We had to write a memoir for my creative writing class. I wrote mine about my relationship with a fictional character. I was originally very happy with it, but now that it is turned into my teacher I am feeling uncomfortably insecure. Here it is in case you want to read it. =/

On Hark! A Vagrant, a web comic, once illustrated the Case of the Two Watsons. While this tale is not a part of the original Sherlock Holmes canon, it perfectly illustrates the horrible fate of Dr. John Watson. As Sherlock Holmes became a cultural icon his able assistant was reduced to an incompetent sidekick, nothing more than comic relief. Even though Holmes will always hold a place of esteem among my favorite characters, perhaps Watson deserves a dearer place in my heart.

I grew up surrounded by all the books I could get my greedy hands on. Anything I couldn’t comprehend yet, my Mother would read to aloud to me. I can remember curling up beside her while she read the Hound of the Baskervilles.. Nothing caught my attention like a good mystery and I was enthralled by my imagination's conjuring of each tale. The dynamic duo Holmes and Watson could enchant my young mind like few others. I could just picture the dashing Englishmen pacing around the streets of London solving even the most formidable of cases. I instantly fell in love with Sherlock, with his wit and his brilliance. Dr. Watson was a completely different story, a compilation of solider and scholar, and according to my imagination ruggedly handsome. He was loyal and brave enough to venture into the most dangerous of situations. He was a man of intelligence, but Holmes was an analytical machine.

As my affection for everything Sherlock grew and I got old enough to sit through a feature length film without fidgeting, I branched out to watching every adaptation I could get my hands on old black and white BBC productions and handfuls of television seasons that never quite got enough viewers to stay on air. I was content with the handsome Holmes’ always show reclining in tacky, patterned armchairs pondering a three pipe problem. However, I was mortified by the bumbling walrus with a bowler hat they reduced my dear Watson to. Apparently, this was a popular tread to attempt to attract larger audiences. How could they reduce a competent doctor into a drooling hero-worshipper? It isn’t hard to imagine this new Watson waddling over to Holmes with a jar of jam, declaring dimwittedly that it was a clue. Well, new Watson may like jam, but I do not like this new Watson.

Nevertheless, it seems like Hollywood might be on the redemptive path with the release of their most recent Sherlock adaptation. Robert Downey Jr. betrays the Sherlockian origins, but Jude Law portrayed Watson from careful and attentive study of the roots of his character. Finally a return to a doctor who can stand on his own two feet. Law’s Watson was capable of being his own man alone from Sherlock and seemed perfectly happy to do so. He wielded a sword hidden in his cane, which is awesome. The script writers did a excellent Holmes and Watson banter. Which illstrated that that the two were actually friends and that Watson didn’t stalk Sherlock around like a little lost puppy. The results could be successful in trampling new Watson and making him a thing of the past.

[this is were my conclusion would be if it were decent enough to post]

We visited a some friends of the family for our Christmas celebration today. They surprised us with presents and we weren't really expecting anything. Most of the gifts were just funny, quirky things. Of course, I loved them. Nothing was labeled so we just unwrapped whatever we wanted. This is a picture of the lamp I claimed as soon as I saw it from under all the bubble wrap. =]

I'm sorry for the poor photo quality I took the picture with my webcam because I'm lazy.
The superman candles were also I big hit. I think they are hilarious.

Well, I have to go do U.S. history homework.

I have been a fangirl for a long time.
My mother read me the Hound of the Baskervilles while I was still in elementary school. Ever since I have been devoted to that eccentric Englishman, Sherlock Holmes. I have devoured half the cannon (I have been saving the other half) movies, spinoffs, and campy black-and-white versions of his adventures. I carry around a paperback collection of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's masterpiece around in my backpack. Perhaps, I am on the borderline of obsession.
When I saw the trailer for the new Sherlock Holmes movie, I was appalled. How could Hollywood ruin another classic? Especially, my classic. I was sure that the one fandom I seemed to belong to all by myself was going to be singlehandedly destroyed by this movie. In any case, I knew I had to go watch this movie.
Today, my family and I took a trip to our local theater and spent more money than the movie would cost on DVD to watch it. I was happily surprised.
Even though Jeremy Brett is my ideal Sherlock, Robert Downey Jr. did a decent enough job at portraying the famous detective. Jude Law was an amazing Watson. He successfully pulled his character out of the new-Watson-likes-jam rut that he's been stuck in for years. (Reference: http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=210 ) I was iffy about Watson's bride-to-be Mary until she told Holmes to solve the case at all costs even AFTER a major life-threatening event involving her fiancee. I don't remember the actress's name, but whoever it was gave a fascinating aspect to a character that is completely ignored in most Sherlock stories. The banter between Holmes and Watson was very well-written as was the plot. The possibility of a Sherlock/Irene relationship was disturbing and was the part of the movie I disliked the most. At the end of the movie, they left it wide open for a sequel and as long as it was a good as this movie. I think I'll be okay with it.