Tuesday 25 September 2012

Writing Response

So far everything with my blog seems to be going good. At first I didn't like the idea of everyone being able to seem my work and thoughts, but recently it hasn't bothered me at all. The hardest part about blogging for me would be the transition from old school pen and paper. It just doesn't seem normal yet, posting my assignments for everyone to see. Maybe it's a lack of accomplishment. It just seems like something is missing from my work, but I don't know what. My goal for the week is to add a couple more personal additions, and maybe this will make me feel more comfortable with the idea of a blog. As for 6 word memoirs, I really enjoyed writing them. It was hard at first to piece a story together in just 6 words, but near the end I was writing like a machine. It surprised me just how much can be told with only 6 words! During this assignment I chose to stay in the classroom, and I don't know what difference that would have made. Maybe I will try sitting alone and writing some more, but honesty I don't think that will have any affect on my writing. For me the most rewarding part was being able to tell a story in just 6 words. I think it's interesting how someone else can read your 6 words and have a good idea of what your trying to say. One thing I noticed however is that everyone perceives things differently and for that reason 6 word memoirs can mean different things for everyone. As a reader/writer a learnt that 6 word memoir, opens a door, and the person reading decides where to take it.

Reading Response #3

The Honor Farm
By: John Westermann
p. 31-67

Right now I am in the middle of my story and things are starting to get really interesting. At this point we have learnt a lot more about the characters by the retelling of past stories and flashbacks. As the story progressed these flashbacks basically filled the holes of Orin's life, and it was interesting to see how his past has come back to haunt him in many ways. One thing I noticed in particular in this scene was Orin's lack of acceptance for his past mistakes. He knows he has done bad, but for some reason he doesn't seem to accept it. This may be used to show us just how much denial Orin is in. During his time at the Honor Farm, it's almost like he is unwilling to put him self on the same level as the other prisoners, and he cant admit he's done wrong. By doing this however I think Orin has a smaller chance to solve the suicide case and he wont be able to gain the trust of the other inmates.
One question I have for the author at this point, is why it took so long for us to learn more about Orin and his character. At the beginning of the book, Orin seemed like a normal guy, and he was easy to relate to. We didn't know much about him and it almost scared me to learn about some of the things he had done in the past. My liking for Orin effeminately took a turn for the worst. One prediction I have at this point, is that Orin  is going to get in an altercation of fight with some of the other prisoners.
I was also able to make a text to world connection during this passage. Recently I watched a documentary about a man on death row. He was found guilty of the murder but he wouldn't accept what he had done. Psychology doctors even suggested he was doing this for belief that if he truly thought he hadn't killed his wife, that he was at peace and would go to heaven. The reason I made this connection is because Orin always wears a cross necklace, and maybe this symbolizes he is a religious man. Maybe he is unable to accept his past mistakes because he fears consequences and his own conscience. It's just an idea at this point, but I am interested to keep reading.


Personal Addition #1

I am trying to stay optomistic when saying, I think the NHL lockout will be short lived, but honestly I think Canadians are looking at a long cold winter with no NHL hockey ahead. I could rant all day about how angry I am there will be no hockey this winter, but instead here's a list of all the things I will miss about the NHL. In no praticular order what so ever!

I will miss Don Cherry.... and his fashion choices.
I will miss Saturday night double headers on CBC
I will miss game winning overtime goals.
I will miss hockey brawls.
I will miss the hoisting of the Stanley Cup
I will miss the NHL trade deadline and All Star Weekend
I will miss the Winnipeg Jets, and the Mts Center on game days
I will miss sitting down and watching a game, and for 3 hours, having no worries in the world
I will miss Sydney Crosby
I will miss morning highlights on TSN

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Reading Response #2



The Honor Farm
By John Westermann
Pages. 1-33

So on Friday I decided to pick up a new book, and I am glad I did! The Honor Farm is a story about a Long Island police officer Orin Boyd, who nearing retirement falsely arrests a state senator. Instead of being fired, the Police Commissioner decides to give Boyd a break, on one term. He goes undercover into the “Honor Farm” a prison for bent cops, to investigate the possible suicide of the commissioner’s son, 2 days before his release.

From the beginning of the book, the protagonist Orin Boyd is portrayed as a likable maniac, if that makes any sense. I mean from the first page, it’s almost like you forced to like him, but in the back of your head you don’t completely trust Orin. He acts like a normal well mannered person, but it’s obvious he’s done something wrong. I can’t put my finger around it. Maybe he deserves to be in the Honor Farm, and maybe this was all just a set up to get him in there. I don’t know for sure yet. One part in particular really clued me in on this. It was when Orin was talking about how his badge always laid crooked on his shirt. He could never get it to stay straight! Maybe Orin’s badge is symbolic of him as a police officer, he’s crooked but he doesn’t know it or he doesn't accept it and although he tries to fix it he can’t.

Another aspect to the story I find interesting is the fact that the idea of death and suicide invade the thoughts of Orin. Throughout the beginning of the novel, the author jumps around from a 3rd person perspective to directly through the eyes of Orin and his partner. I think the author does this, so we see every situation from every angle,  we don’t get too flooded in one person’s thoughts, but whenever the story is told through Orin’s perspective, his thoughts seem to be surrounded by depression and the idea of death. It seems very ironic that someone who is possibly suicidal is investigating a possible suicide of another officer. I don’t know exactly where the author is going with this, but I predict sometime later in the novel, Orin will be faced with the challenge of possibly committing his own suicide. This reminded me, of a recent story on the news about a police officer in the US who committed suicide, and maybe this serves as a clue that Orin will do the same. That is my only prediction at this point.

I haven’t really been able to make any text to self connections, and that seems really bizarre being that my dad is a retired police officer. I think maybe this book falsely portrays police officer’s or it’s just possibly the author’s own perception of police that I don’t agree with. Never the less, I am yet to make a text to self connection.

Thursday 13 September 2012

Rambling Autobiography

I was born, along with my twin sister, December, 17, 1994. She’s 5 minutes older. One of the coldest winter’s in Canadian history. I love eating at restaurants, and poutine is my favorite meal by far. My great grandma is still alive and 102 years old. I have probably seen every episode of “Cops” that has been aired, but still managed to get a 400$ speeding ticket this summer. I can honestly say I have never stolen anything. But I have probably lied to most people I know. I plan to move away from Winnipeg sometime in the future. I have been here my whole life. I’ve been in 2 car crashes, but thankfully was never hurt. I am a strong believer in fate… but I like to live on the edge. I secretly like to sing. In grade 3 I tried a cigarette, but I have never come close to one since. My favorite place on earth is anywhere with family and friends. I can’t imagine life without them.