Final Blog

Lit 110 this year was definitely not one of my favorite classes but I am glad that I took it now instead of later. The reason I took it now is because of the teacher. I knew that we would get out of some things such as the papers others have had to write and also I have had Ms. Scott for two semesters now and I know what she expects from her students.
I can’t honestly say that I have expanded in my literature experience because I simply will not let myself do it. As most of you know I hate reading and that is why I have not expanded. Although the experience was undeniable, I read a few stories that I thought were pretty cool and some kind of weird. Such as A Party Down at the Square, this story in particular caught my attention because at first you think that it could be an actually party occurring but instead it is the lynching of an African-American. The details of the crowd are so detailed as they persecute this man. Also a random airplane just randomly crashes into the city and after that event occurs they go right back to watching the man burn to death.
Another thing that really expanded my experience was going and seeing A Midsummer’s Night Dream that was performed by Illinois State University students. I thought that this was boring, bland, and very cliché at the end. But to be able to experience the play in person is very cool, simply because this is a play that has been performed throughout time ever since Shakespeare himself first performed this play himself. I also thought that it had a few parts in it that were comical but not too much.
This class also pushed me to experiment with a few new ideas or a few new ways of life. The biggest example would be Catskin which I don’t even know what to say about it because it was so strange. I also experimented with poetry. I wrote some poetry that wasn’t actually half bad and I was pretty impressed with myself. Also when we had to write the flash fiction story that was my kind of story. It had to be less than two hundred words, I mean how much better can it get. Plus it was simple it didn’t have to be some perfect paper that was going to be published, although it technically was.
For my conclusion of the class I would have to say that the class wasn’t a waste of time and money. Although having to sit down and do work during the summer was pretty rough and challenging at times. In the end the class really did change my outlook on literature and what it is all about.

"A Midsummer Nights Dream"

This play was decent I had no idea what was going on throughout the entire play until I read the excerpt and found an old high school friend during the intermission. My friend, who performed this at Kansas State, had to tell me what was happening and I felt like a complete idiot because here I am trying to get all got up on how her life has been but instead I need her to explain to me what's going on in the play. I also need to thank Deb for helping me out trying to understand the play because she was definitely trying to tell both Jeff and I what was going on.

The hardest thing about the play was understanding because I didn't understand a word they said. The only thing I could figure out was when someone was pissed at someone else or who was in love with who. The ending of the play was somewhat funny with the to men trying to die but other than that pretty boring. I guess you could call it your typical love story. The couple that wants to be together can't be together and in the end everyone is happy and life goes on without a wince of pain. Man do I wish life was that easy.

In the end all I can say is that Shakespeare plays definitely are not my jam. I could be doing anything else and for that night I could have been look at the back of my eyelids.

Bleachers by John Grisham

"Bleachers" by John Grisham isn't your typical sports book where they take you through the events as if they're current. Instead this time the players have a chance to reminisce on the glory days and even tell stories from their college days. They also recall on passed loves of their lives. My favorite was "screamer" and how now she dances in Hollywood.
This story relates to me a lot now because now whenever or if ever I get a chance to meet up with my football buddies we always talk about playing football especially under the great Coach Cazlet. (By the way he is at Dunlap and I will be kicking the snot out of Washington and Metamora)
The one difference from this book is that I don't ever think twice about whether or not I liked my football coach. In fact he was like a father to me. Neely and is friends on the other end have this huge debate all through the book on whether or not they loved their football coach or hated him.
When the coach finally dies in the book the man in charge of the lights at the football field he symbolically shuts off the lights. Almost like the the football program has died with him because ever since he stopped coaching the team hasn't had a winning season.
In the end I think this is an excellent book(Yes I said excellent)and I would highly recommend people to read it.

