Utah atrist combines 2 songs to make YouTube Magic

This is amazing. You may have seen this already but I liked it.

Enjoy!




Cheers Everyone!

Worm

Yesterday I've downloaded a piece from Bach. Violin Concerto in D minor. Well little be known to me, there was a worm stuck to the download. Who know that Bach would come with a worm? I guess he would, I mean he is decomposing. Yes I know very bad pun.

So all day yesterday the computer was being reformatted, to get rid of the worm. Everything was of course lost. On the bright side, the computer works better.

Cheers Everyone!!

Worlds of the Crystal Moon

Crystal Moon by Phillip E. Jones

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
If you take Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Xanth, and Fableheaven, put them together you have this book.

In introduction:

Sam Goodrich, a strong, friendly, dark-haired man with brown eyes, lowered himself to the edge of the bed. He couldn't grasp everything he had just heard. It all weighed on his heart, suffocating his every thought. Even though he was brilliant-studying with some of the best scholars on Earth and surpassing even their Knowledge-he now felt lost, struggling to stay focused.

"How could Earth possibly be destroyed?" he thought. Everything he loved, everything he had worked to build was gone. His family, his friends, and anything he identified with on longer existed.

Insanity rushed in to take control of him. But the firm , gentle and every-so -powerful hands of a god reached out to touch his head and slowly Sam drifted off to sleep.

"Rest My Child, Rest!"

View all my reviews.

You must read all of the forwards, to understand the book. He writes his own mythology, and his own rules a bout the gods, and the worlds they govern.

I get the feeling that the author is Christan, LDS? I don't think so, unless he has some double standard issues. Like I have said before I would not let a 13 year old read this book. this book has lots of violence in it like Lord of the Rings (movie version). This book has mythology in it, like the Greek gods loves to meddle into people lives just for there own amusement, the gods in this book reminds me of Narnia as in animal's are gods also. Like Xanth quest time, to save the worlds or get what they want, in this book "power". Like Fablehaven, Xanth, Narnia it has tons of creatures.

I also had a hard time to discern who is rely good. I felt like the line between good and evil wasn't always clearly drawn. It was very slow, easy reading but very slow story, lots of innuendos that I think didn't need to be in the book if this book was for 13 year old to read. I do think that I would let a 16 year old read it, but I would not make them. It does have bedroom scenes in it but tastefully done, it didn't spell things out, thank heaven. But I don't think that it needed to be there, these scenes did not add to the story, they did not need to be in there.

This suggestion is to parents:

Read this book yourself and then decide for yourself if you think your 13 year old can handle this. You know what I think. But I do think that parents have a responsibility to their children, I know that I'm not a parent, although I'm a second mother to my nephews. I would never let them read this book until they are a least 16 years old.

Have a happy Memorial Day!

Cheers Everyone!!

Research

As some of you know I have been writing a musical about pre Utah, so of course that is Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers. Now if you don't mind I'm going to write a little bit about Utah's history. This is fascinating stuff.

In short the Salt Lake Valley was barren, barren, barren. I think that the only thing that grew here was Brine Shrimp and Sagebrush, along with wild Snap Dragons, and other obnoxious weeds. No one wanted this land, not even the Native Americans. There have been reports from people saying that:

"The Mormons will be lucky if they can grow wheat and corn."

How about this quote by Jim Brigder:

" It was imprudent to bring a large population into the Great Basin until they were sure grain could be grown"

The mountain man's pessimism was such that he offered a $1,000 for the first ear of corn raised in the valley "or the Utah Outlet" (which the Mormons would name the Jordan River). Here is a quote from Brigham Young about this land:

"Until the Latter-day Saint's came here, not a person among all the mountaineers and those who had traveled here, so far as we could learn, believed that an ear of corn would ripen in these valleys. We know that corn and wheat produce abundantly here, and we know that we have an excellent region wherein to rise cattle, horse, and every other kind of domestic animal that we need.......There never has been a land, from the days of Adam until now, that has been blessed more than this land has been blessed by our Farther in Heaven; and it will still be blessed more and more, if we are faithful and humble and thankful to God for the wheat and the corn, the oats, and the fruit, vegetables, the cattle a and everything he bestows upon us, and try to use them for the building up of his Kingdom on the earth." (DBY, pg 483-485)

You see if this Salt Lake Valley was so dry and barren that people believe that nothing could grow here, it would need to blessed by God. And it still is!

