Confidence in Cosplay

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

The biggest con event of the year is happening this weekend. That’s right it’s New York Comic Con. NYCC is one of the largest cons in the nation drawing together iconic celebrities, cosplayers, and geeks.  Most cosplayers will probably roam about the city and be themselves.

For someone with anxiety, roaming around the city in cosplay is a victory. Growing up, cosplay was looked down upon and considered to be a waste of time. Whenever a cosplay was worn it was often made fun of and the cosplayer was deemed a loser. Even when attending ACBC and WWP this year, I was a bit hesitant to walk around in public dressed in my cosplay. I had no idea how I would be viewed or would be said of me. However, maturity and cosplay’s modern acceptance and view have changed me.

I’m a woman in her late twenties cosplaying a fictional character and to be frank with you, I couldn’t be happier. It’s an extension of expressing myself and to publicly wear that cosplay for a con I’m attending gives me joy. Sometimes I’ll get compliments. Sometimes I’ll get strange stares, but at the same time I simply don’t care. I’m being myself and it’s wonderful. It takes a ton of confidence and assurance to be one’s self in this world with bullies (both physical and cyber), society’s perspective of things, and people in general. I think after all these years my confidence has come to fruition especially by means of cosplay.

When Saturday comes I will happily walk onto the train, through the stations, down to Manhattan, and wherever else I please wearing my cosplay. I have the confidence to override my anxiety, ignore what other people think and/or say of me, and just generally be myself. It’s a feeling that once embraced, can never be taken away from you and cosplay has helped me achieved that.

I think in life we need to find the things that make us incredibly confident. It can be one thing or it can be multiple things. For me it would have to be writing and cosplaying and maybe it’s other activities I haven’t discovered, but if there are any more, I plan to discover and fully embrace them.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, share, and subscribe.

So tell me, what makes you feel confident?

Gene Wilder: A Man of Pure Imagination

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Holy gobstoppers, Gene Wilder is deceased.

Gene Wilder (originally born as Jerome (“Jerry”) Silberman) has passed on August 28^th, 2016 in Stamford, Connecticut at the age of 83 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He hadn’t informed the public of his condition because he didn’t want children to sadly view him for his illness, but rather happiness for all the joy he brought them.

My heart has been punched severely by this news and still aches as I write this entry.  So much so that I needed longer than usual to craft an entry that at best would convey my feelings for the man and to do it in a proper fashion. Even so, I’m still tearing up at “Pure Imagination” as it plays in my head.

In a sense, I feel as though I’ve grown up with Gene Wilder. We first met during my childhood with “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”. The movie terrified me greatly, but as an adult I appreciate it and adore it dearly especially with its trivia. Did you know that the first time Wilder ever appeared to the cast was when he rolled out to them upon opening the factory? And that the reactions of everyone during the boat scene were completely genuine? The director had informed the cast they were going on a boat ride, but didn’t mention the horrific images or Wilder’s improvised lines (“There’s no earthly way of knowing which direction they are going…”). In fact, most of the reactions in this movie were genuine – even down to the final scene where Charlie confronts Willy Wonka in his office.

Wilder returned to me in my teen years where I fell in love with “Saturday Night Live” especially the older, original cast including Gilda Radner.  It was during this time that I had learned that he had married Gilda Radner and when she died from breast cancer, he created Gilda’s Club. Gilda’s Club was a non-profit charity to help those with cancer. The notion of Wilder wanting to continue breast cancer efforts despite her passing and his suffering from it was beyond immeasurable and imaginable for me. The mere amount of heartbreak he must have endured had to be ungodly.

Following me through my adolescence and adulthood, Wilder thrilled me with “The Producers” (Pre-Nathan Lane/Matthew Broderick (though he loved their Broadway version)), “Blazing Saddles”, and “Young Frankenstein” (“FRONKensteen!”) both produced by Mel Brooks. Gene Wilder had met Mel Brooks in his early stage career and the two housed a wonderful friendship and partnership.  He was nominated for an Oscar for his role in “The Producers” which caused him to be a highly demanded actor which secured his iconic role as Willy Wonka.

It’s been about a week since Wilder passed and my chest still throbs terribly in knowing we lost a great man. In knowing I lost someone who I seemingly grew up with, who would always wind his way back into my life. For every moment he visited, I learned to love more of his work as well as life. Thank you Gene Wilder, for somehow secretly always being there and being a wonderful person.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to share, subscribe, critique, and comment.

So tell me, what did you like Wilder in the most?

Pokemon Go: Coming Full Circle

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Good God on a roller coaster, so much has happened in this past week.

