I absolutely loved this class, and I'm not just saying that to get a good grade..I have never had a class quite like it..I love the idea of nothing really being wrong, you're never "wrong" you just see things differently and are not marked off because of that..I feel that I am a much better writing using the tools that were taught throughout the course, especially about the opening and closing paragraphs, to make them pop out and be interesting and end with a bang. For some reason, I feel that I will take that lesson away the most out of all of them.
I also never liked poetry before, never thought I was good at it, and certainly never wanted to write any poetry, but now that I have learned how to go about it the right way, I actually enjoyed it, and I think the poems I wrote were pretty good. I am thinking about entering them in the writing contest, which is something I never would have thought possible before this class.
I feel that I have had such a good experience that I want to change my major now from math to english, I loved it that much. I feel that I am much more cut out for the english realm now and look forward to taking more classes. I can only hope they are as good as this one.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Videos
I watched the video of Vik Muniz and how he makes art out of everyday things. I really enjoyed watching this and learning about his life and how he started doing projects like this. When he told the story of being shot, I was amazed that he was able to pull himself up and get to the united states and do what he does.
I also like his descriptions of creativity and how he sees it in everything, even on the fur of a dog, which I thought was hysterical. Some of my favorite images were the half tomb stone for someone who isn't dead yet, the clouds, wire drawings that look like pencil drawings, ,but my favorite was when he took white sugar and put it over black paper and made pictures of children. I thought that was a one of a kind thing that you won't see anywhere else. It was great.
The next video I watched was Ueli Gegenschatz soars in a wingsuit. I like how the people start out telling us about their lives and what they did to make them want to do what they are doing. The paragliding, skydiving and freediving are scary enough, but what he does is just scary, but amazing. Wingsuit flying looks just like flying like a bird. I would have never of believed it was possible to be out there actually flying on your own like a bird. His favorite was base jumping, which seems nuts to me, but he really seemed to love it. The shot of him on top of the air balloon was especially cool.
Even though I find it very sad that he died doing these tricks, I'm sure he was very happy with his life and doing what he loved to do. We may not understand it, but we can respect him for the achievements that he made.
I also like his descriptions of creativity and how he sees it in everything, even on the fur of a dog, which I thought was hysterical. Some of my favorite images were the half tomb stone for someone who isn't dead yet, the clouds, wire drawings that look like pencil drawings, ,but my favorite was when he took white sugar and put it over black paper and made pictures of children. I thought that was a one of a kind thing that you won't see anywhere else. It was great.
The next video I watched was Ueli Gegenschatz soars in a wingsuit. I like how the people start out telling us about their lives and what they did to make them want to do what they are doing. The paragliding, skydiving and freediving are scary enough, but what he does is just scary, but amazing. Wingsuit flying looks just like flying like a bird. I would have never of believed it was possible to be out there actually flying on your own like a bird. His favorite was base jumping, which seems nuts to me, but he really seemed to love it. The shot of him on top of the air balloon was especially cool.
Even though I find it very sad that he died doing these tricks, I'm sure he was very happy with his life and doing what he loved to do. We may not understand it, but we can respect him for the achievements that he made.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Open Mic
I throughly enjoyed open mic night..for some reason I was not nervous at all, I guess it's because I have such good classmates :) I thought everyone did a great job and it was a good avenue to stand up and share our work. The hardest part for me is actually writing whatever it is I'm going to be reading, so once that part is done, reading it is the easy part.
I was sitting more towards the back and it was a little hard to hear some people..I would suggest maybe a day before the event to go and practice with the microphone and the sound system to see how it works out before the actual night of.
Overall it was a great experience and nice break from the classroom.. I would definately do it again.
I was sitting more towards the back and it was a little hard to hear some people..I would suggest maybe a day before the event to go and practice with the microphone and the sound system to see how it works out before the actual night of.
Overall it was a great experience and nice break from the classroom.. I would definately do it again.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Killing Yourself to Live (final)
Now that I have finished reading the book, I thought the end was better than the beginning. I still think the whole project of chasing after dead musicians is pretty stupid, it made a bit more sense to me by the end. I found myself arguing with the author throughout the story, mostly about the music in the book. I think Led Zepplean is much better than either the Rolling Stones or the Beatles and I like Free Ride better than Slow Ride but I think the interaction kept me more interested in the story.
