Response 3:
Write about an obsession... if you can remember a dream, especially one that you've had more than once, write about it.
Why Am I on a Ladder?
It’s a fantastic view. It always is. Once it was a gigantic lush green plain, full of tall flowing grasses. I could see for miles and miles. And all of a sudden, I could see a storm rolling in. I counted the time between lightning and thunderclaps; it was about six miles away. I just watch the clouds tumble closer, rolling on over the grass, on their way towards me. When its three miles away I notice that the cloud is a dark purple color, intermixed with wisps of gray. It’s not all that odd, the sky turns strange colors in the presence of hard rain. I continue watching the clouds, getting closer and closer. I can smell the rain now, feel the thunder rumbling. Not once do I find it strange that I am standing on a ladder that is probably about sixteen feet high, standing straight up from the ground with nothing to hold it up. That is, until I start to totter. I look down for the first time and realize how high up I am. In a moment of sheer panic, I realize I don’t know how to get down, or how I got there in the first place. Then, in slow motion, I feel myself falling forward, the ground gets closer, and closer. I can see each blade of grass coming into sharp focus, the smell of rain and damp ground getting closer. And the split second before I make contact, BAM. I’m awake. I’ve been having falling dreams since I was a kid. They usually follow that same pattern. Amazing landscape, enjoying the view, notice the ladder, fall, wake. One particularly interesting one took place in the middle of huge body of water. I can tell I’m high up this time, but I don’t really mind it. I am attempting to understand the sheer vastness of the body of water around me. There is a slight, warm breeze blowing the hair out of my face. The sun is shining, but it’s not blinding. The water is a brilliant cerulean blue with small ripply waves. In a jolt, I realize I am not on a boat. I am standing on a ladder in the middle of a huge body of water. It’s a simple wooden ladder that no one has used in years, and it goes straight into the water, and I can’t see the bottom. The ladder starts to lean backwards, and in attempt to fix it, I lean too far forward and start to fall face first towards that shining water. Each rung hits the water and makes a sloush sound, and small bubbles start to rise from the water. Sloush, sloush, sloush, shloush. I can see my reflection in the water, my face wrinkled on the waves. Closer, and closer I get to my turquoise reflection, and right before my toes touch, I wake. I never let go of the ladder. I don’t recall a falling dream where I do let go. As if that small wooden structure will save me from flattening into the earth, or water, or whatever medium I am exposed to in that dream. I wonder if I will ever sleep long enough to hit the ground. Maybe I have to let go to find out.
14 February 2007
Sunday, April 1, 2007
The House that Jack Built
response 4:
Fictitious 'job history' for yourself or a character. Follow Proulx's model (aka no dialogue)
-this was the first time i didn't use dialogue or first person. it was hard. I like how it turned out, and i'm going to use it as my final project and revise it into a full short story.
The Home that Jack Built
Jack Healy is born in the quite town of Aurora, Illinois on January 26th of 1948. Two days later a huge blizzard blankets the town and causes Jack and his mother to stay in the hospital an extra three days. His older sister and father can’t get to the hospital at all. In six years, Jack is the older brother to four more boys. The boys all look alike; sandy brown hair, heavy brows and crooked smiles. Jack’s green eyes make him stand out. His brothers like to tease and say the mailman must be his daddy.
The joke is no longer tolerated the summer after Jack turns 16 and their dad skips town. Jack takes a cashier/ stocking job at the local hardware store to help out. Aurora gets a record 16 inches of rain in 24 hours and most of the town is shut down due to flooding. The owner of the hardware store takes a liking to Jack and teaches him how to pick lumber for houses and gets him construction jobs in the summers.
In 1966, Jack graduates from high school. His grades are decent enough for him to get into the local college. He attends classes at Aurora College for three semesters before he gets too restless and goes back to construction. Jack meets Jaime in 1970 and they are married in two years. Jack adopts Jaime' s three-year-old daughter, Ginny, and is sure he is capable of being a father. A year later, they have another daughter, Emma. Jack is working at the hardware store again, but as a manager. He and Jaime decided to purchase a plot on the shore of Lake Holiday. Jack builds the house himself, breaking a wrist and spraining an ankle when he is blown off the roof during the onset of a tornado. When the yearlong project is almost finished, Jaime accuses him of being distant and a bad father. She takes the girls and moves them to Kansas and divorces Jack long distance. Jack sells the house his family should have shared and quit the hardware store.
