English 1102 Blogs

Love is a Beautiful Feeling

2007-04-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

I have always been a little shy
I've always been the quiet
Type till now
And I never let my feelings show
I never let anybody know
Just how much I was so
Deep in love
But now that you're in my arms

I'm gonna stand on a rooftop
Climb up a mountaintop
Baby, scream and shout
I wanna sing it on the radio
Show it on a video
Baby, leave no doubt
I want the whole world to know
Just what I'm all about
I love to love you out loud

You keep bringing out the
Free in me
What you do to my heart
Just makes me melt
And I don't think I can resist
But I've never been one to
Kiss and tell
A love this true can't be Subdued
So I'm gonna let out a yell

I'm gonna stand on a rooftop
Climb up a mountaintop
Baby, scream and shout
I wanna sing it on the radio
Show it on a video
Baby, leave no doubt
I want the whole world to know
Just what I'm all about
I love to love you out loud

Baby, I want the whole world to see
Just how good your love looks on me

I'm gonna stand on a rooftop
Climb up a mountaintop
Baby, scream and shout
I wanna sing it on the radio
Show it on a video
Baby, leave no doubt
I want the whole world to know
Just what I'm all about
I love to love you out loud

Baby, I love to love you out loud
Yeah, I love to love you out loud

Rascal Flatts is one of my all time favorite groups. I own each of their CD’s and I have attended their most recent concert in Nashville, TN. I love all of their songs, so it was tough to pick just one to write about. I remember listening to the love songs hoping one day I would find the love they spoke of so much in their songs. Finally, I chose “Love You Out Loud.”

This song is very upbeat and I sing along with it whenever I hear it. It is about someone who used to be very shy in all aspects of their life until they find love. Their shyness no longer exists once this person realizes the love they have discovered and they just want to share it with the world. They sing of proclaiming their love to each other by standing on a rooftop, climbing a mountaintop, and singing it on the radio (Rascal Flatts) This person is so much in love and it is made known through the lyrics of the song. Love is a wonderful feeling and there is nothing wrong with wanting to show your feelings.

The beat for this song compliments the lyrics very well. It is a very happy beat. This song puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it, and no matter where I am, even if I am in the car, I will dance as much as possible. I will not care what anyone thinks if they see me because that is what that song does to me.

This song is a favorite of mine because about a year and half ago, I met the love of my life, Ryan. I felt like standing on a rooftop and telling the world that I found my true love. Before Ryan, I was a very shy person who kept to myself and just went with the flow. Now Ryan has brought out the best in me and I still continue to tell the world what I have. My favorite line is “Just how your love looks on me”(Rascal Flatts). Friends who knew me before Ryan came into my life tell me I look and appear to be happier than ever now, and that we are the best thing to happen to each other. It is true and I will tell the world! Once you find that someone that means the world to you, you want everyone to know!

Rascal Flatts. Love You Out Loud. Melt. Lyric Street Records, Inc., 2002.

A Life in Vain

2007-04-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

If I can stop one Heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain
If I can ease one Life the Aching
Or cool one Pain

Or help one fainting Robin
Unto his Nest again
I shall not live in Vain.

I chose the poem If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking by Emily Dickinson. According to the website http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/155 she lived in almost total physical isolation from the outside world. This is odd to me that anyone could isolate themselves from the outside. It goes on to state that she spent a lot of time with her family. I also found on http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/155 that Emily Dickinson’s poetry “reflects her loneliness and the speakers of her poem generally live in a state of want, but her poems are also marked by the intimate recollection of inspirational moments which are decidedly life-giving and suggest the possibility of happiness.” Even though I was unsuccessful in finding much research or analysis by critics, I felt this was too good of a poem not to share.

When I read this poem, I wonder if she wanted to help someone, or maybe if someone helped her in this way and she wished to return the favor. She seems like she just wanted to make a difference in someone’s life whether it be shielding someone from a broken heart or something as small as putting a robin back in its nest. In order for many to feel their life is complete, they feel they must do something for someone. If only each of us would feel the same way, we could all help one another and who knows it might be life changing for us or whomever we help.

After reading the many definitions of vain, I believe that she meant “without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vain). After finding out that her poems are often of a state of want, I believe that she had the want to change someone’s life or help them and maybe then she would feel her life would be worth living. The saying of living a life in vain is a saying which most of us are familiar with. No one wants to live a life in vain, but are they willing to do something to change that or do they just think about doing something? If we only think about it what good are we doing for ourselves or anyone else?

Annotated Bibliography

2007-04-05T10:45:00.001-07:00

Tanner, Tony. Norman Mailer. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 39-49. 1986.

This is an annotation of Norman Mailer by Tony Tanner.He suggests that we look at this story in levels of American life instead of viewing it just as a series of events. The levels include his being in a high society and soon dropping to a low society. Here again we see that this critic also sees many metaphors throughout the reading. "The book tries to point inclusively to those supernatural powers which transcend this distinitively human triology" (41).

Bufithis, Phillip H. Norman Mailer. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 65-74. 1978.

This is an annotation of the book Norman Mailer by Phillip H. Bufithis. Throughout these pages Bufithis offers a look at many symbols in the reading of An American Dream. He says the “principal theme is intimacy with destruction, not separation from it” (66). He also states that most of this novel has to do with Rojack’s subconscious. I like what Bufithis says in the last sentence, “Insofar as it is fair to judge literature on moral as well as aesthetic grounds, the novel suffers from its refusal to deal with the ethical nature of man’s relation to man” (74). Since this source is 29 years old, I would be interested to see what has been written more recent. However, reading this helped me understand a few of the symbols and what they could have meant in the story. But, I think symbolic meanings can be a matter of opinion at times.

Adams, Laura. Existential Battles The Growth of Norman Mailer. Athens: Ohio University Press, 1976.

This is an annotation of the book Existential Battle The Growth of Norman Mailer by Laura Adams. She simply summarizes the main events and offers this, "It may be argued that the novel suffers from a certain thinness because of its heavy reliance on metaphor and allegory. Ironically, many early reviewers took it quite literally and found that the violence and uncommon sexual acts particulary offensive, wheras these acts express Mailer's existential ethics on the metaphorical level" (79). She also gives a few meanings to some symbols in the story.

Id Versus Ego

2007-04-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

After reading “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, I am able to see the psychological points in this story. It mostly revolves around the id which makes sense. Everyone wants to be happy and satisfied, but how far will we go before we let our superego take over? Montresor was out for revenge on Fortunato for insulting him. Montresor knew that Fortunato’s weakness for fine wine, so he used this to his advantage. “…but in the matter of old wines he was sincere” (Poe, 240).

Fortunato was acting because of his id. Sipiora defines the id as the uncontrollable appetite or basic desire and this part of the psyche is primarily interesting in satisfying itself or seeking pleasure (207). Fortunato’s id is what was telling him to follow Montresor to his vaults even though he was sick with a cough. Montresor made it appear that he was concerned about Fortunato’s cough, and he insisted they turn around and go back. “My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre” (241). This could be said that it was the ego telling Montresor to turn around. Sipiora defines the ego as controlling and regulating various impulses and it might be seen as the police office in the mind (207). However, Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitre) states that nitre was used to the main character’s advantage as it slowly diminishes his enemy Fortuanto’s health before burying him alive as a form of vulgar revenge. So he knew exactly what he was doing when he took Fortunato to the vaults. This is his id talking to him and he knows after he kills Fortunato he will be satisfied.

In the end after Montresor had locked Fortunato up and hung him on a wall, he thought to himself, “My heart grew sick” (Poe, 244). If this were a true feeling of guilt, it would be the superego responsible for this thought. Sipiora defines the superego as the conscience of the mind, the area that moral judgments are made and individuals punish themselves in the form of guilt, fear, and regret (207).

This story was all about how the characters acted upon their id, ego, and superego. The id prevailed in most of the characters actions. In the end, Fortunato’s id is responsible for his death. But, now that Fortunato is dead, will Montresor be happy now or will someone else come along?

Poe, Edgar Allan. Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education Inc., 2002. 240-244.

Guilt Will Prevail

2007-04-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

Norman Mailer’s novel An American Dream was very different. Many times I found it difficult to read. Personally, I did not enjoy the novel. My opinion is that Mailer went into far too much detail instead of getting to the point. By the time I would make it to the “action” scene, I would have already forgotten what I read beforehand. "Mailer intends this novel to be a fiery chisel working its way into all the dull lairs of American guilt and malaise" (Bufithis, 66).

