Blogging

I think that blogging can be a valuable tool, but for me it becomes to mechanized. It takes away from actually writing with your hands. What ever happened to that? I mean i find myself attempting to write everyday in my journal that my significant other bought me for my birthday, because at leas then I am enjoying the art of writing. Yes, online journals and blogging can possibly accomplish this, but it takes away from the authors we followed as kids; they wrote with their hands, they felt the ache in their hands, and we today type away like no ones business lol..idk just a thought

I don't know

Today I am working on my papers, and I keep finding myself changing the direction of the papers. It pisses me off sometimes because I need to stay focused, and it is too late in the semester to begin changes like I have. I need my mind not to wonder at the moment, contradictory of my screen name, but nonetheless true. Anyone on the same boat or is it just me lol?

Organization

As i look back and reflect on this semester, i must admit, i wouldnt have gotten by without improving my organization skills. This semester i priorotized, i put school before work, and i dedicated day in and day out everything to school. I work about 70 hours a week, plus school, and i have a family, but organization has been key to my sanity. 

P.s. My little boy broke my laptop over the weekend :(

academic writing

So my paper will be discussing this concept of academic writing. After reading for Dr. Sullivan's class and writing my journal for that class, I brought up some interesting things i think.

"There is no such thing as simplifying power, because as I converge in academic writing, the vernacular community I belong to has no voice and there are conventions and rules that I must abide to. Social power governs all, and I can only enjoy one community membership at a time, and that is the truth. The label that I fall under is a simplification of who I am, but power can never be simplified without resistance; I am an outsider trying to fit one foot in. "

"In being critical, it is ironic how members who have become part of the dominant culture within academics propose diversity within academic writing, while the subordinate culture within academics enforces upholding normative styles of writing. It is known scholars such as Zamel, who teaches in a predominately Anglo community that can perhaps envision the merging of separate communities within academic writing. However, I contest that there is nothing preventing one from moving freely between vernacular communities and academic discourses, because minoroities are still marginalized, status and power still exist, and stereotypes exert dominance."

"My two conflicting identities that I rarely attempt to infuse within academic writing goes against the robotic and political norms of how to write and what to write about, and to avoid discrimination or being labeled as a “minority” or multilingual writer, I situate and play the language game within the dominant community. I have been taught that if I practice the language and writings of the educational community, that perhaps I would fit in within the conventions of that circle. Is there such a thing as the allusion of maintaining membership, value, and ideologies within multiple communities? Has identity really become decentered? "

Editing

So I am working on our end of the year assignment for this class, and it is much more difficult and emotional that i really thought it would be. no, not the kind of emotional that deals with crying, well perhaps just a little lol, but it is very difficult to actually reflect and write about yourself don't you think? it is also very cool though, this experience of actually thinking about yourself in depth, and being able to reflect both on paper and through experiences this reality that we live through education.

Spring Break

Spring break, man if only it was really a break, instead it was more of playing catch up than anything else. Although beneficial, I guess this notion of spring break, in accordance to undergraduate terminology, fades away from out terminology use as we become graduates. However, i did have some pretty cool nights with friends which was enlightening and refreshing.

Back to work guys!

Progress

So today, during my run, I was thinking about progress, i.e. how far I have come, how I feel about my direction, where do I want to go now, how happy I feel, and just reflecting on everything that embodies me living. However, I think of this illusion of progress that we all seem to be caught up in. I mean yes, we may earn more money and we may have the ability to do better things, but at times progress can be an illusion.

Playing Catch-up

So I don't know if I am on track with my posts or if I am behind so I will post two today and comment 4 times I guess. Anyways, this weekend I started thinking more about our readings in "Living the Narrative Life" because much that is said plays so close to my heart. I am not a very sentimental individual, nor am I expressive with emotions, but deep down all that boils within. Perhaps I shouldn't say boil, but hibernates for lack of words, I wish I knew one better because both are seem unfitting.

I enjoyed on page 73 of the text this sentence "People's names and faces last for a while, but many of the good times slip away. Telling our own stories is one way to hang on to these memories, to preserve details, to save and treasure things that really mattered to us." Also, "I believe that stories can guide us. Certainly, they can help us figure out right from wrong" on page 82. How true are these phrases, with loved ones passing away, hardships, and endeavors. For me, my tattoos may fade away, might get wrinkly when I am old, but they will always tell a story. They may night mean anything to people who view them, but for me there is a story behind each one of them. The ability to tell our stories in this academic essay will allow us to relieve certain events in our lives whether positive, negative, or reflective. For me, it will certainly be a journey as much of my life has been negative, but through that negativity have found a passion, a hobby, and a career that I enjoy, even with the politics that follow behind it :)

obituary reading

As I reflect on what it is to loose someone who was close to me or even distant to me but who has had an impact on my life, I found myself familiarizing with this weeks reading in "Living the Narrative Life." I know this might sound awful, but I lost about 2 friends a year all throughout high school, and the last year of my undergraduate life I lost my grandma on December 23rd and my roommate 2 months before that.

However, in staying relevant to the reading, my Ed is Dr. Brooks, who taught English at Texas A&M. I didn't know him personally, I didn't know his family, and I only had coffee with him on 2 occasions and spoke to him on about 6 occasions. He did however, make a lasting impact on my passion for writing and literature. I have had about three inspirations throughout my education to maintain my passion for literature and writing and he is one. I guess it was the way he taught the text, or perhaps the intensity of his lectures, or maybe because he had a genuine love for all literature and all types of writing. Dr. Brooks passed away a few years back, and I didn't find it appropriate for me to attend his funeral (personal reasons) but I did take out an old folder from my folder filer and read some old notes and reflected on his class; what a joy it was to be in that class.

Let The Mind Wonder

Okay so here is my first post of the semester for this class. I came to thinking when reading the assigned text called "Walking," that I tend to do much of what he is talking about. Back when I lived in College Station, I lived right across the street from central park. This park was filled with trees, a pond, and just a relaxing atmosphere, and back when I was athletic (I am getting back into this habit, slowly but surely), I use to run and take walks twice a day. I remember how peaceful it was to be able to think, to be able to breathe in natures air, and to reminisce on good old times.

I wonder, have we strayed away from much of this "Walking" or do we still find time to do so? However, the bad thing is that walking can become so mechanized and routine that it too can take away from the aura of walking. I can say that when I did have the opportunity to do so, I felt the most happiest and most peace because in a sense I was free. It is funny how we can take the little things in life for granted like walking, but now that I have begun my walking for this semester I feel less stressed and energetic.