B.R. Myers's Blog, page 18

Memorable Quotes from Favorite Literary Heroines

As much as I enjoyed The Amazing Spiderman 2, I'm still fuming over Hollywood's continued ignorance to the fact that every super hero (dear God, including the Green Lantern) has their own movie, except for ... Wonder Woman.


moviebeauty.wordpress.comShe's one of the originals! She had her own TV show! Where is her movie, Hollywood? Huh?

In order to soothe my temper I'm returning to the place I find solace ... books. You don't have to look too far to find a plucky heroine to make you forget about the narrow minded thinkers in L.A.

Here are some of the best quotes from my favorite literary heroines.

"I mean, you could claim that anything's real if the only basis for believing in it is that nobody's proved it doesn't exist!" Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows

"There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me." Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice



tumblr.com

"At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead.The hard thing is finding the courage to do it." Katniss Everdeen, Catching Fire

"Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough." Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, To Kill A Mockingbird

"I’m nobody’s sidekick." Annabeth Chase, The Mark of Athena

"My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes."  Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables


annesullivanmovies.com
"I have solved some mysteries, I'll admit, and I enjoy it, but I'm sure there are many other girls who could do the same.” Nancy Drew, Nancy's Mysterious Letter

"We are all tempted, Mma Potokwane. We are all tempted when it comes to cake." Precious Ramotswe, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies

And let's end with the lady of the hour shall we?

"We are never everything we wish to be, Superman. And rarely are we everything we appear to be." Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman #226

Which one is your favorite?

Once Upon A Time, Season 3, FINALE! "Snow Drifts; There's No Place Like Home"

 Or better title "Oops"

cartermatt.com

Henry presents Emma with the classified ads for apartments. She looks uncomfortable since she's planning on going back to New York. David and Mary Margaret are elusive about naming their baby.

Robina enjoy some smoochie time. Now that she has her heart back, it's all good times for Regina. They talk about their previous lost loves and are super glad they've found each other. Robin Hood says after his wife, Marion died, he thought he'd never be happy again.

hypable.com
Regina spills the beans about Tinkerbell and his secret tattoo.

He says, “Maybe things only work out when they're supposed to, maybe it's all about timing.”

Ain't love grand.

Mr. Gold hides the dagger in his shop.

Sure, no one will look for it there.

Belle arrives shaky and nervous asking Mr. Gold to take the fake dagger back because she feels it's too powerful. He tells her never mind, it's safer with you...or something like that. Then they talk about their wedding and kiss.

Gag.

hypable.com
Henry reads through the story book reminding all of us how Snow White and Charming met and fell in love—even though he was engaged to King Midas' daughter. Suddenly, Hook says one word and everyone is looking at Emma worried that she's going back to New York.

That was fast.

Henry looks out the window and sees the time travel vortex racing up into the sky.

New York forgotten.

Regina stares at Mr. Gold and knows he's behind this magic. They all run to the cell to check on Zalena because no one thought to stay with her. It's empty! David rewinds the security tapes in the Sheriff's office and they see Zalena curse herself and turn to dust.

How did Mr. Gold do that?

Hook and Emma argue in the forest about her staying in Storybrook. Emma says she doesn't feel like the fairy tales are real and nothing has ever felt like home for her. “Home is the place that you miss when you leave it.”

Hook pulls a sad face. Then they notice the time travel cyclone. They race to the barn. Emma falls to the edge. Hook tries to save her, but the pull is too strong. They both go in and end up back in the enchanted forest.

But when?

Emma sees a wanted poster for Show White.

Oops.

Emma still has the story book. She figures that whatever you were thinking of when you enter the portal is the place or time you're sent.

How did she know this?

ouatabc.com
Emma comes up with the idea to pay a visit to Rumpelstiltskin. The Queen's guards fly past. Emma and Hook watch from behind the trees as the Evil Queen harasses a group of villagers; including Marco and Pinocchio. Emma wants to rush out and help a particular young woman who is being arrested, but Hook tells her she must not meddle with the past.

Hook takes her away and they steal some peasant garb for Emma. Garb that includes a low cut dress and cleavage.

Of course. It's fairy tale land. There's always cleavage in fairy tale land.

Prince Charming and Catherine journey by coach. Snow White prepares a fallen log to ambush the coach—just like the first time in Season One.

In fact it's some of the same footage.

Emma and Hook are once again watching from the sidelines. When Prince Charming gets out to investigate, Emma realizes she's about to witness her parents meeting for the first time. She spies Snow White up in a tree ready to ambush the guards.

But Emma puts her hand on a stick and ruins the whole thing. Distracted, Snow White falls from the tree, and Prince Charming gets back into the coach and keeps travelling with Catherine.

Oops.

Snow White meets Blackbeard in a tavern and asks him to help her escape.

Emma and Hook approach Rumpelstiltskin's castle. He appears and starts to kill Hook. Emma intervenes and tells him she's from the future and proves it by saying she's the Savior who broke the curse he created to find his son.

*Takes deep breath*

He's convinced. They journey back to his castle where it's obvious Rumpelstiltskin and Hook have a past. Belle puts in an appearance before she whisks away to the library.

Lucky.

Emma uses the story book to convince Rumpelstiltskin he has to help her get Snow White and Prince Charming back together, but the pages are all blank.

Oops.

No problem, Rumpelstiltskin says there's a ball at King Midas' palace. All Emma and Hook have to do is convince Snow White she doesn't have to escape with Blackbeard, but instead go to the ball to meet her true love.

Emma and Hook find the original Hook at a tavern playing poker. Emma has to keep the first Hook occupied while the other Hook finds Snow White and convinces her to go to the ball.

Emma pretends to get drunk with Hook #1 while Hook #2 makes a deal with Snow White on the Jolly Roger; if she steals the wedding ring at the ball he won't turn her in for ransom (holds up wanted poster) plus he'll give her safe passage to wherever she wants to go. Snow White buys it.

