3 Ways to Take the Fun Out of Travel

Recently I traveled to the Midwest for a family reunion using Frontier airlines to get there. Before hand I was ecstatic; I love to fly, the environments of airplanes and airports are amazing to me. All the different types of people together in one place, culture and worldliness, a bigger sense of self, I love it. But everything is changing on the air lines and its not for the better.

1. Nothing is Complimentary
I remember a time when they would give you a little snack, a drink, a blanket and or pillow if you wanted, and a free on flight movie. Not anymore, it cost 2 dollars for one little cup of drink, 3 dollars for a tiny bag of m&m's, and 6 dollars for a movie. Why? Is making money that necessary? The big business of travel and ruining the adventure for passengers. It is no longer the pleasant life changing experience that it used to be. Greed has taken over. The corporation should, at least I think, tone down on the obsession with money focus more on the people they are transporting.

2. The Change of Baggage Policies.
Nothing on the website front and center, but deep with in the rules and regulations of the frontier travel guide there is a big change to the baggage policies. No longer is it free for carry on's, and 30 dollars for a checked bag. Unbeknownst to many travelers it is now 35 dollars for a carry on and 20 dollars for a checked bag. People are misinformed and having to hand over money for bags,  and its stupid. The reasoning behind the change is to speed the boarding process up and I respect that. But if you are going to make such a big change you need to inform the travelers ahead of time. I cannot tell you how many people I saw having to swipe credit cards to pay for their bag.

3. Advertisement and Commercialism.
When I first sat down in my seat I noticed a little TV right at eye level in the seat in front of me. Playing cute little animation during the safety talks and pictures of clouds. Well, that's pretty cool right? Wrong, there's no movie paying unless you want to pay an obscene amount of money. So the entire flight you have the same Frontier and Volkswagen commercial playing over and over and over again for 5 hours. You cant turn it off, and you cant turn the brightness down its just right there, right in front of your face, the whole flight. I'm still a little bitter at this point. I felt as if I was in Fahrenheit 451.

flying is flying, anywhere you go. The whole trip was still very fun and I enjoyed looking at the earth from high above, and conversing with people from all over. The community and energy in airports and on each flight was very enjoyable. I just wish that everything wasn't so big business driven.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Mayda Del Valle

Poetry that Doesnt Suck

Postcards by Sarah Kay

I had already fallen in love with far too many postage stamps.
When you appeared on my doorstep wearing nothing but a postcard promise.
No, appear is the wrong word. Is there a word for sucker punching someone in the heart? Is there word for when you’re sitting at the bottom of a roller coaster and you realize that the climb is coming, that you know what the climb means, that you can already feel the flip in your stomach from the fall before you’ve even moved? Is there a word for that?

There should be.

You can only fit so many words in a postcard. Only so many in a phone call, only so many into space before you forget that words are sometimes used for things other than filling emptiness. It is hard to build a body out of words – I have tried.

We have both tried.

Instead of lying your head against my chest, I tell you about the boy who lives downstairs from me. Who stays up all night long practicing his drum set. The neighbors have complained. They have busy days tomorrow, but he keeps on thumping through the night convinced, I think, that practice makes perfect. Instead of holding my hand, you tell me about the sandwich you made for lunch today. How the pickles fit so perfectly against the lettuce. Practice does not make perfect.

Practice makes permanent.

Repeat the same mistakes over and over and you don’t get any closer to Carnage Hall, even I know that. Repeat the same mistakes over and over and you don’t get any closer! You never get any closer. Is there a word for the moment you win tug of war? When the weight gives and all that extra rope comes tumbling towards you. How even though you’ve won you still wind up with muddy knees and scratches on your hands.

Is there a word for that? I wish there was.

I would have said it. When we were finally alone together on your couch, neither one of us with anything left to say. Still now, I send letters into space. Hoping that some mailman somewhere will track you down and recognize you from the descriptions in my poems. That he will place the stack of them in your hands and tell you “There is a girl who still writes you. She doesn’t know how not to.”

