PDD: Public Display of Disaffection

Recent studies show that society is “losing the ability to engage in uninterrupted, focus conversations.” While 68 per cent of people say it is disrespectful to hold a real time conversation with someone and texting someone else at the same time, 32 per cent of New Yorkers still do. The need to constantly check your phone puts both “personal and business relationships at risk.” The younger you are however does directly relate to how much tolerance you have about electronic distraction according to a recent survey that showed ten percent of people under 25 don’t see anything wrong with texting during sex. Lauren Emberson alludes to how society is becoming distracted by just even hearing a one sided conversation or a “half-alogue.” “Our brain is hard-wired to pay attention to the unpredictable,” points out Emberson as she concludes that its “distracting because we try to predict what the person is saying.”

“People are fed up,” with the inappropriate use of cell phones as it has hit an “all time high,” in today’s society. While I admit that I have committed some of these “cell-fishness,” acts I do agree with the author’s message that society has pushed the boundaries of acceptable cell phone usage. I also agree that while the use of technology for or in certain events does “depend on circumstances,” people tend to be blurring the line between respectful and inappropriate. “The distracting glow of PDA screens in theaters,” during performances has increased substantially that I too would applaud Kevin Spacey for yelling “tell them were busy,” during a showing of The Iceman Comenth. Neither the less, this article has made me focus on my own public displays of disaffection and to help me work on regaining my one to one people skills.

Hide and Seek

I’m rifling through the pockets in my mind
       Searching and scouring every nook and cranny trying to remember

            Where did I put it? Where is that old box?

              For inside that anciently aged box holds a book

   The book that captivates my childhood years within it

                                   Throughout my years I have entrusted many memories into that box

Why is it whenever I need it or want it I never can find it?
                               My mind is a mess, cluttered like an abandoned attic

                   The longer and harder I search, the more I am engrossed with defeat

           A light bulb flickers on                                                 Hastily I race to my closet                Tripping and foundering over my other unsuccessful search attempts

Hope and optimism engulfs me

I stumble faster towards the door handle

Turning it quickly I whip open the door

   Piles of boxes tumble out around me as I sort through them

Where is it?

   I rip open box after box praying I finally found the right one

The one holding some of the best years of my life inside its aged pages, forever

       Optimism drains out of me as I sit and ponder

   Where is my yearbook?

"We Owned The Night" Lady Antebellum

Tell me have you ever wanted
Someone so much it hurts?
Your lips keep trying to speak
But you just can't find the words
Well I had this dream once;
I held it in my hands


She was the purest beauty
But not the common kind
She had a way about her
That made you feel alive
And for a moment
We made the world stand still


Yeah, we owned the night


You had me dim the lights;
You danced just like a child
The wine spilled on your dress


And all you did was smile
Yeah, it was perfect
I hold it in my mind


Yeah, we owned the night


When the summer rolls around
And the sun starts sinking down
I still remember you
Oh, I remember you
And I wonder where you are


Are you looking at those same stars again?
Do you remember when?


We woke under a blanket
All tangled up in skin
Not knowing in that moment
We'd never speak again
But it was perfect;
I never will forget
When we owned the night


Yeah, we owned the night

Lady Antebellum wrote "We Owned the Night," to recall on the emotions the artists experienced from a past memory of loving "the purest beauty," and a memorable night they had once shared together. With the use of many poetic terms they bring this memory to life in the listener's mind. He talks about this dream he once had saying how "[he] held it in [his] hands," using personification as he could not actually hold the dream in his hand but the idea of a dream.  "You danced just like a child," is a simile that described how her dancing was carefree and intoxicated with joy. Parell structure such as "You had me dim the lights; You danced just like a child,"  is used to help the song flow smoothly together as well as to accentuate the setting and tone of the song. "We owned the night," is repeated several times throughout the song to emphasized how invincible they had felt. An apostrophe is brought into the song as he asked the girl, who is absent from his life, if she was "looking at those same stars again," like they once had. A paradoxical line they used is when he talked about being "all tangled up in skin," because while it is impossible to tangle their own skin up, it isn't impossible to tangle their bodies up with one another. This song makes listeners revive memories of their own past lovers and meaningful nights they once had together.

Fairy Tales versus Reality

           Fairy tales are causing havoc on modern day relationships, making girls believe they can wait around for their prince and then having unrealistic expectations for them to uphold. In Forget Prince Charming by June Callwood, she preaches to her granddaughters that they should have sensible expectations and stresses the point of not demanding too much of their companion because “no human relationship is friction free.” Alice Major uses satire to criticize the expectations men have of women due to these fairy tales in Puce Fairy Book. She exposes the flaws society has created by looking to these "[ladies] sleeping in a garden," and "waiting in [towers]," as role models and idealistic wives and partners. In both of these passages the authors attempt to break down the barrier of expectations and high demands these fairy tales have established.

The “oceanic feeling,” of love people experience as they start dating, while still an astounding sensation, is just “the temporary insanity,” of feelings like you have found the perfect mate. This is what June Callwood attempts to explain to her granddaughters in Forget Prince Charming. She advises them to have expectations, but not superficial and unrealistic ones that no one can live up to and to realize that no relationship is 50-50. She attempts to steer their thinking towards relationships as “a mutual ability to compromise.” She also advise them to look past their looks and first appearances and try find admirable characteristic traits such as trust, loyalty and honor in a potential partner. Another key aspect Callwood believes that helps contribute to a well bonded relationship is a sense of humor that “springs from awareness of life’s absurdities.” While she encourages her granddaughters to search for this mate with their head she admits that the "pounding heart is not always an idiot," and they also need to go on instinct sometimes to help lead them to the right decision and find their "inner wisdom," as well.

