Response:
In this section of the book her father is having yet another problem, and having trouble with his money. He was having trouble managing it, and spending it unwisely. One of the main issues that this arose from was that when he received the property Cawdor, he didn’t know how to manage its expenses, and was a huge amount of responsibility he wasn’t ready for. A solution that helped their money troubles was that they opened parts of the castle Cawdor to the public, and had daily tours in the castle. This was covering the expenses for the castle. Many new things were added to the castle so when people were visiting the castle was still secured. They put in many new cameras, and put signs around the property to explain certain parts of the property. This all happened while Liza was still at boarding school, but her parents kept her informed during this whole process and when she got home she got to experience it herself. While she was in Cawdor during her breaks when the tours were open people would always ask her questions, and was forced to wear traditional Scottish outfits during her stay. In the summers they weren’t at Cawdor very much because they were traveling a lot so they didn’t have to deal with the tourists. They would attend these lavish parties, and they Liza would wear ball gowns and have to use dance cards. Liza wasn’t that fond of these types of parties but still danced with as many boys as she could to please her parents.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Outside Reading 5 Post A
Vocabulary:
profligacy: shameless, reckless(200)
cognitive: perception, knowledgeable(232)
Quote:
"I'm going to chop you in half,' he hissed. Thatch had helped him learn how to handle knives, but an unarmed wife was clearly not quite the target the aikido master had intended." (231)
This quote is significant because it is showing the violence going on in the house between the parents, and how the family is putting up with it and not doing anything about it. The father pushes them, and does things to them that would normally be unforgivable, but they can't seem to leave him.
profligacy: shameless, reckless(200)
cognitive: perception, knowledgeable(232)
Quote:
"I'm going to chop you in half,' he hissed. Thatch had helped him learn how to handle knives, but an unarmed wife was clearly not quite the target the aikido master had intended." (231)
This quote is significant because it is showing the violence going on in the house between the parents, and how the family is putting up with it and not doing anything about it. The father pushes them, and does things to them that would normally be unforgivable, but they can't seem to leave him.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Outside Reading 4 Post B
Personal Reaction:During this section of reading they were a couple of quotes that really caught my attention and makes me think more about this topic even though today you wouldn’t think it exists. “My father, for instance, always arranged to fly separately from Colin, but not from us. I vaguely understood that Colin was the ‘heir’, but it was wholly abstract concept.”(180) This quote from the book is referencing about how she and her sisters could not become a Thane of Cawdor and that their births were almost not that important in terms of nobility. The first born male was the one who was to become the next Thane, and the families would keep having children till they had a boy. There was another quote she talks about her fathers will. “A small nest egg had been set aside for the three girls, which went towards our education and a future roof over our heads, but otherwise we were excluded from his will.”(182) This is showing woman leaving in a patriarchal society, which we don’t see today, but still exists within some countries royalty. They don’t even get an equal amount of their father’s will because they are girls. It seems unfair, and women are not lower than men in any way. Her father would talk to her about marrying a man of status and money, and that would be considered a successful life for her. She never did listen to her father about that, even at a young age she knew she could do better and he was wrong. So in this section woman’s rights are implied and it shows the life of woman and how they are treated in a royal family.
Outside Reading 4 Post A
Vocabulary:
dexterity:(165) skill in using hands or body:agility
volatile:(175) dissolving or evaporating rapidly
Figurative Language:
"I was intrigued by this heavy-lidded creature, wreathed in smoke and propped up in snowy sheets like a wrinkled dijnn."(171)
This is an example of a simile because compares to unlike object using the word like.
"It was tricky work, like trying to juggle souffles in front of a hostile audience."(177)
This is an example of a simile because compares to unlike objects using the word like.
"If you're not careful you'll be shacked up with a diddicoy and a brood of dribbling cretins."(185)
This is using imagery because its using imagination and its not going to happen.
dexterity:(165) skill in using hands or body:agility
volatile:(175) dissolving or evaporating rapidly
Figurative Language:
"I was intrigued by this heavy-lidded creature, wreathed in smoke and propped up in snowy sheets like a wrinkled dijnn."(171)
This is an example of a simile because compares to unlike object using the word like.
"It was tricky work, like trying to juggle souffles in front of a hostile audience."(177)
This is an example of a simile because compares to unlike objects using the word like.
"If you're not careful you'll be shacked up with a diddicoy and a brood of dribbling cretins."(185)
This is using imagery because its using imagination and its not going to happen.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Outside Reading 3 Post B
Personal Reaction:
In this section on the book she talks about family vacations her family use to take to visit her grandparents when they are still living. This memory was on the more memorable and better memories. The whole family was together and they would get all packed in the car together, and play road kill counting games (106). She described her visits to her grandparents, where their nursery contained toys that her father had played with. She described her grandfather Jack as not the typical grandpa. When you think of grandpa’s you think of going fishing, playing together, and sharing meals together. Jack didn’t like to talk and learn about his grandchildren, the only time he ever said something to them was when they were doing something wrong. He was Scottish so he was always a kilt, with showy socks and a tweed jacket. (111) While she and her sister were at boarding school they received the surprising news that their grandfather died of a heart attack. They found out her father had become the next Thane in the Cawdor estate and they flew home for the funeral. They were home for the first time in a while, since the holidays. There were all sorts of relatives there, ones that had seen before or in a while. She had looked upon her father dealing with this grief in a different now that she was older saying that it must had been hard for him to receive this new title and dealing with his own father’s death.(126) This is what lead to the drinking problem, and of her father’s own personal problems that he unfortunately took out on his family sometimes. This was a hard time for their family, and this is where the start of her father’s problems began.
In this section on the book she talks about family vacations her family use to take to visit her grandparents when they are still living. This memory was on the more memorable and better memories. The whole family was together and they would get all packed in the car together, and play road kill counting games (106). She described her visits to her grandparents, where their nursery contained toys that her father had played with. She described her grandfather Jack as not the typical grandpa. When you think of grandpa’s you think of going fishing, playing together, and sharing meals together. Jack didn’t like to talk and learn about his grandchildren, the only time he ever said something to them was when they were doing something wrong. He was Scottish so he was always a kilt, with showy socks and a tweed jacket. (111) While she and her sister were at boarding school they received the surprising news that their grandfather died of a heart attack. They found out her father had become the next Thane in the Cawdor estate and they flew home for the funeral. They were home for the first time in a while, since the holidays. There were all sorts of relatives there, ones that had seen before or in a while. She had looked upon her father dealing with this grief in a different now that she was older saying that it must had been hard for him to receive this new title and dealing with his own father’s death.(126) This is what lead to the drinking problem, and of her father’s own personal problems that he unfortunately took out on his family sometimes. This was a hard time for their family, and this is where the start of her father’s problems began.
