Finals

are almost done....
I have done rather well on all of them.
I have two tomorrow.
Not so worried about this one as I am psychology because it is over eleven chapters.
I have been studying all week, with no sleep :(
Hopefully I do good enough on all of mine!

The Kite Runner

1. Topics

• The Role of Women- There are very few women characters in this book, it was written that way because thats how life is for Afghan women. They are inferior, almost as if they are not there.


• Betrayal- Betrayal in this book is closely tied with Jealousy, and how jealousy can make you "betray" someone only for selfishness. Especially when you feel like something is getting "stolen" from you.
• Brothers- on the flip side of Betrayal is the importance of brotherhood, and friendship. How everyone needs someone, or something always no matter what happens and what the people go through, you are still brothers.
• Guilt- Hidden guilt is much more destructable than open guilt, I think that every ounce of guilt starts out hidden and once you "get it off your chest" it won't eat away at you like it would if you keep it hidden. Especially if it is guilt that is held over periods of time. You just need to let go.
• Redemption- Redeeming yourself, whether its for your own sake or someone else's, is one way to relive that "hidden stress." After all these years at the end of the novel, Amir finally redeems not only himself and removes his guilt but he redeems the life of Hassan, by caring for his child.
• Exodus- In this novel, the Exodus was a very big change for Amir, and Baba. They left everything that was familiar to them. their lives changed drastically because of this "journey". For good or bad? All depends on how you look at it. Yes Baba's rank in America was no longer that of what it was, but they were safe, and Amir, able to get an education.
• Father and Son- As society looks at this relationship, minds always seem to go in the same direction. Son's are portrayed to be exactly like their fathers, to impress them, and live up to them. If they did not, the relationship became highly difficult. this happened with Baba and Amir. Amir loved books, and literature and writing, this condused Baba because while he grew up, he played soccer, a love and passion that Amir did not share with him.
• Class Distinction- As much as tehy did not want to admit it, Amir and Hassan are completely different ranks. Amir being the higher one, as a child, did not really consider Hassan to be his friend, because Hassan was that of a Hazzara. As he grew up, and the guilt ate away at him, Amir realized that no matter what Classification you fall under, we are all people.

2. Style

• Parallelism- Throughout the novel, Amir was paralleled with Hassan. Perhaps to symbolize the brotherhood that they actually had with each other, or the subconcious love that Amir had for Hassan and he really wanted to be like him.
• Character Foils- Amir and Hassan. Even though they were brothers, they differed in so many ways. I portray Amir as the protagonist, and Hassan the foil to him. Where Amir is selfish, jealous, and only looking for his father's approval, Hassan is kind and loyal, always to Amir, no matter how much Amir picks on him. Amir see's Hassan as someone who is trying to take him out of his Dad's spotlight, wher Hassan is only trying to be loyal to the family that his father works for.
• Foreshadowing- There is plenty of evidence throughout the novel that Hassan was actually Baba's son. Baba wanted Hassan to go on trips with him and Amir, Baba never missed Hassan's birthday, Baba wanted Hassan in his and Amir's life while they were children even though Hassan was considered to be a lower rank. Another example is when Hassan gets raped by Asef. Asef was obviously going to be a follower of whatever change there was and a bully for the rest of his life. Asef ends up with Hassan's son at the end when Amir comes to save him.
• Flashback- flashbacks in this novel was used to point out evidence of situations that someone may not realize happened at the time, but looking back on it it was very obvious.
• Positive and Negative aspects of writing- The novel, at times was very detailed and visual with the events which made it hard to read, but at the same time put these people in your heart, which made you want to never put it down because you become on with the characters. Everyone can relate to jealousy and betrayal as well as brotherhood and friendship.

3. Settings-

• Hazara vs. Pashtun- this was brought up a lot while Amir and Hassan were children and growing up together, though it was never really a huge problem between them, it was just one major difference in society and culture's eyes.
• Afghanistan vs. America- In Afghanistan Baba was considered to be of high rank, and Amir considered to be an outcast for he loved writing instead of sports like most of the boys. In America Baba's rank was that of lower class, and Amir was considered an Author, nothing wrong with him at all.
• Before the war in Afghanistan vs. After and During the war- This is what cause Baba and Amir to have to leave and come to America. Something of totally different culture.
• Flying kites in Afghanistan vs. flying kites in America- In Afghanistan, Hassan was always the runner and was so loyal when Amir told him to go get the kite he had just cut down Hassan would say "for you, a thousand times over." In America after rescuing Sohrab, and finding out that Sohrab had learned the way to cut down kites from his father, Amir knew it was now his turn to make it up to Hassan through his child and he repeated to Sohrab, "for you, a thousand times over."