For starters, Pokemon Go has launched in the USA and with it came glitches, strange locations, and some rather hilarious findings. Pokemon Go has motivated people to explore unknown areas, exercise, and befriend others who want to be the very best.

This game has caused the franchise to come full circle and it’s absolutely wonderful.

When Pokemon first appeared in my childhood, everyone befriended each other over these creatures. The playground was filled with children trading cards, kids battling or trading over the cable link, and others gushing about how Mewtwo was better than Mew based on the first movie. I was one of those children; my first holographic card was a Mewtwo and my first card ever was a Ponyta given to me by a dear friend who moved away. I chose Squirtle because I loved the Water type, clung to streetlights’ glow for driving in the dark and past my bedtime, and hated Lance’s Dragonites terribly. The graphics didn’t matter to me as long as my Blastoise won the battles.

My childhood gave way to my teen years where my love for Pokemon waivered. I was an adolescent “too old” for Pokemon, but still had the guilty pleasure of whipping out the DS and training my Totodile to be a mighty Feraligator. The very few geeks I knew still clung to this game and we fought over a strange new feature called wireless combat. The cable links were tossed into the basement, no longer needed and the cards were stored away in the attic. The last card I ever collected was a promotional card of Entei from “Pokemon: Secret of the Unown”.

For the longest time I stayed away from Pokemon, keeping true to my attitude of being “too old” for the franchise. When I entered college my mind was absolutely blown at people my age (18 (if not older)) playing a game that was originally designed for children. I was unsure of how to respond to this, but I knew that I couldn’t keep away from the nostalgic franchise. I started to bring my DS more and learned about IV/EV teams and crafted my dream team that would have made my younger self awe at its power.

I’m now an adult. I have XY, Pokemon Go, and ORAS and plan on purchasing Pokemon Moon when it releases. On those games I have more shinys than my younger self could have ever dreamed of, a wonderful team, and the fantastic ability to play with Pokemon as those they were pets in real life. I treat them well and in turn, they help me bring my opponents ‘ HP to 0.

Other adults like me were introduced to Pokemon at a young age and I’m sure the majority of them have Pokemon Go. Because of this app, they can explore the world they never knew and make friends along the way. Some people have eliminated their depression, anxiety, or even learned to cope with their lives because of this app. It’s such a simple, wondrous thing that’s helping so many while broadening the virtual/augmented reality world.

Thank you, Pokemon for coming full circle from my childhood into my current adulthood and exposing me to this world we live in, the friendships I’ve culminated with people and Pokemon alike, and for crafting me into the woman I am today.

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. Feel free to comment, critique, share, and subscribe.

So tell me, what do you think of Pokemon Go?

Never Too Old for Cosplay

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

I apologize for the lack of entries last week – crafting cosplays, con going, and con recovery are incredibly tiring and fun. This past weekend I attended the Steampunk World’s Fair and from that con, I’ve retrieved some wisdom which has reassured me about one thing in life.

You're never too old for cosplay.

This is something I’ve learned at the Steampunk World’s Fair wherein I saw a good amount of elderly people cosplaying. They cosplayed couple outfits such as a bee and her beekeeper, an octopus and a fisher, and simply Victorian clad personas. Their outfits were wonderful and highly detailed and it made me wonder if older people spend their retirement money on cosplay.

When we think of growing old we recall things the media has shown us: travelling the world, retirement homes with Sunday bingo and crocheting, sitting around the house and knitting, grandchildren, medical bills and daily pills. Yet I find that even that concept has changed too and where some elders may engage in these activities, others might cosplay as I have witnessed this past weekend.

                                                                                                                   

Most of you are probably in your teens and twenties like me and embracing youth. None of us are contemplating retirement or when we hit our fifties. Yet sometimes in the late hours of the night or in the quietest moments of the day, we begin to wonder about ourselves. Will we be doing what we want to well into our lives? Will we still be the same person? Will we grow out of something we love by force of adulthood and responsibilities or stay true to it?

For someone who constantly wonders about the future and who I will be, it’s refreshing and wondrous to see elders cosplaying. It’s wonderful and reassuring to see creativity and passion outlast the hardships of life and our youth. It also shows that we still can have vivid imaginations and be ourselves right until our dying day. Maybe when I’m in my retirement, I can scrimp and save and craft some wondrous cosplay like what I saw at the Steampunk World’s Fair.

Will I be ninety five and still cosplaying? I would like to because it’s a part of who I am and knowing that it’s accepted by society, is strongly enticing and inviting.

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, share, and subscribe.

So tell me, have you ever seen older people cosplaying?

Parents: Get With the Program

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Most of you are in your teens to twenties and probably live with strict parents. Especially if you’re an only child or a younger sibling, things tend to seem unfair. Some parents fall back relentlessly on ideals from the 50s (if not older) and never seem to let them go. Tonight, I’m going to dispel some of these ridiculous myths that you may have heard throughout your lifetime.

