Scenes from around the Javits Center at New York Comic Con 2014
All photographs by Kaia Schroding. Do not republish without credit to the photographer and Curiata.com.
With our handsome Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean, returning for the 10th season of Supernatural beginning last night, binge watching the first nine seasons of the monster-killing brothers jumped fairly high on my list of priorities. However, this impulse comes with a downside: sitting for hours makes me feel lazy. And when I don’t accomplish anything, I start beating myself up … then I feel sad, so then I binge watch … and around and around I go.
And as I was sitting there watching Dean Winchester in his tight, bright-red gym teacher shorts, I had an idea — and no, it’s not that kind of idea (well, that idea, too). Why not kick some ass while watching the Winchesters kick some ass? I mean, let’s give my fellow Supernatural fans a reason to move instead of just sitting there, letting Sloth take over their lives. (Although, the Winchesters did take him out, so we should be safe.) So I reflected on the moments that have led the brothers to where they are now and picked out some of the most repeated actions, phrases, and themes and decided to put exercises to them. I wanted to do a body weight workout so that I wouldn’t have to go through finding weights and equipment. Plus, then you can do the workout anytime you have access to Netflix and enough space to move. Without further adieu, here is the Supernatural workout (easily adaptable into a drinking game, if you’re so inclined):
While I may not be able to fight monsters and evil every day to stay in shape, I can find my own way to build some muscle and tone while watching the boys take on the real bad guys. When I did my trial run of one episode, “Everybody Loves a Clown,” from season 2, I immediately regretted my decision. Not because the workout was a flop, but because I could hardly move when the episode was over. My legs and arms burning, and I chugged 4 bottles of water. Then I turned to my screen and said, “Let’s do this.” (To no one in particular, really, because I frequently motivate myself out loud. Yes, it’s normal. No judging.)
The workout was worth every second of agony, though — much like the show itself. (ALL THE FEELS!) It was taxing and left me winded, but I just kept reminding myself that the Winchesters aren’t in fangirl-ogling form because they sit on a sofa watching TV all day. They’re killing monsters and fighting to make sure they stay alive and help people. And if that isn’t enough motivation, then there’s always the chance that being incredibly fit will impress Jared and Jensen enough to look your way if they end up single at some point in the future.
Enjoy!
“… saving people, hunting things. The family business.”
Looking back on nine seasons of Sam and Dean Winchester’s bad-assery and trying to sum up everything the boys have been through on Supernatural is daunting. The fresh-faced youths from season 1 grew into the hardened men who have died (many times each), bled, and lost much in order to save lives over and over again. And, of course, there’s also the fact that Sam’s hair gets longer with each season. (Seriously, did he stop believing in getting a haircut?) But with the 10th (and final?) season premiering on The CW in just a few hours, I need to look back on the series I’ve loved, even as it dashed salt and lighter fluid on my soul and threw a Zippo on top of it.
Spoilers ahead!
Something that I’ve loved throughout the series, in addition to the brotherly moments and bad-assery, has been that the series builds on itself. Of course, there’s also the gorgeous lead actors, impressive acting, comedic timing, and emotional connection to the characters. And we can’t forget “Carry On My Wayward Son” by Kansas! Every time I hear that song now, I’m filled with dread, because my fellow Supernatural fans and I know that nothing good comes from hearing it.
The “Then/Now” and “The Road So Far” beginnings of each episode give us a glimpse at a moment from the boys’ past that will play a part in the forthcoming days. We’ve been shown monsters and demons they’ve encountered, as well as some dear friends, and we then get to see how they play a part in this new episode. Unfortunately, most of the friends the Winchesters have had are dead (R.I.P. Bobby, Jo, Ellen, and Ash) — except for Sheriff Jody Mills! you go girl! — and the road the boys have traveled has gotten stranger, with higher stakes every day.
Supernatural was originally written as a five-season show, and everything in those first five years built up to the fifth season finale, “Swan Song.” Looking at those first five seasons, the boys faced multitudes of demons and avenged their mother’s and father’s deaths by defeating the Yellow-Eyed Demon, Azazel, who had broken into their home when Sam was a baby and fed Sam demon blood. In their hunt for Azazel for the next two decades, the Winchesters grew into the most formidable and dangerous hunters among the demon-fighting ranks, all according to the big plan of the supernatural world.