4. Minor characters

• Soraya- Amir's love. She became the happiness and fufillment that Amir had lost long ago, as well as the encouragement for his everyday life, and help in raising sohrab.
• Assef- He could actually be considered a major character becasue he was a main reason for Amir and Hassan's falling apart, I look at him as minor. He was only a stepping stone it what was already falling apart. And was tied through out the whole book after he had specifically taken Sohrab from that orphanage after Hassan was killed.
• Rahim Khan- He enjoyed Amir. He was a better father to Amir than Baba was and accepted him for who he really was even if it wasn't Baba's intention for Amir to turn out the way he did. At the end of the novel he noticed that Amir was suffering, he called and told him that he could make it all good again, and thus told him the story of Hassan really being his brother.
• Sanaubar- Hassan's mother, and did not have very much respect in her culture but it did not seem to phase her at all. She left when she noticed that Hassan had a cleft lip. Iknow her type and she would have just made up another reason to leave. She came back to Hassan when she had no one else in the world to care for her. Hassan took her in, because he had a far better heart than anyone i know.
• Ali- Baba's bestfriend, growing up even though like Amir never aknowledged the fact. ali raised Hassan as is own for his loyalty to Baba

5. Symbols

• Kite flying- Competition, war.
• Kite Running- love and compainionship, teamwork, helpfulness
• Pomegranate tree- A feeling of safe and security. where Amir would read to Hassan and they would eat the Pomegranate
• Sin- Was a big discussion between Baba and Amir- where Baba told him that every sin relates back to theft, something that Baba frowned upon more than anything. guilt, lies, victory(at the time).
• Kites- freedom, this was how Hassan and Amir bonded and were free from everything around them, it was just them.

John Cena

So I think everyone knows that I am completely obsessed with John Cena.
That's okay with me though :).
I love wrestling anyway, but he is definitely my favorite;]

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas..

So at my house we decorate right around this time and during Thanksgiving break. I am so excited, we are already playing Christmas music and getting the lights working and all. I love Christmas and I know alot of people say that because of the presents but I just love the spirit of it and the season in general. I love the Winter and December is my favorite month, I love driving around and looking at everyones decorations and I LOVE decorating my own house. Me and Chris are getting Christmas pictures done this year and my aunt who is a professional photographer and happens to be pretty amazing is doing them on Thanksgiving, I can't wait to see how they turn out.
:)
very excited

Poem from Thirteen

She was crippled.
But only her body was cracked.
It's not simple,
Nor is it an easy matter to explain.
"So let's just leave it like that," she says
And closes the holy book of lies
She covers her eyes, denying what she let happen

Research Paper

Missing Children. It has become more and more common these days.  Thank god for the Amber alert, countless children have been saved because of it. 

This paper is really emotional for me.  I can't believe what is going through someones mind when they decide to kidnap and sexually assault or even murder a CHILD. Someone who is helpless in defending them selves. It just sickens me, and it really makes me want to do something to help save these children and help the families who are forced to deal with this horrible pain.  

It amazes me how someone could have someone kidnapped for so long, for no apparent reason but to be hurtful.  In my opinion, child predators and anyone who ever hurts a child should get what they have coming.

The Death Penalty

Roseanne

Just so happens to be my favorite little sitcom.
Well we didnt have class today and im in the library, this girl didnt realize that her head phones werent connected to the computer and started watching roseanne.
It was hilarious.
It was dead quiet and all of a sudden the theme song started playing.
The best part is she didnt realze it and kept watching.
It made my day so much better :)

sunday with Nupy

So I am hanging out with the person i have known forever today, she was my first best friend, we met in first grade and went to school all through elementary, middle, and high school. Now she is at Georgia State and she is staying here for the weekend.
Cant wait to see her, i miss that girl like crazy

serenity

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and the Wisdom to know the difference

once again..

I knock on Dr. Starr's door.
Voices inside fade to black.
Despite the rumples,I reach
for some semblance of pride.

