The Conclusion

In the beginning of the year, I was just…THERE. My blog reflected how I felt… kind of, and I’m pretty sure it still does now. It’s just really sarcastic and like… rambly. Well all my posts are. Even in the small length that I’ve been typing this, I’ve been rambling. But anyways, my blogs are really how I talk to myself in my head. If I wasn’t so shy I’d probably be like this every day. But I’m not, so I’m just stuck not really talking to myself in a blog. I was always really comfortable with blogs, because no one really commented on mine and I felt like I could just write whatever I want. Which I will NEVER do again, and I haven’t since 7^th grade.  I don’t really know. I’m always embarrassed about my blogs because I’m just so casual about writing them, when other people are super professional and very honors Englishy.

When other people complain about blogs, and whine about having to go on the internet and write something pointless about their lives, I relish it. I don’t have to actually talk and be awkward like I always am, and it gives me an excuse to get on the computer without anyone yelling at me to get out of my ‘cave.’ Bleh. And it also gives me time to think about what I’m going to say instead of just not saying anything after being under the pressure to say something. AKA discussions. Which I HATE, by the way. The blog really lets me show what my personality is without actually having to talk to people.

Before I make myself seem any more anti-social, I say this. I do like doing blogs. I have my own place that only I can put stuff on/in, (unlike my room which is constantly being barged in by my entire family) and I just say what I feel without having to worry about the direct consequences. And I like feeding my fish, Fred and George, on my blog.  :) They are fun to write and fun to read, and fun to subtly make fun of people in without them knowing. It just happens when you write something about someone.

For me, blogs are an easy way to communicate without actually having to communicate. You can write to yourself and the whole entire world(which is basically what blogs are) and you can comment on your blog and everyone else’s. Speaking of which, some random lady commented on a blog. I think it was the earliest memory one about the giant Elmo and me where I had to give it away because I had dust allergies? This lady said my blog was funny and gave me a recommendation to a dust mite website. (Rhyming :D) And it was just really funny. And cool of her.

A quote to describe my blog and my conclusion to my blog would probably have to be “Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.”- Unknown. This relates to me because it’s hard to miss things if there’s something better. But when the better thing is gone you want to go back to the other things but it’s gone. Yep. I did look up quotes on Google, thank you very much. I wanted to do a really derogatory one but I decided not to, and I don’t know why. I don’t really know how this relates to my blog conclusion though. All in all it’s been a great year, and I hope I get better grades on essays next year.

Essay Writing

First of all, I'm finishing up my essay right now, and I'm having a really hard time with it. So that means, no, I don't think I'm an accomplished essayist. I have done a lot better since middle school, but I really don't think I'm accomplished or close to accomplished. 'Accomplished' would be in the A range. And most of my essays this year have been B+ or just Bs. Writing essays is hard you know, especially when the book is Shakespeare and everything is written in sonnet language that is hard to understand. I do get what literary analysis is all about however, it's just that the books have to be more simple for me to understand it 100%.

I'm looking at the rubric now and I notice that I VERY VERY MUCH lack originality. My thesis is basically the prompt, so I'm going to change that a bit so it's less like it. "Repetitive use of 'this shows'." My essay is pretty repetitive, but not in 'this shows'. It's just repetitive in general. But it's hard to find different words or phrases that mean motif. Also, I paraphrase a little bit, instead of actually analyzing it... But that seems like basically it for the 'B or lower' thing. I don't have very many things from the 'A paper' thing either, so don't think I'm calling my essay perfect, because it's basically the opposite of it.

Summer Reading

I don't really read over the summer because I spend most of the time sleeping and complaining of the hot weather. But I'll make it a goal to read at least three books over the summer. The Honors English one, and the AP World one. Sooo I'll have one that I get to choose left. First of all I want to read My Sister's Keeper by ...Jodi Picoult, because I was going to read it for the Outside reading thing and then Lilly stole it from me! So now I want to read it. Another book would have to be The Hobbit and the rest of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Because I just want to say I've read them... But knowing me I'll just get the minimum done, which is the honors and AP world book, so just a heads up.

Fate

I was born on July 16th, 1995. This makes me a Cancer, and also very young for my grade. ): It was also  Will Ferrell's birthday, just putting that out there. It says that Cancers are loyal, adaptable, dependable, caring, responsive. I'm pretty sure that I'm most of that stuff. Even though I don't seem responsive, I very much am. And I'm also not so much dependable, or loyal as a matter of fact. So I think that these don't really apply to me. But what really convinced me that I was a Cancer was that the site that I'm reading off of also says that Cancers are moody, clingy, self-pitying, oversensitive, and self-absorbed. Yes, I am most of those things, so that makes me sure I'm a cancer.