            “You wanted Rapunzel waiting in a tower braids of hair like ropes," this sums up how fairytales have created a unrealistic outlook that men should look for in women. Alice Major the author of Puce Fairy Book tries to break through the barrier of these expectations by saying how modern day women don’t expect to be brought a “crystal slipper on a heart-shaped pillow,” and sometimes “[forget] to water the roses round the door.” Women don’t want the pressure of living up to these expectations laid out for them by a story book character. They have had other "princes through...[their] forest,"  and not just been lounging around waiting and praying for their perfect mate to come rescue them. Even if the man was her "one true prince," and he had exceedingly high expectations that she couldn't possibly live up to, she would in fact turn him down out of self respect for herself. 

            Alice Major would agree with June Callwood in the case of modern day relationship expectations as both authors pointed out the unrealistic expectations both males and females have on each other . Major would concur with Callwood’s statement that “Prince Charming… is a narcissistic dope," because in her poem she criticizes how the men expects ladies to meet these absurd standards. Callwood would agree with Major's statement of no women should “[cut] off [her] toe,” just because of a man would want her to. Both authors are aware that while "some matters are not negotiable," couples need to be able to compromise while having realistic expectations of one another, in order to make a long term relationship last.  

Dear Santa...

Rebecca Oliver
2102 Darg Lane
Penticton, B.C.
V2A 3W1

February 15, 2011

Santa Claus
Toy Maker
Santa Workshop, North Pole


Dear Santa. I think I have been very good this year; in fact, I have improved! I have handed in all my assignments one week late instead of two weeks. I also haven't really be that late to school either. Only like half an hour at the most. My trumpet skills have gone through the roof this year as I actually practiced for the Christmas concert. My room has been this cleanest yet as I can somewhat see the floor again. I also let my brother beat me in Mario cart just so he can feel good about himself, while we're talking about video games, you should know that I have put my school work ahead of my Zelda gaming time. I also finally got my N! What can I say 3rd times the charm.
I really really want new sweaters but not expensive ones from Aritzia, Value Village works for me. A dictionary would be really nice so the next time I have to face paint it on my forehead I actually know how to spell grad. Ooh a elf that would put all my sheets of paper into the actual rings of my binder would be so good for me this year. That way when it falls out of the locker it wont fly everywhere and my locker wont have to clean it all up all the time. I also want a GPS tracking device to put in my binder because people hide it on me often and ill be able to find it really easily. Also some social skills would be nice so when I'm at parties I wont just sit in a corner or lie behind a couch and just babble to myself. A lemonade making kit would be helpful too so that I don't have to attempt to make my own lemonade, I always hate it when i put too much sugar in, or worse, not enough. I would also like a destiny's child CD so I know what survivor is suppose to sound like.

If you give me at least one of my demands I promise I will keep believing in you.
Thanks a Ton
Rebecca
Ps. I'll leave cookies

Description

     An aged man was the only inhabitant at the vacant bar. As I slid up beside him and ordered a drink, he acknowledged my presence with an absent glance. The stories his steel blue eyes held could challenge a storyteller. As he turned his head and went back to staring at nothing in particular, I caught a glimpse of the hard work etched into the wrinkles he wore around his eyes. Like moths drawn to a lamp post, the cigarette smoke curled around his head. As he took a drag of his dying cigarette he sputtered out a cough and wheezed to no one in particular, "These things will kill me."
    Slowly he moved his arm, cracking with arthritis, to his cheek, and relaxed his sandpaper skin against it.  I noticed his worn out boots caked with mud and dirt, when he slumped off the stool to leave. As he limped to the door I just stared at him depressing every second as this man teetered on like a toddler learning to walk.

Collage Application

I am Evyn Haberstock, yes the Evyn Haberstock. I understand that you are wanting a list of achievements but I have an abundant amount of achievements and to go over every single one would take me about 3 years with no breaks; so to save you the time, I will just name a few.

            Perhaps you have seen any one of the James Bond movies? Those are based on my Sundays. Kobe Bryant looks to me for inspiration during our Wednesday night pick up games. The sun only comes out when I tell it to. Its hard for me to walk anywhere due to the swarming of my adoring fans, which reminds me, I still need to get a restraining order for Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. They seem to despise singers that can actually sing. I can also design clothes better then Vera Wang,  I can pick up any language in less then a day and I can find Waldo as I am the reason he is hiding.

           People often say that I am the Mozart of my generation but that is impossible considering Mozart was the musical prodigy following my rein of the music world. I compete in competitive fly fishing and hold the record for holding the longest breath underwater in a shark tank. I conquered Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest in one day, I raced Bolt and beat him and I flew the hot air balloon I made in my shed around the world in yes, 29 not 80 days. I play the cello, harmonica and violin in my world renown one man band and I have beaten the laws of physics. I have a cat who I taught to play piano and I have a fish who I've train to breath out of water. I have also taught Muhammad Ali to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

I've seen Paris, I've seen Apollo 13's re-entry to the earth and I've even seen Benjamin Franklin discover Electricity but I have not yet seen myself walk across the stage of a University graduation.