This is honestly one of my all time favorite  poems, for multiple reasons. One of the main ones being the simplicity of the words, the pureness of the tone; Sarah Kay, is a master at painting pictures for the broken hearted. She has this way with her words that caresses your brain stem and brings up memories and pulls, tugs at buried emotions. She puts words to the unspeakable and complex nature of relationships. The horribly confusing and frustrating quietness that can creep through homes, the silent killer of marriages and friendships. Sarah (in all of her poems) has a certain soft mood that envelopes  the reader in a blurred, warm world only to violently crash reality on their heads with relatable metaphors and imagery.

This poet has a way with words, and most certainly doesn't suck.

Not With a Fizzle, But With a Bang

I love when books take you on a journey. I think the most amazing thing in the world is being taken away from your reality by a book that teaches lessons, takes breaths, has wild adventures, forbidden ideals and philosophy beyond comprehension. Fahrenheit 451, at least for me, has been a journey from the start. Although the whole of the book is utterly fascinating and could be analyzed endlessly, I would like for the moment to focus on the end of this piece of literature.

I wonder how it would feel, to be wrapped up in a drama, so plastic and unreal that an atomic blast is the only thing that would wake you up. I wonder what those people thought in their last fiery moments before the blaze obliterated their every sense of self. And for Montag to watch that paper thin society that he had known most of his life go up in such splendor and color; just enough to impress the culture underneath its heat. Montag must push through these ashes and create information, knowledge and history through the embers.

Montag and his band of brothers become the books, the soul surviving members of an unaccepting hateful society, with plans to rebuild and prosper the men head back to the city. All this for some books.

But no it's so much more than that. Its knowledge, its prevention of past mistakes and the evolution of humanity in a decent direction. Books bring so much more than a good story. They bring light to wrong doings, quiet serenity to hectic lives, information, data, material, instruction, enlightenment, propaganda, numbers, letters, change. Through flowery language and harsh words books have altered the world. And that is something worth fighting for.

"There was a silly damn bird called a Phoenix back before Christ: every few hundred years he built a pyre and burned himself up. He must have been first cousin to Man. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we're doing the same thing, over and over, but we've got one damn thing the Phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did. We know all the damn silly things we've done for a thousand years, and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it, some day we'll stop making the goddam funeral pyres and jumping into the middle of them. We pick up a few more people that remember, every generation." (163)

Twiggy
 

Fahreheit 451 vocab

pratfall-a humiliating fall, or blunder. 
Upon entering the room she had a rather embarassing pratfall.
bewilderedly-confused or puzzeled
i looked bewilderdly across the feild looking for her.
titillation-to excite or arouse
To be in his arms is an unspeakable titillation.
theremin-a musical instrument
The band was doomed until Irving brought his thermin.
tabloids-sensational in a vulgar way, newspaper
The Tabloids provoke feelings of anger in the people.
centrifuge-machine that separates two fluids based on density
A man was taken in and the centrifuge sparated his stomach acids
haltingly- to do something in a jerking, halting manner
She haltingly described the morbid situation.
probing-to explore something
Dr. Mullay began to prob the infected area.
stagnat-having no current flow
He moved with a sickly stagnat limp.

What are people talking about?

People on this campus are talking about 5 things, sex, drugs, sports, media and each other. Honestly its a little sad; part of me thinks that it's just how teens work, how humans in general work, and the other part wonders if the lack of novel reading and expectations have dropped all of our I.Qs to 55. I believe, from experience and just day to day observations, that a huge reason for this is people wanting to fit in. Everyone just wants to say the things that will get them the most likes, the view that will be most agreed with and less questioned. If society challenged us to take stands on hard issues that have plagued humans for all time, as individauls we would be attacked and have to stand up for what we believe in. And for a lot of people that is really hard, having to stay strong through the doubt and fear, to not cave in and lower themselves to the weakest link.

