Hill. Lair. Ee. Us.

Enchanted Serenity discovered something wonderful on bookshop's livejournal, and shared it on her blog. Thus, I was able to discover this gem for all Austen lovers. (Wait for a couple of them--it takes some time for them to work completely.) Clever. Enjoyable. And out and out uproarious.

A little taste to whet your appetite:

Pride & Prejudice: a drama in triple i parts, as told by Yahoo!Emoticons.

PART I:

~Longbourne~

Bingley:
Darcy:

Meryton:
Mrs Bennet:
Mr Bennet:

Jane:
Bingley:

Darcy:
Lizzie:
Darcy:
Lizzie:
Darcy:

Read the rest!!!

For Serene...and Others: More Than You (Didn't) Ask For

Serene let me know that she wasn't aware of Josh. And there are so many who don't. Can you see why the world has need of me?! :-) I thought, if she wasn't aware of Josh before now, some of the rest of you might not be either! Well--I had to remedy that! Of course. Fully ready to inundate you.

So here I go in introducing you--or feeding you more--in The Joy of Josh. And I'm pretty sure if you thought you didn't know his music before, you will recognize something somewhere. Note: Most of these videos you could be perfectly fine with just listening to as you go about other tasks. Some facial expressions, clothing choices, or pictorial usage could be better left...alone.

First, I shall begin with the song that began it all for me. (To Where You Are)

While watching this video, I almost started to cry myself--this song meant so much to the nation when he sang it only months after 9/11/01. And it has meant a lot to me.

This next song was from his 2nd album, Closer. Some songs--including Josh's--it takes me a few times listening to it before it makes a connection. As life moves up and down and in and out, various sings mean different things to me. Some mean more at one point than they do at another. Some catch hold of me forever. This song. It only took one time listening before it reached into my soul and found permanent place.

This next song is also from the 2nd album. This song speaks to me in so many ways and has touched me at different times and for different reasons. Can you imagine having this song start playing in the middle of a breaking heart and floods of tears at the realization that another boy...would not choose you? The song has never been the same for me since. (Remember When it Rained)

As you can see, Josh plays and sings. (Composes, too.) I don't do both together well. But I do love playing this song so much. Power and passion all throughout. And note also that this is from the DVD recording of his AWAKE tour. The city chosen was Salt Lake City. And yes. I was there. (Can't you hear my screaming?)

Speaking of that concert (which was my 2nd concert of his to attend), there is one thing I was highly disappointed about with the recording. I have my own recording of it. Very shaky, very blurry, and very screamy. But my recording has what the DVD did not keep--one of my favoritest ever songs:

I have so many favorite songs in this world. And I have so many favorite Josh songs, too. One top favorite came into my life a couple of months prior to the release of his 3rd album AWAKE. It came at the point I needed most. In fact, this is what I blogged at the time (Oct 2006):

Still a few moments of sadness continued. They weren't just related to my guy situation. Some came from feeling the disheartened and hurting emotions of the surrounding sisters in the ward, and even from some of the brothers, too. Yet things happened during the week that I know were messages from Heavenly Father. These included some of the Conference talks I was reading. And I looked up some past General Authority messages. One thing that stood out to me was Pres. Benson telling young single adult women to "never demean yourself." I have trouble with that, and I need to work on it. Another was so subtle, and kind of funny to take it this way, but I chose to do so. On our ward temple trip, I was confirmed for a woman whose last name was Smiley. Is that not a hint to return to being more cheerful, especially to me--who loves to smile?

But the biggest message came yesterday. I learned that my boy Josh is finally releasing another album on Nov. 7th. Of course, I have put in my order. His website has a clip of one of the new songs. I listened a couple of times (as usual) before I started to hear what he was saying. Something stood out and struck me so deeply. I had to find the lyrics, because it sounded like what he was saying was what Heavenly Father and His Son wanted me to hear. And it was. It's what I've been needing to hear for the last 3 weeks.

The song meant so much, I couldn't keep it to myself. The first person I shared it with happened to be Serene's brother--who immediately turned around and shared it with their mother. See? When something has power and truth like that, you can't keep it to yourself. (Kind of like the Gospel...)

(I couldn't help it. I cried while watching this video again. Its truth never stops. Its beauty and comfort never ceases.)

