Inspiration Fridays: Into the Fire We Go

The Scarlet Pimpernel is my favourite musical.  Yes, I am the type of person who has a favourite musical.  I admit it.  I love musical theatre.  It's entertaining and fun.  Is the Scarlet Pimpernel the best musical ever?  No.  Are there things wrong with it?  Yes.  Is it intense, funny, and musically pleasant?  Also, yes.

I'm a big fan of everything to do with The Scarlet Pimpernel, when it comes down to it.  I've read every one of Baroness Orczy's books that is still in print... and even hunted through antique bookstores to find a few that are no longer.  I have some lovely rare book copies of a few of the short story collections.  I also have a gorgeous leather-bound copy of the original that was a gift from my wonderful Danny.  He knows me well.  I like all of the movies, all of the TV versions... the story is just great.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, The Scarlet Pimpernel centers around Marguerite and Percival Blakeney, English gentry during the French revolution.  Marguerite is originally from Paris, where she grew up rather poor, and became an actress.  Then, she married Sir Percy, with whom she became increasingly distant.  Why?  Because he goes to France every couple of days to save aristocrats from the terrible slice of the guillotine.  He is a superhero, guys, basically.  Along with his League, they save the lives of dozens of people throughout the books.  Badass.

In the musical, there is this song titled "Into the Fire".  It's intense, to the point that it borders on corny.  The lyrics are pretty fantastic out of context though, and exemplify how I hope to live my life.  Check 'em out.

Plus, I added pop culture reference pictures.  What more can you want?

David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand

There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail

Into valleys, into waters
Into jungles, into hell

Let us ride, let us ride home again with a story to tell

 
Into darkness, into danger
Into storms that rip the night

 

Don't give in, but give up
But give thanks for the glorious fight

You can tremble, you can fear it
But keep your fighting spirit alive boys

Let the shiver of it sting you
Fling into battle, spring to your feet boys

Never hold back your step for a moment
Never doubt that your courage will grow
Hold your head even higher and into the fire we go

Are there mountains that surround us?
Are there walls that block the way?

Knock 'em down, strip 'em back boys
And forward and into the fray

Into terror, into valour
Charge ahead, no, never turn 

Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn

Someone has to face the valley
Rush in, we have to rally and win boys

When the world is saying not to
By God, you know you've got to march on, boys

Never hold back your step for a moment
Never doubt that your courage will grow
Hold your head ever higher and into the fire we go

Let the lightning strike
Let the flash of it shock you

Choke your fears away
Pull as tight as a wire

Let the fever spike
Let the force of it rock you

We will have our day, sailing into the fire

Someone has to face the valley
Rush in! We have to rally and win boys

When the world is saying not to
By God, you know you've got to march on, boys

 
Never hold back your step for a moment
Look alive! Oh, your courage will grow

Yes, it's higher and higher and into the fire we go

Into fire!

Onward, ho!

PS.  If you know what all of these are from (without looking at the tags...), you are now officially my favourite reader.

Nunchuks and Such

These photographs were taken in the China area of Epcot, in Walt Disney World!  Danny and I are both big fans of Chinese culture.  Well, we can kind of claim that.  We've never been there.  We don't have any really close friends who are Chinese.  But, we do hang out in Chinatown a lot.  We both love dumplings and could probably survive off of just them and stir-fried vegetables.  Danny does martial arts and likes Bruce Lee.  However, we've never been there, so I don't really know much about the culture.  I do love what I know, though!

I know that I like pandas.  They are cute, vicious, endangered, and not actually bears.  They also look absolutely adorable on umbrellas.  It started raining the day that we visited Epcot, and there is a part of me that is still having shoppers remorse for not having bought this gem of an accessory.  But, in New York, I probably would have just been labeled as a teenage Harajuku girl wannabe.  Honestly, I do want to be that, but I'm generally more discreet than a giant panda umbrella.

I also know that the movie "Mulan," is set in China.  It is based off of... a Chinese legend?  I think?  I'm pretty sure she wasn't completely real.  Though, I might be wrong.  In any case, I seriously doubt that she had a talking dragon.  And, as funny as he is, I know he didn't sound like Eddie Murphy.  First off, he would have spoken Chinese.  Don't think Eddie Murphy speaks Chinese.  

Check out how beautiful that Mulan is!  She was lovely.  Talked in quotes from the movie and everything.  She was also very gracious to everyone who came up to her in a way that wasn't totally fake- a lot of the character actors around the park were extremely facetious, and overly spunky.  It made them slightly unpleasant at times. 

OK then, back to China.  Nunchuks.  I associate China with nunchucks.  Like these dandy little foam ones:

So fun!  Grr, I'm about to whack the crap out of those puppets... no not really.  I have no idea how to use nunchuks.  I'd just swing them around a lot and make angry noises.  I'm obviously super effective.

You know, it's weird.  I feel better about how I look in the nunchuck photograph than the one of Mulan and me.  It took me a while to figure out exactly why that is, but I think I've nailed it.  In the nunchuk pose, I'm not trying to be pretty or attractive.  I'm attempting to be quite the opposite, in fact.  Thus, there is no pressure to look particularly good.  I can be goofy and have face dimples and eye creases, and it doesn't matter because I'm pulling a Tina Fey and ignoring the fact that I could be potentially pretty for the sake of humor.  Not that I think I'm as pretty as Tina Fey, but you get my message.

Oh!  And now, for two more things I associate with China, quickly, as this post has gotten a big lengthy.

Gorgeous patterns with red and gold in them.  Those seem Chinese to me.

Also, the clay soldiers.  Those ones are Chinese, for certain.  I know I'm right on with this one.

As a closer- I hope I didn't offend anyone with my assumptions about what is Chinese.  Really, I tailored this to the photographs I happened to take while in Disney World.  I know quite a bit about Chinese history and culture from books and such... but I haven't experienced it.  If you feel like I have to, I would not be opposed to a trip there.  Especially if it was paid for.  

Anyone want to pay for me to go?  Anyone?

... alright then.  :)

Walt Disney World, Florida, USA