He lives in Seattle for a year before the death of his stepfather brings him back to Aurora. He takes a job selling lumber to contractors. 1n 1977, while at a bar with some friends, Jack meets Alice. She is 23 and a teller at a bank downtown. In two years they are married and living in a small town house. Jack is doing well at the lumber company and Alice celebrates six years at the bank. After much deliberation, Jack decides he is ready to be a dad again. In 1983, Jack and Alice have a daughter, Kate. Alice’s parents spoil her and Jack spends a lot of weekends at home. Jaime still refuses to let Jack see the girls, but his child support payments are always on time. Sixteen months later, Jack and Alice welcome another baby girl, Lulu. That Easter, there is a freak ice storm and the family spends the holiday without power in their new house.
Jack celebrates 10 years at the lumber company and Alice is promoted to Senior Teller at the bank. In 1987, Jaime lets the girls visit their father in Illinois. Jack assures his daughter Emma that he refuses to leave Alice alone, even if he is unhappy. Ginny and Emma like Illinois enough and Jaime allows them to stay with the new Healys every summer. The girls grow up and closer together. Jack keeps his promise to Emma and stays with Alice and at his job at the lumber company. All four girls graduate from high school and go to college.
In 2005, instead of a thirty-year anniversary at the lumber company, Jack is fired so the company can hire younger, cheaper workers. Alice is still the Senior Teller at the bank. The girls all move to different states, and Jack only needs to search for a week before a competing lumber company hires him. He has the same job, but only half the pay. That summer, there is a drought and all water usage is carefully monitored. Two years later, Alice informs him that her father is getting old and she wants him to move into the house. He takes on this challenge, and builds a room onto the back of the house. It takes two years to complete, Jack is moving a lot slower than he used to. Alice’s father moves into the room, Lulu moves home and Alice celebrates thirty-five years at the bank. Two towns away a tornado flattens all of downtown. The Healys feel lucky.
A week before Christmas that year, the lumber company decides there is not enough business and fires Jack. After a month of searching, Jack takes a job at the newly built Home Depot and sells lumber to customers who don’t listen to his advice. Alice is still at the bank, her father is still in the back room, and Lulu works in the city and commutes every day. Temperatures dip to a negative 20 wind chill, but everyone goes to work anyway. Skipping work is not an option.
21 February 2007
Fictitious 'job history' for yourself or a character. Follow Proulx's model (aka no dialogue)
-this was the first time i didn't use dialogue or first person. it was hard. I like how it turned out, and i'm going to use it as my final project and revise it into a full short story.
The Home that Jack Built
Jack Healy is born in the quite town of Aurora, Illinois on January 26th of 1948. Two days later a huge blizzard blankets the town and causes Jack and his mother to stay in the hospital an extra three days. His older sister and father can’t get to the hospital at all. In six years, Jack is the older brother to four more boys. The boys all look alike; sandy brown hair, heavy brows and crooked smiles. Jack’s green eyes make him stand out. His brothers like to tease and say the mailman must be his daddy.
The joke is no longer tolerated the summer after Jack turns 16 and their dad skips town. Jack takes a cashier/ stocking job at the local hardware store to help out. Aurora gets a record 16 inches of rain in 24 hours and most of the town is shut down due to flooding. The owner of the hardware store takes a liking to Jack and teaches him how to pick lumber for houses and gets him construction jobs in the summers.