Then there is the song that makes the movie Polar Express amazing and reminiscent of the magic and wonder that Christmas held for us as children....and maybe as adults, too.

Then there is my Guilty Pleasure. Guilty because is so many ways this musical is terrible--the story, a couple of the songs. But some songs are amazing. And the right voices singing those songs? Incredible. I enjoyed borrowing Chess the Musical in Concert on DVD from Netflix for about a month last year around my birthday. And it was a very, very happy thing.

"Where I Want to Be" - demonstrating some amazing talent on Josh's part

"You and I" - a love song of a forbidden, futile, fruitless, and selfish love that gets stuck in my head for days--especially with Josh and the original Elphaba from Wicked

(for more of that song, you can go to this video. The part that speaks most to me right now is at 1:45 until the chorus)

Oh! And I just have to show this hilarious line--hilarious because it's set to music! Wouldn't I love to sing this about someone once in a while.

"Anthem" - if ever a song was meant for Josh, it's this one. He's been singing it for years. (Josh loves musical theater)

Ah. Chess. What a conflict in my music loving heart. But Josh helped put at least some of it firmly in there somewhere.

So, in all of this video browsing, I came across a new (to me) one! This is the 3rd album title song that many are not as familiar with because it was on the Special Edition album. I love the words to this. Interesting as a duet. Really, uh, interesting rendition.

And if I haven't bored you to liquid Jell-O status, yet, here are just a few more!!!!

The duet with Barbra that I love

A favorite A.L. Webber for me (though Josh has a couple of ehh moments in it)

The "other" song in my early discovery of Josh--this one means so much, too. Years later this would "enter" my life in a completely new way. And again, it would never be the same.

(oh goodness. I just started crying at this one, too.)

For SaraLyn (and Becky if she's watching)

A favorite of SO many

One of my favoritest Christmas songs--to sing and to hear

And he knows not to take himself too seriously

Such a fun song to dance to. (Pardon the clothing in this)

And to save my favorite for last. But my favorite Josh song? Can I call it my very favorite? It feels unfair to so many of the others that I love. Hmmm.... Well, very favorite or not, if my future husband is agreeable, this is the (or a) song I would like to dance with him at our wedding reception. It's just so perfect following our temple sealing. (But why oh why can I never find a clip when it's just him singing it? Oh well.)

A Love Story

Mona at Mona's Musings mentioned writing our own love story, and it put me in mind of this entry I wrote on another blog on August 28, 2008 (Josh Day).

My Josh: A Love Story

I do not like fads. It is a well-known fact about me. I was the girl who refused to fall for the Harry Potter craze and said I wouldn't read the series until all 7 were published. True to my word, I waited until last fall. I resisted reading Twilight for months, until I met the author and was impressed by her speech at the BYU Symposium. Pretty much, I'm very against being a lemming.

In the summer of 2002, I moved home...to work two jobs and recover from an emotionally trying semester. One of the jobs was a library page. I helped close the library most of the weeknights. As I was driving my parents car, I had no music of my own to play. So I settled for the radio. And as nauseating as Delilah is, I liked many of the songs that she played in her evening radio programs. I began to notice on my way home from work--driving in the dark and with my thoughts winding down--this one song was often playing on Delilah's program. I always came in on it in the middle. And never did I hear who it was when the song was over. All I knew was that this voice that was singing was amazing and I knew I had not heard the like of it before--not even in Cleveland Lynch! The song itself was pretty nice, too. It was terrible--I couldn't embrace true fan-dom of this voice because I had no idea who it was! Plus, there was just the one song played over and over. Perhaps it was a one-hit wonder.

I returned to school--where I never listened to the radio--and figured my evenings of hearing The Voice console me were now over. Before the semester started, I was standing in line at the BYU Bookstore when my musically-inclined ear tuned in to the faint music playing over the speaker. In my great and happy surprise, I loudly blurted out loud, "It's him!" But it was a different song! And the woman next to me said, "Oh, yeah. That's Josh Groban. He sang at the Olympics." Four thoughts went through my head:

1. A name! At last!
2. He's real!
3. He's not a one-hit wonder!
4. How in the world did I miss that in the Olympics--I was in the same state!?!?

