Goodbye Peers

In the great white room

There was a telephone

And an essay plan

And a picture of—

The pigeon pooping on a man

and there were many good books, sitting in nooks

and two little twins and a game for wins

and a journal I wrote and always a quote

and a pen and a blog and a book with some fog

and a quite intense lady who was yelling out “hush”

goodbye peers

goodbye years

goodbye pigeon pooping on a man

goodbye light and the essay plan

goodbye books and goodbye nooks

goodbye twins and goodbye wins

goodbye themes and goodbye teams

goodbye journal I wrote and goodbye quote

goodbye pen and goodbye blog

goodbye nobody goodbye fog

and goodbye intense lady yelling out “hush”

goodbye stress, goodbye years

goodbye fellow English peers

Intensity of the AP English Exam

Amy: “It’s only eight in the morning” (92)

McMurphy: “I never saw a scareder-looking bunch in my life” (70)

Amy: “The thing is, I’m not sure I [would] want to take it either”(238)

Algernon: “nobody ever does” (19)

McMurphy: “Then why? Why?...why do they stand for it?” (195)

Algernon: “Oh! There is no use speculating on that subject” (3)

McMurphy: “They’re nuts” (195)

Algernon: “It is absurd to have a hard-and-fast rule about what one should read” (4)

Amy: “So stupid…I [wouldn’t] do stuff like this!” (205)

Algernon: “I call it grotesque” (30)

McMurphy: “I might agree with you” (228)

Algernon: “Literary criticism is not your forte, my dear fellow. Don’t try it” (6)

McMurphy: “Why?” (195)

Algernon: “You should leave that to people [In AP English]. They do it so well in their daily papers”(6).

McMurphy: “All right, all right…” (273).  

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest definitely comes out on top as my favorite book, and honestly how could it not? Not only does it include my favorite character from the year, Randall McMurphy but it also has popped up in my everyday life. For instance, and earlier blog touched on the allusion to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in my favorite show, The West Wing. Not once, but twice they referenced it and I watched the scene three times in a row before I was finally over how epic the moment felt. Then “[I] laughed tell [I was] rolling around the couches and chairs, choking and teary-eyed” (302). My sister, also watching with me sat there with an expression that seemed to say “I don’t seem able to get it strait in my mind…” (196). Unable to appreciate the humor, I took pride in my ability to pick out their allusion to the novel and took pride in the humor, something as Ms. Serensky puts I don’t involve in my blogs too often : “Tina, your blog was funny, they aren’t usually funny”. Thus I can easily say this book enhanced my life outside of school by allowing me to find humor I would have completely missed without the prior knowledge. Also, I am a big time believer in reading books before I watch the movies. To watch a movie and then read the book ruins everything, “it’s as simple as that, as stupidly simple as that” (58). For example, I cannot stand anyone who viewed the Harry Potter movies without first reading the books because the movies cannot compare to the greatness of the books. I have a list of the top 100 movies that I plan to finish before I go to college. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest appears on this list and I know I would not thought twice about watching it without first reading the book. Now that I have spent a huge amount of time with the book and analyzed all the characters it’ll be interesting to see my take on the movie and how they portray all the characters. Finally, I loved One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest because of McMurphy. His ridiculous cocky attitude and fragrant disregard for authority entertained me great through the reading and, other than Reggie fox, very few characters have compared to his colorful personality. The snide comments he made to Nurse Ratched and the rebellion he inspires kept the book light and brought an element of humor to an otherwise depressing book. Without him the tyranny of Nurse Ratched would overtake the book and made everything seem hopeless and depressing.

