MyLitClass

Leaving the first class of Literature in the 21^st Century of this semester, I didn’t know what to think. To be honest I was little afraid, and was debating on whether or not I would stay in for the remainder of the semester, being that this would be my 6^th class. I was told that six to nine classes were a breeze and usually only two hours long, man do I know how to pick them. The professor wasted no time, and assigned reading on the first class. Not just a few pages, but a whole book ! This was probably the most intimidatingof the three hours of this first class, which is generally only 15 minutes long.

Moving into the weekend, the only time in which I had to myself, I found reading after getting back from a track meet. For those of you who haven’t competed in sports, primarily track and field, I can safely say there is nothing more exerting than racing. Not just once but racing twice in one day is more than exhausting. I came home to an un-open book on a Saturday night, which is usually not even used to go out in my teenage life, but instead to sit back, relax, pig out and watch TV. This semester changed that four year tradition, and instead forced me to sit back, read, read, and read. Little did I know that latter assignments were to be much longer, taking not hours but days to get through. Not to mention updating my new blog, three times per week. I never took part in blogging before, and just thought it was another way to waste time on the computer like facebook, or myspace. I didn’t know how to approach this new “21^st Century” way of putting my word out there, and looking back, had done some things that I may have changed now, however I think I did a pretty good job for a first timer.

I was never big on picking up a book for recreational use; in fact I never really read assignments given in high school; however this class was a little different. Starting off the semester on a good note, I decided to read the first book, but didn’t expect to see myself reading many of the pieces assigned later on. After getting through the second class, and grasping a feel for what the class was all about, I realized I was in trouble. Almost every minute of those three hours were devoted to the dissection of this book; had I not read it I probably would have had no idea to what it was about. See these weren’t just regular books; they were mangled beyond recognition through depth and confusion.

Getting further into blogging I realized how beneficial they became, in reading my classmates blogs and having a feel for what they thought these books were hiding between the lines. I also saw my own writings becoming more in depth in these books, and also in a personal perspective noticed some change. I started adding in pictures and links to my blogs, and on occasion would write about myself. If there was one thing I may have changed from the beginning of the semester it would be writing a little more personally. At first, when I heard that we were to update these blogs three times a week I just figured it was another way to give more attention to this once a week class, because the endless amounts of hours of reading given per week just weren’t enough. I soon realized that this was more than that, and took me most of the semester to realize it. This virtual classroom was a way to get more out of your own readings and see what we as a group would find to be significant, and meaningful; besides twenty heads are better
than one right.

Virtual Class

So regarding virtual class last week, I'd say it was a solid effort in getting to understand what this book was about. I know that while I was going through House of Leaves I would at times just give up, and have to pick it up again later on. Having no chronological order in how to read it, made it that much more difficult in understanding it, or was that Danielewski's plan all along. He first started off by saying how this book is not for you, which is intimidating, but then says how the order in which you read is optional, which for me seemed to me more of a drastic move on his part. However, I did feel that this virtual class did grab more control of the book, although we still have major work to do in terms of understanding it.

Skip It !

So we're told in the beginning of the novel, that we are "aloud" to skip around this novel. Peter assumed in this case it doesn't really matter. To be honest Peter did skip the introduction, and started reading on page three. After getting very little out of the first chapter, and figured it was in a sense taking advantage of the book, Peter went back to read the intro. Later Peter realized that Peter had less of an idea of the first chapter, than did after reading the introduction.

So taking this into consideration, for each time the text would change in font, Peter realized the topic would change, so Peter started skipping the less bold areas of the book, and would later go back to them. Little did Peter know that it wouldn't help much at all anyway, as Peter still found himself somewhat lost after trying to compress information that would still find a way to be irrelevant to each other.

The one thing Peter didn't like about this novel was the use of detail. Peter felt all the extra detail used covers what we're expected to find. This house is meant to be a mystery, Peter can see that, however, Peter felt it would make it a lot easier if we didn't need to read about Mr Reston's biography. All the sidetracking gets a little irritating after a while and forces me get somewhat frustrated and lost.

