Blog #12: Sestina

Breaks

There are three breaks

First is thanksgiving

Then Christmas

And finally spring

I can get away from school

And work

I love my work

But I need my breaks

To not get burned out with school

Hugs at thanksgiving

Peace during the spring

And tears of joy at Christmas

My favorite holiday, Christmas

I don’t have to worry about work;

It couldn’t come sooner, spring

I need my breaks

My second favorite holiday, thanksgiving

And if I get everything done no school!

While it’s hard, I like school

Family pajamas at Christmas

Turkey at thanksgiving

No work

I need my Breaks

Flowers at spring

A much needed spring

After a cold winter at school

I need my breaks

Clients have their own traditions for Christmas

Clients being related to work

It might snow at Thanksgiving

Thanks are given at thanksgiving

Life during spring

Back to work

Back to school

Gifts are given at Christmas

I need my breaks

Ode to this lonely key

Ode to this lonely key

This lonely key

How it misses thee

 the one

Who is still left in

That mangled truck

 to be released from the ignition

it could not

Forever it will stay

This lonely key

Not often used 

But always

gently gliding over and turning the lock

that held that canopy closed

Smaller than its buddy

and gold in color too

shiny it was at first

now shows signs of its old life

like the wrinkles of an old man

a single circle for her fingers to hold

extending out are the

ridges that are on one side

 instead of two

This lonely key

Still clinging to its ring

Now has a new home

Next to the new one

No longer needed

This lonely key

Mine forever it will be 

Blog #10: Work comparisons

The differences between the bosses in Bartleby, the Scrivener and A&P are very visible to the reader. In Bartleby the boss or narrator, is friendly and cares about his employees. After he fires Bartleby he ends up giving him extra money to cover any other costs he might have. “I owe you twelve dollars on account; here are thirty-two; the odd twenty are yours.” But, he is almost too friendly. Instead of dealing with Bartleby himself he just does the most inconvenient thing he can do for himself which is just packs everything he has and moves the business to another building. While the manager in A&P knows he is in charge and acts that way. “Girls, I don’t want to argue with you. After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It’s our policy” The manager has every right to serve who he wants to serve and who he doesn't and he knows he has that power.  The narrator in Bartleby knows he is charge but he doesn't act like he really is in charge the same way the manager does in A&P. The effect of this is because the manager of A&P shows his authority; he may have lost customers and definitely lost an employee. Because the narrator doesn't show his authority he ends up losing the location of his business and one of his employees dies. If the narrator had just dealt with it the ending might have been different.

The interactions between the co-workers are different between the short stories of Bartleby and A&P because for starters there are more than one co-worker in Bartleby than that of A&P hence, more interactions in Bartleby than that of A&P. In both stories there is a description, if you will, of all the co-workers but only in Bartleby there are both descriptions of how they look and a little bit of background. In Bartleby, the characters are straightforward as to what they think of Bartleby. Ginger Nut says “I think, sir, he is a little luny” Nippers says “I think I should kick him out of the office” they are mad that Bartleby isn't doing his job because he “prefers not to”. While in A&P there is really only one other co-worker that the narrator mentions and his name is Stokesie. The interaction between Stokesie and the narrator, Sammy, is friendly. This is totally opposite of how the co-workers interacted with Bartleby. Stokesie plays with Sammy when he says “‘Oh Daddy..I feel so faint.’ ‘Darling, I said Hold me tight’”. The significance of the interactions is the fact that at the end of A&P you get a feeling like “oh man he left his friend to fend for himself against that mean manager” but at the end of Bartleby you get the feeling like he didn't leave anyone behind like his co-workers.

The productivity between Bartleby and A&P isn't as different as they may seem due to the fact that they are different stories.  Both of the main characters, Sammy and Bartleby, don’t really do their job. They both start out by doing something but at the story progresses they don’t do anything.  “A few days after this, Bartleby concluded four lengthy documents” then later when the narrator asks him to do some work he says “I would prefer not to”. In A&P, Sammy starts out by helping a very picky customer “I ring it up again and the customer starts giving me hell. She’s one of these cash-register-watchers..and I know it make her day to trip me up.” Then as the story progresses he starts describing the girls because he is watching them instead of doing his job. This has importance because they feel like they are doing what they want to do instead of what others want to do. In both stories the main characters are not the boss and so they are going against the working  “system” by doing what they want to do and by doing this, they both end up jobless.  

There are differences between Bartleby and A&P through their bosses, their co-workers and the productivity of the workplace. 

Blog #7

In the 60's Women are supposed to be beautiful and not supposed to do anything but be at home. When these women walked into the store with just bikinis they were criticized by the manager and held the attention of a draw dropped clerk. The clerk also criticized the girls’ brain. “You never know for sure how girls’ minds work (do you think is a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar?) (599). which I think most of the men in the 1960's thought.

Most women back in the day were submissive and didn't make a big scene. When these women came into the store with nothing on but bikinis on they were basically challenging society. These women were definitely submissive because they didn't stand up for what they believed in or what they wanted to do. But there are dominant women who stand up for themselves. Then there are overly dominant women who make a bit deal of the way they think and kinda shove their ways down others’ throats. Then there are the overly submissive women who not only don’t stand up for themselves. And just kinda flows with the crowds and does what she is told and nothing else. But, on the other hand it is the manager’s right to serve who he wants to. And it was the girls’ choice to dress the way they did regardless of the consequences. Maybe they were doing it just to get attention. Or maybe they dressed that way because they were lazy and didn't want to put on extra clothes.