sesTINA

The best poem I read from the past year, “Sestina” by Ciara Shuttleworth, made it to the top of my list for a few solid reasons. The most obviously and evidently the best reason comes from the title of the poem, which includes my name, sesTINA. I believe the poem especially targeted those with the beautiful name of Tina to tell them to use love well, because it is fleeting. Let us touch on the subject of names for a brief moment.  Many a time people have told me, “[Tina] suits you perfectly. It is a divine name. It has a music of its own. Its produces vibrations” (Wilde 11). I sometimes ask what if I went by another name, such as my middle name Patrice. Those same persons remark “[Patrice]?...No, there is very little music in the name [Patrice], if any at all, indeed. It does not thrill. It produces absolutely no vibrations…I have known several [ Patrices], and they all, without exception, were more than usually plain .Besides, [Patrice] is a notorious domesticity for [Patricia]! And I pity any woman who is married to a man called [Patrice]” (Wilde 11). Also, my procrastination of this blog entry leads me to another great word which contains my name, procrasTINAtion. Coincidence… I think not!! There those who question my name, Mary Beth, but I say to the disbelievers “But my name certainly is [Tina]. It has been [Tina] for years” (Wilde 39).  Back to my favorite poem, the sestina tells the tale of a sad romance, over and leaving one of the romantics in depression. I enjoy this poem because the arrangement of the same six words, you, used, to, love, me, well, allows one to fully express their feelings. My first introduction to a sestina style poem captivated me, and led me to appreciate poetry great deal more. The idea that one can use the repetition of words to create an entire story makes me realize the great variety of poems past mere rhyme schemes.  

Absurdity of the Best AP English Day

“I feel very happy” as I make my way to  AP English in an especially chipper mood, full of excitement for Carolyn, Haley and I to run AP English for a day (Wilde 29). Our plan consists of our putting our classmates and Ms. Serensky through ridiculous obstacles for our own personal entertainment. For starters I love the poem we decided to teach, “If” by Rudyard Kipling. It preaches the importance of making the most of time and staying true to oneself, a lesson we learned once again through reading Everything Matters! as a class.  Teaching the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling led us to the decision to play a series of minute to win it games and we thus began to set them up in the correct order and getting the class into teams. First we began with the M&M game. The classroom filled with chaos as people pranced around the room grabbing at different colors of M&M’ and fitting their hands into tiny Dixie cups at rapid speed. After the commotion died down we started up the next game. When we arrived upon the cookie game, where the contestants received the task of wiggling a cookie down their face and into their mouths, Ms. Serensky rose up to test her cookie wiggling skills. Simple at first, “But for some reason it set us to laughing. It starts off slow, a couple little chuckles, then gathers momentum until we’re almost paralyzed by it” (Currie 252). Haley demonstrated her professional skills and got the cookie in her mouth with ease that can only come from the luckiest of instances. Then onto the sniffing cotton ball game which I happen to like the best. We explain that one must move the cotton balls with only their noses to across the room and we can immediately tell the entire class doesn’t “seem to get it strait in their mind[s]” (Kesey 196). More laughter erupts as we watch our usually quite setting fill with frantic individuals with cotton balls stuck up their noses. We then settled the atmosphere with a discussion led by lines from the poem and questions that pertained to the morals the poem advocates. As my favorite day in AP English we found a way to act absurd while still learning the importance of every minute.

McMurphy to Clive

Clive,

 I feel the need to express my opinion about the way you lived your life. After all here we both are, dead as a result of the paths we decided to take in life. Although, let’s be honest I went out in a heroic way in order to help out my ward. You, on the other hand should think over the events that led to your murder and the murder of your friend. Nothing came out of your double murders and I found them quite unnecessary. A real man, such as me, goes out for a cause and in doing so becomes a hero. Well enough about my heroic nature, I will cut strait to the point.  Now, I’m gonna get real weird with it because “I don’t seem able to get it straight in my mind…” why you copied Beethoven’s Ode to Joy (196). I’m a terribly good con man myself but I’m all sneaky when I go about it and nobody can call me out on a good con. So I find it hard to understand how you messed up so bad. I spent a great deal of time considering it a testament to your sanity,  but let me tell you I know insanity, lived around it for a good while and “As near as I can tell you’re not any crazier than the average asshole on the street”(65). With your sanity intact and your future on the line I cannot for the life of me understand your absurd choice to copy Ode to Joy.