Sam was among the children chosen specifically by Azazel to fight it out in a battle to the death that would determine who was worthy of leading the demon army that would pour out of the Devil’s Gate that Azazel opened. Azazel said Sam was always his favorite because of his leadership and experience as a hunter and that the demon blood Azazel fed him was a gift, making Sam stronger than he would have been without it.
In season 2, all hell breaks loose. Sam dies in the destined fight with Azazel, and Dean makes a deal with a Crossroad Demon to bring his brother back: Sam will be restored to life, but Dean will only have one year to live. Dean then kills Azazel with the mystical Colt revolver, but not before the Yellow-Eyed Demon opens Hell’s Gate and releases scores of demons, many that are much more deadly than what the boys had ever faced.
In season 3, the boys are charged with tracking down all the demons that were set free, as well as fighting the Seven Deadly Sins and a Santa Claus who kills people, all while trying to find a way to save Dean’s soul from an eternity in hell. The boys also begin hiding things from each other and lying instead of talking to each other — which gives them so many problems for the remaining seasons that you just want to punch those perfect faces over and over again until they stop being douchebags to each other. They team up with a demon named Ruby, who seems to be fighting on the good side against a more powerful demon, Lilith, who usually chooses to possess little girls, which makes her 1,000 times creepier.
Also in season 3, we see more of The Trickster. He lures the boys to “The Mystery Spot,” where it’s perpetually Tuesday, in order to teach Sam a lesson by killing Dean over and over again; it’s a kind of demented Groundhog Day in which, no matter how hard Sam tries, he will never be able to save Dean. And The Trickster’s lesson proves true. Lilith catches up with the boys, takes over Ruby’s body, and sends her Hellhounds after Dean, who dies, and his soul is transported to Hell. However, when Lilith attacks Sam, her powers are ineffective. He’s stronger than her powers because of the demon blood in his body, and Lilith retreats.
Season 4 opens with Dean being rescued from Hell by an angel, Castiel (because if you’re going to have demons, you have to have angels). We find out that Ruby has returned and has been coaching Sam, telling him to drink demon blood in order to be more powerful so he can defeat Lilith. The angels visit the boys, telling them that Lilith is working to break the seals to Lucifer’s Cage, and if she breaks 66 of them, the Devil walks free. By this point, you can see how it goes: the seals are broken — the first by Dean when he was in Hell, the last by Sam after Ruby betrayed him; Ruby had been working for Lilith all along, and the last seal to be broken was Lilith herself. (Ruby dies, too, which is good, because she was a bitch.)
Once Lucifer goes free, the boys find out their real purpose in life. They were born to be the human embodiments, or vessels, of Lucifer and Michael, so that the two brothers, the devoted and the rebellious, would have their final battle: The Apocalypse. A lot of archangels make appearances in this fifth season, with the best reveal being that The Trickster is actually Archangel Gabriel. Even though Lucifer allegedly kills him (I refuse to accept that he’s actually dead), he was awesome from the start.
Anyway, in order to stop the Apocalypse from occurring, the boys collect the rings of the Four Horsemen (no easy task) in order to recreate Lucifer’s Cage and throw the Devil back into it, which can only happen if Sam allows Lucifer to be his vessel. Sam says “yes” in “Swan Song” and throws himself into the pit, ending season 5.
(Sidenote: The Winchesters have a half-brother, Adam, who is chosen to be Michael’s vessel after Dean takes too long to accept. Everyone forgets about him though. But if we think about it, he’s still in that cage … Yikes.)
After that, Supernatural didn’t have much else to build to. That’s not to say the last four seasons haven’t been good, but the creator of the show, Eric Kripke, left after season 5 and had pretty much wrapped everything up nicely. So the new heads of the show had to find a new end goal.
In the subsequent seasons, the demon Crowley, who is now King of Hell with Lucifer gone, brings Sam back without his soul because it’s too damaged from the Michael-versus-Lucifer cage match. Death returns Sam’s soul but puts up a wall in order to protect Sam, blocking his memories of Hell, and tells him, “Don’t scratch the wall.” (Yes, he scratches it and ends up in a psych ward with hallucinations of Lucifer tormenting him; Sam pretty much loses his mind.)
Castiel and the other angels are at war for control of Heaven. Cas looks like he may lose to Archangel Raphael (who is a huge dick but, then again, all the angels are), so he teams up with Crowley and taps into the souls in Purgatory. It’s a seemingly win-win situation: Cas gets control of the souls to win the war and becomes incredibly powerful, and then Crowley gets control of the souls and Purgatory, so he cements his place on top.
