Observations and Reflections

The past few months have been profitable. I learned new techniques and various ways to improve my writing skills.

When I came into class I knew how to write a complete sentence; however, I needed to write more effective sentences (say more with less words). I also learned the importance of pacing sentences because the sentences guide how fast or slow the story moves.

I've learned to more effectively paint a picture for the reader by "showing" rather than "telling" the story -- allow the reader to capture the moment by providing specific details.

Fitting the stories together has been the most difficult concept for me to grasp. I am still working on crafting techniques that help the story flow more smoothly.

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Lectures -- effective tool, I enjoyed and learned so much.

Blogging assignments -- I've enjoyed reading and commenting on entries of other classmates, the blogs allowed me to learn more about my classmates.

Chalk Board assignments -- I learned from the technique but doing the same thing week after week was boring. Less interaction took place except with others in your group.

Cat Language

During a break from revising, I watch my two boys.

Gibson looks Raven's way and suddenly pounces on his tail. Raven puts up with the playfulness once and then twice. The third time Gibby enters his space, Raven sits up for the attack and meets him head on. The two roll around several time with all fours flying.

Gibby backs up for a break and then the wrestling continues. Raven is tolerent to a certain point and he has reached it. The next round when Gibson looks his way, he stares an intimidating glare that Gibson understands. Gibby knows that Raven has had enough rough play and momentarily his face and ears lay back as if he's frightened.

Then Gibson stands his ground again -- the looks continue and Raven moves toward Gibby. The scene is like a parent disciplining a child. Raven holds him down momentarily then releases him. Gibby escapes only to return and continues to taunt Raven.

Thirty minutes later the two are still at it.

Gifts and Memories

This morning as I dressed for work I decided to wear my diamond snowflake necklace ... thinking it's time, the snow has arrived. I have fond memories of this particular piece of jewelry. The necklace was a Christmas gift from my father the year my mother passed away. When I opened it, I gasped at it's beauty and the love I felt as my father fastened it around my neck. The memory brings tears to my eyes - tears of sorrow and tears of happiness. This year when I saw it I decided that I really need to have it cleaned to restore its beauty; it hasn't been cleaned in the ten years since I received it.

Gifts provide lasting memories. I have a Christmas ornament that was given to me by a fellow classmate that I carpooled with. Each year as I am decorating my tree I remember Lisa even though I haven't seen her since 1982. It is a glass "Precious Moments" glass ornament and I'm surprised it hasn't gotten broken. I've owned several cats over the years and have always placed this ornament high on the tree to protect it from their play.

In 1981, I was given a gold butterfly necklace with my name engraved on it. I was a bridesmaid in my friend, Cindy's wedding and she gave me the gift at the rehearsal dinner. I had never received such an expensive gift and have cherished it dearly. Each time I fasten the necklace around my neck, I remember Cindy's happiness on her wedding day. I wear the necklace frequently; you may have seen it. I have never had to have this necklace repaired; a sign of a lasting friendship.

These are the most memorable gifts I've been given, and there are many others I could share.

Double Standards

After reading "Flipping Out" by Pamela Colloff, I began to think about other double standards in American society. In this story the double standard presented - young girls need to be innocent and not behave sexy; however, the sport of cheerleading allows the girls to act sexy without behaving sexy. This contradiction was explored by Colloff and she engaged us with the history of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.
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The first double standard that comes to mind is how young men behave towards young women. Society expects the woman to remain chaste; however, the young man expects her to have sex with him. This young man corrupts several young ladies and ruins their reputations. When it is time for this young man to marry, he is looking for purity (a virgin).

Another double standard is how society expects a man to hold his feelings in. Our society expects him to be strong. If he does break down and cry, he is viewed weak. Only women can express sorrow because men are expected to tough it out.

A society will always have contradictions. What are some of the ones you see?

Exhilaration

This afternoon the Non-Traditional Student Org. held an event in Park Center. The Rock Climbing was held in room D-305, a small gymnasium. This was my first time to do this.

To climb the wall, you needed to wear special equipment - a helmet and a harness. You were hooked to a rope and pulley that secured you as you climbed up the fake rocks that are screwed to the wall. If you lost your footing, you were hanging there but didn't fall. First I watched some of the others hoping to learn how it was done. Some got to the half-way point and slipped which caused them to want to quit, others quit because of the physical strength that was needed, and a few made it to the top.

It wasn't easy the first time ... but I managed to make it! I was winded as they lowered me down. About 45 minutes later I decided to go again and it went faster this time ... but I was almost out of breath when they lowered me.

Overall, it was an exhilarating experience! Give it a try if you haven't.

Waking Up

Yesterday I woke up remembering what I had thought about during the night as I slept. Sometimes I sleep deeply and don't remember what I dreamt of or what my thoughts were.

The evening before I was brainstorming ideas for our last paper. As I wrote down an idea another related idea came to mind. A childhood memory was giving me trouble; and when I went to sleep, it was all I thought about all night long. Sometimes I wish my parents were still alive because they could fill in the gray areas of my memories.

I remember the event, I just can't remember who it happened to. When I awoke, I was crying because I had remembered something related ... Melissa, a friend of mine who had died from Reyes Syndrome. Back when I grew up, children were given aspirin to bring down fevers. In the early 70's, American families were just beginning to receive information on the medical dangers of giving aspirin to children.

Melissa's mother was the sewing instructor for my 4H troop. Her daughter, Melissa was a year younger that me. Their family regularly visited our farm and bought milk. It was a very sad year! I don't think that Melissa's mother ever recovered from the grief.

Raising the Dead

I just finished reading Tim Zimmermann's article, "Raising the Dead" - an awesome piece of writing about the sport of deep-water diving. Zimmermann had me hooked from the beginning.

The article went in-depth to explain the breathing equipment and the risks involved with the sport. I connected with the main characters - Zimmermann had given us an excellent description and background of Shaw and Shirley.

When I realized that Dave Shaw wouldn't make it back from the Big Dive, I was heartbroken. I'd forgotten that he was wearing an underwater camera for this dive. "It's not an easy thing to watch a person die, especially if that person is a friend." (364). This section of the story was very hard to read because tears kept welling up in my eyes.

Zimmermann is not a character and I wonder if he ever met Dave Shaw ... where did he get for the information to write the story? What do you think?