House of Leaves (Part Two)

So reading through House of Leaves, the word house is left in blue through the text and even in the title, but for what reason? What is so significant about the word House? Yea theres a house in the story, and it's weird expanding anterior leaves the reader in suspense because of this, but why blue? Why not red or green. In my opinion the title should be House of trees, and trees should be green, representing the vital waste of paper for each printed copy.

Reading, and skipping around you can find separate definitions to this word house. Danielewski even states in the beginning of the novel that you may jump around at your pleasure. I don't see what he's doing here, I feel that was a bad move. This isn't the bible we're talking about. However, reading the book in chronological order by page doesn't really help in this case either.

I'm starting to believe the word house holds more power as I move forward. The characters refer to the house as less primitive as time goes on, and they sense a change taking place. I'm honestly not sure what the word means yet, however I want to say that it will eventually come out towards the end of the story.

Character Sketch

Billy Reston is an engineer, well at least he was one before he had an accident in India, preventing him from ever walking again(pg 37). Now handicapped working as a teacher, he appreciates his life as he's kept a picture from the day of the accident that Will took, showing himself moments before he became crippled. We see that Billy is the first to notice the House expanding, but ignores his judgment, realizing that a house cant possibly expand from the inside.(pg 55) Although he has this broad view on the world with an "almost animal like ability to accept the world as it comes to him". (pg 99).

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbIRmp_CsFQ

I chose this video, well mainly because it's pretty self explanatory. What better way to show emphasis on a house with an anterior expansion, than through a plastic inflatable house with the anterior expanding. It shows two kids running in at different points of expansion, which can relate to Billy Reston going into the house at different points of the book, and noticing a significant difference in size.

HOUSE

"As tape and film reveal, in the month following the expansion of the walls bracketing the book shelves, Billy Reston made several trips to the house where despite all efforts to the contrary, he continued to confirm the confounding impossibility of an anterior dimension greater than an exterior one." After reading about this house, I pictured a haunted house, mainly thinking of the movie Clue. Just like the theme of the board game, people are suspected and interrogated of crimes, and in the end the mystery is solved. As the movie moves forward we find new rooms secret pathways that supports the investigation.

House of Leaves

So getting into House of Leaves, I see that this piece requires a little more than the eye perceives. I feel like I'm not getting as much out of it as I should be, but in my defense there is a lot to get, and there seems to be more than one story going on in there. So yea, this book isn't weird, it's very weird, and getting past 200 pages is not easy ! I have on countless occasions gone back and re-read paragraphs, and I still have countless hours left of reading the first half of this book. I will say that the format of random text anywhere makes it more "fun", but it certainly doesn't make it go any faster, or easier to read. So if you will excuse me I have more reading to do ! (because I have to read over 200 pages of more than weird literature)

Graffiti ?

Reading the first few lines in "Bombing": Brooklyn Graffiti, Language and Gentrification, I hadn't thought much on how Graffiti can incorporate in really being relevant to 21st century literature. Reading on through the first few pages however, it was said that these "tag" names represent more than just vandalism, but can have more of a representation of who you are. Like in many of the arts, when you travel and witness these "works" they tend to vary in design. One particular instance where this caught my eye, was through a memory, when I had traveled to Puerto Rico about ten years ago for vacation. I don't remember much, but I do remember the vandalism throughout neighborhood streets. How it was different to that of the streets in Brooklyn, which I would see when I would come to visit my grandfather. Well graffiti is graffiti, but it was different in terms of style at least. In conclusion I guess there is a lot more to say about this new found way of representation and art.

The Next President of the United States

Finally, it's here, the moment we've all been waiting for. Who will be the next president of the Unites States? As I sit here on this Tuesday night, I watch Barack Obama getting closer and closer to being our first black president. History in the making, and I usually don't get excited over politics on any level, even if it is the presidential election, however this election can determine how our nation rebounds from this "depression", which in turn can effect generations to come. As of this moment, John McCain is down 75 electoral votes, and I'm still surprised how biased this country can be even in a time of financial crisis. However, we can't get mad at those in the south, it's not their fault they cant read ! Haha.. well at this point I'm pretty confident in the outcome of the election, and can get by ignoring the next three hours of politics and instead catch up more on Graffiti in New York.

