There are times in our lives when we hear stories about mishaps and unjust events that take place in other people's lives and think, "Man that sucks! I'm glad that isn't me..." I've always had those moments. It isn't a lack of sympathy, but more a sigh of relief; as if to say to Fate, "Thanks for letting me catch a break again." Life is funny though and no matter how honest, unselfish, fair, kind, or giving you may be something is always going to come around to bite you in the ass. Thats just how things work.
I guess I was due for a major "unfair mishap" last week. It all started a couple of years ago when I began dating someone right after my high school graduation. We were great together for almost two years, so great in fact, that we moved in together and he proposed. Not seeing a reason to decline his offer, I accepted. Months later I realized that I had made a huge mistake with my life and that I no longer wanted to share it with him (there were many reasons behind this, but that's a completely different story we won't get into for the sake of boring everyone). I called off the engagement and he moved out, leaving me alone in the one bedroom apartment. At first, I was so lonely. I would beg friends and family members to spend more time with me once I had them out just so I could avoid going home to an empty apartment that reminded me of the person I cared so much about but had decided I was better off without. I eventually moved on. Don't we all?
I started dating again and met someone I really liked. He was respectful in every way and only wanted to make me happy. It was refreshing and perfect for me. Somewhere in the midst of my newfound happiness, my ex had found out about the new guy and decided it was time to plot his revenge on me. Revenge for what you may ask. That was my question to him as well. I never got an answer...
I came home one day after my classes got out so that I could change before going to work. I unlocked my apartment door and as soon as I walked in, I knew what had happened. My belongings were everywhere. Strewn all over the floor was my personal library and pictures of my family. He had broken in and exacted his unreasonable and unjust revenge on my life. I sat in the middle of my living room floor, head between knees sobbing. It wasn't until I got over the fact that my things were destroyed that I noticed I was missing some stuff. Not only did he wreak havoc on my entire apartment, he had stolen things as well.
I couldn't get a hold of him. I left voice-mails on his cell phone asking him what on the Earth could've possessed him to do such a thing, but for the entire night I never heard from him. I did however get phone calls from his mother. She threatened me and called me names. After hanging up on her several times, and threatening her with the authorities, I began receiving text messages with the same undeserved words. Not knowing (I still don't know what inspired this chaos) why this was happening to me, I curled up in my bed and cried most of the night. The very next day, I packed my things, broke my lease, and began moving out. I will never forgive him for unnecessarily turning my life upside down and I hope with my entire being that somehow karma gets him, and soon.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Week 11: Peer Review
Brandon:
Hey Brandon. Sorry I've been gone for awhile. I'm back though! I was excited to read your posts this week. I really enjoyed "Guest Starring, Richard!" It was really clever and entertaining. I would've liked to know more about your relationship with the interviewee, but the way you set up the post was great. It wasn't like I was reading a straightforward and boring interview. You really brought it to life.
Chelsee:
Hi Chelsee! I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything and I'm sorry. My favorite post of yours this week was the one about the President of the United States. I really loved how you said that even if you don't like the person in office, you respect them because they stepped up and took on the role of being president. I have the same view point on this and found it refreshing for someone to actually say it. Your post about wrapping gifts was also interesting. The only recommendation I have is that you make it less simple. Compared to a lot of your other posts, that one was quick and lacked detail. Keep up the great work though. I can't wait to read more.
Alyssa:
Hey Alyssa! I'm sorry I've been missing for awhile now. I'm back for good and ready to participate in peer review again. My favorite post of yours this week was "Denim Expert." In a short few paragraphs I learned quite a bit about denim. Your neighbor seems pretty knowledgeable on the topic too. I'm not that into fashion, but I didn't fall asleep or even feel bored while reading your post. It was entertaining the way you organized it. I also love how you put little interjections in between the interview paragraphs. I can't wait to read more next week.
Hey Brandon. Sorry I've been gone for awhile. I'm back though! I was excited to read your posts this week. I really enjoyed "Guest Starring, Richard!" It was really clever and entertaining. I would've liked to know more about your relationship with the interviewee, but the way you set up the post was great. It wasn't like I was reading a straightforward and boring interview. You really brought it to life.
