(sorry Greg, it's a long one)

Begin with "I remember." Write lots of small memories. If you fall into one large memory, write that. Just keep going. Don't be concerned if the memory happened five seconds ago or five years ago. Everything that isn't this moment is memory coming alive as you write. If you get stuck, just repeat the phrase "I remember" again and keep going.
--Natalie...

Wow. I really enjoyed reading all your little memories. It seems like I know you a little better now. Knowing a little of how you felt about some things ever since you were a child. It was a lot of fun. I'd like to know more about you. Maybe I could even meet your sister someday.....

I am glad you enjoyed it :). It is hard for me to write and not be personal. My sister (I think, I hope!) is visiting me in June with her husband and two darling boys. I hope you get to meet them too.

That was very entertaining!  It was fun to learn more about the person outside the classroom--about your childhood, teenage, and adult memories.  You only told bits of each but it was so personal to just you that it a very interesting and informative story that I really enjoyed. 

 

That sounds like a very good writing exercise.  Although I might be one of those who get stuck...

I have had a blog post on the tip of my tongue all day and not quite been able to spit anything out, so I hope this is finally it!

The last few weeks in my American Literature classes we have been studying existentialism. Without going into too much depth, existentialists started popping up around the turn of the century (the last century). Their fundamental philosophies centered around the simple...

 

I admire existentialism.

 

Instead of relying on religion or others to find a purpose they rely on themselves.

 

Buddhists belive that 'all life is suffering' that every moment we live, we suffer.

 

In buddhism, once people accept that 'all life is suffering' they can become truely happy.

 

I want to be happy. And find a purpose.

As a writer, I like both having parameters on what I could or should write about while still having liberty to go in whatever direction interests me. In other words, I like being directed down a path, but given the ability to choose at the same time. Real writers have the whole world open to them. There are no parameters (until the work is in the editor's hands) and there are no set topics. No one...

Perimeters? now that is one of the funniest thing you said today, except the other post. It is true, i only write what ever you or any other teacher tells me to write.

Where i'm at in my paper, i'm typically writing how one individual can make a group or what one person can do to, in a way inspire others to do the same.

i really like having the choice on what to write. it can be hard but its not limiting you as far as creativity and ideas go. for me starting this assignment was hard it wasn't like anyother assignment i had before...it was better i had a topic or an idea that could be used in any way. no right or wrong. its been difficult at times but in the end its better that way!

Having so much freedom is also new to us! We are so use to having things lined out for us, its going to take us awhile to get use to this freedom and figure out the way we should use it! Personally, I like it, though I'm still unsure were I'm really going in the paper just hoping it will come together the more I work on it! Also, this whole Blogging thing I was thinking what in the world are you making...

 

Sometimes I feel that teachers give us to much of a guideline when we are writing papers.

 

But then... when we have a free assignment. Everyone freaks out and all hell breaks loose because we have no guidance.

 

I think people should trust their creativity rather then relying on a model.

 

Is there such thing as a happy medium.

The problem I face is that my brain won't work when I want it too, and then it starts working at the randomest times, like when it is time to sleep.  Another problem I face is that I am so undecisive that it drives me crazy, even with the littlest things.  Sometimes I like the freedom, but other times I just don't feel like thinking, and just to be told what to write.  My mind's just...

I have often wondered what we mean when we label someone as "weird." Typically it has negative connotations. By saying someone is "not normal," "weird," or, heaven forbid, "special," we are implying that there is something wrong with them. As though it is always good and right to be like everyone else--to be "normal."

I remember a specific boy...

You two would of been a "weird" couple. This post sounds like you're a cheerleader, not giving that guy a chance and shutting him down. Well, at least you admitted it at the end of the post.

Ps. Sorry, Chris. For some reason I tend to get on the defensive with you. I'm not sure if you are trying to do it or if I am simply easily baited.

Defensive? Nope. I can read it but i can't feel it. what i mean is, i have to hear it to understand it; to feel the emotion or tone, like the time you read a passage from a book and you were so in to it, i can feel it. Don't matter if you're defensive, alot of my friends are and i can take it, no matter how bad it is.... wait not that far though.