1.”If you hang out with nothing but men, you’re a whore.” – FALSE. Ladies, guess what? We can have nothing but guys as friends and it’s okay. Why? Because they’re human just like us and maybe you prefer to do things with them as opposed to women. It’s perfectly okay and by no means are you a whore. Rather, you just have awesome friends you like to do things with.

2.”Everyone is out to get you.” – FALSE. For starters, this is something you shouldn’t tell someone with anxiety or paranoia because it only makes it worse. Regardless, yes, the world is comprised of wonderful people and terrible people. Not everyone is out to get you because they are too focused on their lives to even care about you. However, it is still good to be cautious when venturing out in the world – just don’t overdo it.

3.”You need a man to do things and go places with.” – FALSE.  I’m pretty sure that most of us can handle ourselves in this world. Granted, there’s nothing wrong with the buddy system and hanging out with friends is fun. Yet there are some days when we want to have some ‘me’ time and do things we want to without anyone’s company. We don’t need an escort or a chaperone. We can do it all ourselves.

4. “You can’t drive alone at night because it’s dangerous.” – FALSE. Want to know the difference between day time driving and night time driving? Headlights. There’s also a fewer amount of cars on the road as well as people, but as long as you know where you’re going, stay awake, and keep your doors locked, you should be fine.

5. “You shouldn’t wear boys’ clothes because you’ll look like a lesbian.” – FALSE. Why not dress in boys’ clothes? For the record, I am incredibly girly – I will wear pink frilly dresses until I’m deceased, but I love wearing big shirts and men’s sweatpants because they are comfortable. Am I a lesbian? No, I am a heterosexual, but I do believe homosexuals have an equal right to marry, to wear whatever they want, and to be treated as a normal person.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to subscribe, share, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what are some things your parents say that drive you insane?

Luigi's Mansion: My Unconventional Valentine

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

With Valentine’s Day nearly a week away, I might have found an old flame to connect with. It was only Saturday where I reunited with my long lost love: Luigi’s Mansion.

Luigi’s Mansion is a game that released for the Gamecube in 2001. It focused around Luigi who busts them ghosts in a mansion he supposedly won from a contest that he never entered. Mario is also missing in this game, so it’s up to Luigi to find and rescue him.

Back in 2001, I was honestly scared of my own shadow and detested this game and sold it to Gamestop. Since 2005, I have regretted my decision and been on the hunt for this game. Finally after eleven years, I managed to find it and my love for it has never been stronger. Needless to say, I’m reunited with Luigi’s Mansion and it feels so good.

Here’s why I love Luigi’s Mansion.

5. It’s Luigi’s Game

How many games does Luigi have to himself? Very few, but most people remember this as being Luigi’s game. There was barely any Mario involved or Peach or Daisy. At best it was just Luigi, Toad, a bit of Bowser, and an old scientist who wanted to capture ghosts with a vacuum backpack. It was a game perfect for Luigi because it encompassed a unique concept and a grand sense of adventure – just like a Mario game would feature.

4. The Puns

I am a stickler for puns and this game does not disappoint. Professor E. Gad? The Game Boy Horror? The names of the Boos? These little puns provide comedy relief to a game filled with spooky scary spirits.

3. The Ghosts

Each ghost is different and provides their backstory in their portraits. Even their personalities shine through their stories and how they appear overall. For example, Madam Clairvoya is very helpful and willing to be sealed away in a portrait and find peace. She differs greatly from other spirits like Shivers, Miss Petunia, and even Chauncy.

2. The Music

The music for this game is well done; so much so the main track constantly gets stuck in my head. It’s a simple little tune that I’ve remembered for all these years and every time I hum it, it makes me smile. It’s also a simple melody that definitely sets the spooky, eerie feeling of Luigi’s Mansion. It’s the perfect score for a fun game.

1. Ghostbusting

When there’s something strange in the Nintendo world, who ya gonna call? Ghostbuster Luigi. Basically, you’re busting ghosts and showing that you’re not afraid of them. While Miyamoto has claimed on numerous occasions that Luigi’s Mansion wasn’t inspired by “Ghostbusters”, I like to think otherwise.

The controls for ghostbusting require the player to have a firm grip and watchful eyes because Luigi flails with the ghost while trying to capture it. Should the player’s fingers fumble, the ghost escapes. The ghost can easily be recovered and attacked again, but it’s fun to try and suck the spirit up in one go.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to subscribe, share, comment, and critique.

So tell me, who or what has stolen your heart this Valentine’s Day?

