4/21

the color of my mothers eyes are green. I know because I saw them and she told me they were green. I trust her when she tells me something. the people who I trust most are my parents, my grandparents, and my best friends Anna, Kacy, and Kyle. I trust them because they have given me reasons to trust them and have treated me very good. The color of the ocean depending on where you are is either blue or a beautiful green, and that is because I've scene it and have been told that since I was little. I do believe there is life after death because I have Faith in my lord Jesus and God. I believe it is always wrong to steal because I have been taught this for years and the Bible tells me not to do it. I believe there is no life on other planets because thats just stupid and that comes from my own intuition.

4/21

Several events in my life have caused me to become disillusioned about how the world works. Probably a notable one for me and many other Americans were the September 11 attacks on our country. In 2001 I was only 11 and I didn't quite understand what was going on but as I think about it and I got older it made me think. It made me wonder why someone or a group of people would hurt or hate another group of people for just being different. It ,I guess in some way, made me question my trust in people and humanity. It showed me what the world was really like and that there are very bad people out there willing to kill to achieve their goals. However, at the same time it showed a rare but positive side in humanity when everyone gathered together to support the country and one another. While losing faith in humanity it made me gain it right back.

Mar/7 #7

This book was a great book and yes i did come away from it with a new view on truth. I realized that someone can tell you something completely untrue to help you find the truth in something else. This book is a true war story because it follows all the criteria to be one. Their are no morals, their is no point, and you can't believe what most of the stories say. So yes the book is a true war story. I would recommend this book to someone taking English 1102 because it tells great stories and you can get a good look at the Vietnam War through stories that aren't even true. Also the characters are very real and you feel sad when several of them die and others have to make painful decisions.

Mar/7

In "On The Rainy River" the author/soldier runs away to Canada to escape getting drafted. He ends up staying with a man named Elroy Berdahl at a small resort. Elroy seems like he was in the boys shes at one time in his life. He kept trying to give the boy extra money. He was never trying to pressure the boy into leaving. Finally he always steered clear of the topic oh why he was there. It was also possible Elroy didn't even really work or live at the resort. When the author goes to say goodbye Elroy is gone and his pickup truck was missing. The author says "I went inside and waited for a while, but i felt a bone certainty that he wouldn't be back. In a way, I thought, it was appropriate". Maybe the man just happened to be there and he decided he should help the boy out. Finally the author indicates that the reason of him going to war would bother him forever. He said he was a coward and basically he was going to war so people wouldn't talk and he wouldn't embarrass his family. In the story "The Ghost Soldiers" the narrator has changed a lot and now he is consumed with getting a guy named Bobby Jorgenson back for almost letting him die.The narrator will always hold grudges because oh how adamant he was to get Jorgenson back and because now he wants to get Azar back for kicking him. The narrator and bobby will become good friends because know they both know how the other feels. They shake hands and then agree to get Azar back Finally the narrator will always remember Azar as a cruel person because Azar just didn't want to stop taunting Bobby even when O'Brien said that was enough. Also Azar calls him pathetic and then kicks him in the head because he wanted to stop hurting Bobby. The narrator Tim O'Brien changes a lot from the first story to the second one.He goes from being a coward and scared of war to embracing it and not being so scared of everything. O'Brien also went from a educated polished young man to one who is filled with anger and revenge for other people.

Mar/2

My favorite story was "Sweetheart of The Song Tra Bong". I liked it because it showed what happens when you bring a young girl to the war and how it effects her and her relationship with her boyfriend. It had romance and a little action to it which is a great mix. It was weird to see how she ended up, but it also left me in suspense, because it never told what really became of her because she was just MIA. My least favorite story was "On The Rainy River" because it was just way to long and all he talked about was how he didn't want to go to war and why he didn't want to. It wasn't a total wasted story but it was still pretty boring to me. The character I can mostly relate to is probably Jimmy Cross because I would have the same problems when I went to war. I wouldn't think about it and I would let my attention get caught on things it should be, and I wouldn't be able to control the men in my platoon. The character I didn't like the most was Azar because he was just to apathetic and rude. He had no heart and I especially don't like how he made fun of Kiowa after he died.

Mar/2

If I was explaining what to keep an eye on in the book to a second session student I would say first off pay close attention to each individual part in each story because, one minute O'Brien will say on thing, and two pages later he will totally contradict it. I would also tell the student to keep an open mind about each story, and not write it off as a total lie, because if he or she can understand the message behind the story then they will greatly appreciate the book a whole lot more. Also i would say that they need to pay attention to the struggles of each character and their positions in the platoon. Those positions really help to understand the stories some of the men tell. The semi-truths would be hard to explain but I would basically say he is lying to you to help you understand the story so pay attention.

