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Eyru

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Blog Entries posted by Eyru

  2. Eyru

    A Monster Calls

    By Eyru,

    It's a book by Patrick Ness, inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd.
     
    I picked up this book because many Ambagers were raving about it. I'll be succinct: it's a beautiful book. The characters are immediately engrossing, and the atmosphere of the book immediately sucks you in, aided in no small part by Jim Kay's illustrations, which are nothing short of hauntingly brilliant.
     
    It's about a boy named Conor, who is visited shortly after midnight by a monster. Not the monster from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. This monster is different; it's something ancient and wild, and it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor: it wants the truth.
     
    The book is haunting, lonely, sad, painful, and hopeful. I was immediately drawn into its world, and the ending came far too soon, but it felt right. It's very unique -I've never read another book like it- and it's undoubtedly a masterpiece.
     
    This short review is also short on details, but that's partly because my emotions took too much of a beating for me to able to type anything particularly profound. I would encourage anyone and everyone to read this book.
     
     
  3. Eyru

    welcome home

    By Eyru,

    the smell of freshly cut grass and smoke







    the weight on my chest that's finally







    flying away







    the taste of the sunrise and the wind in the morning







    and the sound of the stars singing to the moon







    welcome home


  7. Eyru

    Good News and Bad News

    By Eyru,

    Good news: tomorrow marks one month as a vegetarian!
     
    Bad news: I got in my first car accident today.
     
    It wasn't my fault: I was driving up the street and a guy parked on the side didn't see me and pulled out ...right into my car.
     
    There're a bunch of scratches and dents now, and of course it happened after a really long day when I really didn't feel up to handling it, but in the end it's just a car and while I am fond of it, it's still just a car.
     
    In any case, I'm glad to go to bed now.
  9. Eyru

    Two Weeks Vegetarian!

    By Eyru,

    Yeah, so tomorrow will mark two weeks of me eating no meat.
     
    It's been interesting so far. I've found I've been watching what I eat, simply because I need to make sure I can eat it, and the byproduct of that is that I'm eating healthier things. I've been eating way more vegetables, and I've been getting my protein from soy, eggs, and beans instead of meat.
     
    It hasn't been a drastic change, to be honest. Before going pescetarian, I already ate more beans than meat, but that doesn't man it hasn't been difficult. I've turned down some pretty delish stuff (oh bacon why), and even gone hungry once or twice. I'm proud of myself: it hasn't been easy, and it's cool to know that I have the willpower to cut something out of my diet and stick with it.
     
    I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon, either. I'll keep blogging too, but I'm switching to weekly updates (the downtime threw me for a loop anyway).
     
    Thanks for your support, guys!
     
    (and maybe sometime soon we'll start edging closer to vegan. who knows?)
     
  10. Eyru
    Day four! Over halfway through a week of eating no meat!
     
    Breakfast was cereal, which I usually don't care for, but I was in a hurry and anyway I'll probably be eating more of it because it's quick and also vegetarian. Lunch was a salad () and a scone.
     
    Supper was an interesting affair. I attended a young adult potluck at my church, and brought chick pea curry and rice as my dish (it's vegetarian, so it was my failsafe in case nobody else brought something I could eat). Fortunately, there was plenty I could eat. I had sushi, pasta, curry, fruit and vegetables, and a made-from-scratch cupcake (even the icing was homemade!).
     
    I'm finding that this is definitely not as difficult as I was expecting, partly because I've realized that I didn't eat a whole lot of meat before I went vegetarian. However, I'm sort of anxiously awaiting summer, because as soon as it gets warm enough for the propane not to freeze, we Canadians whip out the barbecue, and it stays out until the snow's too high to use it. I'm hoping that, by the time the thaw rolls around, I'll have gotten into the habit of not eating meat, and it will be easier.
     
