I read an essay about Philip Miller and his trip to Austria. While there, he decides to attend mass at a church in the small town he and his wife are staying in. She decides to stay behind while he goes. While there he runs into embarrassing situations such as running into the pastor, sitting on the wrong side of the church, and singing out of turn. I enjoyed this essay because you can enjoy the humor of his story, but get a feel for the town as well.

http://www.jannagraber.com/culture_crash.htm

Philippa Gregory’s novel, The Other Boleyn Girl, is a great historical fiction read that takes the reader right into the exciting times of Henry VIII. The story is told from the point of view of Mary Boleyn, the younger sister of Anne. Her story unfolds in the English court of Henry VIII around the time when he began to look for a new wife to replace his first, Queen Katherine of Aragon. His eye falls on Mary, who is 14 at the time, and married. Her only option is to become his mistress, and her family pushes her forward in hopes of getting favors from the king. After bearing him two children, one girl and one boy, Mary still stays with the king, but he has a new favorite at court; Mary’s sister Anne. Anne was brilliant, beautiful, and captivating. Henry couldn’t resist her. Slowly Mary is eclipsed by Anne’s glory and is forced to step back as her sister becomes the favorite in the family and the court. Though she isn’t first anymore, Mary has learned that being the favorite isn’t the most important thing her in her life. Her children and her own happiness become more important than family and king.

            A great example of Gregory’s writing comes from the first chapter of the novel.

“The court returned quietly to Westminster Palace in three barges, rowed up the river.  The men on the riverbank pulled off their hats and kneeled as the royal barge went swiftly past with a flurry of pennants and a glimpse of rich cloth.  I was in the second barge with the ladies of the court, the queen’s barge.  My mother was seated near me.  In a rare moment of interest she glanced at me and remarked, ‘You’re very pale, Mary, are you feeling sick?’

‘I didn’t think he would be executed,’ I said. ‘I thought the king would forgive him.’

My mother leaned forward so that her mouth was at my ear and no one could have heard us over the creaking of the boat and the beat of the rowers’ drum.  “Then you are a fool,” she said shortly.  ‘And a fool to remark it.  Watch and learn, Mary.  There is no room for mistakes at court.’”

I chose to read The Other Boleyn Girl because of my love for all things Tudor-related.  If you enjoy reading historical fiction, or love learning about the Tudors, this book is for you.  Gregory took one of the most important historical events in English history (the Protestant Reformation) and brought it to life through the characters of Mary, Anne, and their brother George. Though the reader knows what the outcome of this story is, it is still a gripping novel. Gregory’s knowledge of the English court and castles throughout the country made the reader feel as if they were there alongside Mary running through the halls of Hever or Whitehall. I felt that this was one of the best Tudor novels I’ve read as well. Gregory shows sides of Henry that many people don’t know of. He was a devoted father and husband who was given all the power in the world, and chose to use it for his own purposes.  I enjoyed this novel so much that I have read almost all of Gregory’s novels, including her other Tudor time period ones The Queen’s Fool and The Virgin’s Lover.  I would recommend this to anyone who loves history and drama.

Claim 

“As in so many past experiences, our hopes had been blasted, and the shadow of deep disappointment settled upon us.” – 84 

Agreement

“I therefore concur with you in your call for negotiation.  Too long has our beloved Southland been bogged down in tragic effort to live in monologue rather than dialogue.” – 85

Disagreement

“You speak of our activity in Birmingham as extreme. At first I was rather disappointed that fellow clergymen would see my nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist.” (91)

Recommendation

“The only answer that I can give to this query is that the new Birmingham administration must be prodded about as much as the outgoing one, before it will act.” (85)

 

Our government tells us that the War on Terror is just and will create a new democracy in Iraq.  We stormed Iraq looking for weapons of mass destruction.  When that excuse failed we sent more bombs and destroyed more lives.  Our government didn’t stop at the killing or Iraqis.  They steal the lives of our young men and women, training them to become weapons, and expecting them to give their lives for their country.  There have been 4,000 deaths in a five year period.  What has come from these brave men and women’s ultimate sacrifice?  More bloodshed, more car bombs, and more families being torn apart.  How many Iraqis have been killed unnecessarily?