Outside Reading 3 Post A
Vocabulary:
flamboyant:adj, bold, brilliant, showy(110)
curmudgeon: noun: bad tempered, difficult person(134)
Quote:
"He could do very little socially unless he had a stiff drink first, but it never just one, and as four went to five and to six, the alcohol in his system magnified rather than smoothed his moods."(134)
This quote is describing her father's drinking problem when she was a child. In the pages before she talks about the family history of being heavy drinkers. This quote is significant because it describes the type of atmosphere she lived in, and how affected her childhood, and how she was raised.
flamboyant:adj, bold, brilliant, showy(110)
curmudgeon: noun: bad tempered, difficult person(134)
Quote:
"He could do very little socially unless he had a stiff drink first, but it never just one, and as four went to five and to six, the alcohol in his system magnified rather than smoothed his moods."(134)
This quote is describing her father's drinking problem when she was a child. In the pages before she talks about the family history of being heavy drinkers. This quote is significant because it describes the type of atmosphere she lived in, and how affected her childhood, and how she was raised.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Debate Blog
Political
-They usually occur on Television
-It serves a purpose to help people decide who to vote for, and look at qualities they like in a potential leader.
-It does help arrive at a better descion to help those choose their political leaders.
-This debate is structured, which helps the descion making process because it puts time limits and gives topics to dicuss. It helps give equal opportuites to each side.
Class
-They occur in school during a classroom
-It serves a purpose to help students learn the basics of debate and to help students learn both sides to an argument.
-It doesn't really help arrive at a decision because they aren't meant to see who's right and wrong, its just to learn how to do it.
-This debate is structured, because it lets everyone have a chance to talk and doesn't let one person dominate it.
Friend
-They can occur in person, on the phone, instant message, text message, etc.
-It serves a purpose to settle an argument and to have people express their feelings towards something.
-It does help arrive at a decision or comparison because it helps both people express their feelings and ideas and helps everyone understand.
-This debate is unstructured, this affects the decision making process by having it slow down. It also gives people to talk whenever they want, and doesn't set time limits.
-They usually occur on Television
-It serves a purpose to help people decide who to vote for, and look at qualities they like in a potential leader.
-It does help arrive at a better descion to help those choose their political leaders.
-This debate is structured, which helps the descion making process because it puts time limits and gives topics to dicuss. It helps give equal opportuites to each side.
Class
-They occur in school during a classroom
-It serves a purpose to help students learn the basics of debate and to help students learn both sides to an argument.
-It doesn't really help arrive at a decision because they aren't meant to see who's right and wrong, its just to learn how to do it.
-This debate is structured, because it lets everyone have a chance to talk and doesn't let one person dominate it.
Friend
-They can occur in person, on the phone, instant message, text message, etc.
-It serves a purpose to settle an argument and to have people express their feelings towards something.
-It does help arrive at a decision or comparison because it helps both people express their feelings and ideas and helps everyone understand.
-This debate is unstructured, this affects the decision making process by having it slow down. It also gives people to talk whenever they want, and doesn't set time limits.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Outside Reading 2 Post B
So far in the story she has described the scene and her family history, which is very important to understand how her family has the wealth and their nobility. In this next section she starts talking about her early childhood, and how her parents treated her among her other siblings and some of her parent’s bad habits. In the book she describes her father putting himself in danger with these car races that he does while he’s drinking He suffered many accidents and they got worse and worse. His final accident was almost deadly when his car did 3 somersaults and he went through the sunroof. He suffered a fractured skull, broken ribs, and a broken nose. I think he is putting himself in danger and doesn’t care and isn’t thinking of his family. He isn’t thinking of what would happen to his family if he were to die, and doesn’t care that he is putting his family through. At the age of 8 she and her sister Emma go to the boarding school named Hanford. It was nice to have each there, while they were away from their parents at such a young age. Her parents were preoccupied with other things so they would send their children to boarding school. Her father was always off in Wales doing work, and even forgot her birthday one year while she was at boarding school. Her mother kept having more children, and was preoccupied with them. Also one of the kids had some health problems and was in the hospital for a few months. I think her parents don’t care of all of their children and are neglected. They send away their children so they don’t have to deal with them and their needs. So far I’m getting the idea her life may have seen liked a fairy tale, but in reality was not.
Outside Reading 2 Post A
Vocabulary84
southpaw: it is a left handed person(55)
untrammelled: limited, not confined. (55)
Figurative Language Examples:
116
"The coastline there is made up of coves and caves and limestone cliffs pierced by swallow holes that boom like gigantic didgeridoos when the surf hits them at high tide."(48)
This is an example of a simile, because it uses the word like to compare two different things.
"And if I am a black lamb then you are a black ram."(58)
This is an example of personification because it is describing a human as an animal.
"Laura was still lying like a shrivelled leaf in a Cardiff hospital."(98)
This is an example of a simile because it uses the word like to describe two unlike objects.
southpaw: it is a left handed person(55)
untrammelled: limited, not confined. (55)
Figurative Language Examples:
116
"The coastline there is made up of coves and caves and limestone cliffs pierced by swallow holes that boom like gigantic didgeridoos when the surf hits them at high tide."(48)
This is an example of a simile, because it uses the word like to compare two different things.
"And if I am a black lamb then you are a black ram."(58)
This is an example of personification because it is describing a human as an animal.
