Assignment 4-1

              

             Oh romantic-love. I am such a sucker for romance and the idea of a never-ending love. The idea that love conquers all obviously isn’t reality. Speaking of never-ending, have any of you ever read the book or watched the Disney movie Tuck Everlasting? Well here is a brief look into the romantic story that got me watching.

             Jesse Tuck is a teenage boy who will never die. He along with the rest of his family drank from a magical stream that cursed him with an endless eternity. Winifred (Winnie) Foster is a curious young girl who is brought up in a family that chooses to shield her from the outside world. She runs away one day and discovered Jesse in the woods. She also discovers his families long his secret that later jeopardizes the secret of the magical spring. This is not only a sweet romance story but also a story of the argument of precious mortality.

            Throughout the story Jesse and Winnie develop a great bond and love for each other. Winnie also becomes quite fond of Jesse’s family. She dreams of her life as never ending but in the end she chooses to not drink from the fountain and live her life as normal. Jesse and the Tuck family leave her, and when they return many years later to check on the stream, they find that Winnie has died and the stream was destroyed.

            I always like to think what if. What if Winnie would have drank from the stream. Would she and Jesse have lived happily ever after? The ever after part, yes.

             

Assignment 9-3

          

          Just this past weekend I watched a show on CNBC called, Behind the Counter. It was a look into the lives of franchisors and franchisees. This was such a great show that I saved it to re watch later. I have always wondered if opening a Franchise would be a smart move and this hour-long show really made me start thinking. They featured Dunkin Doughnuts in their segment and showed the positive side of a properly developed Franchise. They also showed a segment on Cold Stone Creamery, which didn’t leave me wanting to further purchase ice cream from their facilities. So this got me thinking, if I were to create a Franchise what would I create? My chosen profession is a photographer. However I am always coming up with creative ideas that I know I will never follow through with, but it is always fun to think about!

            I am a huge advocate for eating all organic and all natural as possible. I haven’t eaten at a fast food chain restaurant in the longest time, because I don’t like the idea of the processed unhealthy foods that they serve. I love the idea of convenience and so I wanted to create a Franchise that would provide the best of both worlds. I think a great name for the fast food chain that I am thinking of is Honest to Goodness. The name says it all. Honest food that you would trust eating and serving to your children.

            With the name I chose it isn’t as catchy as those one-liners like Starbucks and Wendy’s. However, regardless of the catchy name, I think if you have good branding and marketing as well as the best product available it could be a successful venture. Eating all natural and all organic isn’t just a rising trend but a rising life style, which I think has become hugely successful.  Look at Whole Foods Market; it is now being featured on Top Chef as the grocery store of choice. They obviously know what they are doing, huh?

            I think its so importance to come up with a great icon that will serve as representation to your company. I have come up with a logo of a double cherry in the O’s of Goodness. The logo would represent the fresh produce that would be provided at this fast food restaurant.

            I think there are several stereotype and thoughts of eating all natural and all organic; it’s a “hippy” thing to do, its expensive, it doesn’t really make a difference. Well it does make a huge difference. You will often find produce from the grocery store that has been sprayed with fertilizers, which often include sewage sludge, during plant growth.  Oh, Yum! You will find a slight increase in price among all natural and organic foods but its well worth the health benefits in my opinion. I think by providing a positive experience among customers and giving them the moderate prices to succeed then these stereotypes could be broken.

            If I were to choose a spokesperson for my newly developed Franchise I may want to think of a figure that would well represent my company and that would shine a good light among consumers. I think it’s hard to find just that perfect person. We have seen so many celebrities and athletes that have represented companies and then let them down with personal issues that jeopardize the companies’ credibility. Can anyone say Michael Phelps and Tiger Woods? I think its easier to come up with a character rather than a celebrity for the direction I am thinking of, for instance, Wendy and Ronald McDonald.

            I think the core idea to my concept is to provide a service that not only offers a good product and prices, but also offers a real value and concern for an individuals regard. I think having wholesome, Honest to Goodness food, is what is important to me. I want my children to live the longest life possible and if others would take in regards these ideas then maybe they would make better choices if they had the opportunity. It is so easy for that mom of four to pull on up through the drive through to have her children select of the value menu. But why can’t that food be healthy but just as delicious options? There needs to be an outlet that provides that for people.             

Assignment 2-1

1960s-1980's

            John F. Kennedy became president in 1961 and was then assassinated in 1963. The Brady Bunch TV series debuted in 1969 and aired until 1974.  The Beatles released their first single “Love Me Do” in 1962 and throughout the next two decades, this beloved band fell apart. So many important and wonderful pop cultural events happened in the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s, that forever changed history and has made the world what it is today.

