A Reflection

Books! I like books.

I'll start out by saying that this class has probably been my favorite of my senior year, if not my entire high school career.  I've really enjoyed the time spent in and out of the classroom working on my writing.  That being said, I'll move on to my answers to the questions on this little half-sheet of paper.

1. A few of my notable works from this quarter include things such as A Posting Inspired by Photo #8, for time eternal (A Work Inspired by E.E. Cummings), Out the Window, and A Passage That I Find Memorable.  I've written some more un-posted things in my journal, most of which lack a title. The topics I usually write about (unless prompted otherwise) are things that have happened to me, I wish would happen to me, or just life in general. 
2. I've read a lot this quarter.  Not only classmates' work, but also several books.  The books I've read (or re-read) include The Alchemist, Siddhartha, and The Buddha Walks Into a Bar.  I suppose that I've recently taken a liking towards spiritual literature.  Some of the works done by my classmates that I have enjoyed include, but are not limited to, My Mom is a FOB and !smeoP both by our very own Linda.  I also appreciated Inspiring Images by Cat, as well as Window Poem by Sammi.
3. I thoroughly enjoyed setting my blog up.  It was as if I were creating a little piece of me with each new item I added.  My blog was originally titled Thoughts of a 21st Century Crazy Person.  I eventually found this title to be to true, as I really am a crazy person living in these times.  So, I changed it to Paranormally Paradoxical Paradigms, mostly because it showed not only my great alliterating skills, but also my vocabulary and ability to put words together in a fashion that (sort of) makes sense.  I'm sure the people who have read it include Mrs. Fraser, Ms. Ferkel, and all of you.  There may be some random people from Google reading this, but that's okay.  Read on, Google.  I'll probably do some postings on here in the future, I have no idea what they will be, though.
4. My journal from this quarter alone has some of the innermost thoughts that I probably wouldn't even share with my closest friends.  I wouldn't want anyone to read it (except you, Mrs. Fraser, because I know you have to look at it for a grade).  I may or may not continue to journal, I usually don't like to leave a paper trail... Ha-ha. I've just had bad experiences in the past with people finding things I've written about them. 
5. Here's an entry from my journal I'm comfortable sharing, I don't have a title for it.  It's just kind of a rant (with some foul language, sorry) so here you are;
   This world, that's right, this world that you are living in right now...Is bullsh*t.  All of this school, work, mortgage, career, voting, college sh*t is unnatural and therefore poisonous to humanity.  Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit.  But it doesn't take a savant to realize that this world is f*cked.  Something is terribly wrong with us.  The only evidence you need is the fact that a pizza takes less time to be delivered than an emergency vehicle does.  We are supposed to be living with the Earth, not on it.
6. Here is a writing of mine that I mentioned previously titled for time eternal.                                       i love you for time eternal (yes, also those
   instances when you think not so)
   for you see i have no choice (when i
   look into your eyes) i see halcyon
   when you walk (outside that is) the
   sun stars clouds and moon
   all line up to grin (at you)
   how could not they (i ask
   myself)  for even things without
   their own way know that
   you are the (lustrous) gem
   of this macrocosm
   
   
   and the curious fact i tell myself (you
   and i) are the offspring of ancient
   lore.
   
   
   before, we may meet (somewhere
   else) in this cosmos
7. I feel like I'm always going to do some form of creative writing.  It is way more entertaining than conventional writing.  Also, when I read my works either immediately or later I appreciate the window into my inner self that is opened.  I get to see what my worries were years ago, or what they were a minute ago. 
8. For all my classmates who have written all of these great things, I say great job.  I know that this class will always help us with our writing directly, and our lives and selves indirectly.
9. Mrs. Fraser, you've inspired me to be an English teacher.  For the first time, after I have "decided what I want to be when I grow up", I don't feel any doubts about it.  I want to teach English as both a first and second language and I want to supply my students with the same kind, accepting atmosphere that you have provided us.  So, I thank you for helping me decide what I want to do with my life.  (This isn't a snap decision, I've thought about this since having your English IV class).

This is Bulbasaur.  The namesake of my blog's URL.

A Posting Inspired by Photo #8

    Cigarettes.  They really aren't that bad.  I can now admit in front of friends, family, and teachers alike that I am a smoker.  I am 18 years old; so it's legal for me.  Or at least, now it is.  Sometimes when I light one up, I'll get a dirty look from someone.  Every once in a while, said person will take it as far as saying "Hey, you know that's bad for you, right?"  Well, person whom I do not know, your infinite wisdom has just changed my life and my habits.  Thank you.  Of course I know it's bad for me, I mean, I've only been brainwashed to hate cigarettes since I was five.  Many times, this person is of a heftier variety (with us being in America and all).  So a lot of times I think to myself, "Wow, really? You are judging my habits?  Go unclog your arteries then you can (maybe) judge my lungs."  People should keep their own arrogance in check before getting onto me for mine.  To conclude, I'm probably going to keep smoking cigarettes whether you grace me with your disapproval or not.

Cigarettes.
They really aren't that bad.
I can now admit
in front of friends, family, and teachers
alike that I am a smoker.

