Imagry

Clear View Clear Mind

“They’re so mean to me. Just  because I’m a girl and younger does not mean I can’t do everything they can! My brother is so dumb and mean; I’m a big kid too! I’m going to be a first grader next week!”, I mutter to myself as I hopelessly gaze out the window.  Ever so slightly I loosened my death grip I held with my eyes on the world outside my window. I carefully admired the oak trim framed by the perfectly hung wall paper, with evenly spaced pink ribbons tied delicately into a bow, without a single air bubble ripple. A small amount of attention then shifted to my hands.  Now the host of my anger, they grasped to the satin comforter as if fearful that I may pour over the edge of the queen size bed and tumble to the floor. Looking back up at the window across from me I forget my fear and free the white satin from my grip, sliding my body off the bed. My feet find the soft carpet below as I stand up. I take a long stride to the window place my hands in the middle of the window unlock, it and push up on the smooth wooden frame. I freed the thin wire screen from the window allowing August’s  warm breezy  night to pour into my room. I then bent over and carefully set it on the off white carpet just to the left below the window. Folding my arms, resting them on the windowpane, I lean ever so slightly  out the window breathing in  the breeze. I admired the way the roofing tiles seem to sparkle back at the  crescent moon and the sea of tiny gleaming stars far off in the distance.  Peering  through my window, even as beautiful this view was, I couldn’t help but feel the sloped walls  on either side of my window stare  at me from the outside. They had a way of turning my window into a tunnel as if to  keep me locked inside with everything that had been  bothering me. “I hate the how they block my peripheral view,”  I thought to myself. I resented it and so I did as I had done many times in the past.  I took a deep breath and locked my hands on the windowpane. As I  lift myself up, and out my window, my feet parted from the carpet. And once again met the rough shingles that covered the roof like a blanket. Boldly standing up and taking a few steps out on the roof, past the daunting sloped walls. I stand there for some  unmeasured amount of time letting my hair dance in the wind. I love the way that the unpredictable gusts of wind could blow all  my problems away, one gust at a time. I took a deep breath of the cool crisp summer breeze and  sitting down ever so carefully, I found myself eagerly rubbing the goose  bumps that always arose  as soon as my body met the cool damp roofing titles. However the goose bumps never fazed me too long because  the scenic view quickly won over all of my attention. It was always far more relaxing and impressive than any amount of goose bumps would ever be. I stared out into the trees that lined the boundaries of our backyard I couldn’t help but think about all the animals that  were hiding in beneath the dens pine trees making the leaves crunch and the twigs snap. I loved to just sit there and admire the shades of navy blue and gray that blended together in the sky highlighted by millions of glowing little stars. It wasn’t until it became nearly impossible for me to keep my eyes open that I would make my way back inside, replace the black wire screen, close my window, and crawl back into my bed. Under my satin sheets with my frustrations lost in the summer breeze and my mind at ease I quickly fell asleep.

Satire

Why Snooki is going to be a great parent

By: Katie Allison

Nicole Polizzi, a reality star from MTVs hit show Jersey Shore, is making headlines. After years of trying to conceive a baby on the Jersey Shore the wait is finally over. Snooki who is 4' 9"(6’ 1” with her heels) and longtime husband Jionni LaValle found out they were expecting while spending a quiet and low key New Year's Eve in Las Vegas.  The happy couple set off right away to tell their parents who were elated to hear the news although not surprised as it was expected for some time. The 24 year old Snooki and her husband are a match made in heaven. They met at their grandparent’s nursing home while serving tea during the annual checkers tournament.

The power couple hasn’t let anytime go to waste as they are already planning a very cultured, educated and well-rounded life for the new incoming little meatball or gorilla baby. The “J-Shore” couple has decided immediately after the baby is born they will pamper and get the baby show stoppn ready. This means hair spray/ hair gel, a manicure, fist pumping lessons, and the all mighty tanning beds and spray tans. The baby will make its first public appearance at the hottest club in town, Club Krama. (as any celeb baby should.) Here the first time parents can teach their little baby gorilla/meatball the proper way to dance and socialize. In addition, other important lessons that the Snooki and Jionni hope the baby will get out of this experience is how to make new friends that will want to come over and play and how to dress like a respectable lady or gentlemen before leaving the house. They also really hope the baby will learn the difference between a dime and a grenade!  

                Snooki and her husband told their families of their plans to travel coast to coast once the baby is 13. They decided the best way to enrich their child’s knowledge is to give it an experience where it can see first hand how people from different coasts ect.  The soon to be parents are ecstatic to use that opportunity to teach their first born that not everyone is the same, but there is no reason to treat someone different based on where they are from. The hope is that their child will see that it’s a great thing and that everyone can bring something different to the table. Snooki added “After all you can’t have a real ragger with only beer. Variety is the spice of life, and you never know what new dance move or drinking game you’ll learn from the new kid at the party!”