21st Century Film

Over this past weekend, I'd seen a few many diverse films in terms or genre. Watching comedy's, horror films, epic's, and a few action packed movies, I realized that censorship isn't what it used to be. Obviously horror films tend to get graphic regardless, especially with Halloween on Friday, however who can judge weather a movie is rated PG-13 or R? I was thinking about this while watching "The Fog" directed by Rupert Wainwright. I mean, I do tend to get excited when watching an action packed mystery movie, and do enjoy the rush, but I was thinking if my thirteen year old cousin's were there watching it with me. Who's to say that this would be suitable for their eyes or not? I remember reading this film article on the changes over ratings in the last few decades. How brief nudity, was considered an "R" rated film, not suitable for the eyes of 16 year olds. Meanwhile the teen pregnancy rate increases by the year. Also, looking into other countries and their censorship, not only for movies but for legalized drinking and prostitution. I'm starting to question what the meaning of censorship really is.

Pillowman: Part 2

Finishing up The Pillowman, I realized how far fetched and interesting it really was. Most of which came in the last few pages. I did enjoy reading these horrific child murders, only to find out in the end that they hadn't actually happened. Katurian says that, the point of a story teller is to tell a story, so apparently everyone is the play is a story teller, with the exception of the deaf little girl. (Who I guess will have a story to tell after all) However, the amount of "stories" that were used can be related in a broad psychological/philosophical sense . Mainly, what they all mean, to whom, and why?

Back on Track : (Take Two)

Alright, not too bad, apparently I'm aloud to continue with my training after this weekend. Although I cant physically get stronger for a few weeks, avoiding any heavy lifting, cardiovascular wise I can get it endless miles of free running. Not to be confused with another type of "free running", which is also pretty cool. Visiting my doctor on Friday, I went in thinking he was going to say that I would have to stay out for another 2 weeks, based off what my friend had done when his appendix was taken out. However, my recovery had been quick and easy, and faster than usual.

The Pillowman

Getting through the first few pages of The Pillowman, I realized that this would be a pretty quick read. Well, for me at least, I really take a liking to mysterious suspense stories such as this one, and can get a good image of the scenery on whats going (typical interrogation room in a precinct with a table placed in the middle, and the one light shining right in the accused face). Being just as confused as Katurian, makes it even more interesting, and then we find out how his stories reveal that he's the killer of these innocent children, or is he? Well I haven't read past the first scene, so I'll be finding out shortly. However, so far so good, having this "good" cop, "bad" cop scenario spices things up also, yet I'm kind of confused whole really is this "good" cop. Although it's stated, I'm not sure which would be worse. A physical abusive cop beating you towards the truth, or the sarcastic mental approach showing no mercy on any level, dragging you in circles.

Just My Luck

So after five months of gruesome rehabilitation, and frustration I had two weeks of solid, pain free running. Little did I know I would soon have an experience of a life time. Around Tuesday afternoon just before Music class, I found myself beside a toilet, in excruciating pain. However this would not prevent me from later attending a play that night. With little regret of making it there, I would soon find myself in the emergency room the next morning. Apparently the major discomfort I experienced through "Black Watch" (which by the way gets two thumbs up) was due to a severe case of appendicitis. Later that night I was to have it removed and experience my first surgical procedure. Well thats just what I need, another set back. Being forced to wait another month before getting back on track, this time without any physical activity to make up for it. No swimming, lifting or even stretching. For all you non athletes, I wouldn't expect much sympathy, however this would be the first time in over five years where I will have nothing to do with my "spare" time... to be "regular"

Black Watch - Natioanl Theatre of Scotland

Wow... I must say, what a job well done. While sitting through the play on Tuesday night, I realized how well put together this play was written/acted out. To be honest, if I hadn't seen both the play first hand, and read it, I probably wouldn't have the same appreciation for it. Although I wasn't feeling very well, experiencing some severe abdominal crampage, I still had forced myself through the whole 2 hour experience. I've only attended three plays in my life, and that was the best one by far. From this play I'm sure I will be attending a few more in years to come. It really opened my eyes to a different experience towards literature.

