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The biggest
lesson I have learned this semester has nothing to do with school. After my
girlfriend of almost eight months suddenly broke up with me, I learned that
love may be deceiving. I got too far ahead of myself; for some reason, I thought
that I’d be with the girl forever. It was definitely a nice thought, but it was
also dramatically unrealistic. It didn’t dawn on me at the time, but what are
the chances that she and I would get married—being both of ours’ first love?
Things were
going well but I got my hopes so high that when she broke up with me, I was
absolutely over-devastated. I am still
not getting close to being over her. The next time there is a girl in my life, I
will take it one day at a time. Go slow, pace myself, but have fun and enjoy
it. I can’t be thinking about living the rest of my life with the next girl I have.
If by taking it day by day, over some time, we develop an extremely strong and
relevant relationship—then I may start thinking about marriage.
Love
is a beautiful and fun thing; and I miss it dearly. But I have to respect its deepness;
it takes a long length of time to build a strong enough relationship to even
think about “forever.” If I let myself slip and get ahead of myself again, if
and when the next gal-pal breaks up with me—I will be right back here.
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My advice to Uneasy (http://www.slate.com/id/2203349/):
Dear Uneasy,
Forget everything you think you know about that dog. Pit bulls are unpredictable and should be illegal. They are the most dangerous breed of dog and easily the most deadly. Every pit bull owner says “Oh, she’s the sweetest dog,” or “My dog would never hurt anyone.” But the truth is, they will. Just a few weeks ago at my little sister’s bus stop, a little boy was hospitalized after being attacked by a ferocious dog. You want to take a stab at what kind of dog this was? You’re right—a pit bull. Talk about feeling uneasy! I now wake up at the crack of dawn every morning to drive my sister to the bus stop and wait with her. All it takes is one bad look or one wrong move and that dog will rip your niece in half. I hope that the thought of that makes you uneasy and pushes you to convince your sister to get rid of that dog. These dogs should be illegal and even pushed to extinction. They are extremely aggressive and downright powerful. They bite their victim and sink their sharp teeth to the gum, rip flesh and bone, and rarely let go. Too many children, and even adults, have been severely injured or killed by pit bulls. They are just too unpredictable; the dog can be sweet for three years and out of nowhere bite its owner’s face off. Never, ever, trust a pit bull. Please get that dog out of the house—now! I don’t want to hear another pit bull attack story on the news…
I don’t want to have to say I told you so…
--Someone you must listen to
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While I was looking through the PostSecrets, one entry really stood out and touched me. Fuzzy feelings in my heart bloomed when I saw it. It probably isn’t the kind of secret that would stand out to most people, but it really connected with me. The entry is a picture of footprints leading toward the water on a shoreline, with a man standing in the shallows. In handwriting, the picture reads, “Taking this picture, I fully realized…/…I’m going to marry you.”
Romantic love is a beautiful thing, and it just made me smile to see the love this picture. I was in love once and naively hoped that I was eventually going to marry her. Though we are now separated, our time together was the greatest time of my life. It was the best feeling in the world to be in love, and I sincerely miss it. I have so many happy memories with her that I will never forget. I can’t wait to be involved in something like that again and it makes me happy for the couple in the picture. It is a real accomplishment to get married and I think that marriages are majestic. The scene in the picture is very romantic and I can’t help but smile for the couple.
I really don’t have any extraordinarily dark secrets, so I would consider posting a secret. I tend to be very open about things and my close friends know just about everything about me. I would probably write something about how the break-up made me feel and what I think about it. But that isn’t necessarily a secret because many people know about that situation. It would just be a good way to vent and further assist in getting over it.
I think this website helps many people feel better about themselves and their situations because it allows them to express themselves. Venting is extremely helpful in relieving stress, anger, and tension. I vent to my friends often, more now than ever, and it definitely makes me feel better. That is what this website offers: a way to vent.
I probably seem like a softy after you read this, but I am a very honest and sensitive person on the inside. Love is a truly amazing phenomenon to me, and the idea of two people being in love puts a smile on my face and a fuzzy feeling in my heart.