Chelsee:
Hi Chelsee! I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything and I'm sorry. My favorite post of yours this week was the one about the President of the United States. I really loved how you said that even if you don't like the person in office, you respect them because they stepped up and took on the role of being president. I have the same view point on this and found it refreshing for someone to actually say it. Your post about wrapping gifts was also interesting. The only recommendation I have is that you make it less simple. Compared to a lot of your other posts, that one was quick and lacked detail. Keep up the great work though. I can't wait to read more.
Alyssa:
Hey Alyssa! I'm sorry I've been missing for awhile now. I'm back for good and ready to participate in peer review again. My favorite post of yours this week was "Denim Expert." In a short few paragraphs I learned quite a bit about denim. Your neighbor seems pretty knowledgeable on the topic too. I'm not that into fashion, but I didn't fall asleep or even feel bored while reading your post. It was entertaining the way you organized it. I also love how you put little interjections in between the interview paragraphs. I can't wait to read more next week.
Sleep Walkers
It was a small group of people. Almost too small to be deserving of the title "group." They all sat around one of the library's many quaint round tables. The lighting was dim; the room was dank and stuffy. The chairs were made of old rust colored canvas material and the wooden legs and arms were worn with carvings from past students' use. Every once in awhile one of them got distracted by the flickering fluorescent and looked up to see if it was in fact the same light bulb that was going out just ten minutes ago. One of the girls was tapping her pencil against the palm of her hand almost in sync with the flickering rhythm of the dying light. None of them seemed annoyed by either.
The group looked oddly similar. Everyone wore the same placid expression on their face. It was the exhaustion. They had probably spent a good portion of their night at that table studying together. It wasn't that they weren't making progress; they just needed to absorb a lot of information. Over the course of an hour, they moved only their lips to talk and their fingers to write and turn book pages. They couldn't go on forever like this. They eventually and mechanically picked up their things and slid them into their bags. Some zipped them up and some didn't. Everyone was too tired to care if they lost pencils and other belongings on the way home. Sluggishly, they slept walked out the door into the warm night.
The group looked oddly similar. Everyone wore the same placid expression on their face. It was the exhaustion. They had probably spent a good portion of their night at that table studying together. It wasn't that they weren't making progress; they just needed to absorb a lot of information. Over the course of an hour, they moved only their lips to talk and their fingers to write and turn book pages. They couldn't go on forever like this. They eventually and mechanically picked up their things and slid them into their bags. Some zipped them up and some didn't. Everyone was too tired to care if they lost pencils and other belongings on the way home. Sluggishly, they slept walked out the door into the warm night.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Magic Moments (Prompt #33)
I'm not socially awkward; I'm just an introvert. I'm not shy; I just prefer not to initiate conversations.
Sometimes life leads us into awkward and uncomfortable situations. Why? Who knows. All I know is that everyone experiences them. It's one of the perks of being human.
Who ever decided that changing your clothes should be mandatory for physical education classes should be beaten and strung up by their ankles until they come to their senses. They must've known that they'd be responsible for daily awkward situations. Let's get one thing straight before I even begin my story. This is my disclaimer: I am in no way, shape, or form an athlete. I'm clumsy and am quite lucky if I make it through an entire day without tripping over something and falling on my face.
Sophomore year. High School. First day of dance class. I walk into the girls locker room where at least thirteen other girls are already seated on the floor waiting for everyone else to show up. I chose a corner in the back where I could sit by myself. The room was definitely old. There were walls and walls of lockers whose paint was chipping and tops were caked in multiple layers of dust. There was an aging brown, leather love seat pushed up against a tall counter-like table. Everything was old, including our teacher, Coach Swift. Her name was pure irony.
After everyone was seated on the cold, cement floor that smelled like bleach, the coach came in. "Okay ladies. Welcome to good 'ol dance class. We're going to head down to the dance room. You'll find uniforms in every size on the counter in the back. Each of you grab a t-shirt and a pair of shorts and hurry to put them on. Yes, you have to. Don't complain or try to get out of it. It's mandatory and part of your grade. Now lets see some hustle!" I was horrified but I seemed to be the only one. I kept my cool and followed the others back to the counter where I grabbed a white cotton shirt and some black gym shorts. I waked back to my corner.
