There are tons of things in our environment that provoke emotion. However, when something unexpected happens it can provoke thought so intense that it just has to be written down.
One true example of this emotional writing can be viewed at my friends website (www.aarongeorgehill.com). If you take a glance at his page...it will take you to his blog (journal) and you can read his story.
Once you begin reading, you'll learn a lot about my friend Aaron. In 2002,, he was in a terrible car accident that, more or less, left him brain dead. His mother kept him alive for as long as he could until he passed July 4th 2008. In any event the blog and page a way for his mother to grieve the loss of his son.
I truly believe that if you're mad, upset, or just start crying for no reason...you need to grab a piece of paper and let your feelings out on paper. You don't know how many times I have written hate letters to my boss in MS Word (then deleted them)....written to God asking why.....and just wrote because I didn't know why I was crying. It truly is a great way to help you cope with the feelings that rush your body.
I don't know how to explain it....but it truly works! If you don't believe me...just look at my friends page and maybe it'll be put things into perspective.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Assignment: Story...Plot: Good/Bad News... Element: Cell Phone
The tail lights leave a red path down the fallen snow. Slowly, the red lights fade, and a young man steps out of his silver sedan. He seems to be a bit frustrated, as he paces back and forth, leaving the white, crisp blanket of snow shaken in turmoil. He lets out a deep breath in to the cool dark air leaving a trail of smoke behind him.
He frantically searches in his pockets, only to be startled, he opens the driver’s side door. He quickly peaks his head inside to grab something and closes the door in such a fashion that you wouldn’t even notice his presence. He catches his breath and takes one step down the old cobblestone driveway only to be closer to the house.
Suddenly he comes to an abrupt halt; it’s as if he is frozen. He has a stone cold look on his face that only a chisel could break. Suddenly, you hear the sound of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony playing; the young man frantically reaches in his pocket, only to answer his cell phone. He says “Hello? …Mom? ... Listen, I really can’t talk right now. I’m in the middle of something. … I’ll call you back later. Okay? ... Love you, bye.”
At this point, he has beads of sweat falling from his forehead; he pulls a hankie from the right pocket of his leather jacket and wipes away the perspiration. Gently, he folds the hankie and places it back in his pocket. With hesitation, he takes another step towards the front door of the house. A frantic look comes across his face, his eyebrows furrowed and eyes glazed over; he only has a few more steps to take before he’s at the front door.
He takes three more steps, and extends his hand to the doorbell. As he is about to ring the bell, you hear Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony again. He reaches into his pocket only to shut off his phone completely. Again, he extends his arm and this time he presses the doorbell, only to hear the “ding-dong” noise come from inside the house. He takes one step back to allow the person inside to open the door, but no one arrives. He takes a deep breath, letting out a big sigh and rings the doorbell again, “ding-dong”, this time a young woman with shoulder length blond hair, hazel eyes, dressed in a white t-shirt and boxer shorts that read “Eat my shorts” answers the door.
The woman says “John! What are you doing here? It’s Wednesday, you never come to visit on Wednesdays, especially when it’s snowy like this outside.” He takes a deep breath and lets it all out. Smiling at her, he lets out a little chuckle. “What’s so funny hon?” the young woman says. He leans towards her, wraps his arms around her and says “I just came because I missed you and needed to see you, is that okay Meliss?” “I suppose…but why don’t you come inside, it’s cold out there!”
John walks inside the house and Melissa removes his jacket and hangs it in the hallway closet.
“John, can I get you something to drink? How about coffee or something hot?” “No….nothing hot, just a bottle of water.”
Melissa comes back with an ice cold bottle of water and sits down beside John on the couch, as the watch the end of Family Guy.
“So John, why did you come up? I rarely see you during the week. I usually see you on the weekends.”
“Well Melissa, there is something important I need to talk to you about.”
“What?”