I am 18 years old; so
it's legal for me. Or at least,
now it is.
Sometimes, when I light one up,
I'll get a dirty look from someone.

Every once in a while, said person will take it as far as saying
"Hey, you know that's bad for you, right?"
Well, person whom I do not know,
your infinite wisdom has just changed
my life and my habits. Thank you.

Of course I know it's bad for me, I mean,
I've only been brainwashed to hate cigarettes
since I was five.
Many times, this person is of a heftier variety
(with us being in America and all).

So a lot of times I think to myself,
"Wow, really? You are judging my habits?
Go unclog your arteries, then you can (maybe)
judge my lungs."  People should keep
their own arrogance in check before

Getting onto me for mine. 
To conclude, I'm probably
going to keep smoking my
cigarettes.  Whether you grace
me with your disapproval or not.

Out the Window

Snow. Snow snow and more snow.  SNOW!!!

Straight ahead I see
An apartment complex, past the grass.
Seems lonesome, dreary, in need of...something

Left there lies a grass field,
blanketed in white.
A few curious blades poke through the sheet

The silver car, usually residing in the parking lot
is no longer there.  Must be off
helping its owner arrive somewhere.

The scene is ever changing, sometimes.
Other times, it is ever still.
It must go with the mood of the City.

Looking straight again, I noticed
the snow. Reflecting the light,
causing a slight pain to my retinas.

Looking further, I see the treeline of outer Battlefield.  I
also see the faint outline of
the oh-so-familiar power plant. 

Clarity (The Color of the Flower)

     The post said that blue was a color of peace, openness, and serenity.  My shade of blue was lighter, however, so I decided that my shade ment something different.  My shade represented to me clarity.  So, here's a poem titled Clarity.

A sense of relief fills me

as I wipe away the grime

That has been coating my eyes

 Seeing the world yet again

through the freshly polished glass

It makes me think of all

The hues, shades, tints, and

the truths, lies, statements

All have a purpose

This means that there is one

question waiting to be answered

When?

for time eternal (A Work Inspired by E.E. Cummings)

i love you for time eternal (yes, also those

instances when you think not so)

for you see i have no choice (when i

look into your eyes) i see halcyon

when you walk (outside that is) the

sun stars clouds and moon

all line up to grin (at you)

how could not they (i ask

myself)  for even things without

their own way know that

you are the (lustrous) gem

of this macrocosm

and the curious fact i tell myself (you

and i) are the offspring of ancient

lore.

before, we may meet (somewhere

else) in this cosmos

And the Teacher Vote is in for Best Music Choice...

     And the results are quite mixed.

     Well, I'll start off by saying (typing) that I was very surprised with some of these answers.  I asked several different teachers some of the questions on the handout.  I found out that Mr. Moore is into Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and (oddly enough) the Black Eyed Peas.  He said that the last concert he went to was a piano playing family called the "Five Somebodies".  He also stated that his most memorable concert was a Willie Nelson concert he saw back in college, while the admission for such things was two beers.  Interesting.  Mr. Moore left us off with a pretty great quote, with a lot of truth to it;  "Music is a part of your identity" 
     Mrs. Stewart was less cooperative.  She gave short, one-word answers.  "Eagles," she responded with, when asked what kind of music reminds her of someone she loves.  When asked what kind of music, if any, she finds offensive, she said "Nasty rappers calling women bitches."  Thank you, Mrs. Stewart, you have really opened my eyes to the musical possibilities.
    Our very own Mrs. Fraser was my next teacher to question.  She stated that the song Sweet Child O' Mine reminds her of her childhood.  She told me that she definitely sings to the radio while in the car, mostly jamming out to stations such as 96.5 and 95.5.  She really dislikes ZZ Top and Sledgehammer.  I've never heard of Sledgehammer, but they already sound bad to me.  As for ZZ Top...I couldn't agree with you more.

    

A Writing on the Topic of Music

     When I listen to music, the emotions evoked by it differ depending on what sort of music it is that I am listening to.  For instance, if I'm listening to some crazy hardcore gangsta-rap then I'm going to feel quite thug.  Or, if I am listening to Frank Sinatra or something of the like, then I'll feel pretty classy.  I listen to music in order to put me into a certain mood, or emphasize the one I am already in.
     My friends definitely do not listen to the same music I do.  Most of what I listen to is really chilled-out, easy listening type-stuff.  Most of what my friends listen to, however, is really obnoxious rap and/or death metal.  I think this means that I'm very different than my friends, and that shows in more ways than just music taste.
     Music does for me what other things in life cannot.  Music helps me get through what-would-be boring car rides.  Music drowns out the noise around me so that I may read a book in peace.  Music gets me pumped up for something I know I need to do.  Music keeps me motivated to clean my house, do the dishes, etc.  There's a lot of things that I use music for, that was just a few.  Without music I would be an insane, barbarian-esque person.
     I wouldn't ever want to be a professional musician.  Not only do I fail at producing music, but I also fail at being onstage.  Music is one of those things that I can enjoy greatly, but I'm so musically untalented it isn't even funny.  I took guitar lessons for about three years.  My parents pulled me out of it and stopped paying eventually, but they wouldn't tell me why until I was older.  When they finally did tell me, I wasn't very shocked.  My guitar instructor had pulled them aside one day to tell them that I had made very little, if any, progress.  He said that in the nicest way possible.  I knew I was good at other stuff, like reading, so this really didn't bother me.  Anyway, they agreed to stop with the lessons.  If I learned anything from the whole experience, it's that we are all good at different things.

