The Blog Experience as Written by an Inexpericed Blogger

When I was first told I would have to write a blog, I thought to much of it. I thought I would be one of those weird bloggers who poured their emotions into every post for the whole world to read. I am not sure why I thought that being as a) this was a class blog, about books and b) because I am not that way in real life. I thought blogging would somehow unleash some alter ego that I had hidden on the inside. My own version of Sasha Fierce*. In all actuality I wanted it to. I wanted to create my own persona that I could hide behind where I spoke my mind without conviction, but alas it didn't.

At the end of this semester, I must say my blog is presentable. Nothing I would really show outsiede of this class, which is kind of ironic since it is on the internet. It amazes me that after the blogging portion of the class is said and done, ideas flood my brain on how to make it better, more interesting. Things I could have said and things I could have done.

At first I did not see where a blog would fit into a 21st century literaturew class. Three months ago if you would have asked me its relevance I would not have been able to tell you. Needless to say, I now see its usefulness. It aides as a learning tool in which your peers voice their opinion, but they are also backed up with examples from the literature. Almost like mini papers. It served as a place to vent about the books we were forced to read on a weekly basis, whether our comments included "this book is so stupid" or "I don't get it" or this book was the most amazing thing I've ever read". It was still our place.
I found out that blogging is surprisingly easy. Coming from a self proclaimed busy bee person, thats a good thing. During this experience I was being pulled in a million different directions and the blogs that I did find time to write were done from my best friend, my phone. I found a use for all its functions and that makes me smile on the inside and put my mom's criticism to rest. Never again will I hear, "You have a phone with so many functions and yet you don't even use half of them."If I could do it all over I would just be a better blogger. I would post comments and blog even more. I would send even more of my friends to my page so I could get their feedback. All "coulda, shoulda, woulda's".

*Sasha Fierce is Beyonce's (singer/actress) alter ego as portrayed in her album "I am...Sasha Fierce".

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzlG28B-R8Y

My blog refuses to let me post the video.

I chose the twilight zone intro because that's how i felt as soon as they Navidoson/Green family came into the house and they felt that impending doom. On page 28 the family returns home and they feel as though something has happened in the house. It isn't noticeable at first, but the know something weird has happened. It's kind of like when I walk into my room and I know that someone moved something, I just can't put my finger on it.

SKIP IT

After trying to read on the 3 hour ride from NYC to Albany on the Greyhound bus, Shanoa finally decides to read the book seriously. The first time it was just a glance over. She didn't really retain any information that she would be able to regurgitate in her literature class like she normally did because unlike the books and stories in the past this book was difficult. This book had footnotes out the WAZOO and she couldn't for the life of her figure out why they were there. It wasn't like she had actually read any of these books in her life. She's only a 19 year old girl in her second year of college. What did her professor expect of her? Sure she's heard of some of these books but how was she to know if the Zampano character was pulling any of these references out of his butt.
Needless to say Shanoa skipped the majority of the footnotes. Unless it was typed in courier new it was of no value to her and she could care less about where such quotes and references could be found. She read and read turning the book and when she realized that she was ripping the book in an effort to read upside down and backwards, she skipped those sections too. The people on the train looking at her as though she had never held a book or even seen one for that matter was enough for her to get up and leave the book on the F train going to Queens, but then she realized once again that she is a college student who was not going to let hard earned money go to waste.
In the end she will probably re-gift the book for christmas to one of her cousins who will enjoy such madness. Maybe they'll think the ripped pages makes the book vintage.

Sweating While Sitting Still

THE PLAY WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
Blackwatch was not the type of play I would have picked out on my own. It translated perfectly onto the stage. The accents didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. The actors were so talented and graceful. I thought it was interesting the way the performed the transformation of the blackwatch through the years.
Now, my issues with the play. WHY THE DANCING, especially the miming after receiving the letters? I didn't get it. What did all the hand gestures mean? I think they did to much dancing for any army who is suppose to be protecting my country, but hey, that could be just me.
The portrayal of the car bombing was incredible. It was quite heart wrenching and you don't get that from just reading the play. This is a play I wouldn't mind seeing it again.

Anticipation is a Killer

Even though like the rest of the class I'm tired of reading about war and the soldier lifestyle that comes along with it, I am anxiously awaiting the play. Even though I am not an avid believer in war for an unjustifiable reason (yes, I'm a lover not a fighter) I think this would be something that I enjoy. I enjoyed reading the play even though it was hard to get past the language to actually visualize actions and stage directions for each character. For the most part, I've enjoyed alot of the readings that we've done in class. I've even recommended them to friends and co-workers.