The room suddenly has a hush of silence; the television is shut off and no one else is in the room except John and Melissa. John gazes into Melissa’s eyes as he begins to speak.
“Melissa, we’ve been dating for four years now, right?”
“Yes…”
“Well, I think it’s time…”
“Time to what?” she says frantically as tears begin to fall down her face.
He softly kisses her cheek and wipes away her tears; pushing her hair behind one ear. She closes her eyes tightly as a waterfall of tears flows from her eyes, running streaks of black mascara down her face.
“Well, I think it’s time… (He gets down on one knee) time that we take the next step and spend the rest of our lives together.”
Blindsided by what has just happened Melissa’s frown turns into smile, yet the tears are still pouring down her face.
“Yes” she responds.
“There is nothing more I’d like to do than spend the rest of my life with you.”
John is overjoyed; he now has a full-on smile. It seems as if his hesitation, pacing back and forth, and excessive perspiration all paid off. Melissa looks at John with a cockeyed look on her face.
“I thought you were about to break up with me for a second, but this turned out to be the best day of my life! We have to share the good news…who should we call first?”
John went to the hallway closet and pulled out his cell phone and dialed his mother’s phone. After three rings his mom answers.
“Mom? Melissa has something to tell you.”
“Mrs.Doughty? Your son just asked me to marry him!”
TO BE CONTINUED….
He frantically searches in his pockets, only to be startled, he opens the driver’s side door. He quickly peaks his head inside to grab something and closes the door in such a fashion that you wouldn’t even notice his presence. He catches his breath and takes one step down the old cobblestone driveway only to be closer to the house.
Suddenly he comes to an abrupt halt; it’s as if he is frozen. He has a stone cold look on his face that only a chisel could break. Suddenly, you hear the sound of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony playing; the young man frantically reaches in his pocket, only to answer his cell phone. He says “Hello? …Mom? ... Listen, I really can’t talk right now. I’m in the middle of something. … I’ll call you back later. Okay? ... Love you, bye.”
At this point, he has beads of sweat falling from his forehead; he pulls a hankie from the right pocket of his leather jacket and wipes away the perspiration. Gently, he folds the hankie and places it back in his pocket. With hesitation, he takes another step towards the front door of the house. A frantic look comes across his face, his eyebrows furrowed and eyes glazed over; he only has a few more steps to take before he’s at the front door.
He takes three more steps, and extends his hand to the doorbell. As he is about to ring the bell, you hear Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony again. He reaches into his pocket only to shut off his phone completely. Again, he extends his arm and this time he presses the doorbell, only to hear the “ding-dong” noise come from inside the house. He takes one step back to allow the person inside to open the door, but no one arrives. He takes a deep breath, letting out a big sigh and rings the doorbell again, “ding-dong”, this time a young woman with shoulder length blond hair, hazel eyes, dressed in a white t-shirt and boxer shorts that read “Eat my shorts” answers the door.
The woman says “John! What are you doing here? It’s Wednesday, you never come to visit on Wednesdays, especially when it’s snowy like this outside.” He takes a deep breath and lets it all out. Smiling at her, he lets out a little chuckle. “What’s so funny hon?” the young woman says. He leans towards her, wraps his arms around her and says “I just came because I missed you and needed to see you, is that okay Meliss?” “I suppose…but why don’t you come inside, it’s cold out there!”
John walks inside the house and Melissa removes his jacket and hangs it in the hallway closet.
“John, can I get you something to drink? How about coffee or something hot?” “No….nothing hot, just a bottle of water.”
Melissa comes back with an ice cold bottle of water and sits down beside John on the couch, as the watch the end of Family Guy.
“So John, why did you come up? I rarely see you during the week. I usually see you on the weekends.”
“Well Melissa, there is something important I need to talk to you about.”
“What?”
The room suddenly has a hush of silence; the television is shut off and no one else is in the room except John and Melissa. John gazes into Melissa’s eyes as he begins to speak.
“Melissa, we’ve been dating for four years now, right?”