Things are never that simple, though. Cas fashions himself the new God, but the souls tear him apart. And he doesn’t just let loose souls from Purgatory; he lets out the Leviathan, an ancient species of monsters. Basically, season 7 is about Leviathan eating people, and that’s what they want: to eat everyone — not overly ambitious considering the Winchesters’ previous battles, but oh well. The Leviathan are pretty much impossible to kill, and their leader’s name is Dick Roman. The boys’ eventually find out how to kill the Leviathan with the help of a prophet, Kevin, who can read The Word of God, which is written on stone tablets that had been discovered by Dick (and, eventually, Crowley and Cas). Dean kills Dick in the season 7 finale with the Bone of a Righteous Mortal Washed in the Three Bloods of the Fallen (yes, those were really the instructions), and he and Cas get sent straight to Purgatory.
Dean escapes from Purgatory in the next season with a vampire pal, Benny, who’s not like the other vampires. They have a cute bromance, so, of course, Benny has to die a few episodes later. Cas is rescued by other angels, including Naomi, who is using prophets to try to seal off Hell so demons can never return. Castiel is controlled by Naomi, and he nearly beats Dean to death, but the De-stiel love keeps them strong, and when Cas touches the angel tablet in Dean’s possession, he’s back to his normal self. Cas teams up with Metatron, the Scribe of God, who then betrays Cas (big surprise) and throws all the angels out of Heaven. (I’ll say it again: angels are dicks.)
Things with Sam and Dean are rough in the later seasons, mostly because they always lie to each other and are growing into different people. Sam thinks about himself most of the time and doesn’t act like much of a brother to Dean. Dean is more vicious after his time in Purgatory. Dean just wants to get things done so he can and Sam can be a happy family again, especially after his time-traveling grandfather, Henry Winchester, makes an unexpected appearance in the present day.
Henry wasn’t a hunter like his grandsons, but one of the Men of Letters, an order devoted to the study of anything supernatural and magical, allowing them to use magic to fight demons — like the one who followed Henry into the present day: Abaddon, a Knight of Hell. The Winchesters defeat Abaddon (momentarily, because they don’t have the equipment to kill a Knight of Hell yet) but at the cost of their grandfather’s life. In the process, however, the boys find a new home: the “Bat Cave” of the Men of Letters, home to stores of knowledge and, now, the Winchester boys.
The boys try to shut Hell off forever in season 8 by having Sam undergo three trials from the demon tablet, the last of which is curing a demon — that is, making him human again. They choose Crowley, but the final trial would cost Sam his life. Dean doesn’t want to let his brother go, so he stops Sam before he can complete the trail, right before the angels fall. However, it’s not in time to stop Sam from dying (again), so in the season 9, Dean allows an angel to possess Sam in order to heal him. Dean thinks it’s the angel Ezekiel, supposedly a good angel. However, we find out later that Ezekiel died in the fall, and it was really Gadreel, the angel who let the snake into the Garden of Eden, who possessed Sam.
The boys fight each other all throughout pretty much the entirety of season 9, while trying to figure out how to get the angels back in heaven and also fight Abaddon, who has come back from the “dead.” Dean and Crowley find the First Blade, the only known weapon that can kill a King of Hell. Dean takes possession of it and the power that comes with it by receiving the Mark of Cain (from the First Demon himself, Cain). However, the Mark is slowly killing Dean and changing him into something angry and violent. Dean kills Abaddon and then moves on to try to take out Metatron, but Sam, who’s been pulling away for the past few seasons — and saying that he would be OK if Dean died, because he has dealt with it before — nonetheless fears for his brother’s life.
Dean is killed in the fight with Metatron, and Sam is a wreck. (I’m actually tearing up right now as I think back on this story arc, so I need to end this quickly.) Sam gathers what he needs to summon Crowley to make a deal and get his brother back. You see, Sam lied: he’s not okay, he needs his brother. But Crowley knows something everyone else doesn’t (per usual). Crowley speaks to the “dead” Dean on the bed at the end the season 9 finale, and we see what the last few seasons have been building to. Both brothers have died many times and have seen Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. They’ve been possessed, by both angels and demons, but this is a new frontier for the boys, and now we’ll see how their story ends.
