My Current Readings #10

Just read book nine in the Odyssey, by Robert Fagles. In this section is was more so based on Odysseus. Odysseus was introduced previously and now they are writing as if he is talking and it is present. It tells about how Odysseus and a selected few carry on out at sea to go to Cyclops' area. They set sail when they arrive and pick a few loyal men to stay and hold down the fort at their boat. While the others are off seeing what around and going on at the Cyclops' place. They all notice that the Cyclops is not present, they sit by the fire and wait. When he arrives he yells and shouts at them "strangers! strangers! who are you and what are you doing here!" Everyone remains calm and waits to see what he further does. Time passes and things go downhill, Cyclops is ordering Poseidon to maybe let Odysseus get home, but not safely. He prays for Odysseus to go through intolerable conditions and arrive home through unknown people and barely hanging on. Some of the people that went along on the trip earlier in the day and stayed put, at the boat, were killed by forces not talked a lot about. This section was a lot of gruesome events and i feel that Odysseus really should just stay home. He shouldn't be mingling around going wherever he pleases because clearly there are gods not fond of him. I think Odysseus needs to plan more and keep his distance from these certain gods. Curious to see how his journey home is. 

My Current Readings #9

A new book for the time being, The Odyssey, by Robert Fagles. In this section of the book, book 3, Telemachus and Athena set out on a trip to visit some who may have heard about Odysseus. Odysseus is Telemachus' father, and the word around is that he has passed but nobody knows details. The reasoning for Telemachus and Athena's adventure is to find out how, when, where and if its even true that Odysseus has died. The two set out on the trip sail for long hours, and luckily arrive safely. They are looking for Nestor, one whom they think will tell all truth about everything. They do find him and before they are allowed to speak they are asked to say a prayer to Poseidon. Both of them do, and in a matter of time Nestor is telling them the story of Odysseus and their travels together. I don't feel that Nestor ever really reveals anything about Odysseus' death or if that is even true. If i were Telemachus i would restate my reasoning for coming to him and try to find additional information from him. 

My Current Readings #8

Day by day, flipping pages of the book Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. New events are being thrown into the picture. Mike, one of Bella's friends since she came to the new school has asked her to join him and some other fellow students on a beautiful drive up to a picnic area. She says yes and he is so pleased. The following day is the drive to the picnic. Bella shows up and is greated by Mike telling her how happy he is that she showed, hoping she didn't invite anyone else... Meaning Edward. Bella didn't, although in her head she was hoping that somehow Edward would end up coming to this event. Mike offered Bella the front sea in his car, so badly wanting to drive with Bella. She is aware of this and agrees to his invitation. Bella is also aware that Mike seems to maybe be taking some interest in her, at the same time she seems to have some interest in Edward. She believes that Mike knows that. Bella doesn't let it ruin the day, she absorbs all of the beautiful things she's surrounded by and a fun car ride with people of a variety. If i were Bella i would make sure to keep a kind distance from Mike, just incase, wouldn't want him getting the wrong impressions. Another thing i would focus strongly on would be the relationship between Edward and myself. I would analyze things on my own and see what happens then on with my own ideas. I would also play it by ear, take the next few days or weeks to see if something will happen that'd give me more information.

Heroes Artifacts

Elvis Presley- Epic hero.

Elvis Presley, he was intact before any of us could even imagine. It all began one day when he paid 4 dollars to record his first two songs for a birthday present to his mother. The studio owner, Sam Phillips saw the talent in Elvis at that young age and invited him to join and practice with some local musicians. 

Elvis Presley and Gold Record. 

He was the most commercially successful singer of rock and roll, but he also sang ballads, and then moved toward country music. Overall he enjoyed Gospel the most. Elvis set records for concert attendance, television ratings and record sales. He became one of the biggest selling solo artists in U.S. music history. 

Elvis Presley Avenue, downtown Shreveport.

The first person to become what we now look at as a rock star, Elvis is still arguably the biggest one of all time. 

I've chosen to gather these specific artifacts because it is just a few things that show Elvis' shining talent. His talent to enlighten people through music of a variety and his talent to reach high enough to achieve being a leader, or "true rock star" of music. I have learned that heroes come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. How i've learned that is because specifically, Elvis has reached out and touched people of a diversity. He is the hero of music. Then again there are heroes of love, comity, our country, surgery and everyday people. All of these different heroes touch people's lives and souls daily. It's their daily routine to lift people's spirits, in whatever way they lift them, they do it. 

Conclusion

Overall, i feel much more knowledgeable about the meaning of heroes. Now that i've studied a hero that doesn't necessarily or literally "save lives" or "risk his own life for others" i know there is more to the word hero that that. Hero to me now means working your hardest for something you love or desire, developing into something that'll be heard about forever, changing somebody's life, making a difference in the world, and at the same time loving doing it all. If one were to really think about it, a musician could fit my description of hero, a surgeon and doctor could fit my definition of hero, police officers could fit my view on what a hero is, a best friend could fit what a hero is to me. This just goes to show how many varieties of heroes there are in the world and what they mean to each one of us individually. 

