My Pups

Never in my entire life have I lived without a dog... that is until I came up to Rexburg and now I’m feeling very dog-sick. I’ve had four dogs throughout the years and all of them have been huge in my life and in shaping who I am today. 

I love dogs SO much! I simply do not understand people who don’t like dogs at least a little bit. They are literally put on this earth to please and to love. I mean sure they do other things like hunt, guard, track, pull sleds, etc., but honestly their main purpose is to please and to love their owner.

One of the most touching stories I ever heard was about this woman who lived with her abusive boyfriend and her dog, a Great Dane. One night, the boyfriend was drunk and came down on her very hard. He actually had a gun on her. He ended up pushing her through a wall and stood over her with the gun. The Great Dane saw his owner lying on the ground, crawled over to her, and then laid on top of her, shielding her from any further harm from the boyfriend, growling protectively. 

I honestly get choked up whenever I hear that story. I’m not just saying that. I was teary-eyed while writing it. That dog could sense its owner’s pain and fear so it put itself in the firing line and protected her the only way it could. It loved her so much that it put itself in harm’s way to save her. I won’t put all the details, but the end to that story is that the boyfriend shot the dog (only injuring it), and he went to jail. The woman went to a rehabilitation center and insisted on having her dog with her even though pets weren’t allowed. She was permitted to keep him because the people there could see that the dog was good for her recovery.

Where else do you get such unwavering loyalty? I seriously do not understand people who don’t like dogs. All they want to do is love you. As I said, I’ve had four great dogs over the course of my life and I’ve loved them all so much!

So of course I have to talk about each of them (buckle up, I’m about to go on and on):

Mika. Miniature Doberman.

My parents got her a year or so before I was born, so technically she was their first child. I believe they got her at a pet store. I don’t think it was a shelter because they purchased her, and it definitely wasn’t a breeder. It must have been a store. Anyways, they bought her as a puppy. I can’t remember exactly where they got the name. I know my mom picked it... This is what happens when you weren’t around for the actual event.

I do know that she was one little ball of energy. Wow! She would just whiz around like a speeding bullet. I can still hear the sound of her panting and quick little footsteps as she ran up and down the hallway. I think it was my Uncle Allen who discovered her preference for rustling paper. I have no idea what it was all about, but whenever someone crumpled paper or rustled it in someway, she would get super excited and run around like a psycho. She wouldn’t attack the noise, just run around in a dither. This particularly amused me when I was a baby. I would just sit there and crack up as I watched her run back and forth with absolutely no point or direction.

She also loved warm laundry. Whenever my mom was taking a fresh batch out of the dryer, Mika was right there, waiting. She loved to lay on top of it and nap. Even when the clothes on top would start to cool off, she would dig into the pile to get to the warmer clothes.

When Afton was born, the two of them formed a close bond. She always slept on her bed. In fact, she even had a special stepping stool up to her bed to help her in her later years. She also really enjoyed sleeping on my dad's lap.

I will always remember how she would perk up at the sound of her name, “Mika!”, then tilt her head at, “Wanna eat?”, then tilt it even more at, “Wanna go for a walk?”

The one thing she loved above anything was eating. It was a good thing she was so energetic because she burned off all those calories. A famous story in our family was when my parents took her with them up to Canada to see my dad’s parents. While there, they had a dog birthday party with other dogs in the family. I can’t remember the exact details, but I know that Mika ended up leading all the dogs inside while the owners were gone and they found a stash of... Oreos, I think it was, and ate all of them.

Another one of my favorites is after we got our second dog, we had to leave his food out in the open because he was a growing puppy, but Mika liked to sneak down the hall and eat it. She knew that she could be caught at any minute, so she would stuff as much of the food in her mouth as

possible. When we would walk past the spot, we could hear quiet, sneaky chewing, so instead of simply stopping her, we would sneak up behind her and then yell. This would scare her and it was totally hilarious to watch all the food she was storing in her mouth spill out as she slipped around, trying to run away.

Of course, that played a big role in her downfall. As she got older, she lost a lot of energy, as you do when you get old, and she just didn’t burn off those calories. She got so fat! She was literally the size of a football (I know, I measured). Old age is what did it. She lived until she was fourteen, I believe. She was simply sleeping most of the day, she was fat, her eyes fogged up, she had breathing issues, she was frail. It was just time.

She was a fun, funny dog. Full of life and energy in her prime, and always full of love even until her last days.

Chase. Weimaraner- gray.

One day, when I was in fifth or sixth grade, my dad brought home an encyclopedia of dog breeds for us to look through. We all had our favorites, but my dad was especially fond of one bird-hunting breed which he deemed “beautiful” and “amazing”: the Weimaraner. That’s where it all began.

Eventually, he informed us that he was looking at some breeders. Just looking. But then he told us that he was talking to one of the breeders and finding out more about the dogs. And then he told us that we were actually going to get one of the puppies from the next litter! Oh we were so excited! My dad ordered a “mellow” puppy since those dogs are known to be high-strung and energetic. Once the puppies were born, the breeder picked one out and we were set to go.

Unfortunately, after a few weeks, the breeder called and told us that the puppy she had selected had seven holes in its heart. She could not sell it to us. The options were, she would keep it and let it live out its life and we could have a puppy from the next litter, or she could let us still have the puppy for free. Our family prayed about it and thought it over for a long time, eventually we decided that we would take the puppy and let it live out its life with us instead of the breeder. We knew we could give it a good, loving home.

So, we picked it up. We noticed when we first met him that he really liked to chase things down and bite them. We debated on the names Chewy and Chase, eventually deciding on Chase. 

He was the sweetest, cutest, most playful little thing. We loved him so much! Except when you put your head on his chest, you didn’t hear a heartbeat, you heard a weird slushing noise. Eventually, my dad took him to the vet just to see what was up. The vet suggested an simple surgery where they would make a small puncture, stick a tube inside his chest, and plug up the holes. We agreed to it and went through with it. Unfortunately it failed, so we tried again. That one failed as well. By this point, Chase was as much a member of the family as the rest of us, so we went for full on open-heart surgery. This time, it was a success and... well, let’s just say it was like someone flipped a switch on his energy.

The reason Chase was a “mellow” puppy was because of his heart problem. After it was fixed, wow did he become one crazy cat (or pup?). He was always running, hunting something, chewing on something, or busy in some way. He was (as we called him) a “wild indian” (I apologize if that’s offensive to anyone).

He LOVED to hunt. He hunted everything from birds to squirrels to lizards to rabbits to toenail clippings. Yes, anytime someone was cutting their toenails, he was right there, very determinedly trying to catch them as they flew off. He could focus like you wouldn’t believe. And the fact that he was slightly cross-eyed made him look a bit demented while doing it. Ha!

He was a lover boy, big time! He just could never get close enough. We used to joke that if he got any closer, he would be on the other side. He loved giving kisses. I’ll never forget that big, wet tongue. None of our other dogs hardly ever give/gave kisses unless you were covered in food or sweat, and I kind of miss it.