The last thing that I noticed was that the clerk says “my girls” not “the girls” as if he owned them.  But then he really didn't really care what happened to the girls but focused on another family and himself.  

Blog #6: Yellow Wallpaper FB page

    Narrator 

I’m going to help the woman get out of the wall paper

Like Comment July 31

Time to leave…

Like Comment August 1

I caught Jennie looking at the wallpaper today!!!! She denied it but I know better!!

Like Comment July 30

John thinks I’m doing better… I’m not so sure. But then again he is a doctor.

Like Comment July 27

I want to see my Cousin Henry and Julia!!! I miss them! L

Like Comment July 22

SOO TRUE!! J

Like Comment July 15

The woman is still creeping in the wall paper.

Like Comment July 18

Im tired. Time for a nap.

Like Comment July 12

I just love roses!!! http://www.garden.org/subchannels/flowers/roses?q=show&id=1378

Like Comment July 3

THIS YELLOW WALLPAPER NEEDS TO BE TORN DOWN!!! I’m just glad that the baby doesn’t have to be in here.

Like Comment June 30

John wants me to rest and not do anything but I think its best for me to go back to normal things uggg-feeling frustrated.

Like Comment June 15

Just moved in!!!! Love our house! It will be perfect for 3 months. Except for my bedroom...

Like Comment June 1

Blog #5: Orientation

          Welcome to working with my 36 year old, paraplegic cousin in his home.  I learned the hard way that you should never work for family but since you’re of no relation, I should see no problems as long as you remember these few things. SHOW UP TO WORK ON TIME! This is a biggie! If you don’t you might just be fired. While you are clocked on please do your job. If you sit around and do nothing you will be fired, either by him or his mother.  When you get there in the morning, you have to make his breakfast without waking him up. He has a Rottweiler, he may look intimidating but really he is just a big teddy bear. You will grow to love him.

           For the morning shift: First, put food in the dog bowl and make the dog wait ten minutes before eating. Trust me he will wait. Then, go to the fridge get out one egg, coffee creamer, orange juice, a bran muffin and the butter. Start by cooking the egg. It HAS to be over easy. If it isn't it might as well be thrown out because he won’t eat it. While the egg is cooking start making the oatmeal on the stove. Here is how he likes it to be done. Make the coffee (or if it is already made, heat it up in the microwave). Next, heat up the already buttered muffin in the microwave. When it is all said and done put them in the correct containers, which are here in this cupboard. Then bring all of this food and put it on his bedside tray in his bedroom. Don’t forget his pills, located here. Now you can wake him up. While he is waking up and starting to eat his breakfast, start on the chore list located in the white binder on the shelf above the microwave. When he is done with his breakfast you need to collect the dishes and wash them. Next take the dog out to go potty. He doesn't need a leash but remember the gloves and the plastic bag.

            For the afternoon shift: finish the chore list and take the dog out potty and fix him lunch and or dinner. Also do everything and anything he asks. If you find yourself having spare time ask if it ok if you bring a book or something to do. He may find something for you to do.  You may be taking him to doctor’s appointments and or etc. during this shift.  Warning! His mom will interfere. Let her. It’s for the best. If you fight her on anything you will be fired. I can assure you of that. Does his mom live with him you ask? No but she might as well be. Your new client will have his good and bad moments. Don’t take anything to heart (unless of course you have done something wrong in which case you need to change). Also, never comment on his personal life. It is none of your business therefore you shouldn't care what he does or doesn't do. By interfering in his life will be a loss of your job. Never complain about your life to him because he won’t care. And neither will his mother.

            If you have any problems or questions, please ask.  But please don’t ask me because I really don’t know or therefore care. Trust me when I say I have done this before and the only good that came out of it was that I learned never to work for family and it was a good working experience.  Good Luck!

blog #4: Southern Grotesque

The setting of this short story has many grotesque features. for example the setting on a road trip, which is essentially the middle of nowhere. The family ends up getting killed in the woods after their car crashes into a ditch.

 “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, points out the negative aspects of America’s southern culture through racial bigotry, when the grandmother talks about how blacks are so poor that they can’t afford clothes. Or that they are not as smart because of the story she told about the black kid who ate the watermelon because it said “E.A.T”. The short story also points out violence in the south at the beginning of the story when the grandmother shows her son the paper about how “The Misfit” has broken out of the penitentiary and at the end of the story kills the family. This could also be a part of irony.

It is ironic that the Grandmother says “I wouldn't take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn't answer to my conscience if I did.” (p. 498). And yet she still goes on the trip with them and they all get killed because of it. She also tells the restaurant owner that he’s going to get robbed and she’s the one who gets robbed of her life.

One of the characters that I found to be grotesque is the grandmother.  To be honest I never liked her from the beginning. She insisted on going on the trip and she also insisted on bringing her cat. Both of these things ended up leading her and her family to their doom. Her son and grand kids definitely do not win the family of the year award in my book. Because of this I do feel bad for her. I also feel sorry for her because as hard as she tried, she couldn't get the Misfit to accept Christ.

Even though this short story didn't show anyone to have any physical grotesques there were grotesque secular grotesques. For example when the grandmother was listening to the gun fire as her family was being killed, how she tried to change an unchangeable man. Only to find out it couldn't be done because of the evil thoughts that he possessed.