Week 3 Review: Comfy Cat

I really like the following gif that you posted in Saturday's Class Announcements! I love how comfortable this cat looks, and this is how comfortable I want to be every time I go to sleep!

(Comfy cat gif,

Saturday's announcements)

Story: The Big Fight

The arena is dark. There is no one here, except for the janitor, cleaning up making sure everything is ready for the big night. People have been awaiting this event for a year. Tickets were sold out within three hours. If you weren't able to initially buy a ticket, get ready to cough up thousands of dollars. Anyone who is anyone will be there tonight. Front row full of A List celebrities, people barely able to pay the bills in the nose bleeds. If you were so unfortunate to not be able to get a ticket to see the action live with your own eyes, you can watch on pay-per-view. You do not want to be the person who misses this fight tonight.

As it creeps closer and closer to 7:30, the time of the match, things start to fall into place. Slowly the janitor turns on each light, one switch at a time, each switch lighting up a different section of the arena. The judges for the match arrived in the wee hours of the morning, some of them even too excited for what today holds to sleep through the night. It is almost as if everyone is a child on Christmas Eve. The volunteers start coming into the arena, ready to clean and prep everything to make sure it is all in pristine condition. The people sitting in the general admission seating have been waiting outside for hours, just so they can get up close and personal to the action. 

Finally, the main men of the evening begin their journey to arena. Each in their vehicles, their drivers carefully transporting the precious cargo they each have in their back seat. As they pull up to the arena, people are lined down the street hoping for just a glimpse at them. Of course they could not be bothered, each having their expensive headphones on listening to their hype music, waiting until the match that could make or break them for the rest of their career. They are each alone in their respective locker rooms, each performing their pre-match rituals to ensure nothing happens to mess up their performance for tonight.

The moment has arrived. People are pilling into their seats anxiously waiting as each minute passes. The time has finally come and the brothers are about to emerge out of the tunnels and into the ring. A voice rumbles over the speaker. "In the blue corner weighing in at 190lbs, Shane. In the red corner weight in at 186lbs, Vince. Come into the center of the ring men and shake on a good, clean match." They followed suit, however each thought of how they were going to punch the other ones face into itself. 

With the loud chime of the bell, the match has begun. It was fast-paced, high energy from the very beginning. Each was holding their own. Then, Vince hit Shane square in the face, practically knocking him out. Shane fell to the floor, groggily looked out into the crowd, and somehow mustered up the courage to get back in and fight. Shane would get in a few good punches right to Vince's sweet spots. Suddenly, Vince came in with the biggest blow anyone in the crowd had ever seen. Shane lay, almost lifeless on the floor. Everyone was holding their breath, praying that he still had his. They saw his hand move, almost as if it were a motion to someone outside the ring. That is when everyone's head turned to see Rocky, Shane's coach hurdle into the ring and deliver a single blow straight to Vince's head that knocked him out.

Everyone in the arena was numb. What had they just witnessed? Are Vince and Shane even alive? How was this even a clean fight? Rocky was escorted out of the ring, and the arena and has never been heard of within the boxing world again. Shane and Vince were both taken out of the arena on stretchers, and neither of them have stepped into the ring again.

Author's Note

For this retelling, I used the story of the fight that Sugreeva and Vali had with one another. Sugreeva and Vali were brothers who had gotten into a fight, and they represent Shane and Vince. Once Sugreeva had almost died from the battle, Rama (Rocky) came in and shot and killed Vali. I figured that using a boxing match would be the perfect tool for retelling the story.

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, Link to Reading C

Image Information

Photo of a Boxing Ring, Web Source

Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part C

As I continue reading The Ramayana, it is getting more and more thrilling. I cannot wait to figure out if Sita and Rama will ever be reunited, and if Rama will ever get to rightfully take his place on the throne.

While reading Part C of The Ramayana, I was fascinated by all the detail the author used in his writing. The part where the author discussed the fight that Vali and Sugreeva got into was so interesting. I really like how you could practically see what was happening, just by the description that the author gave. It is almost as if you were there watching Vali gang up on Sugreeva, then seeing Vali get shot by Rama.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the detail the author put into the story once the rains ceased. When he started discussing how all the animals were finally making their way out of the brushes and back into normal life, it is as if you were standing in the forest seeing it for yourself.

As I was reading Part C of The Ramayana, I started thinking about some changes that I could make to the story when it comes time for a retelling. They are as follows:
VI. Vali

• I could rewrite the part of Sugreeva and Vali fighting to where they are in a boxing match with one another
• I could also rewrite the same part as if Vali were a bully beating up Sugreeva and Rama coming in and saving the day with one swift punch to Vali's face, knocking him out

VII. When the Rains Cease

• I could rewrite the part where Hanuman is searching for Sita with a "Dora the Explorer" feel to it, or something along those lines but perhaps a little older

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide C

Painting of Vali, Web Source

Week 2 Review: Geek Meditation Session, Heroin/e

I found two things that I thought were really funny on this weeks announcements that are both found in Sunday/Monday's announcement! The "Geek Meditation Session" is so funny because it kind of reminds me of some of the people that are in some of my classes. And the "Heroin/e" meme was funny as well because it shows how just how careful you have to be when using the English language and how detrimental missing one letter in a word can be.