Also, according to the site, "Cancer is a mysterious sign, filled with contradictions. They want security and comfort yet seek new adventure. They are very helpful to others yet sometimes can be cranky and indifferent. Cancer has a driving, forceful personality that can be easily hidden beneath a calm, and cool exterior. The crab is Cancer's ruling animal and it suits them well, they can come out of their shell and fight but they can also hide in their shell of skitter away back into the depths of the ocean. They are very unpredictable." So yes, it does seem like that's me, except that I'm not that... descriptive. It also says that Cancers can be good mothers, but I disagree.

My Chinese Zodiac is a Pig, as with most of the people in 9th grade, because everyone who is a Pig/Boar was born in 1995, or should I say that everyone born in 1995 is a Boar. To the Chinese culture, a pig is a sign of fertility. To have children in the year of the pig is apparently very lucky. But that's besides the point. According to this next site, "Boars are self-reliant, very sociable, dependable,and extremely determined. Boars are peace lovers and don't hold grudges. They hate arguments, tense situations, and try to bring both sides together." Which is the complete opposite of me. I am not super self-reliant, I'm not sociable, not super dependable, and not determined at all. I don't choose peace, and I hold grudges FOREVER. I hate arguments that I lose, but not arguments in general. It's actually kind of funny to listen to arguments between people, as long as there's no blood on the floor. 

Culture Shock

In the song, Don't Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult, obvious references to Romeo and Juliet are made. They are obvious because they mention the names Romeo and Juliet, and the quote: "Valentine is done/ Here but now they're gone/ Romeo and Juliet/ Together in eternity" I found the song because of Rockband. C: Yep, and I remembered they had a song that mentioned Romeo and Juliet so I searched on google, 'song on rockband that mentions romeo and juliet' and I instantly got it without even having to open a website page. And now it sounds like I'm advertising Google. I'm not, okay? But I did get these lyrics from Google:

All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain..we can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...

Valentine is done
Here but now they're gone
Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity...Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday...Like Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday...Redefine happiness
Another 40,000 coming everyday...We can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...

Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew then disappeared
The curtains flew then he appeared...saying don't be afraid
Come on baby...and she had no fear
And she ran to him...then they started to fly
They looked backward and said goodby...she had become like they are
She had taken his hand...she had become like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper

And here is a link to a Youtube video, though I doubt you'll want to watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdXfkkyI1nQ

Skits

So three scenes that would be cool to perform would be; when Miss Havisham catches on fire, the whole boat scene when Compeyson is following Pip and Abel Magwitch, and Pip's first visit to the Satis House and his first visit with Miss Havisham.

First I think it would be really funny to have someone who would play as Miss Havisham act as if they were on fire. With limbs flailing, running around, and screaming. Sure its a little sadistic, but some people would get a kick out of it. It would also be kind of embarrasing running around the classroom like you were on fire, but I'm pretty sure we have people that are willing to do that in our class. The fire was caused because her dress was too close to fire right? Well that's the cause of most bodily fires, but anyways, the person who was Miss Havisham could just stand to close to the fire and start screaming and running around.

The second one is when Compeyson is stalking Abel Magwitch, because they apparently have some history and they hate each other. I think they were in a boat, right? Or just got off a boat, so whoever plays Compeyson could have like a stalker-ish vibe and sneak around everywhere and follow whoever plays Pip and Abel. And Herbert was there too, I think.

The last skit that I think would be the most important and meaningful is when Pip pays his first visit to Satis house and Miss Havisham. Pip's first impression was like that of a little castle in a fantasy book, or maybe a scary haunted house on the inside because there were only candle-light. Estella would be involved too, because she was the one who played cards with Pip when he first came. I think Pip visiting Miss Havisham really sets the story up for the future characters and settings. Somehow everyone in the book is related or has a connection in some way. This scene also portrays Pip's innocence and innocent behavior as he was a young child to go play at Miss Havisham's.

Another Question

Another thing I don't get in the book is the whole argument about Compeyson's wife. On page 348, Compeyson, or Abel Magwitch, I can't really tell which one, said "Compeyson's wife and me took him up to bed agen, and he raved most dreadful. 'Why look ay her!' he cries out. 'She's a-shaking the shroud at me! Don't you see her? Look at her eyes! Ain't it awful to see her so mad?' Next, he cries, 'She'll pit it on me, and then I'm done for! Take it away from her, take it away!' And he catched hold of us, and kep on a-talking to her, and answering of her, till I half-believed I see her myself." So, my question is what is it about Compeyson's wife that drives the convict crazy? Also, I'm pretty sure she's dead, because he says, 'I half-believed I see her myself' which means he does not see her very often or at all, so either she has died or is some secluded creature. What is it about her mad eyes that scares the convict?