            Well McMurphy, I am simply “a genius” (143). Before I came to the musical world “there had been no Beethovens” and I find myself just as talented at the great man himself (144). 

McMurphy's Discussion Domination

The whole class looks up at I strut in, late as usual and too cool to care. Ms. Serensky attempts to put me in my place, but I just smirk and find a seat. If I could take on Nurse Ratched, I can put up with anyone.  I take out a sharpie and scribble across the desk MCMURPHY to clear up any absurd thoughts that another could sit in the center seat.  A discussion begins as usual and though I have no idea as to what everyone mutters about I holler out whatever comes to mind and look for Ms. Serensky to put a mark next to my name. I go along with Henry in his declarations that Carolyn “loves nature” and just to mess with him I back Carolyn up when she tells him his “robot voice is terrible”. Discussion for points means a game, like poker, and one I plan to come out on top of.  I receive dirty looks from the others in the room but I couldn’t care less, I’m bigger and I could take any of them if a brawl over discussion points breaks out. Someone tries to cut me off and I snap, “This [discussion]…belongs to the strong, my friend!” (64). I feel even though my classmates don’t always seem as smart as me, they can make the inference that I am the strongest and thus they must follow my lead.  A few students look up and I can see the class does not quite understand my opinion about English and its brutal nature. Well I’ll clear it up for them. Our grades are “based on the strong getting stronger by devouring the weak. We must face up to this. No more than right that it should be this way” (64). My blunt statement sends the class into a tizzy. Everyone tries to get their opinion in, awkward instances when three people try to talk fill the air, people make pathetic apologies to each other, and I sit sickened by the civility.  Well I don’t care, everyone in the class “is a rabbit” anyways (64). I am a wolf, and I fully enjoy today, my best day in AP English.

Advice for AP English 11

Dear Omniscient Speaker,

            For one whom claims to not “know anything else” you sure seem to give great advice when Junior needs it and I believe the lessons you teach to Junior throughout his life greatly parallel the lessons of AP English 11 (9). In the beginning of junior year we know nothing and welcome everything. The declaration you make that states, “There is much to learn and do, and little time; suffice it to say that you should be aware of the trials ahead” pertains to AP English 11 greatly (3). It inspires motivation to not except the initial failures when we receive a 2+ or 3 on the first papers of the year. The advice urges one to remain calm and to trust Ms. Serensky knows the steps to get us to the AP test looming in the future.  True, we have little time and our awareness of the May test date keeps us on track. When assigned a soapstone for the first time I find your advice to work perfectly. Many would do well to “avoid those who complain about life’s unfairness, and instead get a head start on building self-restraint” (4).  At some point everyone rages about the infamous soapstone of AP English 11, yet one must build up their self-restraint so the insane datasheets of AP English 12 don’t throw one over the edge. Complaining about English does no good and one would do well to learn this early on.  Just as Junior goes back to begin his life again, we move on from the world of AP English 11 into the unknown of AP English 12 and I believe the best advice for the transition is “ You were wise to welcome Everything, the good and the bad alike”(292). The shift away from AP English 11 will seem scary at times, but the opportunity to further your knowledge greatly outweighs the initial fears.  The bad will motivate one to work harder and the good will come when preparation pays off after the AP tests.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                        An AP English student

If AP English was Animated



Going along with the theme of my blog, I have decided that everyone in AP English needs to be assigned to an animated character. My attempt to keep it strictly to Disney characters ended as I began to find perfect matches outside the wonderful world of Disney.  Those who recieve villains, don't take offense in no way does this mean I think you have evil qualities.

