StoneRose Valley My Thoughts, Expressions, and Passions

I had a lot to say; rather like venting I suppose. Not so much anymore…guess that’s what time gives you.

I’ve been thinking of a movie quote quite a lot today.
I watched “Breach” with my brothers earlier this week. It’s based on a true story, so this characters words may have been spoken by a real, genuine, person back in 2001. At one point in the film, Eric O’Neill, mentioning a discussion he’d had with his wife in which she asked him why his boss was such a pain to be around, tells Hanssen “I had all these answers for her. ‘He’s misunderstood.’ ‘He’s trying to fix the bureau and no one will listen.’ ‘He was born in the wrong century.’ ‘His father’s a jerk.’ I got a whole list.
But you know something Sir, at the end of the day it’s all cr-p. You ARE who you are. The why doesn’t mean a thing does it?”

Yeah, we all have these excuses for why we act as we do. Or to rationalize away why someone we love can just make us feel like dirt all the time. Often we try to rationalize that because we don’t want to face the truth and hurt that that someone, when it comes right down to it, really doesn’t care enough to make a change.

Hey, but leave off everyone else here. Forget about those people who you can’t explain. Think about yourself. Do you have excuses for your behavior? Do others make excuses for you?

“It is not what we say or feel that makes us who we are. It is what we do; or fail to do.”
Marianne Dashwood, in Andrew Davies adaption of Sense & Sensibility

I can’t help feeling that there is something more, that I have a chance for something greater. To rise above the petty why. Not to allow myself to define myself; to make excuses for why I do what I do. Not by my feelings, my words, my status in life. Not by what others around me say or do, and why they do it.  No, but defined by what I choose to do, or that which I fail in.

Because, in the end, the why doesn’t mean a thing, does it?

Posted under Life Thoughts, Living, Polls, Quotes, Uncategorized

Need a little humor in your day? No problem; Jane’s got you covered! From her early works; I almost feel as though she were speaking of myself! Haha! No, indeed, if only I could but jest so, and not have to find empathy with Jane’s sometimes morbid sense of humor.

“Alas! How altered now! Tho’ indeed my own Misfortunes do not make less impression on me than they ever did, yet now I never feel for those of an other. My accomplishments too, begin to fade–I can neither sing so well nor dance so gracefully as I once did–and I have entirely forgot the Minuet Dela Cour.”

Laura to Marrianne
Jane Austen

Posted under Jane Austen, Quotes

I’ve been staring at this screen for an indefinite amount of time, thinking that if I stare long and hard enough, whatever I want on here will write itself. Hasn’t happened so far; maybe it’s time I took some action.

You know that thing about simplicity? Nah, I don’t need it. I love having my life swirl around as if in a hurricane! And remember that other thing about only 9 hours of school? Who wants 9 when you can have 12?! I’m insane.

I feel the need for a little Jane Austen, just to keep things in perspective.

“As I do not choose to have generosity dictated to me, I shall not resolve on giving my cabinet to Anna till the first thought of it has been my own.” Jane Austen, in a letter to her sister, Cassandra.

Posted under Jane Austen, Quotes, Sarcasm, School, Simplicity, Sisters

“You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve.” Jane Austen, in a letter to her sister, Cassandra.

Well, I thought about updating Handmaidens tonight…but….I don’t really feel like I have anything to share along those lines at this time…so I didn’t.

I’m so happy to have a kitchen sink finally!!! The only problem is…I’m not home. Not using my own computer. Not using my own internet provider. I’m using a totally different computer and internet connection. So that means the faulty(disappearing) kitchen sink is a by-product of my filter. I won’t call it any names tonight. But I dislike it immensely. I hope we get another server soon.

So, I thought I should update my blog while I had the chance. But the only things that come to my mind are so mundane, it would bore you to sleep if I went into detail. Instead, I decided to spare you. You can thank me later.

