blog 13

My favorite poem was “The Colonel” because it seems so farfetched, yet really took place.

My least favorite poem was “Ode on a Grecian Urn” because it was too long, and hard to understand.

 

My favorite short story was “Orientation” because I could just picture this happening, and it made me laugh.

My least favorite short story was “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” because to me it was not a well written story. It was hard to follow, and I didn’t see the significance of it.  

I don’t really have a preference either way if next semester’s students should read Death of a Salesman. I do feel, however, if they need to write a paper on something that is contrasting, that there should be enough of a contrast to write about.

 

I did enjoy the Hollywood versions of the movies. I feel that there was a use in seeing them, that way you can get a sense of characters.

 

I don’t have a favorite or least favorite in-class activity. They were all equal to me.

 

I don’t think students should have to lead class discussions. I feel if a student wants to participate, great. If not, they shouldn’t have to. 

 

I really enjoyed the creative blog entries. I liked all of the poetry blogs because they let me express myself. My least favorite blogs would be the test prep ones.

 

 

 

Grandpa Willy

             Grandpa Willy was such a hardworking man. He was away from the house a lot, and we sure did miss him. We had the only house on the block surrounded by apartment buildings, bought and paid for. I remember one day, as we all were in the back yard, grandpa had us clean the car real good, telling us he had a big surprise for us. We looked in the back seat, and there was a punching bag that had Gene Tunney’s signature on it! We were so excited to have it!

              He always talked us up, saying we could do anything we put our minds too. He taught us how to shave, and how to dress when talking to business men. I remember this one time, I was going to go talk to Bill Oliver, and dad told me to wear a business suit. It was those moments that made me appreciate our time together.
             We did have our differences, but he meant well. I remember when I came home, he thought I needed to get a job and make money. He wanted me to be a seller like him, but I was too much of a free spirit.

             He and Grandma Linda made such a great home for us boys. He would always tell her “You’re my foundation, and my support.” I remember sitting in my bed many nights while grandma would hum grandpa to sleep. Their love was so strong and true.

Blog 14

Wednesday, May 5^th, 1949

Willy came home tonight. He says nothing is wrong, but I know different. He has been doing so many unusual things, but I suppose he is under so much stress from his job. They aren’t treating him right, and it’s not fair. He is a good man, why can’t they see that. He works so hard for his family, and they are treating him like he has nothing to offer. Thirty seven years he has given them. So terrible. The boys are acting so rudely to their father. I don’t understand why they can’t get their lives together. They are both so smart and handsome. They really should be getting great jobs, and having a family. We can’t support them forever.

Friday, October 10^th, 1929

Willy is on the road again. I am so proud of him! He works so hard for the family, but I am sure he is getting exhausted. I miss him so much. The house just isn’t the same without him. The boys miss him too. They adore their dad. He is such a great role model for them. Biff is doing so well in school. He is the football star! Willy and I are so proud of him, he is going to be someone great! Even Happy is excited for Biff. Hopefully Happy will find his own talent, and do great things too.

Lottery

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” deals with man’s ability to rationalize generally unacceptable actions. Old man Warner makes the comment on page 294 “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.” He is rationalizing the action by there being plenty of food for the year. In his mind, if this were to stop, the town’s people would have terrible crops. He also talks about how the younger people who are questioning this tradition will want to just stop working. He thinks the younger people have no sense of tradition, and have no right to question it. If it was really that bad of a thing, it would have been changed years ago.

In my small home town, there was just an incident with the girls’ basketball team. Two of the star players were caught by another student drinking on the bus. The student went to the coach, and the coach swept it under the rug because they were on their way to districts. Winning was more important than disciplining these girls. Eventually the episode was exposed, weeks after the incident, so the coach was fired, and the two girls were kicked of the team for the remainder of the season. The towns people were upset that this girl had taken away two of the players, and possibly a shot at state. She was shunned by everyone, instead of being praised for doing the right thing. To this small town, the state trophy was more important, and would bring better publicity than doing what was right.

Facebook Blog Wallpaper

1.) We have arrived at the house today. It is run down, but the garden is beautiful!

2.) John has been working alot, but I am so thankful to have Mary here to help out with the baby.