In 1966, Jack graduates from high school. His grades are decent enough for him to get into the local college. He attends classes at Aurora College for three semesters before he gets too restless and goes back to construction. Jack meets Jaime in 1970 and they are married in two years. Jack adopts Jaime' s three-year-old daughter, Ginny, and is sure he is capable of being a father. A year later, they have another daughter, Emma. Jack is working at the hardware store again, but as a manager. He and Jaime decided to purchase a plot on the shore of Lake Holiday. Jack builds the house himself, breaking a wrist and spraining an ankle when he is blown off the roof during the onset of a tornado. When the yearlong project is almost finished, Jaime accuses him of being distant and a bad father. She takes the girls and moves them to Kansas and divorces Jack long distance. Jack sells the house his family should have shared and quit the hardware store.
He lives in Seattle for a year before the death of his stepfather brings him back to Aurora. He takes a job selling lumber to contractors. 1n 1977, while at a bar with some friends, Jack meets Alice. She is 23 and a teller at a bank downtown. In two years they are married and living in a small town house. Jack is doing well at the lumber company and Alice celebrates six years at the bank. After much deliberation, Jack decides he is ready to be a dad again. In 1983, Jack and Alice have a daughter, Kate. Alice’s parents spoil her and Jack spends a lot of weekends at home. Jaime still refuses to let Jack see the girls, but his child support payments are always on time. Sixteen months later, Jack and Alice welcome another baby girl, Lulu. That Easter, there is a freak ice storm and the family spends the holiday without power in their new house.
Jack celebrates 10 years at the lumber company and Alice is promoted to Senior Teller at the bank. In 1987, Jaime lets the girls visit their father in Illinois. Jack assures his daughter Emma that he refuses to leave Alice alone, even if he is unhappy. Ginny and Emma like Illinois enough and Jaime allows them to stay with the new Healys every summer. The girls grow up and closer together. Jack keeps his promise to Emma and stays with Alice and at his job at the lumber company. All four girls graduate from high school and go to college.
In 2005, instead of a thirty-year anniversary at the lumber company, Jack is fired so the company can hire younger, cheaper workers. Alice is still the Senior Teller at the bank. The girls all move to different states, and Jack only needs to search for a week before a competing lumber company hires him. He has the same job, but only half the pay. That summer, there is a drought and all water usage is carefully monitored. Two years later, Alice informs him that her father is getting old and she wants him to move into the house. He takes on this challenge, and builds a room onto the back of the house. It takes two years to complete, Jack is moving a lot slower than he used to. Alice’s father moves into the room, Lulu moves home and Alice celebrates thirty-five years at the bank. Two towns away a tornado flattens all of downtown. The Healys feel lucky.
A week before Christmas that year, the lumber company decides there is not enough business and fires Jack. After a month of searching, Jack takes a job at the newly built Home Depot and sells lumber to customers who don’t listen to his advice. Alice is still at the bank, her father is still in the back room, and Lulu works in the city and commutes every day. Temperatures dip to a negative 20 wind chill, but everyone goes to work anyway. Skipping work is not an option.
21 February 2007
response 6:
Use 3 points of view to describe a situation.
situation is: a woman doing her first free-style climb
I.
I can do this. This is what I’ve been training to do. This is what I told Mom I would do. I can totally do this. Maybe if I shift this way I can…reach…it….Nope. Still not close enough. Jumping really doesn’t strike me as the best option. What if I miss? I would fall and that’s a long way to fall. No, it’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going to go back at this point. The only way to go is up. All I have to do is trust my body. Just leap. What’s that saying…? “Leap and the net shall appear.” Who said that anyway?
“I’m fine, just planning” “I will”
I don’t think anyone said it. Just some saying. A net will appear. Trusting. Hear that, muscles? It’s all you. Here I go.
II.
You can do it, kiddo. I know you can. All your hard work, all that practice. I know you can do this. Slowly, just take your time. No rushing. You’re not on the clock. Find your footholds, there you go. Find a good handhold, good girl. I remember the first time I brought you out here and your Mom was climbing free-style. You looked at me and said, ‘Daddy, I’m going to do that just like Mommy.’ And now you are. She would be so proud of you. Hmm, you stuck? Think it through. Plan your move.
“You alright?” “Be careful!”
You’re almost there. You are so close. You’re going to leap aren’t you? There you go!
III.