Christmas Traditions Get Better With Age

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Christmas is usually a time for children, but who’s to say it isn’t for the young at heart? I’m a child at heart especially when those jingle bells start jingling and trees are beautifully adorned with decor. Even so, my inner child still doesn’t derive from the fact that I am an adult now and that some Christmas traditions have fallen to the way side due to time. Yet there are some holiday related events that still are just as wonderful to me as an adults as when I was a child.

Here are some Christmas traditions that get better with age:

5. Christmas Apparel

Don we now our gay apparel – especially for the holiday season. Since I was a  child I have had Christmas outfits: Christmas dresses when I was a baby and from childhood onward, Christmas pajamas that could only be worn on Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day. New pajamas are a treat because they’re warm and hopefully adorned with some awesome design (like Darth Vader), but Christmas pajamas are special. They’re pajamas ringing in yet another Christmas, a Christmas full of merriment, wonder, and elation.

4. Holiday Baking

Most children helped their parents bake during the holidays for some party or for leaving cookies out for Santa. In teen years and onward, holiday baking falls onto our shoulders by means of tradition or merely wanting to whip up a batch of cookies. I find that I love holiday baking because it allows me to further my creativity and I get to give people I care for something sweet just in time for Christmas.

3. Advent Calendars

Advent calendars are little sneak peeks of what’s to come for the big day. Days marked from December 1^st to the 25^th (24^th for some advent calendars), hide little gifts beneath their numbers. There are even different types of advent calendars from beard conditioning to tea. These calendars in particular get better with every year because our interests tend to change overtime and variety should always be welcomed. One year someone may get a chocolate themed advent calendar, another year they may get an anime themed calendar – the possibilities are endless. 


2. Giving

Speaking of giving, as children we often receive presents from everyone. Albeit, we do give whatever gifts we can to others as children, but we do more receiving. As an adult, the role is most often reversed. We give now to children, to close friends, to coworkers, to parents, to relatives, and even to charity. This year I feel as though I’ll be giving more which is wonderful. Tis the season to be jolly and giving, so why embrace it? Besides, there’s just some wonderful feeling that comes from giving a gift to someone. It’s that warm feeling like popcorn is being made in your stomach and explodes into thousands of fuzzy warm puffs. I’ll be gift giving not only to my family, friends, and coworkers, but also to Toys for Tots –a personal tradition I’ve performed every year at every possible chance I can.

1. The Lights

As kids our eyes widen at the glimmer and glow of Christmas trees and shimmering houses. The amazement still strikes us as adults, but only now we can create that magic. We can deck our halls, doll up our trees, and adorn our lawns and homes with enough lights to be seen from the Curiosity rover. We are now the providers of those smiles, those widened eyes, those slacked jaws; we are doing what we only dreamed we could as kids. With the use of technology and lights we can create the magic of those wondrous decorations we saw many years ago as children.

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to share, subscribe, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what are some of your Christmas traditions?

Happy Haunting!

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

The most wonderful time of the year is only a day away. No, not Christmas – Halloween! Halloween  is a wondrous time of the year and also comes with a few safety precautions. Here are some tips to help you on your night of tricks and treats.

1. Take Care of Animals

Hallow’s Eve is known as Mischief Night and a form of unforgivable mischief that people might perform is harming animals. With this being said, if you have a pet keep them inside for Hallow’s Eve. On Halloween, be sure to keep an eye out for them if you happen to be walking them through trick or treating hours or keep them away from the door when trick or treaters arrive. If you don’t have a pet, but you do notice some strays roaming around your neighborhood, either take them in or call the animal shelter. A safe animal is a happy animal, especially on Mischief Night and Halloween.

2. Watch Children

When a person has a child, it is their responsibility. Not yours, not your pets’, not anyone’s responsibility, but that parent. However, there are times when parents’ eyes tend to roam (to their cell phones or their environment) which gives way to their children breaking loose and running about. Children on Halloween are excited puppies – it’s a night of fun, treats, and costumes so naturally they’ll be running around.

If you happen to be driving on Halloween night, keep a careful eye out for children crossing the street or walking around your vehicle. If you happen to have any steps or ledges leading up to your home, watch the children come and go so that they don’t trip, fall, or jump off.  If you want to prevent children from jumping off the ledges of your home, Walmart, Party City, and even Spirit Halloween sell Halloween fences to block off the area so they cannot leap from the ledge.

Trust me, as a woman whose house has a ledge that kids like to jump off of especially during Halloween, those fences are incredibly useful.

