and enriched by a rose corsage. Shades of orchid pink, blue, or Nile green.
$13.75, Afternoon Dress
Made of taffeta and sheer voile (?). Shades of new brown, rose, or Copenhagen.
$10.00, Dancing Dress
Made of chiffon and satin. Shades of light blue, maize, pink, or Nile green.

I loved some of the titles of the pages:
"For Carriage, Auto or Seashore Wear, a Coat is Indispensable"
"Floral Mounts--The Queen of Summer Millinery Trimmings"
"Have you a Penchant for Your Particular Birthstone?"
"Modest Prices and Much Merit are a Gimbel Combination"
"This is an Interesting Page as to Goods and Values"

There you have it. If any one else wants to me to post more from this catalog, especially pictures, let me know.

the lusitania... need i say more?

2009-01-29T15:44:00.001-08:00

Okay, I'll admit it. I am obsessed with the Lusitania and Titanic. I hate to say it, but this blog is going to be filled with information I have learned and continue learning about both ships, but mainly the Lusitania, since it is way more interesting for me to study.

The above is a tea cup created by Cunard Line. A line I plan to sail on one day. According to my research, this tea cup was used in the Verandah Cafe. A beautiful cafe on the Lusitania that was half indoors and half outdoors with a garden feel--first class passengers only, of course.

If any one's looking for a gift (Valentine's perhaps, Jeffrey?)--this would be perfect! ;) I found this image on Ebay, I believe.

scandalous!!!

2009-01-28T17:46:00.000-08:00

I think I'm going to have way too much fun with this blog.

As I was looking at MyPlaylist for songs to fit my new historically romantic blog, I came across ragtime music. How I love ragtime! If I could dance, I would learn ragtime dancing--maybe I will anyway.

If you've ever thought about music, there is an endless repetition of scandal. Beginning, as far as I can tell, with the waltz in the 1800s--too close! Then, in the late 1800s, early 1900s, came ragtime. An awesome precursor to jazz, then rock and roll, (both words, my English professor tells me, used to be slang for sex), then the Beatles (gasp!), and eighties music... a category all its own... And rap... To think that one hundred years ago parents were complaining about the scandalous ragtime! What would be a parent's reaction today if a child listened to that kind of music? My dad's was: "You're weird." Hm... history is so interesting.

Here's some great instructions directly from the Castles.

(I know the images are small, but click on them to see the full instructions.)

beginning

2009-01-28T17:15:00.000-08:00

I have always been intrigued by blogs with an actual theme, and while I was thinking about a topic I could use, I thought, what am I passionate about?

Immediately the answer came. History, reading, and writing.

This is the beginning of my theme blog, Historically Romantic. Here I want to post anything historical I may be studying, and hopefully, connect it to my writing. I also love creating graphics, and will be using my favorite historical paintings, photos, art, etc., to create something... artistic...?

This image I colored using Paint Shop Pro. It was a black and white image of Lillian Gish, one of my favorite moving picture actresses. Yay for United Artist founders!