Poor Kids...

The last two stories we have read in AP English were “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and “The Drunkard.” Both of the stories’ plots are centered on kids who have been put in danger due to the neglegence of their parents. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” the main character, Connie, is left at home while her parents are at her aunt’s barbeque. While they are away, two men pull up to Connie at her house and threaten her to get in their vehicle. In “The Drunkard” Larry is accompanying his father to a funeral. While his father is distracted, Larry drinks his beer and becomes physically ill. Both Connie and Larry were put at risk because of their parents’ carelessness. But how much should the parents really be responsible for? In our class discussion about “The Drunkard,” the father seems to be responsible, because Larry is most likely in elementary school and he was just exercising curiousity in drinking his father’s beer, which is his dad’s fault. I support our discussion, thinking that Larry’s father should take blame. However, in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” the parent’s responsibility for this is never mentioned and almost the same scenario occured. Connie was also exploring herself as a teenager and opted to stay home by herself. The parents, who left her home alone at night took no blame for the problems that ensued. The only difference between these stories is the age of the kids. Connie was 15, so she was given the responsibility for what happened to her this time. I disagree with this because I think even though she is older, the parents are still at fault for what happened. What do you think? Do you think that the older child, Connie, deserved take the blame when Larry didn’t? 

Watcha talkin' bout Willis?

Our last reading, Hemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants' frustrated me. I figured out it was talking about abortion (after a second reading) and was still left confused. What was frustrating is that Hemingway concealed the main subject of the conversion and the feelings/ reactions of the characters. Don't get me wrong- I really enjoy mysteries and suspense. However they are much different than this reading. My favorite show is 24 because it keeps the audience guessing, but in this case the viewers are provided with character reactions. You can detect their emotions based on how the physically show in their behavior. 'Hills Like White Elephants' gave me none of this, which is why I had trouble with this book. I believe both literary strategies, objective points of view and hidden subjects are very effective in writing. I have read books that use them and are very interesting- but they only use one technique, not both. However, Hemingway uses both at the same time, and I feel that it caused the story to lack substance.

Desperate Measures

Last Saturday night, Nebraska played the UCLA Bruins on primetime TV. Nebraska was favored, but it was being played in California so anything could happen. From the opening play I knew it was going to be a struggle for my Cornhuskers. Nebraska was playing about as good as a local community college could, and my nervous watching habits has caused me to be a wild ball of emotions. In the third quarter I decided to take a break from the madness (partly to avoid a panic attack or breakdown). Sadly this wasn’t the first game Nebraska had played poorly in, and I had a routine. Oddly enough, these moments are the ideal time to read. I still haven’t decided whether I read as some form of self-punishment for my team’s poor play, or if it works as an escape route from the sad reality of another championship-less season. Either way, I grabbed Catch 22 and locked myself in my bathroom. I got a solid thirty pages read before my curiousity got the best of me and I returned to watch my team play. Sadly, we lost that night. The way we played last week, there could be many more of these nights in the next few months. That’s one way to get this book read.

The Pride of All Nebraska

I had waited exactly 321 days for this moment to come. The moment I get to dawn the scarlet and cream and attend the most thrilling 3 hours of my life. Sure I have done it 37 times before, but nothing compares to it. Nebraska Football. It’s not a sport. It’s not a hobby. It is a lifestyle. There is nothing else like it in the sporting world, where an entire state unites to cheer on their team. The stadium itself becomes the third-largest city in Nebraska when filled to capacity. There hasn’t been a ticket available since 1962, and Nebraska Football tickets have the highest street value of any other college sporting event.  When you are at the game you aren’t just a fan or spectator. You are part of the team.  You are Nebraska Football.

On the flight there Friday, as I was listening to my ‘Sounds of Nebraska Football’ CD, I couldn’t help but get the chills. The time that I had anticipated for nearly a year was less than 24 hours away, and I could hardly contain myself. Meanwhile I was figuring out what the focus of my next blog entry should be. My first two blog entries were voiceless, consisting of a bland book report and an average news story. I was looking for inspiration and a voice for my blog, but I was struggling. I couldn’t try to be someone I’m not or discuss things that I knew nothing about. A huge part of my identity is Nebraska Football, whether I realized it was there or not. It surrounds me. I’ve accepted that I’m not the literature critic or an enthusiastic book reader. I am a die-hard, passionate, ‘stick together in all kinds of weather’ Nebraska Football fan. And that person will shine in my blog posts.  

(image credit to huskers.com)