Roethke’s Poetry Exercise

To kiss hot moons red as ruined cats

A swing is cool, a rock is soft

To say leather mud, to bite a cloud

To bruise wavering slag, a dog as important.

To kiss hard frogs blue as surprise

A curve is hot, a puddle is dry

To say sharp circle, to cut a belief

To bite hot ice, a tree is metal.

To kiss big rice as adorable farts

A bruise is hard, a hand is dead

To say skinny elephant, to burn rain drops

To blink people eaters, to stop a trunk.

English 1102 Review

I believe the entire semester went well. Everything that we have covered so far was well organized and easily accessible at all times.

Readings - The readings we covered in English 1102 were excellent choices.

Assignments - The first big assignment was our Research paper. Like I mentioned before, I was aggravated at all the small things that went along with the paper. I thought it was unnecessary and would be to no help. Little did I know at the end of the research paper I was glad that we had to do so many things before we could turn it in. The small assignments that went along with the paper helped me prepare along the way. I hope you continue to do this and I am sure students will have the same reaction. All the other assignments we had to complete in this course were challenging but not to the extent that it was a pain.

Discussions - The discussions we had to turn in throughout the semester were fun. I enjoyed reading other discussions and creating my own.

Peers - This class was by far one of the best. The participation between everyone was great and everyone was easy to get along with and work with. Thanks!

Participation - I tried everyday to participate the best way possible and liked the fact of being graded on it.

Everything that was involved in the class worked well. I do not know of anything that did not work well.

The Tom That Got Away!

As I walked through the woods
I heard the air begin to shake
Right over the ridge from where I stood
The thundering sound I could not mistake.

The tom sounded off one more time
And when the sun began to rise
I took the road that lead through the pine
The tom suddenly appeared to my surprise.

He was roosted right above me
Drumming, Cutting and in full Strut
In a big ol' oak tree
Laughing as he gobbled at my luck.

I watched as he flew down
Further away, but never back around
And kicked myself for the next few days
Because that was the Tom that got away!

Hypocrisy

When I first thought about this GDR I wanted to figure out exactly which route to go. I looked up examples of hypocrisy and found the one I thought was most appropriate. The example of hypocrisy I chose is when people say one thing but do another.

Everyone has or will be an example of hypocrisy in their life time. We all do things in life that we say we won't, don't and do not approve of. In high school I lived a totally different life than I do today. I did a lot of things back then that I would never do today. One of the big things in high school was FCA or Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Although I am a Christian man I did not attend these events in high school. One of the main reasons I did not participate is because of the individuals in it. More than half of the participants and leaders all lived differently than they preached. They would commit to not drinking alcohol and then the very next weekend they would go to a party and drink. There are other examples but I’m sure you get the point by now. I also did not participate in FCA because I did not see it right to participate in this organization and live the life I did. I am not perfect nor will I ever be and I know I have been a hypocrite at some point in my life. These individuals all meant well I feel, but to preach a certain way of life and then live another way is not right in my eyes.

Managing a company

Managing a company has its ups and downs throughout the day, week, month and year. When managing a company you have the freedom to do a lot of things. You also have the headache of dealing with everything from employees, customers and money. I began with the company I am with now in August of 2007. I decided that college wasn’t for me (AT THE TIME) and walked away. Working my way up through the company I was eventually offered the Operations Manager position in June of 2010. At first I was unsure of what the entire position held. There was a sense of excitement and nervousness all at once. I began working immediately and was handed the reins to the entire company. Where do I start? What exactly am I to do? What goes here? What goes there? All these questions were going through my head. I did not receive a complete orientation into the position, I was just told to“sink or swim.” I’m not sure if the owner of the company had full faith in my abilities to do the job or was just going to really see if I would sink. Fortunately I swam and have continued on this journey. While this is great in all aspects, learning how to swim was not easy. I was twenty one at the time and was forced to manage employees who were double my age. Can you imagine the response the first day I told them to do something? This took time and effort on both sides. Another learning curve that was presented was dealing with customers. I had to learn to walk the walk and talk the talk in a position that I was trying to learn all at once. On top of that, I was put in charge of all accounts and transactions dealing with the company’s money. I had to make up for money that was not spent as it should and also try to save money for the future. These tasks were not easy and left me with my mind going ninety to nothing all the time. I still to this day have things running through my mind about the company well after I leave my job, but  the ups have slowly leveled out the with downs.

Is Troy Maxson racist?

