"January" Response

"On this place, baling twine is the thread of life" (Klinkenborg, 112).

I really enjoyed this line right away. It tells me that something that may seems so simple to the world, might have a heavier meaning for the person performing the task. Clearly, baling twine gets everywhere but it does so many things, represents so many variations of Klinkenborg's life. Horses seem to be a large theme, specifically the twine or ropes that let humans be in control of them. I would think that Klinkenborg is referring to keeping a hold on life and that sometimes - like the horses when they get lose - we let go of parts of life, thinking it's a "rush" or that we're escaping something. But, when he uses the last line "..exhaling together happy to be connected again" (114) it makes me think that we need to keep the connects that make us happy just to "be" to remember what parts of life we value most.

The Second Plans

"What about you, Sam?"
"Huh?"
I focused back to my circle of friends. Two were seated against the black futon, one rested on the floor against my pink pillow, I sat on my purple rug. I did it again. I tuned out.
"If your wedding was tomorrow, what would your colors be?"
My mind didn't hesitate: Mint green and jade.
My mouth had other plans: "Different shades of purple."
"Oh duh, I should've known," my roommate piped up from the top bunk. "Because your favorite color is purple."
My mind chimed in first, again: Yes, but mint green goes best with piercing blue.
Only to be covered up, again, with spoken words:"Yeah, you got me."
"What about your first dance?" asked one of the girls against the black futon. "Let me guess, a John Mayer song?"
One of The Fray's songs. No even a question.
"Got me again."
My roommate laughed and chimed in again, "Oh, Sami. You're so predictable! What about your venue? I bet it's a beach in California and a huge after party. Am I right?"
The music center in Cincinatti. Alone, with a few family and friends.
"You know how much I've always loved the beach."
That one wasn't a lie. Beaches calmed me. The tide rolled in and out, in and out. It never failed to come back to where my feet were planted in the sand. 
But he always failed - so, I picked a new color.

Comparing: 2

"A Second Time" reminded me of Camille's story. I mostly saw the contrast of staying and leaving between the two. In Camille's, she wants her dad to come back, to show up. In Galvin's story, it seems the person he's referring to does come back, but can't seem to stay. The line I enjoyed the most in Galvin's story was, "Spring was a fallacy that brought you back, but nothing in the world could hold you." I feel that this line makes it and Camille's story worth comparing, if she were to delve a little deeper. In the end, it seems that both Galvin and Camille's stories have come to the conclusions that this is the normal pattern. Seasons change, students come back to school and they both had to come to sad terms that only these patterns could be counted on, not people.

Comparing

I think "I've Got Dreams to Remember" could go with "From Two or Three Things I Know for Sure." The family aspect was what first stood out to me. Dorothy Allison takes a more direct approach, focusing on her femininity in the world and how the women around her made her want to be more, while Taylor's world revolved around these men that made her life more than she could've imagined the day she walked into The Backstretch. I think it would be an interesting comparison to dive a little deeper into. Also, just the title (Two or Three..) reminds me of Taylor's underlying theme of going back and forth correcting her memories and adding on more things she realized she got from her childhood as she told her story.

Lantern Metaphor

"The Lantern Bearers" by Robert Louis Stevenson was not my favorite story in full, but I definitely enjoyed and took to the metaphor of the lanterns. I was intrigued in the beginning of Stevenson's  story regarding how he described his "fisher-village." I especially liked his line about how the "place was created seemingly on purpose diversion of young gentleman" which explains right away that this is probably going to have some reflection of his childhood in it. I also noted his unique way of contrasting things that were so "dear to him" with things that were outrageous, like "startling pictures" or "suggestive names." Another part that struck me was how he called all his distinct descriptions "ingredients of the town." Ingredients are written carefully and descriptive so that the end result is made correctly - something that I understand in Stevenson's story after getting to the lantern metaphor.

The metaphor Stevenson makes about the boys running in the dark with lanterns underneath their top coats can be interpreted in many ways. I like that he describes it from his younger perspective and leaves it to his readers to determine how to interpret it from an older point of view. I personally viewed his story as an overall explanation that, even at a very young/innocent age, we develop uniqueness and greatness inside of us. It's up to us to decide how to use the things we keep to ourselves, to "make your glory public." We learn to conceal things that make us different and - only when we feel comfortable or in a situation that allows us to show our true selves - we shine.

Things I Hate

-Snow
-The snow outside my window.
-The snow on top of my car and under the wheels.
-Did I mention snow?
-Lines.
-Rudeness.
-When someone says "I couldn't really understand what you we're saying but okay..." Just ask me again, I know I talk fast. Sorry 'bout it.
-My sense of direction - or lack thereof. Thanks, Mom.
-When I go home for the holidays and I get asked about my dating life. How about we talk about my future career or how good the chip dip is?
-Thunderstorms (also my biggest fear).
-Being away from my sisters.
-Being away from Mom & Dad.
-Confrontation.
-Mornings.
-When TV shows I love go on a "mid-season break."
-Dishonesty.
-When I have things planned out down to the last minute and something unexpected happens, like my car breaking down or misplacing a key.
-When one of my favorite movies is on TV or one of my favorite songs is on the radio and I only hear/see the ending.
-Being told I'm on my phone too much. My future career is partially involving social media - please understand!
-When it's 2 p.m. and I lose motivation.
-When it's 3 a.m. and I have the urge to write a best-selling novel, paint a mural, organize my room, apply for jobs or teach myself how to knit but....it's 3 a.m.
-When I have a really good idea and forget it in the next five seconds.
-Bad grammar.
-Writing something and officially publishing it, only to find out I misused a word/misspelled something.
-Anyone/anything that hurts my friends or family.
-Voicemails.
-Having a conversation through text that would've been easier through a phone call.
-Mondays.
-That I don't dance anymore.
-Knowing I could probably think of a cooler/more entertaining list of things I hate, but not being able to think of anything good right now.
-Mustard.