Needing a Little Smile

The sky is blue.
That makes me happy,
if someone gave you a hand,
wouldn't you be too?

A delicate chain,
easy to break.
A flightless bird,
looking on with longing at those that soar.

A kindly hand,
needed to help.
To prevent the pain
that we can live without.




I'm a poet
and didn't know it.

Defensive Anger

Troublesome people can be found anywhere. They are the type of people that others will pointedly avoid to lessen their problems. When such instigators cannot be dodged, they must be skillfully dealt with in a way that diffuses approaching calamity. Curley of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is one of these characters. Through his aggressive, unchanging personality, Curley's insecurities are revealed which drive him in his hot-tempered battle for superiority.

Curley's strong aggression is unveiled the moment he makes his first appearance. His first glance at Lennie is "calculating and pugnacious". Curley commands the room, daring someone to step out of line. He speaks to Lennie with a superior, harsh tone, itching for a reason to fight. Curley's poor attitude and eagerness to fight cause him to have the reputation of an "angry little man" who "just don't give a d*mn". It's clear to everyone that he is trouble. People want to avoid Curley because he has a short fuse and to ruffle his feathers would lead to a less than satisfactory end.

Without wavering in his personality, Curley is rather static, stubborn. Regardless of the outcome, Curley will "alla time" choose to "[pick] scraps with big guys". Curley is willing to overlook the any of the injuries he sustains in the process. What is important to Curley is the feeling of accomplishment he obtains after a fight. Angry about his broken hand, he is more than happy for an excuse to "shoot the guts out that big bastard". Curley is not swayed by the death of his wife but is instead given a reason to hurt Lennie. Curley wants revenge and he will not give up his chance in order to stay with his wife's dead body. 

Curley's more prominent characteristics are molded by his insecurities. Curley is always jittery when it comes to his wife who seems like "she'd clear out for twenty bucks". He is always looking for her. He is not fully convinced of her trustworthiness and with good reason. Curley has not know his wife for very long and she is never around when he wants her. Much of the time, Curley will turn to violence to ease his agitation. When he does fight, "he don't take no chances". Curley will pick out the larger men, which he has been observing beforehand, looking for weaknesses such as the fear he ambitiously hopes to root into others. Knowing that he looks more impressive in the eyes of others whether he wins or losses in a fight against someone much larger than him, he has not the slightest of worries.

Curley's violent behavior labels him as unwanted among the workers on the ranch, although it's not for the reason he hopes for. While he hopes to state his dominance, Curley is in reality building up an animosity which is directed towards himself, adding to it with his single-minded need to fight which springs from his small stature. Curley shows that, while it may not necessarily be justified, the tempers of those so ill-adjusted to socializing with others can actually spring from something. These people may be so disagreeable due to some type of insecurity or experience. It comes from something deeper than their being a "bad" person. These people still have characteristics that a "good" person has, they just may not always exhibit those traits quite as often.

Taking a Step Back

      After traveling a rugged, winding road, the gravel popping under tires, a serene little scene comes into view. A slight morning chill permeates the air. Taking in a refreshing breath, the calming affects of the environment encourages further observation.  Golden rays of light peek through the cover of the trees as the sun gradually creeps through the sky. The all encompassing silence is only to be broken by the sparsely timed peeps of hidden birdies. While the picture does exemplify the lethargic, old-fashioned pace of the town, the surrounding beauty is redemptive. It's nice to be able to wake up each morning and see these enchanting aspects replicated.

Keeping Strong

American citizens suffered a tremendous blow from the 9/11 attacks yet, they remained strong. The events of the day caused "disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger" throughout the nation. These acts were meant to throw America into "chaos and retreat." Instead, people "responded with the best of America", by pushing past the horror and helping each other in any way possible. Normal people became heroes that day, displaying for all to see that it's impossible to "dent the steel of American resolve".

I Am

I am quiet and forgetful.

I wonder what will happen next.

I hear music playing continuously.

I see the pretty shades of a sunset.

I want to make some grand discovery.

I am quiet and forgetful.

I pretend I don't like to sing.

