Week 7: Storytelling--They Claim I'm a Villain. . .

I wasn't always like this.  I wasn't always bitter, jealous, conniving and--as many recently decided--a whore.  And while I know I am not virtuous or even good, I am not altogether evil either.  All I have done has been for the benefit not only of myself, but of my son.  If it seems my actions are wholly selfish, I assure you they are not.  For even if I am not who I was before, parts of my younger, virtuous self remain.

Often I wish I could be who I once was.  I wish that I could be the same person who drove chariots, fought demons, and served her king.  The person who Dasaratha fell in love with.  But am I not her, not anymore.

You see, once upon a time I was fearless, unafraid of anything that came my way.  Call it innocence, ignorance, bravery--whatever you desire.  I was the best mortal chariot driver in the lands--perhaps even better than some immortal beings.  My horses were red, glinting in the light as if made of copper.  I led them not by force, but through friendship.  We were so close we may as well have been different limbs on the same being.

In my chariot, with my team before me, I ruled the skies.  In the skies, I felt free, like nothing could stop me or hold me back.  Perhaps that freedom is what allowed me to be so fearless, so "brave."  Who knows. . .

What I do know is that everything changed in my ninth year.  The Asuras of drought had locked away the rains, and the heavy clouds up above darkened the lands.  The earth grew scorched, and cracks marred its surface.  And with every crack, I felt a fissure rip through my own being.  For no longer could I ride through the skies without viewing the wounded land below and the black clouds above.  My safe haven, my freedom, was gone.  And without it, I began to change.  I began to grow angry and desperate.

Thus when I was given the chance to drive the then-prince, Dasaratha, into battle, I eagerly jumped on it.  And in battling against the drought demons, I discovered that my relationship with my horses and my knowledge of the sky allowed me to anticipate and outmaneuver all of our opponents.  We were unstoppable, and yet this did not grant me hope for the renewal of the lands and skies which I so loved; no, instead the darkness of the clouds and the harshness of the scorched earth seeped into my soul, and the taste of battle unleashed the desperation and anger I held inside.

And so, even as I saved Dasaratha's life when the tide of battle turned against us, even as I spent days nursing him to health, I changed for the worse.  I was no longer an innocent and free child.  Instead, I was a bitter and angry woman.  And even as I selflessly remained by Dasaratha's side, I became wrapped up in myself.  I grew selfish.

Now, when I think back on those days, I wonder.  I wonder about how every crack in the earth became a crack in my innocence and about how as the clouds grew darker and heavier with imprisoned rains, my soul grew darker and heavier with pent-up, selfish desires.  And I wonder if it was worth it, if my greedy, self-seeking ways have served a purpose.  For now Visishtha claims that by my doing, the worlds are saved from tyranny, that my self-serving actions have allowed for the defeat of the oppressive Ravana.

Yet I cannot help but think, why was my virtue the price paid to save the world?  Why must I be the villainous hero, the one everyone whispers about in the shadows and despises behind closed doors?

I promise you, I am not all evil.  I was not always like this.  And perhaps, if I can change for the worse, I can change for the better.

Or perhaps there is no going back to the virtue and innocence that was before.  Perhaps I am evil.  Perhaps I am the villain I never wished or thought I could be.




Author's Note.  I don't know about everyone else, but I for one have never been a fan of Kaikeyi.  She's scheming, manipulative and manipulated, selfish and self-serving, and honestly annoying and melodramatic.  So yeah, I'm definitely not a fan.  And yet, throughout the Ramayana, we get bits and pieces of this story in which she saved Dasaratha even as she herself was injured.  All of which seemed out of character and frankly ridiculous when contrasted with her actions regarding Rama.  Thus when we got this story in its entirety (finally!) and I learned that Kaikeyi was only nine and an amazing charioteer at the time, suffice it to say I was shocked.  And I wondered what could have caused her to change so drastically; what would she think reflecting on who she is and who she was?  What caused her to change? . . .

Bibliography.  Buck, William (1976).  Ramayana:  King Rama's Way.

Image Information.  Image of a dark landscape courtesy of DasWortgewand.  Pixabay.

Week 7: Reading Diary B--Silence and the End of All Things. . . For Now

And now for the final installment of Buck's Ramayana!! Alas, we shall read your beautiful prose no longer!

This time we get a much more detailed tour of various lands and kingdoms as Rama and Sita head back to Ayodhya.  It's pretty and all, but gets a little long and tiresome--perhaps even more so because it lies after so much action and acts like an ekphrasis, keeping us from the happy conclusion we want so badly at this point. . . Or at least that's what I'd say if I was to get all technical and stuff, haha.