He was always there for you. I think he might have been the most in tune with his master’s emotions out of all our dogs. I mean, obviously he had his stupid moments and/or he chose to ignore any common sense he had, but he was a pleaser. He always could tell when you were sad, sick, or unhappy and would be there for you. He was happy when you were happy. He was such a good boy!

Unfortunately, his obsessive behavior was the reason for his downfall. Towards the end of his life he got really obsessive and crazed. He would get so fixated on something-- even the tiniest things like flies and even flying bits of dust-- and would not leave it alone, even if it was long gone. He started hurting himself in his desperation to get to it. He broke out a lot of his teeth, permanently scraped off the skin of his nose, his nails were broken and filed down to nubs, he was constantly covered in scrapes, scabs, and gashes, and was basically on the road to killing himself. One summer, all of us were going out of town and we were going to have to leave the dogs outside alone where Chase would inevitably tear apart his bedding and/or escape and put himself and the other dogs in danger. It was then that my dad decided to take him in to the vet. 

It was hard, but I do think it was for the best. He was not supposed to live as long as he did. When he was supposed to live only seven weeks, he ended up living seven years. And he had a happy life full of love, hunting, chasing, joy, excitement, and playing. 

Macy. Weimaraner- blue.

The breeder who sold us Chase was so grateful to us for taking Chase off her hands that she contacted us and offered us another puppy for absolutely free as a thank you. Well, we took her offer. Again, we ordered a “mellow” puppy, and boy, did we receive one.

My parents picked her up this time and I first met her at home. We all sat in a circle on the ground and all she did was move from lap to lap and fall asleep. She hardly played or did anything. But, gosh darn it, she was so cute! Naming her was a little more difficult than it was with Chase, because we each had a name that we all liked and we were very stubborn about it. Eventually someone randomly suggested Macy and we each tentatively said that we could live with it. So Macy it was.

She is one of the strangest dogs I have ever met. She sleeps probably 20/24 hours of the day. I kid you not. When she’s not sleeping, she’s eating or peeing. That’s literally all she does all day. We call her a potato, because that’s what she looks like. Just a potato lying there doing absolutely nothing. She hardly cares about anything too. You can do anything, show her anything, and she’ll just lay there, looking at you with her eyes half open, totally indifferent. The only things she cares about are food and if the other dogs are getting something she isn’t.

If there’s something she loves as much as sleeping, it’s food. Unfortunately, she doesn’t do anything to burn off all those calories, so she’s a giant chub. She will always try to steal the other dog(s)’ food, so we have to keep an eye on her.

She’s secretly devious and manipulative. She acts all indifferent and innocent, but if you leave the room for just one second, she will be up and in the kitchen, stealing something off the counter. She’s also been known to frame the other dogs for something she did, just because you never assume she did it because she’s always sleeping in the corner.

She loves to have her belly rubbed. It’s so funny, whenever you walk towards her, she will always flop on the ground and put her belly up. She loves to be petted and touched, but she doesn’t like to have anyone near her (she’s got quite a personal bubble). It’s a bit of a paradox. She’s getting better though. 

While Mika was Afton’s friend, I like to consider Macy my friend. She enjoys hanging out in my room. She even has a cushion set up at the foot of my bed (of course, she likes getting on my bed

when she can). She doesn’t really like sharing the bed because of her personal space issue, but sometimes she will allow me to get on with her. I think she likes the quietness and solitude of my room.

My dad’s catchphrase is “she’s gonna pee”. This stems from her puppyhood because we had difficulty potty-training her. She was one of those puppies who peed when she got excited or nervous. However, as she got older, even though she can control it for the most part, every once in a while she does pee herself. It’s very rare, but it leaves my dad paranoid and so whenever he sees her getting excited or nervous he says, “she’s gonna pee”.

She’s such a droop. Everything about her is droopy. Her face, her eyes, her ears, her demeanor. It makes her so adorable. The poor thing doesn’t know how to play like a normal dog though. When she does actually put in the effort, it’s a little bit pathetic. She’s just so big and clumsy. She’s like a horse galloping around. It’s kind of sad, but endearing at the same time. She tries so hard.

I think the best way to describe her is a cat trapped in a dog’s body who moves like a horse.

She’s the sweetest thing. I love her to bits. You can always count on her if you need someone to just lay near you while you’re reading or watching TV or something.

Troy. Weimaraner- blue.

Once again, the breeder who gave us Chase and Macy contacted us about a guy who lived in LA who was trying to get rid of a dog he had bought from her. She was wondering if we were interested in it. The guy wasn’t trying to sell the dog, just get rid of it. We thought about it for a bit and eventually

decided we would take it. My dad drove down to LA and picked up the dog. I first met him at our house. He wasn’t a puppy, he was already a year old and already named. Let me tell you, this dog had issues! He was spastic, he was nervous, he refused to mingle among the other dogs, he wouldn’t let us touch him, and was just a pain in the neck. After a few days, my dad was threatening to ship him off to a farm. He contacted the breeder and informed her of our problems. She told him to give it another week or so, let him watch the other dogs, and learn from them. She said he should calm down and eventually adapt. We took her advice and waited it out, doing our best to help him along. And wouldn’t you know it? It worked. He turned into one of the nicest, most lovable, caring dogs you could ever meet.

Now, this is only theorizing from what we could piece together from the information we had and from what we observed, but this is what we think happened to Troy before we got him: The guy in LA bought him as puppy from the breeder and of course he was so cute and little and he was doted upon and loved. But then Troy grew up, got bigger, became more time-consuming and busy, and the guy didn’t know what to do with him since he lived in a small apartment. So he just put him outside on the concrete with only a blanket for company. This would explain Troy’s scuffed up elbows and obsession with blankets (yes, I will get to that). Eventually, the guy realized he couldn’t keep him and that’s when we came into the picture.

Troy is the happiest dog you will ever meet. That is literally his only emotion. I am not exaggerating. He does not process anything negative, it just doesn’t go through. He doesn’t feel sad, or angry, or guilty. It’s mostly a good thing, but it does have its downsides, because he doesn’t feel bad when he does something wrong. You could be screaming your head off at him for something he’s done and he just has no idea. But, otherwise, he is such a good dog. He’s so friendly and happy. He will always brighten your day with his enthusiasm and joy. Everything is sunshine and rainbows with him.

He is one busy dog. He’s always up and about sniffing things, investigating something, searching for attention, and whatever else. “A sound? Oh gotta investigate!”. “You have food? Oh, gotta sit by in case you drop even the tiniest morsel!”. “Someone new? Oh, gotta sniff every inch of them at least twenty times over!”. 

