OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD: The Return of The Native by Thomas Hardy

So I was cleaning out from under the big child's bed and I came across the book The Return of The Native by Thomas Hardy.  It was probably a book the big child was supposed to read for class but it looked like it hadn't been read.  It still had the new book smell of glue.  I decided that I was going to try to read it.

I started reading the first few pages which was this long involved description of the heath that I just couldn't concentrate on.  In desperation I tried the experienced reader's trick of opening the book in a few different spots to observe what the text was like there.  I was able to tell that the story picked up a lot better at some point and that I would be able to read it.

First Impressions:

After the long description of the heath the story proceeds by introducing the colorful characters as they walk about this heath.  This sets the scene as a time before cars. Night falls and the characters do not go home but continue walking around the heath for a special holiday where they light a lot of bonfires.  A romantic tryst is made and people spy on each other as they walk up and down in the dark on this heath. Indeed a good portion of the story takes place in the dark and it reminded me of some stories by Shakespeare while at the same time being reminiscent of a few Woody Allen type movies.

There were lots of big words in the book that I hadn't seen or thought of in years!  However, I was delighted to have to concentrate closely to be able to read it and I actually started to enjoy reading the story.

The Plot:

The youngish Clym Yeobright returns to the so called dreary environment of Egdon Heath after living in glamorous Paris.
He sweeps the local beauty off her feet but then they get married and reality sets in for them. Romantic trysts, love triangles, and misunderstandings lead to tragedy.

What it made me remember: 

It made me remember how many things can happen to people emotionally as a result of arguments and/or misunderstandings.

What the Author wanted to say:

I feel the author wanted to say that reality often does not live up to our dreams, goals, and visions due to circumstances as well as other people having other plans.  In Clym Yeobright's case he blamed himself a little too much for things that happened.  He made himself a villain in his own mind. At the same time he proceeded with his goals although they were going to be slightly different from his original goals due to his personal losses.  Also by revealing the characters strengths as well as their weaknesses none of the characters came off as being more of a villain or heroine then any other. Everyone's faults were involved in the tragedy as the characters stories were intertwined.

Practical life applications:

1.  Don't go out and wander around heaths in the middle of the night during a rainstorm when you are emotionally distraught.  Stay home instead.

2.  Don't spend too much time dwelling about what if's in life.

3.  Wait a situation out a trifle longer instead of giving up because good news may have been delayed or may come in a "letter" soon.

Thomas Hardy is also the author of Tess of The D'Urbervilles among other books, stories and poems.  I had read Tess of The D'Urbervilles a couple of decades ago but didn't remember the author's name from then. 

The Return of The Native was originally published in the year 1878.  I read the Dover Thrift Edition published in 2003.  The story is set in the years between 1840 and 1850. 

Now it's time to find the movie!

ONWARD: Sunday Stealing, Part Two

SUNDAY STEALING is a blog that hosts a meme every weekend that bloggers can participate in for fun and finding new blogs.  SUNDAY STEALING originated on WTIT:  The Blog by Bud Weiser.  This week's meme was taken from the blog DO THESE SHOES MATCH THIS PURSE? which is authored by Maggie.  No one knows where Maggie got this meme but the name of the meme is The Weird Question Meme.  For myself. I am learning that all memes could just all be retitled to something like, "The Highly Irritating Personal Question Meme."!  I have to admit that last week I left out the questions I did not care for...!

Here we go! The Weird Question Meme, Part Two

What is your ring size? Not what it should be.

How often do you wear jewelry? Almost daily.

When was the last time you consumed alcohol? Over 21 years ago,

Any big plans for the summer?  Lots of changes for this summer.

Do you prefer broccoli or asparagus?  I can't remember what asparagus tastes like.

What color are your bedroom walls?  Off-white.

Which Star Wars movie is your favorite?  None

How about Harry Potter?  What about him?

What was the last movie you saw in theaters? I don't remember!

Did you get popcorn or candy? Both

What is the most romantic text in your inbox? Spam

What is your favorite kind of hat to wear? Hat????

Have you ever played miniature golf on a date? Yes.

What's a phrase you overuse?  The word OK.

Do you always use good grammar?  I ain't perfect.

Do you have an accent or a speech impediment? That would be a yes.

What did you eat today? Nothing. Yet.

What do you do at work?  Read, talk, data entry, laugh, smile.

Do you know the rules to any sports?  Basketball! We got the basketball going on in Kentucky! Shout out to the U of L Cardinals that won the final four this year!

Do you pray?  Unceasingly.

To whom do you pray? "There's No God Like Jehovah."

What is the closest mountain to your house? I don't rightly know.

What do you need to do tomorrow?  Father's Day and Birthday Celebration otherwise known as Sunday Dinner.

Ta Da! We made it through the weird question meme. If you would like to participate in memes from SUNDAY STEALING go to www.sundaystealing.blogspot.com

All meme material and all images used are from www.sundaystealing.blogspot.com

ONWARD: Sunday Stealing

    

Participating in Memes is a great way to come across blogs by interesting people that you might not find other wise. Sunday Stealing is a blog that posts a meme every weekend that was taken from another blog and modified.