"It's All How You Look at It" by Tracy Lawrence

Everyone says that the first opinion of something is always the strongest. And is very true but afterwards we tend to change our thoughts or opinions. Tracy Lawrence says it best in his song “It’s All How You Look At It.” He first begins with this little boy scared to death of flying on a plane, much like me when I first flew, but after the flight the little boy was excited and wanted to do it all over again. This shows that after his first look at flying was frightening but now he sees it as fun.
This song is exactly what my opinion was on this class. At first I was dreading it. The first day I walked into class I was thinking what the flip did I get myself into. My summer is going to be horrible. As the semester has gone on the class hasn’t turned out to be so bad after all. We have skipped all the papers others have had to write. Although in typical Ms. Scott style we have made up for that in an extra unordinary fashion.
The class has cut into my summer a lot which I expected but I think it is well worth it. Simply because it is easier than usual, my teacher tries to keep it interesting, and it is going to save me a lot of money in the long run. So just like the song it truly is all how you look at. It can be seen as a complete drag and a waste of summer time or something that will have great rewards in the long run.

Country Thunder!!!!

"G with an O, O with a D, T with an I and an M with an E, and a Good Time." That single phrase sang by Alan Jackson tells it all when you experience Country Thunder. What a time I don't know if the concerts were better or if the partying with my friends. I am lost for words right now because the experience was simply indescribable.
The Concerts were amazing I saw Tracy Lawrence (who is one of my all time favorites), Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Jack Ingram, Kelly Pickler, Taylor Swift, Rodney Atkins, and many more. This was a country festival for all ages. I even met people that didn't even like country they were just there for the party.
Throughout this past week I took a big step out of my comfort zone because I have never danced in my life when people are watching but this week I did a lot surprisingly. Now what made me feel like I needed to we won't go into. Hehe!
If I had to choose who was the best I would probably say Tracy Lawrence because I am a huge fan or Taylor Swift. I love the old music from Tracy such as "Paint Me a Birmingham" or "Texas Tornado." Taylor Swift simply can't sing but since she is 19 she knows how to keep a party going and she makes all the young girls go crazy.
So next year when the Country Thunder returns to Twin Lakes, WI, I would highly recommend going even if you don’t like country and are just looking for a good time. Just to hang out with your friends every day and to do some partying. Who knows you might find that you like country because as Tracy Lawrence says “You can’t hide REDNECK.”

What happens in The Locker Room Stays in The Locker Room

Today when reading my book "Bleachers" by John Grisham. The men are sitting in the bleachers reminiscing about their football playing days. So they began to talk about the 1987 championship game. Well at half time they were getting killed and something happened in the locker room because the quarterback had a broken hand and the coaches never returned to the field after half time. These men kept that little story a secret for almost fifteen years! It was never told to parents friends or wives after all this time.
To me that is honorable of those men to preserve their coach's reputation. I wish that I could be that quiet about something like that. I mean coach hits a player then player returns the punch and knocks the coach out. In small town that's front page news! I don't know which would have been bigger the fact the coach struck a player? Or the player taking the glory shot and knocking his head coach out for the count.
Why can't people like that today? Every day I hear something new about someone else and it's the same old gossip,"he said this or she did this." I mean come on somethings are meant to be a secret and dropped after it happens.
This is the exact reason why I keep all my personal self to myself that I don't want anyone to now about. I don't even tell my closet friends these things. I firmly believe that this is and issue because you trust people anymore.

"Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagel Fly" by Aaron Tippin

With last week being the 4th of July I heard so many patriotic songs it was unbelievable but yet I enjoyed it. The song “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly” by Aaron Tippin is one song that will never get old in fact I could listen to it all day. This song came out with all the other recent patriotic songs after 9/11 trying to build the American pride as we headed off to war.
This song just shows the pride of America and what it takes to keep us free. First off throughout the song he says, “I pledge allegiance to this flag and if that bothers you, well that’s to bad” basically saying I am a proud American and if you don’t like it then I don’t care and that is the same way I feel about those you don’t like us and look down upon us. He also states many symbols that represent freedom such as the Statue of Liberty and that sweet sweet bell that still rings to this day.
To me this song just makes me feel so proud to be an American and that’s why I the 4th of July is my all time favorite holiday. Nothing beats spending the entire summer day with your family watch the morning parade and seeing everyone in town support our nation. This holiday also makes me appreciate what our troops are doing to keep us free and safe.