He has got to have the most quirks out of any dog I’ve met. As I mentioned above, he’s got this thing with blankets. He sucks on them. Sucks! Like a pacifier. We used to try and discourage it, but now

we’re always pushing it on him because it gets him to hold still for a bit and we know where he is. “Where’s your blankie?” is a common household phrase. He also loves rolling around on his back like a demented weirdo, often falling asleep in that position. I don’t know what the point is, but he looks like he’s dead whenever he falls asleep like that. He has a strange fascination with knees. While he does like sniffing literally everything, he especially loves people's knees. He also howls like a baby whenever the phone rings. I don’t know why. We think there’s some frequency that bothers him, but whatever the reason, it’s so funny and cute. Whenever he gets a bone, he spends most of his time trying to “bury” it instead of chewing it. He goes all over the house trying to find the perfect hiding spot. It is one of the funniest things to watch. 

Those are just a few of his many strange quirks.

Troy is such a lovable weirdo. You have to adore him because he adores you.

Troy and Macy era

I have to talk about these two together because they’re the ones we have right now. They are the strangest duo because they’re such polar opposites. Troy is the energetic, outgoing jock who talks to everyone, while Macy is the laid back introvert who would rather just sit in the corner and keep to herself. They even look completely different. People always ask us, “how do you tell them apart?”.

How do you NOT tell them apart? I mean, sure, they’re the same color and about the same height, but that’s pretty much the extent of it. Macy is bigger and more horse-like in build, she’s got sleeker fur, is very droopy, and has a white spot of fur on her chest. Troy, on the other hand, is thinner and more athletic, he’s got a fuzzier face and coarser fur, he’s a lot perkier, and if one of them is at your side sniffing you, that’s him.

Macy is the alpha. No question. Back when Chase was alive, whenever either he or Troy caught something, Macy would always claim it as her own and they would just let her have it. Also, as I mentioned above, Troy never learns his lesson. You can do hardly anything that will get the message to sink in. However, there is one person who can do it, and that’s Macy. Troy gets on her nerves a lot, always jumping on her, or barking at her, or stealing something of hers, or whatever, and sometimes she’ll just snap and will take him down! It’s so amazing. She totally puts him in his place. It’s so funny to watch her completely pound him. She hardly ever does it though, she’s so lazy and doesn’t care. I wish she would though because that guy needs to be taught a lesson more often.

The two of them have this thing with ice. They love it, it’s one of their favorite treats. I have no idea why. It’s got no flavor or smell, but for some reason, they get so excited whenever they hear someone getting ice. (Chase also had this love of ice. I don’t know what it is!)

Even though Troy is more of a nuisance to Macy than anything else, I think they do love each other. They always get so sad whenever they’re separated. Sometimes it’s just because they’re jealous (like if you take one on a walk without they other, they will howl the day away until you come back). But sometimes if one is gone for an extended period of time, the other will actually get sad and mope. Especially Troy. He’s such a drama queen.

So, all my dogs have had their own fun, quirky personalities and have added so much heart and joy to my life. If you’re thinking about getting a dog, but are sort of on the fence about it, believe me, it is SO worth it. Whatever your doubts are-- money, mess, too much attention-- everything is worth it! Dogs are seriously the best! They have so much to offer, so much love, and it’s all for you!

Here's a few more pictures because I think my dogs are absolutely adorable!

Can't let that precious bum touch the ground

The Cone of Shame

You can always count on any of the dogs to be right there at the door when you come home.

Celebrating New Years

Macy also got the Cone of Shame

Begging for attention

Don't let any parts of those precious bodies touch the ground

Macy pulling a "Troy" and looking dead while she sleeps

This one's actually Troy

Chase and Macy got lost in the rain one day.

This just displays each of their personalities so perfectly.

Baby Troy. I wish we knew him like this.

That is SUCH a Troy face!

Picking up Macy.

They were best friends.

Before Macy was fat.

Comforting the sick.

Robin Da Hood

So before, I was watching all the versions of Snow White, now I've moved on to Robin Hood. Actually, what spurred this on was the passing of Alan Rickman (the world will be a darker place without him. RIP). I decided to watch Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves on the day I heard the news in honor of him (since I realized I hadn't actually seen the entire thing). And that's what started it... After that, I wanted to watch the spoof, then I wanted to watch the Errol Flynn version, and then the Disney version, etc.

Of course, after I was finished, I had to come here and write about it.

Robin Hood is one of those timeless tales that practically everyone knows and loves. The arrow-shooting outlaw who robs from the rich and gives to the poor. I think deep down, everyone does want a dashing hero to come and save them from oppression and evil no matter how much we're all saying "be your own person" and "women don't need a prince charming" etc. etc. That's why we enjoy these stories so much.

So here's a list of all the Robin Hood adaptions I've seen from least favorite to favorite. Mostly I'm rating them on which one I'd most likely watch if given a choice because honestly they're all very different.

5) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

The first major Robin Hood movie. It is so unbelievably cheesy and ridiculous, but it is so good at the same time. It follows the traditional, ideal picture of the swashbuckling hero. Errol Flynn is literally his own genre: sword fighting, climbing up walls, swinging on ropes and chandeliers, and so on. People actually say the phrase, "It's an Errol Flynn-type movie". So, yes, an Errol Flynn Robin Hood. He's the handsome, dashing romantic hero who can do no wrong. The action scenes are so over the top and so entertaining to watch. Also, the movie includes all the traditional stories of Robin Hood that we all know such as Robin Hood and Little John battling with the poles on the bridge, the archery contest, Robin Hood saving Much from the guard for killing the king's deer to name a few. It's traditional, cheesy, and all around fun.
Robin Hood is played by (as I said) Errol Flynn. I basically gave my review of him above, but he's just as over the top as the rest of the movie. He plays your typical dashing, charming, gallivant hero who's out to right all the wrongs in the world. I quite like it. He does a good job with it. I mean, it's sort of ridiculous, but the entire movie is ridiculous, so he's not particularly out of place. I enjoyed his performance.

4) Robin Hood (2010)

This could actually be interchangeable with The Adventures of Robin Hood. It kind of depends on my mood because both movies set a completely different tone. Rather than an adventurous and fun story, it takes a more gritty, action-based turn. It actually focuses more on how Robin Hood became an outlaw and all the events leading up to that time. So if you expect to see all the classic scenes and stories such as the archery tournament or something while going into this movie, you will be bitterly disappointed. However, I think that it does a fairly decent job at setting up the story and establishing characters. I do think that the subplot with the plot against the kingdom is a bit useless. I mean, why not make the main villain the Sheriff of Nottingham like all other Robin Hood stories and not... whatever his name was (see, he's not even a memorable villain). I suppose they were trying to be original, but it didnt really work to their advantage. It was seriously so confused, like are we supposed to feel bad for Prince John? But... he's a bad guy. But he's being attacked... But he's oppressing the people... But they're on his side... Like that extra bad guy just made it so confused. I really think that the subplot with the plot against the throne was too much. Anyways, I digress. The movie was still pretty good. The action could be over the top, but I didn't mind, I was still entertained because I was invested in the characters.
Robin Hood is played by Russell Crowe. I think he did a good job despite what many critics say. I was a bit surprised when I heard the casting choice, but when I saw him play it, I accepted it. Usually when you picture Robin Hood, you think a dashing young man which is not Russell Crowe. He did still capture the stout-heartedness, the bravery, and the pureness that is Robin Hood.

3) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Also a classic. I only recently watched this one all the way through. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Although it was a little clunky at times, the story still held up and was very entertaining. I particularly enjoyed Alan Rickman's performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham. He was brilliant! It did have many of the classic stories that we know and love, but it did not include the oh-so well known archery tournament which I was very disappointed about. I kept waiting and waiting for it, but it never came. Oh well, it did have many other aspects I liked. Particularly Robin Hood and his merry men's robbing tactics. They were very clever and fun to watch.
Robin Hood is played by Kevin Costner. I thought he did extremely well. He captured the charm and light-heartedness that is Robin Hood, but could also be daring and dangerous when necessary.

2) Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

This might have been the first spoof movie I ever saw and I found it hilarious! People don't consider this movie Mel Brook's best work and yeah, perhaps it isn't. However, in regards to the Robin Hood story, I admit it is close to the top of my list. Even though it's a spoof, it does include pretty much all the classic Robin Hood stories (even if it is making fun of them). It's mostly poking fun at the Kevin Costner and Errol Flynn film versions, combining the plots of both films into one and tearing them apart (in the best way possible). Since I've seen both versions, I get a complete kick out of all the jokes. Even before I saw either movie, I still found this film completely hysterical. The jokes and performances are all so funny and well placed. It even puts in random songs as homage to the Disney version. This movie is great!
Robin Hood is played by Cary Elwes. He captures the character (for this version) so perfectly! He is an exaggeration of past Robin Hoods; charming, handsome, dashing, etc. and he is also hilarious. And as he blatantly points out in the movie "unlike other Robin Hoods [he] speaks with an English accent".

1) Disney's Robin Hood (1973)

Probably the one that most people are familiar with. I adore this version! Is there anyone who doesn't know that catchy whistle from the beginning? (It's now stuck in your head!) Such a great film! I love the songs, the characters, the animation, the tone, everything! It's fun that the characters are animals and each animal fits their character (ex: Robin Hood is a fox because he's sly and sneaky). Who can forget Prince John and his thumb sucking? Or the Sheriff and his jovial humming as he destroys everyone's lives? Or how about that crazy fight scene in the middle of the movie with the pie fight, the marriage proposal, and the running tent? So great! Oo-de-lally!
Robin Hood is voiced by Brian Bedford. I think it fits pretty well. Sometimes looking back, you can tell it's one of those "old-time" voices, you know? But it still goes. He fits the character and is one of the two on this list who actually speaks with an English accent ;)

My Videos

As most of you are aware I have been an avid video maker over the years. Many of you have seen some of these videos.

Trailer for my YouTube channel:

I am a one-woman show (most of the time). I create, film, star, edit, do makeup and costumes, "special effects", and do basically everything. And when I say "star", I mean I play all the characters. I have a green screen, which means I can have more than one of me on screen at a time.

Lots of people have asked about the green screen… it looks like this:

It's a curtain, wall, or some type of backdrop that you stand in front of and it serves as a sort of blank slate. You can put whatever background you want on it on the computer in editing. I utilize this and put all sorts of backdrops to suit the scene of my videos. I also use it to duplicate myself.

Personally, I would like others to be involved, but I am alone quite a lot, there's not a ton of willing volunteers who want to act silly in front of a camera for a long period of time, muchless who even knows whatever material I might be working on at the moment.

I've mostly done music videos over the years since they're the easiest to make. Just synching up my mouth to the words, putting on a costume, and hey, there ya go! I like to be silly rather than serious so that if something turns out stupid, it doesn't look AS stupid, you know? So I choose a lot of kid songs and fun songs to film. I got my start with VeggieTales back in 2006ish and have done most of the Silly Songs since then (even remaking some of my old videos).

The question I am asked the most is "what is your favorite video that you've made?". I really don't know. I have different reasons to like my videos. There are some that are a lot more well done than others, but I don't like them as much. There are some that I worked so hard on and planned so meticulously, but they turned out so horrid, that I cannot even bear to watch them. There are some that aren't particularly special in any way, but I just get a kick out of them for no reason whatsoever.

I have created a top ten lis (in no particular order):

Kilts and Stilts

This one I actually managed to wrangle my brother and his friends into helping me (I had to bribe them). I just really like this song, it's hilarious with all the cultures' stereotypes and such. I just love it. Brady and his buds are so funny with their unenthusiasm in the background too. Also, my costumes and props are top notch! ;P (I didn't have any haggis on hand, that is a steak).

The Senses

Animaniacs songs are the best! I already had all the costumes put together from a photo shoot I did earlier. I was so happy to finally do a song. I really enjoy seeing all the costumes together in motion for a hilarious song.

Shut Up and Dance

GO TO THIS LINK TO WATCH

This video gives me such joy! I've watched it a thousand times and it never gets old. I adore seeing my whole family dancing together and being silly. Brady's robotic moves, Afton's stupid outfit, me and mom in the car, Dad's… whatever. Then the guest appearances by Chuck and Troy! I love it so much!

Chip On My Shoulder

Edited version:

I worked my butt off on this! Weeks of planning! And I think it really paid off. It's nearly a ten minute song. I had a story board and screen plays for each of the characters so that I wouldn't miss filming a part for any of them (because I tend to do that). I picked out the outfits for each scene and had them laid out. I think this was the most props I had involved for a video. I had to set up that vanity/desk with all of Elle's beauty products on it. Also, I had to purchase a blonde wig because you can't have Legally Blonde without being blonde. I think I look good as a blonde ;P
There was some debate over the language in the song after I finished. It's nothing too strong or outrageous, and I think most people when listening would not mind it (as I did). However, when seeing it coming out of my mouth, it might come as a shock. I created an edited version for the sensitive. There's nothing wrong with that and I do respect that if you don't want to hear it. The edited version is perfectly fine and still enjoyable. However, if you really want the full effect, I recommend the original "director's cut".

Pizza Angel

I think this might have been my first project on the green screen. This is probably my favorite VeggieTales song which may be one of the reasons I like this video so much. I just love how over-dramatic I made it (in theme with the song, of course). The camera pans, the slow motion, the staring into the distance, the dramatic turns of the head, all that good stuff. I get a kick out of it.

Devil Went Down to Georgia

This song is so awesome! Love that fiddle! (Also, you'll note from watching this video, I don't know how to play the fiddle at all). The costumes are my favorite. My stupid little violin that came without a bow (yes, I'm using a drumstick). The song is really what makes it awesome though, just seeing characters put to it only adds to it.