Looks like a good climbing day. Look at ‘em down there. A nice handful. They sort of look like the first ants finding an abandoned chunk of Twizzler. Scurrying around and all. I love flying above them, seeing them climb up, defying gravity like I am. Except they are relying on their muscles alone. Amazing what the human body can do. And the spectators. I would hate to watch a loved one up there on the rock. Must be nerve wracking. Thinking about all of the what-ifs, feeling utterly helpless. No thank you, Bob. Much too stressful for me. Oh, look at that girl, she’s stuck in the spot that climber was in last year. He fell. She’s going to jump for it too, isn’t she? She’s preparing, you can see all her muscles tense. Yup, she’s letting go.
6 March 2007
Use 3 points of view to describe a situation.
situation is: a woman doing her first free-style climb
I.
I can do this. This is what I’ve been training to do. This is what I told Mom I would do. I can totally do this. Maybe if I shift this way I can…reach…it….Nope. Still not close enough. Jumping really doesn’t strike me as the best option. What if I miss? I would fall and that’s a long way to fall. No, it’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going to go back at this point. The only way to go is up. All I have to do is trust my body. Just leap. What’s that saying…? “Leap and the net shall appear.” Who said that anyway?
“I’m fine, just planning” “I will”
I don’t think anyone said it. Just some saying. A net will appear. Trusting. Hear that, muscles? It’s all you. Here I go.
II.
You can do it, kiddo. I know you can. All your hard work, all that practice. I know you can do this. Slowly, just take your time. No rushing. You’re not on the clock. Find your footholds, there you go. Find a good handhold, good girl. I remember the first time I brought you out here and your Mom was climbing free-style. You looked at me and said, ‘Daddy, I’m going to do that just like Mommy.’ And now you are. She would be so proud of you. Hmm, you stuck? Think it through. Plan your move.
“You alright?” “Be careful!”
You’re almost there. You are so close. You’re going to leap aren’t you? There you go!
III.
Looks like a good climbing day. Look at ‘em down there. A nice handful. They sort of look like the first ants finding an abandoned chunk of Twizzler. Scurrying around and all. I love flying above them, seeing them climb up, defying gravity like I am. Except they are relying on their muscles alone. Amazing what the human body can do. And the spectators. I would hate to watch a loved one up there on the rock. Must be nerve wracking. Thinking about all of the what-ifs, feeling utterly helpless. No thank you, Bob. Much too stressful for me. Oh, look at that girl, she’s stuck in the spot that climber was in last year. He fell. She’s going to jump for it too, isn’t she? She’s preparing, you can see all her muscles tense. Yup, she’s letting go.
6 March 2007
a bit of a note...
i don't really like poetry. i'm sure i've said that before.
HOWEVER
i've had to write so many poems this semester... i don't know.
i'm not a poet.
so i apologize.
i'm going to update an asston now. wOOt.
HOWEVER
i've had to write so many poems this semester... i don't know.
i'm not a poet.
so i apologize.
i'm going to update an asston now. wOOt.
log slide draft #2
Log Slide 2002
a sand hill. not a dune but a hill. a mountain. topped
with trees. mocking. I conquered that mountain. the
lookout, planks of wood for those less adventurous.
we, I, was not part of that group. follow the trail of
ancient logs before us. thirty-five degree incline.
slide down sinking sand to my knees, left my
shoes at the top. the view was…glorious
getting closer to the water, changes
from emerald to turquoise to
crystal clear, I could see
straight to the bottom,
my feet, three feet
under, wiggly
on rocks. in
the 11 am air
a cool breeze
blazing sun.
this is life.
messages
in the sand
I love kate
written
in rocks
long before
I arrived.
I left it
undisturbed.
I hope kate
is still loved.