Political Playground

So keeping up with recent presidential debates over the last few weeks, I've come to realize how "entertaining" they've become. It's great to watch our future leaders of this country go at it, the same as if they were forty years younger. It's one thing to defend yourself to an opposing "player", even pointing fingers figuratively, but when it get on literal terms then maybe they should take a step back and just answer the damn question. To be honest, after watching last weeks debate I had to change the channel. It got to the point where questions weren't being answered and instead went around them , to find a point of attack. What sort of professionalism takes the "rules" and throws them out the window? Even sports have this thing called sportsmanship, well an exception might be boxing. Which leads me to my next point... I say we take it back a few years and have these two allow "Darwinism" to take over, and allow the "strongest" to take control of this country.

False Advertising?

So after the fourth piece of literature based on war stories, and experiences, I think Uncle Sam needs to explain what the deal is. Apparently these soldiers don't expect half of what they experience before they sign their name away. After reading several pieces of literature based on past war experience, I feel my judgment on war has changed a tad. From what I hear all that pre-training in the U.S., of maintaining discipline at all times, and getting prosecuted for wrong doing, seems to be altered in times of "war". I mean I understand, through past wars in American history that the U.S. is "always right", which makes it that much easier to take over other countries, because we feel it's the "right" thing to do. However, I don't feel that the process should be made a mockery of. Listening to what these veterans have to say about what really goes on out there, past the papers, is a little disturbing.

Back on Track

I just started running again this week for the first time in five months, and what a rush it was. Although it was only a mile, because I have to start out slow since it's been so long, the feeling of simply running was most prominent on that Wednesday afternoon. Everyone wants to know What makes a man run? People can't understand why a man runs. They don't see any sport in it. Argue it lacks the sight and thrill of body contact. Yet, the conflict is there, more raw and challenging than any man versus man competition. For in running it is man against himself, the cruelest of opponents. The other runners are not the real enemies. His adversary lies within him, in his ability, with brain and heart to master himself and his emotions. Personally, I feel that theres no greater accomplishment, physically or mentally, than beating your previous time.

National Theatre of Scotland

Reading through this play, I want to say that I probably stopped through about half of it so far. All these fucking "Ay"'s and "Hay"'s are throwing me off a little bit. You'd think through about page 3 or 4 I'd catch onto the translation, but no. Putting that aside, I also do not enjoy the set up of this play. I fell it makes it hard to read and keep up with what each individual person is saying, and the scenery in which it takes place in, with every scene change. Not to mention I kind of find the plot a little laid back and dry. So as of now, I do not look forward to finishing the play or have much intention on seeing what happens in the end.

Shooting War

Reading Shooting War in one quick swoop, turned out to be more of a plummet. I figured a comic book with a different picture to every page would go rather fast. Although, it took longer than expected I did enjoy reading the politic comic. I found it more gratifying in the change of scenery provided by action packed cartoons. Jimmy Burns, a new generation blogger providing live footage of terrorism (in the year 2011) got more than he signed up for. Traveling, sometimes unwillingly, he would run live feed of first hand terrorism showing the world what was becoming. Starting off as a stud blogger who would receive personal emails of naked women, he would soon find himself without a job as his feed would lessen/worsen. Making friends of the "enemies" he would provide favors, and broadcast their political debates/massacres. He claimed he would simply just find himself at the right place when someones about to die, which is how he got into this mess, within the 'belly of the beast"

War on Terrorism

As we all know, our country, the United States of America is on a slump, and it doesn't look like we'll be in good shape anytime soon. With the upcoming presidential election taking up most of the head lines, and the well known tax increase creeping up, there is a lot of questioning to whether or not this war in Iraq was such a good idea. Bush, leaving his second term should have had this war on terrorism taken care of almost five years ago. Now, left with new candidates, we are not all that confident that a new great depression is uprising, and when the people aren't happy, the country only gets worse and in a sense "selfish". Now leaving us pretty much like the country we're fighting, who's taken a big lean towards the reason of our downfall and most of all, debt. Maybe going around for the last six and a half years, bombing other countries and primarily interfering with other peoples business wasn't the right away to go.