Oh, weird and outrageous Guha, how I missed you!

I love how everyone in Ayodhya dresses like Rama and Sita did in their exile; it's as if they are in exile simply because Rama is present.  I can't decide if this is touching, or codependent and worrisome.  Either way, it's definitely interesting.

Celebrations abound, for the rightful king of Ayodhya is restored!  Yada, yada, yada. . .

Also, on a side note, it is interesting that even though Kaikeyi's act to install Bharata on the throne was purely selfish, she ends up being credited with helping to save the world from Ravana's tyranny.  I'm pretty sure that goes against any morals this story is trying to instill, but whatever.

Awake for fourteen years.  Let me repeat, fourteen years!!  Damn.  That is some loyalty, Lakshmana.  Perhaps now you can sleep for at least seven.

Woo coronations and more celebrations and feasting!  Etc, etc. . .

I really love the single line of poetry at the beginning of the last book; "at the end hear the first words. . ."  This really emphasizes the fact that this is a frame tale, and that the entire time we were heading towards not an end, but a continuation of a beginning.  At least that's what I think, so it must be true, haha.

People leave.  Rama rules. People doubt Sita's purity.  Apparently surviving the test of Fire isn't enough to prove your virtue.  And so, Rama abandons Sita to the forest, not even having the balls to do so himself.  But if Rama says something shall be done, than it must be done, and it must be the right thing to do.  Bahh!!  Like, what the heck?!  After everything you went through to be together, you just abandon her because of some gossipy city-people?  For shame!!

Even Lakshmana thinks Rama's acting like a coward.  Gah, I am just so frustrated right now!

And then we get the backstory of how Kaikeyi won her two boons from Dasaratha.  Random, but I guess the story just needed to be told.  Plus it gives Valmiki a chance to excavate himself from the anthill before Sita is left to commit suicide. . .

Kaikeyi a brave warrior woman?  An amazing charioteer?  A strong individual?  I'm in shock!!  o_O  Haha.

So Sita is abandoned because of a curse; *sigh*.  I guess it's slightly more acceptable if the act is Dharma's doing.  Still sucks for the end to a love story, though.

We return to the festival occurring and Rama and Sita's twin boys singing Valmiki's Ramayana.  And then we return shortly after to the "present," where Saunaka is being told the tale of the composition and recitation of the story of Rama and Sita in the same forest where that long-ago festival occurred by Sauti.  How's that for a confusing, over-simplified summary of a multi-layered frame tale. . .

And then for some reason we return back to the festival.  Just when I thought we were nearly done.

Now Buck is just jumping around for fun.  He probably wrote this last section this way solely to annoy me, knowing I was going to read this one day.  He irks me; he's irksome. <-- (I apologize if no one gets the reference.  I obviously remember random lines from too many TV shows.)

And finally, finally, Rama recognizes his sons.  Thank God!  Rama and Sita get their happily ever after at long last!!!  =)

There is a literal Mother Earth in this story; absolutely fantastic!!

Okay, maybe they don't get their happy ending.  What is happening?!  Sita disappears underground and Rama just accepts that he won't see Sita again as long as he lives as a man?  AAAAGHHH.  Kiss and live together and die together of extremely old age, I am begging you.

Janaka continues to bewilder me.  I have absolutely no idea what he is talking about in any point in time.  But he seems okay with that, so I guess I am too. . .

"Rama ruled in Fair Ayodhya for a thousand years more, alone without Sita, keeping her golden statue by him in her palace rooms"  Wow.  That is somewhat romantic and entirely depressing.  Can we please change the ending?

Lakshmana dies simply because he sees Time; I would be angry/annoyed, except the whole scene of his death is gorgeous in his acceptance of his fate and the imagery.  I love it, and I hate it.  So many feels, to use internet lingo, haha.

". . . if you want a high road to heaven, just say Rama. . ."  Rama.  Rama, Rama, Rama.  Ramaramaramaramarama.  Did it work? . . .

"This is the world's first best poem."  So humble.  Especially since if it is to be believed it is the first poem ever, so is by necessity the first best poem.  Okay, so then I guess by that argument it's just stating a fact, not bragging. . . What was I saying?

I kind of don't know what to say about the end of Buck's version.  I would have been happy with Sauti shouting Rama to end it, but then he added another two lines.  "Again the Players come./Love to all men."  And I don't know what to make of the whole "players" part. Who are the players he's referencing?  Why is this a good ending?  I mean I get the whole "love to all men part"; it's just like an "amen," lol.  But who are the players, and what does it mean that they are coming again? . . .