Did the
sentiment
last longer
than the
love itself?
was kate
part of we
or only an
I, not told
that she
was loved?
pondering it
still, we, I, begin
the climb upwards
fight against sand sweat and
gravity. biting flies long sleeves
devastatingly slow progress, climbing
slipping, hands and knees, no hand holds
just me and the sand. an hour later I emerge
at the top of that sand hill, making it back to flat
land, three hundred feet above lake level. Triumph.
a sand hill. not a dune but a hill. a mountain. topped
with trees. mocking. I conquered that mountain. the
lookout, planks of wood for those less adventurous.
we, I, was not part of that group. follow the trail of
ancient logs before us. thirty-five degree incline.
slide down sinking sand to my knees, left my
shoes at the top. the view was…glorious
getting closer to the water, changes
from emerald to turquoise to
crystal clear, I could see
straight to the bottom,
my feet, three feet
under, wiggly
on rocks. in
the 11 am air
a cool breeze
blazing sun.
this is life.
messages
in the sand
I love kate
written
in rocks
long before
I arrived.
I left it
undisturbed.
I hope kate
is still loved.
Did the
sentiment
last longer
than the
love itself?
was kate
part of we
or only an
I, not told
that she
was loved?
pondering it
still, we, I, begin
the climb upwards
fight against sand sweat and
gravity. biting flies long sleeves
devastatingly slow progress, climbing
slipping, hands and knees, no hand holds
just me and the sand. an hour later I emerge
at the top of that sand hill, making it back to flat
land, three hundred feet above lake level. Triumph.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Log Slide 2002
a sand hill. not a dune but a hill. a mountain. topped
with trees. mocking. a lookout, planks of wood for
those less adventurous. we, I, was not part of that
group. follow the trail of ancient logs before us
thirty-five degree incline. I slide down sinking
sand to my knees, left my shoes at the top.
the view was… glorious getting closer
to the water, changes from emerald
to turquoise to crystal clear
I could see straight
to the bottom, my
feet, three feet
under, wiggly
on rocks. grin
the 11 am air
a cool breeze
blazing sun.
this is life.
messages
written
in the sand
I love kate
written
in rocks
long before
we arrived.
we left it
undisturbed.
I hope kate
is still loved.
then we, I,
began the climb upwards
a fight against sand sweat and
gravity. biting flies and long sleeves
devastatingly slow progress, climbing
slipping, hands and knees, no hand holds
just me and the sand. an hour later I emerge
at the top of that sand hill, making it back to flat
land, three hundred feet above lake level. an hour of
toiling. sweat and tears. toil is the only appropriate word.
I conquered that mountain.
©2007
a sand hill. not a dune but a hill. a mountain. topped
with trees. mocking. a lookout, planks of wood for
those less adventurous. we, I, was not part of that
group. follow the trail of ancient logs before us
thirty-five degree incline. I slide down sinking
sand to my knees, left my shoes at the top.
the view was… glorious getting closer
to the water, changes from emerald
to turquoise to crystal clear
I could see straight
to the bottom, my
feet, three feet
under, wiggly
on rocks. grin
the 11 am air
a cool breeze
blazing sun.
this is life.
messages
written
in the sand
I love kate
written
in rocks
long before
we arrived.
we left it
undisturbed.
I hope kate
is still loved.
then we, I,
began the climb upwards
a fight against sand sweat and
gravity. biting flies and long sleeves
devastatingly slow progress, climbing
slipping, hands and knees, no hand holds
just me and the sand. an hour later I emerge
at the top of that sand hill, making it back to flat
land, three hundred feet above lake level. an hour of
toiling. sweat and tears. toil is the only appropriate word.
I conquered that mountain.
©2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Coin the Catchphrase!
(JILL enters she has a numbered sign pinned to her shirt, reading 1148. She carries a piece of posterboard with her. The stage should be empty, but brightly lit, like an awards or game show.)
My catchphrase is ‘blank makes my ovaries clap!’
(Turns sign around)
Now, in theory it’s only for women to say, seeing as men don’t have ovaries, but I’m pretty sure there are some guys out there that would use it too! For example, say some guy is getting ready to go out and hes looking in the mirror,
(deep ‘man’ voice)
Aw yeah, this shirt is going to make all those ovaries clap. Or, man, this car will make ovaries clap!
(Regular voice)
But, really it’s most attractive point is that you can use it for so many things! It’s very versatile, which all Coined Catchphrases from the show have been. Anything that you find incredibly attractive can make your ovaries clap. All you do is fill in the blank. If I may use last year’s Catchphrase winner, “Toyota Priuses are so HOT.” Now you could just as easily say, “Toyota Priuses make my ovaries clap!”
