The September Slump

September is nearly over, and I must say I'm happy about that. This is my first year to discover what Kathryn calls "The September Slump." It's basically this black hole of time after the first two weeks of school till the beginning of October. During this time, the first tests come, quizzes are in full swing, homework is coming fast and furious, and you might even be writing papers or at least starting research. Free time is thrown out the window as you're working till 10,11,12 or later to knock out your work.

Well, for me, school was really enjoyable when it started. I went through the first (around) two weeks pretty much in a breeze. Then, I hit this wall. Quizzes, tests, and heavy homework were flying towards me and I started getting so tired EVERY day. I would fall into bed only to get back up at 6 the next morning to do the same thing. I was on the phone with Kathryn telling her how this last week had been pretty rough and I was looking at the week we're currently going in, a bit scared of all the stuff due. She comforted me (haha) by telling me that it's simply the September slump and will right itself out as soon as October comes (because October is when good weather starts down here). And truly, weather makes such a difference. 

Well, today, after a long Mon-Thurs as well as a hard week last week, I finally realized that my heavy load was over. I'd gotten over the hump. I'd pulled out of the slump. Granted, we still have 3 days of September to go, but I think I've got a handle on this thing now. I've been managing my time well and I now have a solid idea of how much work goes into each class (for right now, of course.) ;)

Ahhh, now I'm looking forward to October and that nicer weather. 

The Mirror in Your Room

I recently went to a meeting of the writing club at Lonestar. We did a writing prompt about writing a quatrain. A quatrain is a difficult kind of poem to write. It is four stanzas long with four lines a stanza, and each stanza must have only 8 syllables. Also, there is one line that is repeated throughout every stanza but switched around in wording. One of the prompts was "I bought a mirror for your room." I chose this one to write my poem about, but had to tweak it to "I bought the mirror in your room." I'm so happy with how this turned out. Enjoy!

I bought the mirror in your room
'Cause you don't see yourself enough.
You never realize that you
Have everything you need to do

Anything you want. I wish I
Could open your eyes to all that's
Within your character, shown in
Your room, in the mirror I bought.

The life inside you is lost on
You, on others. It seems you need
The mirror in your room. I bought
It today, it's simple and

Beautiful just like you. Look in
The mirror I bought in your room.
Please try and see yourself for once.
And just, just love yourself for you.

Philosophical Philosophies in Philosophy

I hope, through the title, to convey some of the confusion that's been running rampant through my mind as I struggle through my Philosophy class this semester. It has been rather a struggle the entire course (and I'm only in the 3rd week), but I'm hoping that hard work will prevail. Also, I'm going through the class with a friend, and it has helped immensely to have her there. She is certainly an anchor in "the corrupt sands of commerce"--You've Got Mail.

That quote above is "not a precise definition, but it's an exact Oxford."--A Wrinkle in Time (audio tapes) Yes, now I am showing off, but I couldn't help it. ;)

Anyway, I wanted to share something really funny about yesterday's class. There is a possibility that once this is all typed up, it won't sound so funny, but it was funny at the time--and is still humorous in my head, so I'm going to set it down.

My philosophy teacher, is somewhat of a quirky character. (I think all philosophy teachers must be, though.) That's just to set you up for what's coming. Anyway, he calls on a man in my class (Mr. N for the sake of privacy) to read aloud a section from our textbook. This textbook is a compilation of Socratic dialogues. 

Mr. N. "What about someone who believes in beautiful things but does not believe in the beautiful itself?"

Prof: "Mr B" (not for the sake of privacy this time--just can't remember his name)"please point to a beautiful thing in this room."

Mr. B: "Uh.........that guy" *pointing at Mr. N*

The whole class kind of sighs as our teacher said, "OH MY!" Haha! 

Prof: "Now, please point to the beautiful itself."

Mr. B: "Uh.........."

Now, as I have learned, one cannot point to the beautiful itself because "beauty" is a form. It is an ideal; it does not interact with time and space and is therefore not physical. 