Donuts for Benny

I still have no idea why I like this one so much. It's just whenever I'm asked to show some videos, this is one I want to show. I can't really figure it out though. There's something about it that's kind of endearing. I like my costumes for sure. I used my natural bed-head for the mangy dog look. The song is kind of funny (but it's not my favorite). I did enjoy stuffing my face with donuts! :D (I got Afton to help me out with that part. That's her hand you see feeding me).

Blues With Larry

This one cracks me up. I love the guitar player in the background getting so annoyed. Also the colors. This video also produced one of my most classic bloopers where I dropped the ice cream on the green screen. There's still a brown spot there to this day. I actually didn't have this song fully memorized when I filmed it, but I went for it anyways.

Noel

Another Animaniacs song. You can't go wrong with their songs. As soon as I heard this song, I wanted to make a video for it, but I decided to wait for Christmas to come around. Finally in the middle of December, I put it together. It all went pretty quickly except for Yakko's part at the beginning when he's writing "Santa" on the white board. I could not write it fast enough in synch with the song. I kid you not, it took me about 20-30 takes. But I really like the result. I especially like the end with the card.

They're Coming to Take Me Away

Ahahaha! I know this video freaks people out, so I know I did it well. That was my intention. Again, I used my natural bedhead (and ratted it up a bit more), used eyeshadow under my eyes to make myself look gaunt, and simply wore PJs. There, mental patient. The straitjacket is just a white sweatshirt on backwards. I had a lot of fun being creepy. And I think the kaleidoscope background totally makes it. Plus the little touches like the moment with the knife, the group therapy setting, and stuff like that just adds to the enjoyment.

As White As Snow

That title might be a bit misleading since I'm up at Rexburg, you might think I'm writing about winter or something. Not so. Well, actually, speaking of Rexburg, I've had a boat-load of homework and assignments. It can get a bit overwhelming and sometimes I need a break. Sometimes I just go out of my room to eat something, talk to my roommates and/or whomever's in my apartment, go for a walk, or watch a movie/show. On the subject of the latter, I've recently taken to watching lame fairytale adaptions. You know, Ella Enchanted-type films. I got to the Snow White ones and remembered 2012 when all the Snow White adaptions came out.

What is it about that particular fairytale? It's one of the ultimate classics that literally everyone knows along with Cinderella. I don't think it's just because Disney's adapted it, but there's something else about it. The romance, the magic, the symbolism, good vs. evil, the classic witch, a princess, true love's kiss…

I know you're all just dying for it, so I've compiled all the versions of the Snow White story I've seen (which just happens to be 5) from worst to best.

5) Snow White and the Huntsman

Not only is this the worst Snow White adaption I've seen, it's one of the worst films I've ever seen. And I do not say that lightly. It was just so confused with where it wanted to put the focus. Was it on the characters? The action? The romance? It certainly wasn't on the plot, I can tell you that much. It continuously threw in so many new plot points then threw them away immediately afterwards because… no, I can't even say they were necessary for the moment. They were always just there to give it more action and/or to show off special effects. I very, very rarely will skip through a movie, but I did in this one because I was just so bored. I skipped most of the climatic battle because I just didn't care. Also, it changed the original fairytale too much and in weird ways. I mean, I'm all about fresh ideas and new takes, but when it's done poorly and the ideas are just dumb… then no. The one thing I will give it is that the special effects were pretty impressive, unnecessary most of the time and confusing, but still impressive.
Snow White is played by Kristen Stewart. I actually thought she did pretty well. She can actually act despite her robotic performances in the Twilight series. However, the movie continuously says that she is sweet and innocent… Um, no. Her actions keep speaking against her and by the end, she very much is not.

4) Mirror Mirror

I actually kind of enjoyed this one. It was a pretty bad movie by most people's standards (and quite frankly, by a lot of my own standards). It was predictable, tried too hard to be "original" to the point of bizarre, was very much on the "girl power" train, and was a little goofy. But I still enjoyed it. I had fun watching it. The costumes are so over the top and strange and it just adds to to its enjoyability. I wasn't annoyed by most of the changes it made to the original story like I was with Snow White and the Huntsman (the only one was with the apple, I was a bit disappointed). Other than that, I don't really have any complaints, it's just a quirky and bizarre flick which I sort of liked.
Snow White is played by Lily Collins. At first, I didn't like her, but second time around, I thought she did in fact capture the sweet innocence of Snow White very well. I just don't know about her bangs.

3) Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The first adaption I ever saw and probably the reason most people know the story. This version gets such a bad wrap and I don't know why. Have you people watched it recently? It's actually pretty good. When you're a kid watching it, it's probably not very entertaining because there's not a lot of bright colors, upbeat songs, a fast pace story, slapstick, and Snow White has kind of an annoying voice. However, I watched it recently now that I'm grown up and it's actually a pretty impressive film, especially for being the very first full-length animated film. The story is engaging, the dwarfs are each unique and interesting, the queen is intimidating and a total boss, the backgrounds and designs are beautiful, the songs are actually quite good (yes, even "Someday My Prince Will Come", just look past the voice). The climax is super intense, and that funeral scene has got to be one of the saddest scenes I have ever watched! I mean seriously, you don't notice this stuff when you're a kid. It's a pretty good movie!
Snow White is voiced by Adriana Caselotti. Yeah, she doesn't have the most amazing voice especially when she sings. She does manage to portray the character though and that's what matters.

2) Sydney White

Not many people have heard of this movie which is a real shame. It's a modern take on the classic fairytale. I'll just give a brief overview of the plot: Sydney White is kicked out of her sorority house by the controlling president, Rachel Witchburn. With nowhere to go, Sydney finds shelter with seven campus outcasts at their residence, the Vortex. Rachel threatens to tear down the Vortex to make way for a new sorority spa. Sydney rallies together the seven dorks to run for student council against Rachel. Simultaneously, Sydney catches the eye of frat boy, Tyler Prince.
Honestly, it is just a cute, cheesy little movie, not a giant production with an amazing script, special effects, fantastic costumes, or any of that. It is very enjoyable though and the Snow White story is very well incorporated into modern times. I love that sort of thing. I like seeing a classic story reimagined in a different setting (especially if it's done well, which this one is). The way the poison apple is done, "heigh-ho", how the magic mirror is portrayed and the "fairest in the land", "it's looking grim, brothers", and so on. It just made me laugh.
Sydney White (the Snow White character) is played by Amanda Bynes. She's always a laugh. She plays her part very well. She's very good at portraying awkward tom-boyish characters.

1) Once Upon a Time

I'm surprised this is at the top of my list since I fell out of love with this show a while back. But I do have to admit that I really, really enjoyed how they handled the Snow White story. I don't know if they did anything further with the story since I stopped watching (I can't imagine they did since it seemed wrapped up). The story was very fleshed out and thought out. Even though there were some changes made, I still enjoyed it. There was background given to the characters and situations: how the queen became queen and why she hated Snow White, how Snow and the prince met and fell in love, why Snow ate the apple, Snow's relationship with the dwarfs, the huntsman's story, what Snow did after the huntsman let her go, and so on. It was a very good story.
Snow White is played by Ginnifer Goodwin. She certainly looks the part. She can be a tad bit over the top sometimes, but then it is a very dramatic show. I like her in the role.