In any case, goodbye, Ramayana!  I shall remember you always!  Namaste.

Week 7: Reading Diary A--Among Other Things, the Defeat of Ravana and the Reunion of Rama and Sita!

Last week of reading the Ramayana; alas!  But soon we shall move on to new tales and find new beloved characters.  But first, back to Ravana, and Time. . .

So, as Ravana gathers his army in the cloak of night in order to attack Rama's army, we get a short anecdote about the Rakshasa Malyavan.  Honestly, this story just left me confused.  The past and present were so intertwined and indistinct that I really don't understand what happened.  But it was such an ethereal scene with such a welcoming end, that I don't care that I didn't understand it; I liked it anyway.  I guess I'm just odd that way.

The description of the armies facing off was another unreal image.  Can you imagine looking out on what appeared to be a sea of "long-murdered ghosts"?  Of facig off against "warriors like hills, like living flames, very strong and cruel"?  I'm shivering just thinking about it.

Final conclusion on Jambavan the Bear King:  fearsome, great to have on your side, but bad to have as an enemy.  Piss him off, and you are basically agreeing to being ripped into tiny shreds. So, yeah.

Hanuman is an interesting figure.  Who knew a monkey could rip off a head and cause it to explode into 108 pieces and send flaming brains flying?  I probably could have gone my whole life without knowing that, but hey, now I know.

Finally someone acknowledges that if Soorpanaka wasn't so lustful and spoiled, this whole war affair could have been avoided.  Can you imagine a crush being the root cause of such a destructive war, of the downfall of your kingdom?  Granted, Paris could probably relate, but who else?  Haha.

Also, there really is honor among thieves--or among demons, at least.

You know how there are people who you never, ever, want to witness dancing?  Ravana is now at the top of my list.

I. Love. Time.  I mean if you read my latest story you already know this, but seriously.  How great would it be to finally call Ravana out for all of his sins, and be able to do it in such a low key yet menacing/ominous way?!  Seriously a fan. . .

And then Time fails me.  Falls prey to Ravana.  I now hate you, Time.  How you have disappointed me!!

Rama is characterized as partly a wanderer, partly a warrior, partly a king, and I have to say I love this description.  It seems that after all of his travels, this is the man he has become, and as he rides into battle his true identity is on the verge of being unleashed. . .

Cue the final battle royale, fraught with clashing chariots, arrows, and all manner of weapons!!

Oh, the poetry in the wicked enemy dying at dawn, leaving the world to begin a new day, a new era!  Plus, the awesome justice in Ravana finally being killed for all of his sins--that's also cool and such.  Yeah, yeah it is.

Ravana's letter to be delivered to Rama after his death was also poetic.  Oddly enlightened, but poetic just the same.

A long poetic, very self-aware description of the tale of Rama as told in Valmiki's song. . . and into part three, "The Dharma Wheel"!

Here we see everything in the epic coming to a nice conclusion, with all loose ends being tied up.  Ravana's body is burned, Vibhishana is placed on Lanka's throne, Mandodari accompanies her father Maya away, and Hanuman (finally!) fetches Sita.

Apparently Sita is more beautiful than Lakshmi--therefore somehow more beautiful than herself?  Ummmm. . .

And then Rama goes and pretends his ignorance is perfectly fine.  Who needs to know they are a great and powerful god anyway, right?  Gahh, so frustrating!

Great lovers reunited and given a house to themselves, and what do they do?  Sita places Rama's head in her lap and notices his leg is injured.  Totally what I was thinking, I mean, what else would they do?

"'You are faithful and very wise, when you stop to think.'"  I'm pretty sure that that is more insult than compliment.  But way to be passive aggressive, Vibhishana!

And now Rama's dead army becomes Rama's arisen army of the dead.  So basically, the world is now overrun by zombie bears and zombie monkeys.  That's reassuring.  And not at all frightening.

And we end with a giant chariot carrying thousands of "reformed" demons, zombie animals, and other travelers (including our beloved Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana) heading back to Ayodhya.  Really wish I could've been present to witness that homecoming.

I bid you adieu!  Our final installment of the Ramayana is to come tomorrow, so be prepared for happy endings all around, haha!