Come in, calls Dr. Starr,
but my slippery hand fumbles the knob
and it's Dad, on the far side of the door,
who opens it, pulling methrough and right up against
him. It's the closest we've ever been
two strangers touching.

Immediately he comes to his senses
jerks backwards,every muscle tenses,
as ifI might try to hug him or something
perverse like that

"Hello, Dad,"also shifting into a quick reverse.

Will you please come inside and close the door?
Mom gives me a cold once-over.
I see you haven't learned to care for your clothes..

My face ignitesand words stream from my mouth
before I could stop them
"And I see you're still a supreme bitch."

She doesn't even blink.
Even a female dog wants her puppies clean and wrinkle free-
unless, of course, she's a Shar Pei.



Touche.

im not a psycho...

i know my paper was on ted bundy and gary ridgway and that they are serial killers but im not fascinated with them or anything. I'm a huge lifetime movie buff and I have seen both of their movies and read two books about them so I just knew alot about each one and they seemed to be good to compare in my mind...
im not a psychopath
i promise :)

compare contrast paper

still in the works, but it will be up this evening

compare/contrast

Kaeli Jones

Aiken English 1101

compare/contrast

10/22/09

When someone thinks of the words "serial killer," they usually think of mass murders who all have some kind of serious mental disorder. This statement is very true; however, serial killers are actually very different in what they do and how they think. Yes, they all have the same motives but when you actually look at the reasons for those motives you notice that they go off in a completely different direction from each other. The two most notorious serial killers, in my opinion, are Gary Ridgway and Ted Bundy. Two very similar serial killers, yet drastically different.

When looking into backgrounds of serial killers, everything seems to start in their childhood. As this seems true for Ted Bundy, it doesn't make sense for Ridgway. Ted Bundy grew up thinking his mother was his older sister, and that his grandparents were his biological parents up until high school. Once he found out he became emotionally detatched from his family because there were rumors that his grandfather had gotten his own daughter pregnant and he was the outcome and they covered it up by telling him his mother was his older sister. However, Gary Ridgway had a normal childhood. He grew up in working class in Washington, had siblings and a hardworking father. Growing up, Ridgway only remianed close to his very religious and domineering mother.

They were both very intelligent. They both graduated from high school, however only Bundy went on to further his education. Bundy went to college to study psychology, he wanted to know what made people "tick." Ridgway got a job, and immediately after high school he started his fascination with prostitutes.

Ted Bundy graduated and on the outside looked like a very sophisticated psychologist. He started dating Elizabeth Kluepfer who, had a daughter, and thought that Bundy was their new start. He loved the attention. On a business trip, he met up with an ex girlfriend, who he still loved, to prove to her that he had made something of himself. He asked her to marry him and she said yes, even though he was still dating Elizabeth. The day before the wedding, he called it off and immediately started his murderous rampage. His victims were all white, middle class females. He would lure them in on school campuses by having his arm in a slng and asking them for help in carrying books to his car. While in his car he would bludgeon them and then strangle them. He was obsessed with necrophilia. He was finally caught and arrested for kidnapping when twelve year old Kimberly Leach went missing. He never told police where to find her body. To this day they still haven't found hers, among others.

After Ridgway graduated from high school he started messing around with prostitutes. He started killing them because he didn't like the concept that he had to pay them for sex. All of his victims were prostitutes because he figured they were already away from their families or runaways and no one would notice they were missing because prostitutes go from place to place. The ages ranged from twelve to thirty-eight. He would pick them up and get them to trust him by showing them a picture of his six year old son, and then during sex strangle them and dump their bodies near the green river. That's why he got his most known name as "The Green River Killer." He has confessed to killing more women than any other American serial killer. He killed women through out the 80's and 90's and was finally arrested in 2001 because they finally found his DNA.

Both of these men were everyday normal people, they had families, they had children, and yet they still felt at a loss for control. Killing innocent women were the only way they could feel like they were in control of their own lives. Psycologically they were in the same boat even though their motives and ways of gaining control were different.

