Famous Last Words Week 1

I am not used to writing every single day. I want to get ahead and that is always the goal but by the time I get done with the assignments due the next day, I am completely worn out. Having to be at work from 12-6 at least, is tiring. I have been good about waking up on the days I don't have class and doing assignments. The biggest accomplishment for me this week was going to the library and studying for at least 3 hours. I completed all my homework for the weekend and I couldn't be happier! But I know that will all change once football actually starts.

Bizzell Memorial Library. Source: Wikimedia

Storybook Favorites

The first story to catch my eye was the Mermaid Maiden. I chose this project because I have the strangest love for mermaids. I think quite a few of my stories I write this year will involve some mermaids. I usually picture the classic Little Mermaid Ariel, however lately because of this class I have been thinking of the ones that are on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Those to me give a more mythical vibe.

The next story I chose is Cupid on Trial. What is not to love about the god of Love being in a little trouble? I am a hopeless romantic yet I love a little drama. Plus I am as mischievous as you can get. I am always getting into some kind of trouble playing tricks on people. Everything I do is out of love, Cupid might just be a little misunderstood. I really like the drama between all the gods in this story.

Gossip Girl: Hawaii's Elite. Source: Gossip Girl: Hawaii's Elite

The final story I chose is Gossip Girl: Hawaii's Elite. Once again, I enjoy some good drama that doesn't effect me and makes people look silly. They know better but continue to do it, so it must be at the expense of my entertainment. I really like how the story is being told. I like that the author is just writing down her first hand experience. I can picture myself sitting with them watching all the action take place. I was also drawn to the layout of the page. The colorful Hibiscus flower background, with everything else being simple, and the girl lurking at the header of the page makes this entire story tie together very well. Many of the stories that I write will include some drama to keep the readers on their toes. I typically don't like stories that have a cookie cutter happy ending or not without a big mess before it is concluded. I guess I'm like a very ornery cupid.

UnTextbook Exploration

 I have started my search for interesting topics and my attention is immediately grabbed by the story, Cupid and Psyche. I like the thought of love and having someone to love for the rest of your life. Cupid makes me think of love and caught my eye.

Cupid and his arrows. Source: Wikimedia

While I like the thought of love sometimes I find it hard to believe that you are supposed to love one person for the rest of your life. When I feel like this I like to read darker things. Another unit I would be interested in would be Brothers Grimm (Crane). It also has a different story of Snow White which interests me because I am a Disney Princess fan, but this has a different twist.The image I chose for this is what I and probably most people think when they think of cupid. He is often shown as a baby with arrows flying around, shooting people with love.

The Tales of a Parrot made me laugh. I read a lot. I like sitting down with my Kindle and reading for hours. All of what I read is told from human perspective. This story is told from a parrot, but also a parrot who is the ultimate "bro" to his master by stopping his wife from cheating. That is better than most people can ask for in other humans. I chose these parrots for a good visual of what I think of when I hear the world parrots. These parrots are capable of picking up human language and repeating back what they have heard.

Red-and- Green Macaws. Source: Pixabay



 The Twenty-Two Goblins seems like it would be a good read. It's getting to closer to Halloween, and I am ready for that. Goblins are usually tied into Halloween and this little tricksters in this story seem like it would make it fun to read.

Introduction For Fall 2015: Summer, I miss you(sort of)

Personal photo of my brothers Matt, myself, and Michael

What I did the summer can be described as, not much. But I am okay with that. I stayed within the United States, my boyfriend was off on an internship, and I had to be at work some days at 4:30 am, but still I was okay with it.

A dot map of Sand Springs, Ok, location. Wikimedia

I started my summer off in my small and terribly boring hometown of Sand Springs, Oklahoma. My bright spots were my best friend and my family. I don't get to see them much during school because I am so busy between work, classes and my friends that live here. I am very family oriented so much that I made my family take in my best friend as one of us.

The furthest I made it this summer was St. Louis Missouri. For most that is not enough but for me, I went to watch the Cardinals play baseball and that was just perfect. My boyfriend, who is the biggest Cubs fan I know, disagreed with my trip but we beat the Cubs when I was there so I would put up with him pouting with a smile on my face.

 

My job can be a bit demanding when it wants to be. Waking up at 4:15 to be the football stadium is not my ideal time. But being done with work before noon is just fine with me. The hours change and pick up in August and during school. I'm in the sun for long hours, listening to whining(some my own), and counting the minutes until it is time to go inside for food and a nap. 

Oklahoma Gaylord Family Stadium and John Jacobs Track and Field.  Wikimedia

The main part I miss about summer is my lack of responsibilities and my increase of hours I can dedicate to Netflix. I am slightly ashamed of how many hours I put into One Tree Hill in July. But this is what I like doing in the summer. Sure I like to travel but I get to do some traveling during the school year with work so I like to spend my summers laying low with friends and Netflix.

