Alternative Disney

Day 7 of the July Everyday Geek Challenge! Today's prompt is favorite fanart. :) Don't forget to check out Dia's blog!

I love fanart....as anyone who follows me on pinterest probably knows. Lately, though, I've been especially getting into the punk, alternative, and rockabilly side of Disney. It's just too fun! I'm going to keep it pretty light on the words today and just get straight to the images.

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Anywho, sorry for the super short post! I share more fanart in an ancient post here.

Happy Tuesday! xoxo

Why I Hate Frozen

Day 6 of the July Everyday Geek Challenge! Today's prompt is why I hate Frozen:

Hello, my name is Gillian, I swear I'm a (mostly) normal person, and I hate Frozen.

Like, no really. It's painful.

And I could write a very, very long post about it. But this video covers pretty much everything.

My two beefs fall into two, broad ares:

Their complete dropping of the plot;

AND

The strong female character thing (hold that thought).

About the plot. I like the concept....having two sisters as main characters is awesome and unusual. But everything else is just confusing. So, Elsa has the magical powers to freeze things. Okay. Why did she apparently be able to control it early on? And why did it have to be hidden from Anna at all? And HOW did she learn to control it?

Who is the short little squirrel-y guy? Why wasn't he the villain? WHO ARE THE FREAKING ROCK LOVE EXPERTS???

Not to mention the fact that, after finding out Hans is evil, the entire movie nose dives to the end without wrapping anything up, and completely ignores a little thing called character development.

Anywhoooooo.

Now, the strong female character thing.

I understand the whole 'make good examples for our girls!' thing. I do...it's important. But:

A.) why just girls? Why can't we make strong characters that guys and girls can relate to? Newsflash: you can learn valuable lessons from the opposite gender.

B.) Everyone keeps messing up the strong female character movement, so it's back firing.

We've turned strong female character into an obligatory role...a quota to be reached. We've become so focused on making sure those strong female characters aren't ultra girly, or skinny, or end up with a guy, that we've created a new stereotype. Strong female characters are tomboys. They usually snub the guy at first. And they can kick their butt.

It's turned into another cliche. And, I'm sorry...a strong female is not a cliche.

Strong female characters (and, you know, strong women in general):

-CAN be tomboys.
-CAN be feminine.
-CAN be single.
-CAN end up with a guy.

For me, the only must-haves for a strong female character are:

-That she's smart. As in not a ditz. She can make mistakes, but please don't make her a ditz.
-She's KIND. She can absolutely be sassy. But she must be kind.
-She must know herself. Her wants and not-wants. Or at least, be looking for them and trying her hardest to always follow heart and head.

She doesn't have to have everything together. She doesn't have to be a totally, always confident person. She doesn't even have to beat the boys at everything. She just has to be in control of herself and her life, and do it with a kind heart.

Elsa keeps getting so much praise for being a strong female character. And, frankly...she's not.

An argument for her is that that's the point. That (finally!) Disney has made a movie where the heroine struggles with inner struggles, self doubt, fear, loneliness. And I will agree with you that those are awesome, important themes to have in movies. And I totally agree with you that strong female characters can still struggle with those.

But it's not real. It's all so fake, and cliche. Not believable. Not relate-able. And certainly not helpful to younger girls looking for answers, if that was their goal.

Happy Monday! xoxo

What Classics Give Us

Day 5 of the July Everyday Geek Challenge! Today our prompt is 'why the classics aren't just for school'. Don't forget to read Dia's post!

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I was never a kid to shy away from classics.

The first classic my mum read to me was probably The Hobbit. Since reading was a huge part of our homeschooling, we went on to read lots of classics in my grade school years. Sometimes we considered them 'lit reads', like Frankenstein.or The Indian in the Cupboard. Other times, we considered them 'history' reads, like Rifles for Watie or Johnny Tremain.

In upper grade school, I was assigned lit readings, but usually they didn't look that different from what I read normally. For school I read Jane Eyre. On my own I read Anne of Green Gables (and the rest of the series). In high school I took an in-person literature class, where we read everything from Shakespeare to Austen to Homer.

In summers, on my own, and now that I've graduated, I've never considered not reading a classic because it was long/hard/for 'smart people. I grew up reading many classics before I was 'ready' for them...but it was that fact that grew my understanding of literature.

I love classics for many reasons, but one of the chief ones has to be the humanity of it all. To connect with a fictional character....written 200 years ago...and completely understand what they're feeling...is amazing, to say the least. Classics will always be relevant to our lives because of that connection. Style changes. Words change. Situations change. But people--really--never do.

Humanity has always dealt with poverty. And striving for success.

Humanity has always dealt with love--falling in, falling out, unrequited love and undeserved love.