The Road to Success

Everyone, for the most part, goes to college to be all they can be. Having dreams and aspiration to receive a degree is what you go to college for. Being all you can be, however, may be achieved through another means of discipline and self management. The marines, similar to the college life, also requires a self discipline where you need to grow up and get tough. Not always just mentally, but physically as well, for the marines at least. Going on my second year of college, and moving into the big city life, I quickly adjusted myself and realized, I had to get tough, or go home. Being amongst hundreds of people everyday, can get rather irritating. You can feel a sense of privacy through the unfriendly sort of personal space everyone gives off towards one another in public areas, and so in the class room, or the training filed. So you learn to sort of keep to yourself in a new surrounding. You need to understand your training yourself to become a weapon in the marines, and weapons aren't necessarily "nice". You need to adjust yourself in order to be "all you can be", and make it easier as to follow the proper attitude of conduct. Your teachers, just like drill instructors, can be illiberal, and sometimes try and get a scare out of you, sometimes taking it too far, but proper adjustment and direction will get you over the edge towards making it to the next level. In the end you should feel a sense of gratitude, and realize that you've become a better person for it.

The Last Stand

Finally, the end of the war has come, and all that is left to do is venture around, securing areas, and embracing the sweet feel of victory... right? Apparently not, according to Mr. Swofford. When all is done, and the marines return home, some are left with this feel of vacancy. As if all their effort and emotional anguish was all for nothing. Evidently, if you hadn't killed a man in war, you are a liar, a cheat. Simply, just came along for the ride. Those men who came home, telling war stories, talking about "good news", disgrace the reputation of themselves, their family, and their country.

After reading the end of Jarhead, and listening to Anthony Swofford speak in the present tense of his venture and outlooks upon it, I simply thought of an old depressed man wanting to complain about his life. I thought of my grandfather, and how he suffers from this neurosis. I feel that at the time of war he was proud to represent his country, and glad of his decision to sign his life to the marines. Now, lonely and a little older, he may not have much going for him right now in life, and so... Jarhead, by Anthony Swofford.

Jarhead: Part 2

Reading well into the second half of the novel, Swofford finally gets into speaking about his experience in combat. Digging holes, sleepless nights, and old love stories of whoever and wherever, pretty much sums up his "combat experience" at war. Being bored all hours of the night, the men ritually would talk about past experiences before they joined the Marine Corps, primarily of past relationships. During the day, they would prepare for possibilities, spending hours digging protective man holes. Meanwhile we see a slightly different, more sensitive side of Swofford. Each day theres more questioning why he joined the Marines, complaining about his decision. Jumping in and out of time periods more and more, you can sense that he has many meaningful memories flowing through his jar-head. One having to do with his father, and how he didn't want his son to follow in his footsteps. One instance he speaks of, is when his father insisted on driving his to San Diego, moments before their good bye's. His father making a slight detour to where Tony was born, and that maybe he felt that it helped reflect upon his family, and "reacquaint" himself with his own lost youth, asking his son not to go off a get himself killed.

Anthony Swofford / Peter Liota

After catching up on some major sleep Tuesday night I continued into Jarhead. I came to the realization that Swofford and I share this connection. Being, we both are in a time in our lives were we need to adapt and overcome. Anthony on one hand has a slightly more drastic change, in that he has just joined the marine corps, and needs to get completely broken down as an individual to be a "success". I on the other, have to get a feel for a more up tempo life style living in down town Brooklyn. Having to take a major step in life which requires moving away from home, can be rough and lonely. Originally from North Carolina, living in between huge buildings that go above ten floors is not to common, not to mention living three blocks from the promenade is pretty cool. Opening yourself to new living conditions and roommates is quite an experience when living in a completely different area, plus I can only imagine how it feels to have an irrational drill sergeant call you names on top of it. Then having rationality or rules go beyond the limits, for instance when Swofford was asked to draw what a footlocker should like, and apparently drew it poorly, he was beaten, having his head tossed into a blackboard. Where illegally crossing the street (J walking) is accepted as "legal" or allowed even with police enforcement standing at every corner. Although, I do like living in the big city of New York and would recommend it to anyone considered in the city college life.