“Yes…”
“Well, I think it’s time…”
“Time to what?” she says frantically as tears begin to fall down her face.
He softly kisses her cheek and wipes away her tears; pushing her hair behind one ear. She closes her eyes tightly as a waterfall of tears flows from her eyes, running streaks of black mascara down her face.
“Well, I think it’s time… (He gets down on one knee) time that we take the next step and spend the rest of our lives together.”
Blindsided by what has just happened Melissa’s frown turns into smile, yet the tears are still pouring down her face.
“Yes” she responds.
“There is nothing more I’d like to do than spend the rest of my life with you.”
John is overjoyed; he now has a full-on smile. It seems as if his hesitation, pacing back and forth, and excessive perspiration all paid off. Melissa looks at John with a cockeyed look on her face.
“I thought you were about to break up with me for a second, but this turned out to be the best day of my life! We have to share the good news…who should we call first?”
John went to the hallway closet and pulled out his cell phone and dialed his mother’s phone. After three rings his mom answers.
“Mom? Melissa has something to tell you.”
“Mrs.Doughty? Your son just asked me to marry him!”
TO BE CONTINUED….
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Frog Prince/ Frog King
Please scroll down on my page and on the left you'll see a few YouTube videos. I don't know if you guys remember...but when I was a kid I watched this show...and it just so happens its on what we had to read for today's class. So, take a gander and see how Jim Henson interpreted Grimm's The Frog Prince. It's hilarious and it brings back great memories!
The Best Literary Websites EVER!!! (Well...so far...)
1. http://www.eyeshot.net/
Believe it or not... I love poetry! But only the poetry that makes sense...not leaving me playing a guessing game. Well anyway, the literary website above has been developed by Lee Klein, and whether you like him or not he leaves with many experiments to work with when developing writing. For example, in his series “Rejection Letters from the Eyeshot Outbox” he describes, in the brackets of implication, his editorial stance as an unabashed sneer. All in all he's a very interesting character...so by all means feel free to take a peek, if you so wish.
2. http://www.poormojo.org/
This website is entitled Poor Mojo's Almanac(k). More or less it is an online journal touching on numerous subjects from Giant Squid to poetry. All in all, I look to this site for any type of inspiration...whether it be to let my feelings out on paper or to help fight writers block. It's truly a great site...if you take a look around.
3. http://www.hobartpulp.com/website/november/ulea.html
More or less I came across this website purely by mistake a couple of weeks ago. I was trying to do some research of Hobart hall at Willy P and this site popped up...and guess what? It's a literary website....and you can actually submit stuff for print there. Just take a gander and hopefully you'll be as surprised as I was.
Conclusion:
If you ever find yourself in a rut...or you're just stumped...just take a look at these website and something will come to you...I promise! If not, you can always blame your writers block on me...or the apple that fell down from the sky and bopped you on the head. Whatever floats your boat. Well...happy literating! (Don't think that's a word...but oh well!)
Believe it or not... I love poetry! But only the poetry that makes sense...not leaving me playing a guessing game. Well anyway, the literary website above has been developed by Lee Klein, and whether you like him or not he leaves with many experiments to work with when developing writing. For example, in his series “Rejection Letters from the Eyeshot Outbox” he describes, in the brackets of implication, his editorial stance as an unabashed sneer. All in all he's a very interesting character...so by all means feel free to take a peek, if you so wish.
2. http://www.poormojo.org/
This website is entitled Poor Mojo's Almanac(k). More or less it is an online journal touching on numerous subjects from Giant Squid to poetry. All in all, I look to this site for any type of inspiration...whether it be to let my feelings out on paper or to help fight writers block. It's truly a great site...if you take a look around.
3. http://www.hobartpulp.com/website/november/ulea.html
More or less I came across this website purely by mistake a couple of weeks ago. I was trying to do some research of Hobart hall at Willy P and this site popped up...and guess what? It's a literary website....and you can actually submit stuff for print there. Just take a gander and hopefully you'll be as surprised as I was.