Crowley: “Your brother, bless his soul, is summoning me, as I speak. Make a deal. Bring you back. It’s exactly what I was talking about, isn’t it? It’s all become so … expected. You have to believe me. When I suggested you take on the Mark of Cain, I didn’t know that this was going to happen. Not really. I mean, I might not have told you the entire truth. But I never lied. I never lied, Dean. That’s important. It’s fundamental. But … there is one story about Cain that I might have … forgotten to tell you. Apparently, he, too, was willing to accept death rather than become the killer the Mark wanted him to be. So he took his own life with the Blade. He died. Except, as rumor has it, the Mark never quite let go. You can understand why I never spoke of this. Why set hearts aflutter at mere speculation? It wasn’t until you summoned me … no it wasn’t truly until you left that cheeseburger uneaten, that I began to let myself believe maybe miracles do come true. Listen to me, Dean Winchester. What you’re feeling right now — it’s not death. It’s life — a new kind of life. Open your eyes, Dean. See what I see. Feel what I feel. And let’s go take a howl at that moon.”
(Dean’s eyes open, and they’re black.)
It’s all been building up to this. The mighty Winchesters are now split by more than growing apart. One is now demon, one human. Can family really triumph over distances that great? We’ll have to find out if the brothers can truly bring each other back from any hell they face.
Now let’s see what Demon Dean and the next chapter of Supernatural have in store for us! Make sure you watch the season 10 premiere at 9 p.m. EDT/PDT, tonight on The CW.
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
A favorite web comic/blog of mine is now a book featuring a series of stories that happened to (or because of) a young girl. Hyperbole and a Half is perfect for a “meh” sort of day because it’s an instant mood booster. With pictures drawn by the author (who I sincerely want to be friends with), each tale left me laughing and often identifying with her train of thought. From her exploits with Simple Dog to her struggles with motivation and depression, readers can connect with almost every story. On some level, I think each of us has had a moment of IDGAF rebellion when we just feel nothing (and a little bit invincible) or when we just can’t seem to guilt ourselves into actually doing something. And maybe finding one other person who understands (and the laughs we can get from the stories and pictures she provides) is just the leg up we need. I blew through this book in a few hours (the pictures help), and I laughed the entire time. Allie’s prose is very straightforward, and if you enjoy deadpan humor, you’ll absolutely get a kick out of this book.
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B. J. Novak
Not only is the former The Office actor and writer attractive, he’s hilarious and brilliant off-screen, too. In One More Thing, Novak presents beloved tales, various themes, and ideas across a wide range of subjects with a sharp wit, keen eye, and inquisitive mind. We see the hare’s side of the race with the tortoise, a teacher who wants to do away with arithmetic, the stock market struggling through depression, what heaven might be like, and what some people may consider when they talk to their ex. B.J. entertains the reader with each story, some of which are only two sentences, but all of which speak volumes.
Green Rider by Kristen Britain
If you’re looking for something in the fantasy realm (especially if you’re as big a fan of series as I am), Green Rider is a high ranker on my list. It was also one of the first fantasy novels I have read to feature a female protagonist. Fearing expulsion and disappointing her family, Karigan G’ladheon leaves her school after a fight with an aristocrat’s son only to find her troubles just beginning. On the road home, Karigan encounters a young man, dressed in green, impaled with two blacks arrows. He is one of the king’s Green Riders, a legendary messenger service that serves the crown. He pleads with his dying breath that she carry on his mission and deliver the life-and-death message to King Zachary. Unable to deny the dying man’s final wish, she agrees to the task. She is given his golden winged-horse brooch, the symbol of the Green Riders, and a warning: “Beware the shadow man …” Now pursued by assassins, spirits, and an unknown threat to the kingdom, Karigan embarks on her journey through a world of complex magic and forces she does not yet understand.
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
January 1 isn’t the only time to make life-changing decisions and resolutions, and if you need that extra push to really start enjoying your life, You Are a Badass won’t steer you wrong. Some people may shy away from this sort of book because it’s self-help, but I honestly believe if everyone read this book, the world would be much better off. The author delivers her lessons through tales from her own life, but the advice never feels like a lecture. It’s almost like Jen is right there just talking to you. You’re forced to really look at yourself, own up to your faults, and then fix them by evaluating what you really want — because if you want something, you’ll make it happen. To make more money, to move to another city, to lose those extra few books — if you want it, go for it. Plus, she curses while encouraging you to stop moping and feeling sorry for yourself, which earns huge points in my book.