Humanity has always asked questions that no one could answer. Humanity has always lived with regrets. Felt alone. Felt scared. Felt joy. Had rare, beautiful moments of connection and complete understanding with one another. Humanity has always been flawed, sad, and beautiful and the classics remind us of that.

The classics are important. They give us a look at what life was really like. They improve our vocabulary. They allow us to analyze. But mostly, they allow us to connect. With real people who wrote out a story people still read today. With fictional characters who don't always fully realize aren't real. And with our peers...whether that's over coffee, or in class.

I'm in the mood for an Austen novel.

What do you think of the classics? Share your thoughts in a comment, blog, or on instagram, twitter, and tumblr using the hashtag #everydaygeekjuly. Tomorrow, our prompt will be 'why I hate Frozen'. Specific, I know. Thanks for reading!

Happy Sunday! xoxo

7 Ways to Let Your Geeky Side Shine Everyday

Day 4 of the July Everyday Geek Challenge! Today's prompt is 'everyday geekyness'. Don't forget to stop by Dia's blog to check out her posts!

Ridiculously blurry photo, but this is me dressed up as Rosie and AJ has a Red Shirt from Star Trek.

True geeks know that geekyness is not defined by the 'big things'. How many cons you attend, how many facts you know, and the amount of time you spend reading/watching/stalking a particular fandom. Rather, geekyness is defined by the sheer amount of joy you get from your fandom.

And because we all need more joy in our lives, here are some of my favorite ways to add a dash of geeky to your day-to-day. Some are subtle, some are loud, but all are guaranteed to lift your spirits and show your obsessive side!

01: Wear a geeky t-shirt.

02: Carve time into your busy day for reading. Bonus points if you use that time to pick up an old favorite.

03: Post quotes from your favorite fandoms on facebook, tumblr, or just on sticky notes on your mirror.

04: Take something you need, and give it a geeky twist. I love the ewok hoods Dia's been making...so fun, and warm too!

05: Make your next friend get together a movie marathon. Lord of the Rings, anyone?

06: Go 'behind the scenes' of your favorite fandom. I recently read Creativity Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspirationby Ed Catmull, which goes into the history and creative process of Pixar. Learning about the inner workings just made me love Pixar more (it also made me insanely excited for Inside Out...).

07: Don't be afraid to use too many references. Sometimes, I get into a tailspin of referencing a particular show three times a sentence...but is that really a bad thing?

How do you show your geeky side everyday? Are you more loud, or subtle? Chime in the comments, on your blog, or on twitter, tumblr, and instagram using the hashtag #everydaygeekjuly. And don't forget to stop by tomorrow for Day 5, 'why classics aren't just for school.' Thanks for reading!

Happy 4th! xoxo

A Book For Every Chapter

Punny title game going strong! It's Day 3 of the July Everyday Geek Challenge! Today we're talking about the different books that have had major impact, or even just been favorites, over different parts of our lives. Don't forget to read Dia's post!

I don't remember how I learned to read. Mostly, I think, because I have no memory of a time before reading was a huge part of our lives. My parents, especially Mum, always read to us. Me reading on my own happened organically and as a way to just devour more books. But even when I was reading a lot independently, we always had a family book going. Sometimes it was a classic, or historical fiction and related to our schoolwork. Other times, it was pure fun. We would read for 3+ hours a day when I was little. I couldn't even guess I many books we read as a grade schooler, but here are some I've always remembered:

Fun With Dick And Jane by Pearson Scott Foresman. One of the earliest picture books read to me by my parents. By default, one of the first books I read myself. And the book I taught my cousin to read with.

Frog and Toad  and Owl At Home by Arnold Lobel. Both make the list of books checked out of the library nearly every week. Sweet, kind stories about the little things in life. And reading them older, tearjerkers (tear water tea, anyone?).

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. The first of our 'big' books, and definitely the most beloved. I don't know how many times we've re-read The Hobbit, but I know I/we've read The Fellowship of the Ring at least five times, The Two Towers 3-4, and The Return of the King twice.

From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. Road trip audiobook of choice, eight years strong. As kids, we always loved this book because Claudia and Jamie are sooo AJ and I. Only thing is, we have to have the audiobook. So much better with the voices.

Throughout high school, through now, I've dipped in and out of lots of genres. Classics have always been a major point in what I read, but the past couple years I've started to love genres I previously never gave chances to, like contemporary and non-fiction. Here are some memorable books as a young adult:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. No shame, I count myself among the Lizzy-worshippers and Darcy obsessed. But with good reason! If there's one heroine to base your life around, it should be Lizzy.

Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence. Yes, an author's biography might be a slightly strange addition to this list, but this book really was impact-full to me. I finished feeling so much respect for Jane...and with an intense desire to be as independent, quick, and individual. Her life story really is a great lesson in loyalty, doing what's right even when it's hard, and always following your heart.

