Changes in Candy Land

My first expedition into Candy Land was several years ago now. More then several in fact. I went there first as a child. I had been asked specifically to search for the missing King Kandy and was helped on my way by the cuddly Mr. Plumpy and Mr. Mint. I passed a disturbing looking gumdrop man and neglected Gramma Nutty's Peanut Brittle. There were several sticky sections where I was caught indefinitely but with the wisdom of the King's daughter, Lolly, and his wife Frostine I made it through. And finally by passing the friendly Gloppy I discovered the missing, plump King. The landscape was simple, and easily understood and my mission was clear.

Recently I was invited back to Candy Land by King Kandy for a party in my honor (perhaps he remembered my former rescue attempts). Things had changed since my last visit. Mr Plumpy's gingerbread plum trees had gone extinct and were replaced by a Cupcake delivery service. Global climate change had also been hard on Mr. Mint's peppermint forest, it was now an ice cream slope perfect for snowboarding. Gumdrop pass was taken over by gummy bears, and Gramma Nutty's home had been remodeled into a gingerbread house. Lord Licorice was still up to his old tricks though, but his power had diminished, he could now only halt you for a moment on his sticky paths. I was sad to discover though, that King Kandy must have lost his wife to over eating, but before she passed away she left another daughter. Princess Frostine and Princess Lolly urged me onto the palace for the party. Right before I  got to the castle I climbed over a chocolate mountain (where there used to be a swamp, there must have been an earthquake) passing an older Gloppy and Gramma Nutty's sister. The King, looking strangely fit welcomed me to the party. It was a relief to get there, because the landscape had seemed remarkably busy, but seeing as parties are not my favorite thing I wondered why I went there to begin with.

Now maybe I just hate to see change, but I admit I was a little disappointed. Mostly because I felt like my mission was important the first time, I mean a King was missing! I was also very surprised by the impressive weight loss by the King and some of the others in a world where only candy is available. However, I rather liked the gingerbread remodeling and the gummy bears new train station.
Who knew Candy Land would change so  much, almost like it was more connected to our world then I thought. Single parents, busier lives, more parties, and apparently more diets.

Nativities

The past couple of days have been filled with looking at the lights. Yesterday some friends and I went to Salt Lake City, Temple Square, to look at the lights. The day before we drove around our town looking at the lights. It snowed some both nights. One of my favorite things about snow is driving while it is snowing at night, (granted, I am usually a passenger). The snowflakes coming straight at you spiraling towards you, their vivid whiteness against the darkness. It feels  like entering a time warp. At least the time warps shown in media, I haven't actually been in a time warp before.
As we were driving along admiring the lights I noticed a lot of outdoor nativity sets, mostly because I recently made the one above. I sketched the outline on plywood, a neighbor with a table saw cut it out, and then with some help from family I sanded the edges, glued them (to add another layer of protection) and painted it. If I ever made another one I think I would change a few things, but overall I think it turned out nicely.
So of course, as I saw all the other sets I judged them. Some I really didn't like, but most of them were really nice, they are just so different I don't think I can compare them. There were plastic and wood, lighted and unlighted, colored and plain, boughten and homemade, sets including sheep and angels, shepherds and wisemen, and simpler ones like mine. My mother also collects nativity sets, and she has quite a few. They are all so different and fun. I guess that is the best thing about art, and people in general. Even though there are things in common there is such variety and interest that we don't have to just pick one.
Nativities are especially meaningful in this regard, because they are a representation of Christ, who is everyone's Redeemer, but because we are different, he means something a little different to all of us. He saved us individually, so that we can become the best individuals we can be.

Consuming and Creating: Part 2: Consuming begets Creation

I have previously written some about Consuming and Creating and this is a continuation of those thoughts. Yesterday I watched the movie Prince Caspian. It was one of those rare moments of consumption that motivated me to create. Sometimes I think that media can be so well created that it inspires you to be better, stronger, braver, and more creative. I had a similar experience in high school and I have since documented that experience in the following snapshot.