Just one of those days...

Exhausted after getting out of the shower, I found myself reflecting what I actually did today... Waking at 7:30, I got up, brushed my teeth, grabbed a pop tart and headed for my 8am biology class. After getting out of class at 9, I make my way back to my building to get changed, and head over to the gym. After 30 minutes of cardio, and an hour of lifting, I walk back to my building to shower, and get changed. Left with 15 minutes before my 11:15 history class, I grab a yogurt on the go. Getting out of class at 12:20, I make my way down to the pool, where I get in just over a half mile of freestyle swimming, not including the repetitious drills and stretching before and after the workout itself. Left with 30minutes before music class, I grab some lunch. Music gets out at 4:20, I then proceed to the training room for 2 hours of physical therapy treatment.

I get back to my building around 6:30. Tired of the usual microwavable burrito or hot pocket, I unwillingly force myself up to the third floor with a pot, and some pasta. Using an electric stove, I had to wait around for 45 minutes, listening to these two girls complaining on "why guys are so difficult". After getting back to my room I simply add butter to the pot and dug in. After quickly jumping in the shower, now just about 8:30, I find myself mentally and physically fatigued. I soon realize that my day is still not over, and there is still history and biology reading to be done. Overwhelmed, I sit on my bed, grab my laptop, and feel the need to write about my day, and what better way than on a blog, letting the whole world know why I'm tired.

Jarhead

Reading Jarhead by Anthony Sworrord, has so far been a quick read for me through the first half of the book. I've enjoyed reading this book I guess due to the vivid random careless thoughts of Swofford. Giving explicit detail in certain ranging instances between his childhood, having an ill sister go through rehab for overdose on drugs, trying to kill herself, and also explaining his own cases of suicide attempts. Swofford has no problem maintaining the same psychotic mind set in every dramatic situation, but at the same time expresses a side of a multiple personality disorder. You can see this when he holds his weapon in his mouth, talking about killing himself. Still calm and by himself he talks to himself and thinks about things such as, how the bullet will travel through his skull, and probably rick ache throughout his body, and would be interesting to know if the bullet would make it down to his foot. Yet, as soon as someone enters the barracks to see him in this fragile position, he acts as if it were just a joke, and plays it off saying "yea, I knew you were about to come in".

Another instance of his insanity, taking it to another level when he is left with a friend of his (Dettmann), after playing a little game to see who can assemble their weapon faster, Swofford takes it to a completely different level. After winning by a few seconds, he realizes this is his thirtieth time in a row beating him, and instantly puts the M16 against Dettmann's temple. This puts Dettmann in an extremely uncomfortable situation, not only the fact that their is a weapon against his head, but also because several days early Dettmann embarrassed Swofford as a leader of his men, and was punished for leaving Dettmann unattended for to long assuming he could simply stay awake. Shutting tight his tearing eyes, Dettmann tries to talk sense into Swofford, and says how he would not pull the trigger on a fellow marine. After several minutes Swofford pushes the magazine release button, still showing no emotion, and acts "casual", casual in his sense at least.

Aquaphobia?

So my first week as a swimmer started off kind of slow, but I'm starting to get the gist of it. Monday and and Tuesday were basically drills and techniques to get my form in place, provided by the blog I had found several days ago. Though, to be honest those were the harder days. Even though it was tedious repetitions on how to use my arms, legs, and keeping my torso in check, I had found out that I don't float. My friend who was on the swim team was finishing his own pool workout, and decided to help me out, being that it was my first day. The second he jumped in the water, he came straight up and started swimming around to loosen up some more. Following him, I jumped in the pool and got to see all thirteen feet of the pool, sinking straight to the bottom. This was my first time in a pool over 4 feet, and became one of the scariest moments of my life, especially getting a feel for what thousands of gallons of water pressure above you feels like. I don't know why yet, but in order for me to to stay afloat I needed a flotation just to stay water level.