As a reader I felt a little left out of the story when he talked about different songs or groups that I had no idea what he was talking about, which was about 60 percent of the time.
The best part of the story for me was when he was talking about Kurt Cobain because I remember when that happened and how sad I felt for him. It always amazes me that people can feel that bad that they have to kill themselves. It was such a waste of a great talent. He just started to show his real potential and Feels Like Teen Spirit will always bring back the day he left us.
He also seemed to jump around the story an awful lot which was sometimes hard to follow. Overall, it was interesting enough that I wanted to finish it, but I wasn't so engrossed in the story that I read it in one day.
As a reader I felt a little left out of the story when he talked about different songs or groups that I had no idea what he was talking about, which was about 60 percent of the time.
The best part of the story for me was when he was talking about Kurt Cobain because I remember when that happened and how sad I felt for him. It always amazes me that people can feel that bad that they have to kill themselves. It was such a waste of a great talent. He just started to show his real potential and Feels Like Teen Spirit will always bring back the day he left us.
He also seemed to jump around the story an awful lot which was sometimes hard to follow. Overall, it was interesting enough that I wanted to finish it, but I wasn't so engrossed in the story that I read it in one day.
Killing yoursel to Live
What struck me the most during this part of our reading was when Chuck was describing the relationship he had with his friend and his friend's death from cancer. I thought this was just another great example of how music impacts our lives. Chuck really didn't give his friend's death a second thought at the time that it happened; however hearing his friend's favorite song by The Replacements, or in fact any song by the replacements, had such an emotional impact on him. And although he admits it may be something else going on in his life, it is still the music that brings the emotions out of him.
Monday, March 15, 2010
What's happening
My mom came to visit from New Jersey for the last two weeks. I was supposed to go to Cancun with my sister for the spring break, but she decided to take her boyfriend instead. My mom was coming to stay with the kids and when the trip fell through, we decided to still have her come and stay. I try to see my mom every 3 to 4 months or we will both go crazy. Our week was filled with going out to dinner, Sibley Gardens, Outback, Steak and Shake, Applebees, ect and bowling, movies, the Lightening Thief, and catching up. I took her back to the airport on Tuesday to go home. I will be going back to NJ at the end of May since it will be my 40th birthday and Bon Jovi is opening up Giant Stadium so I have to go see that.
My daughter started playing softball on her school team and I'm real excited about that since I played softball from middle school all the way through high school. I can't wait to go watch her play.
I also just found out the my son may have a mild case of Tourett's syndrome, don't know if I spelled that right. We are just in a wait and see period right now. Hopefully it's just something stress related and he will be o.k.
My daughter started playing softball on her school team and I'm real excited about that since I played softball from middle school all the way through high school. I can't wait to go watch her play.
I also just found out the my son may have a mild case of Tourett's syndrome, don't know if I spelled that right. We are just in a wait and see period right now. Hopefully it's just something stress related and he will be o.k.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Post secret
I had no idea that this website existed and part of me thinks this is the saddest thing I have ever seen, but then the other part things that it's great that people who have secrets such as these have somewhere to go and get it out. The one that hit me the most was the one that said something like I'm an alcholic but I go to AA to have a family. Boy, that's just sad in one aspect that this person has no one outside of AA to go to and talk to, but at least AA gives him a sense of family, which is a good thing. I just don't think I would go on this site again, just too depressing, but if I had a secret that I had to get out somehow, maybe I would post it, hoping that would help.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Thankful
Brown hair and brown eyes,
Red hair and green eyes,
Oh, how they love to laugh,
as we make pies.
Running through the fields playing soccer,
Her brother always strying to stop her,
Come play with me he says,
I'm more fun than soccer.
Friends come over and they all jump in the pool,
Both of them trying to be so cool,
With hearts as big as the skies,
I hope they never have to cry.
Running and jumping in the leaves,
I thank God for all that he has given me.
Rachel and Shawn are their names,
To me, there is no one quite the same.
Red hair and green eyes,
Oh, how they love to laugh,
as we make pies.
Running through the fields playing soccer,
Her brother always strying to stop her,
Come play with me he says,
I'm more fun than soccer.