"Laura was still lying like a shrivelled leaf in a Cardiff hospital."(98)
This is an example of a simile because it uses the word like to describe two unlike objects.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Outside Reading 1 Post B
Thoughtful Response:
So far in the book A Charmed Life it’s about a girl named Liza Campbell who was the last child born in the Cawdor Castle in Scotland. It starts out in present day where Liza is living on Sumba, an island in Indonesia with her husband and two children. She receives notification that her father died three days earlier. She was in a remote area so she didn’t receive it till the day of the funeral, so she was unable to make it. She did however go to visit his grave and go back to revisit Cawdor, the castle where she grew up. While she is up there she remembers the last time she saw her father. On pages 28-31 it describes the memory of her going to say goodbye to her father before she moved to Indonesia and how he treated her with no respect, and she and her siblings were doing all of this work for him. The couple of days she was there he was either drunk or in a terrible mood. When she announces she was leaving she says one final thing to her father “I love you with all of my heart, Pa.”(31) I think her father should be grateful that he is living and successful because of his family’s history and should appreciate it more. He is been handed a great hand of cards because he owns tons of land and castles. He treats his family with no respect and is always in a bad mood. Even though there last encounter together wasn’t extremely positive, he does leave her a voicemail after she leaves to tell her he misses her and wishes she could have stayed longer(32).
So far in the book A Charmed Life it’s about a girl named Liza Campbell who was the last child born in the Cawdor Castle in Scotland. It starts out in present day where Liza is living on Sumba, an island in Indonesia with her husband and two children. She receives notification that her father died three days earlier. She was in a remote area so she didn’t receive it till the day of the funeral, so she was unable to make it. She did however go to visit his grave and go back to revisit Cawdor, the castle where she grew up. While she is up there she remembers the last time she saw her father. On pages 28-31 it describes the memory of her going to say goodbye to her father before she moved to Indonesia and how he treated her with no respect, and she and her siblings were doing all of this work for him. The couple of days she was there he was either drunk or in a terrible mood. When she announces she was leaving she says one final thing to her father “I love you with all of my heart, Pa.”(31) I think her father should be grateful that he is living and successful because of his family’s history and should appreciate it more. He is been handed a great hand of cards because he owns tons of land and castles. He treats his family with no respect and is always in a bad mood. Even though there last encounter together wasn’t extremely positive, he does leave her a voicemail after she leaves to tell her he misses her and wishes she could have stayed longer(32).
Outside Reading 1 Part A
Vocabulary:
sarong:noun: it is a garment or piece of clothing that wraps around the waist(14)
umpteen:adjective: many, large amount(47)
Significant Quote:
"I realized, suddenly that after the initial physical impact of overwhelming grief, a tiny spark of ambivalence had guttered into life. Part of me felt vertiginous from loss; but part of me felt thankful that this intimidating central figure in my life was gone."(25)
This quote is describing Liza's reaction of the death of her father. She's having mixed emotions about his death. First of all shes sad and mourning his death because no matter what he does to you he's her father. But then she is having feelings now that she is cut off from him and she can forget what he did to her and move on in her life.
sarong:noun: it is a garment or piece of clothing that wraps around the waist(14)
umpteen:adjective: many, large amount(47)
Significant Quote:
"I realized, suddenly that after the initial physical impact of overwhelming grief, a tiny spark of ambivalence had guttered into life. Part of me felt vertiginous from loss; but part of me felt thankful that this intimidating central figure in my life was gone."(25)
This quote is describing Liza's reaction of the death of her father. She's having mixed emotions about his death. First of all shes sad and mourning his death because no matter what he does to you he's her father. But then she is having feelings now that she is cut off from him and she can forget what he did to her and move on in her life.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Outside Reading Blog
A Charmed Life Growing Up in Macbeth's Castle
By: Liza Campbell
Published in: 2006
Nonfiction
321 pages
"Once upon a time Scotland, it must have been unimaginable that feuds and obsessive cattle rustling would one day be seen as finite cultural tics. Treachery, clan warfare and shifting allegiances were like oats and whisky to the populace."(33)
I chose this book because when i read the insert in the cover it looked interesting and had a lot of things that seemed to spark my mind and wanted to read more about it. It is like a real "fairy tale" told from someone inside of the castle. That story line appealed to me.
By: Liza Campbell
Published in: 2006
Nonfiction
321 pages
"Once upon a time Scotland, it must have been unimaginable that feuds and obsessive cattle rustling would one day be seen as finite cultural tics. Treachery, clan warfare and shifting allegiances were like oats and whisky to the populace."(33)
I chose this book because when i read the insert in the cover it looked interesting and had a lot of things that seemed to spark my mind and wanted to read more about it. It is like a real "fairy tale" told from someone inside of the castle. That story line appealed to me.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sea Inside Post 3
In the movie The Sea Inside the director uses a variety of camera angles to set many different moods throughout it. In particular when they were trying to set the scene at the beginning they used an extra long shot and a truck shot to show the mountains and the sea to show where the movie was going to take place. Also a memorable scene is when you first meet Ramon they want to show his condition they first start at doing a close up shot of his when its shaking and the only thing moving on his body. Then the do a truck shot down to his where they do an extra close up shot of this hand and to show he has no movement in it. I also found in the movie they would do close up shots when a person's reactions were important. Finally the last scene that is memorable to me is when they do an extra long shot of the sea at the end to show Ramon's love for it and that's where his accident and everything started.
Sea Inside Post 2
The movie The Sea Inside and the book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly both were very similar and different. For similarties both involved a man who was a quadrelpgic trying to figure out if live was worth living anymore. They both are in life altering positions and have new lifestyles. Also after both have been put in this siutation they write books and try to put something out there to be remembered for. For Ramon in the Sea Inside he writes a book of poems he has written for over the course of a couple years. For Jean in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly he writes his book about what's its like to have locked in syndrome. Also both are different Jean also has locked in syndrome which means he cannot talk or move his body, but his mind is in perfect working order. His only means of communication is his left eyelid. He doesn't really dicuss suicude he just hates having not having control over anything and can't do anything by himself. Ramon is a quadreplgic who is in this state he hates. He wants to die so he doesn't have to suffer and take the burden off his family. He hires a lawyer to help him win his case but he doesn not. He creates a plan to have his friends one by one help him so noone can be traced. I think they are both powerful, but the movie seemed to have more of an impact because I understood the idea better. You could visually see him dying unlike the book which was harder to visual.