Well, whatever the shock and surprise and whatnot, I had a name and I knew he sang two songs. And that was all I had to hold in my heart for some time. At Thanksgiving, I had to leave early to make it to the extended family dinner. I hate missing the Macy's Parade. In the...family, that is "Heidi's thing." So I stuck a tape in to film the rest of it to watch later. It was the Spirit prompting, for later that evening as I was watching, the upcoming float was announced and they said "Josh Groban!" I'm sure I squealed. I saw him for the first time. And my four thoughts were:

1. The Voice! In the flesh!
2. He's real!
3. It's "the other song!"
4. He's...really not that cute. Oh well! Who cares with a voice like that?

So, now I had heard the voice, learned the name, and seen the person. Who could ask for anything more? Um. Well, I'm ashamed to say I didn't. But glad to say I didn't settle there. The following Valentine's Day, I went to dinner with a friend...whom I hadn't seen in years. Somehow his name came up in the conversation. This friend worked for Circuit City and said she received free CDs all the time and that name sounded familiar. Needless to say, she gave it to me! No case, no insert, nothing. Just the CD. And it was golden.

My roommate and I became obsessed with the CD! She even went online to download the Songlist for me so I knew what I was listening to. I was not disappointed. I had not chosen wrong in falling in love with The Voice. It was only after I received the CD and came to memorize the thing that I learned this boy had been pretty famous for a while. And stepping back, I could see that he was a fad in his own right. I was immediately grateful that the Lord introduced him to me in a way that I would not immediately "shun" him before giving him a chance.

Why such a blessing? Because it has been Josh's music and its messages that have pulled me through some of the most difficult times in my life. I always heard a song that was just what I needed at that time in my life. Like "You are Loved" when I was feeling so low and forgotten and trodden down. Both SLC concerts came at highly needed times in my life, and were also perfect graduation presents to myself. And, yes, as I have never been ashamed to admit, I wrote to Josh as well. A few times. He was my objective person that I felt a connection to through his music. You may laugh, but I was the one who wrote more than once chastising him for not originally putting SLC on his AWAKE tour. And when the second round came, lo and behold, what city had been added? And what city was chosen for the DVD? Yeah, I know. I probably had nothing to do with any of that. But I at least let my voice be heard.

Well, even in spite of the fad that can be Josh, I soon came to learn that so many had never heard of him! And one of my missions in life became clear: To Spread the Joy of Josh, One Person at a Time. I think I've been getting there. My father is now a huge fan. As is my [aforementioned] roommate.... Overflowed CK with it. Wore Caleb down to it. Probably annoyed the rest of S308 with it. Took Jess on "a date to meet this guy..." And have probably inundated all the blog readers with too much talk of him. In this entry at least. So I'll end.

Look at What I Learned to Do!

I've just learned a nifty thing I can do when embedding a YouTube video: I can start you right at the spot that I want you to see, instead of making you watch the few minutes that are all right, but not what I want you to see right then.

And I just had to try it out!

So I thought I would link you to my absolutely favorite line out of all 3 seasons of my recent Period Drama discovery and hence love.

I had to put the quote before it, too, so you could get it all in context. But my favorite line belongs to (one of my favorite characters) Robert Timmins (he of North & South fame if you've seen that movie).

Oh, so very, very, very true!!!!

P.S. If you keep watching the video, you can see my favorite suitor of Laura Timmons--Fisher Bloom. I believe I shall always say it with a bit of an accent. :-)

AKB Book Club, Moving On

It is most definitely time to move on from our visit with the everlasting Tucks. And we shall most definitely move on to a book that I remember better/have read more recently. I thought we might delve a bit more into the fantasy and visit a world that doesn't exist on this earth. Plus, my good reading friend is going through the whole series (probably will be done with it by tomorrow!), and I know how much some of you other reading friends have enjoyed it.


So, ohhhhhhhh be excited--because I sure am!



My friends,

Welcome to Bayern!

Yep! We're going to read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale for our current selection. Questions will come in a week or two. Enjoy reviewing or re-reading. Or reading for the first time--you're in for a great treat. I'm so thrilled about this one!!!

Tuck Answers, Part 7

14. What do you think about Jesse's offer to Winnie?

It's understandable on his part. But it's also a little "How could you ask that?!" What if she did drink the water and the two of them were not each other's best friend? To doom her to a life of eternity that might not be happiest spent with him? And at the age of 16? Heavens, if you had to drink the water but you had a choice in age, don't make it 16! So I think Jesse's offer was selfish and inconsiderate. Yet again, it was an offer. Not a demand or anything. Just a "think about it."