How can you fight a war on terror when you cannot see who you’re fighting?  How can you justify sending more and more troops to fight an invisible enemy when there has been no gain?  Many say we cannot pull out our troops because Iraq will collapse without us.  They say that we cannot show weakness by taking soldiers out of Iraq, and we have to fight until the enemy is destroyed.  By trying to root out the terrorists, we are causing more people to hate us, and the “terror” is spreading.  The nation is being left in shambles by this administration because more money is being spent on the war.  When did the U.S. decide to babysit the entire world?  Without understanding of other cultures and without trying to work things out with words, the terrorists have already won.

Philippa Gregory’s novel, “The Other Boleyn Girl,” was a great historical fiction read. The story is told from the point of view of Mary Boleyn, the younger sister to Anne. Her story unfolds in the English court of Henry VIII around the time when he began to look for a new wife to replace his first, Queen Katherine of Aragon. His eye falls on Mary, who is 14 at the time, and married. Her only option is to become his mistress, and her family pushes her forward in hopes of getting favors from the king. After bearing him two children, one girl and one boy, Mary still stays with the king, but he has a new favorite at court; Mary’s sister Anne. Anne was brilliant, beautiful, and captivating. Henry couldn’t resist her. Slowly Mary is eclipsed by Anne’s glory and is forced to step back as her sister becomes the favorite in the family and the court. Though she isn’t first anymore, Mary has learned that being the favorite isn’t the most important thing her in her life. Her children and her own happiness become more important than family and king.

Gregory took one of the most important historical events in English history (the Protestant Reformation) and brought it to life through the characters of Mary, Anne, and their brother George. Though the reader knows what the outcome of this story is, it is still a gripping novel. Gregory’s knowledge of the English court and castles throughout the country made the reader feel as if they were there alongside Mary running through the halls of Hever or Whitehall. I felt that this was one of the best Tudor novels I’ve read as well. Gregory shows sides of Henry that many people don’t know of. He was a devoted father and husband who was given all the power in the world, and chose to use it for his own purposes. Great book.

Now that I’m in my last semester of college, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my life.  This class has been a great tool so far to let me get my feelings down, and writing about Treesville helped to bring the past to life.  I’ve also been having mini panic attacks, mainly when I think about the most daunting thing in my life right now: the future.  Everyone always talks about how college is the best years of your life, and then how it’s great to get out into the real world and start your life.  How can college be the best years and then you have to give them up to go out to the real world?  All I know is that I’m nervous about what the future holds for me.  I know I’ve been prepared in every aspect of my life, but I still worry.  Will I be able to find a good job?  Will I be able to find one that helps me pay back the mountain of loans that I have taken out to come here?  Will it make me happy?  My questions aren’t all about a job though.  My boyfriend Andrew and I will have been together for 5 years this May, and we’ve already talked about our plans together.  That doesn’t worry me in the least because I know we’re going to have an amazing life together.  What I question though is when will we get engaged?  If we get engaged soon I know I won’t want to get married for a couple years until we’re both financially secure, but will we still be too young?  Why does society look down on young people getting married?  And what will our families think when we move in together?  I don’t understand how society can still look down on two unmarried people living together.  The future is so uncertain, as is everyone’s, but it’s rushing towards me faster then I imagined.  I’m half dreading, half anticipating graduation and my first steps into the real world.  I wonder what differences in challenges today’s college graduate faces vs. those that graduated 20 years ago?  Or even 10 years.  Does everyone look forward to graduating and am I odd?  Or do others feel apprehensive about the changes that are coming?