Friends come over and they all jump in the pool,
Both of them trying to be so cool,
With hearts as big as the skies,
I hope they never have to cry.
Running and jumping in the leaves,
I thank God for all that he has given me.
Rachel and Shawn are their names,
To me, there is no one quite the same.
Monday, February 8, 2010
What's been happening this week.
It's been the usual hectic week with a few twists. My divorce is final and I have started dated. I've been seeing the same guy for a couple of weeks and thought things were going really well. Just got a text, however, from HIS WIFE. This may be too much information, but the assignment is to talk about whats been going on this week and that has been a major development that I have been dealing with, trying to get past the whole thing now.
I was really glad; however that the Saints won the superbowl. I'm a huge football fan and had a big party with friends so that was a good end to the weekend. I'm hoping things this week will be better and that we get lots of snow so school is canceled for the kids and we all get to sleep in. :)
I was really glad; however that the Saints won the superbowl. I'm a huge football fan and had a big party with friends so that was a good end to the weekend. I'm hoping things this week will be better and that we get lots of snow so school is canceled for the kids and we all get to sleep in. :)
Poetry blog
People Getting Divorced by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, I chose this poem because the title caught my eye as I am also going through a divorce right now. I thought this was a very insightful poem as it is comparing the lost relationship with a lost pair of shoes. Both are gone and you don't know if they every found each other again, or if the split stays intact, like are you still friends or if you never hear from them again. It also comments on going on with life, like you find the shoes but they are missing a heal, like you are missing a part of yourself, but once you get that heal fixed, or replaced, you can move on.
My next poem is It is the living who cannot by Hilda Morley. I found this poem just browsing through the list of poems and I thought that it was so true. When we lose someone to death, especially someone close to us, we always want them to come back because it is too hard to live without them. But the poem also let's us know that the dead don't want to come back, and if they did, it would only be to console us. I think this poem can make someone feel a little better about the loss of a loved one.
A Hymn to Childhood by Li-Young Lee. When I saw the title of this poem I thought it was going to be a happy, upbeat poem about childhood. However, after reading it it's actually about a child growing up during war times and how their life is affected by that. I was very shocked and surprised and saddened after reading this. One would hope that childhood is a happy time, but I know that's unrealistic and some childhoods, as this one, are not so happy.
Lastly, To E.T. by Robert Frost. Okay, I'll admit it, I thought he was talking about E.T. the movie. I chose this poem because my son for some reason is terrified of E.T. and I thought a poem may help. However, this poem is I think is about soliders who die in a war. I am not a poet, I don't read poetry, I know nothing about it, so his poems are a little hard for me to decipher. When I'm done reading them, I'm always left with questions about what it was about. I know he's a great poet, just by reputation, but I can't figure them out.
My next poem is It is the living who cannot by Hilda Morley. I found this poem just browsing through the list of poems and I thought that it was so true. When we lose someone to death, especially someone close to us, we always want them to come back because it is too hard to live without them. But the poem also let's us know that the dead don't want to come back, and if they did, it would only be to console us. I think this poem can make someone feel a little better about the loss of a loved one.
A Hymn to Childhood by Li-Young Lee. When I saw the title of this poem I thought it was going to be a happy, upbeat poem about childhood. However, after reading it it's actually about a child growing up during war times and how their life is affected by that. I was very shocked and surprised and saddened after reading this. One would hope that childhood is a happy time, but I know that's unrealistic and some childhoods, as this one, are not so happy.
Lastly, To E.T. by Robert Frost. Okay, I'll admit it, I thought he was talking about E.T. the movie. I chose this poem because my son for some reason is terrified of E.T. and I thought a poem may help. However, this poem is I think is about soliders who die in a war. I am not a poet, I don't read poetry, I know nothing about it, so his poems are a little hard for me to decipher. When I'm done reading them, I'm always left with questions about what it was about. I know he's a great poet, just by reputation, but I can't figure them out.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Visual inspiration
This is the saying "Footprints in the Sand" I love to read this when I am feeling really lost of when I have no hope. It gets me through difficult times, such as my divorce, moving away from my family, ect. It tells you that God never gives you more than you can handle, and when you feel like you are alone, you're not, because he is always with you.
