Famous Last Words for Week 9

This week was kind of a rollercoaster of emotions due to some personal issues, but hopefully I am finally off of that ride. It is amazing how confusing and complicated life can get in a very short period of time. A month ago everything is going fine, and then somehow you find that your relationships are in a completely different state than they were only a month ago. It’s terrible how that happens.

Aside from some difficulties in my personal relationships, last week wasn’t terrible. In this class, I felt decent about my writing. I finally decided to do a storytelling post after skipping for the past two weeks before review week. I think it really helps when I brainstorm ideas while writing my reading diaries, because then I have an idea on Wednesday rather than having to come up with something. For this week’s story, I used a modern style of retelling which I hadn’t had a chance to do this semester so I really enjoyed it. I did end up skipping the second assigned reading this week due to my rollercoaster of emotions, but I’m hoping to go ahead and read that part when I read for Monday. For my storybook, I hadn’t been really happy with my second story so I ended up with a lot of revising to do, but now I feel much better about it. When I first wrote it, I just wasn’t in the zone, but during revising I was finally able to add some emotion into the story.

My other classes have been going well up to this point. I have a midterm in my biochemical methods class on Wednesday which I am pretty nervous about it. The problem is that it is my only really difficult class so if I don’t do well I’d be really disappointed.

Although this week was difficult emotionally, I found that visiting my little sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters could really benefit me, as well as her. Visiting her really cheered me up! We worked on a craft for Halloween with these toilet paper rolls. These are the product:

Image information: Personal photo of my Halloween craft with my "little sister" 

I also saw the movie, Independence Day, for the first time at the request of my roommates. It was a fantastic movie! "We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on, we're going to survive. Today we celebrate our independence day!" 

Famous Last Words for Week 9

This week was kind of a rollercoaster of emotions due to some personal issues, but hopefully I am finally off of that ride. It is amazing how confusing and complicated life can get in a very short period of time. A month ago everything is going fine, and then somehow you find that your relationships are in a completely different state than they were only a month ago. It’s terrible how that happens.

Aside from some difficulties in my personal relationships, last week wasn’t terrible. In this class, I felt decent about my writing. I finally decided to do a storytelling post after skipping for the past two weeks before review week. I think it really helps when I brainstorm ideas while writing my reading diaries, because then I have an idea on Wednesday rather than having to come up with something. For this week’s story, I used a modern style of retelling which I hadn’t had a chance to do this semester so I really enjoyed it. I did end up skipping the second assigned reading this week due to my rollercoaster of emotions, but I’m hoping to go ahead and read that part when I read for Monday. For my storybook, I hadn’t been really happy with my second story so I ended up with a lot of revising to do, but now I feel much better about it. When I first wrote it, I just wasn’t in the zone, but during revising I was finally able to add some emotion into the story.

My other classes have been going well up to this point. I have a midterm in my biochemical methods class on Wednesday which I am pretty nervous about it. The problem is that it is my only really difficult class so if I don’t do well I’d be really disappointed.

Although this week was difficult emotionally, I found that visiting my little sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters could really benefit me, as well as her. Visiting her really cheered me up! We worked on a craft for Halloween with these toilet paper rolls. These are the product:

Image information: Personal photo of my Halloween craft with my "little sister" 

I also saw the movie, Independence Day, for the first time at the request of my roommates. It was a fantastic movie! "We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on, we're going to survive. Today we celebrate our independence day!" 

Storytelling for Week 9: Taking a Stand

In the small town of Everett, everyone knew everyone. When anyone new came to town, they were the talk of the town. Most recently, a woman with her five sons, Dusty, Bison, AJ, Naka, and Slade, had moved there. Class was already halfway through, but their mom enrolled them to start immediately at Everett High School. Dusty, Bison, and AJ were all in their sophomore year, while Naka and Slade were freshmen. The boys quickly made friends at the school with a good group of people. They realized that something was off though when they went to the cafeteria. All the freshmen students hustled through the line with their heads down. They ate quickly and quietly, and then left the cafeteria. Bison went over to his new friend, Eli. 

"Eli, what is going on? Why do all of the younger students rush through lunch?"

Eli scanned the room with a hint of fear in his eyes, and then replied, "One of the seniors, Bane, picks out a freshman every month. Every day of that month, he steals the freshman's lunch. Bane also makes the freshman sit there while he eats the kid's lunch just to pick on him. At the end of the month, Bane takes the kid to the bathroom, gives him a swirly, and then throws him in the trashcan. All of the freshmen are terrified of him, and it is almost the end of the month." 

Image information: A bully picking on a child much smaller than him

Web Source: Investing Caffeine

"That's terrible. We have to stop him! If he picks me, I will make sure that this never happens to any freshmen ever again," Bison said. 

"Bison, that's not a good idea. We're new here, we shouldn't be starting trouble," Dusty said. 

"Bane started the trouble the minute he decided to pick on someone smaller than him," Bison replied. 

The next day, Bison brought his lunch and sat across from Bane. Bane looked at him with anger and demanded, "New kid, give me your lunch!"

"You have your own lunch, why would you need mine?" Bison questioned him.

"I'm hungry, and if you don't give me your lunch, I will beat you to a pulp. What more reason do I need?" Bane said aggressively. 

"I am going to finish my lunch, you cannot have any of it." Bison said firmly. 

Bane stood up and puffed his chest out, but Bison remained seated and continued eating his lunch. Bane grabbed for his lunch, but Bison was too quick. What Bane didn't know is that Bison was a very talented boxer in the town that he had lived in before. Bison stood up with his lunch and continued to eat. Bane's fist whirled through the air, but Bison dodged him easily. Next, Bane tried to tackle him, but once again Bison dodged him. As Bane's momentum was headed toward the ground, Bison just gave him a little push, and Bane found himself on the ground. As Bane started getting up, Bison set down his lunch which was now finished. Bane threw another punch at Bison, missing him again. Bison threw a punch back, hitting Bane square in the jaw. Bane went down immediately.