Tech Tip: Online Typing Test

I took the RankMyTyping.com and Typing Speed Test online in order to discover how fast and accurate I was with my touch typing.  Both tests resulted in about the same speed for me, with 74.2 words per minute at the one and 72 words per minute at the other.  Personally, I liked the RankMyTyping test better, as it was sentences with punctuation, similarly to things that I type normally; thus, it probably provides a more accurate measure of my typing speed while doing assignments than the Typing Speed Test.  However, the typing speed test was interesting in that it shows how fast I can type when looking at individual words rather than connected thoughts.

Either way, I was both impressed and depressed with my typing speeds, haha, so it was overall an enlightening experience!

Week 6: Storytelling--Illusion, Shadow, and the Passage of Time

As you walk the paths of life, you are not alone.  I for one am always present, always observing, always waiting.  In my endless days,  I have seen many events come to pass--yet there is one event in everyone's life with which I am overly concerned.  And in fact it is not the events and circumstances themselves I remember, but the people.  For me, the individuals are who stand out, the countless faces of reincarnated souls, wondering where I will take them next, wondering what their lives were worth.

But, of course, that is not for me to decide.  I am only the companion of the Death Lord, and am often absorbed into his shadow.  I am ever changeable, ever oncoming.  I am an illusion, but all too real.  I am Time, and because of my passage I am also Death.

Once upon a Time, Ravana wished to seek out Death--I was only too happy to oblige him with my presence.  And yet, when he saw me he demanded to see my Lord Yama, not recognizing me.  At that time, he made of me an enemy, and Death is not an enemy you wish to have.  Even when my appearance changed from that of a withered man not unlike a corpse to that of a fair young man with all of life before him, he mocked me.

But what he failed to realize is that Time, Death, is not willingly your enemy--I am not your enemy.  When I touch upon your shoulder, you welcome me.  I bring you peace, rebirth; I allow your weary souls to rest.  To not experience Death is to live in eternal torment, to cringe and whimper at the harshness of Timeless life.

For many years I followed Ravana in the guise of Time, casting a shriveled shadow over the Demon King.  My dry coughs would echo in his ears, my breath would fall damply on his neck.  To refuse Death is to accept endless Time, and so I shadowed his many travails.  Often I stood behind him, watching and waiting for the Time when he would beg for Death, when he would cry for my appearance.  And while I followed Ravana, I also traveled elsewhere, playing my role and casting Time's shadow over Kaikeyi's heart when she decided to cash in her favors with the king, and then standing behind the accepting shoulders of Dasaratha when he welcomed Death as relief for his broken heart.

As Ayodhya mourned its king, Rama noted my worth, my role in allowing weary souls rest.  When others complained of the unfairness of Death, Rama spoke of companionship, of friendship, of changing Time.  And I recognized in him one who knew both the hardships and joys of Time, and the illusions of Death.

It was not until later that the honorable Rama's path was to cross that of the forsaken Demon King.  I awaited those days, when Ravana would finally realize my blessing.  The siege of Lanka saw me prowling the city streets, withered and weary, wearing a threadbare brown shroud.  The dust and ashes of Time ruined and Death approaching covered me, and my dry cough echoed along the avenues.  Grinning like a skull, my hollow eyes took in the many companions who would soon join me.  The Time had come for the inhabitants of Lanka to join me in Death, to rest in my welcoming arms.  I walked those streets to collect those who respected Death, who understood that Time must pass and change.

It was soon after this that Ravana realized the errors of his ways; he realized that every choice he made had led him to this moment, to the moment where he would face down Rama and be forced to bow down to me and accept Death.  Ravana had been able to hide behind the illusions of earthly life, but no more.  Dharma and the material instruments of Time had long since aligned with Rama.  Even Indrajit, a mighty warrior, fell under my law, the law of Time and Death, in those times.  And still Ravana would not accept me.  But he will one day soon.

Do not fear Death--Death is not life's end; it is nothing but an illusion.  The course of Time is ever-changing and unstoppable.  With Time comes not only ends, but also endless beginnings.  The wheel of Time forever rolls on, regardless of circumstance.  When you see my shadow, do not be afraid.  As Death I am only an illusion; yet as Time, I am your constant shadow and the course of all events.  Welcome me, and I will welcome you into my joyful arms when your Death, your Time, comes.





Author's Note.  If anyone were to scan my reading diaries, they would find frequent instances in which I mention Time; for some reason, all his various appearances (both in regards to his presence and his physical appearance) have really drawn my attention.  He stands out in that he seems to always be present, and yet he never merits more than a line or two of text (with the exception of the story on 39-40).  And so I decided to tell a little tale of my own in which Time is the star.  Tada!!