The Ultimate Nightmare

"Shooting War" isn't your typical comic book.
After reading it and participating in class discussions, I have come to the conclusion that this is the dark political comic of the 21st century. Lappe views Republicans (mostly McCain) as right-winged nut jobs, who would build a wall that puts The Great Wall of China to shame just to keep out illegal aliens. Liberals are not your typical average working class person in this comic, they only exist in the form of bloggers who comment on terrorists attacks and other unacceptable behavior.
Lappe pokes fun at everythig nuance and seemingly technologically advanced from the bloggers who sit in Starbucks and write about the corporate takeover of America to the disappering souls of "real journalists", who seem to shove out high doses of de-humanization just to get higher ratings. A reader can't help but to feeel that Lappe IS his protagonist, Jimmy Burns. It's apparent that he hates American Apparel and other corprate logos tht are popping up around the world. The fact that he chose to blow up a Starbucks in this comic shows that he longs for the days of the small business owner and mom and pop shops from the past. Where no one person had the bulk of the money and was born into the American Dream, like Paris Hilton and other celebrities who ride the coatails of their family name.
Since Jimmy Burns is suppose to be the "ultimate blogger", Lappe portrays bloggers as egotistical racists and sexists, who feel that everyone wants to hear their opinion. Even though they gripe and moan about the pitfalls of the society in which they live in, they know that it is worst in other places and if they ever dared to step out of the comfort of the laptop and Venti Iced Mocha Latte they would beg to be on the first plane back to their "civilized country".

Breathe

I finally get to breathe after about 2 weeks of running around in circles for work and school. Well, maybe not because I still have to play catch-up and write in the blog which I've been neglecting for so many weeks. This should be fun. :-/

I LOVE FOREIGN CUSTOMERS

Working in retail has it's ups and downs, but I must say that I live for days like these. When foreign customers, mostly Italian and French, walk into the store and see one thing they like then proceed to buy the whole stock. It makes me gush :-D

Today was a great example. A customer, who comes into the store about once every season and she recognizes me right on sight. "Do you have anything new?", she says. Automatically, I start my sales pitch. Showing her wigs and hair pieces, make-up, nail polishes and costumes, hair products, sunglasses etc. The wigs don't appeal to her style but the hair pieces catch her eye and she tells me to give her every style in every color....OH JOY! She continued shopping around the store for about 2 hours, pulling items off the shelves in bulk and tells me to pick something up for myself. I must say that she is my favorite customer and I don't even know her name!

These are the days that bring a smile across my face...and then I come home to my little brother using my toothbrush to clean his sneakers.

Rebel Without A Cause

I finished The Mercy Seat a couple of days ago and I found it interesting, to say the least. The way Abby's character kept badgering Ben's character to make a decision the day after a national disaster was mind boggling. How can a anyone make that decision? The mistress of 3 years or the family you helped to create? It's no wonder Ben made the decision that he did.

Abby's character wasn't the most normal person. From the beginning to the end all I kept thinking was "She doesn't want a commited relationship. She wants a sparring partner who will continuously walk into the punches. She doesn't want to be his equal when all she does is belittle him."

In the end the story was all about manipulation. There wasn't one person manipulating the other. They both are guilty of this act because neither one of them loved each other and they play the car-less version of "Chicken" except with the game of love. Love is the car, obviously. Abby gets Ben to tell her that he loves her and because Ben says that he feels he can ask Abby to run away with him. When Abby agrees, she feels that he should tell his wife instead, but when he refuses Abby is left with egg on her face or like in the movie Rebel Without A Cause, she's the one who's sleeve gets caught in the door and ends up in the ocean. In the end, I can't help but to feel sorry for her.

BACK TO SCHOOL

As summer comes to a close and I find myself creating my very first blog for my very first class, I find myself getting kind of sad. I know, I know. What's new about a student getting sad about their summer coming to an end? This summer was the summer of freedom. I was no longer under the watchful eye of parents and other supervisors. I lived the double life of a diligent worker by day and something like a party girl by night except for those nights when I refused to leave the house and watched the Olympics and Micheal Phelps. Although I must say, it feels good to be back in school where people are forced to talk about more meaningful things than their last fling in Miami before the beginning of school.
Back to the topic at hand. My first blog. I didn't know how to name my blog. Should it be boring or clever? Should I be one of those witty, yet opinionated people who people find themselves nodding in agreement with? Or should I be one of the people who force their opinion in every post on every reader? I'm still not sure yet. I guess we'll see.
It's called BOOKS & TRAINS (of thought) because, you guessed it, it's for my literature class and I'll be doing alot of reading on the the good ol' MTA . So sit back and enjoy the ride, but we may be delayed because of the train in front of us.