Keats and Bones, but not Keats' Bones...

On today, the 6th of November, I, Rachel Ashby, am glad for John Keats. He was a Romantic poet who penned such beautiful things as Ode to a Nightengale, Ode on a Grecian Urn, many beautiful letters, etc. Read for yourself:

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing

"Call the world if you Please "The vale of Soul-making" . . . Soul as distinguished from Intelligence--There may be intelligences or sparks of the divinity in millions--but they are not Souls till they acquire identities, till each one is personally itself. Intelligences are atoms of perception--they know and they see and they are pure, in short they are God--how then are Souls to be made? How then are these sparks which are God to have identity given them--so as ever to possess a bliss peculiar to each ones individual existence? How, but by the medium of a world like this?"

"You have absorb'd me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving"

Just go read Keats. All of him. He is fabulous. As is the movie Bright Star, about his love story with Fanny Brawn. Spoilers: It does not have a happy ending because Keats died at the age of 25 as a poor writer without having gotten to marry Fanny. And the movie was kind of slow at parts. But I loved how they laced pieces of Keats' writing through it and it was very romantic and REAL romance. Not that crappy Hollywood stuff.

And then there was a new episode of Bones last night, that I watched tonight with Sarah and Lila. Hooray.

Anyway, bed time. :)

Remember, Remember...

...The Fifth of November.
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
I know of no reason why Gunpowder, Treason
Should ever be forgot

What I am thankful for today:

1) Guy Fawkes Day--fire and England, what could be better? (Even if I'm watching the Scarlett Pimpernell with England peeps instead of having a bonfire) :D
2) Thinking about Guy Fawkes Day has made me miss England and made me incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to go on my Study Abroad and the friends who turned into family there, and the experiences I had.
3) Again, warm weather
4) Chocolate
5) My talents as a writer, especially how I feel I've grown as a writer over the past few months. Sigh. I am thankful for writing, and communicating.

P.S. My heart aches for England right now. So much. I just miss being there with everyone and everything and always writing and almost always being so overwhelmed with happiness. And if I went back to England, I'm sure I would love it, but it wouldn't be the same. There would still be this hole in my heart, because I don't just miss England, but the two months I spent there on the BYU England and Literature, Spring 2009 Program.

Song of the Post: Being in Love, from the Music Man (the movie). It doesn't have to do with anything. It's just been stuck in my head ALL DAY LONG for no reason whatsoever.

Mazel Tov

So, uh, hey, I really liked the way my last post turned out visually. It made me happy. Maybe I'm getting okay at this whole making my blog aesthetically pleasing thing. And yes, I feel the need to make it such.

Anyway. Periodically, my friend Whitney will hold 30 Minute Dance Parties at her lovely house. And, after missing the last one, I FINALLY went to one. Really, if you don't know Whitney Bush and have never been to a 30 Minute Dance Party, you are missing out. Short, sweet, simple, and rockin'. I love dance parties because there is great music, you get to dance, and even though some might say they're kind of awkward, everyone is just as bad at dancing as you are, and even if they're a million times better than you, guess what--they don't care! They just want to have fun. And you should too. I, for one, always feel like a horrible dancer, but so what? I laugh at myself and keep dancing because I love it. The end.

Song of the Post: I've Got a Feelin' by the Black Eyed Peas


(Please forgive the fact that this picture is not of anyone I know. Let's call the girls Sophie, Bianca, and Astoria. Anyway. I was going to put up pictures of my favorite dance parties, but I didn't feel like digging any up off of the hundreds of thousands of pictures they're among on Facebook.)

I am a Copycat. Plus: Rice, Sun and Delicious Music

So. My England-friend Whitney is spending the month of November being grateful for things. And I rather like this idea. I probably won't post something every day, but probably most.

Also. Another friend does a "Song of the Post" everytime he posts something on his blog. And I want to start doing that too, although, once again, I probably won't do it every every single time.

Today, I am grateful for Rice packs. You know, the type you heat up in the microwave that spread warmth and goodness throughout your body and help relieve all sorts of pain and are just relaxing. Even though they smell kind of funny, mine brings me so much joy.

I am also grateful for warm November days that feel more like early October days. They make me happy--they have the chill of autumn days, but the sun is emitting warmth that makes it pleasant, not cold, and warms the soul as well. The sky is blue, but the leaves are almost all off the trees and crackle as the breeze sweeps them along the sidewalk and passing students tackle them with their feet. Because of that, that leads to my first....

SONG OF THE POST: Come On, Come Out. A Fine Frenzy. (Fun Fact: when Christine had me make a mix of songs that define myself, this was the opener) Also, while you're listening to A Fine Frenzy, go listen to You Picked Me as well, because I've had that song stuck in my head the past two days and it is another good one. :D

Sunday, Round 2

Who would have thought that my Sunday would be even better thane expected? Not only did all the things that I thought would be lovely turn out to be even lovelier, but it was just a beautiful day full of beautiful things and overwhelming love for God, my Savior, His gospel, and those around me. I've truly been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life. Just to name a few: Sarah Snow, Elder Savage, Elder Cowdell, Lila, Liz Katelyn, Tracy, Michele, Megan, Karyann, Marilee, Marilee's family, President Uchtdorf, Lisa, Christine, Lindsey, Amanda Hufstetler, Camille, Sarah Lutz...seriously. I could go on FOREVER. That isn't even listing my immediate family or even my immediate extended family.

After a church meeting which was just wonderful for no particular reason, just it being church and all, I went to Mare's for dinner. Lasagna. Yum. And then we went to the CES fireside and talked and talked and talked afterwards. Such a wonderful fireside. And such wonderful company. Mare is such a wonderful girl. She's turning her mission papers in in just a couple months. She will be such a wonderful missionary. She loves the Lord. She loves all His children. She loves His gospel. She will sacrifice anything for them. She teaches me so much every day. I am forever grateful that we were in the same EFY group that last year.

And Pres. Uchtdorf's fireside was simply wonderful. It does not get much better than being spoken to by that man. Sigh. Be happy, all. :)

My Sunday

Delicious for all senses.

Sound: Music and the Spoken Word
Taste: Fast Sunday--so all food is good, but I'm going to my cousin's for lasagna tonight!
Touch: Warmth of a pea coat and tights
Sight: Mountains and beautiful people
Smell: Late fall air

:)

November is off to a good start.

NEW CHRISTMAS

For an explanation see here: http://letschangeourluck.blogspot.com/

and then check out...

http://thefuntheory.com