ROAR!!! God, that hurts, what the heck happened? I was just walking along the forest minding my own business and then all of a sudden, ouch, what was that? I sit back on my haunches and lift up my paw and see the problem. I've stepped on a thorn and it's deep. I'm trying to get it out, but having no luck. What's that noise? I hope I don't have to protect myself right now, because then I'd be in trouble. Even worse, it's a knight that is going to want to kill me. What am I going to do? I'm so afraid. Wait. What's this? He's not attacking me. It looks like he wants to see my paw. I show it to him and he is taking the thorn out. Wow. I can't believe it. Why would he do that for me? I don't know, but I'm glad. The knight leaves me and as I go rambling through the forest, I hear a commotion. Oh, no, I'm trapped in a cage. How do I get myself into these situations? What's going to happen to me now? I'm so hungry. Why aren't they feeding me? I have been here for so long. I wish he would just kill me already. There is a man that is taking me into a pit. Boy, I hope there's food there. As I'm walking out into the pit, I see a man. Great, dinner. I'm so happy. Wait, I know him. Isn't this the knight that saved me by taking the thorn out of my paw? I can't eat him. He helped me when no one else would. I would rather stay hungry than eat him for dinner. The hugs that he is giving me feel good. I like this knight and I will stay with him forever.Folktales
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Folktale, final draft
The Lion and the Knight
ROAR!!! God that hurts. What happened? I was walking along the forest minding my own business and then all of a sudden, BAM!! nothing but pain. I sit back on my haunches and lift up my paw and see the problem. I've stepped on a thorn and it's deep. I'm trying to get it out but having no luck.
I hear something in the forest. I hope I don't have to protect myself right now because then I'd be in trouble. It's even worse than I thought, it's a knight that is going to want to kill me. What should I do?
Wait. He's not attacking me. It looks like he wants to see my paw. I show it to him and he is taking the thorn out. Wow. I can't believe it. Why would he do that for me. I don't know, but I'm glad.
The knight leaves me and as I go rambling through the forest, I hear a commotion. Oh, no, I'm trapped in a cage. How do I get myself into these situations? What's going to happen to me now?
I'm so hungry. Why aren't they feeding me? I have been here for so long. I wish he would just kill me already. I am being taken into the pit where there is a man. Great, dinner. I'm so happy. Wait, I know this man. Isn't this the knight that saved me? I can't eat him...or can I? It's been days since my last meal. As I walk around the man, my stomach grumbles and I attack. Sorry Mr. Knight, but you just tasted so good.
ROAR!!! God that hurts. What happened? I was walking along the forest minding my own business and then all of a sudden, BAM!! nothing but pain. I sit back on my haunches and lift up my paw and see the problem. I've stepped on a thorn and it's deep. I'm trying to get it out but having no luck.
I hear something in the forest. I hope I don't have to protect myself right now because then I'd be in trouble. It's even worse than I thought, it's a knight that is going to want to kill me. What should I do?
Wait. He's not attacking me. It looks like he wants to see my paw. I show it to him and he is taking the thorn out. Wow. I can't believe it. Why would he do that for me. I don't know, but I'm glad.
The knight leaves me and as I go rambling through the forest, I hear a commotion. Oh, no, I'm trapped in a cage. How do I get myself into these situations? What's going to happen to me now?
I'm so hungry. Why aren't they feeding me? I have been here for so long. I wish he would just kill me already. I am being taken into the pit where there is a man. Great, dinner. I'm so happy. Wait, I know this man. Isn't this the knight that saved me? I can't eat him...or can I? It's been days since my last meal. As I walk around the man, my stomach grumbles and I attack. Sorry Mr. Knight, but you just tasted so good.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
My week
I'm like everyone else, work during the day, pick up kids at school, make sure they have dinner and a ride to basketball practice, then to school at night. I come home, tuck kids in, start homework then do it all over.
The weekends are a little better, I do go out with friends and have fun; however this past weekend I was sick with strep throat so that was not fun.
My son's basketball team won Saturday morning, 22 to 16 so he's still undefeated with one game left to go. My daughter's team is a different story, they can't win a game to save their lives but she plays well and I'm proud of her.
I'm thinking maybe I took on too much trying to take 12 credits, work, and take care of the kids. It's only two weeks in and I already feel behind. Maybe I'll go to 9 credits next semester.
The weekends are a little better, I do go out with friends and have fun; however this past weekend I was sick with strep throat so that was not fun.
My son's basketball team won Saturday morning, 22 to 16 so he's still undefeated with one game left to go. My daughter's team is a different story, they can't win a game to save their lives but she plays well and I'm proud of her.
I'm thinking maybe I took on too much trying to take 12 credits, work, and take care of the kids. It's only two weeks in and I already feel behind. Maybe I'll go to 9 credits next semester.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Rough draft
The story that I will write about is Of the Remembrance of Benefits. I have chosen to tell this story in the first person from the Lion's point of view.
ROAR!!! God, that hurts, what the heck happened? I was just walking along the forest minding my own business and then all of a sudden, ouch, what was that? I sit back on my haunches and lift up my paw and see the problem. I've stepped on a thorn and it's deep. I'm trying to get it out, but having no luck.
What's that? Oh great, now this knight is going to kill me. What am I going to do? I'm so afraid. Wait. What's this? He's not attacking me. It looks like he wants to see my paw. I show it to him and he is taking the thorn out. Wow. I can't believe it. Why would he do that for me? I don't know, but I'm glad.
Great, a cage. How do I get myself into these situations? What's going to happen to me now? I'm so hungry. Why aren't they feeding me? I have been here for so long. I wish he would just kill me already. There is a man that is taking me into a pit. Boy, I hope there's food there. As I'm walking out into the pit, I see a man. Great, dinner. I'm so happy. Wait, I know him. Isn't this the knight that saved me by taking the thorn out of my paw? I can't eat him. He helped me when no one else would. I would rather stay hungry than eat him for dinner. The hugs that he is giving me feel good. I like this knight and I will stay with him forever.
ROAR!!! God, that hurts, what the heck happened? I was just walking along the forest minding my own business and then all of a sudden, ouch, what was that? I sit back on my haunches and lift up my paw and see the problem. I've stepped on a thorn and it's deep. I'm trying to get it out, but having no luck.
What's that? Oh great, now this knight is going to kill me. What am I going to do? I'm so afraid. Wait. What's this? He's not attacking me. It looks like he wants to see my paw. I show it to him and he is taking the thorn out. Wow. I can't believe it. Why would he do that for me? I don't know, but I'm glad.
Great, a cage. How do I get myself into these situations? What's going to happen to me now? I'm so hungry. Why aren't they feeding me? I have been here for so long. I wish he would just kill me already. There is a man that is taking me into a pit. Boy, I hope there's food there. As I'm walking out into the pit, I see a man. Great, dinner. I'm so happy. Wait, I know him. Isn't this the knight that saved me by taking the thorn out of my paw? I can't eat him. He helped me when no one else would. I would rather stay hungry than eat him for dinner. The hugs that he is giving me feel good. I like this knight and I will stay with him forever.
Folktales
One of my favorite folk tales is Of the Remembrance of Benefits. This story was actually read to me when I was in Sunday school as a way to show original sin and baptism works. It always stuck with me and the telling of the story helped me compare the two, original sin and baptism, to today's world.
The story is about a knight who meets a lion in the woods. The lion had a sharp thorn stuck in his paw and the knight takes the thorn out and heals the wound.
Many years later the knight, after offending the king, was captured and delivered to the king where his punishment was that he would be dinner for the lion.
However, the lion remembered the knight and the kindness he showed him and refused to have him for supper.
When the king learned about this, he was awestruck and asked the knight how this is possible. The knight told the king the story and the king said that if the lion could spare his life, then so could he.
The knight thanked the king and lived well and prospered.
I believe this story is told in Third Person Omniscient
The story is about a knight who meets a lion in the woods. The lion had a sharp thorn stuck in his paw and the knight takes the thorn out and heals the wound.
Many years later the knight, after offending the king, was captured and delivered to the king where his punishment was that he would be dinner for the lion.
However, the lion remembered the knight and the kindness he showed him and refused to have him for supper.
When the king learned about this, he was awestruck and asked the knight how this is possible. The knight told the king the story and the king said that if the lion could spare his life, then so could he.
The knight thanked the king and lived well and prospered.
I believe this story is told in Third Person Omniscient
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