The novel revolves around the main character, Stephen Rojack. He is a war hero, he is a former Congressman, and he has his own television show. He strived to be on top of everything. Much of his achievements were because of his wife, Deborah Kelly. However, they did not have the perfect marriage. They were, in fact, separated. I am curious as to why they did not divorce. Norman Mailer, himself, was married six different times throughout his life, and he had nine children. Maybe Mailer was ashamed about his inability to have a successful marriage so he expressed this through Rojack. Their marriage was out of pure selfishness as to what each could get out of the other. They both believed each was superior to the other. Out of anger and hatred one night, Rojack murders Deborah and makes an attempt to make it appear as suicide. At times I wonder if Rojack suffered from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) from being a war hero. I think Rojack has had a lot of rough times in his life, and maybe that is what causes him to be so angry. I am not saying that murdering his wife was the answer, and I am not making excuses for him; however, I do not believe Deborah was innocent through all of this. She used Rojack just as much as he used her. There was not any love in the marriage; after all he did see many women after he murdered his wife.

The way that Rojack escaped capital punishment is ironic to me. After Deborah had already been dead for a few hours and was then pushed out the window, how were they able to confirm it was suicide? And when Rojack made up the story of his wife having cancer, and it turned out she really did, that was shocking! I think he got away from punishment all by chance and coincidence. If any one aspect of the story would have been different, we may have seen a different outcome. Violence seems to be a theme in not only this novel, but Mailer’s personal life. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Mailer) states that in 1960 Mailer stabbed his second wife with a penknife at a party and that this incident has become a focal point for feminist critics of Mailer.

After researching Norman Mailer, I found many similarities between him and his character, Stephen Rojack. I also found a few things that Rojack did differently than Mailer. Mailer was also a war veteran and was involved in politics. Even with all of this said he is a very popular author today. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Mailer) mentions that he has appeared on and references have been made to him in many popular sitcoms.

I found this to novel to be against everything ethical. He murdered his wife, lied about it, and escaped punishment. He committed adultery and he was an alcoholic. He led a life of lies and it did not seem to bother him like it should have. He was a man with a mind of a criminal who thought he could get away with the worst of things, and he did. However, he did not and will not ever escape the guilt of his actions. This will follow him for the rest of his life, and I hope it eats him alive!

Bufithis, Phillip H. Norman Mailer. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1978. 65-74.

Struggles

2007-03-02T06:40:00.000-08:00

In reading “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, we are shown the story of two brothers and their struggles in life. Drug addiction is a problem that Sonny deals with throughout the story. His brother learns of this addiction by reading it in the newspaper, and it hurts him deeply. He is now scared for Sonny as well as worried about what Sonny must be going through.

It takes a tragedy to bring the brother and Sonny together. The brother’s daughter dies and this gives him a reason to contact Sonny by writing him a letter. Sonny returned a letter expressing his regret for hurting his family with his drug use. After this contact they kept in touch and saw each other anytime they could.

The brother remembers his mother telling him, “If anything happens to me he aint going to have nobody to look out for him” (86). His mother goes on to explain the importance and him and his brother sticking together like families should, no matter what happens. “You may not be able to stop nothing from happening. But you got to let him know you’s there” (87). Family was an important aspect in this mothers eyes and she expected her boys to have the same feeling. Families stick together and look out for each other, not just in times of need, but at all times.

Sonny had a drug problem and this resulted from trying to cope with what life threw at him. Luckily, Sonny was able to find a better way to deal; he voiced his want to become a musician. His brother was not sure about this, but he respected Sonny for continuing to pursue this as not a career, but as a way to express himself. Playing the piano at the end was a symbol of the brothers finally coming together with the intent of making their lives better.

In the end we realize that everyone struggles but we should all find the appropriate way to deal with it. We should also be able to depend on our families for help when we need it. This ending of this story was fitting; Sonny and his brother both realized their downfalls, but they were both improving. It was a growing experience for each in that they learned something about themselves as well as each other.

Sipiora, Phillip. "Sonny's Blues." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education Inc., 2002. 79-102.

A Man's Stubborness

2007-03-01T04:31:00.001-08:00

The story “To Build a Fire” is simply about a chechaquo man and his egotism. He was a very independent, confident, and stubborn man who was determined that he knew what was best for him in order to survive what nature had in store. This man was traveling the Yukon trail with only a husky by his side with the goal of finding gold. Later in the story we understand that his desire to find gold was put before his best interest.

This man was not familiar with the Yukon trail, but he was used to the cold winters. He was quite confident of his ability to handle the temperatures. During his travel the temperature was never above zero degrees. “He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances” (149). His first and most threatening mistake was traveling alone in the below freezing temperatures and in an area to which he was unfamiliar.

A man familiar with the area known as the old-timer on Sulphur Creek had warned him of the dangers of traveling alone. If the man would have had a traveling partner, they could have assisted each other in a time of need, such as building a fire. But, because the man ignored obvious dangers, he was too cold, wet, and numb, and he was unable to build the very fire that could have saved his life. The husky that was traveling with him even knew of the dangers in which they were immersed. Because of its instinct, the husky knew that it was too cold to travel, and the man should have known as well. The man should have also remembered and taking to heart what the old-timer had said to him. There were plenty of other travelers on the same trail that he could have accompanied, but he thought he knew what he was doing when he left alone.

In the end when the man lay on the ground fully aware that death was moments away, he realized that he should have listened to the advice of others, especially the old-timer. He should have traveled with a partner. If he had in fact listened to others he may have made it to camp as he had wanted and had set out to do. The lesson from this story is that when we are unfamiliar with a situation, we should listen to the people who are well versed in like conditions and take into consideration their thoughts and suggestions.

Sipiora, Phillip. "To Build a Fire." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 149-158.

Not So Happily Ever After

2007-03-01T04:29:00.000-08:00

In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”, we learn of a woman’s unhappiness in her marriage. Typically, women are viewed as the ones to hold a marriage together. They care for all the families needs. Most women view that once they are married, they must stick with it no matter what unexpected events the future holds. Often women experience hardships in their marriage, even when they are not fully aware of it. Mrs. Mallard, a typical married woman but with heart trouble, was informed that her husband had been killed in a railroad accident. When she was informed of the news, she reacted in a way that was normal at first by grieving, but then decided she would rather deal with this news in private. She wanted to grieve alone, but instead of grieving this turned into a joyous occurrence for her.

Evidently, Mrs. Mallard was unhappy with her current marriage and it took news of her husband’s passing to help her realize this. To many women news of this sort would be absolutely devastating. Of course, she grieved for the loss of her husband, but she began repeating “free, free, free!” (200). She had time to concentrate on what her life might be like without her husband, and she liked the thoughts although she felt some guilt for not being entirely sad about it.

As she continued thinking about what kind of life she could live and the thought of her living it as she wanted without anyone to tell her any different, she was soon interrupted by her sister knocking at the door. Josephine wanted to console Louise not knowing the Louise did not need consoling. She came out of the room with her sister by her side feeling empowered and like a new woman. Little did she know that this new life she had been given was about to be taken away from her. Her husband walked in the door, and at that moment Louise died because she knew at that point she would be forced to go back to her miserable life. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy the kills” (200). So, in the end even though she herself died, she was still free from her marriage.

The thought that she was blind to her unhappiness during her marriage is possible and clear to me. When you are in a marriage you become somewhat comfortable in what happens on a daily basis. You become accustomed to the treatment you receive from your husband, the duties that you perform as a wife, and the strain that a marriage can bring. You can get so wrapped up in the same occurrences that they become normal to you, and you do not even realize your own happiness anymore.

Sipiora, Phillip. "The Story of an Hour." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 199-200.

A Look at "The Dead"

2007-02-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

From the reading of James Joyce’s “The Dead”, many instances occur to reveal the main character, Gabriel Conroy, is not really the person he and others think he is. Supporting characters include Gabriel’s wife, Gretta, Lily, Gabriel’s aunts, Kate and Julia Morkan, Gabriel’s cousin, Mary Jane, and a guest at the party, Molly Ivors. Throughout this story with the help of these supporting characters, Gabriel comes to term with the differences in lifestyle and attitude that he portrays. This story is described as “…it centers around the consciousness of Gabriel Conroy, a teacher and literary man in turn of the century Dublin” (Begnal).

At the beginning of the story, Joyce portrays Gabriel as a very self-assured and responsible man, but as the story goes on, it is shown that this is not the case. His aunts, Kate and Julia Morkan host an annual dance at their residence. They depend on Gabriel to make sure everything flows smoothly throughout the night. An example of this would be when one of their guests, Freddy Malins arrives. Kate and Julia were already expecting him to show up drunk. “Slip down, Gabriel, like a good fellow and see if he’s all right, and don’t let him up if he’s screwed. I’m sure he’s screwed. I’m sure he is” (Sipiora 300).

An example of Gabriel being different then his family and friends is shown when Miss Molly Ivors decided to speak with him. She is very upset that Gabriel is writing an article on a regular basis for the The Daily Express. Gabriel is astonished. “Why should I be ashamed of myself?” (Sipiora 303) Miss Ivors then proceeds to call him a traitor by stating, “I didn’t think you were a West Briton.” (Sipiora 303) She also questions him when he says that for his vacation he is not visiting his own land. “I’m sick of my own country, sick of it!” (Sipiora 304)

Gabriel’s realization of himself is seen when his wife, Gretta, reveals a past love to him. She speaks of Michael Furey when an Irish ballad is played at the party. “I think he died for me.” (Sipiora 320) To no surprise, Gabriel was upset and hurt by this remark. All of this time and he thought that Gretta was truly in love with him, but she actually loved Michael Furey. At this point Gabriel is forced to see that he is not living the life that he should be living. “Ultimately, Gabriel can only revel in self-pity, as he celebrates what he considers to be his own worthlessness” (Begnal).

Sipiora, Phillip. “The Dead.” Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 297-322.

Begnal, Michael H. “The Dead:Overview.” Reference Guide to Short Fiction, 1st ed., edited by Noelle Watson, St. James Press, 1994.

Complete Opposites-Life and Death

2007-02-01T06:59:00.001-08:00

In the reading of “Indian Camp” by Ernest Hemingway, I found it to be a very distinctive story of a little boy, Nick, who traveled with his father. At first I thought this was going to be a story of adventure. It was a story of adventure but in a different way than I expected. This was an adventure of a little boy witnessing both life and death.

Nick was a young boy who accompanied his father on many outings that some would feel not appropriate for young children. Nick’s father must have felt that this experience would be important in the growth and development of his son both mentally and emotionally. As a result of witnessing the Indian woman give birth, Nick was able to see the beauty of life; however he also was able to see the tragedy of death from the Indian mans suicide. Luckily, Nick did not see everything; a few times Nick chose not to look at what his father was doing. Also I think from reading this quote by Hemingway, Nick could have associated life with women and death with men especially when he asked his father, “Do many men kill themselves, Daddy?” followed by “Do many women?” (30).

As for anyone witnessing life and death can be an experience to remember. Nick was like any normal child in asking his father questions about what he had witnessed. His questions were still simple because of his age, but like everyone else what really caught me was when Hemingway made the point of Nick that “…he felt quite sure that he would never die.” (31). My opinion is he thought this because he either cannot see himself taking his own life, he is in denial and does not want to face the fact that one day he will die just as his father and everyone will, or he is still too young and immature to fully understand.

While only about a day has passed, Nick grew more mentally and emotionally than some kids his age would grow in a year. This is nothing but a mere fact of life, numerous births happen everyday just as numerous deaths occur everyday. It is evident that because of this experience Nick has grown up and will continue to grow as he experiences and witnesses more situations. However, it is a strong possibility that as Nick continues these outing with his father, he may grow up too fast and he may not have the opportunity to live a normal childhood.

Sipiora, Phillip. “Indian Camp.” Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 28-31.

A Lingering Past

2007-02-01T05:50:00.000-08:00

In the reading of “Babylon Revisited” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I interpreted it to be a story of how our past actions have consequences, and our past can have a negative effect throughout our life course. People make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and people can change for the better. However, when will others realize that someone has changed, and that the past is the past? Or can others see through to lingering qualities of the past? My thought is that Charlie did not want to completely give up his past even though this meant he could bring his daughter home! He was attempting to live a double life.

Charlie Wales, the main character, is one of curiosity. But, Charlie battled something serious, alcoholism. The relationships with other important characters including Alix, Marion and Lincoln Peters, Honoria, Lorraine Quarrels, Duncan Schaffer, in this story are important to the lesson being told. In the past Charlie had led an adventurous life; he and his wife, Helen, traveled together and spent money like there was never an end. Everyone in Paris knew of Charlie and his drinking days, especially Alix, the bartender. When Charlie showed up at the bar and wanted only one drink, Alix was a bit surprised. “You were going pretty strong a couple of years ago” (6). Alix was also Charlie’s link to old friends. I question Charlie’s motive in revisiting this bar. If he really was trying to shape up, why would he go in there and inquire about old friends, and why would he give Alix his address to give to Duncan, an old drinking buddy? Alix was not even aware that Charlie had a daughter.

Marion and Lincoln Peters were the ones caring for Charlie’s daughter, Honoria. Marion is Charlie’s sister-in-law, and she continued to hold a grudge against Charlie for her sister, Helen, also Charlie’s wife, death, blaming Charlie for this tragedy. Marion and Lincoln led a normal lifestyle in comparison to Charlie. They were not rich nor did they go out to the bars to drink. Family came first. Their kids were well-mannered. When Charlie visited and spoke with Marion and Lincoln, they were very hesitant to believing that Charlie had only one drink a day. Marion especially is very skeptical of Charlie and his suddenly new and improved lifestyle.

Honoria, Charlie’s daughter, was 9 years of age. She was a well-mannered and behaved child. She was ecstatic to see her father. They both wanted the opportunity to get to know one another. The more time Charlie spent with Honoria, the more he realized that this seemed to be the kind of life he wanted. Honoria also wanted to live with her father, even though she seemed to be content with his aunt and uncle. When Charlie approached Marion and Lincoln about taking Honoria with him, they were shocked and very unsure. Over a short time span they were about to accept the thought that Charlie would take his daughter back and care for her, however, Charlie’s past actions ruined any chance of this. Duncan and Lorraine intrude into Charlie’s life. This proves to Marion that Charlie is not able and will not be able to care for Honoria. Just when Charlie thought he was getting the life he wanted, his past decided against him.

Charlie’s attempt to maintain his past and start over failed. He was back to square one, and he had not accomplished anything. We are left to wonder if Charlie will go after what he wants, his daughter, or will he settle to the thought that his past will never allow him to do so? Personally, I hope he changes for the better.

Sipiora, Phillip. "Babylon Revisited." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 6-19.

Who exactly is Shawna?

2007-01-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

My name is Shawna Hollingsworth, Griffith was my married name and the school should have that on their files now! This is my second semester at Macon State. I am seeking a Bachelor's in Business Administration with a major in accounting. Many people have mixed feelings about accounting. Many people who find out that I am in the accounting field ask me why I chose accounting. From the day that I was mistakenly put in an accounting class my senior year of high school; I have been in love with accounting. It's all a challenge to me, and I enjoy a challenge. I am enrolled in four classes this semester; two classes are online and two classes are at night on campus. Before coming to Macon State, I attended Central Georgia Technical College for three years, but none of my credits transferred with me. That is a major sore spot with me, but I have to get over that and move on here at Macon State.

Currently, I am employed as an Accountant, Paraprofessional with a state agency. I have worked in the accounting field with various employers for the past six years, but I have been with this employer for a year. There are quite a few perks being employed by the government. One of the perks is that I work four days a week, ten hours a day. I guess you could say I have a three day weekend every weekend! That still does not leave me much time to stop or slow down! My boyfriend, Ryan, is a real estate agent and investor in Atlanta, so when I am not at work or at school, I travel back and forth to Atlanta. It's really not that bad of a drive, but I can tell you every exit number and description between here and there. I have been doing this for a little over a year now, and I do not mind it at all. In the beginning it was a test of our relationship, but now we are doing better than ever!

When I do have spare time, I enjoy shopping, traveling, and hanging out with family and friends. Luckily, I have family and friends spread out through Georgia and Florida, so when I do visit them, I get to do a little traveling as well. Ryan and I also like to take little weekend trips to various places. Sometimes we will just tell one another to pack a bag, get in the car, and it will be a surprise where we end up! As for my personality, I am a somewhat quiet, reserved person unless I know you.

I am hoping to do very well in this class and my other classes. Good luck to everyone this semester!