15. What would you have done if you were Winnie?

Considering that I liked how it ended, I think I would have done as she did. I'm thinking movie here (as I'm not remember the book), but how dare Jesse not return until decades later. If you wanted her to wait for you, you should have come back sooner! In the book, I knew that it was Ma and Pa Tuck who saw the grave, but wasn't that years and years later, too? Just because they have all the time in the world doesn't mean that love--if love was expected and intended--should wait. I don't think love should have to wait. Maybe that's the romantic, tired-of-loneliness self saying that. But even love aside from that of a sweetheart. None of those who should hear and feel your love (like you family) should have to wait for it. They should always be able to know and feel it from us.

16. Any thoughts on that toad?

I still laugh. I thought it was funny as a child. I find it funny now. And ironic.

Austen Heroine Quizzes

All right. It's time this Austen blog did something Austen again. Been a little too long since then, wouldn't you agree. I noticed this on Enchanted Serenity, so I took the quiz to see my results.

Take the Quiz here!

Further description:

You are Anne Elliot of Persuasion! Let's face it; you're easily persuaded, particularly when friends and relatives try to use "the Elliot way" against you. But this doesn't mean that you don't have conviction. Actually, your sense of duty is overwhelming. And though you won't stick your neck out too often, you have learned to speak up when it counts. To boot, you know how to handle sticky situations. You love deeply and constantly.

I love Anne. And Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel. And there are connections I definitely make with Anne. But easily persuaded? Am I? I've never really thought if I am or not. Now some of those questions I could see it was heading toward Anne. But there were a couple that I was a bit back and forth on. So I went back and changed them and got

Take the Quiz here!

You are Marianne Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are impulsive, romantic, impatient, and perhaps a bit too brutally honest. You enjoy romantic poetry and novels, and play the pianoforte beautifully. To boot, your singing voice is captivating. You feel deeply, and love passionately.

What? Not her!!!! Oi. Then I think that these can be hard to answer for myself, because I don't see me as others do. And I'm curious if the results change if others answer.

So what do you think of me?

And, even more fun, what did you get for yourself?

All possible results: Elinor Dashwood,Marianne Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet,Fanny Price, Emma Woodhouse,Catherine Morland, Anne Elliot

And out of curiosity, I found another Austen quiz that was much longer and a bit more interesting. The results were, well, surprising:

You Scored as Elinor Dashwood

As Marianne's older sister, Elinor lives at the other end of the emotional spectrum. She rarely reveals her intense feelings and is more concerned with being honest and loyal than having what she deserves. Even though her intentions are pure, she sets herself up for loss by constantly placing other people before her own needs. Overall, Elinor is gentle and rational but is just as capable of radical emotions (despite her withholding them) as her sister.

Elinor Dashwood

72%

Jane Bennet

66%

Elizabeth Bennet

59%

Emma Woodhouse

53%

Marianne Dashwood

50%

Charlotte Lucas

41%

Lady Catherine

19%

19% Lady Catherine?! I'd like to take offense as that!

What about you?

Tuck Answers, Part 6

11. Did you have any suspicions about the man in the yellow suit?

When I read this as a 5th grader, I don't think I did. I probably didn't have the most suspicious nature. The only reason I don't think I suspected anything is because I forgot about him until I saw the movie adaptation! And then? Yes, the movie made me very suspicious of him.

12. What are your thoughts on living forever?

Well, I do believe in living forever. But not in this life. I believe forever waits for me in the life to come. Which is why, like the Mormonad, I want to be sure I have a friend along the way. But that forever is perfectly fine, because I'll be in a new stage for progression as is not possible in this life.

13. Did the story end the way you expected?

I don't think I had any expectations when I read it as a child. I didn't really want Winnie to live forever, but still wondered what her choice would be.