The Way of Shadows (Night Angel Trilogy #1) by Brent Weeks
Another recommendation for the fantasy (and series) lovers out there, The Way of Shadows combines assassin training, the will to survive, and magic. Azoth, a young “guild rat” who has grown up in the slums, knows survival is not guaranteed. He searches for the city’s most accomplished assassin, Durzo Blint, to gain an apprenticeship with the wetboy and create a better life for himself and, hopefully, help his friends in the process. In order to be accepted by Durzo, Azoth must reject his old life and take on the identify of Kylar Stern, a trained killing artist and deadly opponent. Kylar must obey his new master’s teachings, learn the dangerous politics of the city and its inhabitants, and control the strange magic that comes with being an assassin who is chose by a Ka’kari, an orb that connects the broken paths in a person’s magic, allowing Kylar to access his powers. I was completely engrossed in this book from start to finish and blew through the trilogy in a few days. The characters are well-developed and the intrigues and hard choices posed — friends or orders, love or duty — kept me begging for more.
I’m a morning person. I can get up at 5 a.m. and be bursting with energy (which is unfortunate for the people who see me at that time and look like they want to punch me right in my word hole). One of my favorite things about those wonderfully peaceful hours before other people wake up is breakfast. I would eat breakfast foods for every meal if I could.
Upon discovering that I’m lactose intolerant, I found the downside to my favorite time of day: A lot of breakfast recipes have milk in them. I realized I could no longer have a lot of things I used to eat (albeit with some discomfort afterwards, but I had chosen to ignore it all those years).
But I would not forsake my love of breakfast, so I had to do something. I realized the simple fix would be to go buy some Lactaid and call it a day, but I refuse to make anything that simple. It’s much less fun that way. So instead of caving and joining the drug-dependent masses, I decided to embrace my newfound food “limitations” and create dishes that my milk-free self could consume. Challenge accepted.
I was pleased to discover that I could have certain dairy-based foods in smaller doses, such as cheese and Greek yogurt. So when I woke up one morning desperately craving pancakes, I sought a recipe that cut out the milk. To my delight, I found quite a few. And since I had some extra Oikos plain Greek yogurt in my fridge that needed to be used, I decided to make some skillet pancakes.
I altered the original recipe I found via Pinterest because the batter came out looking like cookie dough. (“Ladle the batter” my ass.) They used Chobani, but any sort of Greek yogurt will do the trick. I’ve also found that plain Greek yogurt is wonderful in all sorts of recipes, but you can substitute different flavors. (I won’t eat plain Greek yogurt straight though. I think it tastes horrid.)
All in all, I was pleased with the results of this experiment. I added a little bit of cinnamon to the recipe — and chocolate chips to the second half of the batter — to switch things up. I think next time I may not spread out the batter as much so they stay a bit thicker.
I also used Silk Almond Milk (Original) in my version so it was the right consistency, but since the original recipe didn’t have that included, I just eye-balled as I was mixing until the batter looked right.*
I hope you enjoy these pancakes as much as I did! Leave a comment to let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions for this recipe or what to do next!
HOMEMADE SKILLET PANCAKES
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Oikos Greek nonfat yogurt (plain)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Silk almond milk (original) * (see notes above)
Dash of cinnamon, to taste
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Margarine for a nonstick skillet
Preparation:
In a mixing bowl, add sugar, egg, baking soda, salt, oil, vanilla extract, and yogurt; using a whisk, mix by hand. Add flour; mix thoroughly. I then added about 1/2 cup of almond milk and a dash of cinnamon to give the batter a different flavor and get it to the right consistency.
Cooking pancakes can be tricky because they can cook too quickly or end up soggy in the middle. Lightly coat your nonstick skillet with margarine. Turn your burner on a low heat; don’t let it overheat and smoke. Using a small ladle or spoon, pour batter into skillet. Leave room to flip each pancake comfortably. Cook the pancakes until bubbles form across the top of each one. Flip, and cook the remaining side until the center of each pancake is firm.
I made half with chocolate chips. I think they’re fine without them, but I was really craving chocolate. How many you can make at one time depends on the size of your skillet. I just made them one at a time.
This recipe made 6 pancakes.
You know how your parents always told you “No dessert before dinner” as a kid? I decided that, as a 20-something adult, I will eat dessert when I please. And if that means cookies for breakfast, then darn-it-all, I will have cookies for breakfast.
In addition to my fondness for baked goods, I’m a coffee fiend. I have had an unhealthy, borderline obsessive, this-girl-should-probably-not-drink-coffee-in-public-because-the-noises-coming-out-of-her-are-making-me-uncomfortable relationship with coffee. In college, I drank two pots a day. And when I say pots, I mean the 12-cup, family-sized pots. And I drank it alone. Straight from the pot if I was busy. I should probably be ashamed, but I’m really not.