            Just this month Apple, which also was developed in the 70’s, introduced that The Beatles music will finally be for sale on iTunes. Everyday I spend a little bit of my day humming or singing: Yellow Submarine, Help, and Here Comes The Sun, (just to name a few) to a three year old little man who says The Beatles is his favorite band. Those songs that were huge hits so many years ago are having a huge effect on our generation and the generations to come.

            The Brady Bunch is a classic show that we are lucky enough to be able to still catch reruns of, on TVLand.  This show ran on air for five years but has been on rerun for more than twenty. I find that absolutely fascinating. I have seen so many Brady Bunch episodes, but my favorite is when Marcia gets braces…she was always my least favorite character! The show did show an interesting time for a blended family in a time period where public divorces and remarriages weren’t as common as they sure are today.

            In 1961 John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35^th President. After talking to my mother about this assignment she said she can remember exactly where and what she was doing on the days of JFK’s inaugurated and assassinated. She said JFK represented the change that was going to be occurring throughout a rough time period. Today we see that President Barack Obama also represents for some, the change that our country is going through.

            It is so interesting to see the events that have occurred over the last fifty years and that have encouraged what our world is today. I know that without The Beatles, a happy little three year old wouldn’t be dancing around the house singing; “ We all live in a yellow submarine.” We also wouldn’t be watching those wonderful old episodes of Alice making jokes that weren’t very funny but seem to make everyone laugh. There might not be hope that one day our world might be the most peaceful place we envision in our minds. 

Assignment 9-2

Spoiler Allert!!!

            As I mentioned in my last blog, I am a sucker for those predictable romance movies. I know exactly what’s going to happen before they even get close to happening. This is because of the formula that every movie or storyline goes through. I have so many favorite movies and as I mentioned last week Dirty Dancing and You’ve Got Mail top the list.

            However I recently watched The Notebook again and really enjoyed it even more the second time around. I found the time period so intriguing and loved the history aspect of the movie. I enjoyed the clothing that the characters wore that depicted the age of the story and I loved the characters, and by the end I wanted to be Allie. I felt like she was the most loved woman in the world by Noah, whom I couldn’t help but love myself! His character was amazing and I knew the moment the movie started what was going on and how it was going to end. Due to the title and the intro of the film I knew these two were going to be together in the end. This was okay with me too, because I love a good sappy, and happy ending.

            Another movie that seems hopelessly romantic but yet so very predictable is The Titanic. I remember watching this movie so many times as a kid and I still watch it today and love it again and again. As a child I actually knew what the Titanic was. Lets just say I was and still am a bit of a “history nerd.” I knew that this was a tragic love story and that at least one of the main characters wasn’t going to survive. I knew that Jack and Rose would end up madly in love in the end and I was hoping for it!

            Most movies are so predictable but once in a while you will watch a real gem, which surprises you.  You will have no idea where the story is going and they break the traditional formula for  the movie. I have yet to find a favorite of one of those. 

Assignment 9-1

"I carried a watermelon..." (a funny quote from the movie, for you non-dancing fans!)  

      

          Movies always seem so predictable to me. I have a hard time sitting down with someone else and watching a romance movie especially and not wanting to guess the inevitable ending. One of my favorite movies of all time is the classic movie Dirty Dancing I think I may have watched this movie at least a 100 times. I remember watching this movie for the first time, many years ago, and knowing exactly what the ending was going to be. I enjoyed the unknown results from some of the side issues in the movie, but I am so glad that Baby wasn't going to be stuck in that corner anymore!

Another movie that I could watch over and over again is You've Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I knew from the moment I watched it that these two rivals were going to end up happily together! I guess you could say I am a sucker for a predictable, but good ending! 

            What would happen if the guy doesn't get the girl at the end, or vice versa? I really don't think we would be as interested. Most people that watch these kind of movies expect the outcome. They know what to expect and they expect a happy ending with some sort of closure.

            So I too, among many others, will continue to watch predictable films. I think the new Harry Potter is calling me to the movie theater. From watching the previews I feel I have a pretty good idea of how it will end.  Hmm, or could it be because I read the book?  Maybe! 

Assignment 8-1

My Heroes, to the rescue...

           

          On dictionary.com, you can look up the word celebrity and you will read: a famous or well-known person. You can look up the word hero on that same site and you will read:

a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model. These are two very different titles but I am sure some have considered there hero to be a celebrity and vice versa.

            As a child I loved every Disney princess character that had been created. My favorite was Cinderella, but nothing can really compare to my infatuation with wanting to be a real princess. Growing up I adored everything about Princess Diana. I found her to be so poised and beautiful and she was everything a hero was to me. I didn't quite understand the role of "princess" but all I knew was that she was this famous woman who lived a life of great luxury.  I was always intrigued with her entire families lives but considered her my hero and I aspired to be just like her. She was always on the news for her philanthropy positions and making public appearances and I wanted to live her life. Not only was she a kind and caring woman but strong and stood up to so many who doubted her? Honestly, I was most intrigued with the glamorous lifestyle: the tiara at special events, the gowns, and the jewels, and the thousands that adored over her.