1. The foot is food for those who don’t think before speaking.

2. Rumors are like diseases; it takes one little germ to create it, and soon the whole world is sick.

3. People may come and go but family is forever.

4. Life is like a ride; make sure to make yours take your breath away.

5. Children see the world through innocent eyes.

6. Music is like breathing for the soul.

7. Years go by faster as we get older.

8. A best friend is like a mirror into your own soul.

9. Money blown on nights you can’t remember was money well spent.

10. Books are the keys to the world.

11. Any empty journal is full of possibilities.

12. Laughter is the best medicine.

13. Tomorrow always comes too soon, and today we can never get back.

14. A sunrise is God’s way of painting the world again and again.

15. Graduation is the last hold on your security blanket as you are thrust out into the real world.

16. Pictures connect what the memory forgets.

17. Life without love is worthless.

18. One crack in the dam of emotion can create a flood.

19. There are many paths in life; everyone must choose their own.

20. Puddle jumping is feet’s way of rejoicing in new life.

21. Words have the power to destroy but also to create.

22. Without compassion there is no future.

23. Fall is nature’s way of saying good night.

24. There is always reason behind life’s tragedies.

25. Soulmates happen when one finds someone as crazy as themselves.

            The warm summer breeze carried the perfume of the purple lilacs to my nose as I stood staring out into the summer sunlight.  I inhaled the scent as if I would never smell the flower again.  I bird called from the branch of a nearby pine tree, and somewhere deep into the shadows of the woods, another echoed back.  The sunshine called to me, and I stepped barefoot out onto the soft grass of our side yard.  The grass and earth sank down beneath my feet as I walked down the hill to the backyard.  Cicadas created a song that filled the air, making the very breeze sound alive.  A grey squirrel dropped from a tree and darted across the ground in front of me.  I watched it bound away to the other side of the yard and make its way up another maple.  The breeze through the green leaves of the trees made it sound as if I were staring at the ocean, not my backyard.  I was home.

I stood in the doorway looking at my dorm room and realized that this was going to be my room for the next 8 months.  My mom was busy setting things up, and my dad was getting my books from the bookstore.  I put things where my mom told me knowing I would move them later.  Someone had given me advice before I left for school that I was glad I had taken. 

“Let your mom put things where she wants to, and when she leaves, move them to where you want them to be.” 

I was so excited to be here.  The walls of the room were too white; they needed some decorations and fast.  My roommate had already moved in and was out doing something else so I could move in without bumping into her.  Finally my room was set and we stood back and looked at my little home for the year.  The afternoon sun was shining in on my pastel colored bedspread, and everything was organized.  I knew that wouldn’t last long.

I walked with my parents out to the car to say goodbye.  My mom hugged me for several minutes, giving me last minute words of advice.  My dad was getting teary-eyed and gave me a bear hug before climbing into the blue minivan.  I promised I would call them within a few days to tell them how everything was going, and they drove off.  As I walked back to the dorm, I felt my first feeling of sadness, but when I looked up at the tan building in front of me I knew that everything was going to be just fine.  College was going to be great.

 

 

 

We were standing in the middle of the bar, all looking at each other.  Was this really happening?  Did we really have to say goodbye? 

“Guys I’ll be back in two weeks don’t worry.” Jess said to us as we tried to hide our tears. 

I still couldn’t believe that she wasn’t going to be graduating with us in three months.  We had known each other since our first day of classes freshmen year, and had been best friends since.  How was I going to be able to enjoy my last semester of college without one of my dearest friends? 

Erin, Ashley, Jess and I all shuffled forward and hugged each other.  I could hear the other girls crying and tried my best to hold it together, but a few tears squeezed out and ran down my cheeks.  We broke apart and watched Jess walk from the bar with her boyfriend Pat, knowing that our lives were changing again.

 

 

Trying to find something in my life that contradicts itself was a pretty interesting way to do a homework assignment. I kept trying to think big, but like the Chinese boxes, I knew I needed to start small. Then I thought of something that I know doesn’t only effect my life, but most women as well. My contradiction: how the obsession to be thin has influenced my life.

 

How women appear is a huge part of our society today. What women where, what they look like, what kinds of purses they own; the list is never-ending. The most important thing that girls are taught at an early age is that thin is beautiful. We are constantly bombarded by images of stick-thin celebrities and models. The clothes we see in stores look like they could fit a five-year-old, not a college student. We are even given toys as a child to make us think that thin is the best way to go. Think Barbie. A perfect image and the desire to be thin is an obsession that women all over the country have. I never thought I had it too.

 

During high school I played Varsity Soccer and ran Varsity Track all four years. I had always been on the smaller side, but I never really looked at it that way. It wasn’t that big of a deal. It wasn’t until I came to college and stopped playing two very active sports that I began the downward spiral into the thinness abyss. Those lovely freshmen 15…I gained them. Spaghettios at 2am were too good to pass up. It really wasn’t until clothes started fitting differently that I began to be obsessed, something I never though I would do in my life. I realized that the problem I had was I was still eating like I had while playing sports, but I wasn’t getting the exercise to burn it off. While in the long run it’s really not that big of a deal, I did begin to freak out about it. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I don’t look like I did in high school, but I’m not completely upset with my new body either. I may have put a little weight on, but I don’t think that curves are a bad thing. Stick-thin just looks so wrong, and I would never want to look unhealthy.

Now I’m working on getting myself back into shape. Not because I want to be wicked thin, but because I want to be healthy and have an active lifestyle again. I’m graduating in less than four months and I want to take advantage of a free gym while I can! I just hope that I never get that caught up in the media frenzy to be the perfect size again. I’m sure it will happen at some point, but at least I know now that I can take a step back from the madness of it all.

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