Prof: "Mr. N, please read the same passage."

Mr. N: "What about someone who believes in beautiful things but does not believe in the beautiful itself?"

Prof: "Mr. B, please point to a beautiful thing in this room."

Mr. B.-not wanting to get into trouble again-"Every woman in this room."

Prof: "Please pick one." 

Mr. B points to a girl. 

Prof: "Now, please point to the beautiful itself."

Mr. B-still unsure-"Uh....."

My professor teaches us more about the ideal vs. the physical. 

Prof: "Mr. N, please read again."

Mr. N: "What about someone who believes in beautiful things but does not believe in the beautiful itself?"

Prof: "Mr. B, please point to a beautiful thing in this room."

Mr. B-definitely not going to get unsettled this time--"The girl in the green jacket." *turns to her* "You are beautiful." (The look she gave him was "gee-thanks!" haha)

Prof: "Now, please point to the beautiful itself."

Mr. B: "You can't?"

Prof-very excitedly-"You CAN'T!"

He again emphasizes the difference between ideal vs. physical. But this time, he goes deeper, telling us about how physical things are mere copies of the ideal.

Prof: "Mr. N, please read the passage again."

Mr. N: "What about someone who believes in beautiful things but does not believe in the beautiful itself?"

Prof: "Mr. B, please point to a copy of a beautiful thing."

Mr. B: *pointing to my friend* "The girl in the blue jacket."

Prof--to my friend-- "Ahhh, you are only a copy of beauty." All laughed at the joke. 

Sooo, that gives you rather the idea of how classes go. Now, it's probably not going to be very funny to you as you read it. I suppose it's funny because of the voices to read it in. I promise you, Mr. N, read that sentence with the same inflection every time. Quite humorous. 

Contemplations of Writing

My honors English class that I'm taking this semester requires us to read Huckleberry Finn. Since I'd never read it before, I was eagerly looking forward to delving into it. Well, I hope no one has a heart attack or anything but I do not really care for the novel. Now, I have not finished it yet; I have roughly 100 pages left.

I can't seem to get "into" the book if you know what I mean. It's slow, boring, and no matter how many "adventures" they have, nothing changes in the. They just go back to the raft and float down the water. Now, Where the Red Fern Grows, is my favorite book and I also really enjoy the book Because of Winn Dixie. Both are slower, country reads...but this? Nope, I can't seem to get into it.

One of the reasons I attribute this to is that satire is completely lost on me. I am a literal reader and a literal writer. I don't put undertones or hints of hidden meanings into my own writing.  Therefore, I don't pick up on it in other short stories, and novels. I know that in literature classes, we study the why of stories so I do try to look for the subtleties in what we're given to read. I just can't seem to ever find it.

I read for enjoyment. I pick up a book and if it interests me, I read it. If it's boring, dumb, or uncomfortable, I put it down. Reading fiction is for enjoyment. That's my opinion. There's nothing wrong with reading for knowledge, though.

Going hand in hand with that idea, I write for enjoyment. My writing is very shallow. It may be a good story or a fun story, but it's not deep. That's for sure. There is no body to my writing; it is exactly what you see on the pages in front of you. Part of that has spread from hating how people haphazardly pour allegories into novels never meant to have hidden meaning. It just bugs me, so I figure if all my writing is just what's on hard paper, people won't really have the option to do that. Also, I really don't feel like being satirical or pointing out the flaws of the government and society. That's not what I think writing is for.

Today, though, something hit me. None of the great novels (like Huckleberry Finn for example) were written for simple entertainment. They all have a point to them. This made me think. Could I write a great novel and still have it be dessert instead of a steak dinner? I don't think so.

Now, I don't know if I can ever truly write a great novel. Or, if I can put enough depth into one of my novels to have it be at least in the entree category. Still, I'm going to endeavor to do it. I don't think I'll write cryptically, 'cause that I flat out don't like. But, I'm going to put more behind my writing: more complex characters, two-sided characters...and other stuff I can't put names to right now.