Hook #2 takes Emma to the Jolly Roger as Snow White passes them unaware. Emma plays cat and mouse with Hook #2 and Hook #1 eventually knocks himself out in order for Emma to escape his clutches.

Rumpelstiltskin magics an invitation for Emma and Hook to go to the ball.

Instant makeover.

zap2it.com
Emma introduces them as Prince Charles and Princess Leia. He tells her she's a natural princess.

And natural princesses don't go to New York.

Hook teaches Emma how to waltz in another portion of the show I like to call, “Flirting time with Hook and Emma.”

Outside, Snow White uses a grappling hook to scale the walls.

Prince Charming and Catherine have no chemistry. She asks him to fetch her more comfortable shoes. The Evil Queen arrives 'cause she loves a good party.

Snow White ransacks Prince Charming's room and finds the ring. She's interrupted by Prince Charming. They scuffle. Snow White hits him and barely escapes, except she drops the ring.

Oops.

He hangs out the window vowing to find her, but not in a 'I totally dig you and must know who you are so we can get married and make babies' kind of way.

Emma finds the ring and picks it up. Hook tells her to run after Snow White while he holds off the Queen's guards. One of the Queen's guards shows up and tires to shoot an arrow at the thief. Emma pushes him down, allowing her mother to live another day.

Emma runs back through the palace, but the Evil Queen and her guards stop her. Emma is dragged off as a prisoner with Prince Charming's ring in her grip.

Emma and Neal share a coffee while he breaks into an amusement park by picking the padlock. They hang out on the swings while Neal tries to explain his childhood. He tells her he can't go back home.

No kidding.

He says home used to be fun before his dad got...um bad. “That's how you know it's your home,” he tells her. “When you leave it you miss it.”

Back in the past, Emma ends up in a cell next to the young woman from the village she'd tried to save. She breaks the news to Emma that they'll both be executed tomorrow.

Snow White walks through the forest and gets caught in Prince Charming's trap. “I'll always find you,” he says. They do the same banter as before. But she tells him she doesn't have the ring.
Hook arrives and tells Charming that he knows the girl who has the ring, but she's a prisoner of the Evil Queen.

Snow White knows that castle like the back of her hand 'cause, well she grew up there. They make a deal; she sneaks them into the castle and they promise her freedom.

As Snow White and Charming travel, she tells him about her history with the Evil Queen. Then she shows him her pixie dust that will help her squash the Evil Queen.

She goes on by herself when they get close enough and asks the men to stay behind and wait for a signal. Hook and Charming bond over a campfire. The dudes talk about love. Charming wants to marry for love, but he knows that's impossible with Catherine. Hook tries to impress Charming with his love for Emma. Out of the darkness Red shows up and tells them she's a friend of Snow White's.

Emma and the young woman talk about how horrible it is to miss your family. Emma looks at her ring and knows her mother would tell her not to give up hope. She sees the spoon on the floor, fashions a key, and picks the lock to her cell.

Red becomes a wolf and helps Hook and Charming slip in through the dungeon tunnels. They meet Emma and the young woman. Emma hands over the ring and they rush to meet Snow White. Hook worries that the girl Emma saved might mess up the future.

Hmm...probably not. *Rolls eyes*

Snow White has other plans. She sneaks into the Evil Queen's bedroom with a handful of dark pixie magic. The Evil Queen takes it away from her easily. Then they banter about Daniel and how his death is Snow White's fault.

Emma, Hook and the others see Snow White is about to be executed in the courtyard. The Evil Queen throws a fireball and Snow White goes up in flames.

What? Why doesn't Charming race out with his sword? Why doesn't Emma use her convenient magic that happens out of nowhere? Why doesn't Red turn into a wolf?

Anyway, they all stand there and watch.

Later, around another campfire, Hook tries to soothe Emma by reminiscing about his brother's death. Then Emma makes the startling discovery that she's still alive. So that means Mary Margaret must still be alive too!

Hook tries to come up with a plan, but a bug is driving him crazy. He's about to squash it when Charming runs out of the darkness telling him to stop. He reminds them that Snow White was carrying the pixie dust that could change any enemy into something that can be easily squashed...like a bug!


ouattv1blospot.com
The Blue Fairy arrives with her magical cleavage. She says, “Dark magic did this to her. Light magic can undo it.” And poof! Mary Margaret is back.

That's new. I was sure black magic could only be undone by black magic. Okay, whatever.

Emma is so excited! She hugs Snow White who looks super confused. Then Snow White goes to Red and they have a fabulous reunion that Emma is jealous of.

Oh, hold on. Home is what you miss. Emma misses her mom. Her mom is her home. Ten points for me!

It's the next day. The sun is up and there are still time warp problems. Hook reminds Emma that the young girl with them was supposed to die. The only way to keep the future safe is to take her with them back to Storybrooke.

Um...what?

She isn't buying their story and only wants to get back to her family. Emma knocks her out.

Oops.

Charming informs them that Snow White pick pocketed his ring and he races off into the forest for her.

Emma and Hook follow, knowing that the Troll bridge is where Snow White used the pixie dust the first time, but since she already used it on herself, she's defenceless.

Time travel is hard on the head.

Snow White and Charming are taken by the Trolls. She's able to escape—just like last time. She turns around and sees Charming is about to get killed—just like last time. She shows up and threatens the trolls with pixie dust, but instead of last time, she's bluffing. But they buy it because they're trolls and they run away.

hypable.com
Emma and Hook watch from behind the trees (these two should have poison ivy by now) and watch as Snow White and Prince Charming start to fall in love—just like last time. In fact it's the same footage they used from Season One because Snow White is pre-pregnancy face.

Emma gets the story book and sees all the pages fill back in.

The Evil Queen finds out Snow White is still alive and is super mad.