3. Beware of Loose Candy

Seriously, why is there loose candy to begin with? By loose candy I mean candy that is unwrapped, bitten into, and/or tampered with. If you see someone handing out candy like this, refuse it or throw it away. Also, don’t be the house that gives out fruit (unless it’s coated in chocolate or caramel). It’s Halloween, children don’t want apples or pears they want Almond Joys and Pixie Sticks. Let them have their sugar rush and return to the healthy foods another day.

4. Don’t Rush

Remember how I said children run around on Halloween? Sometimes they may trip over their costumes or even their own feet. This being said, approach trick or treating like life and take it slow and easy. There is no need to rush. In the end, you will receive a gratuitous amount of candy and no markings from falling or tripping.

5. Use a Flashlight

While it’s not completely pitch dark during trick or treating hours, a source of light is still good to have. Most houses usually leave their lights on or have illuminated their yards with lights for the spirit of the season and trick or treating, but you can’t linger around those houses forever. Carry a flashlight with you to light the way, especially on pavements that are old and have unexpected rises and drops.  Plus you get to see everyone’s costumes and other people that are coming your way so you can avoid bumping into them.


6. Have Fun

Trick or treating is a momentous occasion in both a parent’s life and a child’s. For a parent, to see their child dressed up in a costume is adorable and heartwarming. For children, trick or treating is their mecca; it’s their one night of paradise that they always look forward to. So let them dress up in whatever they want, take photographs, form traditions, let them stay up a little later than normal, and let them have fun.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, subscare – I mean, subscribe, and share.

So tell me, what are your plans for Halloween?

Cutting the Cord

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Most of my readers are adults if not young adolescents blooming into adulthood.  Adulthood is a wonderful time when you realize that the world is harsh, you must do everything you can to survive, take on responsibilities, and complete with a mountain of stress and surprisingly good times. In this new era of your life, you will still have your parents, but at some point you need to cut the umbilical cord. Here’s why.

5.  You’re No Longer a Child

Your parents will always think of you as their child and after a while, it will start to get annoying. You’re in your twenties, your maturity is still growing, your brain is caught between the dying child and the rapidly growing adult you’re trying to be. Some parents realize this, others not so much. You have to tell them where you are in life; inform them that you are not their princess or astronaut. You’re an adult now and you’re going to do what you please. This will be hard to execute especially if you still live at home and your parents cook for you, but regardless, you must make your stand.

4.It’s Your Life, Not Theirs

Since it’s your life you can do whatever you please. You can make pudding at 5 am for no reason, you can stay out late, you can even drink (if you so desire). You will do things they may detest (get a tattoo, go to a club, eat different ethnical food, etc.), but you are doing these things; not them. Yes you will make bad decisions, but bad decisions are all a part of learning, and yes, your parents will try to stray you from them. Take their advice, keep it in the back of your head, do your research before doing anything drastic, and decide what you want to do. It is your life after all.

3. Independence

From doing what you so desire, you will gain independence. Being independent is possibly the best feeling in the world because you can rely on yourself to do what you need to do. Also from independence your anxiety will gradually taper off, your confidence will escalate, your maturity will grow, and you will learn the nature of this world as well as the many kind hearted souls and bitter hearts that inhabit it.  

2. Your Parents Won’t Always Be There

You’ll eventually move out when you can afford a place or they will unfortunately pass on. Tying in with independence, you will also learn how to function when your parents aren’t around.  So must learn how to act on your own without your mother or father holding your hand. In life, the only ones who will hold your hand are your spouse, children, and best friend, but even then they won’t always be there for you. So you have to learn how to hold your hand and lead yourself into the world.

1. You Will Be Your Own Self

If not develop into your own self. Your personality will be different from everyone else’s. You will develop into that wonderful person you want to be and from it you will flourish greatly. Embrace that person and if you want to change that person, then don’t be afraid to do so. Change introduces us to new perspectives, new ideas, new methods, and new experiences. Also don’t worry if you don’t automatically become this new person you so desire to be. It takes time. Days, months, years, it will take time; but don’t worry about it. The more experiences you gain in your life, the more they will contribute into knowing  and becoming who you are.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what’s your favorite experience in life so far?

Friends or Lovers? You Decide.

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Dating is a dangerous road trip that could possibly lead to the ultimate destination of love. In life, most people to be loved and to love another.  Often we find people to connect with whether they are friends or lovers. Sometimes, we grow apart from our friends while other times we grow closer.  The closer we grow to our friends, the more they become best friends. From the initial friendship, some attraction may form and ultimately develop into a crush. You may then think of your best friend in a new light and contemplate pursuing them.

Here's some pros and cons to dating your best friend:

Pros:

-They know everything about you from the way you eat your apple to the way you work. They know every single secret you’ve ever told them and every dream you have ever had.

-They already accept and trust you.

