Fifty Shades of Annoying

Alright, I’ll admit it right now. I am in the minority, I didn’t do somersaults over Fifty Shades of Grey.

I probably could come up with Fifty Reasons not to Read It, but usually one is enough. It is terrible, it has flat characters, the dialogue is deplorable, it is insulting to women everywhere. OK, that’s four reasons. Educated young women, should not speak so poorly. Five. Neither should they drop their handkerchief, flutter their eyelashes, or behave coyly because the man is devastatingly good looking, oh! and rich to boot. Six.

I was exhausted within the first few pages with the foolishness of this “modern day woman”. She bravely skipped into a situation that she knew was unhealthy and needed to make excuses for in a million ways. Her “relationship” did not encourage her to be a person in her own right, did not encourage her to make her own decision, did not encourage her to trust her instincts. This book annoyed me! I literally had to put it down several times or I would have thrown it. By the way, the sex was nothing exciting either, even if there were ropes and elevators involved.

Many a woman has been seduced by a rich man with a helicopter. Yea, right! The women I know have been drawn in by charm, good looks, idle promises, and their own poor self-esteem. Who will write a story about that?

I had been gifted the Trilogy of Fifty Shades of Grey. I struggled to finish the first, I had to finish it, I had to see if Eureka!, the character might reach an epiphany. I could not waste another moment of my life and deleted 2 and 3. Please don’t email me to tell me that the male character had been abused as a child (just a guess here, folks), didn’t know better and had reasons for his behaviour. There is no reason good enough to subject an audience to part 2 and 3.

If you live long enough, you look around and you learn a few things. A horrible childhood doesn’t give you an excuse; others have survived, thrived and continue on to make better choices. We all believe that we have reasons to behave badly, some of us refrain and just don’t use them.

Shame on you Fifty Shades of Grey. It is a dis-service to young women everywhere to believe a fantasy that doesn’t exist. Sex is only one reason to stay. Instead, allow women the courage to be strong within themselves and not put up with this kind of manipulation from anyone.

Feel it in your Heart

You can come to understand your purpose in life by slowing down and feeling your heart's desires. 

Marcia Wieder

Look to this Day

Look to this day:

For it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course

Lie all the verities and realities of your existence.

The bliss of growth,

The glory of action,

The splendour of achievement

Are but experiences of time.

For yesterday is but a dream

And tomorrow is only a vision;

And today well-lived, makes

Yesterday a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well therefore to this day;

Such is the salutation to the ever-new dawn! 

Kalidasa

Arrival of Winter

This past Saturday, I stood in line outside at 7:45am to wait for Kal-Tire to open to get my tires “swapped”. This is a common practice for those of us who live in the northern hemisphere, where ice can be “black” and send you shimmying across the painted lines.

(Note to all: Saturday mornings are better served waking slowly and cherishing your first cup of coffee.) I am fortunate however, as I had G’s hand to hold while we waited. Then, Winter arrived yesterday and I am grateful that my winter tires are on. Timing was on my side, this time.

Now, I look forward to shooting in monochrome, of capturing the starkness of dark on white, and the brightness of outerwear against ice. I can view the settled snow from my living room window, I can see the flakes dancing in the street lights. I see the sun trying it’s best to outshine the clouds and I cheer it on toward success. I see concrete tables and benches left un-assembled on the walkway to my work. Now they will lie there unused until Spring arrives, forming new sculptures as Winter progresses.

Griffith Park

I have removed my bright toe-nail polish as it looked sadly obscene when I pull on my socks. Have replaced my walking ball-cap with something wool. My fluffy throw on my comfy leather chair beckons me. Why didn’t I take the optional fireplace in my living space?

Regardless of bundling up in layers, the cool makes me think, makes me plan, draws me inward to nourish my soul and formulate a new beginning. Thank goodness for our changing seasons, now I can bake muffins and stir the soup pot, and make trays of my famous granola blend. Aah, and drink hot chocolate.

Let the snowdrifts accumulate, let the wind circulate, I have my tea, I have my book, I have my Winter.

Face Your Week with Courage!