Troy Maxson is the main character in the play “Fences” by August Wilson. Troy is born and lives in a time where African Americans are not accepted well in America. When asked if Troy Maxson is a racist, I automatically come to the conclusion of No. I believe Troy is actually a victim of racism throughout his life and that he is concerned with racism as any other American would be. One example of Troy being a victim is that he was an outstanding baseball player who played in the Negro Leagues. Troy was victimized by rules in Major League Baseball that prohibited African Americans from playing. Troy struggles to cope with the fact that those rules were in place back then and his life was affected by them. I think this shows when he does not allow is son Cory to play football. He knows Cory is good and he has the potential to make something of himself on the field. Troy possibly does not want Cory to outdo him in life. Another example of Troy being victimized by racism throughout his life is with his job. Troy works as a sanitation worker. African Americans are not allowed to drive the garbage trucks. Troy complains about this to his boss and his boss tells him to take it to the Union. Troy eventually wins the case and is promoted to a driver, but for years he was victimized for being an African American. Troy may refer to his son with a racist word or do other small things that one could consider racist. But in the end Troy Maxson is not a racist person, he is only a victim to the ways of life in his era.

What Does Charley Really Mean?

In the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy and Charley are carrying on a somewhat heated conversation. Charley tells Willy, while they are talking, "the only thing you got in this world is what you can sell" (1256). I believe Charley means that Willy can only sell what he posses in this world. He is not talking about physically selling a product. I feel this way because of the statement before that when Charley says, "you named him Howard, but you can't sell that" (1256). One of the various definitions of sell is to win acceptance or approval. Willy is talking about how Howard treats him. Willy wishes he could make Howard see what an asset he would be if he stayed closer to home and did not travel. Willy only wants to win over Howard's acceptance and approval. Charley is telling Willy that he does not poses the ability to do this.

This reflects America in the late 1940's the same way as it does in the America of 2012. Everyone is always searching for someones approval. This could be shown through a employee trying to prove to his employer how valuable he or she can be, the same way Willy is trying to show Howard. It could also be a child searching for his Mom or Dad to approve of their actions, just as Biff tries to sell Willy every second he gets. Or it could be shown in everyday people trying to get anyone to approve or accept their ways. Charley is trying to teach Willy that he should not worry so much about how Howard feels about him. He is trying to offer Willy a job out of the kindness of his heart, because he knows Willy does not poses the skills to survive business he is in anymore.

And the Race is On!!!

When asked to write an extra blog post for GDR 4 my mind has went absolutely 100% blank. I have no idea really what to blog about today and its driving me nuts. My mind has shifted from rambling on about work, to talking about rabbit hunting, to completely rambling on about the random thoughts that are currently going through my head.

Today I will explain rabbit hunting to everyone. Rabbit hunting is a sport that is just as hard for the hunter as it is for the dogs. Rabbit hunting begins once you let the dogs out of their cage. As soon as their feet hit the ground the dogs nose if sniffing away. Many times hunters are not even ready before the first race begins. I call it a race because it’s a race for the rabbit to elude the dogs and a race for the hunters to catch up with the dogs that are chasing the rabbit. Rabbit chases can last anywhere from a couple of minutes to thirty minutes depending on numerous things. If the rabbit eludes the dogs by causing them to lose its trail the race can end quickly. If the hunters are not in the right place at the right time the rabbit race can go on for a while longer. Rabbit hunting is an art to say the least. Each dog chasing the rabbit is unique in its own way. Each rabbit the dogs chase has their own way of going about the chase. Some ol’ sly rabbits are very allusive and can trick the dogs easily. Some rabbits are not as slick as others and end up running right into the trap of a hunter who is standing there with his weapon. I hope this doesn’t offend anyone and I will stop here. Just keep in mind that if a rabbit is to be laid to rest all of its edible remains are not left behind!!!

Casting Role's for Death of a Salesman

If I was casting a movie for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, I would choose the following actors to play Willy, Linda, Happy and Biff.

Willy – Russell Crowe
Linda - Helen Hunt
Happy -Matt Damon
Biff - Owen Wilson

Willy Loman is an aging salesman who is dealing with depression. He talks to himself throughout the play and imagines people that are not really there. Willy also has flash backs in the play where he envisions events that happened in his life before now. I chose to go with Russell Crowe for the character because he fits the part very well. Russell played the main role in “A Beautiful Mind” and it couldn’t have been played any better. I believe from his experience in “A Beautiful Mind” Russell could easily depict Willy’s characteristics.

Linda Loman, Willy’s wife, is the back bone of the family. She tries her best to cope with Willy’s actions and his feuds with Biff.  Helen Hunt is the actress I would choose for this role. She has always been a strong woman character in my eyes. I believe she would be able to portray Linda’s life in the movie by using her experience from the other movies she has been in.

Happy Loman is the younger of the two sons. Happy has always lived in the footsteps of Biff until now. Happy was always almost completely ignored by Willy throughout the early years of his life. Now Happy is successful as an assistant and more settled and matured than Biff. I would choose Matt Damon to play this role in the movie. Happy is considered a handsome man who can easily pick up women. Matt Damon has portrayed a successful man and a man who lived a good life in a couple of movies. Matt’s skill and experience would help him become Happy Loman in the movie.