3.) I want to clean up and redecorate the house, but John says it's not a good idea, since we are renting. The wallpaper is AWFUL! Oh well, in a few months we will be gone, and I can forget about it.

4.) Mom, Nellie and the kids came down and stayed for a week. We had such a great time, although Jenny took care of everything. I am so blessed to have her helping out.

5.) I love John, he's such a kind and loving husband. I couldn't have asked for anyone better.

6.) I am feeling better. John told me I had to "will" myself better, and he must know what he is talking about ;).

7.) The stupid wallpaper in the bedroom is making me go crazy! LOL I want to get rid of it so bad, but John says if I do, I will only complain about something else. I'm sure he's right!

8.) It is raining now, and the house is starting to have a smell. It is on my clothes, and in my hair. I can't wait for the lease to be up.

9.) John has to stay in town tonight for work. Jenny wanted to sleep in the room to make sure I was ok, but I told her no. We are moving tomorrow!

10.) I've decided to take down that wall paper after all. Wish me luck!


www.homedepot.com/...Wallpaper-Wallpaper.../Navigation?...

"Girl"

Eat your vegetables. Eat your dinner, don't be wasteful. Chew with your mouth closed. Scrape your plate, wash the dishes. Take out the garbage. Fold the clothes. Put your clothes away IN your drawers. Clean up your room. You don't need to live like a slob. Nobody respects a slob. Brush your teeth. Take a shower. Put on deoderant. Treat all girls with respect. Treat all women with respect. Help those who are less fortunate. Always help the elderly, and small children. Do not swear around ladies or children. NEVER swear around elderly people, that's disrespectful. Treat your teachers with respect. They are there to teach, not to be your friend. Do not fight, unless they throw the first punch. Get out and excercise. Go build a fort. But never wear your good clothes to play in. Be nice to your siblings. Be nice to everyone you meet, you may be the only one who is nice to them. Hang out with people that make you feel good about yourself. Real friends don't make you feel bad. Be helful to your parents. Be helpful to your teachers. Be presentable at all times.

Dialogue

 

The house was settling down for the evening. The smell of dinner was permeating the air; mom and dad were discussing the day’s events. I was doing my homework, trying to figure out the difference between the radius and the circumference of a circle, when out bounced my brother from the back room. With every step, he coughed. Mom didn’t look happy.

“Ryan come here, you need to take some medicine.”

“NO!” Ryan yelled.

“Yes, you have to stop coughing.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I understand, but you have to take the medicine. Go get some water, that will help.”

“Ok,” he sighed.

Ryan starts to take the medicine, then goes to the sink and spits it out.

“That is terrible! I’m not taking that!”

“You have to, it’s the only medicine we have for you, the other one is night-time, and I’m not giving that to you at 5:30 in the evening.”

“I want the one that tastes like Kool-Aid.”

“We don’t have that one, this is it.”

“Then I’ll cough, I’m not taking it!”

“You have to! Take it now, and quit being a baby.”

My brother yells, “I DON’T WANT TO!” as he runs down the hallway to his bedroom, slamming the door. Mom is close behind, mumbling as she goes.

“Ryan Austin! You WILL take that medicine RIGHT NOW!”

“NO!”

Mom walks out, looking defeated. She continues her way into the kitchen, and finishes up dinner.

Ryan comes out, smiling and coughing, knowing he will not have to take the medicine, unconcerned about annoying us all.

Test prep #2

To err is human; || to forgive, divine

~ Alexander Pope

Test Preparation

Metonymy

 

Out, Out a poem by Robert Frost.

 

The buzz saw snarled and rattled in the yard
And made dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood,
Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew across it.
And from there those that lifted eyes could count
Five mountain ranges one behind the other
Under the sunset far into Vermont.
And the saw snarled and rattled, snarled and rattled,
As it ran light, or had to bear a load.
And nothing happened: day was all but done.
Call it a day, I wish they might have said
To please the boy by giving him the half hour
That a boy counts so much when saved from work.
His sister stood beside them in her apron
To tell them "Supper." At the word, the saw,
As if to prove saws knew what supper meant,
Leaped out at the boy's hand, or seemed to leap-
He must have given the hand. However it was,
Neither refused the meeting. But the hand!
The boy's first outcry was a rueful laugh,
As he swung toward them holding up the hand
Half in appeal, but half as if to keep
The life from spilling. Then the boy saw all-
Since he was old enough to know, big boy
Doing a man's work, though a child at heart-
He saw all spoiled. "Don't let him cut my hand off-
The doctor, when he comes. Don't let him, sister!"
So. But the hand was gone already.
The doctor put him in the dark of ether.
He lay and puffed his lips out with his breath.
And then-the watcher at his pulse took fright.
No one believed. They listened at his heart.
Little-less-nothing!-and that ended it.
No more to build on there. And they, since they
Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs.