 

Cheerleader. Well, most cheerleaders...

I am glad you didn't take it as too defensive.

I don't agree with your cheerleader stereotype. I think it is the extreme, not the norm. (And are you trying to imply that I am/was all those things??)

I don't know why it matters (especially to the point I was trying to make in this post) what I looked like in high school. I looked a lot like I look now, but yes I did have braces and glasses and...

Now that was funny, beautiful. After i commented back i knew in back of my head that you wuld say what you just was written. To tell the truth, this post is making my laugh. hey turns out you do have humor. Just Playing.

This post reminded me of something that my older brother used to always say, "I'm so glad our family isn't normal. Do you know how boring that would be?"

He usually said this after we finished acting stupidly or after an exchange of childish--ok, not even children would say things this idiotic--remarks. So I grew up veiwing my family and myself as "weird" (which waz really...

To me, normal is unique to each individual. It's the state of peace with myself. Nothing special about it, really. But it seems that you seem to try and put it toward a larger group of people, rather than just yourself. I imagine that if I tried to judge someone else based on my normal, I would say that the world is in need of some crazy-normalization.

I agree that were all our own kind of weird but we still use the word to state our opinion about person, place, or thing that is different then our opinion.  I think that everyone has their own kind of weird as well as their own kind of normal.  Weird could be defined as different then yourself, so the definition would vary for everone.

The catagory of weird is definently an unwanted place...

On my desk, I keep a picture of two small boys sitting on the slab of concrete in front of their adobe house in Talanga, Honduras. The walls of the hut have been whitewashed numerous times, but are left looking dingy and gray. The roof is made of tejas, or clay tiles, but from the angle the picture is taken, it appears as a flat line across the top of the irregularly shaped wall, as though it is caving...

 

I am so envious of your experiances in Honduras. I am also envious that you take that experiance and use it to help you see the differances in the world.

 

The problem that I have is comparing. Nothing in Blanding will ever match the beauty of Boston. The accents here are annoying while the accents in Boston are amusing. The food is rich while here it is bland. I need to accept the...

Kelly,
Your post seems somewhat contradictory. You want to value the differences in the world, but when given the opportunity to, Blanding comes up with little value because of the differences. I think the point I was trying to make is that all differences are of value. Perhaps I prefer one way of living over another, but that doesn't discredit the other. Even while I may think someone is living...

As a reader, I love details. I love knowing the color of the quilt on the white wicker chair or the number of pots on the front porch. As a writer, I wonder if I record enough of the details in my life. Will I remember in ten or twenty years that my fish bowl has blue pebbles along the bottom or that it is three miles round trip to the baseball diamonds on 300 West? Will I remember that Jamal called...

 

I want to join you on a walk one day. Perhaps we can chat about Mr. Darcy and Edward.

 

On the subject of walking, you remind me of Miss. Elizabeth Bennet. She always said that she was, "Quite fond of walking."

 

Whenever I read books I usually exemplify the traits of the characters after.

 

After Pride and Prejudice, I took a long walk. After Twilight: I fell...

Kelly--
I definitely do the same thing! Maybe subconsciously I go on walks because I subconsciously want to be like Elizabeth. Or Anne. I have a secret (ok, maybe not so secret) urge to be like Anne Shirley in every possible way. How am I doing? I remember being very little and wanting to be as good as Cinderella--always willing to help, never complaining... that beautiful voice! I haven't experienced...

Blanding most certainly is unique, but I would have to say that every city has it's unfinished parts. Only, in larger cities, they are hidden away or regarded as historical.

 

As far as details go, I understand you, but on a different level, I think. The details I remember have to do with facial expressions and how a person feels. Though they may never tell me their exact thoughts of a situation,...

Yes. I do love people watching--and observing as well. I love figuring out or understanding someone through body language or facial expressions. I don't see this as different from noticing the details in someone's yard, however.
I agree that everywhere has an unfinished feel. Blanding is different, however. It feels raw around the edges. I don't know how to explain it.

the last paragraph that you wrote. so are you a stalker? teh way you put it that you people watch.