Soon after, a teacher arrived, but knowing how Bane treated the other students, she just turned and left. Bison kneeled over Bane, looking him square in the eye, and said, "You will not steal anyone else's lunch ever again. Do you understand?"

"Got it," Bane replied angrily, but defeated. 

Author's Note: I decided to modernize the story of when Bhima confronted the rakshasa, Baka, in the town of Ekavrata. Baka was basically a bully who would only leave the whole village alone if the families of the town sacrifice food, two buffaloes, and one member of the family based on some sort of schedule. In my modern day story, Baka is Bane, the bully of the cafeteria, who picks on one freshman monthly. Bison is the character of Bhima, who stood up to Baka in the original story. Bison, like Bhima, is very strong and skilled in fighting. In my story, Bison fights Bane, much like Bhima fought Baka, and makes sure that Bane never picks on anyone ever again. I felt like this story would be very easy to modernize because Baka is really just a big bully who picks on people who cannot defend themselves. 

Bibliography: Narayan, R.K. (1978) The Mahabharata.

Week 9: Reading Diary A

Chapter 1: THE EIGHTH BABY
Talk about love at first sight! How crazy that the first thing that Santanu to say to the woman was asking her to marry him! In modern times, that would really freak a girl out! This story definitely starts out rather strange! Murdering babies that you carried for 9 months by drowning? That's horrific! I feel much better after learning that their spirits went straight to heaven. Poor Devavratha! I think it's rather sad that he will never be able to marry and fall in love. That is definitely much different than our previous protagonist in the Ramayana. Based on the knowledge that Prince Devavratha must remain celibate, it seems like the logical decision for King Santanu should be to go ahead and marry the fisherman's daughter. Prince Devavratha may be the successor, but he will never be able to provide a successor for after he is dead. It's interesting how fate and destiny are portrayed in this story, just like the Ramayana. Everything seems to already be set out and people always seem to make the decisions that lead to the fate that has already been prophesied. Another common theme that I have noticed is how important it it to keep your promises. This was very important to Devavratha, just like it was very important to Rama that his father keep his vow to Kaikeyi.
I felt sad for Ambika in this story. Although the book didn't make a big deal out of it, it sounds like she was basically raped, and because of that her child will be born blind. How terrible would it be to find out that your child will never be able to see colors, to see your face, but instead will be condemned to a world of darkness. I felt equally sad for Ambalika too. These women did not have a say in whether they has sex with Vyasa, and they clearly did not want to have to do that.
I found it kind of humorous that Pandu died while having intercourse, What a way to go out!

Chapter 2: ENTER-- THE PLAYERS
I'm a little confused about how Dhritarashtra and his wife conceived one hundred children? That would definitely not be possible!

So just to keep track of who is who, I wanted to make a list of Pandu's five sons so I don't get confused!
The Pandavas
1. Yudhistira: truthful, courageous, and strong
2. Bhimasena: endowed with extraordinary strength
3. Arjuna: knowledgeable about weapons
4. Nakula: twin brother of Sahadeva
5. Sahadeva: twin brother of Nakula
*Also, Karna, the offspring of the Sun god

Sons of Dhritarashtra
1. Duryodhana: eldest son
2. Dussasana: second eldest son
3-100

It definitely seems like a quality over quantity thing here. Although Pandu's wives only bore 5 children, they were all blessed with special skills that made them stand out. Dhritarashtra's many children on the other hand all just sort of blended together, none of them sticking out. This must have really bothered Dhritarahstra. I thought it was interesting that Karna seemed to favor the sons of Dhritarashtra, even thought three of the Pandava brothers are his half brothers. Of course, none of them know that except for Kunthi.
King Drupada is definitely one of those examples of power going to a person's head. That's terrible that he would be so kind in childhood, but be corrupted by power in adulthood.

Chapter 3: HOUSE OF JOY- AND ASHES
I can understand why King Dhritarashtra would be upset that his nephews are being noticed so much more than his sons, but I'm worried that he will go too far in trying to change this, Also, why would he name one of his nephews as the heir, that is his own stupid fault! I think he will end up exiling all of them. This minister character seems like a weasel. I'm glad that Yudhistira can see through their devious plan. I'm curious to see how Yudhistira handles the situation. I can easily say that I find myself liking the Pandavas the most in this book so far. Yudhistira was very clever in faking their deaths. King Dhritarashtra would not have given up until he believed they were all dead.

Chapter 4: BRIDE FOR FIVE
Bhima, with his extraordinary strength, has taken up the role of the protector of the group. The five sons with their mother seem to make up a very tight-knit group who all care deeply for each other. For my storybook, I actually considered writing about Ghatotkacha, who is half human/half rakshasa. Although he has some rakshasa in him, he is a very noble character. I think that it is very strengthening to the characters of the Pandavas to live with nothing. They grew up with privilege, but to truly be able to understand how other people live gives them a lot of perspective. I loved reading about Bhima standing up to that bully of a Rakshasa. I think I could definitely use this for my storytelling post and modernize to a story about a bully in high school taking kids' lunches

I wonder how the princesses felt about these competitions for their hand in marriage. I mean, yeah it's cool and all that a bunch of guys are competing for you, but then you're stuck with the winner, even if you don't want to be with him. I'm glad that Karna did not force her to be with him. I hope that Arjuna will treat her well. I think he will.
Well I definitely did not expect that she would become the wife to all of her brothers. I guess it is the exact same concept of a man taking many wives, but you definitely don't usually hear of a woman taking many husbands. Interesting gender reversal!