Girls were getting naked left and right. I have nothing wrong with the human body. I guess I just didn't feel comfortable seeing my classmates in their underwear and vice versa. I didn't want to join them. It must've been obvious that felt uncomfortable. " Be careful. Some of the girls like to play grab ass as soon as you take your pants off." I turned around, face flushed, to see a girl in her jeans and bra. " Hey. I'm Brittany and that was a joke... Jesus! Look at your face! I didn't meant to embarrass you. Listen, just between you and me, there's a restroom right around the corner. Why don't you go change in one of the stalls?" I looked at her and said, "Thanks, but I'm okay. This is really no big deal" and with that lie, I reluctantly began to take my clothes off. Brittany shrugged and put her gym shirt on. I had successfully managed to change my pants while she was putting her shirt on. Next came my shirt. As I went to lift my shirt over my head, I elbowed Brittany in the boob. "Ow!" I heard as my head came out of the shirt. She was looking at me while she folded her arms across her chest in defense. "Oh. My. Gosh." I said. " I am so sorry. I swear I didn't mean to. I mean I'm not like that. I wasn't trying to cop a feel or anything." She just continued watching me in silence. " I'm not saying that I have anything against girls who are like that. Oh wow. I'm just going to stop talking now. I am really sorry though." We just stood there in awkward silence. Brittany started laughing. It was still awkward for me. What was I supposed to do? Laugh with her? No. That could just do more damage. I chose to stick with the vow of silence. "You're a dork! In just three minutes of meeting you, I've learned that you like to grope girls and you're not a lesbian. We're off to a great start. Let's head to the dance room, shall we?"
Sometimes life leads us into awkward and uncomfortable situations. Why? Who knows. All I know is that everyone experiences them. It's one of the perks of being human.
Who ever decided that changing your clothes should be mandatory for physical education classes should be beaten and strung up by their ankles until they come to their senses. They must've known that they'd be responsible for daily awkward situations. Let's get one thing straight before I even begin my story. This is my disclaimer: I am in no way, shape, or form an athlete. I'm clumsy and am quite lucky if I make it through an entire day without tripping over something and falling on my face.
Sophomore year. High School. First day of dance class. I walk into the girls locker room where at least thirteen other girls are already seated on the floor waiting for everyone else to show up. I chose a corner in the back where I could sit by myself. The room was definitely old. There were walls and walls of lockers whose paint was chipping and tops were caked in multiple layers of dust. There was an aging brown, leather love seat pushed up against a tall counter-like table. Everything was old, including our teacher, Coach Swift. Her name was pure irony.
After everyone was seated on the cold, cement floor that smelled like bleach, the coach came in. "Okay ladies. Welcome to good 'ol dance class. We're going to head down to the dance room. You'll find uniforms in every size on the counter in the back. Each of you grab a t-shirt and a pair of shorts and hurry to put them on. Yes, you have to. Don't complain or try to get out of it. It's mandatory and part of your grade. Now lets see some hustle!" I was horrified but I seemed to be the only one. I kept my cool and followed the others back to the counter where I grabbed a white cotton shirt and some black gym shorts. I waked back to my corner.
Girls were getting naked left and right. I have nothing wrong with the human body. I guess I just didn't feel comfortable seeing my classmates in their underwear and vice versa. I didn't want to join them. It must've been obvious that felt uncomfortable. " Be careful. Some of the girls like to play grab ass as soon as you take your pants off." I turned around, face flushed, to see a girl in her jeans and bra. " Hey. I'm Brittany and that was a joke... Jesus! Look at your face! I didn't meant to embarrass you. Listen, just between you and me, there's a restroom right around the corner. Why don't you go change in one of the stalls?" I looked at her and said, "Thanks, but I'm okay. This is really no big deal" and with that lie, I reluctantly began to take my clothes off. Brittany shrugged and put her gym shirt on. I had successfully managed to change my pants while she was putting her shirt on. Next came my shirt. As I went to lift my shirt over my head, I elbowed Brittany in the boob. "Ow!" I heard as my head came out of the shirt. She was looking at me while she folded her arms across her chest in defense. "Oh. My. Gosh." I said. " I am so sorry. I swear I didn't mean to. I mean I'm not like that. I wasn't trying to cop a feel or anything." She just continued watching me in silence. " I'm not saying that I have anything against girls who are like that. Oh wow. I'm just going to stop talking now. I am really sorry though." We just stood there in awkward silence. Brittany started laughing. It was still awkward for me. What was I supposed to do? Laugh with her? No. That could just do more damage. I chose to stick with the vow of silence. "You're a dork! In just three minutes of meeting you, I've learned that you like to grope girls and you're not a lesbian. We're off to a great start. Let's head to the dance room, shall we?"