I Am Sherlocked

It's been a while since I've talked about this show. Like, a REALLY long while. I think the last time I mentioned it was right before the second season came out. And if you know about this show, you know that there's about a two year gap between each season. Now in the midst of waiting for season four, I've decided it was time to bring it up again.

For those who are unaware, Sherlock is a modern take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. I'm sure most people have heard of Sherlock Holmes-- that detective with the funny hat… I'll expound: In the late 19th century, the stories are told from Dr. John Watson's point of view as he writes down his experiences and adventures with his flatmate (or roommate to Americans), Sherlock Holmes. Holmes is hyper-observant and highly skilled in deductive reasoning. He is employed by the police as a "consulting detective" and helps them with especially baffling cases.

From the 2015 Christmas special "The Abominable Bride"

So basically, all of this is updated into modern times in Sherlock. Instead of it taking place in the 1800's, it takes place in the 2010's. The characters use phones, laptops, emails, and so on. (There was actually a Christmas special a couple weeks ago where the characters were set in the 1800's, calling each other "Holmes" and "Watson", dressed up in the clothes of the time, smoking pipes, riding in carriages, and all that. It was great!). Everithing's all integrated very well in the show. I've read the original Sherlock Holmes stories and I can say that the show does a spot on job of updating the characters, the stories, the setting, etc. There are many references and shout outs to the original stories. All the episodes are based on at least one, if not more, Sherlock Holmes stories.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original mysteries are already very intriguing and engaging, and the show's writers exquisitely update them without taking away any of the suspense or mystery. If anything, they add to them.

The first episode of Sherlock is "A Study in Pink" which is based on the Sherlock Holmes story,
"A Study in Scarlet", which is the story where Holmes and Watson first meet. The episode sticks closely to the original source material, but still manages to surprise you even if you have read "A Study in Scarlet". The same principal applies to all the episodes. The writers throw in their own twists and original material, making it their own without veering too far from canon.

I love Sherlock and John! They are the best aspect of the show. Complete polar opposites and yet still friends. Sherlock is sort of a jerk a lot of the time with his cold calculated reasoning and obliviousness to feelings so that John is always calling him out on it. Their bantering is too hilarious! But then, their friendship is so real! John is the one person Sherlock cares for. Literally.

Of course there's Sherlock and Moriarty. Wow, the way they updated Moriarty. He is such a maniac! But a genius at the same time. Of course, the ever so famous Reichenbach fall is included (if you know the canon, you know what happens there). That entire episode stressed me out so much!

Then Mycroft… His and Sherlock's relationship amuses me on so many levels. Even though they're both such superior intellects, they're still such siblings making childish jabs at each other. Mycroft's not fat in this version so his first appearance surprised me (but then, I suppose that was the point). But all the references to his weight and his diet crack me up (especially from Sherlock).

Inspector Lestrade is there, Mrs. Hudson (as the landlady rather than their housekeeper, which there are many jokes about), Irene Adler, and more.

(left to right) Molly Hooper, Mary Watson, Dr. John Watson,
Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Greg Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson

The second season covered three of the most famous Sherlock Holmes stories: "A Scandal in Bohemia" (Holmes's run-in with Irene Adler, where he is outwitted), "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (when a nobleman suspects his friend of being killed by a demon dog), and "The Final Problem" (when Moriarty attempts to take down Holmes). Now, I think they writers covering the smaller ones and creating more of their own stories.

Ever heard of Benedict Cumberbatch? He's starting to make a name for himself now. (Smaug in The Hobbit? Khan in Star Trek?) Anyways, he plays Sherlock. He is SO good! He's such a good actor, I mean seriously! He's definitely a favorite of mine. How on earth does he memorize those 5,000 word long deductions and then spew them out at 90mph? And Martin Freeman (he's Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit), plays John. Awesome chemistry! Fo' realsies!

Each season consists of three 90-minute episodes. As I said above, there's about a two year waiting period between each season. It's a lot to ask from the fans, but believe me, it is SO worth it! The episodes are so refined, so polished. Every single shot is eye candy, perfectly framed, perfectly angled. Breath-taking lighting! The actors are SOOOO good! The music is amazing! The scripts are so awesome! The costumes are legit! Everything is just so perfect! I mean, literally! I have no complaints.

TRAILER

And if you were wondering, all the seasons are on Netflix (except for the Christmas special since that just came out a couple weeks ago).

Top 12 Doctor Who Episodes

I finally caught myself up on one of my all-time favorite TV shows, one of my early loves, one of my oldest obsessions… Doctor Who. After I finished, I began rewatching and reevaluating some of the old episodes and reminded myself of why I loved it in the first place (because I did sort of fall out of love with it for a bit). As I did that, I created a list. But not a top ten list... a top 12! Because that's what Doctor we're on now :)

(If you don't know what Doctor Who is, you can check out my brief explanation blog post I wrote when there were only eleven Doctors HERE, but the information still stands)

Oh yes, this has been long LONG overdue. So here we go (caution, there may be minor spoilers):

12) The Christmas Invasion- TENTH DOCTOR

The Doctor has just regenerated and manages to land the TARDIS back on earth Christmas day only just before he collapses and falls into a coma. Meanwhile, a space probe sent out by scientists to explore Mars is intercepted by an aggressive alien race who plans to invade Earth and sell the population into slavery. With the Doctor out of commission, Rose and the new prime minister attempt to sort out the mess and pacify the aliens.

I have a certain fondness for this one. I don't really know why. It's not much better than a lot of other ones plus the Doctor is absent for 80% of it (and he's the main selling point of the show). I think it's just when the Doctor does finally show up, it's really good. I mean, we've grown attached to the ninth Doctor-- Christopher Eccleston's Doctor-- and suddenly he's gone and we've got… well, David Tennant. The way he establishes himself is so brilliant, funny, and impacting without being overly powerful and emotional (like it tended to get with later regeneration establishment scenes). You just watch him perform and you think "Yes! That is the Doctor!". One of my favorite bits, the Lion King bit. You really have to watch it to fully appreciate it.
Also, it is interesting to see that the TARDIS and the Doctor are linked in the respect that the TARDIS is out of commission when he is. And it was nice to see Harriet Jones again, also the first mention of Torchwood.

11) Smith and Jones- TENTH DOCTOR

An entire hospital is uprooted from its place and taken to the moon. Strange alien police thugs arrive and begin scanning the patients and staff, searching for a non-human life form. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Doctor had checked into the hospital the day before and is accompanied by a doctor-in-training, Martha Jones, to find the hiding alien before the air runs out, the criminal is not found and the entire hospital is declared guilty, and/or before the Doctor himself is targeted.

