Vampires, bears, etc.
I’ve been sitting in our rented house in my favorite mountain town all afternoon, curled up on the couch blazing my way through the last book in the Twilight saga, Breaking Dawn.
WOW.
LOVED IT. Why? Because it was so weird and wild and exciting and completely unexpected. I have no idea how Stephenie Meyer’s mind can work like that. It was such a great read, like watching a very long, complicated, and ultimately satisfying movie. Speaking of movies, can’t wait for the Twilight movie to come out in December. Count me a fan.
On the bear front, I have this big black Lab named Bear (as some of you know), and he’s up here with us so we can take him on long hikes and an even longer backpacking trip (mostly because it gives us great pleasure to tire out our dog), and last night was our first night sleeping in this house. Bear had a bed all to himself, up on the second floor with us, and unfortunately there was a window right over the bed, and last night there was a full moon.
Why do I mention those details? Because starting about three this morning, Bear spent the next few hours puffing out his cheeks in this warning chuff that he has, and every now and then emitting a low growl as he stared out the window onto the lighted street below.
My theory? The local paper said there has been greater bear activity in town these past few weeks–bears roaming the alleys behind restaurants, two bears fighting over a container full of grease, bears generally walking the streets as if they belong on asphalt instead of dirt. One bear even broke into a restaurant and ate six quarts of chocolate ice cream. He was captured a few nights afterward using another quart of choc as bait. Poor guy is going to have to go back to nuts, berries, and small rodents. Sorry, buddy.
So anyway, I have the feeling that last night there were a few bears on the street in front of this house. Although if that’s true, wouldn’t I want Bear to give more than a few chuffs of warning? Wouldn’t I rather he give me a big, unequivocal, “Hey! Danger! Big black thing at twelve o’clock!” Because we’re going to be huddled up in a tent a few nights from now, the Bear, the husband, and I, and it sure would be good to know someone with some animal instincts is backing us up. We’ll see.
My last comment about Bear is that this morning I took him to see his birth family (both canine and human), to see if he still remembered them and the house. He definitely did. His sister and he ran their legs off, chasing each other around the huge yard, and they jumped over and over into the little pond there, and this again fits in with my pleasure at being able to tire my puppy out. He’s been sleeping all afternoon while I read about Bella and Edward and the rest. Ahh. So relaxing.
That’s it from the mountain town. Nothing too exciting, but I did want to put in my two cents about Breaking Dawn. I have no idea what some readers are so tweaked about, unless it’s the same kind of issue that led some sweet young girls to call me a bitch. Sigh. We all get so worked up about Bella and Jacob and Edward.
Anyway, back to mountain life. I don’t think I could live like this all the time–too isolated, too far away from family and friends–but it is awfully nice to take a break up here and remember what it’s like to walk in green places. I feel very fortunate that this is an option for me.
Without giving away any spoilers–seriously, everybody–what have the rest of you thought about Breaking Dawn?
My spam word was MOVE.
As in “move your tent inside away from the bears.”
Please let us know you, bear, and the hubs are alive after your outdoorsey braveness is over.
Mine is RENT–”rent a nice hut on a tropical island.”
I don’t have an opinion on the book (and probably never will), but I find the backlash and hoopla fascinating, in an “I can’t not watch” sense.
When i read Breaking Dawn i loved it but i can say that i’m not looking forward to the movie. The scenes i’ve seen from it are terrible and totally messed up. I can guess why so many people don’t like it, probably because the character’s weren’t really themselves.
I hope you enjoy your camping trip, or wahteve it is, and that no wild animals eat you. That would be terrible.
BAD LINK! BAD! BAD! BAD! Points to Admin page not viewable page!
I have to say I’m disappointed. In my mind, the story went astray on page 5 of Twilight, when Edward failed to eat the entire school and carry Bella’s limp body around talking to it for the next 3 books.
That’s how my vampire love story is going to go.
But I haven’t read Breaking Dawn, so I can’t say anything about that yet.
Thank you, Patrick. The shouting definitely got my attention–I really appreciate it. My site has been updated, and I haven’t quite figured out all the new features. Thanks, bud!
Carli, you really think the movie will be bad? I can’t wait for it! I’m ready to throw myself into the movie version, even if it’s not totally what was in my head. Don’t pre-hate it!
Katie, I know what you mean about the “cannot watch” aspect of that. I started to look into it a little yesterday, and just got disgusted and left. People should settle down. And realize that fiction is fiction, and the writers get to do what they want with their stories. Plus, I really like what she did with it, so there.
Heather, will do! Big long hike today, nothing but sore feet to show for it. No wild animal-spotting or anything. And that’s totally okay with me!
I’m still reading New Moon and despite knowing most of the spoilers about Breaking Dawn(due to them being plastered all over the internet),I am determined to read the whole series to judge for myself.
Your local bear scare reminds me of all those Animal Planet commercials that have been showing lately for the Grizzly Man Diaries(they’re showing it in a couple of weeks,I think). Keep those picnic baskets out of sight for awhile there:)!
Oh,and how could those girls call you the b-word? Not cool,ladies,not cool!
Twilight movie release got bumped up to November 21!
YAY1 I’m so glad you liked it! I liked it alot too though I still have and had mixed feelings about it for some reason =/ but as a whole it ended the series really well! Amazingly so!
OMG the movie! I can’t wait! Did you hear it got moved up to November 21st three weeks sooner then planed! I’m so happy!
It’ll be great to have it sooner!
Still bitterly and brutally jealous and reading your blog like a lifeline…there IS a world out there. That has mountains. And fleece. And cookies. I really enjoyed Breaking Dawn more than I thought I would, after having been singulararly unimpressed with New Moon and only reading Eclipse on professional duty. Can’t wait for the movie!
Elizabeth, I feel so bad for you! Honey, get out! Play! Poor you!
Dylan, I’m surprised you have mixed feelings, since I think I know your opinion about Edward vs. Jacob, and I know I know your opinion about the series. Hmmm.
Molly and Dylan, thanks for letting me know about the release date–I hadn’t heard that. Yay for early release! I wonder if that’s because Warner Bros. just announced they’re delaying Harry Potter until next July instead of Nov. 21 (boo–I was really looking forward to that!). Anyway, I’ll take Twilight for Thanksgiving–sounds good.
Lady T, I’m glad you’re going to read the series and draw your own conclusions. That’s the way it should be.
And Grizzly Man Diaries? *shudder* I have a very healthy fear of grizzlies–I don’t belong anywhere where they do. I made the mistake of seeing that documentary Grizzly Man, and it was so incredibly disturbing I really, really wished I had never set foot in the theater that day. I do not need to watch a man go slowly more and more crazy until finally his “friends” the grizzlies eat him dead. Yuck. No.
TOAST.
Hmm. Who comes up with these words?
I liked Breaking Dawn. The whole Jacob/Nessie thing threw me for a spin, but I liked it.
I Know don’t remind me! XD I just need to read it again and I will love it! I hope! XD But it was a good ending.
Your welcome!
I thinkit was because of harry potter moving (which made it a little less painful because I was exited too! 
) Supposedly because harry potter was postponed they thought it would make the fans happy to move it up. 
They were right! Though I guess some people are upset because of scedualing…. XD Come on people! Can’t we at least try to be pleased?! Geez!
HEY! Katlin! Spoilers!?!?!?! No thank you!!
I wrote a Children’s Book That Never Was post about Breaking Dawn, but Patrick’s revisioning of Twilight beats mine hands down. If I were wearing a hat, I’d tip it to you, Patrick.