Now, my friends and I usually use the phrase to talk about guys. Such as,“Jake Gyllenhaal makes my ovaries clap.” Or “Coffee Guy makes my ovaries clap.”
Okay, so there is this incredibly attractive man that frequents the coffee shop I work at, and my ovaries don’t just clap for him. They jump up and down in a standing ovation celebration!
There are definitely degrees of your ovaries celebrating.
When I meet up with my roommate and her annoying yet oddly hot boyfriend for dinner or something, my ovaries have a polite clap session, because the guy is definitely easy on the eyes, youknowwhatimsayin?
Now, with Coffee Guy, my ovaries jump up and down and say, YAY REPRODUCTION! They have a little hormonal dance party in my abdomen.
Oh! One of my favorites is the reaction to attractive-fun guys. The best example is Jim from the Office (The American version). He’s got cute floppy hair and you just want to hug him all the time and join in on his pranks. They do cartwheels! I’m pretty sure they are saying ‘whee!’ in the process.
There is also the ovarian reaction to hot band guys. My ovaries just don’t clap for them either. They bounce around, scream and have their own little mosh pit.
Hm? Oh, I’m almost out of time? Okay. To close, I think ‘blank makes my ovaries clap’ should be the next Coined Catchphrase because it can apply to anything you find attractive, both men and women can use it and its very versatile. It also has varying degrees of applause, and its really just fun to say. Thank you for your time!
©2007
JILL
Hello Ladies, Gentlemen and Judges! My name is Jill March and I am contestant number 1148. I am 22 and a recent Smith College graduate. I’d also like to say that I’m a huge fan of Coin the Catchphrase and feel very honored to have gotten to Round 3. My catchphrase is ‘blank makes my ovaries clap!’
(Turns sign around)
Now, in theory it’s only for women to say, seeing as men don’t have ovaries, but I’m pretty sure there are some guys out there that would use it too! For example, say some guy is getting ready to go out and hes looking in the mirror,
(deep ‘man’ voice)
Aw yeah, this shirt is going to make all those ovaries clap. Or, man, this car will make ovaries clap!
(Regular voice)
But, really it’s most attractive point is that you can use it for so many things! It’s very versatile, which all Coined Catchphrases from the show have been. Anything that you find incredibly attractive can make your ovaries clap. All you do is fill in the blank. If I may use last year’s Catchphrase winner, “Toyota Priuses are so HOT.” Now you could just as easily say, “Toyota Priuses make my ovaries clap!”
Now, my friends and I usually use the phrase to talk about guys. Such as,“Jake Gyllenhaal makes my ovaries clap.” Or “Coffee Guy makes my ovaries clap.”
Okay, so there is this incredibly attractive man that frequents the coffee shop I work at, and my ovaries don’t just clap for him. They jump up and down in a standing ovation celebration!
There are definitely degrees of your ovaries celebrating.
When I meet up with my roommate and her annoying yet oddly hot boyfriend for dinner or something, my ovaries have a polite clap session, because the guy is definitely easy on the eyes, youknowwhatimsayin?
Now, with Coffee Guy, my ovaries jump up and down and say, YAY REPRODUCTION! They have a little hormonal dance party in my abdomen.
Oh! One of my favorites is the reaction to attractive-fun guys. The best example is Jim from the Office (The American version). He’s got cute floppy hair and you just want to hug him all the time and join in on his pranks. They do cartwheels! I’m pretty sure they are saying ‘whee!’ in the process.
There is also the ovarian reaction to hot band guys. My ovaries just don’t clap for them either. They bounce around, scream and have their own little mosh pit.
Hm? Oh, I’m almost out of time? Okay. To close, I think ‘blank makes my ovaries clap’ should be the next Coined Catchphrase because it can apply to anything you find attractive, both men and women can use it and its very versatile. It also has varying degrees of applause, and its really just fun to say. Thank you for your time!
©2007
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