The heartbreak of not being musically inclined. (lol)

Renowned Lines of Well-Known Books (Spoiler Alert!)

     "I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as

gennerally happens in such cases, each time is was a different story."
 
     That line is from the book titled Ethan Frome (1911) written by Edith Wharton (1862-1937).  Wharton is also known for her other works, such as Old New York and The Glimpses of the Moon. 

     This novel is a story of love, as well as a tale of dealing with one's mistakes.  The narrator arrives in a small Massachusetts town called Starkfield for the winter, and he immediately hears stories of a mysterious Ethan Frome whom was injured in a accident 20 years prior to the novel's set time.  The book then backtracks, and we are taken to Starkfield 20 years earlier.  We see that Frome is taking care of his extremely ill wife, Zeena.  His wife's cousin, Mattie is taken in to help with the care of her.  We immediately see a strong tension between Frome and Mattie.  Frome has developed a strong attachment towards her wife's caregiver, and we soon observe that she feels the same for him.  After some plot-twists, and decisions made by Zeena, Frome and Mattie eventually decide to take "one last sled ride" down a dangerous slope, so they can be together forever.  Fast forward 20 years, and we see the narrator enter the Frome house to see a disfigured Frome and 2 women, one of them severely paralyzed and the other his wife.  What a story.

   A link to a summary is here.

     I noticed that critics gave quite a bit of mixed reviews for this work.  Some say that this is a classic piece of literature, while others argue that this is nothing more than a tale meant to depress the reader.  This is apparently taught at some high schools, where this story is infamous for its doom-and-gloom attitude.   While some appreciate the story structure and the lessons taught, many others despise the ending and the following grieving state experienced by the reader.  

Here is a link to a review page.

     I have to say, I probably would not read this unless a copy magically appeared on my bookshelf.  I'm not usually a fan of romantic tragedies...especially not ones that involve sledding accidents.  Also, I'm not a big follower of the "crushed dreams" genre.  Sure, I'll read a sad story every now-and-then, but I feel like this book goes beyond sad.  It's just plain painful.

    

     And now for a new quote, yay!

                                                        "I closed my eyes, head

drooping, like a person drunk for so long she no longer knows she's drunk, and then, drunk, awoke to he world which lay before me"

     This line originates from the book Don Quixote: Which Was a Dream (1986) by aouther Kathy Acker (1947-1997).  She is also known for writing things such as N.Y.C. in 1979  and Empire of the Senseless. 

     This book is pretty much about a woman with a distrust in men.  It goes into explicit descripitions of what happens to her, and what causes her to lose trust in anything/anyone.  Don Quixote is a story (from a very, very long time ago) about a knight and his adventures.  Kathy Acker reinvented it to the modern day, and reinvisioned it as a feminist story.  That could be why this review by me is so short.  I'm a dude, dude.

     Here you go.  (Scroll down once on the page)

     Well from what I've read, it seems as if all (most) of the men who read this book say "it sucks" and all (most) of the women say "OMG I LOVE IT".   If you're a happy, bubbly, and/or morally uncorrupted person, this book may not be for you.  Acker's work is known as rather cynical and depressing.  She sheds light on subjects that most of us would rather leave in the dark. 

     Here is a review.  (It's the same as the summary, I couldn't find much on it)

     I would probably read this if I found a copy sitting around somewhere, but I wouldn't go out and find it myself.  The subjects of truth and reality, I adore.  And Appearently that's the main focus of this novel, with an emphasis on feminism.  Like I said earlier, that's a pretty big downer in a book for me.  It's not that I'm sexist or anything, I'm just not a feminist. 

A Passage That I Find Memorable

     It took me awhile to think of a good passage to post for this, but I finally found it.  The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is one of my all-time favorite reads.  I may not agree with all of the theistic undertones, but I do very much enjoy the themes about omens and the Soul of the World.  This book follows the story of an Andalusian boy who goes from being a shepherd to becoming a traveler.  The people he meets, the thoughts he thinks, and the dialogue spoken between characters are all very meaningful.  I can't really say much without giving it all away, so here's the excerpt:

     "The seer was a specialist in the casting of twigs; he threw them on the ground, and made interpretations based on how they fell.  That day, he didn't make a cast.  He wrapped the twigs in a pieces of cloth and put them back in his bag.
     "I make my living forecasting the future for people," he said.  "I know the science of the twigs, and I know how to use them to penetrate to the place where all is written.  There, I can read the past, discover what has already been forgotten, and understand the omens that are here in the present.  When people consult me, it's not that I'm reading the future; I am guessing at the future.  The future belongs to God, and it is only he who reveals it, under extraordinary circumstances.  How do I guess at the future?  Based on the omens of the present.  The secret is here in the present.  If you pay attention to the present, what comes later will also be better.  Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children.  Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity""