"There are in our existence spots of time,
Which with distinct pre-eminence retain
a renovating Virtue, whence, depressed
By false opinion and contentious thought,
...our minds
Are nourished and invisibly repaired."
-Wordsworth
You know those times when you're going along in life and something happens that makes you realize that life really is good? Well, one of those happened to me today. I'd like to steal a phrase from Wordsworth and call it a "spot of time". While I was driving, Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" started to play on the radio. The sun was shining, and it began to rain. Now, since those are two of my very favorite things - that song and that weather - I commenced one of my favorite activities - singing along with all the gusto my recently sick lungs could muster. As Wordsworth desribes, it was a nourishing and repairing moment. After Unwritten finished playing, another one of my favorite songs began - John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change". Sometimes I believe that the radio waves are Divinely controlled.
April 2, 2009
March 5, 2009
A St. Patrick's Day Birthday
I've decided this is one of the greatest things it the world. I remember all through Elementary School getting so excited when my class started to do St. Patrick's Day crafts (I got really good at drawing shamrocks) and reading books about Ireland and potatoes (everyone knows that Ireland and potatoes are infallibly connected) because the fact that St. Patrick's day was coming also meant another day was coming...my birthday! I've decided that having this day as my birthday is great because of three things:
#1 - It's a holiday in Spring - a wonderful time for a holiday in the first place.
#2 - This holiday hasn't been commercially taken over, so it's not overrun by traditions and decorations.
#3 - It's a holiday, so the date sticks in people's minds, and they only have to add one more detail of association (that it's my birthday) in order to remember me on that day.
So, in one week and five days, I wish you all a Happy St. Patty's Day, and a Happy My Birthday.
February 23, 2009
Serratus Anterior Muscles
Didn't believe I had them. (They're located on your ribs along your sides, supposedly visible). After working out on Saturday for the first time in a while I learned something.
Newsflash:
I've got 'em!
No worries.
They're there.
Now, the question is: will I be able to abduct my scapulae or upwardly rotate the inferior part of them any time soon without discomfort?
Forecast: Unlikely
Newsflash:
I've got 'em!
No worries.
They're there.
Now, the question is: will I be able to abduct my scapulae or upwardly rotate the inferior part of them any time soon without discomfort?
Forecast: Unlikely
February 19, 2009
Close Writing
In English classes, close reading assignments are given frequently. A close reading is one in which a student picks a particular passage of a work of literature to analyze and assign meaning. Along with these assignments is given the caution "pay CLOSE attention to the language of the text and chain yourself to it's function." As I write more and more of these papers, I wonder more and more how an author chooses precisely the best words with the exact meaning and connotation needed to portray meaning. This ability never ceases to amaze me, and at times it is hard for me to write becuase I am overwhelmed by that very task of choosing the right words.
But what I realize is that I am always writing. Every day, every second of my life, the chapters of my life's story are being written in a book that will continue into eternity. And the individual words are what make up the sentences, paragraphs, then chapters of this book. There is no more important act I can do than to make each word something that I choose deliberately to contribute to the meaning of my work that will turn into the most personal thing I can ever be a part of - my life.
That's where the cool part comes in - I have to power to choose which words will be used. At times I won't be able to choose the plot or the characters surrounding me, but I can always choose the words which portray the tone, mood, and meaning. And this book will never fit into one genre. There will be elements of comedy, tragedy, romance, and drama sprinkled throughout, depending on my stage of life, my priorities, and the circumstances which surround me.
I title my thoughts "Close Writing". I believe this is the reverse of close reading, which is the process by which the reader unravels sentences and phrases to discover meaning. Close writing is instead the writer's process - when he/she must weave together specific words to create the meaning. Close writing must be picky, and can be a long and arduous process. But, my friends, it is completely worth it. After all, am I not here to prove I can pick the best words from my selection to make up my book?
But what I realize is that I am always writing. Every day, every second of my life, the chapters of my life's story are being written in a book that will continue into eternity. And the individual words are what make up the sentences, paragraphs, then chapters of this book. There is no more important act I can do than to make each word something that I choose deliberately to contribute to the meaning of my work that will turn into the most personal thing I can ever be a part of - my life.
That's where the cool part comes in - I have to power to choose which words will be used. At times I won't be able to choose the plot or the characters surrounding me, but I can always choose the words which portray the tone, mood, and meaning. And this book will never fit into one genre. There will be elements of comedy, tragedy, romance, and drama sprinkled throughout, depending on my stage of life, my priorities, and the circumstances which surround me.
I title my thoughts "Close Writing". I believe this is the reverse of close reading, which is the process by which the reader unravels sentences and phrases to discover meaning. Close writing is instead the writer's process - when he/she must weave together specific words to create the meaning. Close writing must be picky, and can be a long and arduous process. But, my friends, it is completely worth it. After all, am I not here to prove I can pick the best words from my selection to make up my book?
February 8, 2009
NERD
(noun)
1. An insignificant, foolish, or socially inept person; a person who is boringly conventional or studious (Oxford English Dictionary).
2. A person who #1 - knows what the Oxford English Dictionary is and #2 - thinks to use it to define a word.
3. Someone who buys a Norton Anthology and instead of thinking "man, this is big and expensive!" thinks "yes! I can add this to my collection!"
4. Someone who likens linguistic theory to church doctrine.
5. Someone who notices particularly the power of the alliteration in the word choice of the guest speaker in Stake Conference.
6. (insert picture of me).
1. An insignificant, foolish, or socially inept person; a person who is boringly conventional or studious (Oxford English Dictionary).
2. A person who #1 - knows what the Oxford English Dictionary is and #2 - thinks to use it to define a word.
3. Someone who buys a Norton Anthology and instead of thinking "man, this is big and expensive!" thinks "yes! I can add this to my collection!"
4. Someone who likens linguistic theory to church doctrine.
5. Someone who notices particularly the power of the alliteration in the word choice of the guest speaker in Stake Conference.
6. (insert picture of me).
January 29, 2009
Procrastination
Never works. Correction: shouldn't work. However, as it turns out, sometimes you can get away with it.
Exhibit 1: The past two Critical Theory lectures. I didn't do ANY of the reading. Oops, right? WRONG. I actually enjoyed these past two classes the most so far, and felt like I learned a great deal as I participated more in the discussion.
Exhibit 2: Literary History Quizzes. This is the class I did do the reading for. Well, more like half of the reading. We have quizzes daily in this class, and I got a check plus on the days I did half of the reading, while the days I did all the reading I received merely a check.
Raise your hand if you think I'm going to do my reading tonight.
Exhibit 1: The past two Critical Theory lectures. I didn't do ANY of the reading. Oops, right? WRONG. I actually enjoyed these past two classes the most so far, and felt like I learned a great deal as I participated more in the discussion.
Exhibit 2: Literary History Quizzes. This is the class I did do the reading for. Well, more like half of the reading. We have quizzes daily in this class, and I got a check plus on the days I did half of the reading, while the days I did all the reading I received merely a check.
Raise your hand if you think I'm going to do my reading tonight.
January 22, 2009
It's All in the Name
Once upon a time there was a well-dressed, elegant, exquisite, refined, dainty, clever, and witty (let's just sum it all up with the Greek word "kompsos", shall we?) young woman who wanted to start a blog. Fortunately, she had a very smart brother who was well-versed in the Greek Language and could help in the christening of the blog. After much thought and deliberation, this young woman found a place to record her proclamations, declarations, preachings, and gospels (let's use the Greek word "kerygma") and named the place "Kērygmata Kompsēs". This was to be a place of occasional observations, much less than professional poetry, interesting inquiries, random references, and other such trivial trifles.
Welcome.
Welcome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)