Summing It All Up

I really enjoyed taking this creative writing course. I am privileged to of met so many creative people. I will miss everyone. I learned a lot. The most significant for me, of all things learned, was poetry. I must admit I was very ignorant about how to write poems. I always believed that the only kind of poetry out there was rhyming. I was so happy to learn that that is not always the case. Poetry has unlocked a creative door inside my head. I found a beautiful form of self-expression.

I feel after taking this class, I now have the confidence to write some stories that have been dying to be told. I have already started to write one. I also plan to continue writing poetry because I enjoy it so much.

Ira Glass/Representation of my Nemesis

I really had a hard time understanding what he was saying. His voice sort of ran together too much for me. However, I was able to get one thing out of him: Failure is part of the success. Which I can somewhat appreciate and if old Albert Einstein were alive today, he would agree with Ira. I also agree its important for the person listening to your show to be able to get the most out of your story. It should all flow together in a way that is comprehensive and interesting.

I don't believe I can relate Ira Glass to my nemesis at all.......Perhaps if I followed his show I could write more about what I thought of him.

One word to sum up my nemesis: Straitjacket!

Open Mic Night

I was surprise at how well it did go. No one fainted on stage, no one tripped and fell, no one messed up their readings. It was a good night. My daughter enjoyed being there too. I think she learned a lot just by watching the students perform their own work.

I would agree that maybe in the future, having a more intimate place to read your poetry as opposed to the cafeteria would be better. External noise was a bit of a distraction at times. Also, somewhere less brighter would be ideal. A darker, quieter, atmosphere would catch the whole poetry vibe much better.....

Response to Klosterman's Book

My impression of the book "Killing Yourself To Live" is: It was okay. I found I could understand about 80% of what Klosterman was writing about. I found what he initially set out to write about (detours aside) was informative. Especially the story of Pattie Boyd, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison which prompted me read more about those three in another novel. I liked when he would associate certain songs with what was going on in his life at that time.
I was a little bored was his whining about his girlfriends and his love life which I think took away from the story somewhat.
I would recommend this book be used if the majority of the class were older than say 28. Because at least they would know who some of the musicians are that were discussed in the book.

Do You Know Your Enemy?

An interesting portion of Klosterman's book discusses his relationship with a guy known as "My Nemesis" (Pages 157-164). I found this amusing because Klosterman and his nemesis are Frienmies. What an oxymoron that is! (Hold on, I need to look up the term oxymoron to be sure I'm using it correctly; I'm okay, at least according to Wikipedia....). How can you be buds with a dude who punched you in your face, publicly taunts you via a newspaper publication, and then proceeds to get in ANOTHER fist fight with you outside a bar; then you live with him after he punches your lights out and a few years later after all the crap you've done to each other you still want to hang out with the guy? Plus, Nemesis guy seems extremely bored with talking to Chuck and vice-versa, so what's the point of this friendship? I'm confused. Their frienemy relationship seems strained and phony to me. Its so ridiculous that its actually funny. I take it this is a guy thing? Cuz I don't know of any women that would still be buddies after all of that shit these two put each other through....

What's New????

Not a whole hell of a lot! I am getting my daughters prepped for softball season. My eldest tries out for her school team tomorrow. It will be the first time my kindergartner will play this season so my husband and I have been practicing with her. Baseball is a big deal in my family. I grew up on the ball field, even though I never played. My father has for over 50 years. My mom played briefly and so did my brother. My husband started about two years ago. My older two daughters have been playing for three years. It is a fun way to spend family time together.

Response to "Post Secret"

This site reminds me of the song video by the group All American Rejects called "Dirty Little Secret" where they have random people holding their various secrets, also written on postcards, for the world to see. I wonder if this Post Secret site was inspired by the All American Rejects video or vice-versa. With that being said, I did like the website. It takes a certain amount of courage to be able to post your secrets for the wide web to see. Some of those secrets are embarrassing to admit. Like the woman who has to shave her face or the guy who has boobs. Some deal with issues of guilt or loneliness. Some are very sad to read.....