The Ending That Makes You Want More...

As I was helping my sister study for a certain english teacher's midyear exam, I realized how good the books that we dreaded reading that year really were. I was helping her study the plot line of Lord of the Flies. I remember only reading bits and pieces of the book, and not really enjoying it, but as I read the end of the book last night I found a new appreciation for it. It's just so amazing I re-read that last chapter once to myself, and then once aloud to my sister because it was just so captivating for me.

I spent this past weekend with my extended family up Maine. While we were there we talked about books that we have read, and reccomended new ones to each other. My mom's cousin said that she had been reading all the books she never read in high school ( such as The Great Gatsby, Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations). I laughed when she told me this because, I would never choose to read these books on my own. She said that now she had gotten older she had a better understanding of these books, and found them to be ten times more interesting.

Reading the ending of Lord of the Flies made me understand where she was coming from. I think that I might try to do the same when I get older, because I will be older and more experience, and I could see myself feeling that same appreciation that I felt reading the end of Lord of the Flies, and that she felt reading her old high school books.

Kmart:)

How many days until spring?

Last night I drove past the beach and it made me miss Kennebunk and warm weather so much. I can not wait until I can spend my time off from school, whether it be a break or a weekend, in the water. My favorite place in the entire world has to be up Maine at my cabin on a small lake outside of Millinocket. This place has to be the deffinition of peacful. Now I'm currently counting the days until spring has arrived. I can't wait.
-Riz

One Rad Pumpkin

While surfering Facebook I came across this awesome picture of a pumpkin. This pumpkin was carved by a friend of mine from my old school. It is probably one of the greatest pieces of vegtable art that I have seen. When asked about his motive for doing this he said, "obviously i couldn't resist pushing my political opinions of the poor innocent little trick-or-treaters."

Enjoy!
-Riz

Clinging To What We Hate

"They hated Krajiek, but they clung to him because he was the only human being with whom they would talk or from whom they could get information." (53). This sentence from "My Antonia" made me think about how often in today's society people may hate something so much, and it may bring them so much distress, but they still cling to it because they feel they need it. I have conversed with many people about how they cannot stand the job that they feel committed to. Especially in today's economy, many people are forced to spend the majority of their time doing something that they cannot stand, only because they feel that there is no way out or around it. Jobs are scarce and the risk of quitting a current job to find a new one is too high. So these people cling to their workplace because although they hate it, it gives them some sort of security. There are even instances were people find themselves in relationships that cause them unhappiness, but they cling to this person, no matter how much pain they bring them because they feel that it is better than to know what its like to be alone. The way that the Shimerdas feel about Krajiek is not uncommon. It seems to be a reoccuring theme in the world and people will most likely put themselves into situations like this for the rest of time.

some more

These are just a few larger pictures.

I can't explain...

One of my favorite things to do is take pictures. My dream job is to be a photographer. About two years ago I went to Paris and just recently found the pictures I took and developed them. Every time I see these pictures I want to go back to France, just simply to take some more. I can't explain the satisfaction I get when I develop a roll of film and sit in a dark room to review my results. Even if my roll comes out bad, seeing the pictures I took puts my mind at ease. The pictures above are just three of my favorites from my trip.

-Riz

Interesting..

"We could not so much as see the corrals, but we knew the steers were over there, huddled together under the north bank. Our ferocious bulls, subdued enough by this time, were probably warming each other's backs."

I enjoyed reading that the family was having trouble with the bulls fighting, but as soon as they were in danger they stuck together. Much like when people are having problems they tend to stick together, at least until things are good again (then they can get back to fighting).

-riz