Sea Inside Post 1
My general reaction to the film it was a very interesting film. I really enjoyed it because it had a good story line to it, and it really happened so you could relate to it. Ramon in the film wanted to get permission for someone to kill because he cannot do it himself because he is a quadriplegic. He is trying to get the court to approve his case, so then the person who helps him doesn't go to jail for murder. I think in his case he really wanted to die, he was a quadriplegic and couldn't do anything by himself. He would sit in bed day after day and do nothing. He felt like his life was pretty much over and he was waiting to die. I think if someone under his circumstances should have the right to die. He has a qualified reason and should have the right to do so. I think his friends were just supporting his decision even though they it was very hard for them to say goodbye. They were just trying to help end the pain of their dear friend.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Memior Week 5 Part 2
Summary:
Life in Welch wasn't getting any better and one day when Jeannette was home alone a man from the child welfare came to their house. He asked for her parents but she said they weren't home and wouldn't let him unless they said so. He asked Jeannette questions about being neglected and what her parents jobs were. As he left he told her to tell her parents he stopped by and he would stop by. When she talked to her mom she gave the card the man had given her and told her what he had said. After the shock from the man's visit her mom got a job as a teacher again. Her mom got a job very easily because teachers were scarce in Welch. Her mom had some of the same problems she had in Battle Mountain where she wasn't very organized but the kids helped her out and it all worked out. Now that more money was coming in, their mother was hiding her paychecks from her husband because she knew he would take the money and spend it on booze. Now Jeannette was in 7th grade, which meant she was attending Welch High School. She saw the girl Dinita from the swimming pool from the summer. They weren't friends because of their races. But Dinita had changed and they would pass notes in study hall and she found out that she was pregnant. After Christmas break Dinita didn't come back, Jeannette went to her house to see if everything was ok and the man at the door wouldn't let her. Later she was arrested for stabbing her mom's boyfriend and killing him. Girls in Jeannette's grade were very into looks and boys and Jeannette had always been the skinny unattractive girl. She needed braces but that was out of the question with the price of them so Jeannette created her own, by using her everyday household objects. Later that year Jeannette wanted to join like a club or group but had to be free so she went with the school newspaper The Maroon Wave. She started off as the proofreader and was the first seventh grader on the newspaper. After she would do her job she would read stories from all other types of magazines and newspapers. She never had heard of alot of these things because her parents never read the newspaper or subscribed to magazines. Maureen wasn't really apart of the family she usually stayed with her friend's families because their parents didn't like the way her parents were raising her. She missed California and always to her stories about it. Her mom also kept getting very moody and wouldn't go to work and stay in bed all day. Her father wouldn't come home for days and would be wasted when he got home. Over the summer her mom left to go back to college to renew her teaching license and Lori went to a camp paid for by the government. So that left Brian, Jeannette and Maureen to fend for themselves against their dad. Her mom left them 200 for the summer for food. She and Brian made a budget so they would have enough money. But her dad would ask her for money and Jeannette knew she had a soft spot for him so she would give it to him to buy booze and cigarettes. The following week her dad invited her to go on a business trip with him. They arrived at a bar and while her dad was gambling, a older man asked her to dance and she didn't want to be rude so she did. Then he asked her to go upstairs and her dad thought it was a good idea. He tried kissing her and unbuttoning her dress. She wanted him to stop and then finally she said i think my dad is ready to go. When she explained the situation to her dad he said i knew you can handle yourself your strong. About half way through summer her mom told her to look for a check and money and to hide it from her dad. But her dad knew it was coming and waited for it by the mailman. He told Jeannette they could hide it together. The next day when she went to go get it was gone and she knew it was her father. But if she accused him he would deny it so she didn't even bother. She got a job at a local jewelry store in town to make some extra cash. She stole a watch from the store so she wouldn't be late for work but felt so bad that she returned it.
Personal Reaction:I think Jeannette Walls uses such vivid details when she writes and I feel like I’m sitting right next to her. When I read this book I feel like I’m in Welch with her and want to get her advice. Personally I think Jeannette treats her parents with too much respect because they aren’t giving her any back. They take her for grant and they know she will always be there for them even when they make terrible decisions. For example when Jeannette goes along on the business trip with her father and her father doesn’t care that an older man is dancing with his young daughter in a bar. Then later he asks him if it’s ok if he takes her upstairs in his apartment above the bar and he says its fine. So Jeannette goes up because she listens and respects her dad. When she is upstairs he starts kissing her and unbuttoning her dress and then she pushes him off and says she has to go. She does mention it to her dad but if it was my father I would have been so disgusted and upset with him. I would have a really hard time forgiving him and respecting him as a person. He also is teaching his daughter poor morals that letting older man take advantage of you is ok. Her mom too has no respect for anybody in the family. She doesn’t let them take charity even though they need it, and she won’t leave her husband even though he is an alcoholic and can’t support the family.
Life in Welch wasn't getting any better and one day when Jeannette was home alone a man from the child welfare came to their house. He asked for her parents but she said they weren't home and wouldn't let him unless they said so. He asked Jeannette questions about being neglected and what her parents jobs were. As he left he told her to tell her parents he stopped by and he would stop by. When she talked to her mom she gave the card the man had given her and told her what he had said. After the shock from the man's visit her mom got a job as a teacher again. Her mom got a job very easily because teachers were scarce in Welch. Her mom had some of the same problems she had in Battle Mountain where she wasn't very organized but the kids helped her out and it all worked out. Now that more money was coming in, their mother was hiding her paychecks from her husband because she knew he would take the money and spend it on booze. Now Jeannette was in 7th grade, which meant she was attending Welch High School. She saw the girl Dinita from the swimming pool from the summer. They weren't friends because of their races. But Dinita had changed and they would pass notes in study hall and she found out that she was pregnant. After Christmas break Dinita didn't come back, Jeannette went to her house to see if everything was ok and the man at the door wouldn't let her. Later she was arrested for stabbing her mom's boyfriend and killing him. Girls in Jeannette's grade were very into looks and boys and Jeannette had always been the skinny unattractive girl. She needed braces but that was out of the question with the price of them so Jeannette created her own, by using her everyday household objects. Later that year Jeannette wanted to join like a club or group but had to be free so she went with the school newspaper The Maroon Wave. She started off as the proofreader and was the first seventh grader on the newspaper. After she would do her job she would read stories from all other types of magazines and newspapers. She never had heard of alot of these things because her parents never read the newspaper or subscribed to magazines. Maureen wasn't really apart of the family she usually stayed with her friend's families because their parents didn't like the way her parents were raising her. She missed California and always to her stories about it. Her mom also kept getting very moody and wouldn't go to work and stay in bed all day. Her father wouldn't come home for days and would be wasted when he got home. Over the summer her mom left to go back to college to renew her teaching license and Lori went to a camp paid for by the government. So that left Brian, Jeannette and Maureen to fend for themselves against their dad. Her mom left them 200 for the summer for food. She and Brian made a budget so they would have enough money. But her dad would ask her for money and Jeannette knew she had a soft spot for him so she would give it to him to buy booze and cigarettes. The following week her dad invited her to go on a business trip with him. They arrived at a bar and while her dad was gambling, a older man asked her to dance and she didn't want to be rude so she did. Then he asked her to go upstairs and her dad thought it was a good idea. He tried kissing her and unbuttoning her dress. She wanted him to stop and then finally she said i think my dad is ready to go. When she explained the situation to her dad he said i knew you can handle yourself your strong. About half way through summer her mom told her to look for a check and money and to hide it from her dad. But her dad knew it was coming and waited for it by the mailman. He told Jeannette they could hide it together. The next day when she went to go get it was gone and she knew it was her father. But if she accused him he would deny it so she didn't even bother. She got a job at a local jewelry store in town to make some extra cash. She stole a watch from the store so she wouldn't be late for work but felt so bad that she returned it.