Ms. Serensky
Ursula- The Little Mermaid
Intimidating. Strong dislike for foolish people.
"That's what I do.
 It's what I live for, to help unfortunate merfolk, like yourself,
 poor souls with no one else to turn to"



Thomas Donley, Alex Kreger
Flotsam and Jetsam- The Little Mermaid
Intimidated by Ursula. Live to serve her.
"Don't be scared. We represent someone who can help you. Someone who can make all your dreams come true. Ursula has great powers"



Kelsey Butler
Cinderella- Cinderella
Blonde. Workaholic
"Cinderella, Cinderella
All I hear is Cinderella, from the moment I get up
till shades of night are falling
There isn't any letup, I hear them calling, calling"



Kathryn Mahoney
Princess Aurora- Sleeping Beauty
Blonde. Loves naps and forrest critters.
"  Oh, you darlings! This is the happiest day of my life!
 Everything's *so* wonderful!"

Kyle Relyea
Doc- Snow White
"Step up to the tub, 'tain't no disgrace
 Just pull up your sleeves and get 'em in place
Then scoop up the water and rub it on your face
And go "Bl-bl-bl, bl-bl-bl, bl-bl-bl!"

Jillin Ertel
Mulan- Mulan
Frequently has a man voice. See picture
"(Be a man)
We must be swift as
the coursing river
(Be a man)
With all the force
of a great typhoon
(Be a man)
With all the strength
of a raging fire
Mysterious as the
dark side of the moon"

Sam Schiferl
Bashful- Snow White
Always blushing.
"Goshh she's beautiful... just like an angel!"

Chris Lange
Alfredo Linguini- Ratatouille
Tall. Enjoys baking with rodents
"Ratatouille. It's like a stew, right? Why do they call it that?
 If you're gonna name a food, you should give it a name that sounds delicious.
 Ratatouille doesn't sound delicious. It sounds like "rat" and "patootie."
 Rat-patootie, which does not sound delicious.

Sarah Greenlaw
Archimedes- The Sword in the Stone
"Oh, Man will fly all right. Just like a rock"

Nicola Zollinger
Bambi-Bambi
"Yes. Nearly everybody gets twitterpated in the springtime.
 For example: You're walking along, minding your own business.
You're looking neither to the left, nor to the right, when all of a sudden you run smack
 into a pretty face. Woo-woo! You begin to get weak in the knees.
Your head's in a whirl. And then you feel light as a feather, and before you know it, you're walking on air.
And then you know what? You're knocked for a loop, and you completely lose your head!

Marc Golsmith
Captain Hook- Peter Pan
"I'M A CODFISH"

Mary Beth O"Neil
Sebastian- The Little Mermaid
Field Commander. Crabby 
" Hm. Teenagers. They think they know everything.
You give them an inch, they swim all over you".

Mariel McGuiness
Alice- Alice in Wonderland
" It would be so nice if something would make sense for a change."

Sarah Ross
Edna Mode- The Incredibles
Genius. Sassy. Hilarious.
"Yes, words are useless! Gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble.
 Too much of it, darling! Too much!"

Hayden Dougherty
The Fairy Godmother- Cinderella
"Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together and what have you got
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo"

Alex Hurtuk
Marlin- Finding Nemo
"There was this mollusk, and he walks up to this sea cucumber.
 Normally, they don't talk, sea cucumbers, but in a joke everyone talks.
 So the sea mollusk says to the cucumber..."

John Shoemaker
Sleepy- Snow White
Snow White: "You're sleepy"
Sleepy: (yawn) "How'd you guess?"

Chase Plante
Jafar- Alladin
Check out that beard
"Now where were we? Ah, yes - abject humiliation!"

Kaleigh O'Hara
Nala- The Lion King
" So where are we going?
It better not be anyplace dumb"

Jimmy Boldt
Buzz Lightyear- Toy Story
Going to Dartmouth... to infinity and beyond!



Hannah Zaim
Piglet- Winnie the Pooh
""What?" said Piglet, with a jump.
And then, to show that he hadn't been frightened,
he jumped up and down once or twice
 more in an exercising sort of way".

---



Carolyn Weaver
Pocahontas- Pocahontas
Tan. Loves nature.
"You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name"

Kelly O'Connor
Jasmine- Aladdin
"Please, try to understand.
 I've never done a thing on my own.
 I've never had any real friends"

Carly Cott
Rafiki- The Lion King
Africa.