                Mother Snooki raves that she can tell from the baby’s kick that he is going to have a “cute nose and blue eyes.” She says that because she “still has an inny belly button that she know the baby will have a “j-tastic” way with words.”  She hopes the baby will follow in her foot steps and become a “New York Best Sellers List” kind of author. The parents hope that all the experiences and opportunities they expose their child to will give him plenty of material to write about in his books. Snooki said in an interview with the New York Times.  “One thing is for sure this baby is blessed to have such a extremely smart and intuitive gene pool, so really everything should work out for it”. 

                All in all there is no denying that Snooki and loving husband Jionni will be fabulous parents to their first child. Any child would be lucky to grow up in such a secure, and mellow, and humbling environment.

Final personal Naritive

Taking it all in Strives

By: Katie Allison

Sitting on the crinkly, cold patient seat in the waiting of the doctor’s office, staring into space with a thousand “what ifs” running through my head.  “What if this is going the end of my swim season?” “What if my coach gets super mad?” “What if I can’t keep up in school because of this?” Then just as I had begun to feel my stomach sink between my feet the doctor walked in and blurted out “Yup, its positive, its Mono”. Right then and there, all I can remember is a buzzing sound in my ear that took the place of the doctor’s and my mother’s words.  The next thing I remember is pulling out of the parking lot, sitting in the front seat of the car, staring in the review mirror, holding back the tears. My mother went on about how I might not be able to go to school for weeks and how I wasn’t going be able to go to swim practice, or might not even be able to hang out with friends. This was crushing news; I hate just sitting around and love to always be on the go. “Why me?” I thought to myself.

            This swim season was pictorially interesting for me. Now that I was in 8^th grade this would be my last year before high school swimming,  my coaches were counting on me to be a leader among my team mates now that I was the oldest on the team and have been on the team the longest. This was quite exciting for me. I liked that my teammates and coaches viewed me as a leader but at the same time, I was beginning to feel burnt out on swimming. I had been on the team, swimming year round sense first grade.  I wasn’t even sure anymore if I even wanted to be on the team. To make things worse, all my closest friends had entered high school while I was still in middle school. I never got to see them at practice anymore.  On top of all this stress, I was burnout and now I had to add Mono to the equation.

            I was determined not to fall to behind in school, I made it my goal to miss as little school as possible. I ended up only missing a four days of school. After all that time on bed rest, I was more than ready to get back to school that following Monday. I was ready to hit-the-books and get caught up. This high positive attitude followed me through the day and even followed me to the pool that evening. I went to talk to my coach at the pool and tell him that I had Mono, and that I wasn’t going to be able to practice for two weeks. Deep inside I don’t think I could have been so happy. I got to take two weeks off of swimming; shoot I was jumping up and down inside! “For once I get to take a break, sit on the couch and watch TV like a normal kid” I could help but think to myself the entire time I was talking with him. That tingly sensation of relief that I would finally get a break from swimming would soon fade.

            During my time off from swimming I was able to catch up with my friends that were in high school. They beamed with joy when telling me all about how swimming was so much better in high school. They explained how they had met so many people and how they were beginning to have so much success on the team already.  I was very happy for them but at the same time my eyes quickly turned to a deep burning shade of green. I had just had a static and rough season the past two years. It simply was getting hard to enjoy swimming because it felt like I wasn’t getting the results I wanted or payoff for the all work I was putting in at practice. And now I was lucky enough to pile Mono on to my shit list.

Once I was back practicing six nights a week, my frustrations with swimming had begun to grow, with my growing frustration came resentment towards the sport. Especially now what I had experienced what it is like to have free time. I missed it and being able to just relax. I started to wonder why I didn’t just quit swimming, and why I had even chosen to swim year round for the past 8 years.  This unanswered question really bothered me. But I continued to go to practice each day. During those laps that never seemed to end I would think about that question, and what its answer could possibly be.

Ten days back into training with little effort, I started to think about next week’s meet as I was practicing the god awful mile. I found myself still pondering that taunting, unanswered question that seemed to just sit in the back of my head. I starting think about my very first time winning a race, or the first time I qualified for states and all the fun times I had hanging out and cheering for my teammates. The happy memories that were coming back to me seemed to strip me of all the anger, and resentment I was feeling. Right there in the middle of that mile swim I found the answer to my question.

Now feeling cleansed, and a sense of relief, I could I clearly remember all the times when I had so much success and even finished top in the State in my age groups during the past seasons. Clearly remembering  that feeling of being so proud of what I accomplished and how happy my parents were it see me reaching my goals. It was then that I made a small decision that would have a huge impact on my attitude and self. I decided that if I wanted to be happy in the pool again, then I had to step it up, inside and outside of the pool. I started getting to practice earlier, training twice has hard, and watching what I was eating. I soon started to see more improvement and I finally could see the light at the end of tunnel.