Personal Reaction:I think Jeannette Walls uses such vivid details when she writes and I feel like I’m sitting right next to her. When I read this book I feel like I’m in Welch with her and want to get her advice. Personally I think Jeannette treats her parents with too much respect because they aren’t giving her any back. They take her for grant and they know she will always be there for them even when they make terrible decisions. For example when Jeannette goes along on the business trip with her father and her father doesn’t care that an older man is dancing with his young daughter in a bar. Then later he asks him if it’s ok if he takes her upstairs in his apartment above the bar and he says its fine. So Jeannette goes up because she listens and respects her dad. When she is upstairs he starts kissing her and unbuttoning her dress and then she pushes him off and says she has to go. She does mention it to her dad but if it was my father I would have been so disgusted and upset with him. I would have a really hard time forgiving him and respecting him as a person. He also is teaching his daughter poor morals that letting older man take advantage of you is ok. Her mom too has no respect for anybody in the family. She doesn’t let them take charity even though they need it, and she won’t leave her husband even though he is an alcoholic and can’t support the family.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Memior Week 4 Part 2
Summary:
They decided they are going to stay in Welch, they have to find a place to live. They are having trouble because they have no money. They finally find a match for them, but it is very rustic and has no indoor plumbing. The kids are little heist about this and want to go back to Phoniex. They set a place on their property to build the Glass Castle, they stated digging the foundation but their father never helped or talked about it. The kids were trying to spurce the place up by painting the outside of the house. Her parents didn't accept charity, even though at times it would have helped. One of Jeannette's friends in her class invited her over to talk about when she lived in California and her mom always wanted to go there, and her mom was the town "whore". She was very interested in life in California, and while they were talking Jeannette forgot that she was even a whore. There was way more fighting between everyone in Welch. They would get in fights because they were different or they called there dad a drunk. One Saturday Brian and Jeannette were inside reading when one of their windows was shattered by a rock and someone called "Garbage, Garbage" to them. Brian went outside and got hit in the head by a rock. Soon they got revenge when the came back. Reading became one of Jeannette's hobbies to do after school. She loved The Grapes of Wrath and The Lord of the Flies. One night her dad came home, and needed stiches and made Jeannette do them for him, and they did them together. Food soon enough became scare again. They were barely eating and being made fun one again for how skinny there were. In the winter they had a fire sometimes but froze to death most nights. The good thing about the winter was didnt have to wash clothes as often. One day Jeannette went to her friends house to work on a project and they had a very nice house, a furance. Jeannette had never seen one of those before. Jeannette's grandmother died later that winter, and everyone was kind of relived since what she did Brian. Her dad dispperead for a while after her death and Jeannette had to go out looking for him and found him in cheap bar drunk. Her grandpa's house caught on fire so her uncle and her grandpa moved into an apartment with a working bathroom which was exciting for their famiy. But once when Jeannette was sitting on the couch next to her uncle his hand kept creeping up her thiegh and she kept knocking his hand off but he would keep doing it. While he would do this he unzipped his pants too. After that Jeannette refused to go to Grandpa's. One day when they were playing in their yard they found a diamond ring and were going to sell but their mom wanted to keep it for herself even though they didn't have any food. When Jeannette was talking to her mom and told her to leave her dad, and then she can recieve money from the governemnt but her mom would never think of doing that. Jeannette once went to the pool wither her friend Dinitia who is african american and they had so much fun but they never hung out again because of their racail differences.
They decided they are going to stay in Welch, they have to find a place to live. They are having trouble because they have no money. They finally find a match for them, but it is very rustic and has no indoor plumbing. The kids are little heist about this and want to go back to Phoniex. They set a place on their property to build the Glass Castle, they stated digging the foundation but their father never helped or talked about it. The kids were trying to spurce the place up by painting the outside of the house. Her parents didn't accept charity, even though at times it would have helped. One of Jeannette's friends in her class invited her over to talk about when she lived in California and her mom always wanted to go there, and her mom was the town "whore". She was very interested in life in California, and while they were talking Jeannette forgot that she was even a whore. There was way more fighting between everyone in Welch. They would get in fights because they were different or they called there dad a drunk. One Saturday Brian and Jeannette were inside reading when one of their windows was shattered by a rock and someone called "Garbage, Garbage" to them. Brian went outside and got hit in the head by a rock. Soon they got revenge when the came back. Reading became one of Jeannette's hobbies to do after school. She loved The Grapes of Wrath and The Lord of the Flies. One night her dad came home, and needed stiches and made Jeannette do them for him, and they did them together. Food soon enough became scare again. They were barely eating and being made fun one again for how skinny there were. In the winter they had a fire sometimes but froze to death most nights. The good thing about the winter was didnt have to wash clothes as often. One day Jeannette went to her friends house to work on a project and they had a very nice house, a furance. Jeannette had never seen one of those before. Jeannette's grandmother died later that winter, and everyone was kind of relived since what she did Brian. Her dad dispperead for a while after her death and Jeannette had to go out looking for him and found him in cheap bar drunk. Her grandpa's house caught on fire so her uncle and her grandpa moved into an apartment with a working bathroom which was exciting for their famiy. But once when Jeannette was sitting on the couch next to her uncle his hand kept creeping up her thiegh and she kept knocking his hand off but he would keep doing it. While he would do this he unzipped his pants too. After that Jeannette refused to go to Grandpa's. One day when they were playing in their yard they found a diamond ring and were going to sell but their mom wanted to keep it for herself even though they didn't have any food. When Jeannette was talking to her mom and told her to leave her dad, and then she can recieve money from the governemnt but her mom would never think of doing that. Jeannette once went to the pool wither her friend Dinitia who is african american and they had so much fun but they never hung out again because of their racail differences.