Brigham young also said this:

"We have faith, we live by faith; we came to these mountains by faith. We came here, I often say, though to the ears of some the expression my sound rather rude, naked and barefoot, and comparatively this is true." (DBY, pg 481)

This has been seriously fascinating. A long cry from the traditional stories we are told; and yet still the same, but told in a different way. I am however going to try and keep this musical as historically correct as possible. So yes I will need to do much more research, and this will take a lot of time.

Cheers Everyone!!

Seth's up date

Hi everyone I'm doing a much needed up date for my brother Seth.

He is in Indiana for training before he goes off to Afghanistan. He says that it rains a lot there. He is taking Pashtu lessons. That is the language of the Pashtun (sp?) people. From what I gather on what he said, the army learned this language from the MTC (missionary training center). But knowing the army they didn't learn much. So this should be an interesting experience for him and wish him all the luck.

I had no idea who or what the Pashtun people are or where they come from. No offence to any of the Pashtun people. So I googled them. This is what I found out Pashtuns of Afghanistan

Cheers everyone!

Nephews

Mine are so funny. I 'll tell them to wash their faces. To them that is code for, you need to soak your hair down with water. I guess I was speaking some language that is only known to them. I don't know.

We are now stuck in a oven. It's summer time! Bring on the Root beer floats!

Cheers everyone!

Music

OK I did a new musiclist for summer. I have a strange list, everything from Beethoven-Rachmaninoff-Beach boys-Muppet-The monkeys-Jerry Lewis-Frank Sinatra-Judy Garland-Gene Kelly- and so on. Check it out.

I know it's strange. Classical I had to put on there, with the some nerdy stuff, and others that are considered as classic.

Have fun!

Awesome news/Review of Star Trek

I am an aunt again!!!!! Ok I'm not related to them but I have been their friend for over 13 years. So by all counts I'm an aunt. Char had her baby this morning at 2:58 little Ian is 7lb 11oz. I'm so happy for them. Al is on cloud 9. They are going to make the cutest parents!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok last night I broke down and watched Star Trek. It was worth my time, and money. I thought that it was funny, I laughed all though it. I have never thought of myself as a die hard Star Trek fan, but enough to not expect a lot from this movie and hoping that it would not be bad. It was such a surprise for me. After the movie people in the movie theater were clapping, they are very impressed.

The directing, writing, special effects, and computer graphics were good. A long ways from a humble set in a garage. Yes my dear Star Trek fans. The T.V show started in a garage. You know the phrase:

"The sky's the limit."

I also saw the trailer for G.I Joe. It looked like the trailer gave a way the movie. So I don't need to see it now, I feel like I just have.

Friday

It's Friday! In three more hours it will be the weekend for me!!! I am doing my weekend happy dance!

This weekend I'm going to go and see Star Trek, maybe. I have been thinking about waiting until it comes out for rent. I don't want to leave the theater feeling "I have spent this X-amount of money to see this. What a wast." I have thought of that same thing with the latest X.Man, as well as other movies.

I know that a lot of die hard Star Trek fans loved the movie, and gave it great reviews. But I have read and herd others said that it didn't exceed to their expectations.

So should I? Or shouldn't I? You and I will find out soon enough.

Cheers everyone!

The Princess and the Bear

The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars



View all my reviews.


This book had some of the elements of a Germanic fairytale. No surprising, the author has a PHD. in Germanic literature. But still lacking the true Germanic tale. All of the Germanic tale's that I have read are well hmmmm............scary for little kids. Like for when the parents want their son or daughter to stop sucking there thumb. They would tell the tale of a boy who would not stop sucking his thumb and then with gigantic scissors his thumbs were cut off. Here is a picture of the book These tales were written by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in 1845. These tales were design to make the children behave, as sick as they are.

I still had a hard time reading this,(The Princess and the Bear). It is easy reading but still, it was too out there for me. Like for example dead bodies coming to life by the "magic" of animals. One good thing is that the two books that I have read of his are nothing like this German book of tales.

The future of dating

I have been thinking. My head has not explode yet. So I thought that it was safe to do so.

It was about the dating game. The pattern goes with dating that approximately every 10-15 years the seen of dating have changed. Not dramatically of course, but still have changed.