Tuck Answers, Part 5

9. Have you seen the movie? What were your impressions of the adaptation?

I have seen the movie. I owned it for a time. As a stand-alone movie, I really liked it. It seemed so magical and yet still conveyed the importance that one should not "go against nature." Ben Kingsley did very well as the yellow suit guy. Cissy Spacek was a good Ma Tuck. I'm not the biggest fan of William Hurt in anything, but he was alright as Pa Tuck. I wouldn't have many problems with Alexis Bledel in the movie, if she could just learn to have better posture and close her mouth once in a while. (Kristin Stewart, anyone?) I loved her white dress, though. :-)

Compare it to the book? Oh my word. Winnie was, what, 11? Jesse showed off, yes. Jesse had interest, yes. But only of who she would be in about 5 or 6 year. There was none of...what was happening in the movie going on. It made the book much more innocent and simply a young girl learning the importance of having a life rather than adding the romantic element into it. Of course, that romantic element which is in the movie does make Winnie's decision all the harder.

10. Did you relate to Winnie?

I can't remember her well enough from the book to know if I do. I think parts of me does. I'd have to re-read to know for sure. Same goes with the movie--parts of me relate to Winnie. Other parts, not really.

Tuck Answers, Part 4

7. Would you want to look like you do now when you are 87?

No way. I want the respect people (generally) give people in older age. If I looked as I do now, no one would know I'm old! I don't fear age. Of course, there are plenty of ways I hope I don't end up looking like. But looking 27 when I am 87 and feel older? Nah. I'll pass.

8. What is the role of women in the text?

Winnie is the temptress and the reward in ways where Jesse is concerned. I'll leave you to ponder that. She is also our connection to the discovery of this strange family and the lessons to be learned from them. She helps us learn the importance of being allowed to fly. Winnie's mother is constriction, rules, suffocation, and love given hesitantly. Mrs. Tuck is gentleness, stability, constancy, and freely giving love. Was there a grandmother, or was that the movie? I don't know if this quite answers the question, but that's what came to mind to say.

Tuck Answers, Part 3

5. Have you ever been homesick? How did you feel? Would you have considered Winnie was homesick?

I have most definitely been homesick! In fact, right now I am in a neverending state of homesickness. When one does not know where home is, and/or what to call home, it is hard to feel at home somewhere. You long for what "used to be" or "how things were," but you know they are no longer and can never be again. As Belle in the musical says, "Home should be where the heart is. Never a word so true. My heart's far, far away. Home is, too." Why? Because this isn't my home. This is not where I want to settle and establish myself. "Bloom were ye are planted" yes, but even if that place brings so much heartache? Even when it is so far from family? Even when it is just....hard? The answer to that is "yes" because this is where the Lord currently wants me. So my responsibility is make this place my home and find that homesickness ebb away. Of course, it won't all go away. I believe a tiny part will always stay within for the home that my parents created and raised me in.

As for Winnie? I really didn't think she was homesick for the home she lived in. I think her heart was also far, far away and that when she was with the Tucks, she finally found a place that felt like home. Maybe learning what was missing in her technical home, she knew what to apply and work on to make it her actual home. I guess that's what I'm supposed to be doing, too.

6. Do you find the characters likable? Would you want to meet the characters?

I did like the characters. Loved the Tucks, anyhow. And I would love to meet them. There are so many things I'd like to ask them. I don't want to live forever in this life myself, but I am quite intrigued by all of the things they have observed and experienced. Just think how much knowledge one can gain! I guess perhaps I'll get a chance like that when I hopefully some day meet with John and/or The Three Nephites.

Tuck Answers, Part 2

3. What is your reaction to the Tucks' home? Is it a place you would like to be?

I remember liking the Tucks' home. It seemed, uh, homey. Memory tells me that I thought of it as a place where one could definitely feel love. But it has been so long since I read it that maybe I wrote that into my memories. Well, at least I know I want a home where love abides.

4. Imagine if the story had been at another time or place. How would it be different? What changes would have occurred in the story?

I, too, think that if the story was set in modern day, it would not have worked. Too many people, too much possibility in media, etc. It would not be easily hidden--the whole story, I mean. The Tucks themselves? I think they would have adapted just fine.

Oh, but imagine if this had taken place in Medieval Times? And the Tucks had been around for a couple of centuries already? THAT would be interesting. Or set during the time of witch hunting. Or during Roman times. Wow. What possibilities of how the Tucks would have had to learn to hide from society. But I like where and when it is set. I like the country area, and the turn of the 20th century time period.

(P.S. I'm already thinking that from now on I either should pick books I remember better, or re-read the book!)