This weeks Meme was taken from the blog DO THESE SHOES MATCH THIS PURSE?  To participate in Sunday Stealing memes go to www.sundaystealing.blogspot.com

Here we go!  "The Weird Question Meme, Part One"


Do you wear slippers?    No, I always forget to wear them. However, socks are in order.

How many pictures are in your living room? Technically there are two pictures in my living room, although one of them is in a corner on the floor.

Do you watch Brady Bunch reruns? Through the years I have watched so many Brady Bunch reruns that I feel like I was actually there!  And in essence I was there as I remember watching The Brady Bunch way back when it was on in prime time on Friday nights.  I am thinking prime time on Friday nights when I was six years old was The Brady Bunch followed by the show Bewitched, and following that was good ole Room 222.

Are you allergic to anything?  I took allergy shots as a child for about ten years.  My allergies are under control enough that I can largely ignore them the majority of the time.

When was the last time you called in sick?  Two weeks ago.

Have you ever been in a car accident?  Only minor car accidents.

What is you favorite snack food?  chips  and dips, etc!

Have you ever seen a tornado?  I have never actually seen a tornado, but I  HEARD a tornado when our town had one  several years ago.  I was busy repenting and praying in the basement!  We didn't have electricity for several days and several houses in our neighborhood where flattened.  However, on the actual street that I lived on it didn't appear afterwards that the least little thing had been blown over. Everything was in total order.

If you won a million dollars what would you buy first?  Dinner

Do you think it's cool to wear flip flop?  No, I do not think it is cool to wear flip flops! Flip flops are a pet peeve to me!  To me, flip flops fail to qualify as real shoes as they don't protect the feet from anything.  I also do not feel they are safe for kids to wear as they can't run in them and it is too easy to get unbalanced in the yard wearing them.

How many pairs of shoes do you own?  I own lots of shoes but I have a bad habit of only wearing one pair of shoes for several months.

Do you think you are a hypochondriac? No, I am not a hypochondriac but I often get sympathy symptoms when listening to someone describe their aches and pains,

Do you own a dictionary? I do not currently own a dictionary, but I do often consult Urban Dictionary online.

Where was the last place you went on Vacation? Um, I went to New Orleans about 13 years ago. 

Do you talk about your friends behind their back? Only to my mom or child.

Does your kitchen have a theme?  In the kitchen I have mostly  shades of light blue and white. There is a picture of a nephew, and a picture of my grandmother; they are both wearing blue shirts in their pictures. A collection of cherub and angel knickknacks are on the hutch and window sill.

...more to come.

  
photo images from www.sundaystealing.blogspot.com.
meme material from the same.

ONWARD: Simple Woman's Daybook, Entry IV

For Today 4/28/2013

Outside my window it is a quiet Sunday morning that for now appears gray and wet.

 

I am thinking...about the week and what I need to get done.

 

I am thankful ...for days off to do what I want with.

 

In the Kitchen there are things like Seapak shrimp and Stouffer's casseroles. To me those two brands are restaurant quality foods. I bought them on sale, of course, as well as using coupons.

 

I am wearing a blue flowered shirt with a mandarin collar with a black tank top underneath, and jeans.

 

I am creating to-do lists. But then that is not anything new!

 

I am going to try and get some errands done today and tomorrow that will help me free up the rest of the week. That includes getting house work done.  There are mother's day gifts to buy, birthday gifts to buy, and coupons to help buy them with.

 

I am wondering...about the atheist mindset that is saying most bad things happening currently in America are due to religion.  I am not an atheist so the gist of the argument to me is that without God or religion there would be no good or evil, no wrong or right. Without God and religion crimes such as murder, rape, stealing, etc. would not be wrong. So if a crime happened and there was no good or evil to put it into context with, then it would no longer be a crime, but merely just an occurrence that happened.

 

I am hoping...that I will be able to utilize the message that my Uncle Frank arranged to have spoken at his funeral a few years ago. He was a school principal and author, and he wanted to tell people how important it is to not be afraid to use their talents.

 

I am looking forward to...simple things like reading the Sunday paper and baking brownies,  Maybe I should say eating brownies!

 

I am learning...a lot about myself.

 

Around the house...I have been cleaning out the big child's room.  I have given away lots of clothes that were not being used to friends and relatives. I have been trying to not waste things and get the full value from all of our resources.

 

I am pondering...seeing so many abandoned blogs!  I think one reason so many people stop blogging is because so often only negativity or drama gets comments or attention.

 

I am reading...ROSES, a novel by Leila Meacham who is an author from Texas.  I am just starting it today. It is supposed to be a story comparable to GONE WITH THE WIND. 

 

I also just watched a movie on Netflix based on a book by Henry James entitled The Golden Bowl.  The movie has lots of stars in it like Uma Thurman and Nick Nolte. 

 

One of my favorite things...is seeing so many family centered blogs as well as child oriented families. 

 

A favorite quote for today is a motto for the children at a church we used to attend:

 

Make the Wise Choice

 

A few plans for the rest of the week include writing, going to work, and lots of day dreaming.