March/1

A movie I really like is called "Facing The Giants". Its a great Christian movie about a coach and his football team at a Christian school, and how they go from losing all there games and having no faith in God, to putting their faith in him and turn their season around and beat the big team the Giants. It was a great movie and it was very encouraging, so much so i went out and bought a copy of it. It is an all around fantastic movie that has romance, action, and a some comedy. I would recommend it to anyone. It being based on a true story that happened right hear in Georgia made me believe it a whole lot more and helped my faith. It made it seem more real and showed that anything can happen.

THE HEART IN CONFLICT 1/23

I read a book series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians and the main characters, as they Always do, go through huge changes of heart. Percy the main charcter starts of finding out he's the son of Poseidon and a human women and he must accept it and fight to protect the people he loves. Throughout the series he faces this and mostly comes to terms with it by the end of the first book. Also he has a love hate relationship with a girl named Annabeth a daughter of Athene were they love to hate each other. However, by the end of the last book they have fallen for each other and end up dating. The biggest change is made in my opinion by Groover, Percy's best friend who is a Satyr. He starts off being indecsive, scared, and weak but by the the third book he is stronger in magic and helping Percy out left and right and gains alot more courage in fighting monsters. Also a girl named Clarissa who starts of bring tough as nails and hating Percy learns to at least tolerate him and bcomes a friendlier and more caring person through her battles and meeting her boyfriend Chris and saving him.

Irony 1/23

First off Ilove irony because its hilarious (most of the time) and thats how it normally is for me. My experiences with it deal with school. I remember my freshman year at my high school. I had a tecaher named Mr. Christain and he was my health teacher and I always heard he had a wife and she taught lit and drama. Well i thought drama was stupid and that i would never take it. One day we go to her class room and use it because ours is being used and she comes in with some drama students and again I think that drama is stupid and I will never take it. Then the next semester i get put in her lit class and love it and her. Then my somphmore year I get put in drama and fall in love with it and by my senior year i was the lead male actor who always auditioned for the biggest parts. I ended up taking drama 1-5 and graduate a veteren of the program. I love irony is so entertaining.

Things I Carry

The things i carry daily would be my wallet, cellphone, Ipod, keys,and normally a hoddie or jacket. They are all really important to me but if i had to choose one it would be my wallet and if that failed me then my cellphone. My wallet has my credit cards, money (not at the moment though), and my license which i need. If for whatever reason i couldn't carry that then I would need my cellphone to survive so I can have comunication with the world. Other then that My ipod would be nice so I have some tunes to rock out to. It's not neccessary to survive though. The jacket would be if I was somewhere cold though. My keys would be useless without my car or house so yeah don't need those. Most importantly my wallet or cellphone though.

Jan/17

WWell its a new semester and a new year, i haven't posted in over a month but her I am now. i like this new semester but it's going to be challenging. I have about 17 hours and thats alot for most people but if I stay on top i can get it done and survive the semester with very little therepy needed afterward. So anyway New Year's was kool and so was Christmas. i got a couch that I needed for my room and a ipod touch and some other stuff plus a trip to New York which was awesome but anyway I gotta go cya l8r.

Nov/3

So today is the last day of classes for me. I have almost completed my first semester of college. Tonight for an early Christmas my family and I fly to New York City its going to be awesome. This will be my second trip there and I really just wanna walk the streets. Next week I take my two finals one in math the other in lit and I'm going to thave to study on the plane for them but hopefully I will study and not just goof around. Well its been a fun semester but I gotta go cya l8r.

Dec/1

Well ts the first day of December and the Christmas Spirit is settling in. I can't wait till Thursday because I leave for New York City. it's going to be awesome and then I've made plans for a big Christmas party the 19 and that's going to be fun. Then let's see after that there is the 23 when my dads family meets and then the 24 when moms family meets. Finally the 25 and then New Years day. I can't wait for all of that it will be awesome. Well that's about it so I'll cya l8r.

Nov/29

The Kite Runner

1) Role of Women- The women are in the background. they are subservient to their husbands and they seem to be given less oppurtuiy then their husbands. Such as men can have two wives and women can't openly question their fathers like men can.

2) Betrayel- Amir is the betrayer. The book shows that betrayel is nothing but what a coward does. amir is guilty of this in two accounts, One was not helping Hassen and the other was when he accused him of stealing.

3) Brothers- the book says that their is a certain brotherhood between men who have drunk from the same breast. This is what Amir and hassen did. The book speaks very strongly on this subject.

4) Guilt- Amir had the hiden guilt and it caused him alot of pain but when he realozed that Ali and Hassen bothknew he was grateful at least.Soraya told Amir of her past and she was cofoted by telling him. The open guilt is far less painful.

5) Redemption- Amir receives redemption at the end and the book says that it is important it can be very good for the soul.

6) Exodus/Journey- The book shows that it is hatd for Amir and baba to leave their entire life.It shows their loss and also it shoes death. this is when Kamel dies of fumes from the truck and his father kills himself.

7) Fathers and sons- The fathers hope their sons will turn out just like them such as Baba hoping for Amir. the sons like Amir are just wanting their fathers attention. It shows that fathers and sons are different then mothers and daughters and they can openly discuss issues and they just want relationships between each other.