I often recommend this episode to people who are first watching the show. It literally has everything in it and explains everything (at least the basic stuff); Who and what the Doctor is, what he does, the TARDIS, the sonic screwdriver, the basic gist of how an episode goes, who a companion is, etc. The plot is entertaining enough too. Lots of people give Martha grief for some reason, but I quite like her.
It's the first time we see the Judoon who come up several times in the future. It's interesting because they're not really bad guys, they're just doing their job, but it becomes a threat when the real bad guy can't be found.  There's a good amount of suspense, but it's not one of the overly dramatic ones where the Doctor gives a big speech about what he's going to do or whatever. In fact, the way he gets them out of the mess is really quite clever. I wish there were more episodes like this. Suspenseful and fun, but not too dramatic and makes you question your humanity and morals at every turn.

10) Nightmare in Silver- ELEVENTH DOCTOR

The Doctor takes Clara and the children she watches to a space amusement park only to find it long-since abandoned and destroyed. Soldiers based there tell them of the war against the Cybermen and how they were wiped out. However, dormant Cyber bugs latch onto the children and begin to assimilate them. Cyber bugs come for the Doctor too, planning to make him the Cyber-planner, but he fights back. He makes a deal with the Cyber-planner, Mr. Clever, that whomever wins a game of chess takes over his mind and can do what they want. Meanwhile, supposedly dead Cybermen reawaken and begin attacking the soldiers and Clara.

Now, I find the plot to be a little complicated (certainly not the most complicated that Doctor Who has ever come up with. Not by a long shot), but it was still engaging. What really sold it for me was Matt Smith's performance. *slow claps* The way he switched between the Doctor and Mr. Clever was so subtle and so dramatic at the same time. The way the internal struggle was portrayed with them talking to each other was brilliant. Then showing the one body changing posture and voice as the two minds switched back and forth. Yes! The performance is so good! Matt's voice just goes colder and his eyes squint up when he's Mr. Clever. You can hardly tell… But you can! It's so subtle, but it's so dramatic! It's difficult to explain. And I loved their chess game too. It made it all the more intense. 

9) The Husbands of River Song- TWELFTH DOCTOR

The Doctor is mistaken for a surgeon who is called to remove a diamond from a cybertronic king's head. When he arrives, he finds River who has married the king and plans to have the Doctor simply chop off the king's head rather than surgically remove the diamond. She fails to recognize the Doctor and he becomes tangled up in her scheme to escape the king's murderous cybertronic body and sell the diamond.

I just love the Doctor and River's interactions in this. Even when River doesn't know it's him, it's so sweet and so fantastic. I mean, nothing against Matt Smith because he is a doll and I love him, but really this couple seemed a lot more natural and well… together. Eleven and River were cute and everything, but they were a lot less… I don't know. Like it was more physical and shell-like. Twelve and River, when they're together, you could just feel that they were a team and that they cared for each other. (Not hating on Eleven/River because they did have their moments). The way the Doctor looks at her! *puts hand over heart* How can you say that he doesn't love her back? I will fight you!
I love jealous Doctor. Ha! And of course, River up to her usual antics. It's all a pleasure and a joy.

8) The Lodger- ELEVENTH DOCTOR

When the TARDIS struggles to land and the Doctor is expelled from it with Amy inside, he becomes flatmates with a fellow, Craig, who lives near the problem. The Doctor attempts to live as a normal person while simultaneously investigating what is stopping his ship from landing… which seems to be coming from the flat above Craig's.

Such a funny episode! The Doctor trying to be normal. You can imagine. When he stumbles out of the shower and attacks with the toothbrush XD Plus James Cordon as Craig! The two actors play off each other so well, I love it so much. It's not a particularly interesting story in respects to many others, but I love the characters, the dialogue, the acting, and everything.
(Also, check out Closing Time, when the Doctor pops back in on Craig again. It was SO close to making the list)

7) Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead- TENTH DOCTOR

The Doctor receives a mysterious message on the psychic paper telling him to come to the largest library in the universe. When they arrive, they find it completely empty, but are soon joined by a team of archeologists who have come to investigate the library's vacancy. What happened to everyone? And what is in the shadows?

Easily one of the scariest monsters in Doctor Who, the Vashta Narada. I thought I was over it, I've seen this episode(s) a thousand times years ago, but I watched it the other night and then had to go downstairs and I got really uneasy being in the dark. It's interesting how the episode(s) play out because you're just so confused for the large majority of the time. Like who the heck is that little girl? What's she got to do with the library? Where in tarnation is Donna at? And so on. Very Steven Moffat-ish. Now that I'm over the initial frustration of it, I appreciate the cleverness of it all. I'm also impressed by the monster. Doctor Who always tries to create monsters out of nothing, fears everybody has, or whatever and sometimes it falls right on its face (really? Eye booger monsters? Give me a break!). But this one took a fear that pretty much everyone has at some point (fear of the dark) and turned it into something even worse and almost believable.
Then of course, there's the introduction of River Song. Oh, if only we knew then all the complicated plots and twists that would soon follow.

6) Time Heist- TWELFTH DOCTOR

The Doctor and Clara awaken at a table with two other people and a recording of each of them saying that they agreed to a memory wipe. They are then briefed on an unbreakable bank which they have apparently agreed to break into with an unknown target. Among many threats in the bank, the greatest is the Teller, a telepathic sort of sniffer-dog alien who can read guilt and kill you by melting your brain.

It's just a very entertaining plot. A sort of Now You See Me type episode. These four people have absolutely no idea why they're breaking into this supposedly unbreakable bank, because the less they know, the safer it is since the Teller reads guilt. It's very intense. I like how it's a group effort with everyone's separate abilities combined. Also the mysterious "Architect" who's present all along the way, helping them. It's suspenseful and engaging. I just really enjoyed it.

5) Human Nature/The Family of Blood- TENTH DOCTOR

John Smith is a school teacher at an all boys boarding school in the early 1900's. He is a little bit clumsy and awkward, but still quite brilliant. He fancies the school nurse and is tended to by a maid, Martha. He spends a lot of his time writing down his strange dreams into stories; that he is a time traveling alien who visits other worlds and saves lives. 

This one... You're just sitting there like "What is going on?". Because this guy looks like the Doctor, but he's not acting like the Doctor. Is he pretending? Is it a dream? Martha is there and she almost seems to know what's going on. But WHAT is going on!?
And when you find out what is actually happening and that choice has to be made… oh! Your heart is just torn to pieces! Seriously!

4) The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances- NINTH DOCTOR

The Doctor and Rose land in 1940's London and become separated. The Doctor comes across scavenging orphans. They all are afraid of a certain little boy wearing a gas mask and calling for his mummy. The Doctor is instructed to not let the boy touch him. Meanwhile Rose meets a charming Time Agent from the future, Captain Jack Harkness, who believes they are there to buy his product.