Memior Week 4 Part 1
Quotes:
"Aw, now don't go get all high and mighty on me," Billy said. "Don't go and try and pretend you're better than be. 'Cause I know your daddy ain't nothing but a drunk like mine." Jeannette Walls (83) The Glass Castle.
This quote struck me as important because their family before Billy says this doesn't recognize their father's drinking problem. They don't think its a big deal and can't see that their family is being hurt by it everyday. This is the first time Jeannette recognizes her father's problem and tries to help him stop.
"Aw, now don't go get all high and mighty on me," Billy said. "Don't go and try and pretend you're better than be. 'Cause I know your daddy ain't nothing but a drunk like mine." Jeannette Walls (83) The Glass Castle.
This quote struck me as important because their family before Billy says this doesn't recognize their father's drinking problem. They don't think its a big deal and can't see that their family is being hurt by it everyday. This is the first time Jeannette recognizes her father's problem and tries to help him stop.
Monday, October 8, 2007
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Reflection
After I finished reading the The Diving Bell and the Butterfly I felt a little puzzled. I felt like I missed and didn't understand the point or the message of the book. I was confused on what I was supposed to get out of reading this book. I seemed to understand the concept of his dreams and his tangents about life, but they seemed like they were randomly put together in a book.All these different memories and things he wish he could do all put together in one, with no continually flow. I understood that he would sometimes compare life with the disease and before he had the disease. He seemed to share an experience about what had happened that day and then would dream about a similar one before he had the disease. But there were parts of the book I liked, especially when he would describe things. He would spend time to describe these ordinary objects and make you look at them in a new way. Also he would compare and use very good metaphors for describing things. For example when he is watching TV and is he describing it as watching a fire, its mesmerizing and you can't stop looking at it. Those were the parts of the book I could relate to and enjoyed reading. Also just the fact he wrote the entire memoir by blinking his left eye, makes this a huge deal. It's a very well written book and interesting to read about his condition that we never now whats going inside their heads. This is one of the first opportunities where we get to see what is going on, and do they think the same way they did before the disease or condition. As in overall book I thought it had its good points and its bad points, but it was very interesting to read and enjoyed it.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Memior Week 3 Part 2
Journal:
So far in the book the strengths are she describes it so well that you feel like your sitting with her going through all of the same experiences. She makes everything seem so unbelievably real, even though you can't imagine going through your childhood like that. She also makes it flow really well, and has good transitions. Some weaknesses of the book is she doesn't include any dates, so you are sometimes confused on how old she is or what year it is. She once in a while mentions her age but you never have a good idea when she is born or what years this book is taking place in. Some of the issues going on in the book are a little disturbing. When she is living in Phoenix and a man walks into the house in the middle of the night and starts touching Jeannette inappropriately is disgusting. Her parents don't believe in locking doors or shutting windows at night. Also when she is living with her grandparents and her grandma touches her brother inappropriately and her own parents don't believe her. I think she and her siblings should call a foster care place to be put into because her own parents cannot take care of themselves let alone their kids. They are ruining their lives an destroying their futures. I predict once the kids get older around 16 they are going to run away and try to find work and live on their own.
So far in the book the strengths are she describes it so well that you feel like your sitting with her going through all of the same experiences. She makes everything seem so unbelievably real, even though you can't imagine going through your childhood like that. She also makes it flow really well, and has good transitions. Some weaknesses of the book is she doesn't include any dates, so you are sometimes confused on how old she is or what year it is. She once in a while mentions her age but you never have a good idea when she is born or what years this book is taking place in. Some of the issues going on in the book are a little disturbing. When she is living in Phoenix and a man walks into the house in the middle of the night and starts touching Jeannette inappropriately is disgusting. Her parents don't believe in locking doors or shutting windows at night. Also when she is living with her grandparents and her grandma touches her brother inappropriately and her own parents don't believe her. I think she and her siblings should call a foster care place to be put into because her own parents cannot take care of themselves let alone their kids. They are ruining their lives an destroying their futures. I predict once the kids get older around 16 they are going to run away and try to find work and live on their own.