There were arranged marriages. Then the dating seen was dances/parties, under the close supervision of your parents. Then it was close supervision under your parents if you wanted to go for a walk, or a picnic.

These last still happen to day. School dances, parents were not aloud, but still chaperons where there and strict rules were observed. Group dating were all ways advised. Then came the bar seen, going dutch with no chaperons. Single dating, again no chaperons. Now we almost went full circle we are back to group parties, but the slang for it now is called "hanging out". Playing games, watching movies with a lot of people, that sort of thing. All of this with no chaperons.

So what is next? Texting is the new rage. People do it all of the time. So will that replace the traditional dating? The going to dinner, seeing a movie, hanging out, looking at each other face to face with that goofy look. What will the next generation of dating become?

Or are we going to go back full circle, to arranged marriages? As horrifying sounds, it maybe one solution. Singles will get married, with some it will be finely get married. I can't help thinking of Tevye asking Golde if she loved him. Of course the bad side will be divorce will be up.

So why are singles staying single longer? Are women becoming to imitating for men? I know various men have told me that I was imitating. Their reason was that I was too smart. So is that it, women are becoming too smart for men, so they are scared of us?

Sunday the day of confrontations.

Ok the choir director in my ward confronted me, this is how our conversation went.

C.D: "Hollie what do I need to do to get you to come to choir? If I need to tap dance on your door steep, I'll do what I ever it takes. "

Me: "Hmmmm a pregnant woman tap dancing on my door step? No I would feel so bad if you did that." ( can you imagine the mental picture I got? I felt bad, just thinking about that.)

C.D "What do I need to do. Choir starts at 11:00 A.M! How much later does to need to be?"

Me: "Well I have developed this habit. My time is from about 11:00 P.M to about 3:00 A.M. That is when I'll read, watch movies, things like that. So I don't wake up until 11:00."

C.D: (all the while laughing) "that's fine if I need to wait until church next year is at 9:00 A.M and choir will be after church. I'll do that! What ever it takes. "

One hour later my bishop and his second councilor found me in the hall way. Now you know it is bad when the bishop corners you. But when you do see not only your bishop, but one of his councilor's walking to corner you with the same expression on their faces; your life flashes before your eyes looking for some grievous sin that you have not repent of yet. I couldn't think of anything, so I was dead nervous that I had forgotten something.

They both asked me if I would speak in church. I about laughed out loud hysterically, just out of pure relief . This is how the conversation with the three of us went:

B:" We would like you to talk in sacrament on a topic that I know that you will be very good at."

Me: " Oh you mean on how to be bossy?"
(they both laughed)

SC: "You would love that wouldn't you?"

B: "No, but I'm sure you would be good at that. The topic is 'Being good to your fellowmen and Charity', the two are connected." ( yet they are. Read the article by Elder Marvin J. Ashton. "The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword.")

Me: "yes they are."

SC: "She is good, she got it faster then I got it. I had to think about it."

Me: "I gave a lesson on this topic in Relief Society while I was attending the singles ward."

B: "Yes he did had to think about it. I knew she would be good for this. Now all you need to do is take out your notes, and you have it all done."

Me: "No I don't have my notes any longer. When I moved I had to throw things away. It's called cleaning things out."

There is more to the conversation but I won't tell it. But the moral to this story is...........Don't throw out your old lesson's or talks. You might need them one day. My problem is that I'm not a exactly a pack rat. Or become inactive? Nah, I'll stay active. Will I still do the talk? I don't know, I can still say no.

Cheers everyone!!

Stupid printer!

You know sometimes I think that technology is the biggest oxymoron in the world. It is here to make our lives easier/better and the dang thing's stop working in the most inopportune times. What's up with that?





Cheers everyone!!

Music

I went to the music store this afternoon. They had the names in classical violin that I wanted, but not the songs. I was so disappointed. I wanted a song by Korsakov, Mozart, and Paganini. They ether didn't have the arrangement or the song.

I just don't want to do it myself. Yep I am that lazy. I'm just afraid that it will end up as a blunder. I mean these names are some of the masters of music. And I don't want them to be rolling, moaning aground in their graves.

Citrus Cake

I'm putting this up all because of a friend of mine. She loves this cake recipe. It is very light, moist and spongy. It's great for this time of year and summer.

