Inspirational Reads

As I looked through many blogs I found that many people write about a series of books or an author. I decided to join the bandwagon and tell of some of my favorite authors and series. Because of school I usually don't have free time to read until Christmas or Summer.
This past summer I started reading a series by the inspirational writer Liz Curtis Higgs. The series doesn't have a particular name but the books in chronological order are: Thorn in my Heart, Fair if the Rose, Whence Came a Prince, and Grace in Thine Sight. The series parallels the life of Jacob and Rachel in the Bible. Liz uses this story in the Bible as a basis for her series while adding her own twist. She also added Scottish history into the story. The series kept me hooked till the last book, Whence Came a Prince, which didn't contain as much suspense as the first three books. Not only did I enjoy Higgs books this summer but I also read some of Francine Rivers novels.
Francine Rivers is also an inspirational writer. Her most famous book is Redeeming Love. The book follows the life of Hosea, who was told by God to take a wife of whoredoms. Although the book is quiet lengthy, I couldn't put it down and finished it in a few days. Like Higgs, Francine Rivers puts her own twist to the story. If I had to recommend any book, I would choose Redeeming Love. I also enjoyed The Last Sin Eater, which tells the story of a community giving up a lost hope and turning to God.
I am so excited for Christmas because it means I will have time to read other material than what is in a textbook!

Tangled into a Disney Movie

When I watched the trailer for Disney's reportedly last princess movie, Tangled, it wasn't that enticing. But when I saw the movie in theaters I was wowed by the movie and it's plot. Tangled tells the story of Rapunzel who is forbidden to leave the castle because her hair holds magical qualities. When she sneaks out in search for mysterious stars she finds an adventure awaiting her. I would sure like to know what product she uses because her L-O-N-G hair always looks so shiny and clean despite the fact it drags along the ground behind her. Although it wouldn't be a princess movie it the princess wasn't perfect.
Anyways the end of the movie is quite a surprise. During the end I heard someone say "this is awful". They were referring to the events that lead to the end but like all princess movies everyone lives happily ever after.

Trapped

Trapped

            It all started with a late phone call. It was simple really. Call mom when I get done with exams and tell her my sister and I made it safely to the movie theater. We arrived there safely, but instead of calling mom, we enjoyed a meal and watched Prince Caspian. After the movie I remembered I forgot to call mom. When she answered, I knew my sister and I would pay when we got home. And we did.

            I remember that day like it was yesterday. When we got home, mom had an application to Honeys Supermarket where she worked. She said, “Hopefully this will teach you some responsibility.” My heart was broken. I had just gotten saved a few months ago and started to go to church regularly.

I knew as I filled out the application I was signing away the Sundays I had set apart for the Lord.  For almost an hour all I could do was cry until my head was throbbing.

            The next day my sister and I had an interview. I asked about getting Sundays off. The assistant manager said she “would let me know.” But she didn’t. Almost a year passed by when I went to the owner with my situation. She told me, “I can’t give one person a day off; it wouldn’t be fair to others.” I remained at Honeys because I had financial obligations and shared a car with my sister. I felt trapped and longed for the day when my heart would be relieved.

That day came two years later when we got another car for college. My mind was set and I knew what I was going put in applications to places that wouldn’t make me work on Sundays.

            The problem was I had to tell my mom. I wanted her approval. She reluctantly approved but was adamant about changing my mind. Work was the only time I got to see my mom at the time because she was currently looking for a house so I was living at my dad’s. At this point instead of feeling relieved I felt like I was trapped tighter. I love my mom so much and I didn’t want her upset, but I knew I had to please the Lord.

            I put in applications at Chick-Fil-A and Hamrick’s; then I went to Honeys to tell the owner I was looking for a different job. When I left, I remember crying and felt I had been squashed like a tomato.

            For two years everyone in my church prayed that my sister and I would get a job that allowed us to have Sundays off. A month after I put in an application that prayer was answered. I had an interview at Chick-Fil-A and got the job. I was happy and scared at the same time. I went to work to put in my two weeks’ notice. While I waited, my mom and I sat outside and talked. She tried her hardest to make me stay. She wasn’t mean about it, just sad she had to let one of her children go. She left crying while I remained on the bench. I continued to the office and put in my two week notice.

            Afterwards I was glad my mom was somewhat supportive, but watched as she had to let me go. I have learned to never leave my mom worried about my location and sometimes I have to do what I know is right for the Lord even though it would hurt a little.