 

A picture thought for this week:

 

 

 

 

Hook up with Peggy Hostetler at the Simple Woman's Daybook http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

image credits go to thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com and to pinterest.

 

 

 

ONWARD: Simple Woman's Daybook Entry 3

For Today March 15, 2013   ...Outside my window it is dark.  I usually write late at night, although ideas run through my mind all times of day.

I am thinking...of twenty years ago today when my nephew Chris was born. I had checked into the hospital myself having an extreme case of bronchitis as well as being almost 8 months pregnant and when I got there Chris had already been born.  The nurses told me how well my sister had done in delivery and told me my sister wanted me to see her baby.  So I walked a few doors down and peeked in their hospital room to see him, as I was sick and not sure if I should get very close to them. Now twenty years later my nephew just graduated from basic training for the Army Reserves this week.  He is also a college student and writes all kinds of prose and poetry as well as aspiring to be a "preacher".

 

I am thankful...for the opportunities our youth of today have to pursue their educations.  As I have been told, education is something a person can have that can never be taken away from them by anybody.

 

In the kitchen...I have an odd assortment of processed foods and canned goods as I have not been able to resist using some of the great coupons being put out there by companies.  However, I am learning that pop tarts coming in means pop tarts are going out just as quickly!

 

I am wearing...a new, blue, button up shirt made out of t-shirt material with a pair of black pants.

 

I am creating...birthday present plans for relatives that involve health and beauty aides as well as using up these awesome coupons I have been finding.

 

I am going ...to work tomorrow for a little while.

 

I am wondering...what is coming up soon in the field of technology.  Technology is changing so fast.  I am still amazed at the GPS Systems. How in the world can a little box know exactly what spot we are on in this whole big earth?

 

I am reading...very little here lately.  I have developed a bad case of Netflix jones. Netflix is another technology form that is amazing to me. Indeed the Internet and all it's many activities available to participate in means THE POWER TO NEVER BE BORED.

 

I am hoping...the youth of today can overcome missing out on never having to be bored.  No time spent just sitting and staring out at the clouds for them! At least they hope not...

 

I am looking forward to ...a time when I know more about my digital camera and when I will know more about downloading pictures for blogging purposes.

 

I am learning...more about being humble and the "human condition" every day. I have a lot of quotes and bible verses on this blog but it is not because I am trying to be better then everyone else. The quotes are simply to encourage myself as well as others.

 

Around the house...I have Glade scented candles burning. The relatives don't deserve to have all of the treats I've been buying with my coupons do they?

 

I am pondering...the new chapters in my life that appear to be starting in my life this year. It could be the new chapters started awhile back and I have just been putting off realizing the actuality of it.

 

A favorite quote for today comes from a motto of a high school in Clarksville, Tennessee:

THE LIFE LONG LEARNERS

 

One of my favorite things...are people like Kentucky author, Vanessa Harris.  In spite of living in a small town and having another job she has pressed on with her goals and has had her third book published.  I am glad to see someone following their dreams!  Her books are available at amazon.com

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...include visiting my grandmother and parents.

 

A peek into my day...is this book cover from Vanessa Harris's book "PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH". 

 

 

Warning: Sexual Content, Sin and Redemption Christian content also.

 

book jacket photo: isurfhopkins.com

 

To partipate in THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAY BOOK hook up with Peggy Hostetler at simplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

ONWARD: Encouragement by the Book

Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.__Proverbs 4:25 HCSB

The Bible is one of the most widely quoted books in the world.  Look for new verses you have never noticed for encouragement...or go back to the verses and promises that are well known and loved.

 

 

{Because of} the Lord's faithful love we do not perish; for his mercies never end.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.__Lamentations 3:22, 23 HCSB

 

SOURCES: HOLMAN CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE, PHOTOS: PINTEREST.COM AND FREEDIGITALPHOTOS.NET

 

 

 

ONWARD: You Might Be In Kentucky

If there are deer in your yard even tho you live in town, then you might be in Kentucky.

If you drive the long way to work in order to avoid places where deer cross the road, then you might be in Kentucky.

If you or a family member has ever hit a deer while driving a car, then you might be in Kentucky.

If you know what burgoo is, then you might be in Kentucky!

If your family has barbecue or fried chicken on almost every special occasion except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, then you might be in Kentucky.

If around half of your relatives for three consecutive generations have had to leave the state in order to make a living, then you might be in Kentucky.

If you can go about town for a week and only have to spend a little pocket change, then you might be in Kentucky.

If you know what the letters LBL stand for, then you might be in Kentucky.

If you are not exactly sure what a blog even is, then you might be in Kentucky!

If your great-grandmother tells you that she is 1st cousins with your girlfriend's great-grandfather, then you might be in Kentucky.

If your husband stays out all night and tells you he was fishing, then you might be in Kentucky!

If you wouldn't ever spend $40,000 on a watch even if you COULD afford it, then you might be in Kentucky.

If you know what the phrase living in "God's Country" means, then you might be  in Kentucky.

Thanks y'all!

Photos taken at Venture River located in Eddyville, Kentucky.