            I remember the day I heard on the news that she was killed in a car accident and I felt very sad but didn't quiet have the reaction I thought I would. At this time I was quickly growing out of the princess stage and was more concerned with jr. high dances and trying to belong to the "in crowd." At this time in my life I was evolving into a teen that just wanted to belong. Trying to belong to this popular crowd meant being obsessed with the Spice Girls and using them as our personal fashion guides, which my mother quickly set straight! We also had arguments over who the biggest Leonardo DiCaprio fan was and argued over how many times we had seen titanic in the movie theater. My personal count, three. I was struggling at this time with who my true friends were but I somewhat relied on these celebrities to save me, so to speak, and be my personal heroes to get me through jr. high.

            As I entered high school, my priorities and goals started to change yet again. I no longer cared to be part of the cool girls group and just wanted to make it through high school as a happy teen. I found my art and photography classes to be a real inspiration for me. I only enjoyed going to school for these reasons and it allowed me to stay sane and make it through these four tough years. During my freshman art history class I discovered several art heroes for me. I loved their stories of struggles and accomplishments and they really inspired me.

             Many artists stood out as inspiration and heroes but one painter in particular really seem to impress me, Claude Monet. His story of a rough childhood and his mother dying when he was only a teen himself really helped me see that if you have dreams you need to work the hardest to achieve them. He showed his beauty and passion through his impeccable work and one day I hope to enjoy an original. Now that’s a big goal! For now a print, of a very recognizable painting named The Poppy Field, sits on my bedside table to remind me of the hero that got me through all of those tough teenage days.

            As I continue to get older and wiser I find that my personal heroes are those that push me for the better everyday of my life and always have. My mom, who has supported me physically, emotionally, and mentally since the day I was born is my hero. My grandparents, who celebrated their 55^th anniversary this year and continue to share all of their love with ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren, are my heroes. My boyfriend, who I met during those hard teen days in high school I mentioned earlier, is my hero. After several years he is still my best friend and my number one supporter. It is so important to have a hero, and even though The Spice Girls and Leo have nothing on these real heroes, they helped me survive and guide me through hard times growing up, just as Princess Diana and Monet did. 

Assignment 7-1

3...2...1...BLASTOFF!!!

          Superman, Spiderman, and Batman don't stand a chance in the household where all you hear from a Little Man is "To infinity and beyond!"  All throughout my day I hear from that tiny tot shouting, "3, 2, 1 Blastoff!" This same Little Man even had to be his favorite character for Halloween. The Disney Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear has really become quite the hero to little tots everywhere. If anyone has walked into the supermarket lately they will know the craze that I am talking about. You can find the hero, Buzz Lightyear, on just about anything; clothing, shoes, backpacks, towels, and of course with the upcoming holiday season even stockings and ornaments.

            Toy Story just released the third movie, which I had the opportunity to watch the other day when Little Man was feeling a bit crummy. He sees Buzz lightyear as this really great guy who loves and watches after all of his toy friends. I see Buzz Lightyear as a really great character that makes little ones happy and is making it a very easy Christmas this year for me! The gift request from Little Man is anything Buzz Lightyear of course! Toy Story coloring set, check. Talking Buzz Lightyear, check. Toy Story undies...of course!  

Assignment 6-1

Gobble Gobble...

          

            So when I was asked to sit down and write a paper on my favorite thing, I really had to think this one out. I have so many favorite TV shows, and favorite songs, and musicians, and artists, and well let's just say I am slightly indecisive when it comes to my "favorite" thing. I thought about what's the most important thing in my life and that is my family. I was the first and only to move out of my hometown and my boyfriend and I are always making frequent trips throughout the year but it still feels like I am somewhat distant from all of them. So I decided that I wanted to host this years Thanksgiving dinner with just my immediate family and my brother in laws. This year will be my first year hosting Thanksgiving in my home and this got me thinking about our assignment on stereotypes. I realized that most of anything has some sort of stereotype but I could really breakdown this classic ritual of an American holiday.

            Every year, other than this one, my entire family would gather at my grandparent’s house and celebrate thanksgiving together. Now for us, that meant sitting and talking small talk with my aunts and uncles, who we haven't seen since the last Thanksgiving. My grandmother, mother and aunts would be in the kitchen helping to set up the row of covered potluck dishes and putting the finishing touches on the massive turkey that would ordain the table. They would set my grandparents huge dining table with her nicest dinner set and silverware, the crisp linen napkins and a few of my grandmother’s salt and pepper shakers that she collected. The candles would wait to be lit until just before the moment the men, and the children were called in to eat. My grandfather, father, and uncles on the other hand would be lounging in the family room watching a football game and talking about work and hunting season. As children and even young adults it seemed we were banned from the hot overfilled kitchen and sent to "hang out" with our cousins in the den.