Since my school days, I’ve cut back significantly. I’m down to about six cups a week. (And when I say cups, I don’t mean the 6-ounce recommended daily intake cups because, let’s be serious, no one adheres to the suggested dosage.) However, the second I saw a recipe that combined coffee and chocolate chip cookies, I got all jittery like an addict looking for a fix. Combining two of my favorite things for an incredibly sweet breakfast cookie was enough to make me giddy, no caffeine necessary.
I was so pleased with how these cookies came out (and that I had something sweet with my breakfast for the week) that I had to share this holy coffee-and-cookie union.
I ran out of the regular-size chocolate chips mid-recipe (should’ve checked, but hey, what’s the point of baking without a bit of improvisation?), so I ended up using a combination of the mini semisweet chips and the normal-sized ones that I had, which made the cookies delightfully more chocolatey. I also used instant coffee because espresso crystals were harder to find in my area; I may order online next time. I chopped the pecans with a food processor so the nuts were more evenly distributed in the cookies (and to match the tiny chips, I suppose).
In any case, I will definitely be making these again (sooooo delicious), because why settle for one good thing when you can combine a few? Enjoy, my fellow coffee and chocolate lovers!
FOR THE COOKIES:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 whole egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules or instant espresso crystals
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans
12 ounces by weight semisweet chocolate chips (about 2 cups)
FOR THE GLAZE:
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules or instant espresso crystals
1 tablespoon hot water
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar*
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a large bowl, beat sugars, butter, egg, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy.
On low speed, beat in flour, coffee granules, baking soda, and salt. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and edges are set. Cool on the pan for 2 to 4 minutes; remove cookies from pans to wire racks and cool completely.
For the glaze:
In a small bowl, dissolve instant coffee in hot water. Stir in confectioners’ sugar, adding more confectioners’ sugar if necessary to reach desired drizzling consistency.
Drizzle glaze over cooled cookies. Allow glaze to set before storing cookies in an airtight container between layers of wax paper, plastic wrap, or foil.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
* — I always start with 1/2 cup of confectioners’ sugar and then add more because the glaze can become too thick too fast. I suggest starting small and adding more to your preference. Go back
Growing up, I wanted to be a Jedi like my favorite characters in Star Wars
A decade and a half later, I decided to revisit my ambitions of becoming a Jedi, but not for the power (which leads to the dark side), but for the mindfulness.
I didn’t realize it when I was younger, but being a Jedi has more to do with your mind than with your body. And on my quest to improve my physical health, I discovered that yoga and Jedi training have a lot of similarities. I found that not only were the physical benefits of yoga amazing (greater flexibility, less muscle soreness after working out, better posture, less pain in old injuries), but the mental and spiritual benefits far surpassed my expectations.
Like a Jedi, who needs a master to train him, throughout my own mindfulness practice, Yoda frequently pops into my head. This funny little green man with his backward phrasing whispers words of encouragement as I try to align myself with the Force.
I had read up on yoga practices before attempting any poses, and my anxiety had already gotten the better of me and psyched me out. I had to win at this. I kept thinking that maybe if I were as prepared as possible, I could be really good at it, blow through the different yoga positions, master each one in turn. But I couldn’t relax and enjoy the moment.
So I began my first day on a yoga mat with the book The Yoga Body Diet
Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.
I feared I would fail. I became angry when I didn’t immediately master the yoga practice, and if I continued down this path, not only would I suffer, but those around me would as well. I didn’t want to turn into Darth Vader.
Shannon Paige, writer, sacred activist, and yoga teacher, said during one of her TED talks that yoga doesn’t solve depression or heal broken hearts, but it works as a mindfulness tool in overcoming these parts of life because “yoga works by creating the mind, body, breath connection.”
To connect mind, body, and breath and create self-awareness. To connect with yourself and with what’s around you. To tap into the Force. That’s what I want. But I knew I wasn’t in a good place to start with in that moment.
In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.
Thank you, Yoda.
And light my way it did. I started with step 1 instead of jumping into the poses. I started with breathing. It was time to “unlearn what you have learned,” as Yoda would say. I learned that the body interacts with the breath at a specific point in the respiratory cycle to give you a place where you learn new information, both mental and muscular.
“At the very emptiest point of every breath that you have, just before the breath becomes an inhale, you have the capacity to learn something new. Just depends on what you’re learning,” Paige said.