The best way to slove this problem; Get a hobby, a passion, find people to interact with that you actually care about and get along with. Stop trying to impress everyone and make everyone happy 'cause its impossible anyways.  Fall in love with your morals and values, escape the confining box of normality and get out there.

Just do you,


Twiggy

Fahrenheit 451 Vocab

tatters-irregularly torn pieces of cloth, paper, or other material. 
 The poor girls clothes were in tatters.
merely-just, only
 He merely brushed my hand, and my heart went fluttering.
parlor-a sitting room in a private house
 We sat in the parlor and enjoyed an afternoon brunch
abrupt(ly)-sudden and unexpected
 The mouse abruptly turned the corner and stared into the eyes of the viscous cat.
refracted-make (a ray of light) change direction when it enters at an angle.
 The tiny diamond seemed to refract, reflect and all the absorbed light in the room
immense-extremely large
 I have an immense debt to Tony that i still don't know how to pay.
imperceptibly-impossible to perceive
 It is an imperceptibly, irregular possibility that there is a lion in the upstairs wardrobe.
ventilator-an appliance for ventilating a room 
 She had to move her sick sister due to the damage done to the 4 ventilators
olfactory-relating to the sense of smell
The onion reduced my olfactory system to mush.
 

Fahrenheit 451 questions

What is the significance of the salamander symbol in Fahrenheit 451? 
I believe that the salamander is the firemen themselves. I did a little outside research and when placed in fire this animals' body starts foaming enabling it to with stand the heat of the flame. Futher long ago, in medieval times people believed that salamanders were born of fire and could survive through any type of destruction. In relation to the book, the firemen can go in and out of flame and heat without any damage, but as the book progresses it is easy to see the destruction that fire can bring to the characters not physically but mentally. However there is survival through all this destruction, just like the salamander's ability to survive fire

What is the inciting incident of the story?  If you're not sure, choose an event and explain why you think it qualifies.
The incident that sets off this book is when the old women is burnt alive. After this tragedy we see a drastic change in Montag, our main character. He is shaken and deeply influenced by the unnecessary burning of this women and all the knowledge she possesses. He suddenly feel compelled to take advantage of the knowledge he has access to and to make a change in his life.

Describe Montag at the beginning of the novel.  Do you think he's a hero?  Why/not?
Montag is a ignorant, working grunt. He is just trying to get by. Trying to love his wife, working hard to keep her happy and working hard to ignore the morbid purpose of his job. Guy Montag is no hero. He is not courageous, or brave. In fact he does everything he can to just "skate by" in life. Not until Clarisse does he grow up and out.

Describe Bradbury's tone.  What is his attitude toward the characters, the topics, and the audience?  How can you tell?
He speaks as if he is talking to every single man woman and child there has ever been. He speaks in simple terms that anyone could interpret and understand, yet the words themselves have weight, and the feeling of grand and great importance.

Describe Bradbury's diction and syntax.  Does he use formal, sophisticated terms or does his prose sound like he's in the room talking to you?  Do his sentences vary in length or are they all about the same?  How do Bradbury's choices create description, characters, action, and meaning?  (Note: There is no hidden "right" answer to that last part, it's open to your interpretation.)
He uses both formal and regular terms with such ease, that although it is descriptive and challenging literally it isn't beyond grasp or understanding. The sentences vary from lengthy to short but who honestly can tell, most are too busy reading to pay attention to such things. This new way of writing should be called Bradbury speak because I've never seen anyone else do it. The way the author writes makes the characters, symbols, and the setting (both the physical world and the culture or society) jump off the page and seem almost too real.

Twiggy

Perks Of Being a Wallflower

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alseep+smiths

I would recommend listening to this while reading my Literary Analysis; not only is it a great song but it is a huge part of the book.

