So here's one for the teacher:
This was an excellent course. Out of the... 32 courses I've taken these past 4 years, this has definitely been one of the best. The courseload was excellently managed- this is the only class this semester I've stayed on top of things because everything was so straightforward- deadlines, expectations, etc.
This blog has been a great way to inspire the students, has encouraged us to share our work with one another, and has given us an opportunity to communicate informally. The book we read, The Glass Castle, was one of the only books in an English course in high school which most students could find enjoyable (although I did enjoy The Kite Runner).
This course has hopefully improved my writing skills, but whether or not it has, it's given me an unexpected opportunity to write again like I did when I was younger. Without having in-school time to write this semester, I would probably never write again until later in life.
I don't really have many critiques for this class. I really enjoyed it.
Well, that concludes my blog. Thanks for keeping me engaged this semester!
Monday, 4 June 2012
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
10 Comments
2/10 Click here to see Hannah's intro post.
4/10 Click here to see Prashantha's 55 word story.
5/10 Click here to see Manar's post on forgiveness.
6/10 Click here to see Alex's thank-you letter.
7/10 Click here to see Katrina's course reflection.
8/10 Click here to read Nick's post on social injustice.
Friday, 4 May 2012
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Patchwork, Found
Here's a Patchwork Poem:
She sits with
a waste of breath the years behind
floating on moss-coloured water
on little cat feet
and then moves on
beyond the porcelain fence of the pleasure garden
pawing at the green porcelain doors of the remote Heavens
and a man comes out of the trees
comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers
and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair.
And found poetry:
Attention all Walmart shoppers
the time is now 11 o'clock:
Walmart's official closing time.
Please make your way to the front of the store
where our cashes will be closing down immediately.
Have a good night.
She sits with
a waste of breath the years behind
floating on moss-coloured water
on little cat feet
and then moves on
beyond the porcelain fence of the pleasure garden
pawing at the green porcelain doors of the remote Heavens
and a man comes out of the trees
comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers
and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair.
And found poetry:
Attention all Walmart shoppers
the time is now 11 o'clock:
Walmart's official closing time.
Please make your way to the front of the store
where our cashes will be closing down immediately.
Have a good night.
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Haiku? Yes? No?
HAIKU 1
April twenty-first.
Perfect day today,
though I wouldn't go outside.
April twenty-third.
I'm going away
to Toronto in three days.
April twenty-fifth.
I've saved up all my money
though some is for gas.
April twenty-eighth.
I met new people today.
This is new to me.
HAIKU 2
April twenty-first.
Perfect day today,
though I wouldn't go outside.
April twenty-third.
I'm going away
to Toronto in three days.
April twenty-fifth.
I've saved up all my money
though some is for gas.
April twenty-sixth.
I'm more nervous than I thought.
Maybe I won't go.
I met new people today.
This is new to me.
April twenty-ninth.
Only four more months
until I go back again.
Leaves sit on rodents
Keeping them warm for winter
or targets for shoes.
HAIKU 3
"The use of these twice...
A seasonal reference?"
He speaks in Haiku.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Things I've Seen
Sometimes I wish I could switch departments so I could get in on the stories that are born in the deli- but then who could tell them unobjectively? I can't even describe how ridiculous the things that go down there are. Just the characters you meet at the foods department could make a sitcom.
Trevor and Dave: the normal ones, by deli standard. They have some work ethic, if you exclude their habit of ordering pizza to the store. They always show up, but why wouldn't they? their reality really is stranger than fiction.
Matt Cross: creep- grade A. He's managed to ask out 75% of the female associates (I'm making a rough estimate, here)- independant of age.
Isabelle: a total flake. She rarely shows up, and when she does, she's missed out on enough to both hit on Matt Cross and somehow remain oblivious to the rumors around the deli: Isabelle is a prostitute.
Art: senile. Rumor has it he's filthy rich and only works at the store to pass time (as old people do).
Erik: a complete schizophrenic. He's worked in the deli since, presumably, the beginning of time (or at least for the entirety of his 20 years).
Nana and Alazaar: gone, but forever in our hearts. They were notorious for smoking weed on break and drinking Grey Goose in Sprite bottles behind the counter. Alazaar had a tendency to bring his laptop to work and watch art process videos.
Ryan: the pussy. His girlfriend broke up with him two months ago and he still cries about it.
Sebastian: scared shitless. We heard he failed his sexual harassement CBL.
Jordan: real problems kid. Dave heard once that kids who were born deaf on one side have mental issues on the other.
Simon: who really knows? We guess he's kind of a prude. "Don't invite Simon."
Carlos: Papa! I love Carlos. Unsure whether he speaks English.
Sammie: I heard she's two faced, but I've only ever seen one. I don't want to see the other side.
Nick from produce: spineless fink.
I heard they got a letter the other day from a customer complaining that our foods departments are going downhill. Some customers, eh?
Trevor and Dave: the normal ones, by deli standard. They have some work ethic, if you exclude their habit of ordering pizza to the store. They always show up, but why wouldn't they? their reality really is stranger than fiction.
Matt Cross: creep- grade A. He's managed to ask out 75% of the female associates (I'm making a rough estimate, here)- independant of age.
Isabelle: a total flake. She rarely shows up, and when she does, she's missed out on enough to both hit on Matt Cross and somehow remain oblivious to the rumors around the deli: Isabelle is a prostitute.
Art: senile. Rumor has it he's filthy rich and only works at the store to pass time (as old people do).
Erik: a complete schizophrenic. He's worked in the deli since, presumably, the beginning of time (or at least for the entirety of his 20 years).
Nana and Alazaar: gone, but forever in our hearts. They were notorious for smoking weed on break and drinking Grey Goose in Sprite bottles behind the counter. Alazaar had a tendency to bring his laptop to work and watch art process videos.
Ryan: the pussy. His girlfriend broke up with him two months ago and he still cries about it.
Sebastian: scared shitless. We heard he failed his sexual harassement CBL.
Jordan: real problems kid. Dave heard once that kids who were born deaf on one side have mental issues on the other.
Simon: who really knows? We guess he's kind of a prude. "Don't invite Simon."
Carlos: Papa! I love Carlos. Unsure whether he speaks English.
Sammie: I heard she's two faced, but I've only ever seen one. I don't want to see the other side.
Nick from produce: spineless fink.
I heard they got a letter the other day from a customer complaining that our foods departments are going downhill. Some customers, eh?
Monday, 19 March 2012
I Love You Cat
You've always been close to me, as close as a feline can be.
Even though you lick all of your hair off (you're soon sure to be a sphinx); you sound like a man-cat; you lock yourself in my room, pee on my carpet and chew on my things; you seldom use the litter box when nobody's watching; and you attack the other cats, you're still my very favourite cat. I like you even more than Finnigan and Casper.
It was years ago in Montreal where we found you: a poor, bright-eyed young kitten wandering the streets of Brossard. I took you (helpless and mewling) into the basement and played with you and put you back out at bedtime at which point you destroyed the metal mesh screen to get back inside. Ever since, you've been worriedly close to me. It's almost obsessive, really. I am just a human. I am not made of catnip.
I'm going away to college in the Fall and I'd like to let you know how honestly disturbed I am at the thought of parting with you. I think you'd have a better life at home. I've seen how well you get along with Casper and I see you've asserted your position as Boss Kitty in the household, even against the rapscallion Finnigan. I hope only that I can slip away whilst your back is turned and you won't ever notice (fairly possible).
Let it be known that whenever I'll come home from college, it'll always be your smiling face I'll look most forward to. You're probably the best cat I'll ever have.
Lots of love,
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