"If you're a fan, no explanation is needed. If you're not, no explanation is possible." -George Klein

"The King is dead. Long live the King." - John Lennon

My Current Readings #7

Switching gears again, like always, in the book Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. Up and down, and up and down again. Edward's here, there, talkative, not talkative. Edward was definitely involved in this section. This section included Bella leaving lunch after talking with Edward, with the knowledge that he would be skipping next hour, and their biology class. Bella sat in her biology class waiting for her teacher to start and not to her knowledge, they would be pricking their fingers in class today to see what their blood type is. After the first volunteer to show the class what to do Bella felt faint and rested her head on the cold desk. She knew everyone in class was taking turns pricking their fingers and she could not handle it, her teacher noticed and told her to go to the nurse, and last second Mike volunteered to take her their. Mike helped Bella out of the room and into the hall and outside. Bella begged to sit down and take some deep breaths. After her wish was granted she lay on the sidewalk, soon enough to hear Edward's voice coming down the hall, asking what was wrong with her. Mike told him what happened and Edward scooped up Bella and took her to the nurse, leaving Mike in the dust. Edward got her safely to the nurse's office and stayed there with her. This section is just making me contradict myself the more and more i read. Being Bella i couldn't take the whole "yo-yo" factor of Edward, I'd have to make him talk. Having Edward wanting to help or talk only when he wants to is a big problem because Bella always wants to help or talk to him. It isn't an on and off thing for her. I think especially after this incident, Edward being in the halls so coincidentally when he was skipping class, calls for an important discussion between the two. Bella needs to get to the bottom of this Edward character. Figure out what he's really about.

My Current Readings #6

Currently very interested in the section i've just read of Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. In this section Bella is at her lunch table, sitting with the same people she's been sitting with since she moved there. During lunch Bella notices Edward looking at her, telling her to come over to him. The girls at Bella's table immediately notice and ask Bella what is going on. She replies with a "maybe he needs help on his biology homework, be right back." She goes over to Edward and asks him what he needs. He doesn't reply with a sturdy answer, instead, a question. Edward asks her "why don't you sit with me today?" Bella sits down. Her and Edward engage in this thoroughly indifferent conversation. The conversation consists of Edward telling Bella that he's giving up on trying to stay away from her. Also Edward's telling her that he isn't a good friend for Bella. Bella is trying to take all of this in and comprehend it. She asks him humorously if he has multiple personality disorder, meaning, why do you talk to me so much some days and other days just ignore me? There is no concrete response to this. All in all, Edward is now aware that he doesn't want to stay aware from Bella anymore, even though he should. This is what gets me, Edward says he should stay aware from Bella, yet he can't for some reason. If i were Bella I would have thrown a fit by now. Having someone tell you they are not a good friend for you or that they should stay away from you seems very peculiar. It seems like he has some very mixed intentions that he needs to figure out himself. I think Bella needs to back off on Edward for a while for her own good, with all of these different emotions he's giving off he could really be dangerous.

My Current Readings #5

Continually reading Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. In this section i would like to introduce a few new characters. Two boys, Tyler and Eric. Tyler and Eric seem to pop into place during this section when talk about the school dance heats up. This particular school dance happens to be a "girls ask guys" ordeal. Continuous talk about this exciting event roars throughout the school and seems to become a little twisted. Bella finds herself almost being followed by these two gentlemen, Tyler and Eric. She is definitely not oblivious to the two guys who are on her tail far more than ever. Later in that same day Eric finds Bella before she gets to her next class and asks her who she is asking to the school dance. Bella thinks to herself, I'd love to take Edward. Instead she replies with a "I am going to be out of town that weekend so i can't go!" Eric says ok and walks away with a disgusted look on his face. Bella lets that go and continues with her day. At the end of the day, ready to go home, Bella is getting into her car to leave school. Tyler somehow wound up behind her and asks Bella if she'll go to the school dance with him. Bella looks at him in a confused manner. She replies with "isn't it a girl ask guy dance, Tyler?" He responds with "yes it is but i want to go with you so i was wondering if you'd take me?" Bella once again, thinks about Edward, but tells Tyler that she will be out of town that weekend so she isn't attending the dance. Tyler walks away in disbelief but Bella moves right along and goes home. The main thing I'm getting out of this section is that Bella likes Edward. She likes him. Hands down, she's put aside the differences and has now fallen for him. This is crucial because in previous sections i was getting mixed feelings from Bella about him. Now she has fallen for him and i still feel unsure about this because Edward seems to be up and down, up and down like the sun every day. 

My Current Readings #4

Getting deeper into the book Twilight, written by Stephenie Meyer. As of now we're experiencing a change of pace in the book. Bella is talking a lot about her dad and helping around the house. She says that she loves to go retrieve groceries for the house hold so they can have something different to eat every so often. Bella makes an extra effort most days after school to take a trip by the general grocery store for her father and her. Conversations start to rile up at the dinner table between the two that used to spend silenced nights at the dinner table. This part of the book connects nicely to the world because as a family we should all be putting in an extra effort to help out in some way. I say help out in some way meaning taking out the garbage, cutting the lawn, getting groceries, or cleaning the house. Any one of these simple chores can improve the productivity of the household and improve common curtousy traits. Growing up helping around the house will lead to instant manners as your an adult, as a posed to learning how to treat people and things respectfully when you're already an adult. I would suggest this habit being learned as a child. 

My Current Readings #3

In the book Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, i am still being held to suspicion. Edward and Bella's conversations have turned into a daily routine. I'm starting to believe she's falling for him. In the latest section i've read in my book there was a catastrophe. Bella was walking to her car after school and a boy was backing out of his parking spot and was this close to hitting Bella. How'd she not get injured in any way we wonder? Edward. Edward witnessed the about to be accident and somehow managed to get to Bella just in time to move her and hold the car back. Who has enough strength to hold back a car? Bella was furious in her confusion of what happened. Something was mysterious about Edward. He played it off as if he watched the accident from a near distance and happened to be there, when Bella really knew he was at the other end of the lot and in record speed got to her side. Now if i were to be in Bella's situation for this part of the book i would have put all the so to say, "different" things about Edward in a cluster in my mind and dwelled on it. All these strange things seemed to be adding up and something had to be done, i would think to myself. If i were Bella I'd sit beautiful, life saving Edward down and have a talk. Make him tell me what is going on with him. I'm curious as to see what Bella's reaction to this is.