Proposal

Today as we watched an episode of the Bill Cosby Show I thought it was simply for enjoyment. In this episode Bill's daughter Vanessa shocks the family by telling them she has been engaged for six months. Her parents aren't pleased and are even more displeased when they meet their future head of maintenance son-in-law. When they meet, the Cosby's find out they were the only one's who were secluded from knowing about the engagement. During the meal Bill gives an metaphor of the situation. He compares Vanessa's fiance to a fine steak handed on a trashcan lid.
As I thought about the "real reason" my instructor showed the episode I thought of the research plan. Some writers begin a research paper with a proposal. Writers do this in the beginning stages of the research paper to ensure that they are on the right track. They wouldn't want to put off this proposal because in the end they will realize they skipped an important part of the research paper process and their audience will more than likely be disappointed. Those who get proposed to and keep it from their parents will run into trouble, just like writers who skip the proposal of the research paper.

Why should you examine your writing style with the idea of improving it?

I have never really thought about this before, but now that I have I see the importance in it. Many others (including myself) have a plain writing style that no one has challenged or tried to improve.
Through my writing experience I have realized my plain writing style has come from years of hearing how to write, but not with voice. If every time I wrote I tried to improve the voice in my paper it would better my writing style and capture the audience. Why should anyone want to read my writing if I didn't care about improving my writing style. If I do not start examining my writing style and improving it I would not become the best writer I could be.
Those who choose to keep their current writing style will never realize the potential they have in writing and are hurting themselves in the long run.It gives one a good feeling when they know they have turned in a paper in which they have improved their writing style.

Comedy

Comedy by far is my favorite movie genre. Comedies include jokes, pranks, and satire that are sure to bring a smile onto any one's face. In most comedies there is usually a pair of characters in which one is serious and the other is playful like Barney and Andy in the Andy Griffith Show. In other cases there is a comical character in a group of characters with many different types of personalities like Screech in Saved by the Bell. Comedies are full of many kinds of characters that together bring out the best laughs.
Most comedies begin with a problem such as a missing character or ending up on a deserted island. As the plot unfolds the characters go through many obstacles. These obstacle and how the characters face them is what makes the movie a comedy. The problem is usually resolved and the movie ends on a comical note.
Some of the best movies that fit this genre are I Love Lucy, The Little Rascals, and Rush Hour. In my opinion the older the movie or show the genuinely funny they are. The jokes in these movies capture the watchers attention and are "watcher friendly".Some of the worst movies in this genre are The Wedding Planner, Napoleon Dynamite, and t.v. shows such as How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men. Most modern day comedies include foul language and sexual innuendos which makes them more crude than comical. Some "comedies" such as The Importance of Being Earnest are too serious to be funny. Then there are wonderful comedies like George of the Jungle that fail when the second film has no original characters and a dull sense of humor.

My Writing Process

My writing process is very simple and systematic. Since essays are what I am used to writing most I will share my process using the famous five paragraph essay.  First comes the topic of the paper.  Once I have the topic I make a bulleted list of ideas that will make up the body of my essay. After I make the list I pick the most important ideas to write about then I make a separate list of examples and analysis for each idea. Now that I know what I am going to write about I form my thesis statement. Following the thesis statement I write my introductory, body, and conclusion paragraphs in that order. My introductory paragraph usually contains material that will hook the readers attention and my thesis statement. The body contains the main ideas and support to back up those ideas. The conclusion paragraph restates my thesis and includes how it applies to others. Next I edit my paper. I check for grammatical and spelling errors first and then I check to make sure my examples are solid and that I have enough analysis. To do this I usally mark errors with a pen and use a highlighter where I have analysis in my paper. If there is not enough highlighter on my paper I know that my paper is full of too much opinion rather than support. After all the corrections are made I write my final paper and re-read it one more time to make sure I have a strong paper!

Process of Shopping

Although many people do not see shopping as a process it can be! When I go shopping there is always the decision--where should I go? Should I go to the mall where there are many stores to choose from or should I go one place at a time? Once I've chosen where I want to go I choose the department I want to look at first. Since clothes are my favorite thing to shop for I usually go there first. You can never have too many clothes! I always want to get the most for my money so I then decided whether I should look at the clearance or regular priced items. After I've chosen all the possible outfits I want to buy I head to the fitting room. If it doesn't fit or look right on me I put it in one pile to put back while the other pile contains the clothes I know I would like to buy. Once I've put back the clothes I know I won't purchase I have to make the second most important decision in this process. Should I buy the really cute dress for thirty dollars or buy two shirts for twenty? After much deliberation I choose the outfit I want to buy. Then I decide whether I want to buy accessories for the outfit or wait till the next time. If I want an accessory with my outfit I choose  what would look the best and achieve the look or style I am looking for. Once I've found everything I'm looking for I go home and have the satisfaction that I have something new. After a few months go by I realize whether or not what I had bought was a good purchase or turned out to be something I would never wear!