Another classic Doctor Who episode. "Are you my mummy?" Yeah, say that to a Whovian, it'll send them running. I like watching everything play out and then come together in the end. Just all the subtle little things in the beginning that you wouldn't think are important, but then end up being key plot points.
Also, the introduction of Captain Jack Harkness ("and who are you?" XP). I wish he'd come back, I loved him. Then, of course, Nine had to be on my list somewhere! People who skip him should be ashamed of themselves and their parents for having them!

3) The Doctor's Wife- ELEVENTH DOCTOR

The Doctor is summoned to the outer reaches of the universe by a distress beacon of the Time Lords. Once arrived, the TARDIS matrix dies. While investigating, they meet the inhabitants; the Patchwork People and their master, House- the intelligence. One of the Patchwork people is particularly drawn to the Doctor, calling him her "thief". She is declared mad by the others and locked away. Meanwhile, the Doctor investigates and realizes he has been tricked. House was after the TARDIS, wanting to devour it. However, it is impossible to devour it with the matrix inside, but since it's gone, House can get in. But TARDIS matrixes can't be killed so therefore was removed… so where has it gone?

I ship the Doctor/TARDIS so hard, it's not even funny! Yes, that may sound weird to some people, but it is alive after all. And besides, she's always there for him, she takes care of him, she dies when he does, when he's upset then she's upset, he talks to her and tells her his deepest secrets and fears. In the end, after everyone else is gone, it's always just the two of them. (Also, can I just say, in the episode The Husbands of River Song, the TARDIS knew he was upset so she projected foam antlers on top of his head in an attempt to cheer him up XD). In this episode, they finally get to speak with one another. It is so glorious! We learn more about when the Doctor first stole her and what the TARDIS is actually thinking and how she feels about the Doctor (and the other way around). I love this episode so much!
And as a side note, Rory and Amy's trippy experience in the House-inhabited TARDIS is kinda interesting too.

2) The Day of the Doctor- EIGHT AND A HALF, TENTH, AND ELEVENTH DOCTOR

In the midst of the Time War, the Doctor steals a weapon of mass destruction, the Moment, intending to use it to destroy the entire race of Daleks and Time Lords. The Moment speaks to him and attempts to talk him out of it. It shows him his future. He meets the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors as they come together to figure out the meaning of a Gallifreyan painting, stop an alien invasion, and perhaps even prevent the total genocide of two races.

The 50th anniversary special. Of course it was going to be absolutely, breathtakingly superb! The drama, the mystery, the humor, the fun! Everything you love about Doctor Who intensified by 50! ;P Obviously the best part was having three doctors together and interacting with each other. I loved seeing David Tennant again (he was my Doctor after all). And John Hurt was excellent as the forgotten Doctor. I thought for sure he would be dark and gritty, but he was upbeat and clever just like the other two. Eleven and Ten together was just too good to be true! Ah, they were all so funny together. I loved their bantering. Because they are all the same person. How would you cope if you met yourself? (10:"You've done this before. What happens next?" 11:"I don't remember." 10:"How do you not remember this?" 11:"Oi, it's not my fault. You're obviously not paying enough attention!"). The climax! Oh! And of course, that twist ending!
(Yes, that is the Eighth Doctor in the picture, he was present in a minisode prequel The Night of the Doctor)

1) Blink- TENTH

"Don't turn your back, don't look away, and don't blink! Good luck."

Sally Sparrow begins coming across strange messages addressed from the Doctor which predict her every move and instructing her on how to avoid danger. She meets up with strange angel statues that seem to move every time she looks away. She teams up with her friend's brother who has come across an old recording of the Doctor which has been hidden on several random DVDs. They learn that the statues are not statues at all and are actually monsters that will send them back in time if they're touched. However, they can only move when you're not looking, even in the blink of an eye. The Doctor was touched and is stuck in the 60's so needs Sally's help to send him his TARDIS. 

Alright, fellow Whovians, you all knew this was coming. This is pretty much the universally-agreed-upon best Doctor Who episode ever made. And with good reason. I promise you, if you haven't seen the show and you watch this episode, then don't like it… you will not like the rest of the show.
The Doctor himself is barely even present for like 95% of the episode, but his presence is around in messages, videos, and such. The episode really shows you the magic of time travel and how it can be used to an advantage when tweaked properly. It's so cool how all the messages show up exactly on time, not just from the Doctor, but from the Angel's victims. Those Angels are FREAKY! Hands down, the scariest Doctor Who monster!

Talents

For some reason, when people find something impressive about you, they'll express it to you by saying, "wow, I wish I had such natural talent" or "you definitely take after your parents". Which, alright, I see what they're trying to do, but honestly, that just sort of takes away from all the hard work that goes into what was done.

For example, I make movies. Just stupid little home videos mostly, but over the years I have come to be very familiar with editing, music, transitions, appropriate titles, framing, and so on. I'm no professional, but I'd consider myself very knowledgable. I have an entire YouTube channel filled with my work. Every once in a while, my dad has to make a video for church, work, or whatever, and always asks for my advice on something because I have a lot more experience in the area. (Of course he doesn't always listen to my tips, but…). So then people see his videos and think "wow, that was really great!". Cut to later and I'm supposed to make a video for somebody. I present the video and someone comments, "you definitely take after your dad". No, no, no! I know they are not trying to offend, but the issue here is that I am the one who has been putting so much work into making videos over the years and just because my dad's work is put in the spotlight more often, it is assumed that he has the talent and I "take after him". No! I work hard at developing my talents. In fact, he often asks ME for advice! And not to say that he doesn't have talent, but honestly. We're two separate talents! Sorry, I'm not here to get riled up, just to point out a flaw.

The other common response to talents is "I wish I had such natural abilities". Again, it's not meant as an offense, but it does take away some of the idea that I haven't worked hard at what I do. For example, my artwork. Art is hard even for people who are "naturally" good at it. And I get it, some people are better at it than others. Just like some people are better at math than others. I can't do math to save my life, but I don't consider it a "natural ability". When someone is good at something, even if seems to come easily to them, they still have to work hard at it on some level. I am a "natural" artist. However, I have taken several art classes over the years. I have sat through boring lectures on art history, I have memorized the color wheel, I have learned the concepts of depth perception, I've learned how shadows work when light falls on an object, I've learned how to mix colors, I've learned to use different art mediums, and so much more. It was not easy! I started out like anybody else did: as a three-year-old with a box of crayons and scrap paper scribbling random shapes. I just progressed as I got older because I love to draw. Honestly, I didn't produce anything truly impressive until high school when I began taking art classes.

Alright, my ranting is over. I do appreciate compliments and I will take what I can get. But I'm just putting this out there to help people become aware. I know it's hard to come up with words to express when you're just so impressed with something, and usually those are the two things that come to your mind and you think "yes, that sounds good". But if you can help yourself, try to just stick to "that is amazing/impressive/awesome" or something of the like. I may be the only one with this opinion, so you probably don't have to worry TOO much, but if you're looking for small ways to improve yourself, I'd say this is one way to go.