Life Lessons

One of the most influential things anyone has ever said to me is from an old neighbor of mine when was talking about his clothes. He started to tell me about this new pair of shoes he bought (they were skate shoes), and how he didn't wan't to get them muddy or scuffed up playing football. Now, I had seen multiple people wearing these shoes before him, and they were, for lack of a better word, the "cool shoes" to wear! He wanted to look cool; at least, that's what he said. He was dressing like half of the kids at my middle school, and he was out of highschool! Now, thats not a problem. He can dress any way he wants!

Now, to clarify for you guys why this is so important to me, here's a bit of a back story. Throughout middle school, I was...well, akward. I kept to myself, and I only had a few friends untill a few weeks before the end of 8th grade (during a class trip to the San Juan islands). I was bottled up inside, because I was afraid to share who I was with other people. I too bought skate shoes and baggy jeans, and I was another face in the crowd. I still am, one person out of 1800 kids is miniscule at best. But from the time Blake told me that, I decided I was going to try my hardest to express myself, and to blazes (there were many words I could have put there, none of them school appropriate. I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I put blazes) with what anyone else thought of me! So maybe I look like a weirdo, maybe I'm a bit different ( I do my best to do this), who cares! The way I see it, if I show people what I'm really like, the right friends will come to me!

Keenan

Best Friend-Late b/c I was EXTREMELY uncomfortable writing this.

Well, I know best friends are supposed to be people, but I don't really have a "best" friend, because I couldn't possibly choose one over the other for this. So instead, I'm going to write this post about my true best "friend". See if you can guess before the end!

He is dressed in a shiny coat of midnight blue, a silky lacquer layered on top. His neck is very long and thin, and he has a beautiful voice. Though his body is scratched and dented, he still survives better than ever. When I hang out with him, we always agree on everything, and have the coolest conversations I can possibly think of. Maybe it's because we speak a different language when we're together. Sometimes we hang out with other people, and each bring a similar friend along. Each friend is unique, with a different voice, a different and equally important point of view to voice. And, just like the physical uniqueness, each has a very unique, no, rare and amazing voice with which they speak constantly. And yet, each voice, no matter how layered, shines through as brightly as the rest. My friend is awesome.

He is a drama queen, to say the least. Whether he is speaking through a mic, or screaming at the top of his lungs, whether he hangs out with novices or masters, he always speaks loudly and with great...gusto, for lack of a better word :). He dazzles people when he hangs with a master, as the master has had much practice learning how to act around my friend. Me? I've known him since I was eight, and I plan to stay in contact for a very, very long time. You could say I'm an intermediate friend of his. Alone, he sounds small and quiet, but with the right microphone, he can tell the whole universe what it's like to be him, or what it's like to be his friends. He is loud, and can be obnoxious at times, depending on what sort of person you are. He loves attention and uses it to his advantage, making millions of dollars if he is lucky. He is my best friend, and I will always keep and cherish him forever.

He is my Fender Stratocaster electric guitar.

I know that was pretty dorky, but hey, it's the only thing I could think of under pressure, so give me a break :D

Keenan

My Earliest Memory

It was a beautiful autumn day. The skeleton trees lined the playground, and their leaves exploded into huge bursts of red and yellow all around me. I couldn't have been happier! I was six, with my bright red rubber boots, tye-dye fleece coat and corduroy pants, and I could have taken on the whole world! Or at least, thats how I felt. The cow bell was dinging off somewhere in the distance, signalling the start of recess, but my mind was somewhere different. You see, in my tiny world at preschool, we had a giant dirt mound. We also had a hose! And, combining these two things, we made enormous rivers, cities of sand lining their banks, with complicated bridges spanning the river for many "miles". Anything was possible! But then...he came along. That....THING...I can't even speak his name.

CRRRRRUNCH!!! The sand castle building came to a halt as bryan stood there, his foot triumphantly fixed into my city. Godzilla doesn't pay visits to sand castles! At least, that's what I told him. But he didn't care, he just wanted to destroy my beautiful city, my...my lifes work! For the day....Bu-bu-but THAT DOESN"T MATTER, because I loved my sand city with all my heart.

Oh my. Kids are so close-minded when they're little. The big picture doesn't exist in the average six year old's mind. Oh, how simple life was then. How easy. Eat, School, Play, Eat, Sleep, Repeat. Maybe one day you slay a dragon, the other day fly to the moon. You could do anything and everything. All you had to do was think. And now....now the days of sand castle building with bryan, and dragon slaying in the backyard, those days are over. Too bad for me...

-Keenan :)

Rebecca: Imagery

Daphne du Maurier, the author of the book I read, Rebecca, is a very talented author. She has written many other books, two of which have become movies directed by Alfred Hitchcock (Rebecca, The Birds). Her books have intricate plots, multi-layered meanings and advanced syntax, and Rebecca is not exception. Despite the litany of literary elements that one could choose, I think imagery is the most visible and outstanding in the book.



Rebecca has some of the most vivid imagery I have ever seen in a book. As an example, Mrs. Danvers (the housekeeper) is extremely loyal to the late Rebecca de Winter. When Mrs. de Winter the second arrives, she feels somewhat like a child who lost her mother. She thinks that the new lady in the house is trying to replace Rebecca, and as a result feels alot of animosity towards Mrs. de Winter the second. Imagery is interlaced throughout the story, and it drives the reader to continue, and makes the book what it really is today.

More to follow.

Outside Reading Project

The book I am reading for the "Outside Reading Project" is called Rebbecca. It's about a mansion haunted by an old, faithful housekeeper. She doesn't seem quite right when you first meet her, like something is slightly odd. But, because the main character (a woman) has fallen in love with the owner of the mansion, she doesn't care, or really notice this. Now, because I've seen the movie and I remember it very clearly, I could tell you more about the plot. However, I'm not doing this, because the assignment is to read the book and report on it as you read!

Thats all for now, more to follow

Keenan

Reading, Literature Thoughts ( Blog Post Assignment 1)

Literature has remained an enormous part of life on earth for a very, very long time. Since the dark ages, monks would spend months decorating one letter on one page with the most intricate designs, and authors spend years writing and re-writing hundred page books over and over and over again. It is a definitive quality of our society, which has helped to create relationships, save lives and, in some cases, destroy everything you know and love. JK Rowling made more money than the Queen of England writing seven books. The first was on a napkin from a restaurant in downtown London. The seven books have become some of the most popular literary works of our time, translated into many, many languages (including braille) and have spurred hundreds of millions of letters, blogs, fans and alternate works including the characters and/or basic story line. But then, on the other hand, James Frey, bestselling author of "A Million Little Pieces" wrote a massive fabrication of the truth, which, at first, won him millions and even a spot on the Oprah Show. But when investigators discovered its falsification, he came out and told everyone the truth. For that, he lost all his fans, his support and the cash flow. So, you can see just how powerful literature is, and what a large part it plays in our society.

As for me, I actually haven't read much in the past few months. I mostly play my guitar or do homework. But when I do read, I get extremely wrapped up in the little word unfolding from the pages, and it turns out to be fun! Actually, right now, I'm reading a book called "Eye of the Needle" by someone I can't remember, but it really is great! Its about a German spy sneaking around in England and France. I started reading it one night, and I looked up a few "minutes" later, and it was one in the monring. My point is, although I don't choose to read often, when I do...well, I couldn't really describe it as "fun", because that's more like running jumping, super engaging stuff. I guess it's enjoyable, but the point is, I like to read, although I don't do so very often.

I guess thats all for now, more to follow
Keenan