I feel the need to laugh uncontrollably.

I touch the steps that lead to my dreams.

I worry I'll make a mistake.

I cry when I can't do anything else.

I am quiet and forgetful.

I understand not everything is going to work out right.

I say tomorrow will be better.

I dream of an incredible journey.

I try to be heard.

I hope for more laughter and joy filled days.

I am quiet and forgetful.

Remember When

Sitting with some friends, there's a moment of laughter followed by someone saying,"Remember when...?" Past memories are brought up by a simple sentence or action. I had a bit of a "remember when" moment while reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Even though the books are quite different, I couldn't help but be reminded of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. 

I perceived a great symmetry between the situations of Isabella Linton and Lydia Bennet. Both become entranced by a fantasy world that they've concocted which include the men that they believe are the loves of their lives. Isabella dreams of an adventurous life with Heathcliff. Lydia has a more glamorous lifestyle in mind as the wife of Mr.Wickham, the militia officer. Both young ladies run off with the ones that they are infatuated with and that love them in return. At least, that's what the girls blindly believe. They can't see that the men don't actually care for them. Heathcliff marries Isabella to cause great agony to Edgar Linton and to later obtain Thrushcross Grange. Wickham refuses to marry Lydia after they elope unless he receives an annual payment. Neither marriage results in a happily ever after ending. Both girls are shunned by family members. Isabella runs from the terrifying Heathcliff and his almost tangible hatred for her at the first chance she gets. Lydia is stuck having to take care of Wickham after he is paralyzed in an accident. Although Lydia does care for her husband without faltering, there is no doubt that neither girl ended up with the life from their previous dreaming.

All of these similarities were bound in short side stories found inside of much larger tales. Looking through those tales, even more similarities can be found, yet the books as a whole aren't exactly the same. Wuthering Heights can be much darker at times, helped along by Heathcliff and his fury. Pride and Prejudice has a much lighter feel with characters that tend to express any anger or pain in a much more calm fashion.

Number One Rule of a Perfect World

Walking around everyday, simple words or actions tend to cause songs to pop into my head. This may be a result of listening to so many of the same songs over and over again. Of course, many people have had the experience of having a few lines stuck in their head.

This summer, the few times I walked into JCPenney's there was one song running through my mind. As soon as I stepped through the doorway "Ban the Tube Top" starts blaring through my mind. Obviously not enough people have heard of this song. Tube tops were everywhere. They seemed to take up half the store. It made me wish that I had an I-pod with a speaker. The song says the tube top needs to be banned. People really shouldn't wear something if it's hard to decide what it is. Is it really a tube top or is it supposed to be a skirt? Tube tops are like "booty shorts". The world would be a better place without them. "Ban the Tube Top" is a song that apparently needs to be heard. Sometimes songs can deliver very important messages.

Why am I listening to a song called "Ban the Tube Top" in the first place? I am enjoying incredible music, of course. Reel Big Fish is an amazing band. They may have some "odd" songs but this band couldn't be better.

People Hold the Controllers

People are always worrying about kids being exposed to a lot of inappropriate material. Violent video games are a major cause of their concern. It is thought by so many people that the violence in video games causes the kids playing the games to also become violent. Instead of deciding for themselves whether their kids are mature enough for certain games and monitoring what they play, many people blame the game makers and their creations. It is the job of the parents to censor what their children play.

In the article "The 10 biggest violent video-game controversies", lawsuits against the "Grand Theft Auto" games are brought up. The games were accused of leading kids to kill people. People need to stop and think. Were video games really the problem or were the kids never taught that they shouldn't try to re-enact everything they see. It is also possible that the kids had some other sort of problems.

Recently, the state of California went as far as to try ban the selling of violent video games to kids. Why do the kids that understand that video games weren't made to be imitated have to be punished because others can't realize that the games aren't real. They were never intended to be made real through the actions of people.

Video games are not the portrayal of the lives their creators wish they could lead. They are made for the entertainment of gamers. Violence has been around  long before the arrival of video games. Violence can result from a variety of situations. Video games are not the problem.

summer assignment 1