The first two days of drills and technical issues were easy, being that in track we do similar stuff to maintain our form also. On Wednesday however, I started to freestyle swim the length of the pool , and was advised to do this without a flotation device. This meant that I couldn't just swim casually back and forth the length of the pool because I had to move fast to keep my self afloat. So I could only do this in small increments. This is were my expertise in track training came in. I wrote out a workouts for myself so I could get in the same amount of distance with more rest but at a faster pace. So initially getting in the same workout but in a different style. Swimming has so far had a positive influence on me, and I'm enjoying it respectively... past Tuesday that is at least.

This is a link that helped me getting started as a beginner swimmer...
http://swimming.about.com/od/sampleswimworkouts/a/8_week_plan.htm

My First Blog Experience

Ironically, for the first time in my life, I found a blog that was profitable. Usually finding links to blogs about non sense opinions and ideas, today held a different impact. As an athlete competing for my school, I have responsibilities and obligations to better myself, in performance, and for my team in general. Competing in track and field, I specialize in the middle distance events. Over this past summer however, I've been out of commission due to shin splints. So for the last few months I've been looking for all sorts of ways to strengthen that area of my leg.

Now, after 3 months of rehabilitation, I turn to swimming. Apparently swimming is like running without the constant pounding on your legs, which now makes swimming my new best friend. See, shin splints is due to running on hard surfaces (the streets of Brooklyn), which makes for consistent pounding on the ground, thus causing muscles in the shin to wear and tear. Well being that I have no idea what to do for pool workouts, I turned to Google.

After searching for a few minutes I found a link to Track Shark, a blog site that athletes in track and field use to post there workouts for their specific discipline/event. The link that I found was by an athlete who competed in the distance events and cross country, but didn't talk about himself and what he thinks about the sport. However, he talks about cross training, and different ways to better oneself as an athlete, swimming being the number one way to maintain or even better your fitness level. In conclusion, I now have a set workout for the week to start my pre season training.

The Mercy Seat

Ben a middle aged man in his thirties is reacting to the disaster unlike most New Yorkers that day. Soon after the planes hit, Ben finds himself in the apartment of his boss, and secret lover, Abby. Abby, a little older than Ben by just about ten years, talks to Ben about his plan.. this "opportunity".

Throughout the play, Ben is left quiet in the living room, with a ringing cell phone, and a single question; can he do it? With Abby being his care taker, and decision maker Ben finds himself taking part in the womanly role of the relationship. Sitting in the room for hours on end, Ben and Abby talk about the situation in a derisive manner. While pressing valuable points upon their decision for this "opportunity", they both share this unique sarcasm to their argumentation. Infrequently finishing each others sentences, they go at each other, "as if there was no tomorrow".

Literature in the 21st Century

Yesterday was my first college level literature class, "Literature in the 21st century". I'm not that big on grabbing hold of a book for recreational purposes. I didn't have much choice being that it's both required by my school, and also part of the requirements for my major. However, the first day didn't seem all that bad. I came in, sat down... the professor asked the the class as a whole, what is literature? After 10 minutes, the only words we each had individually agreed on were, written- words. We were wrong. He then drew a single line on the board asking if this was literature? I said to myself that there was no way a single, two foot long, 180 degree line, could be literature. I was wrong.

As we moved further into the three hour night class I started to realize that there was more to reading that met my eye. Different authors using separate settings to help you visualize the situation. Using different styles of writing, even breaking the "rules" of grammar to get more of a feel for the novel, poem, etc. As I read one of the readings given in class, "The Mercy Seat" by Niel LaBute, I get a feel of the dry sarcastic attitude between Abby and Ben. The date is September 12, 2001, just one day passed the tragic terrorist attack on 9/11, and Ben rather showing his emotion in this time of despair, holds it inside. This abhorrent Ben agitates Abby, not because of his loss for feeling, but because he sees this tragedy as an opportunity...