Reflection

Throughout this course I have met some great people, wrote some pieces that I did not think I was capable of and discovered a lot about myself that I was not aware of. I enjoyed this course because it was not like any other course that I have taken. It was creative and intellectual. This course gave me a chance to express my feelings in a way that I was not familiar with. The one thing that ENGL 223 made me realize is that I miss acting. I miss the stage and I need to get back up there. I need to do what I love. So, that is the challenge that I am assigning myself. I am going to make the time to act in a play or even help with a production. Acting is the one thing that makes me happy and I need to find that happiness again.

Thank you to all of my classmates for making this a great experience!

Nemesis

Ira Glass

Well, I was bored. I did not find what he was talking about interesting. I got what he was trying to get across. His particular industry is hard work, it takes a lot of time and criticism to get anywhere. I acutally was slightly annoyed when he was talking. He came across very arrogant to me. Honestly, I don't think I would listen to his show.

Open Mic Night

I enjoyed the open mic night. I do kind of wish there would have been more of a turn out from the campus as a whole. I felt good about my performance, I wish was up to snuff on my guitar playing because I think that would have added to my performance. Overall, I though everyone did great. All of the readings were good. I think the next time this is done it should be in a little more private area. At times the others that were in the area became distracting.

85% of my opinion

As I stated in my previous blog, this was the first book, school related, that I actually read from cover to cover. I thought it was clever and well-written. I enjoyed Chuck's sarcastic humor and comments. I also liked the music references, which I also think could be a one of the negative aspects of the book, when it comes to the reader. If the reader is not familiar with the bands/artists they might become bored, but I also think that you do not need to know the artist to understand the point Chuck is trying to get across. Overall, I did enjoy it and I would recommend it for future classes. I think this book is very entertaining, creative and a great escape from the mundane readings of other classes.

Killing Yourself To Live

I was not impressed with the end of the book. It wasn't as epic as I thought it would be, it was just kind of there. Overall, I did enjoy the book. I enjoyed the music references and Chuck's endless sarcasm. Honestly, this is the first book for a class that I actually read from cover to cover and enjoyed it.

As far as using this book for future classes, I would say yes, but no as well. There were a few points in the book where I did not understand the references to the musicians he was speaking of, but it didn't make it difficult to understand what he was trying to get across to the reader.

If I were to give it a score from 1 - 10, I'd give it an 7.

Just one other thought....

I've become increasingly irritated with this school. They offer no evening classes what-so-ever. I'm not about to change my whole career path because I cannot find a couple of classes to take. You would think that with all of the classes I have to complete in order to get my degree I could find at least two, but you're wrong, I can only find one..ONE!

Lately...

Things have not been that great. I'm tired, I'm stressed and I'm ready for summer. The only thing that is keeping me going is that my Mom will be here Thursday, I have not seen her since my wedding which was back in October of 2008. This visit it well over due.

My Poems

Haiku

A cold wind blows loud
My hands shiver in my gloves
A cold wind cuts through


Free Verse

Fire burns like an inferno
Love kills like a gun

Dreams fade like the setting sun
Life continues with no concern

I thought of you until dawn
My heart on fire, my love almost gone

I continue on without you
My life already gone

Ode

Ode to summer
So warm and bright
Ode to fall
So crisp and colorful
Ode to winter
So magical and cold
Ode to spring
So new and promising

Concrete


N
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D
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U
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Post Secret

I really enjoyed this website. I thought it was great that people can post their thoughts and emotions anonymously for anyone to read. It also seems like a great way to receive therapy without even knowing you've received it. Sometimes that's all someone needs is to hear that someone else is having the same issue they are or just to be able to vent about your problems can help. I thought that Post Secret was a great creative outlet. Some of the best stories or poems are only a few sentences long, and that's how I viewed this site, a bunch of emotionally packed poems. My favorite, and for some reason it will not let me upload the picture, is "I have no one to talk about my problems, and that hurts more than any problem I have. I really connected with this one because of a time in my life where friends were very few and far between. It brought back a lot of emotions that I haven't felt in a long time and I embrace that because I look at what I have now and really appreciate those relationships.

Poem Needing Constructive Criticism

Elegy

Even though she could not speak
I understood her every word
Even though she could not write
I read every word
Her eyes were her voice
Her heart was her hand
Even though she could not speak
I understood her every word

What's Up With That?!?!?

I've got a major case of the winter blues. I've also got cabin fever. Lately, I've been praying for spring to arrive, but it doesn't look like it's happening anytime soon. I can't wait for the warm weather and endless sunshine.

Haiku

Haikus are crazy

My refridgerator leaks

i'm tired and cold

Poetry Readings

M.L. Brown - It's Love That Pushes Stockings Down

I enjoyed reading this poem. I thought it was very interesting how the poet compared a women's pair of stockings to a man's desire to love her. It was surprising to read a poem like this, I have never read a poem that had slight sexual content. My favorite part of the poem is when the poet explains that he will not run or snag. I thought those lines were extremely clever and it really got the point across that he wanted to be a strong lover for this woman.