Emma and Hook arrive at Rumpelstiltskin's castle...oh yeah and the girl they knocked out too. He tells them the spell to open another time portal can only be cast by someone who's gone through the portal. He throws them his amazing powerful wand that do any kind of magic and says they're out of luck unless one of them can wield magic.

Only when it's convenient, Rumpelstiltskin. Only when it's convenient.

He, on the other hand, has made himself a potion to help him forget all this nonsense. And he sends them to a place where they'll be safe and he'll never have to see them again.

Emma, Hook, and the unconscious girl whose identity will be the cliffhanger for this season, apparate to a large castle room full of curious objects. Hook plays with an urn and Emma freaks out because this is the place Rumpelstiltskin puts power stuff. Then they argue about her denying her magical heritage.

She says she never felt like she had a home and was always running. Then she finally admits that watching Snow White hug Red made her realize that her mother is her home. “Henry wasn't bringing me to Storybrook to break a curse, he was bringing me home.”

Hook is all smiley. The super amazing wand is glowing.

Emma makes the vortex with her convenient magic. Hook picks up the young woman and jumps through. Emma is about to go too but Rumpelstiltskin arrives and holds her back. She tells him he finds his son and that he forgives him. There's some back and forth and says he died saving everyone—he was a hero.

Rumpelstiltskin lets her go. Then he drinks the potion and instantly forgets.


latintimes.comBack at the barn, Emma and Hook brush off the dust. She races to Granny's pub/diner/laudromat and it's hugs all around. David calls everyone to attention and is ready to announce the baby's name...Neal.


Aw, shucks. Emma's little brother is named after her former lover.

She finds Hook outside at a table for two...under the twinkling lights...all alone. She questions him about how he managed to get a magic bean to cross over into her world and find her in New York. He told her traded the Jolly Roger.

“You traded your ship for me?” She inches closer. And then they kiss.

In the forest, Belle and Mr. Gold are married by Dr. Hopper.

Yeah, I thought it was weird too. What about the chick in the barn? Isn't anyone watching over her?

Mr. Gold and Belle talk about love. She says, “Sometimes the best book has the dustiest jacket.”

Robina and the little tyke walk to Granny's all smiles. The young woman from the village is awake and having coffee. Emma explains that Regina is no longer the Evil Queen.

But before they can be introduced Robin Hood stands up and calls out her name. “Marion! I thought you were dead!” Robin's son hug her and says, “Momma”

Oops.

Regina turns to Emma with a massive lemon face. “You're just like your mother. You never think of the consequences.”

Here we go again.

The urn that Hook picked up in the mysterious cavern is stuck in the dirt in the barn. A blue fluid seeps out and swirls around the design. Slowly, a form takes shape. It's a woman with blond hair. She flicks her hand and freezes the ground.

Dear God. No. Seriously? That movie was so horrible. The hype was ridiculous.

Blah. Terrible ending.

What do you think of the cliffhanger this year?

Need more Storybrooke? You'll find my recaps for ALL of the Once Upon A Time episodes (even from the very first season) on my Pinterest page here.

Why Are Guys Growing Massive Beards?

I've noticed lately that facial hair seems to be making a comeback. And I don't mean just Grandpas either. Young dudes are neglecting the razor in droves.

Listen, I'm not talking about the sexy two day stubble that some *cough* Alex Pettyfer *cough* guys can pull off. I'm talking about full blown "Mr. Edwards from Little House on the Prairie" facial hair.

ihopeditboard.com
And not just on TV, but even in my home of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Why is this happening? And more importantly, how can this be stopped?

Dear Men,

Beards are gross. Only high school science teachers who wear cardigans and crippled wizards should have big beards.

Love,

Your Aunt Bethany

Oh, I can hear you now.

But Aunt Bethany,

'So and so' looks good in a beard.

Guess what? They'd look better without it—just like all those models in the eyeglass catalogue.

I blame Duck Dynasty and the Toronto Blue Jays for this foray into follicular festivities.

Exhibit A


washingtonpost.com

  Exhibit B
sportsnet.com
I'm not sure if dudes are hoping someone will mistake them for camouflaged millionaires or professional athletes, but whatever the reason it's not good enough.

Unless you're one of the above mentioned millionaires, the big beard is not for you. You see, a beard like this says, "I've left the mountain to troll the streets of your city for a wife to take back with me."

And this makes women want to reach for their can of mace.

So, guys, please reach for the razor. Unless of course you're the Head Master...

natesway.com
Why do you think guys are growing massive beards?

Once Upon A Time, Season 3, Episode 20 "Kansas"

 Or better title, “Oh Baby!"  hypable.com
Mary Margaret arrives at the hospital breathing through contractions. Dr. Frankenstein is there.

Not exactly comforting.

Meanwhile, Mr. Gold spins a pile of gold like nobody's business. He gives the pile of gold to Zalena. She waves her wand over the spaghetti like mass and creates a golden brain.

She grins at him. “You always said spinning cleared your mind.” She puts the golden brain in the trunk with Charming's sword and Regina's heart.
A green Zalena spies through a magic pond, watching Rumpelstiltskin try and teach Regina magic. Zalena's taken over the palace in Oz since she turned the Wizard into a flying monkey. Glinda, shows up and thanks Zalena for taking care of such a shyster. She said he was a trickster who falsely offered hope to the good people of Oz.

hypable.com
She offers Zalena another way to spend her time rather than pinning for something that can never be hers. She says, “Come with me and I'll show you your true sisters.”
Zalena orders Mr. Gold to dig a pattern in the dirt of the barn in preparation of her spell to turn back time. Mr. Gold says "No matter what you change of your past, one thing shall remain the same, who you are. That is a fate you can never escape.”

He also said, "Deary" a few times, but I edited that out.
Regina and Emma put a protection around the maternity ward. Hook shows up offering his assistance. Emma is determined to stay mad at him and says she'll go after Zalena on her own. David interrupts and convinces her to let him tag along.

