Butterflies, Flowers and Reflections

As I may or may not have told you( my memory is horrible) This blog was originally set up for my English 1080 course at MUN, although I'm hoping that I'll remember to keep up with the blog and continue posting even though the course is over. This (possibly) last post is dedicated to all the things this course has taught me this year.

The first thing we studied this semester was poetry. I feel like I was able to greatly improve my knowledge on poetry and my ability to interpret the inner meanings of poetic works.
Next we studied short fiction. I really enjoyed this section of the course and many of the readings we were assigned. I learned that many pieces of short fiction center around women, or more specifically the oppression or women and the views people once had, and sometimes still have, on a women's place in the world. I was able to connect somewhat with theses pieces of work and that made them easier to learn.

My favorite piece of fiction this semester was the allegory " where are you going, where have you been?" I enjoyed both the literal and metaphorical sides of this story, and the way the author made fun of the way people in the 1960's thought Rock and Roll music would steal your soul. This story also helped me learn to interpret allegories better, as this is something I've had trouble with in the past.

My favorite part of this course, however, was the Blog postings. I enjoy putting my opinions or my pieces of work on the internet for others to enjoy, and possibly learn from. I also like how the blogging is more in times with my generation than say...keeping a journal, because it's something I am used to doing. ( I spend 85% of my time on my tumblr blog but never write in journals or diaries so this is much easier for me).

Overall English 1080 was an incredible course, probably my favorite of the entire semester, and my professor was excellent! I would highly recommend English 1080 to anybody looking for an enjoyable course, and suggest that you try your hardest to get Jon Parsons as your prof :)

Butterflies, Flowers and Flash Fiction

 I'm here to write a story, it's a short story ( hence the flash fiction), but a story none the less. So sit back and try to enjoy this tiny piece of work of mine. :)

Falling, by Catherine Aubert

“Dammit, if they don’t hurry up I’m going to be late for class, what the hell are they doing out in the hallway for so long! I guess I’ll have to try to sneak past them.” I opened the door as slowly and quietly as I could and tried to slip away but of course, as usual, luck was not on my side. “Where do you think you’re going you little fag”, Mike jeered. “I haven’t had time to give you a proper greeting yet today”.  I braced myself as he grabbed my arm and threw me against the lockers, my shoulder slamming into it hard and my books tumbling from my arms onto the floor. “Now stay down on your knees like a good little queer” he shouted. Then he and his friends gave each other high fives and walked away laughing loudly.

I stayed on the floor in front of the lockers, eyes closed, until I could no longer hear their laughter, and then, ignoring the pain radiating down my arm, I started to look for my books, but they were nowhere to be found. “God Dammit, they took my freaking books”, I mumbled. “That’s just perfect, now what am I supposed to do.” Suddenly a hand fell on my shoulder and I yelped, turning around quickly and looking at my new attacker with fearful eyes. “Sorry”, he said. “I walked around the corner and seen what happened, so I picked your books up for you.  I didn’t mean to scare you.”  “It’s okay”, I said taking the books from him, “I’m just a little jumpy for a while after that happens, and I thought you were going to push me down again”. “Thanks for picking up my books, but I have to go to English now, I’m already late thanks to those jerks.” I turned to leave and he spoke again, “Wait, I’ve got English now too, but I’m new and I don’t want to get lost. Can you walk me to class”? “My name’s Matt by the way”. I’m Ray a mumbled back, and sure I’ll walk you to class.

When we walked into English class I left to take my seat in the back, and the teacher introduced Matt to the class. She told us he had transferred here from a school in the town closest to ours (though she didn’t tell us why) and told him to take the seat next to mine. When he sat down he turned and smiled at me, “Thanks for walking me to class”, he said. “No problem I said smiling”, I weird felling coming into my stomach. “Any time”.

Butterflies, Flowers and Letters

Dear United States of America, 

 I would like to say thank you on behalf of myself and my fellow humans on your splendid choice of a President. We have been losing our minds over this past month going mad with worry that you would actually be foolish enough to elect that small minded Mitt Romney as your President. Your amazing choice to vote for marriage equality and equal rights instead of binders full of women has been noticed and applauded by the rest of the world. I will admit there were a few times throughout the election that I had lost faith in you and that I had screamed about that idiot America and their blindness to what's right in the world but you came through in the end. You re-elected a man that wants rights for all and this is an amazing feat for you. As a tumblr user I can assure you that people all around the world approve of your choice (we would have voted with you if only it were allowed).