-You can love them without pursuing a relationship. As close friends there is already the shared sense of platonic love. Platonic love is nothing romantic, but rather an admiration of their company, who they are, and your connection together.

-You are already comfortable with them on a multitude of levels.

Cons:

-Should the relationship fail, your friendship is permanently tarnished with little to no repair in sight. Some people do try to fix their friendships after the relationship. It’s a good thing to do, but it is rather awkward. At best, you can separate yourselves from each other until the tension has cleared and discuss what’s on your minds.

-You’ll also be left with unshakable heart ache.
 

-Intimacy is weird between you two.  Never before would you have imagined your best friend kissing you passionately or engaging in sexual activity with you. The idea of this and actually doing it, may push you away from ever being intimate with them.

-The relationship could feel forced at times because you may feel affection for them, but they do not.

I’ll admit I’ve known people to date their best friends. For some, it turned out for the better. Others are still haunted by the failed relationship that they tried to create with their best friend. I think at some point everyone dates their best friend because they are already accepted and loved by someone who they really trust. To venture outside this safe haven of a friendship would be risking everything and having to build everything with someone else. It’s a lesson to learn in life and it’s one that will definitely help you decide whether you should date your best friend or not.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you liked it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, have you ever dated your best friend?

Safe for St.Patrick

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Tuesday is St.Patrick’s Day aka a day to get completely smashed and regret it the next day. The color green is everywhere on people, in food, in drinks, and on the most notable icons of this holiday, a shamrock and a leprechaun. Traditional foods like shepard’s pie and corned beef are commonly served at restaurants on this holiday, but everyone more so remembers this as a day to get hammered.

If you’re going to drink this St.Patrick’s Day or any day, here’s some things you shouldn’t do with your drink.

5. Carry it

If you’re drunk you’re losing a few things: your lunch (possibly), your speech, your mind, and coordination. When you carry your drink you might be like me and unintentionally spill it all over the place.  The smell of alcohol may be easy to get rid of on your breath, but on clothes and furniture it is a pain, especially for other people.

4. Sneak it

Because apparently that gets you into trouble and people may not like alcohol around them. Some recovering alcoholics may actually hate the smell let alone sight of a cold one. If you’re under 21, then naturally if you’re caught sneaking alcohol you’re going to get into severe trouble not only with the law as well.


3.  Force it

Yes, you want to be the life of the party, the center of attention, and generally have a good time. Having a good time at a party or bar is something everyone expects to have and there’s nothing wrong with it. But if you know your alcohol limit and have reached it, do not force yourself to fit that role. Surpassing your alcohol limit could lead to alcohol poisoning, vomiting, and feeling terrible.


2. Leave it

Because it could be spiked! People like to slip roofies or any other drug into others’ drinks which leads to some extremely negative results. Some results include getting sick, sexual assault, and many others. If you know you’re going to leave your drink temporarily then order a new one to save yourself from a nightmare.


1. Spike it

Spiking a drink is never good. Yes, at times it’s often used as a comedic act in movies where someone spikes the punch bowl at a party to liven it up or just spikes someone’s drink. In real life when someone spikes your drink, it usually leads to a terrible time (see #2).

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So, what do you enjoy about St.Patrick’s Day?

Eyes Up Here, Chaperones

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Prom season is in the air and as girls fuss over their hair, boys make sure their tuxes match their partner’s gowns. Corsages are ordered, countless of dresses are scrutinized and tried on, and the limo is paid for. Prom is a momentous occasion that’s often idolized in television series and movies. It is an important evening in a teenager’s life to get dolled up, go dancing, and be given the celebrity treatment.

On May 14^th Richmond, Virginia had a prom for homeschooled students; one of the seniors, Clare Ettinger, was asked to leave because her sparkling dress was attracting the eyes of older men, and made them believe it would bring "‘impure thoughts" to boys.

Ettinger felt violated from the whole ordeal which originated no sooner she reached her destination. A teacher claimed Ettinger’s dress was too short when it met her finger length, as the dress code required.

nbcbayarea.com

Here is Miss Ettinger's dress all sparkly, lovely, and meeting the finger length requirement.

After she fought that it met the guidelines, she proceeded to go to the prom which was chaperoned by older men. Once again the teachers approached Ettinger and told her to leave because the chaperones complained that her dress and swaying was too provocative. Ettinger claims that there were girls wearing even shorter dresses and dirty dancing, but none of them were asked to leave. The young lady was escorted by both a security officer and a teacher. She was also given a refund for her prom ticket, but her friends that left with her did not receive one.