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Joseph Campana’s poem, “Spring comes to Ohio,” can be a tricky read. I read it probably ten times and I still don’t exactly get it. I’m not even sure I understand the main concept of the poem. Recent events in my life have me looking at this poem in a biased context. I see this poem as two lovers who have most likely broken-up. To me the poem is simply a message to say that it may be hard after a breakup but one must move on with their life. It says that friends are important during these times. Also, there are many positives and opportunities in their life and they need to realize them and take advantage of them, instead of dwelling on the “what-ifs.” It also has a theme of the changing seasons of love.
If my simple analysis of this complex poem is accurate, then this poem speaks strongly to me. I’m having a hard time moving on after my girlfriend recently left me. The poem makes me think about my miserable situation and reminds me of a lot of songs.
I don’t quite understand a lot of the poem. Some of the metaphors are a little too complex to me. There are three main devices used in the poem: “the first gesture,” “flowers,” and “read.” I don’t understand what the “first gesture” part means. Is it when the ex-lovers talk again after the break-up or what? In some sentences, the word “flower” is a metaphor for boys. But in others, it doesn’t work for “boys.” It has to represent something else, but I just can’t figure it out. Specifically, the sentence about coffins is very blurry to me. Towards the end, the narrator tells the subject to “read” “flowers,” “your heart,” and “your despair.” This part is fairly straight forward.
Listening to the poem didn’t really solidify my understanding at all. It was read awkwardly and I had already read it so many times that it didn’t make anything clearer than it already was.
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I
do not believe in the philosophy that basically says life is all about fun and
making different decisions and whatnot but in the end it will turn out to be
exactly what you wanted. Cut the fluff and get a life, people. No way, what you
do now affects your life later on down the road. If you just do stupid things
and 'fun' now, you won't make it in life. If you slack now, you'll be trying to
make up for it when you should be retired. I believe you learn in childhood,
you work in middle years and those two stages lead up to your elderly years.
The latter portion of your life is when you get to enjoy life. To me, you work
all your life so you can retire and THEN live your dreams and go on vacations.
I
think that people do control their own destiny. Whether you believe in God’s
plan or not, you decide what to do. And I cannot stand when mega-religious
people put me down because they assume I don’t believe in God’s plan, because
if God has a plan for EVERYONE (like they always tell me), then it is His plan for
me not to believe (if I don’t believe). If what these fundamentalists argue for
is true, then no one should ever be punished for wrongdoings nor be commended
for doing good things because they have no control over what they do because it
was all God’s plan. I have no problems with religion and don’t try to guess my
religious beliefs, you have no clue. I simply have a problem with
fundamentalists.
Also, when people say live without
regrets....are you serious? You need to regret things and learn from your
mistakes. If you just wander around being a dreamer fairy, you'll never get
wiser. Wisdom is gained through experience, and if you keep telling yourself
you didn't regret things, you aren't gaining wisdom. I think people should want
to change things they did in the past; there is nothing wrong with that. It even
tells me that they are mature enough to handle similar situations more
appropriately in the future. I just hate when people say “I wouldn’t change a
thing!” AHHH!
In conclusion, I firmly believe in this
statement: "Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar
of Jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow" -Larry
the Cable Guy.
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Music has always spoken to me. I listen to every genre of music and there is no way I could label a dozen songs as my favorites, let alone a single song. The songs that I most appreciate at a given time, are the ones that my emotions can relate to at that same moment. There are certain songs that I love to hear depending on my current emotional situation. Unfortunately, I am currently having to connect with a new set of songs; because yesterday, my girlfriend of almost eight months and I broke up. It is the worst feeling I have ever felt in my life. I just feel like dying; it is so hard to deal with. It is the first time I have ever had a break-up, and so many songs are going through my head. I can’t pick out a single one to explain the break-up itself. But this song, by one of my favorite bands, Alabama, explains how there are so many songs reminding me of it. The song is called, “Jukebox in my Mind:”
In the corner of my mind stands a jukebox
It's playin' all my favorite mem-o-ries
One by one, they take me back
To the days when you were mine
And I can't stop this jukebox in my mind.
