Brownies and Invictus

Tonight Callie and I had plans to go to a Halloween/Birthday party at Karolina’s place. Karolina just had her birthday so she thought it would be fun to celebrate. She wanted to combine it with Halloween so that we North Americans could celebrate the holiday because the Norwegians don’t celebrate Halloween here. Unfortunately, right before the party was supposed to start Karolina became ill and the party was to be postponed.

Callie and I were going as Goths (since we had to work with what we had brought here) and luckily hadn’t put on our intense make-up before hearing about the postponed party. With the night free now we didn’t know what to do. We talked about going out to the clubs, but we didn’t want to be out that late. When Norwegians go out to the clubs they don’t go out until like 11:30 pm or midnight and then stay out until around 4 in the morning. Since we both wanted to be productive tomorrow we decided to stay in and watch a movie.

Our delicious brownies and milk we enjoyed while watching Invictus

Before deciding what movie to watch we made peanut butter brownies. They were warm and chocolaty and very much deserved especially after our history exam. Once the brownies were done, we ate them with glasses of milk while watching the movie Invictus.

Invictus was about Nelson Mandela’s his first term as the South African President and the movie focused on his efforts in supporting the national rugby team to victory in the 1995 World Rugby Cup which helped to unite the apartheid-torn land. Although I am not familiar with rugby the movie was fantastic and it inspired me to strive for peace and set high goals. My favorite part from the movie was the poem “Invictus” written by William Ernest Henley that Mandela recites. The following is the poem:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Written by: William Ernest Henley