 Quietly I turned the last page and closed the book before me. I ran my hands down the worn binding of The Killer Angels and gently returned it to the second pocket of my backpack. Barely hearing the noisy chatter all around me I gazed out the bus window. The familiar trees and roads went by, but I saw only the bloody fields of Gettysburg. We turned down Shawsheen Road and in a daze I got off at my stop, distancing myself even more from the loud chaos.

I practically tiptoed home as I contemplated the death and the sadness, the absolute majesty of the book. In the very midst of Union victory Shaara had reverted to the view of the Confederate leader, Longstreet. The triumph I had experienced just pages before turned to the futileness of defeat. Every war has two such sides, and yet rarely are both sides portrayed so well.

I set each foot down carefully, avoiding crackling leaves, as I walked up the wooden steps of our porch and opened the door slowly. I carefully took off my shoes and inched the door shut. I moved in a sort of personal memorial for the men who had died and the writer who had brought them to life.

“Why are you being so quiet?” My Mom called from the next room, jarring my thoughts.

“I just feel like it” I said, hating to break my silence.

Happy December

There is something about December that is partly Christmas that I love. As soon as the calendar says December (if not before) out comes the nativity sets, and the advent calendars and the trees. I think part of why I love it so much is the sweet nostalgia that it is based on. The Christmas Tree Ornaments from past years made with friends, or cheerfully given by them. The same with the books, and the nativity sets and many other things. It just feels like the whole month is filled with expectations. It's lovely. So happy December to all of you.

Anchors Painting

So here is a painting I did for an art project in school. But I was able to also do something that had some meaning for me. This is supposed to be Hope from my short story Anchors (Part 1, Part 2). We were supposed to use a specific color scheme, I choose the complementary colors blue and orange. I still don't know how I feel about the cloud reflections in the water.

On Death and Violence

I apologize, through a combination of circumstances I haven't posted on here for a couple of weeks. Opps. Here is a longish post.
Hmm. The title of this post sounds a little depressing but I don't think it will be too bad. My friends and I have recently been watching some western TV shows and movies, especially The Young Riders (which you can view for free on Hulu). They are all wearing guns, and always shooting them, and calling each other out. We thought it would be fun to buy ourselves some fake guns to play around with, keep them holstered on our hips and call each other out. That kind of good stuff. We did. It's been pretty entertaining.
Last night I watched The Amazing Spider-Man, complete with gun holstered on my hip sticking into me. Uncle Ben was killed with a gun. I felt overly conscious, maybe even dirty, for having such a play item. After all pistols are primarily for killing people.
A month or two ago I went with the same friends to go crawdad fishing. We waded through a shallow river and grabbed these little crustaceans right behind their claws (so they can't pinch you), throw them in a bucket of water, and then bring them home. Where we twisted off their tails and pulled out the guts and then threw them in a pot of boiling water where they then were cooked to death.
I am from the east coast. Where guns, hunting, and fishing are all uncommon. So I'm pretty sure this was the first time I had ever killed anything before. What was interesting though was that I really enjoyed splashing through the water grabbing these quick little creatures without getting pinched. The gutting and killing was a little unsavory, but I figured if I hunted them, it was my duty to follow through with the rest of it.
So to connect these two... why is it fun to pretend violence, that part that is energy intensive but not harmful to others, but when it actually hurts it is disturbing? And thus, is it okay, morally okay, to enjoy the hunting, aiming, adrenaline highs? Or should all of that be avoided because real violence is really not a good thing.
Tentatively, I will say, in moderation the energy highs are alright, as long as you know that they are a game, and you don't do them so often that the violence itself is the only time the adrenaline comes. 

Ornaments

 Recently I was invited to a Bridal Shower. Each guest was supposed to bring a gift that started with a designated letter. Mine was "O." I chose to give them ornaments (I also thought about doing an Octopus or Oats but settled on the Christmas Ornaments). I know both the bride and bridegroom and they both like the TV show Dr. Who so I really wanted to make a Tartis (aka. a blue British police box from the show). So, to fulfill this desire I decided to make them out of clay. But not real clay, just the kids modeling clay that you bake, Sculpey. I have worked with it quite a bit in the past, and have enjoyed it. The problem is sometimes I make things too realistic, so it's kind of a lot of work. I enjoyed it though. I ended up making six.