Emily Hellwig
Snow White- Snow White
"Snow White: I said, how do you do?
Grumpy: How do ya do what?
Snow White: Oh, you can talk. I'm so glad."



Brooke Chambers
Tinkerbell- Peter Pan
" Everytime a child says "I dont believe in fairies,
 there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead".





Henry Gilbert
Sa'Luk- Aladdin and the King of Thieves
Intense. See picture.



Shroyers
Tweedle Dee
and Tweedle Dumb
Twins. Enough said.

Lizzy Burl
Wendy- Peter Pan
" What would mother think of my
 becoming a pirate?"







Katie Connolly
Belle- Beauty and the Beast
"With a dreamy far off look,
and her nose stuck in a book"

Katie Ciabotti
Jane- Tarzan
"Daddy, they took my boot!"

Cat Cashy
Esmerelda- Hunchback of Notre Dame
Friends with a goat. Outcast, but she can get by 

Carley Mader
Marie- The Aristocats
"Ladies don't start fights, but they can finish them!"

Lizzie Halper
Mary Poppins- Mary Poppins
"As I expected. "Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way."

Dom Russo
The Genie- Alladin
 Comical

" Oh, Al. I'm gettin' kinda fond of you, kid. Not that I wanna pick out curtains or anything"



Haley Sferra, Tina Moran
Mike and Sully- Monsters Inc
Mike: I think I have a plan here: using mainly spoons,
we dig a tunnel under the city and release it into the wild.
Sulley: Spoons?
Mike: That's it, I'm out of ideas. We're closed. Hot air balloon?
Too expensive. Giant slingshot? Too conspicuous.
Enormous wooden horse? Too Greek.



Immaturity Trumps All

Looking back on last Thursday’s discussion, which entered into the debate of whether to hold onto one’s childhood or let go completely, I cannot help but to think there is much more to be said on the matter. I am a strong advocate of holding on to one’s childhood.  As we approach college and the big decisions ahead of us about what to do after college, I think it is important to remember to take a break and act immature for a while in order to get away from the stresses of everyday life. I doubt I will have many opportunities to act immature once I have to get a job and figure out what I am going to do with my life, which just proves that right now represents a perfect time to find a way back to the things that made childhood so great.  For some terrible reason the most carefree days of our lives also makes up the smallest portion. When you think about it, there are really only about 12 years of true childhood until homework begins to enter, followed by expectations and schedules. Of these twelve years, I can only probably remember about 7 or 8 of them enough to look back on the silly games I played and the epic forts I built.  I think I was forced to mature way to early.  I would love more time to be free from responsibly, with the biggest stresses in my life being whether to play inside or outside, or which Disney movie to watch. Also, I never truly appreciated eating what I wanted, whenever I wanted without worrying about working out. There are few things I would not do for a lunchable, some Kool-Aid in the twisty cap bottles, and a wonderball.  I also never went to Chuck-E-Cheese enough when I was a kid, although I doubt I can relive that without creeping all the actual kids out.  Anytime I go to babysit I can’t help but to be jealous of the kids because I realize once I leave they continue their Star Wars battle while I have to go home and think up ideas for blogs or write a soapstone. These are the reasons I continue to watch Disney princess movies on a regular basis and why babysitting on the weekend is one of my favorite activities. Eventually, I realize I will have to grow up but there is plenty of time for that later on. For now, being a kid is so much more fun so I plan on holding on to any remains of my childhood for as long as I can.