I don't need no quarters, don't need any dime
You filled it up forever
When you said good-bye
Heaven knows I love old melodies
They were meant to ease the pain
But the kind that's playin' on my mind
Are drivin' me insane.
In the corner of my mind stands a jukebox
It's playin' all my favorite mem-o-ries
One by one, they take me back
To the days when you were mine
And I can't stop this jukebox in my mind.
Song by song, those melodies
Were meant to ease the pain
But the kind that's playin' on my mind
Are drivin' me insane;
In the corner of my mind stands a jukebox
It's playin' all my favorite mem-o-ries
One by one, they take me back
To the days when you were mine
And I can't stop this jukebox in my mind
The first verse, which happens to be the chorus, explains a strong emotion right now. There really are so many songs playing in my head that make me want to cry. When I turned on the radio this morning, Brad Paisley’s song, “Letter to Me,” was playing. The first lines that I heard were:
…And then I'd say I know it's tough
When you break up after seven months
And yeah I know you really liked her and it just don't seem fair
All I can say is pain like that is fast and it's rare…
What made that song even more unbearable was the fact that the time period was the same as mine—seven months. I broke down into tears and changed the station only to hear Chris Cagle’s “What Kind of Gone:”
…Well theres gone for good and theres good and gone
and theres gone with the long before it
I wish she'd been just a little more clear
well theres gone for the day and gone for the night
and gone for the rest of your dogone life
is it whiskey night or just a couple beers
I mean what kind of gone are we talkin bout here…
This song hurt me because I am hoping that she comes back but I really don’t know if she’s gone for good or not. It just kills me that the biggest joy I have ever had in my life may be forever gone.
Those are just two of the many songs I heard today that made it hard to keep the radio playing. Some were about breaking up and others were about being in a happy relationship. Both were hard to listen to. After I realized that it seemed as though every song that was being played reminded me of my situation, I shut off the radio. All of the songs “playin' [in] my mind  re drivin' me insane.” When I read this assignment, I knew it would be tough to suck it up and write. And it is really hard not to burst into tears while writing this. But luckily my mom has been here for me through this whole ordeal, and is right now. At least a guy can rest assured that no matter what, there is always one woman who will love him forever.
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In the scene, “Carousel,” from Mad Men, a salesman by the name of Don Draper uses a live presentation to convince his clients from Kodak to buy his circular projector. Originally named “The Wheel,” the projector didn’t sound very appealing at all. The Wheel is very old, boring, and out-of-date. By changing the name to “The Carousel,” Don produces a much more functional name because people associate carousels with fun and happy memories. Carousels remind us of a place where we were loved. This technique influences the customer into sentimentally bonding to the product, which is pertinent to making a sale. Don is selling the idea that The Carousel can bring back happy memories of the past, almost as if you were in a time machine.
Don successfully sells his idea—and subsequently, his product—because he was able to emotionally connect with his clients. A customer can even be seen leaving the room in tears after the presentation. The fact that an everyday person can relate to the pictures in the slide was a key factor in making the sale. While a potential buyer watches Don’s presentation, he or she is probably relating the photos with his or her own, and the meaning behind them. The buyer becomes mesmerized by the product and craves it.
Being a bit of a film critic and analyzer, I now must see this film. I can tell that there are many literary devices being used in this scene. I have no clue what this movie is about or anything about it, but this scene is very significant. Although, every scene is significant with good filmmaking, most people just don’t realize it.
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Almost everyone has heard of the
TWLOHA movement, or at least seen the shirts. My friend, Derrick, has one of
the shirts and I never knew what it meant until now. When I got the assignment,
I got in touch with Derrick and asked him to explain it a little better. Before
now, I honestly thought it was some sort of hardcore band or something. But after
talking with Derrick, reading the story, and visiting the website, I have been
inspired. It is a truly great story. Though I don't think I have been friends
with anyone with the same problem, Derrick said he had. He used to sneak out of
his house and bring her Taco Bell, and sit under the stars and just talk.