Memior Week 3 Part 1
Summary:
So they left Battle Mountain to move to Phoenix to live in their late grandma's house. For once in their lives they are not worrying about money, they had just received the inheritance that their grandma had left behind. Also her dad has a job that was bringing in a steady amount of money as a electrician. They were going to school and all of the three kids were in enriched reading groups. Also this town had more things to do including going to the library, civic center and playing in the stores. One day when their dad came home from work with new toy and bikes for all of them. They also had new things they had never had before including a washing machine and telephone. One incident that happened while Jeannette was sleeping was a man came in her room during the middle of the night and tried to rape her. Her father was out for the night and her mom slept like a rock so she and Brian took a bat and beat him till he ran out the door. One day her dad came home drunk and took her to the city zoo. He was telling her about how bad the zoo and how they keep all of the animals locked up. Then her dad bought some popcorn and was feeding it to the cheetahs and soon enough was inside the cage with the cheetahs. Soon enough they drew a crowd and a security guard took her dad away. Just after that her dad lost his job once again and grandma's inheritance money had seemed to disappear. Food became scarce and Brian and her would go to the dumpsters and eat the chocolates out of boxes in the dumpsters. Her mother started shoplifting clothes for the Maureen. On Christmas day they bought a tree for a dollar and decorated with all of their grandma's ornaments. Then that night her drunk father light the tree on fire and it burned all of their gifts under it and he started laughing. She turned 10 while living in Phoenix and her dad asked what she wanted for her birthday and she wanted him to stop drinking. So for the next couple of weeks her father stayed in his bedroom and tied himself to his bed to help fight his demons and to stop drinking. Soon after that their dad wanted to take them on a trip to the Grand Canyon. They packed up the car and started on their trip. While they were driving out their the car broke down. They had to hitch hike their way back home and had to leave everything behind in the car. Her parents kept getting into violent fights, which usually started when her dad came home drunk. The family was going through a hard time and her mom thought it would be a good idea to move to West Virgina where her dad's parents lived. They had to buy a new car because they never retrieved the old one from the Grand Canyon trip. At first it was just going to be the kids and her mom because her dad didn't want to come, but at the last minute he came. It took a month to drive all the way to Welch, West Virgina. This was the first time the kids had met their other grandparents. They were going to stay with them till they found their own place to live. The kids didn't like their grandparents at all, they thought they were mean and weird. At school Jeannette was bullied and put in special ed classes because she couldn't understand the accents. Life in Welch was way less then perfect. Soon after they had come, their parents were going to go back to Phoenix to retrieve a couple of things that couldn't bring the first time. While they were gone the grandma had tried to touch Brian in a inappropriate way and when Jeannette and Lori stood up for him and told their grandma she was a "pervert" they were confided to the basement till their parents got home. When they got home their parents didn't believe the kids and they moved out as soon as the could to this shack. They had plans to tear the house down and build the Glass Castle , but their dad never followed up on the plans.
Info on Author:
Jeannette Walls was born in Phoenix, Arizona. She went to college at Barnard College in New York. She wrote the book The Glass Castle in 2005, which is soon to be a movie made by Paramount. She is married to John Taylor, who is also a writer. She is now focusing on writing novels.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Memior Week 2
10 loaded words:
pg. 69- hungry- this word is loaded because when there dad loses his job they don't have any money for food.
pg. 73 teacher- this word is loaded because there mom gets a job as a teacher and hates it because her mother wanted her to be that.
pg. 78 money- this word is loaded because money has always been scare and a big problem with there family
pg. 81 home- this word is loaded because they never really have a home, because they are always on the road moving place to place.
g. 83 delinquent- his word is loaded because Jeannette's mother uses this word for the boy she has been playing with who was involved in bad things.
pg. 83 drunk- this word is loaded because Jeannette's father is a drunk and their family is affected when he drinks, by either running out of money or violence.
pg. 87 rape- this word is loaded because when Jeannette and Billy are playing hide and seek he started kissing her and she didn't want him to. Then he went around and said he raped her.
pg. 88 pistol- this word is loaded because when Billy goes to Jeannette's house and starts shooting them with a BB gun, her sister brings out a gun and starts shooting at Billy but misses and they get in huge trouble.
pg. 92 dead- this word is loaded because after they leave Battle Mountain they are going to their grandma's house and they find out their grandma is dead and know had told them.
pg. 93 inherited- this word is loaded because when they reach Phoenix they received a house and money from their grandmas will.
Summary:
The have been living in Battle Mountain for about a year now, the longest ever living in a place. Parents have been getting into violent fights, usually after their dad had been drinking. Also they go to this hot spring called "The Hot Pot" where Jeannette learns to swim from her dad. Soon after he loses his job and uses their only money to buy booze and to try to find gold. Her mom had to get a job as a teacher at the school, she used the same values in the classroom as she did at home. She got in trouble for that and almost lost her job, then Lori started to help her by helping her with her lesson plans, correct papers etc. A new kid moves into town named Billy, and he wants to be Jeannette's girlfriend but she won't let him. He trys to sway her by kissing her and giving her presents but nothing works. Also he makes fun of her dad by calling him a drunk. One day Billy came over to Jeannette's with a BB gun and started shooting her. Then Lori got her dad's pistol and shot Billy but missed him. He got scared and ran away. They got in trouble with the police and were to appear in court in the next day, but they left at night and went to Phoenix to live in their late grandma's house.
Reactions:
I think that their mom should leave their dad because he is so screwed up because he drinks all the time and can't provide for them anymore. He just makes their life worse, and doesn't listen to anyone. Also I don't think they should have left and runaway from their problems, they should face them. They are showing examples for the kids that is just ok to run away from everything and not face your consequences.
pg. 69- hungry- this word is loaded because when there dad loses his job they don't have any money for food.
pg. 73 teacher- this word is loaded because there mom gets a job as a teacher and hates it because her mother wanted her to be that.
pg. 78 money- this word is loaded because money has always been scare and a big problem with there family
pg. 81 home- this word is loaded because they never really have a home, because they are always on the road moving place to place.
g. 83 delinquent- his word is loaded because Jeannette's mother uses this word for the boy she has been playing with who was involved in bad things.
pg. 83 drunk- this word is loaded because Jeannette's father is a drunk and their family is affected when he drinks, by either running out of money or violence.
pg. 87 rape- this word is loaded because when Jeannette and Billy are playing hide and seek he started kissing her and she didn't want him to. Then he went around and said he raped her.
pg. 88 pistol- this word is loaded because when Billy goes to Jeannette's house and starts shooting them with a BB gun, her sister brings out a gun and starts shooting at Billy but misses and they get in huge trouble.
pg. 92 dead- this word is loaded because after they leave Battle Mountain they are going to their grandma's house and they find out their grandma is dead and know had told them.
pg. 93 inherited- this word is loaded because when they reach Phoenix they received a house and money from their grandmas will.
Summary:
The have been living in Battle Mountain for about a year now, the longest ever living in a place. Parents have been getting into violent fights, usually after their dad had been drinking. Also they go to this hot spring called "The Hot Pot" where Jeannette learns to swim from her dad. Soon after he loses his job and uses their only money to buy booze and to try to find gold. Her mom had to get a job as a teacher at the school, she used the same values in the classroom as she did at home. She got in trouble for that and almost lost her job, then Lori started to help her by helping her with her lesson plans, correct papers etc. A new kid moves into town named Billy, and he wants to be Jeannette's girlfriend but she won't let him. He trys to sway her by kissing her and giving her presents but nothing works. Also he makes fun of her dad by calling him a drunk. One day Billy came over to Jeannette's with a BB gun and started shooting her. Then Lori got her dad's pistol and shot Billy but missed him. He got scared and ran away. They got in trouble with the police and were to appear in court in the next day, but they left at night and went to Phoenix to live in their late grandma's house.
