"I See the Light"

It's certainly no secret that I absolutely love Disney movies. Pretty much everyone who knows me knows that Beauty and the Beast is my favorite movie of all time. I have watched it so many times that I can recite the words to the entire movie while watching it. Disney movies are always my feel good, pick me up movies and they make me feel all warm and safe. That is until the credits start rolling and I come back into reality. That's when I start to feel the ache. Not a physical ache, but a mental or emotional ache. It's a longing for something exciting, some adventure where my moral stamina and resourcefulness are put to the test. An adventure where I meet a dashing young man who seems different from me at first, but actually complements me perfectly. A young man that I will fall in love with and he would love me, too.

I know it seems overly romantic, but I want something exciting to happen and I want to fall in love. Why not have them together? It could happen, right?

I will say most of the time I don't have that longing feeling. Only every now and then will it creep up on me, and then I'm sent into a whirlwind of emotion about how I want to be in love, and will I ever have someone to love me and hold me? I have never really been in love, and I try to wait for that patiently. My priest told me once not to worry about dating or trying to have a relationship, and that God will provide. I wholeheartedly agree with that. I'm not out trying to find someone, I'm not running around desperately trying to meet guys and date everyone who comes my way. But I can't help wondering when I will meet my dashing young man. Sometimes I even ask myself if I will ever meet him.

Oddly enough my grandparents are the two people who are most concerned about me getting married. Every time I talk to them they ask if have a boyfriend, and as usual I respond "no". Then they tell me that they'll look around and sometimes they even want me to meet someone. I think they've sort of given up on the idea that I will get married soon because my grandmother has a set of silver that she wants to give to me when I get married. She has always said that it will be my wedding gift and there's even a note inside that says so. But one day when I was about 18 or 19 she mentioned that the silver would be my wedding gift, and then she followed that statement with something I had never heard before. She added, "Or you can have it whenever you want." Ouch. I guess she meant she's not confident she'll be at my wedding, which I certainly won't think about either.

There's a song in Tangled, my newest Disney obsession, called "I See the Light" and it's my favorite. It's where Rapunzel and Flynn realize they love each other and it's super adorable and romantic. I guess I just want to "see the light" and I'm hoping it comes sooner rather than later. But all I can do is wait patiently. And that's the worst part. Waiting. Waiting for my Flynn Rider, so to speak. Until then, I'll just have to do what I can to shake this dreary feeling, and remember all the good things I have.

This One's a Fiver...

Yep, that's right we're doing five songs today. Plus a bonus video! So I guess 6. It's a sixer. Okay, let's get to it.

The first video is a song I only recently discovered. It's called "Something" and it was written by George Harrison. It is his one of his best songs and is the second most covered Beatles' song next to "Yesterday". It is from their Abbey Road album, which was their last that they recorded together, even though Let it Be was released after Abbey Road. Anyway, it's a beautiful song and I absolutely adore it.

This next song, "I Wanna Be Your Man" was released on the album With the Beatles in 1963. It is sung by Ringo, and it's a helluva good time. This version is a live version from Paris. Oh to see them live, what a wonderful notion.

Up next, "Drive My Car". A song that I grew up listening to and have always loved. It's so fun. It was recorded and released for their 1965 album Rubber Soul.

Another song from Abbey Road, "Come Together" has been one of those songs I've always known. I can't even remember the first time I heard it. Still, I love it just the same.

The song "Blackbird" has always been very special to me. My stepdad played it for me on his guitar frequently enough that eventually I asked him to play it every time I saw him with his guitar. I love this song, of course. It was part of The White Album released in 1968, and I can never hear it enough.

Drum roll, please, Ringo!! My special bonus video is one of my favorite songs by The Beatles, and is a live version from Shea Stadium in New York in 1965. The song was released on their album Help! in 1965 and I think it's so fun. Even though the lyrics aren't very fun, the melody and their enthusiasm makes it a great time to listen to this song, and watch them play it. It's called "I'm Down" and I've posted it before, but I love this version. With Paul screaming all over the place and John and George laughing so much they can barely sing, it's great.

I hope you enjoyed all the videos and songs! Good night and God bless!

One part Beatles, One Part Rainboots

So I have definitely slacked off in my weekly appreciate The Beatles posts. So here's a small one to get back into the routine.