(Geek Meditation Session;

Sunday/Monday's announcements)

(Heroin/e Meme;

Sunday/Monday's announcements)

Tech Tip: Weather Widget

I decided to add the weather to my blog! I think that weather is a pretty cool thing to be in the know about, and it's always nice to be aware of what the temperature is so you can plan on what to wear! I chose the design of the sticker because it reminds me of traveling and going to India!

Feedback Thoughts

The article that I really related to was the "5 Tips for Taking Feedback Like a Champ" article. Often times, I have difficulty taking feedback because I feel as though when people give me constructive feedback it is because they don't like me. The other article I related to was the "Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset" article. I really liked how both of these articles were written in the form of tips and it was easy to see what I could be doing better in regards to feedback. One thing I really like in the "5 Tips" article was when they said that getting feedback and having growth areas is a good thing because it means you haven't reached your full potential. This was very helpful for me to read because it showed me that feedback isn't meant to push you back, but rather propel you forward and help you improve. I also really enjoyed the "mirror" theory in the "Be a Mirror" article. It really focused on the fact that feedback is for the person, not you. 

There have been a few times where I've had to give feedback  and peer-review in the school setting and it has been awkward because I'm friends with these people and now I'm telling them what they need to do better, even though it is suppose to help them. This was discussed in another article where people with lower self-esteem have a problem giving constructive feedback because they want people to like them, which is what I struggle with. 

Although getting feedback is always uncomfortable especially for me, it helps me because I know that the person is trying to help me, not hurt me, even if it takes me a while to figure that out. I think that some of the best strategies for giving feedback is to always remember that you are giving feedback to help the best, so focus on them and their work. You can also always use the pro-con-pro strategy if you're uncomfortable giving feedback that way you start with a pro, then get into what they need to work on, then end with a pro so that it has a positive vibe to the feedback.

(Get Feedback, Use Feedback Meme;

Web Source)

Story: The First Party

12th June 1914

Dear Diary,

You will not believe what I am doing tonight...I am finally going out! I'm going to my first party WITHOUT my parents. For once, I will have one night out of this house, out of this place that I have been in for as long as I can remember. It isn't a terrible place, I've grown up here, I love my family. It's just that I will finally be able to be like all of the other girls my age. I don't have to wait up all night, wondering what each of my friends are up to. Are they sleeping too? Are they going out? And most importantly, are they with men? Oh how I wished that I could always be one of them, and tonight I FINALLY will be!

When my friends first suggested me coming out with them, I was hesitant. I knew that my father wouldn't allow it. I've been strung up in this house as long as I can remember, never being able to leave unless accompanied by either father or mother. I figured there was no point in asking. My friends pushed me more and more into asking him, and just to get them to stop talking about it, I went up to him and asked if I could go with them. He was silent. As he stood there and thought about what I had even dared to question, I could see all of the doubts in his eyes. All of the things that could possibly go wrong. He thought of anything bad that could happen to me. But maybe, just maybe, he saw something in my eyes too. Maybe he saw how I had longed to be like my friends, able to go out just for a night. Maybe he saw that I could protect myself. He looked at me with his deep blue eyes that I had always respected and he said yes, so long as I were to be careful, safe, and of course be home by midnight.

You see, my parents didn't keep me sheltered because they didn't trust me or anything. It's just that I'm the only girl in the family and they want to make sure that nothing bad happens to me. They even have this stupid mathematical equation that a man must solve when it's time for me to wed. Yes, the boys carry on the family name, however everyone knows that it is the daughters that are the most precious.

Well Diary, I must go get ready for my first night out! I can't wait to tell you all about it!

With Love, 

Sarah

13th June 1914

Dear Diary,

I don't even know what to say. Last night was the best night of my life! It was perfect. If I could just relive last night for the rest of my life, I would. I had a great time with my closest friends...we ate, we talked, we danced. I talked with boys! How could anything top last night?

But, there is one MAJOR thing that happened.

I met the most beautiful man I've ever laid eyes on. I didn't think anything could ever be so beautiful, but he proved me wrong. It was only a glance...at first. A little later in the evening, I saw him again, only this time, he saw me too. More time passed and then, we ran into each other. And by ran into each other, I mean it. Right as I was turning, he was there. Our heads banged up against one another and I'm not going to lie, it hurt quite badly, however I obviously couldn't let him notice. He was so kind, making sure I was okay. Then, we just started talking. We talked about all sorts of things and I was so enthralled with him and the conversation that I ended up spending the rest of my time at the party with him and only him. And you will never guess what he said to me as we were saying our goodbyes. He said that he wanted to see me again! I'm seeing him again tonight! He has to meet the parents tonight.

I know it sounds crazy, especially after only one night together, but I think he's the one, I really do. I could just feel it in my stomach, you know? I think my family will really like him. Oh God, I hope he is smart and can solve that stupid equation!

With Love,

Sarah

P.S. His name is Ryan

Author's Note

For this retelling, I decided to rewrite the story in The Ramayana when Sita and Rama first see each other. It was at this moment that the two of them fell in love. Sita's father has a bow that a man must string in order to win Sita's hand in marriage, which Rama was able to do, leading Sita and Rama to wed. I chose to tell the story in Sarah's (Sita's) point of view about falling for Ryan (Rama. The mathematical equation that a man must solve in order to win Sarah's hand in marriage is the bow in The Ramayana.

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, Link to Reading A and B

Image Information

Photo of George Cathcart Woolley's diary, Web Source