Tuck Answers, Part 1

1. What are the conflicts in Tuck Everlasting? Uh, well, there's the whole "Should one live forever in this life?" And the creepy man in the yellow suit--he's a conflict in himself! And there's the stifling nature of Winnie's life.

2. What are some symbols in Tuck Everlasting? I will not answer this question, because it is too like the questions they asked us in school. I haven't read the book in some time, so I can't remember enough to spout off symbology in the book. And as I prefer to just remember the enjoyment I have from the book rather than analyze it for no good purpose and, I....hmmm? What? Oh, sorry. A bit of a diatribe there. Too many bad memories from my school days. You know, I only last minute as a senior in high school chose to be an English major in college because I hated doing just this. But as I should answer something as I run this Book Club, how about the music box? Symbolic of love. Symbolic of how as the music stops, so do all the other lives--except the Tucks.

Tuck Questions!

I'm totally copping out on this round of questions:

-No quotes with each question--sorry my copy is packed up and in another apartment and I didn't want to wait until I could obtain a library copy.

-Many of them based on questions I found.

-Not the most wow or fun questions to answer.

But, there are questions! So in a week I'll begin answering them a couple at a time. Please send along your own responses!

1. What are the conflicts in Tuck Everlasting?

2. What are some symbols in Tuck Everlasting?

3. What is your reaction to the Tucks' home? Is it a place you would like to be?

4. Imagine if the story had been at another time or place. How would it be different? What changes would have occurred in the story?

5. Have you ever been homesick? How did you feel? Would you have considered Winnie was homesick?

6. Do you find the characters likable? Would you want to meet the characters?

7. Would you want to look like you do now when you are 87?

8. What is the role of women in the text?

9. Have you seen the movie? What were your impressions of the adaptation?

10. Did you relate to Winnie?

11. Did you have any suspicions about the man in the yellow suit?

12. What are your thoughts on living forever?

13. Did the story end the way you expected?

14. What do you think about Jesse's offer to Winnie?

15. What would you have done if you were Winnie?

16. Any thoughts on that toad?

Sunshine...on my shoulders!

I've received an award! From my dear, dear friend at Jest Kept Secret. She's totally awesome. You should check her out. I mean, you should check out her blog. (Although if you are male, single, LDS, and awesome, then you should check her out, too!)

Self-Promotional Moment: She, another friend of ours that she also gave this award to, and myself are co-conspirators at The Thursday Chronicles (a guilty pleasure of a blog for me--and I love it!!).

I'm honored (and slightly embarrassed and humbled) to accept

The Sunshine Award

"The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world.”

It's very sweet of her to give this award to me. And very touching to me, as this is the blog that I turned to months ago to help pull me out of the terrible abyss I was in. Focusing on something positive and happy in my life was one thing that got me out. So it means a lot to me that someone else finds this blog positive. Creative? Well, I'm not so sure about that. But I'm grateful just the same!

There are rules, as there always are.

1. Put the logo on your blog and/or within your post.
2. Pass the award on to twelve bloggers.
3. Link to the nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and the link to the person from whom you received this award.

But I must be the spoiler as in all cases. Many of the blogs I read don't really do awards like this. This award is hard to give, as some blogs I read might

1. not be just one person writing on the blog

2. not have direct contact with the readers as with other blogs

3. breach their creativity, style, flow, format, etc by following the blog rules if they were tagged

4. have already received a blog award from me, but then I might include them again because I love their blogs so much and they totally fit the purpose of the Sunshine Award!

However, I tagged some of those anyway! Whether or not they accept the award and/or keep the rules of it don't matter as much to me as sharing these fun blogs with all of you! And so, I move on and magnanimously award The Sunshine Award to these wonderful friends and their blogs:

(in order of who most recently updated their blog as of this post)

1. MBC at Slanted. I've always loved her blog. I especially enjoy it now with all of her amazing, fun, and yet still very real adventures (she lives in Scotland now!). I can't tell you how much I talk to my friends and co-workers about my awesome friend with the life I envy. So I'm glad I can live it vicariously through her blog! :-)

2. Mary at The Sweet Bookshelf. Well, I am a librarian. And I love to see what others are reading--all of the similar and differing viewpoints on books. Or seeing what others read that I am not able to get around to. Or find out about books that I just have to read. Here you go--my dear friend from my youth has one amazing blog that does it all! (And another friend who now lives in Scotland--is this some hint for me?)