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham. Originally read in my quest for classy chick-lit, this book has become my life story in my head. Our heroine, Franny, is living in NYC as a struggling actress (it's not as corny as it sounds!). This book follows her ups and downs as she works hard, and doubts, and questions everything about herself, and figures out what love is. SO MUCH of what I've felt concerning skating and the legitimate-ness of doing it as a career was echoed in this book. And because of that it's been a huge encouragement.

Oscar Wilde said, "What you read when you don't have to determines what you will be when you can't help it." Words have power. And I am so blessed to have been shaped by books.

What books have been influential in your life? Share your thoughts in a blog post, comment, or on tumblr, instagram, or twitter using the hashtat #everydaygeekjuly. And don't forget to stop by tomorrow for Day 4, Everyday Geekyness.

Happy Friday! xoxo

Friends Are People You Dress Up With, Apparently

Day 2 of the July Everyday Geek Challenge! Today's prompt is Geeky Friendship Memories. Don't forget to check out Dia's blog!

Growing up part of a pretty geeky community, it's not surprising that some of my favorite memories with friends have had plenty of geeky connections.  Lord of the Rings was my first fandom love, and for years that meant AJ and I played 'ongoing games' where we created characters and had to act like them every. Single. Day. 

I was always a hobbit named Rosie (who eventually grew up to marry Sam. Duh), who worked at The Green Dragon (the kitchen) and occasionally went on adventures with Legolas (my brother) through the woods. Proudly sporting our polyester capes, we would go on adventures (walks with Grandma) while dodging black riders (any car), and coming home with a large collection of walking sticks.

We had similar games on rotation through most of our under-10 years, with some variations but generally the same. For a very brief time we switched over to Narnia, and then had a phase of pretending the house was Hogwarts. Our bath 'robes' become our school uniforms, and doing science meant doing 'potions class', while history was usually 'muggle studies'. 

In the end, though, we always went back to our familiar and beloved Middle Earth. AJ and I even went as Legolas and Gimli for Halloween once.

And the dressing up didn't stop as we got older. When the first Hobbit movie came out, we pulled together a huge group of friends and went to the movies all dressed up.

A Hobbit's Take (movie review)

 And then there was the time we wore our Harry Potter uniforms to a 4H Awards Night.

Or when Dia and I bough coordinating purple superhero t-shirts at Walmart and insisted on everything them almost every time we went out together (until Dia lost hers, that is).

And then there's this past season, when my team and I had 'superhero day' at practice.

Especially when Dia and I hang out, we usually turn to something geeky. This past spring when she was making my prom dress, we watched Firefly episodes while she sewed (and I helpfully watched TV, obviously). 

And this Christmas, she gave me the most amazing hobbit-door necklace, which I've worn pretty much every day since. Such a fun way to honor my fandom and my friend!

For me, true friendship has always been when we can unapologetically obsess over something. I'm so grateful for all my friends, and the fact that we always get each other's references. Most of our conversations start with 'oh my gosh, you need to watch this show'.  While we don't always share the same level of fandom-love across the board, we do share the fun of expressing that love. 

Thanks so much for reading! Want to share your take on this prompt? Chime in on your blog, tumblr, instagram or twitter and don't forget to use the hashtag #everydaygeekjuly. Can't wait to hear your stories! Just a heads up, tomorrow (Day 3) the prompt will be phases of life through books.

Everyday Geek July

Woah! Can you believe it's July 1?? I honestly still don't feel like summer's even started!

I'm so excited to announce that this month, Dia of The Time Lady Geek and I will be hosting a blog challenge! In Everyday Geek July, we'll be making daily post inspired by the day's prompt. Of course, the best part is going to be the conversations that start with you guys! So feel free to join in one day, every day, or any day, with your own prompt-inspired prompts via blog post, tumblr, Instagram, Twitter, whatever! And don't forget to use our hashtag, #everdaygeekjuly, and comment so we can interact with you!

Personally, I'm so excited to get going! I think this challenge is going to be a ton of fun. I'm a bit worried about the commitment of blogging everyday, but I think I'll find a way to make it work. :)

Part of the prompt for today was a favorite fandom list! Honestly I just got back from my last 4-H TC today, so I'm going to keep this pretty short and sweet. Some of my favorite fandoms:

The Lord of the Rings, Pixar, and Sherlock are my tops.

And I love historical fiction and classics, like Call the Midwife, Foyle's War, and Jane Austen's novels.

I like Harry Potter now and then, although I admit I have to be in the mood for it.

And I'm currently starting to get into (and already loving!) Firefly and Merlin! :)

Well that's it for today! Tomorrow's prompt is Geeky Friendship memories, so make sure to check back in!