 

 

Howl Imitation

I saw a generation that was more worried about "making it big" than working hard for their money.

Who thought "Honey Boo-Boo" and "16 and pregnant" were more acceptable television than "7th Heaven".

I saw a generation who did not believe in disciplining their children, yet complained when they were  out of control.

Who bought water bottled from a store, yet complained about having too much waste.

Who drank coffee and caffeine like crazy, then had to have a prescription to help them sleep.

Whose children wanted for nothing, then complain because the are spoiled.

I saw hard working people lose their jobs while the government said everything would all work out.

Who worried where the next meal would come from, called lazy because they could not find a job.

Who could not get help from the government, so had to choose between feeding their family, or paying the electric bill.

Who could not live the American dream.

I saw violence out of control, with no real solution except to violate law abiding citizens.

Who could not have a "fair" fight, or feel safe even speaking their minds.

Who were more concerned with appearance than ethical behavior.

Who stepped on any toes possible to make it to the top.

Imagist

Alarm clock


The seconds tick by
Impatiently waiting to be heard

Sestina

Sitting in the middle of the lake,
relaxing on the boat.
Soaking up the sunshine
while enjoying the light breeze.
Talking with the family,
and brushing away the sand.

Stepping on the sand,
as I jump into the lake.
Splashing the family
who remain on the boat.
As the waves moved in the breeze,
they reflect the sunshine.

The heat is radiating from the sunshine.
The trees are buried in the sand,
swaying in the breeze.
The depth of the lake
was apparent from inside the boat.
Quality time unmistakable with the family.

The smiles and laughter coming from the family,
along with the ever lasting sunshine,
made the time in the boat
priceless. The pebbles and the sand
stuck to my feet, and the lake
was calling my name. Our faces welcoming the breeze.

The quieting of the breeze
sent a message to the family.
It was time to ski on the lake!
The glaring of the sunshine
bounced off the sand,
blinding everyone on the boat.

The rocking of the boat
knocked against the dock, as the breeze
lightly touched the water. I sat in the sand
as the family
soaked up the sunshine
and played in the lake.

The boat sat quietly as the family
enjoyed the breeze. Clouds bringing a welcomed break from the sunshine,
as the sand sank into the lake.

Unexpected Ode

Ode to the picture frame

You hold 
my loved ones
tight,
watching over them
as I sleep.
Making sure
they are safe
and secure.
The family
hang proud
surrounded by
your beauty.
Standing tall
behind the couch,
engulfed
by the beauty
and smiles.

Literary Litany

This is for my husband, the construction worker.





You are the works shirts and the jeans,
the boots and the grease.
You are the concrete
and the mud.
You are the Packers fan,
and the Reeces peanut butter cup.

However, you are not the flowers,

bubble baths,
or massages.

And you are certainly not pretty pink bows.
There is just no way that you are pretty pink bows.

It is possible that you are wise,
maybe even funny,
but you are not even close
to being a Giants fan .

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the dress shirt
nor the tie.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the Giants fan.

I also happen to be the warmth,
the summer,
and the sunshine.

I am also the coffee beans

and the caramel.
But don't worry, I'm not the work shirts and the jeans.
You are still the work shirts and the jeans.
You will always be the work shirts and the jeans,
not to mention the mud and--somehow--the Packers fan.

      Hello! My name is Susie Hanson. This is my second semester at LCSC, and I am majoring in Business Management. I had been a stay at home mom for 13 years, and one day I realized once the boys were gone, I would have to do something with my life!   
    I live in Moscow, but am originally from Bonners Ferry, Idaho (way up North). I am married and have 3 boys (10, 12 and 13). I enjoy outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and camping. I love winters from the windows, but I am not looking forward to the drives down here everyday!