DA CUBS!!!

So how about them Cubbies, huh? I mean what the flip last year they were amazing and many a times regarded as the best baseball team in the league. And now this year they couldn’t win a game if even in their life depended on it. I guess I shouldn’t say that directly because when they do win games they tend to win big. But it’s those close games that count the most because in the playoffs you don’t play some joke of a team. With that being said very rarely will you ever get that landslide win so you need to be able to finish out games and score more runs than the other team obviously.
So who is to blame for this mess? Is it the players just not performing or is Sweet Lou being to sweet and being his normal self by getting in umpires faces and being thrown out of games? Maybe it’s Jim Hendry, the Cubs general manger, because of the players he has been letting go and signing.
Well I first off think the biggest reason is Jim Hendry. He has created some big deals and too many of those have gone sour on him. First off this past offseason he let go Mark DeRosa. Mark DeRosa is probably one the best utility players in the league. He can play every position, bat anywhere in the lineup, and is a great team leader. So why let him go I mean the guy always produced when playing.
Hendry’s second big mistake was the three contracts that are well over thirty million dollars and long term. First Soriano, he is an excellent batter when he wants to be but is not a lead off hitter at all! He is very selfish and will not leave that spot. His fielding is absolutely horrific and probably should only be a designated hitter when needed. Second Fukudome, he had huge expectations coming in but has yet to give us that full season of quality at bats. Last year he started off great, in fact he made the All-Star team but after that he to was a joke. Finally Milton Bradely, what a joke! What is his deal he can’t bat above .250 his attitude is terrible. I am pretty sure Lou has sent him home two or three times early from a game (Good job Lou!!).
With all that being said I think the Cubs first step they need to take to become a better team is fire Jim Hendry! Get rid of him find someone who understands the game and has the ability to find players that are going to perform on and off the field

Star Wars

Star Wars is very much like a western especially like the John Wayne westerns. First John Wayne always is trying to resolve a conflict between the good guys and the rebels. Much like Luke is with the Jedi and the Dark Side. Also love is a big factor Luke and Lia kind of have a thing going even though they don’t know that they are actually brother and sister. Much like John Wayne does in every one of his movies. John always manages to save the lady that is so much danger and then sweeps her off her feet in typical John Wayne fashion.
Star Wars was big back in the 80’s and 90’s much like how Harry Potter and Twilight is now. It’s because of the books. Everybody is reading them and then the movie of it comes out and of course they all have to go see them. Except the one exception is or so says my mother, is that Star Wars doesn’t cut out nearly as much as what films do today. That’s because George Lucas the writer of the books actually directed the movies himself.
Hope is a big symbol and it shown throughout the movie through Luke. Since he is the one that is to raise the Jedi strength back up and defeat Vadar. He is portrayed as the only home and the last line of defense for everything.

Backdraft

Today when I got home from school I had nothing to do except nurse my sun-burn and watch TV. Well instead I decided to watch the movie “Backdraft.” “Backdraft” it is an older movie created in 1991 and staring Robert DeNiro and Kurt Russell. This movie shows these firefighters in Chicago fighting fires obviously but it also shows the fearlessness of firemen and the relationship between brothers.
First off I love this movie because of all the action occurring throughout the movie. Simply because the men are rushing into burning buildings trying to save lives and Robert DeNiro is trying to solve a murder case for arson. Throughout the journey of these events DeNiro is finding clues and hints and begins to figure out how these fires are occurring but instead of reporting back to the aldermen like he is suppose to, he wants to keep this under wraps.
Second this movie has a great deal of brotherly love. Right off the bat the two brothers are arguing about how to correctly put of the fire suit. The older brother, Stephen, gives his younger bother, Brian, a hard time all the way through. But as and older brother myself I can see that he is only trying to help and make his brother a person. I do this with both of brothers and they to think that I am just picking on them all the time.
This movie is a great one and hope that it never is forgotten because it is a true tribute to all the men and women who serve as firefighters for us. These people put their own lives on the line just to make our lives better which to me is all I could ever ask for out of anyone.

Mother Savage

For Tuesday we had to read the short storage “Mother Savage.” I sort of liked this story simply because it had action in it and it showed the revenge from an unexpected character. The story starts off when two people walk by this old house and the one character begins to tell a story about the old house. At the beginning of the story it depicts the mother a soft and caring person. This is so because she takes such good care of the opposing soldiers that are being quartered in her house. She cleans and feeds them well and the soldiers even return the favor. For the moment it almost resembles a happy family but when mother savage receives a letter stating that her son was cut in half by a cannon ball, she then changes completely just like any other parent would. So when the soldiers return with food to eat she then learns the names of them and has them write them down on a piece of paper. By doing this she is giving the parents of these men the same exact feeling that she has. Next she has them set up there own burial by having them put hay in the loft by making them believe it will keep them warmer. Then she lights it all on fire and watches it go up in flames. When the opposing general finds this out mother savage is killed on the spot which is what she expected to happen.

In-text Reading

This week for reading a short story we read “The Party Down On The Square.” This was a very interesting story because it involved the lynching of an African-American and a plane crash. The setting is in the early 1900s. It is during a very nasty wind night it Mississippi.

This little boy is originally from Cincinnati and is Uncle Ed tells him to come to the town square for a huge party. Well it turns out that there really is no party instead it’s and angry mob wanting the life of an African-American man. Since the boy had never seen anything like this he made his way to the front of the pack and watched. As the man got closer and closer to the fire out of nowhere a plane crashed right next to the square when the plane landed it hit power lines that began to spark and fly around and eventually caught a white woman.

As the woman laid there the author made a comparison between the man about to die and her because of the color of their skin. Finally the man falls into the fire and everyone except the little boy is happy. Since the little boy is so disgusted he tries so hard to get away and when he finally does he ends up vomiting all over. His Uncle Ed sees him vomiting and says you’ll get use to it but the kid vows to never see that again.

So today during my workout one of my new favorite songs came on. Its Drowning (Face Down) by Saving Abel. The story behind the song is how at many times throughout our lives we go through phases that are so hard to get through. Almost so hard that we think we may not make it. This song relates to this time frame especially because of the economy. People are losing jobs and many business are going out of business.
In the song it says, "I've come to far to turn around" which is the exact position we are currently in. Are economy has plunged to far that it will never be able to return to its old self. So instead we have to create or new economy and continue on. We are so lost many of us have no idea on what to do or the way out and the song shows this by say, "I carried my soul, I'm lost. I'm lost in a moment lying face down."
"I think I'm drowning. Can someone lend a hand? Can someone save me? Cause I don't think I can." This is what we are doing write now we are all feeling the pain and are looking for any help we can get. The unemployed people are collecting there unemployment checks. The small business around the area are look for anyway to make an extra penny. They are both "drowning" and crying out for someone to save them or "bail them out."
I firmly believe that Saving Abel's song Drowning (Face Down) is describing the exact situation we as the citizens of America is in right now.

Intro Blog

So here's the thing yesterday I read the assignment out of the book and I learned some pretty basic stuff about the skin and bones of novels. I also learned some new things about literature. First off I did not know the novel came from Italy. I also learned that the use of a "omniscient" narrator is used frequently in any type of story. When I think of examples of a "omniscient" narrator I think of the Dr. Seuss little stories. Because the narrator is telling the audience what the characters are thinking and sometimes tells whats gonna happen right before it actually happens.
One thing that was mentioned in the writing was about a type of character and whether or not they are static or dynamic. I also get these mixed up and why i don't know. Static is where the character's personality never changes throughout the story such as a stubborn old man. A dynamic character is one that changes throughout the story. Example of this would be in the movie Backdraft. The two brothers in this movie are constantly at each other thoughts and always hassling each other. Although at the end when the one brother is about ready to die. Both brothers change and show the love and respect for each other. The other type of character is a "stock" character which is mainly used for fill in people for the different scenes. Such as people surround the main cast at a party.