Biff Loman is the older of the two sons. He was the star child throughout the early years, but has since taken a step back. Biff is continuously trying to find himself and become a settled man. I would ask Owen Wilson to play this role in the movie. Owen Wilson has the ability to play someone who is lost and hasn’t matured. He also has the ability to portray a settled character in a movie and a more serious role.

The American Dream

When asked how I would you define the American Dream, my mind automatically thinks of one particular thing. I believe the American Dream is all about happiness.

Happiness in my life is achieved by the following three things.

• My Family
• My Job
• My Lifestyle

My family has been through many ups and downs throughout the 22 years of my life. I lost my dad when I was 12 and all but one of my Grandparents has also passed away. God has surrounded me with wonderful people and has blessed me with a Fiancé whose family has more than fielded the void that is within my family. I do not have the typical American family, but what I do have makes me more than happy.

My job is also another important aspect of my American Dream. I happily manage an electrical maintenance company and I am currently taking classes to pursue a degree in Accounting. With a background in business, a bachelor degree in accounting, a CPA license and a good work ethic my dream job will hopefully await me. This job will help me achieve happiness and provide for my family.

My lifestyle and future lifestyle is another thing that brings me happiness. In my future I do not have to have an extravagant lifestyle in order to achieve happiness. I do not need a million dollar mansion with numerous high priced cars sitting out front. I do not need to travel the world and go to luxurious vacation destinations. If I can provide for my family and kids and give them more than I had when growing up, then I will be more than happy.  

With the family I have in my life, my job and my lifestyle I can easily achieve my plans of living the American Dream.  

(300 Words)

Pig Roast

            The Georgia vs. Florida game is one of the biggest rivalries in college football today. Once a year, over many decades, these two college football powerhouses have squared off in Jacksonville, FL to claim bragging rights. Last year the game was played on October 29^th, 2011 and this year was different that any other before.

Around 4:30 am I awoke to get ready for this big day. At 5:00 am the smoker was lit and began heating up for the pig that was soon to be roasted. We prepared the pig with numerous marinade injections, mustard and seasonings. The marinade injections were given first to insure the pig stayed moist throughout the process. The mustard was rubbed on the inside of the pig for flavor and to help the seasonings stick. We then applied a homemade dry rub to the pig for seasoning.

At 6:00 am the pig was placed on the smoker to begin the long and slow process of smoking. Over the next 14 hours family and friends arrived to enjoy this day. Cornhole boards were set up, the game was displayed on a big screen, snacks and adult beverages were laid out to keep our company happy. Throughout the day the smoker was checked repeatedly to make sure it sustained the appropriate temperature. If the smoker was cooling down, wood was added to stoke the fire already burning. If the temperature began to rise above what was preferred, the vent was opened to allow heat to escape.

The process of cooking a pig in a smoker is long and tiring, but the reward is without a doubt worth it. Once the pig was cooked to the desired temperature it was time to dig in. We shredded the meat for everyone to make a sandwich or eat it plain. Homemade BBQ sauce, baked beans, slaw and chips were also laid out for everyone to enjoy. In the end the pig roast, family, friends and a Dawgs win concluded a wonderful experience that will never be forgotten.

           
 Word Count (338)

A Recent Meal

On Sunday January 15th, 2011 my fiancé and I prepared a meal that consisted of the following food items:

• Tyson Chicken Breast grilled and basted with KC Masterpiece Barbeque Sauce
• Birds Eye Frozen Broccoli Florets steamed in boiling water with Morton Salt
• Bushwick Commission Gold Potatoes cooked in the oven with Kraft Mild Shredded Cheese, Morton Salt, and Morton Pepper that was added after they came out of the oven.

The Tyson Chicken Breast could have come from multiple locations across the United States and Internationally. KC Masterpiece Barbeque Sauce is listed as being manufactured in Illinois. Birds Eye Frozen Foods, just like Tyson Foods, has locations in the United States and Internationally. Morton Salt and Pepper are manufactured here in the United States. The Bushwick Commission Gold Potatoes came from Farmingdale, NY. The Kraft Mild Shredded Cheese was more than likely manufactured in the United States, but they have locations world wide also.

All the food listed above came from Wal-Mart. Researching these food items has made me more aware of where they come from and that not every food item is grown and manufactured in the United States. I try my best to buy things that a manufactured in the United States, but with today’s economy the likelihood of buying things that are is diminishing at a dramatic pace. From now on I will not just assume the food items I buy are grown and manufactured in the United States. By researching these food items listed above I am now more apt to research food as much as possible to find out where it is grown and manufactured. I will also make it more of a point to eat food items that are grown by family and friends in their gardens. By doing this I know for sure where the food is grown.

The portion size we both consumed that night was less than 550 calories. My fiancé and I try to eat healthy the majority of the time. But the best thing about cooking a meal together, rather healthy or not, is the time we spend together. I know years from now when we have kids, cooking meals together may not be an option. So I enjoy this time now as much as possible.

(380 Words)