And with each breath, I began unlearning and letting go of 25 years of backed-up negativity: my fears of inadequacies, rejections, disappointments, failures, and what-ifs. Because I had held onto everything for so long, I couldn’t even imagine being happy, let alone actually experience it. But with each deep breath — the kind that fills your entire body — I began to look at my accomplishments, relationships, and friendships and restore my belief in myself.
Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.
— Yoda to Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith
I fear so much, but in letting go of some of those fears, maybe I can find some peace and calm. The fears will always exist, as will the negative things and tragic occurrences in this life, but it’s how we react to them that allows us to experience peace and a connection with the Force.
I had wanted yoga to solve my anxiety and depression problems, but yoga isn’t about solving problems to create peace and calm. It’s about what goes on inside ourselves each and every day.
Most modern yoga actually creates tension in order to teach you how to release it. Breathe in tension and then breathe it out. It’s not about our weight, anxiety, depression, illness, or heartbreak. Yoga is about connection and those links between our mind, body, spirit, and the Force. And now I feel that connection each day.
What you get out of daily mindfulness practice is what you put into it. “You only find what you bring in,” the Jedi master said to Luke Skywalker before he entered the cave in The Empire Strikes Back. Similarly, if you go into yoga with your type-A personality and think it’s going to solve all your problems, you’re sure to be disappointed. But if you start practice with the mindset that you’re going to understand yourself better and that this will help you take control of yourself and your surroundings and your interactions with others — Do or do not, there is no try — if you can do that, then there’s no telling where you may end up and what you may discover about yourself.
And if you start to feel disconnected again, just remember to breathe.
Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.
— Yoda to Luke Skywalker on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back
The great Irish holiday has come and passed, and you may find yourself with some leftover Guinness, Jameson, and Baileys. That’s all right. I’ve got a healthy Irish car bomb brownie recipe for you to try. OK, “healthy” may be the wrong word for these little bits of heavenly Irish goodness. But they are a bit better for you, considering the alternatives.
I’m big on celebrating St. Paddy’s Day (and I’m very much an Irish girl), so I couldn’t resist mixing some of my favorite foods, drinks, and traditions. Of course, that means combining an Irish car bomb shot with chocolate.
I had my first Irish car bomb on St. Patrick’s Day when I was in college and, for a while, my friends and I would have chugging contests with a car bomb every time we went out. (After all, we were in college, and if you can make drinking into a game, of course you’re going to do it.)
But after a while, chugging isn’t really as appealing as it used to be. However, I still liked the taste of car bombs, and I wanted to be able to maintain my tradition of having one to celebrate the luck of the Irish. So when I saw the opportunity to make a dessert with all those ingredients, I jumped at the chance.
The best thing about these brownies is that not only are they delicious, but the taste of alcohol in them isn’t overwhelming; the Guinness actually makes the chocolate from the brownie mix taste even better. I’m normally a fan of doing my recipes from scratch, but occasionally I throw a boxed mix in just to make it easier on myself.
So here is what you’re going to need to make enough of these to share with friends, since I don’t advise eating the entire pan yourself (although I have to say, I did consider it):
Ingredients
For the brownies
1 box Ghirardelli Triple Fudge Brownie mix
1/2 cup Guinness Extra Stout beer
1/4 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon Jameson Irish Whiskey
For the Irish cream drizzle
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tablespoon Baileys Irish Cream
1 tablespoon water* (read note below)
Now that you have all your ingredients, it’s time for the fun part.
Directions
Brownies
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly spray the inside of an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set the pan aside. (I’m sure the recipe will work with a 9-by-9-inch dish as well; the baking time will vary.)
In a large bowl, combine the brownie mix, beer, Greek yogurt, and whiskey until well-blended.
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 40 to 49 minutes** or until cooked through (dependent, in part, on the size of the baking dish).
When the timer rings, buzzes, quacks, or otherwise notifies you that your brownies are done, check them with a toothpick in the center and around the edges of the pan. If it comes out clean, and if the top springs back a bit when you press on it with the palm of your hand, you’re good to go. If not, put them back in the oven for a few minutes (usually about 2 to 5) and keep an eye on them.
When the brownies are done, remove them from the oven and allow to cool.
The glaze
While the brownies are cooling, mix together the ingredients for the glaze.
Once the brownies are cool (or, at least, cooler), drizzle the glaze over the top and, voil…! Your Irish car bomb brownies are ready to enjoy!