Bibliography.  Buck, William (1976).  Ramayana:  King Rama's Way.

Image Information.  Photograph by Giulia, 2013.  "Watching the Passage of Time."  Flickr.

Week 6: Reading Diary B--War, War, and More War.

Jumping right in. . .

Rama decides to lay siege to Lanka with the animal army.  His decision on when to start (the next day) and description of the time is quite ominous.  All "Death will be in conjunction with the moon"--spooky!  Haha.

Rama is quite rude to the Ocean when it won't let him pass.  So something won't immediately bow down to you--get over it!  He doesn't even really ask nicely or anything; no manners!  And yet the Ocean helps him anyway for love.  Turns out the Ocean is more compassionate than Rama is polite.  Go figure.

Squirrels helping build a bridge. . . Yeah, would never see that coming.

Vibhishana makes some very passive aggressive comments here.  If I didn't know any better, I'd say he even employs a little sarcasm.  Is it bad that I love him for it?

Ravana refuses to give back Sita and ask pardon 'cause he's a--shall we say--stupidhead, for lack of a crude term.  So Vibhishana goes to join Rama's side.  All in all, we see that V is the smart sibling of the two.

And then Hanuman calls Sugriva out for being a drunk.  Because if I served a king, that's totally what I would say to him.  "King, you were to drunk to remember, plus you're just plain ignorant.  Leave off!"  Granted those are my words, but still, that is basically what he says.

The bridge is built and Lanka is reached.  Woot woot!

You also hear the phrase in books "shrink to nothing," but in this case it was actually literal.  Huh.

"'Are you afraid?' 'Well no, but my stomach hurts!'"  <--Best/weirdest excuse ever to resign from being a spy.  Do you think it works for other jobs/activities too?

So Sita couldn't see through the illusion of Rama's dead beheaded head.  Fun fact.  Thank goodness for Prahasta's timing in announcing Rama's arrival, or Sita would have killed herself--she definitely resorts to that solution a lot. . . Anyway, that gave a rakshasi the chance to tell her the truth.  A demon who isn't demonic?!  Say what?

Yay, Time is back!!  This time he is an old, withered man, walking the streets of Lanka.  Cool descriptions, though I never want to see someone grinning at me like a skull.  That's just plain creepy.

Ravana has serious anger issues.  He needs a therapist, stat.

Loved the verse at the beginning of the "Siege of Lanka" chapter:  "This perilous Life is a drop of water,/ A hanging raindrop on a lotus leaf;/ Soon it falls back in the pond below/ And is lost."  Truly sad words, but beautifully told.

I wish I had brass clubs thrown at me to kill off all the mosquitoes biting me on summer nights.  Imagine how awesome that overkill would be. . .

The whole time Nala is killing Prahasta, I'm picturing a lioness attacking a demon.  Like a mix of The Lion King and Fantasia.  There is so much wrong with me. . .

I can kinda relate to Ravana in that my younger sibling is also significantly taller than me.  I mean, she's no Kumbhakarna, but that would just be ridiculous!

Okay, now I'm picturing Ravana as a child throwing a tantrum.  "'What I don't like I don't hear!'"  Pfft.  Grow up, little boy, this is the real/mythological world.  Both of your brothers tried to correct your error and you ignored them; you will get your due, and it won't be pretty!

What is so special about Rama's arrows?!  Every other weapon fails, but one arrow from him and poof!  Problem solved.

Answer:  The arrows are washed in gold and then blood.  Soooo, okay then.  That's different.

Indrajit still seems like the best and most intelligent/straightforward warrior on Ravana's side.  It's no wonder he's the only one who can get things done.  Not that I support him, but you have to love a guy who knows what he's doing.  Even if he does kill everyone and Rama.  Still impressive.  (Again, I have sooooo many issues, haha.)

And now we bring the dead back to life.  Why not?  Death is the work of Maya, after all.  It is only an illusion.  Just carry a mountain of herbs over an army of the dead, and they come back to life.  It's that simple, hah.

Wholehearted love = impossible deeds.  Good to know.

And on the third day he rose again. . . to find Rama is alive.  Poor Ravana, can't even rest without everything falling apart around him.

Seems my Bible allusion was apt; for now we have "Fight for me on Earth, as you did in heaven!" mirroring some Christian prayer.  Curiouser and curiouser.

More illusions, more people too ignorant to see through them, more battles. . . And Lakshmana kills Indrajit!!  Awww! :(    (I-I mean woo-hoo!!  Go protagonists!  Hooray cliches!!)