Morning runs are the best. when i grew up i was told by my grandma to run toward the east every day. at first it sucked but then it was excellent because i was taught why we had to do that. you should try to run in the mornings, but it will be a challenge to you because i remember what you said, that...

No. I am not a stalker. I like observing people, however. I like seeing the way they react to different situations and how they treat the people around them. Usually I people watch people I dont' know. I used to love going to Disneyland, finding a bench, and watchign the diversity of the people around me. I didn't often see them again or watch them very long, however.

Ain't that how many stalkers become stalkers? you watch how people work or how they interact with each other; haven't anyone in the time you have "watched" people came over to you and ask why you're watching them? because personally i get freaked out or uncomfortable. thats why i don't make eye contact alot or most of the time.

No. Because I am not really staring or stalking. I am observing. That is what writers do. They look with extra attention to see the details. And it's not that I only watch people or that I follow them or anything. I like to notice little things--like the little purple flowers that just this week started poking up all over town. I think it is interesting what kinds of things people carry with them...

All this is sounding like a Detective. you should try out on being a detective. alright, what color shoes was i wearing, what color was my sweater, and what did i take out of my bag and put it on?

t'aash aanii? hozho nahaslii. I didn't totally miss the point of the passage it was that one little sentence the was triping me out no matter what.  you can't  remember con't you; the questions that i asked you. hagooshii shiba' olta, hagoonee'.

I would enjoy going on a walk with you to... perhaps i could bring a fire arm and we could go out "plinking." Guns truly aren't dangerous went treated how they are suppose to be. I sort of miss arguing my case on news day. I found the best commercial about this on mountaindew.com you should check it out. The link i:s http://www.mountaindew.com/#/video/miscvideo/yoyo.php

Dillon! Funny, funny. I am not sure I want to know what "plinking" is or what would happen if you didn't get to have a firearm (stay away from the yoyos).
Just so you know, I went to the police station this week and shot their laser guns. It was really scary, actually. I kept having to take deep breaths and stop my knees from shaking. I was pretty bad too (which is to be expected)....

wow!! i don't think i know anyone who is that observant!!! thats amazing!! but i do agree i think people tend to take advantage of the area we live in. i've been in the mood for walks the past two days. i normally walk to the elementary school to swing. the walk is nice...except the dang wind that makes me freeze!!but overall i think that small details make the world a beautiful place...we just tend...

I love reading the small details, too. It helps you have a clearer view of everything. It can drive me crazy sometimes, though. For example: In Lord of the Rings, Tom Bombadil has a bright blue jacket and yellow boots. But in a game that Beau and I found, his jacket is yellow and his boots are blue. That has always driven me insane.

Which brings me to the question of why. Why do game and movie makers...

I think that they do it on purpose. It's just one of those pranks that the majority of people will never catch...
Like on the movie The Core, when all of the pigeons fly across the scene, there is a fish flying, too... It's just funny to some programmer I suppose. "I put a flying fish in a movie, and nobody knows it!"

I really do. There is just something magical about the lights, the organ music, the smell of hot dogs drifting through the air. And your favorite team suited up and lookin' good. For spring break I went to Provo (oh how I miss Provo sometimes!) and saw FIVE (count them: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) BYU baseball games.

Blake, my "little" (6'5") brother, pitches for BYU. I loved sitting above the...

Baseball.

My mother shares the same passion as you Miss. T. It is usually the father who requests to have his meals in the T.V room so he can watch the last inning. But it is my mom who is the true baseball fan.

 

She will get all worked up, red faced and even scream if her favorite team, Colorado Rockies, get a hit.

 

I've never loved, or even liked baseball. Its okay. MEH, hit a...

Well i couldn't understand how each inning is measured, i mean how long it was. The only thing in baseball i can understand is the stats. because i can relate to numbers.

 

I love basketball, especially the NBA. After two weeks the playoffs will begin. My team is the Utah Jazz; and the fact that my brother in law has already bought Playoff tickets and i can't wait. This team will be pretty...