* – I used 1 tablespoon of water and the glaze came out thinner, which I like because it isn’t too sugary. However, if you like a thicker glaze, start with 1/2 tablespoon and, if the glaze seems too thick, add water by the 1/4 tablespoon until you reach the desired consistency.
** – These took longer than 49 minutes for me, so don’t be alarmed if you’re getting over the time limit and they don’t seem done. Just keep your eye on them and test the center with a toothpick.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. Make sure you check out my other recipes, and please feel free to leave feedback and share any ideas you have with me for new recipes to try.
After nine seasons, the final episode of How I Met Your Mother airs in the United States on Monday, March 31. Curiata.com is reliving the series this week by looking back at our favorites of the 208 episodes.
Resolution. We heard all about it in English class for years. As the How I Met Your Mother finale approaches, the show’s writers have made sure to get us to the point where we’re all (or mostly) squared away with those back-of-the-mind riddles, ongoing mysteries, and inside jokes that have kept us wondering, yearning, and shouting in frustration because we were, again and again, not given the answers or the action we had wanted.
Television series that are allowed to end on their own terms often aim to come full circle. Each usually has an episode (sometimes a few) that gives us, as viewers, that “AH HA!,” “YES!,” or “FINALLY!” moment. For example, and spoilers here: In The Office, that episode was “A.A.R.M.” We finally see the teapot letter from Jim to Pam after he slipped it away back in season 2, we get a wonderful (and tear-jerking) montage of Jim and Pam when he gives her the DVD, and Jim delivers one of those speeches that will live on for years to Dwight, who finally gets to be with Angela.
In HIMYM, the full circle episode was season 9, episode 15, “Unpause.” We’re finally given the answers to some of the burning questions raised throughout the series, all from the mouth of that king of liars himself, Barney Stinson. He drinks through all his levels of drunkenness, as we’ve seen throughout the series, bypassing “Jabba drunk” (loved the hat tip to Star Wars once again) and going to “truth serum” drunk.
Once Ted and Robin (and I) realized they could now find out the answers to the questions that had plagued them for years, it was go time. And I was giddy, on the edge of my seat for the whole ride. What happened with Ted’s mom? Barney struck out trying to go for second base. Will there be a ring bear at the wedding? Robin rephrasing the question the last time she asked it to finally get an answer was clever on the writers’ part. I also enjoyed how she was continually interrupted when trying to question him about it: Way to build the anticipation guys! (Like you haven’t done it enough this season…) We also found out that Robin’s loaded (sorry, her family is loaded), which was a nice little twist thrown in there. And Barney’s subsequent one-liners as Robin and Ted have their exchange were perfect.
And finally, what I’ve wanted to know since season 1: What does Barney do for a living? And I have to say, that reveal was more glorious than I could’ve imagined. He had been telling us all along: P.L.E.A.S.E. means “Provide Legal Exculpation And Sign Everything.” And he gets an obscene amount of money for setting himself up as a fall guy — to Ted and Robin’s horror. But we should all know by now that you can never assume anything with Barney. And when he reveals his ingenious plan for vengeance, Barney firmly cements his self-appointed title of “AWESOME.”
And I’ll bestow him with another one: ultimate bad-ass. We’ve known Barney to take on elaborate plans and patiently wait for everything to fall into place as if time were of no consequence, but this deception took the longest and had the biggest reward. When we see the flash-forward to two months after the wedding, Barney finally reveals to Greg that he’s been working with the Feds all along, and that, basically, Greg is S.O.L. There was no yelling or screaming, just the calm, cool, collected man who knows he’s won and that’s he’s a genius. Having your own personal theme song playing in the background doesn’t hurt either (another fantastic shout-out moment from season 4).
Now that we’re caught up with the running gags and the secondary mysteries have been solved (except for that damn pineapple), it’s time for Ted to finally meet The Mother. And if the series as a whole is any indication, the writers are going to deliver, and it’s going to be LEGEN- wait for it …
Best line:
Ted: Dude, you’re getting married tomorrow. How are you doing?
Barney: Good. I mean, I’m a little nervous, but I love Robin more than I’ve ever loved anyone, and I’m gonna do everything I can to make her happy. For a long time, deep down, I’ve felt sort of … broken? But I don’t feel that way anymore. Robin, along with the idea that vengeance will soon be mine, has made me 100 percent awesome.
Cutaway: Barney’s Vengeance
Mother Lore: At the Farhampton Inn in 2017, she goes into labor with Luke.