My personal
opinion of all this is as follows. For one, I think it is sad. But I think that
the point of this whole movement is that ‘love cures all;' both love for
oneself and for others. It is not a religious movement either. Yes, the power
of God is tremendous, but the point is that ANYONE'S love can help. Small things
like what Derrick did, is what the movement is hoping for. A powerful tool
which Derrick used to explain it was the lyrics to "Bowl of Oranges" by the
band, Bright Eyes:
The rain, it started
tapping on the window near my bed. There was a loophole in my dreaming,
so I got out of it. And to my surprise my eyes were wide and already open.
Just my nightstand and my dresser where those nightmares had just been.
So I dressed myself and left then, out into the gray streets.
But everything seemed different and completely new to me.
The sky, the trees, houses, buildings, even my own body.
And each person I encountered, I couldn't wait to meet.
I came upon a doctor who appeared in quite poor health.
I said "{I am terribly sorry but} there is nothing I can do for you
{that} you can't do for yourself."
He said "Oh yes you can. Just hold my hand. I think that would help."
So I sat with him a while and then I asked him how he felt.
He said, "I think I'm cured. No, in fact, I'm sure.
Thank you Stranger, for your therapeutic smile."
So that is how I learned the lesson that everyone is alone.
And your eyes must do some raining if you are ever going to grow.
But when crying don't help and you can't compose yourself.
It is best to compose a poem, an honest verse of longing or simple song of
hope.
That is why I'm singing...
Baby don't worry cause now I got your back. And every time you feel like
crying,
I'm gonna try and make you laugh. And if I can't, if it just hurts too bad,
then we will wait for it to pass and I will keep you company
through those days so long and black.
And we'll keep working on the problem we know we'll never solve
Of Love's uneven remainders, our lives are fractions of a whole.
But if the world could remain within a frame like a painting on a wall.
Then I think we would see the beauty.
Then we would stand staring in awe at our still lives posed like a bowl of
oranges,
like a story told by the fault lines and the soil.
This song
made me realize what I, and almost everyone, take for granted every day. Love
is the most important thing that God gave us, and ANYONE-believer or not-can help
someone in need. Love is the most powerful and beautiful thing in the universe.
Love your neighbors, love your friends, love your family, and most importantly-love
yourself.
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Everyone is impacted by media, but some are influenced more than others. Apart from checking “the Space,” my email, and sports scores and standings, I don’t use the internet for much more than keeping myself up-to-date on the world around me. I do not watch much TV either. The only things I tune into are sporting events, the news, and of course “The Office.” But other than that, I could care less what is on. There is so much stupid crap on TV these days, and I just learned of even more by reading Salon.com’s “Loaded.” I listen to the radio routinely, mostly talk shows. Rush Limbaugh, sports talk on AM 620 WDAE, and various classic rock and oldies stations make up my daily listening. My usage of the media doesn’t shape who I am, and for the most part, what I believe.
These new shows on CW differ from traditional shows because they picture the filthy rich as being completely better off than the working class, both fiscally and morally. The latter being the reason for the recent stir of protest from parents.
I have never seen, or even heard of, the mentioned shows until I read the article, “Loaded.” But I completely agree with the author that these types of shows are absurd. I also agree with her that it would be “refreshing” to see a just, average girl be the main character. However, I do not believe that TV networks should be legally required to follow moral codes (assuming of course, that excessive language, violence, and sexual material be monitored). Broadcasting is a business, not a service to the public. Therefore, networks should be able to air whatever they wish as long as it is within reason.