It’s terrible that she was taken away by a police officer, like she committed a crime when really she did nothing, but obey the rules and try to have a good time. It’s sickening to know that because older men couldn’t keep it together, they had to ruin a young lady’s prom. It’s even more disgusting to know that they, mature men, should have been able to control themselves. The “impure thoughts” they were claiming were probably the ones running through their heads, which is even more shameful. Ettinger was so upset with this ordeal that she wrote a blog entry about it, telling her side of the story.

Thank you for reading and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed.

What are your thoughts on tonight’s entry? 

Once Upon a Revisited Dream

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Last night, people watched the Grammy Awards Show to witness the awkwardness of Taylor Swift, the reuniting of Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, and the many marriages of happy homosexuals. However, while this night of Hollywood merriment commenced, CBS revealed another trailer to the long awaited Maleficent movie premiering in theaters on May 30^th, 2014. As the teaser revealed the villain, the main score of the original Sleeping Beauty movie played.

However, this isn’t the Once Upon a Dream song you grew up with.

Rather, it is a remake much like other classic Disney songs. But this redoing of Once Upon a Dream is completely and utterly brilliant. This version of the song is a nod to what we heard as children and possibly played the death out of. While it still keeps the whimsicalness that we remember, there is a darker tone added to the tune. This eeriness is included to remind everyone of the story of the villainess that is to be told. Yet this shadowy feel also evolves the classic tune into a more mature melody that resonates with Disney’s target audience for Maleficent.

Maleficent is a Disney movie and Disney movies are often directed towards children. Maleficent is not only targeted at kids, but at adult who grew up watching the original film. When they listen to this tune, not only do they reflect on themselves as children watching Sleeping Beauty, but how the story of a sleeping damsel has evolved with the times.

When Sleeping Beauty was made, everything was set to a simplistic plot for children to understand: Aurora good. Maleficent bad.  It was constructed this way for its child audience so they could comprehend it. But now, children have grown up and so has this story. This story now features Aurora, still on the good side, but she isn’t the main character as much. We now have someone who we always figured was evil, taking the spotlight, and changing the story. Maleficent alters the classic tale because we never received her side of the story. No one wanted to know about the wicked villain who placed a curse on the innocent Aurora. We just generally assumed she was evil. Now in the modern times, everyone wants to know about the reckless monster, and the cause of their actions.

Maleficent’s motives are shrouded in mystery, just like her character which is what also makes the redone Once Upon a Dream song wonderful. The song is sung with a beautiful unknown that captures our hearts and lures us in because it’s something we’re all familiar with. It’s manipulated so not only we are reminded of a childhood tune turned hauntingly enchanting, but it will give a whole new generation a new ideal of Once Upon a Dream.

What do you think of the redone Once Upon a Dream tune? Are you excited for the upcoming Maleficent movie? Feel free to leave your comments below and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed. 

School's Back in Session

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Before I begin tonight’s post I would like to thank my followers and readers for taking the time out of their busy lives to read my work. As a writer, I greatly appreciate it and hope you continue to enjoy my blog and pass it onto your friends. If there’s anything you want to see me write about or improve on, feel free to comment or inbox me. I’d be more than happy to respond.  Enjoy tonight’s entry. :D

For many students, the winter break has ended and the new semester has begun. By now, college students have moved back into their dorms and reunited with their friends over the holiday filled vacation. Other students have returned to hard desk chairs and an empty board before them, just waiting to be written on. However, while we are taught the basics and details, there are just some things that schools don’t teach us that we need in life. Here are a few of those things.

4. Home Economics

I put this one last because there are some schools that actually teach this. For me, home economics was a club in middle school. I regret not attending all the meetings because I usually forgot about them or had to study. But home economics include how to properly do laundry, how to cook something other than toast, basic car maintenance, how to sew, and other lessons that should be taught in a classroom, not in a club meeting.

3. Tipping

Tipping at a restaurant, valet, and other places are just one of the little lessons school never taught us. While there are apps that help us give the proper tip, there are those who aren't as tech savvy as most of this generation. There are even tons of web sites devoted to telling you how much you should tip. But it comes down to two things: your overall opinion of the service that was performed (moving, waitressing, etc.) and simple percentages.  

2. Mortgages and Other Payments

At some point in your life, you will rent an apartment and eventually move into your own home. Either way, there will be payments due. Some of these payments include rentals, mortgages, gas bills, electric bills, and a ton of other money draining taxes. But of course in life, you will also accumulate credit cards and a car (or more) which you will also need to pay off. Some of you may even have school loans or loans from other places, which sooner or later you’ll have to get rid of. Regretfully, school doesn't teach you how to pay off your credit cards, loans, mortgages, car insurance, and taxes.