3. Christina at Reading Extensively. A blog friend. I love blog friends! So fun to comment, read comments, read posts, etc. and get to know someone I have never met face-to-face. It brings the world a little closer to me. And in Christina's case, it is the reading world. Always interests me what others think of books. Her blog gets me wanting to have a book blog of my own. But I'm reminded of how lazy I am and that my reviews are all on GoodReads anyhow. Her reading challenge sidebars inspired my own (though they are sadly out-of-date).

4. CharleyBrown at Enchanted Serenity Period Films. I love her blog. I can revel in my obsession of period dramas on film, and gain more news and information from her blog than I do anywhere else. Plus, I get to "meet" others who are just as obsessed and don't look at me like I'm crazy. Well, maybe they are looking at me like I'm crazy. But as I can't see it, and they're effusing about how much they love all of it themselves, I'm in good company! Thank you, CharleyBrown!

5. Serene at SereneDesigns. She has some of the best perspective, humor, writing, experiences, talent, creativity, and beauty you could find in just one person. She amazes me over and over, and puts me in awe. She is also very inspiring to me. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have her blog to read in the Blog World of Ours.

6. Mona at Mona's Musings. It was Mona's blog that first inspired me to be more positive (and even a bit creative) in my blog writing. In fact, the 2010 Joy and Gratitude Every Day on my LDS blog is all her doing, though I don't think she ever knew that. Her recently updated blog is awesome and I think everyone can gain the most important positive aspects of their lives from it.

7. Sara Lyn at The Brambler. I love that her blog is positive. A reinforcer of things that are good, lovely, and tender in this world. It's honest, too. Even though she knows there is hardship and trial in this life, she chooses to focus on the bright, happy, uplifting. It takes an amazing strength and best attitude ever to do that. And I've always found that in Sara Lyn--one of my favoritest ever people! (And the one who I think I half write this blog for!)

8. Lynnae at The Little White Attic. A fellow and proud-to-be Janeite enthusiast--I love not feeling alone in the world! This is where I go when I want to see a bit more of the Janeite world than I typically venture into. Because I know I'm obsessed, but I don't have the time to immerse myself in that obsession as I could. So here I get little tastes of it. Don't worry--for my 30th birthday present to me, I will be off to Great Britain where I will include some Austen sites and then my fellow Austen lovers might then agree that I am a true Janeite, too. Until then, I enjoy reading the writing of a truer than true Janeite.

9. SuburbiaMom at Beware of Kids. What can I say? It's all in the family! As my sister is one of my most adored role models ever, it is any wonder that I think anything she does or creates is magnificent? I enjoy her blog because it's a chance for me to see a little more in what occurs in her life. I especially loved when she did her ABCs. That was lots of fun. She helps keep motherhood real for me.

10. Jess at My Log of a Blog. Best Visiting Teacher I've ever had (along with her fellow companion who, well, was the giver of this award to me). Her gentleness, her support, her sweetness, and her strength were things that always pulled me through. Reading her blog reminds me of how much I love her and never could have made it without her!

11. Becky at The World According to Becky. The positivity I find in my friend Becky's blog is her complete honesty with how things are to her. And having been friends and roommates with her, I love her blog even more because it is so her! I love it. I don't always have the time to write my monstrosities of emails (and who has time to read them?!), but I love that I can keep in contact through blogs and comments with some of my good friends. Becky especially.

12. Mindy at Is Anyone Out There???. Mindy makes me laugh like no one else when it comes to her blog. She is definitely what I would call "a cool mom." And her funny experiences never end!

Honorary Recipients:

The staff at PCL Staff Reviews. An entire library staff writing book reviews? I'm in heaven!

Overheard in the Ward. About 75% of the time, I have some of the best laughs from this blog. I love the LDS culture, and I love humans being...human. It all comes together here at this blog and I laugh wholeheartedly at it.

J. Kaye at Home Girl's Book Blog. My inspirer and alerter of all the many Book Challenges you see along the side there. J. Kaye does so much when it comes to books and reading, and it is quite fun and enjoyable.

Freshmen at The First Year. I had so much fun reading this blog over the last 8 months. It reminded me so much of my freshman year, and all of those happy memories helped keep me positive as well as reflecting on how far I've come since then.