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Dahlia Lithwick’s article “How to Debate a Girl, and Win” (http://www.slate.com/id/2199363) is written in the form of an informal letter to Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden. It carries a snobby and sarcastic tone against Governor Palin and to Senator Biden. As much as I disagree with Lithwick and think she is a hypocrite, I think her witty tone works well—for those morons who agree with her. But the tone itself is surely functional for the topic. Lithwick is an ignorant, Canadian liberal that seems to think that her being a “longtime parliamentary debater” gives her the right to give advice a six-term U.S. senator on how to win one of the top caliber debates in the world. Give me a break.
Lithwick says, “As any college debater will tell you, it's far harder to beat a clumsy opponent than a good one.” A good debater wins debates, you idiot. Plus, if your statements are truthful, and you were a big bad hot-shot college debater, were you the clumsy opponent?
Lithwick warns Senator Biden to avoid looking “like a snotty professor lecturing an undergrad.” Well, to me it seems like Ms. Lithwick is acting very condescending. Her tone is so snobby and “know-it-all” like it makes me sick. I feel bad for poor ol’ Biden as this lunatic columnist is questioning his intelligence.
And if you think about it, Lithwick’s sarcastic and confident tone is very similar to that of Sarah Palin’s—the very tone that she is criticizing. It is obvious Lithwick is accusing Palin of being a naïve, clumsy and unqualified Vice Presidential candidate (which case she is definitely carrying a partisan bias). Lithwick is also implying that Palin is hoping that Biden will seem sexist so she can whine about it and get pity feminist votes. That is not Palin’s plan at all, she is tough and can fend for herself.. She neither a cry-baby nor a sore loser like some liberal female politicians we know. Palin is actually going for the votes of intelligent men and women.
So as you can see, Lithwick supports the 2008 Democratic ticket. Now, if you can’t trust the VP candidate that you are supporting to think for himself, isn’t that a problem? Hmm…
I do not think that sexism is as big an issue as it has been recently made out to be. If there is that much sexism in modern politics, I’m missing it. Hillary Clinton simply lost—people didn’t vote for her. Palin has been given a fair chance and doesn’t want to be debated against any differently than a man would be. If Biden does try to lecture her, it doesn’t mean he is sexist. Politicians are often condescending to their opponents in debates. People are always looking for trouble these days. Pardon my candor, but if you want men to treat women as equals, then let them. Man or woman, if you want to step up to the big dogs of modern politics, then be ready to feel the wrath. Don’t complain and call it “sexism” just because you can’t keep up. And I certainly think there are many women who can be better politicians then men. I hope Palin destroys Biden in the debates, and I’m confident that she can.
My advice to Ms. Lithwick is to go back to Canada and find a nice French man to order around…
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For the most part, throughout high school I was your average kid. But as captain of the wrestling team, my peers tended to associate me as being a hard-a**. However, in all reality, my pugnacious behavior rarely left the wrestling mat. I am a very nice, courteous, easy-going, and innocent individual. I don’t drink, smoke, or party. By visual appeal—I don’t look too intimidating, but I can be extremely intense and passionate about things I believe in. In high school, was also seen as a ball of adrenaline, strength, and testosterone. In class, I had a tendency to stretch, pace the room, or do tricep ‘dips’ in my desk. If I had a big match coming up the next day I would begin to get focused and I occasionally scared people with my shear intensity and rage that could have been unleashed at any moment. Wow! Now that I think about it, I can understand why people were somewhat afraid of me. But all my friends knew that I was (and I still am) a softy. I’m not saying I couldn’t still kick some butt if I needed to. I am also an avid hunter, a NASCAR obsessed stock car driver, and a stubborn conservative. Therefore, I was frequently labeled as a ‘redneck.’ But to me, I am just an average white kid. You would never know I did these types of things unless you knew me—I don’t dress or talk redneck. That is only a quick synopsis of me.
I’d like to be viewed as, well, an average person. I don’t like to be the center of attention. I am content with minding my own business and innocently going about my day. I live with my family in Pasco County and I’m only here for classes, and I don’t really stress not having the wild college social life. Conversely, I am not a social invalid and I can make friends easily. I would like people to know that I am always willing to lend a hand. Never hesitate to ask me for something.
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