After all. If you're going to kill a super powerful witch, it helps to have a sexy pirate.
Henry waits for the birth of his new aunt or uncle and kills time by looking for an apartment in the classifieds. Dr. Hopper keeps him company and gets all sentimental with his former patient. Henry says he's back home to stay.

While they walk to Zalena's farmhouse of spooks, Hook tells Emma that New York was a fake, and Storybrooke is her real home. He asks her why she's so scared to stay.
Maybe because the only guy she has the hots for has cursed lips.

hypable.com
Zalena breaks up the romantic moment. She has Mr. Gold drown Hook.

Yup. That should dampen the moment. Get it? Oh, never mind.
Glinda takes green Zalena to the 'heart of magic' where she meets the other two sisters of the south and east.

FYI, The "heart of magic" is a round table with four chairs.

Glinda points to the empty chair and says Zalena is the one they've been waiting for to fill the last spot. The West represents innocence. Glinda says, "Innocence reclaimed can be just as powerful as innocence born."
Green Zalena is unconvinced.
Glinda has a special destiny book that foretells the future (hence the name destiny). It has been foretold that the last powerful witch will be brought to Oz by a cyclone.
Green Zalena smiles.

Emma rushes to the water and pulls out Hook. He's not breathing. She performs mouth to mouth.
Uh-oh.
Green Zalena returns to spy on Regina. Then she stands tall and relinquishes her jealousy, ready to forget what she wanted so badly.
Glinda appears with a long list of rules and a really pretty pendant.
Green Zalena is now part of the sisterhood. The pendant concentrates all her magic and makes her more powerful. Zalena puts on the necklace and the green vanishes as her jealousy ebbs.
Zalena and Mr. Gold trample into the hospital. She drops everyone who tries to stop her. Even Regina is not match.
Glinda takes a nighttime walk in Oz with Zalena.

Yikes a cyclone appears!

fanpop.com
They find a wrecked cottage. Glinda rescues a young girl in a gingham dress. She tells them she's from Kansas and her name is Ethel.
Just kidding, it's Dorothy Gale. Glinda is super excited that someone so young could survive such a storm.
Zalena, not so much.
Mary Margaret pushes out little bambino while the lights flicker.
It's a boy! And it doesn't have monkey wings!

entertainmentoutlook.com

David and Mary Margaret are so happy. They finally have a normal delivery. No curse raining down on them or a secret magical wardrobe they have to send the baby in.
Oh, wait. Never mind.

fanpop.com
Zalena arrives and effortlessly takes the baby. She vanishes in a flume of green smoke—her signature colour.
The witches share cookies with Dorothy around the round table.

She's sitting in Zalena's chair! The one for the Witch of the West, the innocent one.

Glinda find Zalena lurking in the background. She asks what's wrong? Zalena starts to turn green again. She sneers at Glinda and reads from the book of destiny. There is ANOTHER prophecy that says the witch who arrives in the cyclone will help defeat the biggest evil ever seen.
Glinda tells Zalena that destiny is something you choose. "If you believe you are evil, evil will happen."

I believe I will win a unicorn!
David gathers a team at the hospital to help him get the baby back. Emma and Hook drop the bomb that she lost all her magic. Henry convinces Regina that she's their only hope.
"Hold on," she says. "I'm evil. Dark magic is all I know."
Henry says she's good now. He believes in her. Emma nods, "You saved Henry with true love's kiss. That's white magic."
  abconceuponatime.com
Back in Oz, Zalena is completely green again. She surprises Dorothy at a nearby well in the middle of the night, saying that she's the only witch of the west and it's time for her to disappear.

Dorothy has no idea what Zalena is talking about. Zalena gets ready to throw fireballs at her. Dorothy tosses the bucket of water at Zalena and she melts into the ground.
Glinda shows up and mentions that it wasn't a coincidence she was by a well, it was her destiny. Dorthy is shaken, she wants to go home. Glinda breaks the bad news that even though she is super duper powerful she cannot cross realms. But the Wizard may be able to help.

You know, the Wizard she said was a fake. 

He's comes from a far away place too. Since Zalena is dead her magic will be undone and he's returned to his human form.
Zalena gently places the baby in a basket on the barn floor as the fourth and final element, ready to travel back in time. Mr. Gold promises to kill her the next time he sees her.
Smoke. Fireworks. White light. Orange light.

Stop!

Emma, David, Hook, Robin Hood and Regina show up talking tough.

Mr. Gold tells them to get the dagger from Zalena otherwise he'll have to kill them. Zalena laughs when Regina tries to use white magic. "It's your destiny to be dark."

Regina sees Robin Hood and bolts of white magic explode from her hands. Zalena is thrown back and drops the dagger in the dirt.
Regina rips off Zalena's pendant. David grabs his baby.
Jesus! Who has the dagger? Someone go for the dagger!
Now that she has no magic, Mr. Gold gets ready to kill Zalena.
Regina takes the dagger and stops Mr. Gold. He's irate but Regina convinces him white magic is the way to go...at least today. 
Glinda takes Dorothy to see the newly reformed Wizard. From behind the curtain the shadow tells her he is grateful since she helped rescue him from the wicked witch. After Dorothy clicks her heels and disappears, Glinda thanks the wizard and asks him to show his true self.

Green Zalena comes out, giggling.
She sent Dorthy away so she could fulfill her prophecy as the powerful witch of the west. Then she sends Glinda to the enchanted forest...I mean that cold place where it's always snowing but never Christmas. 
Zalena sits in a cell while Regina explains her reasons for changing into a good person. She says she's going to give her a second chance. "Evil isn't born it's made. And so is good."

And so is Kraft Dinner.
Regina takes Zalena's pendant and places it in a box in her secret vault where it will be safe.
Mr. Gold mopes about his shop, pining for Neal. Belle arrives and ... no please...just hug. Please, just hug. 
They profess their love for each other. He's amazed that she's still in love with him.