And finally, Ravana decides he will go face Rama himself.  Now we must wait for the battle royale to begin!!

Week 6: Reading Diary A--Basically, Hanuman's Opportunity and Subsequent Failure to Cut This Epic Short

Another week of readings this way comes!  Let's get to it!!

A great vulture named Sampati informs Hanuman and the animals were to find Sita (in Lanka, of course!).  He's even kind enough to provide a second eye-witness account just in case they don't believe him.  Poor guy is getting rudely interrogated in exchange for offering help.  Shame on Hanuman!

At least they were kind enough to give Sampati food and heal his wings.  Much more reasonable response there.

Hanuman gathers his powers and climbs to the top of a the Malaya hills, from which he leaps to Lanka.  I have to say, I loved the details in this entire scene, especially the ways his ascent and heavy tread as well as his preparation to jump were described.

Loved, loved, loved the story about mountains having wings!  Can you imagine?  I'd be driving home from school one day and it'd be like, "Well, guess I have to find a new apartment, seeing as my old one has now been flattened by a mountain.  *sigh*"  Haha.  And the broken-off wings became the clouds?!  Great imagery in such a simple etiological myth.

Hanuman's shadow being grabbed reminded me of Peter Pan; just a random side note. . .

For Lanka being the haven of Ravana and the rakshasa, it sure sounds gorgeous.  Can I vacation there, please?  With different companions?

And now Hanuman is McGonagall.  Nbd.

"You have vanquished the realm of Lanka with one blow. . ."  And yet he can't just rescue Sita himself?  Bahh!

More descriptions. . .

Just saying, Ravana has quite the harem.  Also, Indian mythology has countless flawless women--and I have no idea what to make of that, haha.

Kill him!!!!  He's right there in front of you, fast asleep--so just kill him already!

And now you still the man's food; bad form, Hanuman, bad form.

Apparently now the countless flawless women in Indian mythology all look practically the same.  Not sure what this means, but I don't like it.  >:/

Yet all the men/beasts break down and cry often, so I guess that levels the gender playing field. . .

Ugly demons and Ravana are harassing Sita.  Long story short.

Some great quotes can be found here, though:  "She was a river dried away, a torn leaf from a doubtful book. . .; she was dead love and disappointed hopes."  Depressing but highly descriptive.

Sita's got some spunk, some moxy!!  "'Can you not feel the noose of Death?'"  Ooomph, that one hurt, haha.

"'Be happy! Or else! . . . Or else we'll eat you up.'"  <--That right there escalated quickly.  And will provide fodder for horror stories/nightmares in the near future, haha.

Apparently pinching yourself to discover if you're dreaming is overrated.  Simply examine the details of the ground before you, and everything will be made clear.

And now Hanuman is turning into Trelawney; he just cannot make up his mind.

Sita basically says if she is to be rescued, it must be by Rama so that she knows she is still loved.  A great sentiment, but just a bit overblown/melodramatic.  Ah, well, what are we to do. . .

Hanuman "slapped his armpits so loudly. . ."  That is. . . just. . . w-o-w.  Wow.

Apparently being able to change the size of things at spectacular scales in "small magic."  I wish I had small magic, but imagine what big magic must be capable of!

Indrajit is probably the greatest character in this epic in that he doesn't overcomplicate things.  He just does.  Capture Hanuman?  Sure, with a single arrow.  No problem.  Can I go back to meditating now?

At least Hanuman has a sense of humor, even when captured.  It keeps things interesting.

Go Vibhishana, standing up and showing the strength found in "weak" women everywhere!  Plus good job for saving Hanuman. . . yeah, that too.

Fire can't burn Sita, but Sita can burn Fire--I have no idea what this means.  Sure sounds cool, though.

Bears, and bears, and drunken bears!  Do you think we could find Winnie-the-Pooh celebrating with them in the Honey Park?  I mean it sounds like somewhere he'd be. . .

Hanuman summarizes where he found Sita and the situation at Lanka.  And once again we see our strong warriors weeping.

Tune in next time to discover if the men are emo, maudlin, or simply compassionate!  (Hint:  The answer is probably none of the above.)  Tata for now!!

Google Define and Etymology Tech Tip

This feature of Google is actually one that I use all the time.  Seriously.  I know so many words from reading them in context in books and such, but sometimes am slightly unsure of whether I am using them correctly.  Or I come across a word and just need to know what it means. . . So I go to Google.  Woo Google!!  Haha.

Anyways, here is a screenshot of one of my favorite words (don't ask me why I like it so much; I just do!):