            This is a classic stereotype that I think a lot of people can relate too. However, this year in my home I know this stereotype will be broken, for the most part anyway! My boyfriend is fantastic in the kitchen and helps with almost every meal. I know he won't be shy to step into the kitchen and start helping with whatever I ask. My father and brother in-laws on the other hand, will be riding out with the fans of their beloved football teams on our couch. The only involvement that my grandfather contributed was the carving of the turkey.

            Spending time with family is of utmost importance to me and generally when I think of an American Thanksgiving, I think big families sitting around a dining table enjoying a large golden turkey, with all the classic sides and desserts. This is yet another stereotype. For instance, the family that I nanny for is Jewish, and they celebrate many different holidays that non-Jewish people do. They acknowledge this non-traditional holiday but celebrate in a much different way than I do. This family has a meal but not with the traditional classics. They also don't gather with outside family and they keep it simple and have a few friends over for dessert.

            I remember quite some time ago when I was younger that my mother was very sick on Thanksgiving and my family decided not to make the travel to my grandparent’s house. My dad ended up taking us to eat at the Chinese restaurant in our town. I remember being shocked at how many people were eating at the Chinese restaurant on Thanksgiving. Maybe I was confused and thought they all had sick parents or family members but I really didn't get why they were all there. As I got older Thanksgiving almost seemed like a tradition that I was starting to dread. I don't like small talk and acting as if my cousins and I really cared for each other. It sounds kind of sad, but it's true I was getting sick of Thanksgiving.

            So this year when I suggested the idea to my family they all had really different responses, it wasn't like I was asking them for something serious, just dinner right? Well here were the reactions: my mother was somewhat relieved that she wouldn't be doing all the work. My father could care less as long as I had the correct channels for him to watch. My sisters were the toughest to break because they were still caught up on the tradition of the big family get together. In the end I got my way and I have big plans on continuing out the stereotypical tradition of Thanksgiving! I have a few recipes floating around in my kitchen that I have been working on and have my table setting idea in mind. This is my first year and I hope to make it a yearly tradition. This is going to sound mean but none of my sisters, nor I, have children yet and I really don't want to make them sit through a boring and stuffy dinner at my grandparents in the future. So I plan on making it the best it can possibly be and showing my family that new things can and have to happen, as families get older. So now I ask, what are you're plans for this holiday season? 

Assignment 5-1

Wakey wakey eggs and bakey...

  

        I hear the ring; yep it is 7:10am and time to get up for work. I sit up and take a second to try and adjust my eyes before I make my way to the shower. I quickly take the hottest shower my skin can handle. Once I am done, I put on my usual face creams and then proceed to do my makeup. Hair is the next daunting task, which I never seem to get right, and so I try to move on from the mess I made with bobby pins, hairspray and more hairspray. I make my way into the kitchen and make my cup of boiling morning green tea. I will kiss my sweetie goodbye for the day and he takes off.  I will sit on the couch in my pajamas for the next half hour and watch the morning CBS news and try to prepare my self for the exhausting day ahead.

            You probably don’t care about my morning routine but for me it’s a ritual to some degree. On the days where for some reason my alarm doesn’t go off, it seems as if the day is ruined if I can’t fit in my morning tea. It sounds somewhat mellow dramatic I know, but this morning schedule for me is my time to wind down and prepare myself for the day. So do you have a morning ritual like this?  I would love to hear about it!

Journal Analysis Assignment 1-3

Journal Analysis: Twilight and Philosophy: Vampires, Vegetarians, and the Pursuit of Immortality. Eds. Rebecca Housel and J. Jeremy Wisnewski. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2009.

            Twilight and Philosophy: Vampires, Vegetarians, and the Pursuit of Immortality, this interesting journal with a great title sucked me in the moment I saw it (no pun intended). I myself have never been the biggest fan of the Vampire epidemic, so to speak. I will sit through the movies and yes I have read the Twilight series, but really wasn’t sold on the idea of a plain Jane girl falling in love with a beautiful vampire who eats bunnies for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Not my exact idea of romance.

            Aside from my opinion on the vampire craze it is hard to not notice why some would like the new age vampire books, movies and television shows. They all feature handsome looking men with charming personalities who capture the love of young, naïve and somewhat insecure women. You want their love to work out and we keep reading and watching to see if true love will prevail!

            The book Twilight and Philosophy is a deeper look into the characters of the gothic novels and is a collection of writings from philosophers and even a high school student.  In the article it talks about the movie Dracula being taught in literature and film classes. Dracula was made in the late 1800’s when society wasn’t so lax. I have actually heard of courses such as the title of this book being offered at colleges and universities.  Sounds like a fan club with a pricy admission fee to me!