So are we, Mr. Gold. So are we.
Belle hands him the dagger saying, “I believe in you. You're a free man. Promise me you won't go after Zalena.”
He says it symbolizes that she trusts him with all her heart. Then he hands the dagger back to her and proposes. And they kiss.

Thank goodness for the shadows.
David returns to the hospital triumphant. Mary Margaret has since changed into a frilly housecoat. Emma looks on smiling. Hook swaggers along in his low cut black leather ensemble. He thanks Emma for saving him.

Emma says her magic hasn't resurfaced, but that's okay because she'll be returning to New York with Henry soon.
Henry and Emma go in to see his new Uncle.
Yup.
Mr. Gold arrives at Zalena's cell. She's pretty cocky until he produces the real dagger. "Belle thinks she has the real one," he sneers.
Mr. Gold made a promise to avenge his son's death.

And Rumpelstiltskin never breaks a promise. He stabs Zalena. She turns porcelain and breaks into a million pieces that blow away.
Back at the secret vault, a green smoke escapes from the locket. It winds through town and finds the pattern Zalena had prepared to go back in time. The green smoke traces the pattern. It becomes charged and a bright orange vortex opens up to the sky.
Hmm...a vortex to the past?

Two hour Finale next week!

Need more Storybrooke? You'll find my recaps for ALL of the Once Upon A Time episodes (even from the very first season) on my Pinterest page here.


 

Top Five Reasons Why Andrew Garfield is a Better Spiderman than Tobey Macquire.

1. The hair!!!! 

ksl.com
2. Andrew's version of 'nerdy' Peter Parker is a delightful dorkish genius with messy yet stylish hair. Tobey was greasy and creepy.

tumblr.com
 fronttowardsgamer.com
3. The kiss with Emma Stone was AH-SOME. The upside down kiss with Kirsten Dunst was ridiculous. How could he breathe?

imgarcedade.com
4. Andrew uses all his face parts when acting. His eyebrows are the hardest working in Hollywood today. Tobey... blinks.

tumblr.com reddit.com
5. Andrew's Spiderman has all the sass of the comic book Spiderman but is still goofy and romantic at the same time. Tobey was cynical/full of spite/awkward/depressing and I found it hard to route for him.

bloggy.com
BONUS!!!

The amazing Sally Field plays his Aunt. 'Nuf said.

spidermannews.com


Who's going to the Spiderman movie? Whee!!!

Best Books for a Reading Binge

I remember one Christmas my husband and I watched the first season of 24 with Kiefer Sutherland in the space of two days. Then we rushed out and bought the second season.


kevinlevine.blogspot.com
There's something to be said about instant gratification.

However, the only way to enjoy a full series so quickly is that you have to WAIT until the entire series is available.

And books are no different.

Nothing better than finishing a novel you've stayed up all night to read only to discover it's part of a series. And, oh my gosh, the last book in the series has just been released!

So, in honor of the binge, here are my top picks for novel serials that are perfect for binging.

Find a comfy chair, make some tea and have an assortment of treats within hands reach.

#1. Harry Potter (experience the magic again)

#2. Nancy Drew (love that convertible!)

pinterest.com
#3. The Hunger Games trilogy (still intense)

#4. Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series (there's a reason she's the best selling author of all time)

#5. The Little House on the Prairie books (Oh, that Nellie Oleson!)

#6. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series (speed through as many as you can...and have a pot of tea in between each volume)
barnesandnoble.com
BONUS!!

This isn't a series but it's always good for the heart and soul to binge on Jane Austen. May I suggest Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey.

What are some of your favorite books to binge on?

Once Upon A Time, Season 3, Episode 19 “A Curious Thing”

Or better title “Mulan's Revenge!”  kpopstarz.com
Snow White and Charming decide to announce to the kingdom that they're pregnant. The Evil Queen says they're loopy. Belle arrives and breaks the news that Neal is dead and Rumpelstiltskin is alive, but they're sharing the same body...or something like that.

Plus, the wicked witch has the dagger to control the Dark One.

Prince Phillip and Aura finally get a few lines. They drop the bombshell that the wicked witch is after Snow White's baby. They didn't say anything at first because she promised to destroy them if they spilled the beans.

And since they just spilled the beans...the wicked witch arrives and turns Aura and Phillip in to flying monkeys.

How does Mulan feel about this?

kouchpotato.com


Eight months later Snow White and Charming sit around the council table still trying to come up with ideas for defeating the wicked witch. The Evil Queen wonders if Rumpelstiltskin can help them.
It took eight months for them to figure this out?

Charming suggests they break into his castle, but Regina says that's impossible because his magic is so strong. Robin Hood brags he broke in last season to steal a bow and arrow.

Robina (Regina and Robin Hood) make out in the hallway of the bed and breakfast. She promises him that once she gets her heart back it will be AH-SOME. He says, “Use my heart for the both of us.”

To do what?

Regina arrives flushed to a meeting with Mary Margaret, Emma and David. They discuss why Zalena brought them all back to Storybrooke. They ask things like:

To cast the spell you have to give up the thing you love the most.

We must already know how to defeat her, that's why they have no memories.
         
Since Emma broke the curse by believing in magic and kissing Henry, but she's done both of  those things already.  

Henry must be the one to save them all. He has to believe in magic and kiss someone...okay maybe just believe. We need the storybook!!!

Zalena has Hook duck tapped in the truck of a car. She demands he kiss Emma. If he doesn't get busy and take away her magic by the time Mary Margaret has her baby, she'll kill Henry.
This would never happen to Hook if he had a unicorn. Just sayin...
Robin Hood easily breaks into Rumpelstiltskin's castle. He and the Evil Queen squabble like all good would-be lovers do at the beginning of their love story.