As I hoisted myself out of the pool after a Saturday morning workout I could hear someone calling my name, “Katie! Come here real quick.” As I walk towards that voice a feeling of shock over took me as I realized it was the Worthington High School coach Jim Callahan that was calling me over. Placing a friendly hand on the back of my shoulder he said “Hey Katie!” “I'm so glad to see that you’re back in the water training again! I’m sorry to hear that you got mono.”  “ Thanks Jim!” “Yeah, it just feels great to be able to workout again. Now I just have to focus on playing catch up so I can get back on track and so I can be a real competitor at the State meet in a few months.” Without hesitation, he responded “Well I'm really glad to hear that you’re really going at it. We can’t wait to have a work ethic like that on the team next year and get you on those relays.” “I can’t wait for next year its going to be so much fun!” I said with a smile. “Well you know you’re more than welcome to come and swim with us at 5:30am for morning workout before school if you would like to get a few extra workouts in.” Replying with compete sincerity. “Then I guess I will see you Monday morning at 5:30am then coach!”

For the next 8 weeks I attended every morning practice Monday through Friday and every evening practice with my own team. I don’t think I had ever worked so hard in my life. Not only was I practicing 20 hours a week but I was only drinking water and kept my self on a strict, healthy meal plan for those 8 weeks. That year despite all the battles I had to face, I still faced them head on.

 I ended up having one of the best meet of my life that year at States and I owe it to those battles I had to overcome. They helped me learn a lesson that could not be found in a book or taught in a classroom. It has become the core of my work ethic, “You never know how far you can go until you have gone farther than you ever have before. “

Why I Want a Wife- Judy Brady - Response questions

1. Does this essay have an explicitly stated thesis? If so, what is it? If you believe the thesis is implied, paraphrase it in your own words. Not one bit. a marrige is a partnership, to have some one to yes help you with all of thise demans but should not be responseable for all those things everyday all day. you wife/ husband is there for you and you need to be there for them as well. I think the auther isnt looking for a wife there looking for about 12 buttlers and 8 personal asistances and a nanny.

2. Throughout the essay, Brady repeats the words “I want a wife.” What is the effect of this repetition? 

simply just reminds that brady's demands are crazy to ask of one person and is basicly restateing "this is why im signle" over and over. I think he Repeats "Iwant a Wife" so many times to make wife come across as an object instead of a person. that way it sound like he is talking about something that you can pick up at Wall Mart or Kroger. 

3. Do you think Brady really wants the kind of wife she describes—does this ideal spouse

actually exist? Explain why you think Brady wrote this essay. I dont think he accually want a "wife" that would do all those things. I think that he is makeing fun of all the people that expect there wifes to stay at home and do everything for the man of the house hold. so that way his soul job can be to bring home the pay check.

4. How does Brady define what it means to be a “wife”? How does she organize the many services a wife provides her husband and family? What do you think of Brady’s characterization of a wife and her responsibilities? How do you think she wants her readers to respond to this characterization? Why?

I think that she wants people to be more aware of all the different things that wifes do for there husbands and to be more aware of how rediclus the expections are for wifes.

5. Write a letter to Brady responding to “I Want a Wife.” Let her know what you admire or don’t admire about the essay and the extent to which you consider it effective and/or persuasive.
Dear Brady,
I found this paper funny because it made me think of all the different things that my mom does for us at home while still mataining a career of her own. It also made me giggle because i have heared my mom say that she felt like she need a wife of her own just to get everything on her To-Do List done. 

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift Response questions

1. “A Modest Proposal” is an ironic essay: the author deliberately writes what he does not mean.  What is the real thesis?  Is there more than one?He doesn’t really mean that people should eat babies he is just making fun of the horrible living conditions and basically saying, “wow there really is no future for anyone so there is no point in bring anyone eltes into this world if they have to live the way things currently are.     

3. When does the reader begin to realize that the essay is ironic?  Before or after the actual proposal is made in paragraph 10?   I think its pretty oblivious that he is just kidding like right way because who could honestly be serious about eating babies.

4. Which groups of people are singled out as special targets for Swifts’ attack?  Are the Irish presented completely as victims, or are they also to blame? I think that the most of the blame is to the government, but I also think that he points some of the blame to the people for not really trying to do anything to seek change.

 5. Does the essay merely function as a satirical attack?  Does Swift ever present any serious proposals for improving conditions?  If so, where? I don’t think that he really means any of his suggestions, however I don’t think that he strongly believes that a change need to be made in order to improve living conditions.

8. If you were, conversely, given the job of marketing babies, do you think it could be done, and how? We have a tradition, in English, of keeping the French names for the meats of animals eaten primarily by the rich. Would the first step be calling baby meat something French? Would it be by processing the baby to the point of non-recognition? I think it would have to be called something besides baby meat. I don’t think baby meat sounds so appealing to anyone so that would defiantly have to change. After that it would have to be possessed in such a way that it would no longer be recognizable to the general public. That way people wouldn’t be able to attach any human emotions to the meat.