PART 1


I found this book through the movie. I was very emotionally impacted by the film and I was absolutely certain the book would be even more devastating and hilarious than the movie could ever be. But over all, the main reason i was drawn to this book is because of the connections I have with it. I feel very similarly to the characters, and its weird to think that every person I have met in real life can be compared to a person in this book. We all feel pain, we all know suffering. But sometimes its hard to put that feeling into words; but Stephen Chbosky bluntly and naturally puts every experience of heartbreak into incredibly sweet, innocent phrasing. Through the eyes of Charlie we can easily see the world for what it really is, a laugh, a tragedy and a kiss. That is what kept me reading, the way Charlie effortlessly puts into words and phrases the experience of growing up. I could not put the book down, I have read it at least 7 times since I first purchased it, and each time it only gets better.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a series of letters from a taciturn boy named Charlie. They follow his everyday life, relationships and are perfect example of coming into your own, and growing up. Through Charlie and his friends, Chbosky wishes to show us the imperfections and pain every single person has to deal with. Of which he completely and wholly succeeded. From the moment I was introduced to Charlie, i saw too much of myself in him. It was frightening to have real, tangible writing that so perfectly described things bouncing around my head. In all honestly at first I was afraid to find too much of myself in the novel (which i did) but i realize there is nothing negative about finding your whole life written in a book.

Most of the time in this novel Chbosky uses very simple, direct language when explaining painful things. Which I believe is the way everyone looks at pain. Not as an emotion, or living breathing torment in your history, but a simple explanation, a blunt statement. For example when Charlie speaks about her Aunt Helen being molested as a child, this is how Chbosky words the confession,

 "It was done by someone close to her. She finally told her dad. He didn't believe her because of who it was. A friend of the family. It just made it worse. My grandma never said anything either. And the man kept coming over for visits." (pg 90)

The sentences are short and to the point. Making it seem almost unreal, as if someone is trying to passively suggest that is didn't happen., when it most certainly did and the effects are greater than we can imagine. Another example is when Charlie talks of Craig cheating on Sam

"And when i say cheat I don't mean he got drunk once and fooled around with another girl and felt bad about it. There were several girls. Several times. Drunk and sober. And I guess he never felt bad."(pg 177)

And finally when Charlie has an anxiety attack he refuses to believe there is anything wrong. He will not admit to himself that he is in pain and often people do the same thing.  Through almost child-like sentences, Chbosky uses this moment to show how panicked and chaotic peoples mind are, and how much more is lurking beneath the surface of what one sees.

"And i know that i am thinking to fast again and it's all  in my head like a trance, but it's there and it wont go away. I just keep seeing him, and he keeps hitting my sister, and i want him to stop...but he wont listen, and i dont know what to do." (pg 205)]

PART 2
The way the story is written is very, very important. Everything the author puts down was pictured and planned for a specific purpose and message. These are 10 techniques Chbosky used to enhance the theme of his book.

Flashbacks- Flashbacks and overall storytelling are a big part of this novel. They help us better understand the characters we read about them and what they feel. For example, when Charlie meets Sam he sees her as light, a lark, very innocent and pure. He thinks she is perfect. But when she admits a painful part of her self, Charlie is made aware to the possibility that everyone has a moment of pain in their life. "She told me about the first time she was kissed. She told me that it was one with one of her dads friends. She was seven." (pg 70)

Breaking the forth wall- The Perks of Being a Wallflower is entirely made up of letters that Charlie sends to an anonymous reader. However, throughout the course of the book he addresses the reader as you, making the entire novel seem more personal and real. By using this technique Chbosky suggests that Charlie could be anyone; people you know, school friends, strangers. Which further pushes the idea that most, at some point in their life anyone can relate to Sam, Patrick or Charlie. "I think you of all people would understand that because you of all people are alive and appreciate what that means." (pg 2)

Imagery- "My grandfather was crying. It was the kind of crying that was quiet and a secret. The kind that only I noticed." (pg 59) Although, this is not a perfect example of imagery I believe that it still applies. This novel doesn't use any type of of flowery descriptive language. Yet this passage in particular is one that is crystal clear in your head. It is real, relatable and something everyone can sense and feel. Which again shows the authors intention of putting the story in to real life.