They find Rumpelstiltskin inside a cage spinning gold and babbling. Remember, he has Neal inside his head as well.

Snow White asks him how to stop the wicked witch but he only answers with a rhyme.

Belle uses her Australian accent and the power of love to reach through his layers of glitter gold makeup. He tells her the answer is light. “Find the good witch of the south.”

Of course. And I bet she'll be riding a unicorn.

Mary Margaret tells the others that the 'Once Upon A Time' book appeared in her closet when Henry needed it the most. Maybe it's still there?

latintimes.com
While Emma is running all over Storybrooke, Henry is fed up with all the lying. He's so upset his voice cracks. He takes her keys and hustles up to their room which above Granny's pub/diner/laundromat...oh my gosh, it's ALSO a bed and breakfast.

Henry takes her car keys, but before he can leave Storybrooke, Hook arrives with a better idea.
Emma, David and Mary Margaret search the apartment. Ta da! She finds the book! Regina grabs it, determined to figure out whose heart Zalena crushed to cast the curse.

Snow White and the gang hustle to the dark forest to find the white witch. They find a door that leads to nowhere.

Hmm? It's probably nothing.

Snow White and Charming enter easily and end up in a snow covered forest...Narnia?

Uh-oh. I remember the white witch being mean in this story.

fanpop.com

The white witch says her name is Belinda. She tells them Snow White's baby is pure of heart and also has the gift of magic.

She ALSO tells them she was childhood friends with Zalena.

Pay attention, folks. Rules get thrown out faster than last week's leftovers.

Zalena was born with powerful magic. She has a pendant that keeps all her magic focused. If she loses the pendant, well...you can guess the rest.
Also, only someone who is pure of heart and a purveyor of white magic (magic made from love) can defeat Zalena.

Did you get that? Good because there will be a test at the end of the post.

entertainmentoutlook.com

Charming and Snow White realize that Emma is the only one who can defeat Zalena. But, oh no! She's in Storybrooke. They must enact the dark curse that will bring them back to her world.

Charming offers his heart so Snow White can cast the spell. The Evil Queen is like, “You guys are cray, cray.”

Emma realizes Henry is missing. Hook has taken him to the dock and is arranging for Bill Smead to take him to new York. Before you can say, “Ahoy,” a gang of flying monkeys arrive. Hook fends off the attack while Henry runs away screaming.

Henry, of course, falls. Emma and her posse arrive and throw balls of fire, vaporizing the monkeys. Emma shows Henry the 'Once Upon A Time' book and asks him to believe.

I think the flying monkeys helped.

Everyone holds their breath.

Henry takes the book and experiences three seasons of episodes in two seconds. He remembers and everyone cries. “Hurry”, Regina says. “Break the curse!”

Zalena arrives and magics Henry into a choke hold. She sneers and says that Hook is to blame for Henry's death.

Regina rushes to Henry's rescue, but Zalena easily sends her flying back, smashing into the ground.

Henry starts to turn blue. Emma uses her super power — no not the 'I can tell when someone is lying' super power — just regular magic this time.

Zalena's hands are burned! She backs off and threatens that the next time no one will survive...or something like that.

Henry falls on his knees beside Regina's crumpled form. She's not moving.

Snow White, Charming and the Evil Queen stand around a bubbling cauldron. Snow White says she can't crush his heart. He says, “No worries, we share the same heart. Every time you look at our little baby, you'll see my love for you.”

This is followed by more tearful love pledges. He tells the Evil Queen he's ready.

“This is going to hurt,” she says. Then she thrusts her hand into his chest. Snow White takes it and crushes it over the cauldron.

Charming falls to the ground, dead.

The wicked witch arrives and adds a forgetting clause to the spell. She tells Snow White and the Evil Queen, “You'll never defeat me if you can't remember who I am.”

Regina wakens and sees Henry is all right. She kisses him and says she'll always love him.

Ta-da! The curse is broken.

Mary Margaret and David let Emma know they are the ones who cast the curse so they could return and have her defeat Zalena with her pure magic powers and stuff.

“Whoa,” she says. “If you had to sacrifice the thing you love the most, why are you both still alive?”

The answer? Unicorn!

Back at the cauldron, Snow White tells the Evil Queen that she has to split her heart in half and then put the second part in Charming's chest. “I love him enough to fill both of our hearts!”

Aw. *rolls eyes*

The Evil Queen performs the Enchanted Forest's first heart division and transplant.

Charming wakes up. There's more kissing and love pledging.

Thunder cracks and the curse takes them back to Storybrooke.

Henry and Regina reminisce. He tells her all about New York. And he's pleased she's not evil anymore. Robin Hood shows up and Henry is stoked he has all these cool relatives.

Emma demands to know what Hook was up to. He says, “Zalena put a cast my lips.”

I should really do a top ten list of most ridiculous lines from this series...

Mary Margaret and David tell him that the message with the memory potion wasn't sent by them. Hook gets all defensive. “Then who did?" he asks. "Who else knew where Emma was living?”

Um...duh. Zalena.

Rumpelstiltskin watches as the wicked witch mixes a memory potion so that she'll remember when they go to Storybrooke. She gives it to Rumpelstiltskin. He's ready to guzzle the bottle to forget Neal is dead. Then Neal breaks out of Rumpelstiltskin's body. He scrawls a message, ties it to the bottle and sends it off with a pigeon to the Jolly Roger.

Loose plot hole tidied up.

A flying unicorn would have been more impressive than a pigeon.

Henry puts a rose on Neal's grave. He cries and asks Emma if it was hard to come back to Storybrooke. She tells him she knew he'd want her to because heroes never give up...or something like that. He smiles and says Operation Cobra is back on.

And just when you think things are wrapping up, Mary Margaret goes into labour.

Quiz time!


Who was Zalena's childhood friend?
Where is all of Zalena's magic kept?

What kind of magic can defeat Zalena?