8) Class Distinction- The book shows a distinct difference between to very differnt type of people Hazaras and Pushtans. the Hazara are the mongul descendants and servents to the elite and wealthy Pushtans.

Parallelism- In the story parallelism is used when Amir is telling how he makes the kite.

Character foils- baba and Rahim kahn are character foils because while baba dosent listen to Amir Rahim Kahn dows. He is like a father to him when Baba is not. He encourages Amir in his syories while Baba makes fun at them. Rahim Kahn is evrything Baba is not.

Hassen and Amir are character foils because while Hassen is encredibly loyal Amir is not. Hassen is very fast and athletic but Amir is not. Hassen is the son Baba wants and Amir is the son Baba got.

Forshadowing- The author uses this alot is his book. He alwyas seems to speak using it. Such as when Amir says that this will be the last Kite Hassen would run for me. Also before you find out Baba has cancer the author says that Baba was coughimg and has the sniffles. It forshadows something bigger to come.

Flashback- The whole book up until 2001 is a flashback of Amirs life anditswritten as such. The forshadowing is closly encorporated in this because Amir has already experienced it. All Amirs experiences are in this noval the good and the bad.

The books biggest positive is that it shows kobul and afgabistan in a new way. It shows how it always wasnt the war orn country we all thought it was. It helped me look at it in a new light. The negative of this reading is that its a harsh reality gripper. It brings out issues of death and rape and loss that are very shocking. Although it offsets this by Amirs marraige to Soraya and his adoption of Sorab.

Setting
The Muslims have five daily prayers they say.
Their is a big distinction beween Hazaras and Pushtans.
Kobul has its big kite tournament thats like our Aerican Bseball.
The Afganschool year is different then Americas. They look forward to winter not Summer.
Afganistan at this point is still very primative. No T.V. and they have very few makes of cars.

Minor Caracters
Assef- The embodiment of evil in my opinion. He is half German and half Afgan. He loves Hitler and he rapes Hassen. He seems to have some control or fear inti his parents.

Kamal- he is one of assefs friends. He like Wali dosents agree with raping Hassen. he later dies after he succumbs to fumes in the fuel truck and his father kills himself.

General Sahib- He is Sorayas father. He loves his daughter very much and went to get her from her drugee boyfriend when she ran away from him. he approves of their marraige and is good friends with Baba.

Ali- Ali is Hassens father and babas friend. He serves them like a sevrent and is babas oldest friend. he is Baba's Hassen. His face is paralized and at the end we find out he wasnt really Hassens father.

Jamila she is Soraya mother and very close to her daughter, they talk often. She has a stroke that paralizees half her body when soraya runs away. she likes Amir and wants them to be married.

Symbols
Blue kite-Hassens loyalty for Amir.
The Journry- loss, death.
Assef-the future of Afganistan.
Pomagranate Tree- Amir and Hassen relationship.
Kite Running- A piece of Afganistan.

Nov/24

I am finally done with my research paper and it was a learning experience. I hope it is a good grade and at this point I only want it to be passing. I can't wait for Thanksgiving and all that food. It is going to be so good and I get to see my family. Well thats it foe today.

Nov/19

So Ive know learned to hate research papers. They r one of the most annoying papers to write. I'm just hoping I get a good grade. Besides that I'm pretty good. I just got a new paint job in my room and new carppett and I'm getting a new bed and dresser so my room is gonna look great. Well that's about it so I guess ill cyanide l8r

Nov/17

So today my computer isn't working so I'm blogging from my phone. I just got the new Droid and its awesome I love it. So.today we have more of our research paper do and I actually did this part so I'm hoping for a better grade. Also today the new left 4dead game comes out an I'm getting it. So that's really about it so ill cyanide l8r.

Nov/12

So last weekend didn''t go as planned and that was okay. There were some things said that needed to be said and a party that I really didn't need to go to and I didn't so that's cool. This weekend should go better because I get a new phone and then on Tuesday, which i know isn't the weekend, the new video game I've been wanting comes out. So that's great and then Thanksgiving is coming up. I'm excited because we are getting to my favorite time of year CHRISTMAS!!! Anyway I've got to go cya l8r.

Nov/5

It is so hard to get the perfect schedule in college. Everyone tries but they can't. I am having a horrible time and its just not goin well. So anyway im good its the last day of my school week. This weekend is gonna rock and my grades r great so everything is good. Thats really all i gotta say. Cya 18r

Nov/3

So its tuesday and I'm bored. This week is gonna be great though. On friday I am hanging out with my best friends and on saturday I am goin to a party. i also have the walk for alzeimers which i just mispelled horribly. So yeah that will be fun oh and then we have church on Sunday and no more haunted house which makes me upset. I have a book due tmro in history and I havent really read it so I have a lot to do tonite. So thats gonna stress me out so anyway gotta go. Cya l8r.