    Funny side note: nobody believes that I'm vegetarian. They all think I'm joking, or say I can't really call myself a vegetarian if I've only been at it four days. That makes no sense: if I'm choosing not to eat meat, I'm pretty sure that makes me a vegetarian, regardless of how long I've been at it. Anyway, I plan to keep this up for a while, so eventually everyone will see that I'm actually serious, and not just playing a prank.
     
    So far, so good! (the bacon-wrapped sushi was hardly even a temptation ^^)
  11. Eyru
    Day three was a good day, by all accounts.
     
    Breakfast was ordinary: once again I made an egg with some potatoes. So original, right? Unfortunately, my day always starts earlier than I'd like it to, so I'm usually scrambling to get the door. Hence the quick, simple breakfasts.
     
    For lunch I had an egg salad sandwich and a pear scone. Today's temptation was a bowl of Thai chicken soup, which is seriously one of the best things in the world. But I resisted! (the scone helped)
     
    Supper was chili and rice -vegetarian chili! My mom told me that she wasn't going to cook for me (which I heartily agree with; this is my decision, after all, not hers), but my family really doesn't eat a ton of meat, and it turns out that the chili was safe. Score!
     
    Also I got stat pay for working on a holiday, played street hockey, and wrote a song. A pretty good day, I'd say.
     
    WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY
  12. Eyru
    Day two!
     
    Today was a pretty chill day. An egg with some hash browns for breakfast, and beans and noodles for lunch, so there's my protein for the day. Supper was my first real challenge, because we had roast beef and mashed potatoes for the first time in, like, ever, but I managed to stave off the temptation and just took extra potatoes and vegetables instead.
     
    Also a huge bowl of salad. Because salad is delicious. P:
     
    Changing topics, I'm starting to realize that one of the trickiest parts about my going vegetarian is that I don't like tomatoes (cue horrified gasps). I've never liked tomatoes, for as a long as I can remember. I'll eat ketchup and tomato sauce, and I'll eat tomatoes in a sauce or a chili as long as I can't taste them, but both the taste and the texture of whole or chunky pieces really throw me off.
     
    I still try them from time to time, simply because I really want to like tomatoes (they're so versatile! and healthy!), but I haven't seen a breakthrough yet. We'll see what happens, I guess.
     
    Thanks to HH and Janus for those huge paragraphs of encouraging advice on my last post. You guys rock!
     
    There's not much else for me to write about today (it was a pretty nice, relaxing day), so I'll close it here. A reminder, though: we're coming up to 1,000 comments pretty quickly, and I do have something planned for that!
     
    (note that is not an invitation to spam the comments dont kill me deevee)
  13. Eyru
    So, I've been thinking about going vegetarian for a while now. Not for any particular reason; it's just supposedly healthier, better for the environment, and more responsible as a whole in terms of leaving a footprint. I've been doing some reading on the subject for a while now, and I decided that today would be my day.
     
    Again, no particular reason. I've just been putting it off due to life being super busy, and not having the energy to attempt a major change in my diet, but I'll always find excuses if I let myself (even if I don't mean to), and there's no time like the present, right?
     
    I'll be chronicling my adventures in my blog, both as a way of keeping a record of my progress, and also as a way of staying accountable. The more people who know of my decision, the less likely I'll be to give up.
     
    Day One began with me rolling out of bed and popping upstairs to see bacon in the skillet. Without a second thought, I ate a couple pieces, before remembering my resolution.
     
    The days ahead suddenly looked a whole lot darker.
     
    Nonplussed, I declared that those two pieces were my last pieces of bacon for the foreseeable future and immediately began making breakfast. Today's my first day off in months (I usually work Monday through Saturday, and do volunteer work at my church on Sundays), so I had time to construct a cheese omelette with sautéd peppers and spinach (sautéd in coconut oil, by the way; I absolutely recommend it), and a dash of hot sauce.
     
    But Eyru, you cry. Eggs and cheese? That's not vegetarian!
     