How does one become true of heart?

Why are there no unicorns in this show?

WHEN IS THE SHERIFF COMING BACK????


Need more Storybrooke? You'll find my recaps for ALL of the Once Upon A Time episodes (even from the very first season) on my Pinterest page here.

Five Free Random Acts of Kindness

...that you can do today!
1. Leave love notes in between the pages of library books.

 pinterest.com
This note has just been found by someone awesome.

Only the most interesting people read this book. 

Smile, someone thinks you're cute. 


2. Take loose change from between your sofa cushions and fill parking meters that have expired (oh you devil you!)

3. The next time you enjoy a book, leave a gushing, favorable rating on Goodreads for the author! Psst...you can add one of my books right now!


4. Look people in the eye and say good morning and SMILE.

5. Let someone skip in front of line at the coffee shop.

BONUS!

Tell the barista who serves you in the above mentioned coffee shop that they're doing a great job or how about, "That caramel drizzle is a work of art! This totally makes my morning."

Don't be shy. People love hearing nice things about themselves.

So go out and spread the happy. Here's your badge of honor, my friend.

pinterest.com


What random acts of kindness can you do today?

Once Upon A Time Season 3, Episode 18 “Bleeding Through”

Or better title, "Sins of the Mother"

 Zalena arrives at Regina's for a little sisterly chit chat.

Regina's wearing a blue dress! She never wears colour!

Zalena enjoys Regina's fancy house and they beat the, 'I'm jealous because you got all the good stuff and I got nothing' motive. Then she tells Regina she'll never know their mother's secret. Regina rolls her eyes. Then Zalena says, "Guess what The Dark One is getting in the forest right now?"

Regina's face loses its colour. "My heart!"

Working under Zalena's orders, Mr. Gold stands in the middle of Robin Hood's camp.

Aw, he's literally protecting her heart. Robin Hood + Regina = Robina

zap2it.com
Robin Hood threatens Mr. Gold with the arrow that always hits its mark. But gosh darn it, Robin Hood's son wanders into the camp.

Mr. Gold regretfully changes the direction of the arrow so that it's an inch from Robin Hood's son.
Robin Hood has no choice but to give Regina's heart to Mr. Gold. 

Regina arrives and confides to Robin Hood (and us) that since she's still alive, Zalena must have something totally horrible planned for her heart.
Hasn't she been saying that all along? Why would this be a surprise?
Anyway, Regina goes to Mr. Gold's shop and begins to ransack the place, desperate for something to help her uncover Cora's secret. Belle is disgusted when Regina asks for help. She says, “Why would I help you? You physically and mentally tortured me for years.”
Regina has no time to explain that she's not the villain this season, instead she says, "Hey, I'm trying to help unchain your boyfriend from Zalena. Don't you want your Rumple back?"

There are so many weird jokes going through my mind right now...
Belle says she doesn't know if she can trust her since Zalena has her heart. No problemo, Regina shrugs, it's charmed so Zalena can't control her.

Phew, that was a close plot hole.

Regina's eyes sparkle when she sees the candle Mary Margaret used to kill Cora. "Now I'll learn my mother's secret!" she says.
 In a grimy pub we see a young Cora working to earn extra money. She's caught the eye of a young handsome man. He confesses his love for her and she's flattered. Then he lets it slip he's a Prince in disguise, searching for a woman of true heart—she captured his heart without even knowing he was royalty!

He ties a bit of straw around her finger and promises to come back in two weeks and turn that straw into gold and marry her for reals.
Gee, I hope nothing bad happens.
Then he adds shyly that two weeks without seeing her will be torture. She mentions that since they're practically married...and he has a room upstairs already paid for...you know...
 Mary Margaret, David, Hook, and Emma go to Regina's house to do a séance in order for Regina to find out her mother's secret past.

hypable.com
Zalena places Regina's heart in a trunk with Charming's sword of courage. There's another box beside the sword which I'm guessing is waiting for Mr. Gold's brain.

She greats Mr. Gold in his cage and tells him to get dressed up for a special dinner. They sneer at each other and she lets him know she has plans for Snow White's baby.

Ew.
Regina has changed from her blue dress into a white blouse.

I guess the colour change was too much for the whole day.

Everyone sits around the table. She lights both ends of the death candle. They all hold hands...well and a hook. She tells them to concentrate on Cora.
Lights flicker! There's a crack of thunder and a blue vortex opens in the ceiling. Regina demands her mother give her a sign.
Um, there's a tornado in the ceiling.

Hook hits the table while crossing his legs and everything goes back to normal. Regina is totally miffed the moment is lost. "Whatever secrets she has buried in her past, she wants to keep there."

Way to go, Hook. You ruined everything. Why can't you sit still?
Young Cora waits in the rain on the roadside with her straw ring, but the Prince does not show up. She travels through the wet forest until she reaches the palace. She finds him taking shelter in a gazebo.
He doesn't look happy to see her. She explains that she's been waiting for him for two months. She notices his boots are muddied. He's not a prince! He's the palace gardener!

He says, "Whatever, you had a good time."

Then she tells him she's pregnant and demands money to help support the baby.
He laughs at her. She calls for the guards, saying she's being attacked. He pushes her down, then runs away. Cora stays crumpled on the ground. A kind man comes along. He helps her up, and introduces himself as Prince Leopold.
FYI, Prince Leopold was Snow White's father.
Everyone leaves Regina's house post séance except for Snow White. Weird things start to happen in the house but they don't notice because they're busy sorting out their mother/daughter issues.
Prince Leopold and Cora chat and charm each other. He confesses he doesn't feel sure enough to be king. He says that once he becomes king he has to produce an heir immediately. He's betrothed to someone he's never met, someone called Princess Ava. He's clearly smitten with Cora and wishes he could marry her instead.
Mary Margaret apologizes again for killing Cora. Regina admits that it's complicated.
Yep.
Regina wonders why her mother gave up Zalena and why she never mentioned she had a sister. The house answers with a creepy sound from the upstairs. She and Mary Margaret discover the ghost of Cora. And she's super mad.
  sheknows.com
Emma practices magic at Granny's pub/diner/laundromat but Hook isn't in the mood to applaud her efforts. She asks what's bothering him but he stays quiet since this episode has nothing to do with his kissing curse.
Belle bursts in, hugging a large volume. She slaps down the spell book on the table and announces she knows what Zalena is up to.
Zalena has a candle light diner with Mr. Gold. She tells him Neal is still alive and she can bring them together.

