A Blumell Christmas Tradition

It seems that for the past few Christmas breaks, us Blumell kids have watched all 3 Lord of the Rings movies.  It has sort of become a tradition.  We watch the extended versions of course!  They are a lot better.  I especially like the extended version of The Two Towers.  You get to see a lot more of Boromir.  (I have always loved Sean Bean.)  Of course we don't do it marathon style, we're not that die hard.  It takes us a period of a several days or more with a few breaks in between.  I think it started because the movies came out around Christmas time and so the Christmases after that it didn't seem right not to watch them.  I can still remember going to the theatre and watching The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001 and just being in awe.  Wow times flies, that was 7 years ago.  

While looking on the internet for a picture of LOTR to post,  I happened upon a quiz to see what LOTR character you are.  Supposedly I am Elrond.  I don't know if he really suits me, but hey it would be cool to be an elf.  Janine (Miss Bean)  is Gandalf. (Janine says it would be cooler to be an wizard than an elf, but I beg to differ... ) 

Music makes the World go round...

Canada has finally come out of the dark ages.  You can finally watch your favourite TV shows on the Internet.  Well I know for sure you can on Global and CTV.  I am not sure about CBC, but I assume you can there as well.  Before if you were in Canada and went the ABC, NBC, or other network sites they would say sorry only available to viewers in the US.  While I was living in the US, it was so convenient to watch shows on the Internet that I was horrified to learn that it wasn't available in Canada until recently.  Although my parents have satellite, they do not have PVR, DVR, TiVo, or whatever you want to call it.  So if I missed a show I was out of luck.  My only options were itunes (episodes are now $2.99) or by some illegal method.  So it may sound like I am a TV junkie, but that is actually far from the truth.  The only shows I have been watching are The Office and Eli Stone.  I just don't like to miss episodes!  (Lost and 24 start up again in January and I am way stoked about that.)  The Office needs no explanation.  Eli Stone, although far from being one of my all-time favourite shows, is a quirky drama which I must say I do enjoy watching it.  (ABC started it after Lost last year and what can I say it worked.)  

                         

It is about a San Francisco lawyer who starts having visions after being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.  Usually these visions involve some sort of case he is supposed to take, and some of them involve singing and dancing.  That really peaked my interest.  Haven't we all fantasized at some point or another about how different situations would be if there were singing and dancing were involved?  Like for example, if a boring professor just suddenly burst into song?  I asked some of my friends this, and apparently that is not the case.  Perhaps I've watched too many musicals as a child.  Needless to say having revelations brought forth through song, although not an original idea, I find is quite entertaining.  Maybe that is why I loved the Buffy musical episode so much.

Is it no wonder that every civilization has some form of music?  (Rare exception is the demon world of Pylea from the TV show Angel, but

 ironically they do have dancing...)  I often remarked to my roommate during my BYU days that there is a song for every situation.  Upset that your boyfriend/girlfriend broke up with you?  Well there are about a billion songs about that.  Worried that Bigfoot is going to eat your children?  There is even a song just for you.  I love that music (with and without lyrics) can speak to everyone and in different ways.    Music is a part of my soul.

Jumping on the Blogging Bandwagon

I've been thinking about starting a blog for awhile.  It seems everyone is doing it nowadays.  So I thought, why not me?  It is one way to share your interests, ideas etc.  I don't really care about how many people actually read it. (I already have one confirmed reader, so what if she is my sister.)  I just thought this would be a good way to express some of my thoughts, and whoever wants to read it is more than welcome to.  

For those who want an quick update on my life, here it is.  Right now I am living in Magrath with my folks,  (yes I know).  I just started working as an associate dentist for an established dentist in Lethbridge.  For those who don't know, Magrath is a small town (pop approx 2000)in southern Alberta about 20 minutes outside of Lethbridge a small city of about 80,000.  I graduated from dental school last June from Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.  I had a nice break before I started working and was able to go on some fabulous trips with some good friends which I haven't really had the chance to do before and don't know when I will again.  Working life is definitely different from the life of a student.  Mostly things are better (like not having to study all the time and actually getting paid), but I do miss Ohio and all my friends there.   I like being home with my family.  I have been away for eight years so it is a little different, but nice at the same time.  At least I don't have to fly home for Christmas this year.  So yeah just basically I am trying to adapt to all the changes in my life.  It has been a pretty big change for me.  (I seem to do that every four years.)   But change is good, it keeps you from falling in a rut.  So I am excited to see what the future has in store.