Hamartia- Charlies fatal flaw is his inability to except that he was sad and needed love and help. He bottled up the feeling until it exploded in rage and depression. "I've been in the hospital for the past two months. They just released me yesterday. The doctor said my mother and father found me sitting on the couch in the family room. I was completely naked, just watching the television, which wasn't on. I wouldn't speak or snap out of it..." (pg 208) This is only a foreshadowing event for the reader. If one doesn't acknowledge the pain or hardship in your life, it  will come out in a horrible negative way.

Setting- Another part of this story that makes it very substantial, is the generic settings. Regular high school hallways and average homes and parks. It can very easily be put into ones own perspective and experience because it is so broad undescriptive. "We are all sitting at Sam and Patrick's house..It was a rich house. Very clean." (pg 65)

PART 3
The way Charlie is presented to us makes him seem like a very small part of ourselves. Every once in awhile we feel like Charlie and Chbosky through the direct and indirect characterization of Charlie touches the most vulnerable part of us. "I am very small. That's true. But I guess Sean didn't know I could fight." (pg 7) This example is an example direct characterization of our protagonist giving us a picture in our head of him. He is small, weak looking; probably someone who would get picked on a lot, except for the fact that Charlie is fighter. He doesn't let him self get put down. More than likely because he does that enough for himself. "I'm so sorry that I've wasted your time because you really do mean a lot to me and I hope you have a nice life because I really think you deserve it." (pg 206) Since this novel is written from charlie to us, the only way we see him is how he sees himself. As a waste of space, a burden but by this point in the novel we know he is so much more than that. We can see his compassion, his love, his deep sense of emotions and comprehension of people and the way they work. He is the definition of empathy and understanding. A part of human nature underrated by most. The love Charlie receives can be seen through the words and conversations of the characters around him. "'Hes a wallflower'...'You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.'" (pg 37) This is a primary example of how people in the story view Charlie. He is sweet, caring, and too the eyes of many a great person. Someone, a lot of people strive to be to better themselves.“But mostly, I was crying because I was suddenly very aware of the fact that it was me standing up in that tunnel with the wind over my face. Not caring if I saw downtown. Not even thinking about it. Because I was standing in the tunnel. And I was really there. And that was enough to make me feel infinite.”(pg 213) Charlie is a symbol for every time you felt down, every time you were put down. When the pain is too much and the depression and anxiety catch up and you lose yourself to sadness. But he is also the embodiment of small moments. The moments that make people who they are. And that is what makes him so beautiful.

Charlie is a perfect example of a dynamic, round character. As the story progresses charlie becomes more and more of a paradox. He is excited and "participating in life" but at he same time he is incredibly sad and depressed. Charlie states it the best himself. "And i want you to know that i am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be." (pg 2) Although he does grow up and experience more conflicts, more moments in life, he grows more and more mentally sick. This happens as a result of his Aunt Helen and his inability to cope with past traumas. Luckily he comes to terms with the past when he finally asks for help. Enabling him to grow and prosper even more.

This book is one of the most life changing books  have ever read. I will never forget it and it will always be in my repertoire. It "hit me right at home" in a certain way that hardly any books do. And the only way i can think of explaining it is this quote from the novel.

"And she kissed me. I was the kind of kiss that i could never tell my friends about out loud. It was the kind of kiss that made me know that I have never been so happy in my entire life." (pg 70)

It is personal, and heart wrenching. An experience, not just a book. More than just a story, it is life written and described in every excruciating real detail. And I cant thank Charlie enough, for existing in my heart and mind, making things a little more bearable.

Twiggy

Vocab list #3

Coherent-logically connected~ Through much effort and hard work the illiterate boy created a coherent sentence.