How? Where?

More like, when. Zalena explains she's unraveled the trick to time travel. Mr. Gold is amazed. She's going back to time to take what's rightfully hers and promises Mr. Gold can find his son. He gets all dreamy eyed and says he'll have a second chance to never give him up.
Cora's ghost pushes Regina out of the way, trying to avenge her killer. Regina pulls a Ghostbuster trick to keep her at bay.

pinterest.com
Young Cora sits in the royal gazebo admiring her engagement ring. The palace gardener shows up and demands cash and jewels for his silence about the baby. She promises to meet him in the great hall with the payment, but the conversation is overheard by Princes Ava.
Hold on. If Prince Leopold is marrying someone else why is Princess Ava even there?
Regina demands answers from her mother. Cora's ghost enters Mary Margaret and she sees what happened.
Young Cora goes to the great hall, but she finds Prince Leopold waiting for her. He tells her he's heard a rumour that she's pregnant. But he's okay with that. As long as she tells him the truth he knows he can trust her...he says he'll marry her anyway.

Well, that sounds easy. Tell him the truth about how the gardener tricked you. The gardener will get sacked and you'll live happily ever after.

Instead, Cora lies and tells him she's not pregnant.
Princess Ava comes out from the shadows. She tells Prince Leopold to check her pockets for the jewelry and gold she promised to the gardener.

tumblr.com
Busted!

The palace guards take her away. Princess Ava tells Prince Leopold he deserves to have a child with someone who is pure as snow.

I loath that line.
Regina uses magic to blast Cora's ghost out of Mary Margaret. Everyone is worried about the baby. Belle arrives with Emma and Hook. She tells them Zalena is collecting items to help her go back in time.
But why, they wonder.
Mary Margaret comes out of her daze and lets them know her mother, Princess Ava is the one who let out the secret of Cora's pregnancy.

onceuponatimeabc.wikia.com
Cora was forced to give up Zalena because as an unwed mother she can never be more that a Miller's daughter.
She leaves her in a basket in the woods.

*Cue the green tornado*
It's now clear to everyone that Zalena will go back in time and kill Snow White's mother BEFORE she lets out the big secret.
Mr. Gold and Zalena drink wine and toast each other on their super awesome plan to go back in time. Mr. Gold starts to make out with Zalena.

Ew. Please stop, ABC. Just, stop.

hypable.com
He reaches for her dagger, but she moves too quickly. He vows to kill her. She orders him back to his cage and promises he'll never see his son again. And then she cries because she likes him?!?!
Regina and Mary Margaret clean up the mess ghost Cora made. They talk about how complicated their histories are. "Let's stop being haunted by our past."
Regina's still upset about not having a heart and having the whole town think she's still bad.
Mary Margaret glows because she loves any excuse to talk about the power of love. She tells her, "You don't need your heart, you feel everything with your soul. You still have worth."
So, what can you do with soul?

Regina goes to Robin Hood's camp in the middle of the forest. He's all alone by the fire. He promises to get her heart back. She answers him with a kiss. Then he kisses her back. Then she kisses him back. And then they lose count and just keep making out.

Whoo-hoo! Robina!

Need more Storybrooke? You'll find my recaps for ALL of the Once Upon A Time episodes (even from the very first season) on my Pinterest page here.


 

My Dream Ninja Assignment!

As part of the NINJA LIBRARIAN blog tour my assignment this week was to name which historical figure would I like to be an apprentice for? What would I like to learn from them?

One word, Cleopatra.


pinterest.com
Why?

She was Egypt's last queen, invented many health and beauty treatments that are still used today, (mascara for one), and was the only person capable of keeping Egypt from falling to the Romans.

She fought off a brother and saved her country by swooning Julius Caesar and combining their armies. When Caesar died, Cleopatra had to flee Rome as rumors of her involvement in his death threatened her own demise.

But she didn't cower.

Mark Anthony was set to arrest her, instead...well, let's just say she gave birth to twins the following year.

She was a warrior, a scientist, a fierce leader, and has inspired generations of playwrights, artists, and archaeologists. Perhaps the most alluring part of Cleopatra is that her tomb has never been found. She died a prisoner of Octavian, supposedly after Mark Antony died in her arms. Loyal slaves smuggled in a poisonous snake at her request, so she could take her own life with its bite.

It is believed that Octavian still revered his queen and granted her the wish to be buried secretly with Mark Antony, where tomb raiders would never find them.

They still haven't.

I don't know what I'd want to learn for Cleopatra, but following her around for a day would be AWESOME!!!! 


Here are some of my other assignments which totally deserved an A+...

What animal I would take with me if I was going on an adventure? Easy peasy!

Top ten scenes from a book that I'd want to experience.

Top ten items I'd steal, borrow from books. Number one? Nancy Drew's blue convertible. Oh, yeah!

Jen Swank Downey's smart, sassy, action packed middle grade adventure is now available!



Check out webpage here. In addition to a wonderful blog trailer, the webpage contains fantastic downloadables for Ninja Librarian fans, such as an Educator Guide, Mission Activity Kit, and a special Guide to Petrarch’s Library!
You can BUY The Ninja Librarians here. Find Jen on facebook, twitter, and her website. Which historical figure would you like to apprentice for?