I adore this one. And I adore Paul and his goofy sense of humor.

Another great, lesser known one.

Another thing on my mind is my new J.Crew rainboots! They arrived Wednesday and I have been anxiously and eagerly awaiting some rain so that I can wear them. They are bright red and beautiful! I adore them!

(Photo Credit: J.Crew)

Another great thing about my new boots, they have a zipper that goes all the way down the back, so they're super easy to get on and off. Wonderful! And they fit like a dream. I couldn't love them more!

Goodnight and God bless,

Bella

Part 4

Once again it's Friday, and it's time for my weekly Beatles appreciation day. So let's get right to it this time. Today I'm doing some of their earlier songs with some of their later songs. Enjoy!

"What filthy ways are these?"

Love this movie!

Becoming a Writer

So I just watched a Lifetime movie (and I'm not ashamed at all) about the life of J.K. Rowling and her long journey towards becoming a published writer, and might I add an incredibly successful published writer. It was an adorable movie that brought out all my feelings about the one thing I want to do in my lifetime. Be a writer. No, no, that's not it. Be a published writer. Every moment of every day I am, I guess I would say, "narrating" everything that is happening around me, as if I was writing a book. I create stories in my head of why things are happening or why people do what they do. Someone flicking a cigarette on the ground becomes a tale of why they began smoking, and what happens to that cigarette butt after they've flicked it out of their hands, who passes by it, steps on it, etc. A boy and a girl walking down the street becomes a story of their relationship, how they met, how they feel about each other, and whether they'll end up estranged from one another, married, or maybe, if I'm in a tragedy mood, how one of them will die young. I even have a scene in my head, that I should probably write down somewhere (even though it's a rough sketch) about a young woman playing with her baby, except she's crying because something horrible has happened to the man she loves.

Even just now I looked down at my snoring, sleeping dog, and watching her I began to formulate a story about a girl who's closest companion is her dog and they'll have wonderful adventures. And that's where my problem begins. I think of a story and the moment I try to come up with all the details it scatters and becomes so jumbled in my thoughts that I can hardly begin to write it.

I think of all the great authors I love, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis (ha, I could be C.S. Herron), Jane Austen (and of course the list goes on and on), and I want so badly to be able to do what they did. To write wonderful stories and bring such beloved characters into the world. But I have to refine myself, refine my work and control it, which I am not very good at yet. It sounds weird, but I also have to let it free, let the creativity flow through my pen. Yes, I write all my stories, not type them. I have a massive load of journals with unfinished stories. They are unfinished and unread. There was a part in the movie about J.K. Rowling when she was teenager and applying to college, and her friend told her that if she wanted to be a writer she had to let someone read her work and she said no one could read her stuff because she hadn't written anything that came to life yet. That's exactly how I feel. I feel mundane about all my ideas so far. Nothing has really spoken to me...yet. I hope very soon that I can produce something good. Something really good.

Fridays are my favorite.

My adoration and appreciation of The Beatles continues with my weekly posting of their songs. This time I'm mixing a couple of their more well-known songs with a couple of their lesser well-known songs. Hope you enjoy!

Of course the always fun "Twist n Shout".

I love this one a lot. This is one of my favorite parts of Help! It's so great.

I love that Ringo is singing this one. Love these boys!

The Beatles Friday

Yay, it's here again! My favorite day of the week- Friday (and not just because I get to post Beatles' songs today). I've been looking forward to this post since last Friday. I even wrote down which songs I would choose to post for the next 5 weeks. A bit over-the-top? Yes it is. All right, let's get on with it.

This first one is a suggestion from a dear friend, Beth Hopkins. I hadn't heard this song before she sent me the link and I absolutely love it. It's so fun! Well, the tune is fun, but the lyrics are actually pretty sad. Still, the boys make it fun, so we'll have a good time anyways.

This next one (yes, I'm posting more than one this time because I couldn't choose) is one of my favorites to watch. They must have been so amazing to see live. I can only dream.

This third one is from their movie "Help!" It's a great song and the video is super fun. Also, I would give my right eyebrow to be that girl in Paul's arms.

Last, but not least, another suggestion from dear Beth. Thanks, Beth!

Happy Listening!