Citrus Cake

1 box of lemon cake mix
1 lemon
1 lime
1 orange
1 Cream cheese frosting container

Method:
Mix the lemon cake using the directions on the back of the box. Let the Cake cool. Put the Lemon, Lime, and Orange zest on a plate. Empty the container of Cream cheese frosting in to a mixing bowl. Now cut the Lemon and Lime in half after you have shaved of the zest. Squeeze one half of Lemon, and one half of Lime into the Cream cheese frosting, mix well. Spread on top of cake after the cake has cooled. Now put the Lemon, Lime, and Orange zest on top of the frosted cake. Enjoy!!

ps: I'll let my secret out. On the lemon cake box it says to use vegetable oil. Don't. This is how to make your box cakes moist, and spongy. Instead of vegetable oil, use olive oil, or coconut oil. I like to use coconut oil. You can find that at the local health nut store.

Have a great day!

Reading while sleeping

I know the title is weird, but I did happen to do that recently. It was a different experience for me.

What happen was that I was reading a fantasy book. I just incorporated the story into my dream. I thought that I was reading, it took me a bit to figured out that it was dream.

I guess that will happen when reading at 3:00 A.M.

How should we use our talents?

We all have different talents. We are all expected to expand, and use them to the fullest. Some have the talent of sports, music, words, and the list will go on.

But recently I have read a blog post from a friend. In short she was questioning herself, if she was using her talent to the best of her ability, and to uplift others. She written a book called the "The Reckoning." I haven't read it but she admits that it doesn't end "happy-ever-after. This book was the reason she started to question herself. For the full post read her blog. Questioning Myself

Now I know that as human being's we love happy-ever-afters. During the great depression, Holly Wood put out a lot of happy-ever-afters. The reason was that it gave people, well one thing, hope for something better, it made them forget what was going on around them, for a time.

As I have mention before I co wrote a 15 min play. It was about pre. Utah. There was a scene within this play that had my young women in pantaloons and pinafores . The costumes were tastefully done. They were modest, and my girls were very comfortable on stage, they felt modest, you couldn't see any thing at all. But still there were people in the audience who felt uncomfortable when they saw these girls in their costumes. I know that you cant please everyone. That is impossible. Was I offended from the feed back? No. Only because my girls were very comfortable.

What gets me is that I have seen plays on a high school stage where teens are wearing less, and doing much more questionable things. There are a lot of LDS people who will not blink an eye at that. But at an LDS church setting, their voices are very loud.

As a director and a writer, finding that balance of proper church standers, and keeping things real, and having things be happily-ever-after, becomes a very delicate balancing act. We want to uplift. We want to show how opposition happen in peoples lives and the very same people over come and rise above that challenge/trial. As the famous saying goes:

"There is opposition in all things." (2 Nephi 2:11 (in the Book Of Mormon))

I don't know anyone who wants to have opposition/trials in their lives. It is natural to want have an easy life, with no trials/oppositions. But with out these hard times we don't grow, learn, and become better people. I myself hate it when hard times come my way. I always fail to ask:

"what should I learn from this?"

I have been though some tough times. Like everyone else, I have seen some of my dreams die. The result of that I have develop some new talents, and learned some new things. The result of this, new dreams started to take root. All of this was good for me.

Become a fan?

Me personally I have a hard time becoming a fan of people. Now I have met a lot of writers on line. Not only on facebook, but on other social networks. I also know that some of those writers read this blog, but I must be honest. People are people, we all have amazing talents that makes us unique and amazing.

Now I am a fan of:

food: You need it to live.
sleeping: You need that to live.
air: I need to breath.
water: Another life giving source.
sun: I love the sun.
music: But I'm just a music junkie.

I know that on my facebook page I have said that I'm a fan of Maria Hathaway's art. That's her art I'm a fan of. Her art work is amazing. So I don't get it; why become a fan of people?

My last up date

My last up date for this blog? No. Sorry to burst some bubbles. Remember you don't need to read this.

My last up date for the road show. We have performed it 3 times on Thursday. In all three building I had sound difficulty. A wire was shorted out, the sound was bad in short. But all in all it our show was good.

After the last show people would stop me and tell me that it was just good and was amazed that my Mother, Andrea Fife and I have written something like that, the music, choreography, everything. They loved it. My co director was excellent. It was great.

Tonight was the last night. And we got an award!

The Award is??? The Best Musical!!!!!!!!

We work so hard. Everything is original for the exception of one song "Turkey in the Straw." That is public domain.