1. Tax Returns

A few days ago I received the required paperwork for my tax returns. To be honest with you readers, I looked at the papers and called my dad in because I was completely and utterly confused.  This isn’t to say I can’t read or write (believe me, I read and write like a sailor curses) but the tax return materials are mind boggling. There are so many forms, sections, questions, fill in spaces, it’s insane. I know you’re supposed to learn how to do these things on your own, but it would be better for school to teach us how to properly fill everything out. That way we won’t stare at the pages like they’re written in some secret, government language and will be able to understand what to do.

What is the one thing you wish they taught you in school? Feel free to comment and as always feedback and followers are welcomed. 

Drunk on Literature

Greetings everyone and welcome to another start of the week here at The Magical Mystery Blog.

As I've mentioned before, I love to read. Reading for me is what breathing is to every living thing. Without it, we would merely die and cease to exist as nothing more than a cadaver.

I have a wide taste in various types of writing, including poetry. One of my favorite poets is Emily Dickinson, a recluse from Manhattan. Brought up as a Christian, she entertained herself with mythologies, biblical tales, and other stories to fuel her poems. During her introverted life, she read and wrote like a religion.

Like any other curious child, I find her book one day while browsing through our school’s library. Since then I have been hooked to her writing, alongside Edgar Allen Poe’s, Henry David Thoreau’s, and many others. Growing up, I often found translating poetry to be fun. To this day, I still find this activity to be fun.

Today I will be doing a rough translation of Emily Dickinson’s poem,” I taste a liquor never brewed.” Below is the poem.

I taste a liquor never brewed,

From tankards scooped in pearl;

Not all the vats upon the Rhine

Yield such an alcohol!

Inebriate of air am I,

And debauchee of dew, 

Reeling, through endless summer days, 

From inns of molten blue.

When landlords turn the drunken bee 

Out of the foxglove's door, 

When butterflies renounce their drams, 

I shall but drink the more!

Till seraphs swing their snowy hats, 

And saints to windows run, 

To see the little tippler 

Leaning against the sun!

The first verse is the introduction to the poem. Dickinson tells us she tasted a brew that’s not normally drunk in a tankard. A tankard is a specific type of drinking mug that is sometimes a pearl shade. Yet liquor or any type of alcohol is not brewed or made in a tankard, it goes through a fermentation process at a factory or brewery. The tankard is crafted (or scooped) to give it a pearl shade. Apparently the brew itself is not your average brew; it's a special one. We do not know what she means as of yet.  

She continues to explain how powerful this specific type of alcohol she drinks is. It is so strong that the vats on the Rhine cannot stop it.  The Rhine in this poem is being referred to as the Rhine River that stretches from Andermatt, Switzerland, cuts through Germany, and spills out at Rotterdam, Netherlands into the North Sea.  There are tons of towns that rest on the Rhine River in Germany and some of them even have breweries. These locations have vats in them of various beverages. Dickinson is saying that the alcohol of her drink is so powerful that the vats of the Rhine River can’t yield how strong her drink is.

In the second verse, Emily informs her audience that she is drunk on air, a degenerate of dew, and is reeling through the summer. From how it appears, she is not inebriated on any sort of physical alcoholic drink but rather nature. She is heavily drinking air, breathing it every day of her life, and enjoying it. She is a “debauchee of dew” (Dickinson); she constantly indulges in the morning dew as an alcoholic does to alcohol. The air and dew have her reeling throughout the days “from inns of Molten blue” (Dickinson). These inns that Dickinson describes could be the sky which at some points during the day has a molten blue shade.

In the third verse, Dickinson uses quotations to emphasize some of her subjects. Throughout this verse, she treats nature like a bar of people and their actions involving alcohol. In the first pair of lines, she refers to a bee as a person getting kicked out of a bar for having too much to drink. The insect is kicked out of the foxglove’s (a flower) door, which is the opening of the flower. The “Landlord” in this case is the flower itself because it has filled the bee to a great degree. In the next pair of lines, Dickinson refers to butterflies giving up their “drams” (nectar); much like an alcoholic would give up their drinking addiction. But as to where the butterflies give up their drams, Dickinson absorbs more of her particular drink.

In the final verse, she claims that she will continue to drink until she attracts the attention of saints and seraphs. These two specific figures are found in one place: Heaven. This could be an implication of her Christian upbringing because angels and saints are thoroughly mentioned in that religion. However, the only way she’ll see these figures is when she is deceased. This concept flows into her final two lines beautifully. Since she is dead in the first pair of lines, she could easily be “the little Tippler leaning against the Sun” (Dickinson) because she has joined the seraphs and saints in Heaven, which is close to the Sun.

So readers, what do you think of this famous poem? Who are your favorite poets? Feel free to leave a comment and followers are always welcomed.