I got to wrap up my summer with my boyfriend going to concerts, eating new foods, and watching Netflix! My summer was just what I needed with a couple parts I could've lived without.

Week 1 Storytelling: The New Years Fugitives

Tall ships: Wikimedia



It was New Years Day, the ocean water ranged from the most beautiful shade of dark blue to the brightest of turquoise. Josiah had never seen the water look so spectacular. He sat on his boat with his prized paint collection, an easel and the sun as the most natural lighting, in an attempt to recapture the beauty of the water. He was so captivated in the beauty that surrounded him that he almost did not notice the three ships that were approaching him.

Josiah became frustrated by their oncoming advance to his boat. He thought they were disrupting the beauty of the scene and his painting! "How dare someone disrupt a painting of this magnitude?" he yelled aloud. The boats were in a hurry as they made their way across the water. Josiah was taken back by how quickly they appeared to be moving. As they got closer he noticed they weren't the biggest ships he has ever seen, but the cargo it carried was something unexpected.

Each ship carried a beautiful woman. Josiah was thrilled as stared in awe of the three beauties coming to him! The three ships stopped in front of Josiah's small boat. The three women each had their own talents, one could sing. Even when speaking she had a voice that made you want to listen to anything that she said. Her name was Rose. She called to Josiah by asking what he was doing in the water that day. He responded with "I was trying to show everyone the beauty of the water." The second woman, Cecilia, whose talent was drawing, was thrilled to see another artist who enjoyed the water. The third woman, Chloe, the smallest but the sweetest who was talented at playing the harp, was lightly strumming the elegant harp giving the mood light feeling.

Josiah's curiosity got the best of the them when he asked, "what are you three doing in separate boats and travelling so quickly on this New Years Day?" The three women looked at each with uncertainty, wondering if they should tell him the truth. They figured they had nothing to lose so why not? Cecilia, said "we are trying to out run our father." The three women were on a mission to outrun their father because their father made a deal that if they can reach land by 11:59 pm on New Years Day, then they can remain human. However, if they fail they will return to the sea to live the rest of their lives as mermaids. The women didn't mind being mermaids, they did mind being under their fathers control. The women told Josiah what their mission was and Josiah agreed to help the women.

The plan they decided on was to put everyone on one ship and move as quickly to Josiah's home as possible. They had to make the boat as light as possible, they threw everything that was considered important over board and began the trip. Of course the girls father would find out about their assistance. Their father made the waters so rough the women and Josiah thought the boat was going to break. Chloe did her best to hold on but was sent flying into the ocean, where she was turned back into a mermaid. Cecilia told Rose to go the land with Josiah and she would return back to the ocean with Chloe. Cecilia jumped ship and the water began to relax. Rose thought it was smooth sailing until a huge wave hit the boat and her father appeared before her. He threatened Josiah's life if they made it to the shore. After many tears and pleas for Josiah's life, Rose returned back to the sea to save it. Rose quickly changed back into a mermaid. Josiah was sitting on the boat feeling defeated, he lost his paints and 3 beautiful and talented women. As he navigated home, he drew on Cecilia's sketchbook, when suddenly the boat tipped over due to a wave that would rival a tsunami. Josiah was so scared, he was stuck under the boat and drowning. He was starting to see black and the end of his days. Josiah woke up, lost at what he was seeing. Three beautiful women with tails were staring at him but they were not the only one with tails. Josiah was now a creature of the sea that he found so magnificent on the surface..

Mermaid: Wikipedia


 

 The original rhyme:
I saw three ships come sailing by,
[119]Come sailing by, come sailing by;
I saw three ships come sailing by,
On New Year's Day in the morning.

And what do you think was in them then,
Was in them then, was in them then?
And what do you think was in them then,
On New Year's Day in the morning?

Three pretty girls were in them then,
Were in them then, were in them then;
Three pretty girls were in them then,
On New Year's Day in the morning.

And one could whistle, and one could sing,
And one could play on the violin—
Such joy there was at my wedding,
On New Year's day in the morning.

 Author's Note: This story was based off a nursery rhyme called "Three pretty girls were in them then." The Rhyme came from and can found in the Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang (1897). In the story that I wrote, I let some details remain the same however,  my own curiosity was peaked when I read three women were traveling in ships, with no real purpose. I enjoy the thoughts of mermaids being real. I let the story have a semi nice ending, rather than the morbid ending that I  was planning on. Once I realized I could use mermaids the entire story was then focused on how they were going to be put back in the ocean to return to their original state.



St. Louis, Missorui, My Favorite Place

Busch Stadium

Wikipedia

My favorite place to be is Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. I went to my first MLB game here when the Cardinals played the Cubs. I absolutely love to watch sports and this was by far my favorite professional game I have been to. I loved the food, the atmosphere, and the scenes that surrounded the stadium were captivating. I hope to one day to own season tickets to watch the Cardinals play all the time at this beautiful stadium.