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
To Be or Not to Be? (Prompt #29)
First Person:
I looked at them from across the room. "Why couldn't I be like that?" I sometimes asked myself. Maybe it was because my family wasn't wealthy. That couldn't be it. Our school was in Apache Junction and many of their families weren't any better off than mine. It wasn't that I was some sort of outcast without friends; I just wasn't popular. That group of kids sitting on the other side of my math class, clustered together, always seemed like they were having such a great time. I wanted to have a great time in math class...
I watched that same group of kids almost everyday. No, I wasn't some kind of obsessed stalker. I wanted to be one of them. I wanted to be part of their inseparable click. What drew them together? Looking at them from my seat in the corner I could see that though they all looked very different, they acted very much the same. They all had similar laughs and mannerisms. They used the same slang and improper grammar when the spoke (and probably when they wrote too). And though I did find all of this quite annoying, I still wished to be a part of it, if even just for a day. I wanted to be popular.
Third Person:
It wasn't that she wasn't likable. She just wasn't one of them. She cared too much about things that didn't even matter to most high school students. She was in three different choir classes and spent her free time in after-school clubs. Though they didn't know her personally, they knew about her and people like her. She was wound too tight to have fun with them and she'd be one of those narks who would leave or go find an adult at the first sight of alcohol, drugs, or maybe even cigarettes. Taliena may have been a fun person to spend time with according to her own friends' standards, but definitely not to the popular kids'. She was too different to be part of the popular crowd. It would never happen. It was for the best though. Nerds shouldn't be popular too. It would upset the natural balance of things.
I looked at them from across the room. "Why couldn't I be like that?" I sometimes asked myself. Maybe it was because my family wasn't wealthy. That couldn't be it. Our school was in Apache Junction and many of their families weren't any better off than mine. It wasn't that I was some sort of outcast without friends; I just wasn't popular. That group of kids sitting on the other side of my math class, clustered together, always seemed like they were having such a great time. I wanted to have a great time in math class...
I watched that same group of kids almost everyday. No, I wasn't some kind of obsessed stalker. I wanted to be one of them. I wanted to be part of their inseparable click. What drew them together? Looking at them from my seat in the corner I could see that though they all looked very different, they acted very much the same. They all had similar laughs and mannerisms. They used the same slang and improper grammar when the spoke (and probably when they wrote too). And though I did find all of this quite annoying, I still wished to be a part of it, if even just for a day. I wanted to be popular.
Third Person:
It wasn't that she wasn't likable. She just wasn't one of them. She cared too much about things that didn't even matter to most high school students. She was in three different choir classes and spent her free time in after-school clubs. Though they didn't know her personally, they knew about her and people like her. She was wound too tight to have fun with them and she'd be one of those narks who would leave or go find an adult at the first sight of alcohol, drugs, or maybe even cigarettes. Taliena may have been a fun person to spend time with according to her own friends' standards, but definitely not to the popular kids'. She was too different to be part of the popular crowd. It would never happen. It was for the best though. Nerds shouldn't be popular too. It would upset the natural balance of things.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Week 10: Peer Review
Brandon:
Brandon, Week 8's posts were really different, but definitely in a good and interesting way. The topics were all very diverse and I didn't get bored while reading once. My favorite of the three was "Dialogue: What's Your Name Again?" It brought me back to when choosing my favorite Pokemon was my biggest worry. It was really entertaining. The only suggestion I have is maybe cutting out or revising some of the things you put in your writing. I know you're writing non-fiction and we're all grown-ups in college, but I just feel like somethings aren't as appropriate as others. Besides that though, just keep up the awesome work!
Chelsee:
Hey Chelsee! Your Week 8 posts were really very interesting. I felt that I really got to know more about you. The only suggestions I have for you this week are: add more to the length and maybe try using more dialogue . I especially enjoyed your post about your grandfather and my suggestions are aimed mainly toward it. Because the post was about someone so dear to you, it would've been nice to read more. All in all, great work!