Belabor-to explain in great detail~ I watched her belabor every minute of her wild day in awe.

Eschew-to shun, avoid~She hurriedly crossed the street to eschew a certain conversation with Mrs. Watson.

Acquisitive- acquire money or material~ John had an acquisitive personality that would lead him to ruin.

Emulate-imitate with effort to equal or surpass~ Cecilia tried her best to emulate the emotion in her art work.

Banal-devoid of freshness~I tried my best to power through the banal article.

• Excoriation-to denounce severely~ Although he was the kings closest companion, he excoriated due to his affair.
• Congeal-to change from a soft state to solid state~ As we waited for the paint to congeal in our wooden buckets we talk of life and love.
• Carping-characterized by petulant faultfinding~ The editors were harsh and carped my materiel until it wasn't really mine anymore.
• Substantiate-to establish by proof~ She tired to substantiate her point through diagrams and models.
• Temporize-to be indecisive or evasive to gain time~In regard to cleaning, Tina immediately started to temporize.
• Largesse-the generous bestowal of gifts, favors, or money~ Tom took advantage of my largesse.
• Tenable-capable of being defended, against attack~ The tall trees and high mountains on our right kept the village tenable from attacks.
• Insatiable-incapable of being satisfied or appease~His insatiable need for affection drove everyone away.
• Reconnaissance-to inspect, observe~All through my life I have had the keen ability of reconnaissance.
• Germane-closely or significantly related~ That question is not germane to our topic of conversation.
• Ramify-spread out into branches~The tree ramified throughout our yard and shed.
• Intransigent-refusing to agree~He was firm and intransigent in his fight.
• Taciturn-inclined to silence, saying little~The girl was taciturn and cast down all class.
  

Epiphany

I have decided to use this opportunity given to me to not only showcase what is going on in my English sphere, but to also included this other dimension called the internet and all of the people looking at my blog to a peek at my life as it is. In other words I will share with you about my life outside of class and any philosophical things I ponder about. Anyways, enjoy the rest of this week and be on the lookout for some cool stuff on here.

Twiggy

Vocab list #2

intercede- to interfere on behalf of. 
I wanted to intercede, for John's sake, but i realize that it was not my place to do so.
hackneyed-lacking significance due to over usage
The hackneyed paper back cover was faded and unreadable.
approbation-approval or praise
The girl looked nervously at the teacher for approbation of her performance.
innuendo-a remark or hint that is given, typically suggestive.
Quizzically i stared at him waiting for him to explain his disgusting innuendo.
coalition-a temporary alliance to combine forces.
The weak coalition between men and women is sure to overturn  and backfire very soon.
elicit-to evoke an answer from a person in response to ones own actions
 Marty was constantly trying to elicit answers from his girlfriend.
hiatus-a pause or gap
We decided to take a brief hiatus from wedding planning.
assuage-to make an unpleasant feeling less intense
The newspaper did nothing to assuage to feelings of angry citizens.
decadence-Luxurious self indulgence
The simple country man ignored the royal decadence.
expostulate- to express strong disapproval
Betty made sure to expostulate her opinion of Jason.
simulate-to imitate the appearance of.
I tried my best to simulate the fleeing of flying, but i couldn't do the experience justice.
jaded-tired or bored
The strenuous work left me jaded and irritable.
umbrage-offense or annoyance
Andrea was very umbrage at today's party.
prerogative-right reserved to one exclusive class
At this time the right to free speech was a prerogative of white males only.
lurid-very vivid color
the film was amazing to its lurid editing techniques.
transcend-to go beyond limits
Now, in this class we will transcend everything you have ever known to be true.
provincial-Concerning a province of an empire
There has always been violence at provincial councils.
petulant-childish or sulky
The petulant child would not keep his mouth shut.
unctuous-excessively oily
Shelia was so unctuous men always looked the other way when she passed down the hall way.
meritorious-deserving reward or praise
The soldier receive meritorious for his outstanding service.