Reactions:
I think that their mom should leave their dad because he is so screwed up because he drinks all the time and can't provide for them anymore. He just makes their life worse, and doesn't listen to anyone. Also I don't think they should have left and runaway from their problems, they should face them. They are showing examples for the kids that is just ok to run away from everything and not face your consequences.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Memior Week 1
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls.
It starts out in present day in New York City, Jeanette was sitting in a taxi on her way home from work and she sees her homeless mother on the streets. She contacts her mother through a friend and asks her to have lunch. She goes out to lunch and wants to help her but her mother refuses saying she likes the way she lives she always has.
In the first couple of chapters of the book its describing her childhood on the move from place to place. Her first real memory is when she 3 and cooking hot dogs and catches on fire from the stove and is rushed to the hospital, even though her parents are against them. She is lucky to have survived and was there for 6 weeks. Her family is always on the move because they don't pay bills and taxes and the collectors are always after them, so they never stayed in each place too long. She has two siblings Lori who is older and Brain who is younger. In each place they would go her father would get sort of an odd jobs in small towns, and they would stay there until he would get fired or get in trouble again. Also her father was a big drinker, when he drank a lot he would get very violent and angry. He would threat his wife a lot and abuse her sometimes. One of the only things that gave the kids hope was their dream about building a glass castle in the middle of the desert and living there. We also find out that before Lori was born there was a child who was born named Mary Charlene, but she died at a very young age and nobody liked to talk about her. Then when Jeanette was in about 1st grade her mother had another child named Lily Ruth Maureen, but they called her Maureen. Soon after Maureen was born they moved to a city called Battle Mountain, where they lived in abandoned railroad depot. She was in 2nd grade and going to school. In some places they didn't have school so her parents would home school them. Her father got a job as an electrician in this town. In the house they would do many different things including collecting different types of rocks and would look for gold. Also the loved going to dump to look for all sorts of things and would bring them home and do experiments.
Thoughts
My thoughts so far on the book are how the parents actually treat their kids, they barley feed them sometimes, give them no rules or values to live off of and show no good examples whats so ever. Also her mother just sits back and doesn't speak her mind about anything. She goes along with her husband even though she knows he's crazy.
It starts out in present day in New York City, Jeanette was sitting in a taxi on her way home from work and she sees her homeless mother on the streets. She contacts her mother through a friend and asks her to have lunch. She goes out to lunch and wants to help her but her mother refuses saying she likes the way she lives she always has.
In the first couple of chapters of the book its describing her childhood on the move from place to place. Her first real memory is when she 3 and cooking hot dogs and catches on fire from the stove and is rushed to the hospital, even though her parents are against them. She is lucky to have survived and was there for 6 weeks. Her family is always on the move because they don't pay bills and taxes and the collectors are always after them, so they never stayed in each place too long. She has two siblings Lori who is older and Brain who is younger. In each place they would go her father would get sort of an odd jobs in small towns, and they would stay there until he would get fired or get in trouble again. Also her father was a big drinker, when he drank a lot he would get very violent and angry. He would threat his wife a lot and abuse her sometimes. One of the only things that gave the kids hope was their dream about building a glass castle in the middle of the desert and living there. We also find out that before Lori was born there was a child who was born named Mary Charlene, but she died at a very young age and nobody liked to talk about her. Then when Jeanette was in about 1st grade her mother had another child named Lily Ruth Maureen, but they called her Maureen. Soon after Maureen was born they moved to a city called Battle Mountain, where they lived in abandoned railroad depot. She was in 2nd grade and going to school. In some places they didn't have school so her parents would home school them. Her father got a job as an electrician in this town. In the house they would do many different things including collecting different types of rocks and would look for gold. Also the loved going to dump to look for all sorts of things and would bring them home and do experiments.
Thoughts
My thoughts so far on the book are how the parents actually treat their kids, they barley feed them sometimes, give them no rules or values to live off of and show no good examples whats so ever. Also her mother just sits back and doesn't speak her mind about anything. She goes along with her husband even though she knows he's crazy.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
This I Believe Assignment
1. A link to the essay
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7293598
2. Author
Ann Karasinski
3. Title
There Is No Blame; There Is Only Love
4. One sentence of what the belief is
There is no blame.
5. 2 examples from the story that showed their belief
One example from the story that showed her belief is that she still loves her daughter and goes out to lunch with her every Friday despite what her daughter does. A second example is that after all this time she spent looking for someone to blame she realized it wasn't anybody's fault and the best thing to do was hope and love.
–6. 1 favorite passage
My favorite passage from the story was "I don't try to heal her. I just love her. Sometimes there is pain and sorrow, but there is no blame. I believe there is only love." It shows that she cares about her daughter even though all shes been through and still will be there for her.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7293598
2. Author
Ann Karasinski
3. Title
There Is No Blame; There Is Only Love
4. One sentence of what the belief is
There is no blame.
5. 2 examples from the story that showed their belief
One example from the story that showed her belief is that she still loves her daughter and goes out to lunch with her every Friday despite what her daughter does. A second example is that after all this time she spent looking for someone to blame she realized it wasn't anybody's fault and the best thing to do was hope and love.
–6. 1 favorite passage
My favorite passage from the story was "I don't try to heal her. I just love her. Sometimes there is pain and sorrow, but there is no blame. I believe there is only love." It shows that she cares about her daughter even though all shes been through and still will be there for her.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
The thing I am most anxious about Edina High School is finding my way around. The school is really big and I don't want to get lost. It's a lot bigger than South View and really confusing. I don't want to be late to any of my classes and don't have to worry. I want to learn my way around the school.
One of my goals for this year is to keep my grades up. I want to work hard and get all of my work done so I deserve a good grade. Also I need to study for tests more and put more effort into studying which will help improve my grades. Also if I keep my grades up then my parents won't always be bugging me about them.
One of my goals for this year is to keep my grades up. I want to work hard and get all of my work done so I deserve a good grade. Also I need to study for tests more and put more effort into studying which will help improve my grades. Also if I keep my grades up then my parents won't always be bugging me about them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)