Farm Implements and Rutabagas

The poem "Farm Implements and Rutabagas" written by John Ashbery was very difficult for me to read and to keep my attention. I listened to it and read it several times over. I have only seen a few episodes of Popeye, so I understand the characters and can picture it in my head as well.

I believe that Ashbery mixed technical form with cartoon characters because it is common for a sestina to be a heavy and deep form of poetry. By using cartoons it lightened the idea of the poem.

My favorite line from the poem would be "From that shoebox of an apartment,". I know that many apartments are very small, and I feel that i can relate to tight living quarters because of my dorm room at school. 

"Bluto. Even though you're bigger than me, you can't win, 'cause you're bad, and the good always wins over the bad"

Popeye

Blog 7: United States and War

To be completely honest, I do not know much about any war, at anytime, in anyplace. History is not my strong point, I passed history in high school with extra credit projects galore! I do not have a grandparent or a great grandparent who was ever involved in the wars in the past, so I do not have any personal stories to share either.

Although, when I think of the war in Vietnam I think of the draft, President Kennedy, and the fight against communism. I know that the Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failure and the construction of the Berlin Wall occurred. 

The war in Vietnam is similar to the one going on now, in Afghanistan and Iraq for several reasons. Young soldiers are risking their lives everyday and we are involved in affairs overseas; trying to improve the government in other countries. 

"The best weapon against an enemy is another enemy."

Friedrich Nietzsche

"My Best Friend"

You and me, the best of friends forever,

Meeting when you were four and I was five.

Always together, and apart never,

The fights were scarce, we would always survive. 

Never shared a class, teachers knew better.

Your house was mine and then my house was yours.

When we were twelve I wrote a letter,

We started drifting, closing were the doors.

Thankfully, it stopped and there was no wrath,

We both started dating, two boys, best friends.

You did stray away from the beaten path.

Your boyfriend, “the druggie”, needed to cleanse.

Let’s drop the fake smiles, I need a strong friend.

I hope you read this, don’t mean to offend. 

"Things are never quite as scary when you have a best friend."  

Bill Watterson

The Love of My Life

"The Love of My Life" was not just an average story of a young couple. China and Jeremy performed a sickening act. Both young adults deserved to be condemned by their peers. Boyle proved that anyone can be placed in this situation; people with dreams and ambitions or people who are careless and unhappy. 

I understand that China and Jeremy both did not want this child; however, there are so many more options than just throwing a newborn into the dumpster. Bringing the child to the hospital, the police station, or any other safe ground would save the baby's life and place less guilt and trouble on the parents. 

I do not think that China and Jeremy thought this situation through. Unfortunately, they will have to pay for this careless act for the rest of their lives.

"Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing."

Oscar Wilde

Peer Edit

I normally do not like peer editing sessions; although after Monday's class, I felt that it was very helpful. It is nice to have my essay read and criticized by other students who are also getting their paper's reviewed. I felt that it was judgement free and also gave me other perspectives to consider in my own paper.

After reading and editing other students papers, I feel that my views are even stronger now. I read an essay that informed students about blacking out. Considering that my paper was written based on how Stockton can prevent underaged drinking, learning about the danger of blacking out only made me feel that my news article is now even more important. 

I am looking forward to reading more essays on Friday and to have my paper looked at by others.

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."

Elizabeth Lawrence

Serious Drinking

“Can serious drinking be part of one’s cultural heritage?”

Alcohol relates differently to everyone. Between heritage, race, ethnicity, and family, alcohol can take a different path. Most nationalities have a relation to drinking. For example, Irish people are associated with drinking beer on special occasions, Italians like to sip a glass of wine during dinner, and many other cultures have customs like this too. 

Most countries today established a drinking age. In the United States the legal drinking age is 21. Albania, Armenia, Jamaica all do not have a legal drinking age. It is known a socially and legally acceptable to drink at very young ages. Germany, Greece, and Spain currently have 16 as their legal drinking age. Most commonly countries use 18 as their legal drinking age. 

Personally I believe that 21 is the most logical drinking age. As humans our brains are not fully developed until or around age 24. Drinking too much alcohol at a young age can be extremely harmful. Because of our drinking age that is set in the United States, I believe that it causes less of a chance to develop a serious drinking problem.

"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes."

Oscar Wilde

Response to a reading

I Stand Here Ironing, written by Tillie Olsen, tells a story about a mother daughter relationship which I would never desire to have. 

Emily, the daughter of a careless mother, struggles in her day to day life. Emily has been sick with measles in her childhood and was not treated as she should have been on her return home. If I were ever sick in my home, my parents paid extra close attention to me. I would have felt extremely left out and unwanted if I were Emily.

Emily was eventually “sent” to a convalescent home. The care that she needed was promised to be available there. Unfortunately, when her family came to visit there was no real interaction. Emily stood on a balcony and had to shout down the speak to her loved ones. This would not be OK with me. It may be because I am incredibly close to my family, but if I were sent away for weeks on end, I would desperately need to have interaction with my family. 

School was not one of Emily’s strong points. Her mother allowed her to stay home even if there were nothing wrong. At the end of the short story, Emily mentions that she will not be going to her midterms. If my mother were aware of my lacking ability in school, she would motivate me to try harder. I would most likely be involved in a tutoring program due to my parents concern.

Emily’s future seems to be bright. She is performing at high schools and colleges, entertaining her audiences everywhere. Emily’s mother seems to think Emily no longer needs guidance. This is false. I will always need my mothers help throughout my life. Just because Emily is the same age as her mother was when she gave birth to Emily, does not mean that she can steadily take care of herself. 

Overall, I understand that Emily’s mother had her hands full while Emily was growing up, but there is no reason she could not step into her life now.

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.