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?