    Au contraire, my darlings. It's not vegan. To keep things relatively simple, I'll be starting off as a lacto-ovo vegetarian, which means I'll allow myself to eat eggs and dairy products. As time passes, I may up the ante and begin eliminating those form my diet as well. I also will still consume fish, for various reasons, but I may eventually work my way up to eliminating that as well.
     
    So, for now, I'm basically cutting out red meat. My family used to be very much meat-and-potatoes, but thankfully we've gradually shifted over the past few years to a much more multicultural style of dining, so several of our meals are usually vegetarian anyway. I'm hoping this relatively gentle learning curve will help me stick with it.
     
    I'll update you tomorrow on my progress (hopefully with pictures!). In the meantime, any good recipes would be appreciated.
  14. Eyru

    Vinyl Atmosphere

    By Eyru,

    https://soundcloud.com/vinyl-atmosphere
     
    I kinda like making music so I figured I'd throw some of it up on the internet. Criticism is welcome because I want to get better?
     
    Onarax is a pree chill guy for telling me soundcloud is allowed so thanks to him
     
    also my skype is eyrubieber add me
     
    t-t-t-that's all for now folks~
     
     
     
  16. Eyru

    Brickcon 2013

    By Eyru,

    I am going.
     
    (this decision is largely thanks to a certain Rene that some of you may know)
     
    I have been wanting to go for years and years and finally I do believe this will be the year (unless something huge inexplicably comes up but shhh don't jinx it).
     
    My only problem: it is 260 days, 10 hours, and 29 minutes away, and I don't know if I can make it because I am super excited and nervous already and it's only January.
     
    Um so yeah that's all I really have to say here.
  18. Eyru

    So... Hockey?

    By Eyru,

    The NHL lockout has come, at long last, to an end (yes this is old news but I forgot to make a blog post about it)
     
    I, however, will not be watching any hockey until October 2013, because I'm stubborn and I don't want to support a league that treats its fans so poorly.
     
    I am Canadian, in case you didn't know, and hockey is in my blood. In my very soul.
     
    Needless to say, this is heartrending.
     
    *tears*
     
    #staystrong #gocanucksgo
     
    (I swear though if the Canucks win the Cup this year I will die because I won't get to see it)
     
    #goeyrugo
  19. Eyru
    I have a habit of buying books.
     
    In case you are new to this blog, I work at a coffee shop. The business right next door is a used book store, which I frequent often. As a result, I find myself acquiring new books all the time (much faster than I can read them).
     
    Here's a list of books I currently have on the go:
     
    Les Misérables - a book about- nevermind, you guys all know what it's about, right? ( and actually I started this one long before I saw the movie thank you very much )
     
    Wild Cards - an anthology of short stories written by different sci-fi writers set in a shared universe where superheroes are the result of a virus.
     
    A Game of Thrones - the first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series. It's fantasy and really, really good (yes, I am a latecomer to this series shhh [also I bought this book in like-new condition for $1 and that makes me happy] ).
     
    I also recently finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time which was one of the strangest books I have ever read. But it was good, and, again, I got it for only a dollar, so I'm happy with it.
     
    In the meantime, Tolstoy's War and Peace, Stephen King's Misery (The Shining got me hooked on King), and Margaret Atwood's Cat's Cradle (The Handmaid's Tale got me hooked on Atwood), among others, are staring me in the face, begging me to read them.
     
    Anyone else in this sort of a situation? I have dozens of books, and no time to read!
  20. Eyru

    Les Misèrables

    By Eyru,

    So, I went to see ​Les Misèrables last night.
     
    Let's just say that it didn't disappoint. It was an emotional roller coaster of a ride that did justice to the play and to the book. I'm not much of a cry-er, but let me tell you: I was blinking back tears several times.
     
    Highs: Anne Hathaway as Fantine. She stole every scene she was in (which numbered too few, IMO... but that's how the story goes), and I honestly would have paid full ticket price just to see and hear her sing "I Dreamed a Dream", which was my absolute favourite scene in the film. Absolutely phenomenal; she deserves every award it's possible for her to win.
     