The Benefits of a Backpack

The summer before I began seventh grade, my handy-dandy blue backpack broke. I made the decision to take the opportunity and change things up, since, obviously I was about to become a super cool middle school-er. Six years and 10 bags later I finally made the switch back to backpacks and I must say, the transition was very awkward. Not only did friend do a double take when they saw me without my old colorful bag, but I find people bump into my backpack while I stand at my locker. I am yet to determine whether the bumping occurs with everyone or whether I am just unlucky. Yet, after roughly two weeks I have come to realize the significant differences a backpack makes in my daily routine that a purse, sorry Haley, could never accomplish. For starters, all my huge binders fit perfectly within my new backpack and I no longer need to spend 5 minutes outside my car, in the freezing cold, figuring out a means of stacking all my oddly shaped supplies. With everything on my back, both of my hands become completely free. At first, I felt weird and I wasn’t sure what to do with them. Now I carry a water bottle in one hand and my really cool Scooby-Doo mystery machine lunch box in the other. The incredible compartment space creates yet another reason to make the shift from purses to backpacks. In my experiences with purses, I have come to recognize they turn into black holes that suck in all pens, notes, erasers and anything else one would need at the drop of a hat. Digging around for a pen when Ms. Serensky announces the beginning of an in-class writing proved a huge stressor in my life. In my observations from first semester, I can conclude that those who sit next to a purse-user also support the switch to backpacks. For example, I am pretty sure Jimmy would have loved to see Haley walk into class with a backpack instead of the largest purse ever made. After six years of categorizing myself as a purse-user I can proudly say I broke away and now enjoy the comfort of my new backpack every day.

Insomnia

Either way I won't be sleeping.

Memory Lapse

Today I came upon the realization that Clyde and I share many characteristics and as much as I dislike him for leaving the woman in trouble, I know the terrible feeling that comes with a forgotten thought. Last night, before I went to bed, I was up thinking about random things when I stumbled across an incredible idea for a blog post. I vividly recall mapping out the details in my mind for the entire post and thinking to myself “oh this is perfect, Bobbi’s Blog Banter material for sure”. I spent all of today attempting to remember the idea and now here I am, writing about the annoyance that comes with my terrible memory. I know I should have jotted down some ideas at the time or maybe jumped out of bed to begin the blog, but I chose sleep as my main priority instead. Another memory mishap came this morning when I woke up, and, as usual could not remember my dream. All I could remember was thinking “wow this is an awesome dream”.  I find it hard to just accept I will go on living my life without ever knowing what I dreamed about, true a single dream has little to no significance but the knowledge of what I dreamt about would put my mind at ease. By 8^th period today I had a terrible headache after a long day at attempts to remember insignificant moments, that even by remembering them would do nothing more than amuse me for a few minutes or help me with a single blog entry. I still believe Clyde was wrong for leaving the woman, but I can empathize with the frustration that comes with a memory lapse. 

The Inevitable Flight

While the rest of my classmates stress over a tune to sing for Bobbi’s Blog Banter and discuss the latest reading from Amsterdam, I will find myself soaring over rural Indiana, on my way to the Windy city. Up in the air I will no doubt find myself seated beside one of the following individuals. I’ll begin with “The Chatter” a seemingly nice person who refuses to respect my desire to plug in my iPod and sleep through the short flight.  “The Chatter” will talk for hours, somehow expecting for us to part from the plane as best friends forever. I could also find myself next to “Mr. Large”, the man who should actually purchase two seats in order to stop his body from spilling over into my area. The encounter with “Mr. Large” can only be described as awkward. We both recognize the unfortunate circumstance, but I could never bring myself to suggest he could go without those extra peanuts, or that the diet coke does nothing. Even worse, I could wind up behind “The Lounger”, this person takes advantage of his/her recline button and sends the contents of my tray, peanuts and ginger ale, into my lap. When the first bit of turbulence hits, one can easily identify “The Paranoids”, those who fear for their lives and down Xanix before convincing themselves to step on the plane.  As I watch them I half expect one to shout out “I see dead people” and I will join into with their hysteria. “The Businessman”, a person favorite of mine, argues with the stewardess as he demands to leave on his Bluetooth, blackberry, laptop, pager and every other electronic device one could possibly own because he somehow overlooks the fact Verizon provides insufficient service 30,000 feet up. Who knows what or who lies ahead but I will somehow find a way to survive the journey.