I missed Cranford tonight…but my brother was going to tape it for me, so maybe I’ll watch it tomorrow evening. A friend called, ecstatic about it; but I made her tell me nothing-actually, I practically threatened her-as I am one of those annoying people who like to actually see the movie without knowing the whole story line, who dies, or what happens at the end. A shocker, I know-I mean, who in their right mind is like that now? Fifteen years ago, perhaps; but now?! Crazy!
Realizing this post is just full of sarcasm…a deadly, and highly contagious disease…I believe that it may be owing to sleep deprivation…another highly contagious, and rapidly spreading in the United States, disease. You see, when in the midst of stage two of SDD (Sleep Deprivation Disease), your mind overcompensates for the lack of rationality by replacing it with ridiculousness…sometimes coupled with sarcasm, for those of us who are already prone to SD (just plain ole’ Sarcasm Disease). This can be an awful thing for others to witness; as you are probably thinking at this very moment.

So, I’ll spare you further rantings, and sign off now. Thanks for listening!

Posted under Jane Austen, Life Thoughts, Quotes, Sarcasm, Sisters

“I think I may boast myself to be, with all possible vanity, the most unlearned and uninformed female who ever dared to be an authoress.” Jane Austen, to a clergyman who wanted her to write the history of a German royal house.

Who wouldn’t love to claim the words of the famous Jane Austen? Except for perhaps those words. But I *flatter* myself that there are occasions (sometimes quite frequently) that I can quite definitely claim those words for myself. That’s the only good thing I can say about it; that the words first came from Miss Austen. After that, there really is no pride to be had in the matter. I am often a very unlearned and uninformed female (who also dares to be an authoress).

Though, I must say, I have discovered some benefits to being ignorant. But not overly so; I would never wish to be a “blond”. But who wants to be around someone who always knows everything? Not me. It can get very tiring, very fast. I’m learning to say, ”I don’t know” and ”can you tell me what this is?”. It’s a very humbling experience, but very freeing. If you’ve met me, you probably know I’m one of those people who think they should know the answer to everything, and somehow feel they’ve failed if they don’t. Not neccesarily the truth. Jane Austen has some wonderful insights for those who wish to find them. Many of us could learn by her example.

Posted under Jane Austen, Life Thoughts, Quotes

“I will not say that your mulberry trees are dead, but I am afraid they are not alive.” Jane Austen, in a letter to her sister, Cassandra

I love reading the, albeit meager, correspondence between Jane and Cassandra. It reminds me of the relationship between my own sisters and me. This is exactly one of the many sarcastic, dry attempts at humour that come out of one of the four of us!

What a great blessing it is to have sisters! And twice the blessing to be best friends! I have met many girls who cannot stand their sisters; and it always makes me sad. What wonderful happiness they are missing out on! They do not enjoy the companionship of sisters trekking through pastures and woods, streams and meadows. Of shopping together, being as goofy as possible, trying on a million different outfits (or in some cases, forcing a sister to try them on with you!). Of lying awake into the early hours of the morning, either laughing, or expounding on beliefs and theories; ‘philosophying’ as sis’ Christi and I like to call it.
I have been separated from my own sisters for more than a week now; and I miss them terribly. I cannot wait to get back to them; share all our ups and downs of the past week; our joys and sorrows; our successes, and our laughable failures!

My sisters, my best friends; I love and miss you. I look forward to the time we can once more do all these things together!

Posted under Jane Austen, Life Thoughts, Quotes, Sisters

“No one can think more highly of the understanding of women than I do…nature has given them so much, that they never find it necessary to use more than half.” Henry Tilney, Northanger Abbey

No, I am not reading Northanger Abbey at this time; I have a book of quotes taken from Jane Austen’s works, and am putting it to good use. Henry Tilney is quickly becoming one of my favorite male characters from Miss Austen’s masterpieces; and he has easily made it into my top quoted.

I love the above quote; and can just see his smiling face as Henry teases Catherine.

Posted under Jane Austen, Quotes

“I should no more lay it down as a general rule that women write better letters than men, than that they sing better duets, or draw better landscapes. In every power, of which taste is the foundation, excellence is pretty fairly divided between the sexes.” Henry Tilney: Northanger Abbey

Why do we insist, as women, that we are superior to men? That we can do anything they can, and better?

Why can we not recognize that we have different functions, capabilities, and strengths?

One of the beauties of womanhood is fragility. And in that fragility, is found strength to match none.

Posted under Jane Austen, Life Thoughts, Quotes