Conclusion:
If you ever find yourself in a rut...or you're just stumped...just take a look at these website and something will come to you...I promise! If not, you can always blame your writers block on me...or the apple that fell down from the sky and bopped you on the head. Whatever floats your boat. Well...happy literating! (Don't think that's a word...but oh well!)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Literary Excellence
What in the world is literary excellence?
According to dictionary.com I have discovered the meaning of both terms:
Literary- (adj)
1.
pertaining to or of the nature of books and writings, esp. those classed as literature: literary history.
2.
pertaining to authorship: literary style.
3.
versed in or acquainted with literature; well-read.
4.
engaged in or having the profession of literature or writing: a literary man.
5.
characterized by an excessive or affected display of learning; stilted; pedantic.
6.
preferring books to actual experience; bookish.
Excellence-(noun)
1.
the fact or state of excelling; superiority; eminence: his excellence in mathematics.
2.
an excellent quality or feature: Use of herbs is one of the excellences of French cuisine.
3.
(usually initial capital letter) excellency (def. 1).
So...this is my conclusion....
Literary excellence is a form of writing which is superior to ones self in regards to others. For example, literary excellence in my opinion could be something that originally had potential and after many revisions, and effort put through a superior document was created. All in all, I feel that we need to strive for literary excellence if we so desire, to stand out amongst the great writers of the literary world. In the end, I suggest that all take the time, and set forth their ideas...and strive for great success.
According to dictionary.com I have discovered the meaning of both terms:
Literary- (adj)
1.
pertaining to or of the nature of books and writings, esp. those classed as literature: literary history.
2.
pertaining to authorship: literary style.
3.
versed in or acquainted with literature; well-read.
4.
engaged in or having the profession of literature or writing: a literary man.
5.
characterized by an excessive or affected display of learning; stilted; pedantic.
6.
preferring books to actual experience; bookish.
Excellence-(noun)
1.
the fact or state of excelling; superiority; eminence: his excellence in mathematics.
2.
an excellent quality or feature: Use of herbs is one of the excellences of French cuisine.
3.
(usually initial capital letter) excellency (def. 1).
So...this is my conclusion....
Literary excellence is a form of writing which is superior to ones self in regards to others. For example, literary excellence in my opinion could be something that originally had potential and after many revisions, and effort put through a superior document was created. All in all, I feel that we need to strive for literary excellence if we so desire, to stand out amongst the great writers of the literary world. In the end, I suggest that all take the time, and set forth their ideas...and strive for great success.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
A little comic relief...from the hospital
New hair style: $68
6 hours of working at the hospital: $96
Looking down the hallway and see nothing but a patients bare backside.....PRICELESS
For everything else in life.....use a blindfold
The Wubulous World of Books That I'm Reading
So, we were asked to blog about something we're reading in another class. Well, I only have one other class, and that is Technical Writing. Therefore, the only book I'm reading (for that class) is Technical Writing for a Technical World (or something like that). It's a pretty boring book...just a ton of information spewed out....and you try to absorb it in your brain, but it's pretty impossible to know everything that the book is trying to tell you.
Anyway, on the other hand, I am currently teaching some classes (grades K-5) and every now and then I tutor. So, if you want to know what I'm having my students read (which in turn means I'm reading the book as well) I'll be more than happy to tell you about it.
The book that my 5th grade students are reading is called Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. This book is pivotal to what we are learning about in social studies at the current moment, the Holocaust. The book shows you what it was like to live during this era being Jewish in Copenhagen, Denmark. It encourages an array of emotion, and at times can be almost overwhelming (especially for my 5th grade students).