Sherman Alexie - Subway Song, Interrupted

What I gathered from this poem, was the first part and the last part was the subway itself. The subway rushing across the tracks not really understanding its purpose. Then, the individual chimes in and interrupts the subway song and explains his confusion on what to do with his metro cards, which I believe is a metaphor for life. Just as the subway is confused on its purpose the individual is as well. In my mind, the metro cards represent situations in his life that he does not know how to handle.

Nabaneeta Dev Sen - Mysteries Of Memory

This was one of my favorites. I enjoyed this one because in my mind she was talking about life before death and time taking a toll on everyone. It was written very well and it had a very fluid motion to the words. I gathered that the white images she was speaking of was the light of heaven almost approaching,almost like some one's life coming to an end. I also enjoyed this one the most because it had a good rhythm to it.

Nabaneeta Dev Sen - House

This was another one of my favorites. I really enjoy this poets work because of how fluid her writing is. I thought this one was interesting because it seemed like she was describing a house that was possessed by spirits. She talks about running from room to room in one house trying to escape the shadows and the helter skelter of banging pots and pans. I was very surprised at how well her words allowed me to envision the whole situation in my mind.

what inspires me

I'm an avid theater enthusiast. I recently have fallen out of performance art. With life getting in the way, I do not have much time to dedicate myself to acting. Seeing these images inspire me to never give up my passion and find a way to make time for the the one thing that I truly enjoy.

I Am The Stage

I am the stage- open and free

My voice echoes through the audience- loud and free

I dance across the stage- light and free

I embrace the lights- bright and free

I am somewhere else upon the stage-free

I escape myself upon the stage-free

I am the stage- open and free

So This is What's Happening

To be honest, there is really not much happening in my life right now, the only thing that's actually happening, if life in general, work, school, choir & church. That's about it. Yeah, I'm sorry, not very exciting. So that's why I posted a very exciting clip for all to see!

My Take on The Wizard of Oz

My name is Dorothy Gale and my journey through OZ never ended, because I am still there.

When I arrived in OZ I met a nice group of people known as the munchkins. They informed me that I had killed their nemesis, the Wicked Witch of the East. To our surprise the Witch was not dead, she was still alive. Myself and the munchkins did not know what to do, thankfully Glinda, the good witch of the north, came to our rescue and put a tragic spell on the wicked witch and sent her to her final resting place. Then, to our surprise her sister the Wicked Witch of the West showed up and wanted to reclaim her sister’s magic shoes which had a radio signal inputted in them to help her find her victims. Glinda told me to take it and keep it safe.

I was very distraught and wanted to return home to my Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Glinda and the munchkins had informed me that I need to follow the yellow brick road until I reach the Emerald City where the great OZ will grant my wish and help me get back home. Glinda told me to use the radio signals in the shoes to help find my way to the Emerald City.

During my journey I met several creatures on the way, a liger (a lion and a tiger), and a man made of aluminum foil and a mad stuffed completely with cotton. The Liger came in handy when we ran into some evil forest creatures that tried to take my powerful slippers, and obvious attempted from the Wicked Witch of the West. Foil man was a great help while we were traveling; he was able to get a signal with the radio when we were having trouble finding one. Cotton man to be honest wasn’t much help, he only made things difficult, when a strong wind blew, and he would nearly crumble to pieces.

With the help of m newfound friends, mainly Liger and Foil Man, we made it to the Emerald City. The Great OZ agreed to see us right away, under one condition; I give him the magic radio slippers. I wanted to go home so I turned over the slippers. To my shock and amazement, he was not going to help me at all. A turn out this whole situation was one big conspiracy. The munchkins, Glinda, The Great OZ, The Wicked Witch of the West and the Wicked Witch of the East were all in on this operation. They had simply faked The Wicked Witch of The East’s death convinced me to take her slippers so I would travel the yellow brick road, hopefully make some friends along the way to only be captured and turned into flying monkeys. The flying monkeys were created to keep the city of OZ protected and in good condition. The people of OZ did not want to enslave their own, so instead they captured innocent travelers.

I never did get to return home, instead I am flying monkey in a ridiculous suit serving the Emerald City.

hey group members!

Sorry guys, my address is www.singoutloudengl223.blogspot.com

Favorite tale

The folktale that I enjoyed the most was The Wicked Stepmother. This one was about a husband and a wife, and there was some sort of spell to where if either of them ate food without each other one would be turned into an animal. Well, the mother did and she was turned into a goat. The husband eventually remarried to a mean women with a daughter who was not fond of his daughter (Cinderella) because she was much prettier. Eventually his new wife had the goat killed and her daughter has been told by her mother to take her bones and bury them and whenever she needs help to go to her bones and she will receive the help she needs. The story is similar to the original based on the fact that there is an evil stepsister, but it is much different because of the events that happened to her birth mother and the fact that there is no slipper, but a nose ring that leads the prince to her.

Hello All

This is my 3rd semester here at U of M Dearborn. I'm double majoring in Language Arts and Special Education for elementary students. I'm active in theater, voice and dance. I've recently adapted a new motto for my life, everything in time.