Sincerely huge supporter of your choice,

Catherine Aubert

Butterflies, Flowers and News!

Facebook Saves Peoples Lives

Teenagers "like" the pain away

It has come to the attention of many of us working with the media that there has been an incredible decrease in starvation rates and infant mortality rates in third world countries such as Africa since Facebook has started its incredible "like" campaign. Day after day there are copious amounts of food appearing out of thin air, feeding these poor orphaned children.  Also blankets and fresh water have been cropping up all over the place. No more dehydration or hypothermia in sight thanks to the wonderful teenagers across the world.

Even more miraculous is how for years and years scientists and medical personal have worked themselves to the bone in attempt to discover the cure for cancer. All their time would have better benefited by logging into Facebook it seems. Now with just the click of a button all your loved ones will be free of cancer forever, and scientists can spend their time doing useful things, such as developing a like button that cures three diseases at once instead of only one.

This groundbreaking news will be incredible help to the people of New York, USA who have recently been devastated by the wrath of hurricane sandy. Citizens of this state need not worry though, just tell your president to long into his Facebook account and all the damage can be cleared in a matter of seconds.

The world can rest easy now that Facebook has come to save the day. No more disease or devastation in sight thanks to teenagers who can sit at home and and "like" away the pain.

Next up... do Tumblr match-ups actually help you find your soul mate?

Butterflies, Flowers and Memes

Today's blog post consists of me making memes. While I know these will be horrible, I ask my viewers to bear with me and pretend I'm doing a good job. 

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My classmates will understand

 

This never fails to happen when I plan on waking up early the next day and doing homework 

 

I have a huge fear of spiders so I used to do this all the time before I went to sleep to make sure there were no spiders in the corner of my walls. 

Butterflies, Flowers and Fire

Fire by Kristin Cashore- Book Review

Fire is the second book in Kristin Cashore’s Graceling Realm series and is an amazing read. Fire is written in a more mature style than the first book of the series “Graceling” and this is one of my favorite things about it. It deals with how people are misjudged by actions that they themselves never committed, and learn to believe in their own strength. The plot of the novel and the way it is developed is what makes this book outstanding.

Fire is set in a land called the Dells where beings called monsters live.  The monsters in the Dells have the power to break into people’s minds and compel them to do anything. The most fearful part of a monster, however, is its overpowering and unnatural beauty. These monsters are mostly animals who are distinguished from their normal animal counterparts by their bright and unnatural colors.  

Fire, the main character of this story, is the last remaining Human monster in the Dells. Her father, Cansrel, was a horrifying monster who used his power to manipulate the king and through this brought about conflict in the Dells. Because of this the majority of Dellain people mistrust and fear Fire, who is in reality nothing like her father.

The development of the main character is brought about in many ways, but mainly by using both her insecurities and the fear of the people around her. At first Fire is scared of the power she possesses, thinking that she will overstep and become power hungry in the same way as her father. When the war for the crown reaches a boiling point, the current King Nash convinces Fire to use her power to aid the kingdom and prevent people from plotting against the realm. Using her powers to help the kingdom in turn helps Fire become comfortable with her nature and realize that she is not only a vessel for destruction and pain.

The romance in this novel was also well developed. Cashore uses characters’ hate for Fire’s father to drive people away from Fire. She then uses the character’s own sadness over these misjudgements to eventually draw other characters to her. Fire begins to fall in love with the Dellian prince Brigan, who at first despises Fire for what her father did to his father (the former King). As the story progresses we see Brigan overcome his prejudice and accept that Fire is actually nothing like her father, and is a strong, kind and beautiful woman. He eventually admits that the moment he realised he was in love with Fire is when he saw her fiddle – her most prized possession –  smashed on the ground and she turned away from him and began to cry. Brigan tells Fire that her sadness is one of the things that makes her beautiful.

Cashore also incorporates the villain from Graceling into Fire, linking the two books in the series together.

Fire is a must read for all ages.

Butterflies, Flowers and Trees

 tree

treestrees

greentreesyellowtrees

redtreesbrowntreescolortrees

 treetreestreetreestreetreestreetreestree

tree

livingtree

withsquirrelsandbirds

livingintreesaroundtheworld

treesstandtallandtreessmellfreshandtrees

trees

growuntilwecut

themdownandmakethem

greentreesforchristmasclebrations

whitetreesforweddingsandforgraduations

thentrees

arebrown

allaround

forpeople

strikeagain