As a teacher, I feel that it is important to read this book aloud as a whole class, because it adds a different element. (Especially because many of my students just stare at the words on the page...and make no sense of it all). Also, when I read the book aloud it seems to take them on a journey because as I read I use different voices to illuminate each character. I really feel that this book is an important piece of literature, and no matter how old or young you are I suggest you read this book at least once...so that you gain a greater sense of the history of the world.
As for my younger grades (K-2) we are really focusing on brief children's stories or maybe every now and then a "chapter book" such as, Junie B. Jones. Right now, a classic book, I am reading with my 1st and 2nd grade students (because it is a combined class) is Where the Wild Things Are. I'm sure you are all familiar with this book and the journey it can take a young child's mind on. It's amazing how the author captivates every aspect of a child. From having the main character (Max) go around the house dressed in a wolf costume to being sent to your room without supper and letting your mind go on a wild journey. It truly is an amazing story, and can be the precursor to letting students see how to let your mind go and get your every thought on paper.
As for my 3rd and 4th grade students I'm really trying to work on finding books that their peers are reading, but are "dumbed" down so that they can read them. In other words, if any of you are ever so compelled (you could make a fortune out of this) take a book/novel, and make it simpler so that my students could read and understand...you'd make a fortune. I've found Shakespeare's A Mid Summer's Night Dream written for their understanding and they loved it. Who would have thought that special education students would love Shakespeare? Anyway...if anyone has any suggestions...please please please...let me know!
Other than that, that's about all I'm reading (for school). For my own pleasure I'm working my way through the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I'm finally on the 3rd book, and I'm absolutely hooked. Can't wait for the movie to come out next month. Well, I hope you found this, at least, somewhat interesting, and perhaps....if you haven't already... you'll pick up Number the Stars and start reading.
-Melissa
Anyway, on the other hand, I am currently teaching some classes (grades K-5) and every now and then I tutor. So, if you want to know what I'm having my students read (which in turn means I'm reading the book as well) I'll be more than happy to tell you about it.
The book that my 5th grade students are reading is called Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. This book is pivotal to what we are learning about in social studies at the current moment, the Holocaust. The book shows you what it was like to live during this era being Jewish in Copenhagen, Denmark. It encourages an array of emotion, and at times can be almost overwhelming (especially for my 5th grade students).
As a teacher, I feel that it is important to read this book aloud as a whole class, because it adds a different element. (Especially because many of my students just stare at the words on the page...and make no sense of it all). Also, when I read the book aloud it seems to take them on a journey because as I read I use different voices to illuminate each character. I really feel that this book is an important piece of literature, and no matter how old or young you are I suggest you read this book at least once...so that you gain a greater sense of the history of the world.
As for my younger grades (K-2) we are really focusing on brief children's stories or maybe every now and then a "chapter book" such as, Junie B. Jones. Right now, a classic book, I am reading with my 1st and 2nd grade students (because it is a combined class) is Where the Wild Things Are. I'm sure you are all familiar with this book and the journey it can take a young child's mind on. It's amazing how the author captivates every aspect of a child. From having the main character (Max) go around the house dressed in a wolf costume to being sent to your room without supper and letting your mind go on a wild journey. It truly is an amazing story, and can be the precursor to letting students see how to let your mind go and get your every thought on paper.
As for my 3rd and 4th grade students I'm really trying to work on finding books that their peers are reading, but are "dumbed" down so that they can read them. In other words, if any of you are ever so compelled (you could make a fortune out of this) take a book/novel, and make it simpler so that my students could read and understand...you'd make a fortune. I've found Shakespeare's A Mid Summer's Night Dream written for their understanding and they loved it. Who would have thought that special education students would love Shakespeare? Anyway...if anyone has any suggestions...please please please...let me know!
Other than that, that's about all I'm reading (for school). For my own pleasure I'm working my way through the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I'm finally on the 3rd book, and I'm absolutely hooked. Can't wait for the movie to come out next month. Well, I hope you found this, at least, somewhat interesting, and perhaps....if you haven't already... you'll pick up Number the Stars and start reading.
-Melissa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