    Pretty much everything else. Hugh Jackman and Russel Crowe was absolutely fantastic as Jean Valjean and Javert respectively, as everyone knew they would be. Samantha Barks played Éponine brilliantly, so much so that I would say I almost enjoyed her scenes more than Jackman's. The Thénardiers (oh, Bonham Carter <3), Cosette (both young and old), Marius... oh, everyone was amazing. Absolutely amazing.
     
    Lows (which I am spoilering so you won't have to read them if you haven't seen the movie yet and don't want to judge before you get to watch it):
     
     
    Overall, though it was fantastic. I saw the musical on stage in the summer, and you can't beat Les Mis live, but this film comes pretty close. If you haven't seen it yet, I would recommend it in a heartbeat. Do yourself a favour and go see ​Les Misèrables.
     
    Tonight.
     
    Seriously, go see it now! What are you waiting for?
  21. Eyru

    We Made It to 2013!?

    By Eyru,

    Yay!
     
    Unfortunately, with all the stress of the world ending, I had no time to think about new years' resolutions. Did anyone else, or do you just think there's no point?
     
    Personally, I like new years' resolutions, just because of the whole idea that people are actually trying to better themselves. Granted, the stereotype is that we fail... but it's the thought that counts, right?
     
    With that said, my resolution is... I dunno. Somebody give me one, or tell me what yours is so I can copy it!
  23. Eyru
    Ketan: "I must stop Naming Day from coming... but how?"
     
    Oreius: "Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit. Just because my Stone glows... why don't I fit in?"
     
    Avya: "Bartan was dead, to begin with."
     
    Cael: "Remember, Joske: no man is a failure who has friends."

    Jin: "Seeing is believing. Am I right?"
     
    If anyone can name the sources of all five of these quotes, they get... virtual gingerbread? That, and my everlasting approval.
     
    A very merry Christmas to every BZP member out there, and a happy New Year!
  25. Eyru

    I Saw the Hobbit!1!one!1!

    By Eyru,

    It was amazing.
     
    I don't want to put any spoilers here (though really if you haven't seen it you shouldn't have clicked ), so I'll suffice with saying that it was an excellent movie. There are some parts that I would've liked to see done differently, and there are some parts that absolutely blew me away.
     
    Aw, whatever, I've gotta get into a few specifics. If you haven't seen the Hobbit, guard yourself and turn away!
     
    First of all, I have to say that the opening sequence was easily one of the best parts, if not the best part of the movie. Erebor was portrayed magnificently; every scene of the halls under the Mountain were stunning to the point of breathlessness. Smaug's invasion was thrilling even though the Wyrm himself was hidden, and the war at the gates of Moria was also excellent.
     
    Andy Serkis stole the film as Gollum. The riddle-scene was more than I could hope for, and Bilbo's struggle between murder and mercy was brilliant (that reminds me: Martin Freeman did an exceptional job as the titular Hobbit).
     
    Overall, it was an excellent movie. There were however, a few downsides:
     
    One was the length. At nearly three hours, this movie almost matches each of the three LotR films for length. This isn't helped by the fact that the film drags a bit in parts, especially the first act, which is almost entirely spent inside Bag End.
     
    Something else that disappointed me was the license that Peter Jackson took with the book. One of the things I love most about the LotR trilogy is how faithful, for the most part, it is to the books. The Hobbit, in contrast, is not. Some of these changes are nigh unnoticeable; some are appreciated; but some are completely unnecessary.
     
    Regardless, I highly recommend the Hobbit. If you haven't seen it, but read through this entry anyway, I encourage you to go buy a ticket and see it for yourself. I loved it,and will probably end up seeing it in theatres at least a few more times.
     
    What does everyone else think so far? Favourite scene? Praise? Complaints? Let's hear it!
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