Alyssa:
Hello there! I just want to start your peer review off by saying that I love your blog. I haven't read a post yet that I haven't absolutely loved. With that said, your post for prompt #25 was my favorite of the three. I think this is because I found so easy to relate to. I have been in an eerily similar situation and your post brought back memories. The only suggestion I have is for post #27. When you give your readers a list of what you're going to write about, make sure you give them just that. I knew it was all there but I felt like I had to go looking for it. I can't wait to read more next week!
Brandon, Week 8's posts were really different, but definitely in a good and interesting way. The topics were all very diverse and I didn't get bored while reading once. My favorite of the three was "Dialogue: What's Your Name Again?" It brought me back to when choosing my favorite Pokemon was my biggest worry. It was really entertaining. The only suggestion I have is maybe cutting out or revising some of the things you put in your writing. I know you're writing non-fiction and we're all grown-ups in college, but I just feel like somethings aren't as appropriate as others. Besides that though, just keep up the awesome work!
Chelsee:
Hey Chelsee! Your Week 8 posts were really very interesting. I felt that I really got to know more about you. The only suggestions I have for you this week are: add more to the length and maybe try using more dialogue . I especially enjoyed your post about your grandfather and my suggestions are aimed mainly toward it. Because the post was about someone so dear to you, it would've been nice to read more. All in all, great work!
Alyssa:
Hello there! I just want to start your peer review off by saying that I love your blog. I haven't read a post yet that I haven't absolutely loved. With that said, your post for prompt #25 was my favorite of the three. I think this is because I found so easy to relate to. I have been in an eerily similar situation and your post brought back memories. The only suggestion I have is for post #27. When you give your readers a list of what you're going to write about, make sure you give them just that. I knew it was all there but I felt like I had to go looking for it. I can't wait to read more next week!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Week 8 Peer Review
Brandon:
Hello Brandon. I really enjoyed reading your post this week. It gave me some insight to what happened in Tuscon and the speech that took place afterward. I really appreciated your attention to detail and how you gave us (the readers) some background info on the shooting before you went into the description of the president's speech. I look forward to reading your posts for the rest of this semester. Keep up the great work!
Chelsee:
Hey Chelsee. Let me just start off by saying that I found both of your posts for this week to be very insightful and entertaining. Your first post was really great and though it was four paragraphs long, I felt like I needed more. I wanted to know more about what you were working for. Why did you want a job at the age of 15? Was it difficult juggling school and your new job? Your second post was quite informative. I really didn't know much, if anything, about the bookstore being sold. I'm glad you chose to write about this. I can't wait to read your posts next week!
Alyssa:
Hello there, Alyssa! Your posts this week were great! I really think I'm going to enjoy reading your writing for the remainder of the semester. Your first post about responsibility was honest and refreshingly open. I appreciated your ability to talk to your readers and tell them about yourself and your life without sugarcoating anything. Your second post of the week had just the right amount of description. I could see the bar just as you described it and wished I could go see it for myself in person. You have the amazing ability to know just how much description is enough. Not too little that readers don't know what you're talking about, but not too much that there's no room for a little imagination. Great work! I can't wait for the weeks to come.
Hello Brandon. I really enjoyed reading your post this week. It gave me some insight to what happened in Tuscon and the speech that took place afterward. I really appreciated your attention to detail and how you gave us (the readers) some background info on the shooting before you went into the description of the president's speech. I look forward to reading your posts for the rest of this semester. Keep up the great work!
Chelsee:
Hey Chelsee. Let me just start off by saying that I found both of your posts for this week to be very insightful and entertaining. Your first post was really great and though it was four paragraphs long, I felt like I needed more. I wanted to know more about what you were working for. Why did you want a job at the age of 15? Was it difficult juggling school and your new job? Your second post was quite informative. I really didn't know much, if anything, about the bookstore being sold. I'm glad you chose to write about this. I can't wait to read your posts next week!
Alyssa:
Hello there, Alyssa! Your posts this week were great! I really think I'm going to enjoy reading your writing for the remainder of the semester. Your first post about responsibility was honest and refreshingly open. I appreciated your ability to talk to your readers and tell them about yourself and your life without sugarcoating anything. Your second post of the week had just the right amount of description. I could see the bar just as you described it and wished I could go see it for myself in person. You have the amazing ability to know just how much description is enough. Not too little that readers don't know what you're talking about, but not too much that there's no room for a little imagination. Great work! I can't wait for the weeks to come.
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