Difficulties in a Child called it

The books themselves are heart tearing books.  Not only was I crying in these books for this poor child, I was angry at the Mother through the entire series.  I really wanted to hit her through the books.  In my last paragraphs I try to tie back the point of forgiving in order to let go. I personally struggle with that statement.  I want so much to let go of somethings from my past, but in order to do that I actually have to bring myself to forgive my parents which in all honesty may never happen, I may tell them I forgive them but on the inside i dont think I can ever fully let myself go and it scares me. That was the toughest thing about writing this story...it made me realize how scared I was.  

Charles William Stanford

simply known as Will. He is my cousin, and a Corporal in the US Marines at only 20. He spent the last year in Japan and spent the month of September home visiting and he leaves to go back to California on Wednessday. :( I'm really going to miss him. To top it off he is leaving for Afganistan until atleast May, which really scares me, but he is serving this country and doing what he loves, so i am very very proud of him! Plaease help keep him safe by praying for him and all of the americans serving in the Military, every prayer is appreciated :)

rough draft...example

The Child Called ‘It’
To inspire is to fill with animating, quickening, or exalting influence. To hope is to feel that what is wanted can be had. To hear inspiring stories of others can fill us with the hope to brighten the darkest days. This is what a book will do for me, especially a non-fiction book. The trilogy by Dave Pelzer: A Child Called It, The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave, was enough to change my life forever.
In the first novel, A Child Called It, I cried, I screamed, and I hurt. This little boy, David, was only five years old when his mother started to secretly abuse him. He was hit, tortured, starved, lived in the garage, and eventually lost his own name to his family. His mother had so much power over the rest of her kids, and alcoholic father who just wanted to get away, that David soon became known as “It.” I can only imagine the hurt that he went through as a kid. One example from this book stuck with me long after I had read it. “I knew mother had something hideous on her mind. As soon as the left, she brought out one of Russell’s soiled diapers. She smeared the diaper on my face. I tried to sit perfectly still. I didn’t look up. I couldn’t see Mother standing over me, but I could hear her heavy breathing” (Pelzer, 55). How on earth could a mother do that to any of her own children?
He got out, he was eleven but he got out. Then into foster care he went. While in foster care he faced many new struggles of trying to fit in and winding the love of a family again. My brother and sister went through foster care and that’s when the thought first came to my mind about helping these kids because they go through so much. Reading these books just made me want to do something for foster kids. It didn’t necessarily make me want to be a social worker, but I want to help make these kid’s lives better.
Nothing ever happened to that mother. She went to court when he was put into a home, but nothing ever happened to her. They didn’t take her other children and because of that, she moved on to abusing one that was left with her. This book made me realize I want to change that. Children should not have to go through anything hurtful at all. I simply don’t understand how anyone could do that to children.
In his final novel, he is now grown and out of foster care and is now trying to struggle with jobs and life. He got married and has a child. This scared him more than anything in the world. As an adult he found out that one possible reason that he was abused was because his mother was also abused as a child, so he thinks that it runs in the family. He doesn’t want to be like that. His last book is maybe the most inspiring of them all. He proves that no matter what, you can get through anything and let go and forgive even when it doesn’t seem like you should. He forgave his mother on her death bed. Of course she didn’t care, but he did it so he could finally let go and live his life for his son.
Everyone should read David Pelzer’s books. They are the true meaning of inspiration and hope. Any book for that matter can change your life. Just pick it up and start reading.

Last Night I sang to the Monster

So I just got this new book yesterday and it is just drawing me in.
It's a great book.
It follows this kid who instead of being in his senior year of high school, he is in rehab for addiction. I like reading addiction stories because many in my family have suffered many addictions, and i have my own with nicotine, which is my bad habbit that I need to stop.
I know.
But the first line in this story got me, I laughed and at the same time knew exactly what he meant.


"Some people have dogs. Not me. I have a therapist. His name is Adam.


I'd rather have a dog."

Coming back home

Finding the topic for this paper was rather easy, I read returning to an old neighborhood in the book and immediately knew that was what my paper was going to be about.  I actually haven't left home to come back to it, but I have heard enough stories from my grandparents about returning to old places and everything seeming smaller. I did however use my experiences and my house. The most difficult part was actually making myself recall all my experiences as a child because what i said in the paper was true: "I loved it here but I couldn't wait to get out."

I always enjoy reading other peoples stories, of any kind. I like to know other peoples experiences and ideas.

My angel

Every day when school got out, I would get off the bus and I'd run down that old dirt road where you were waiting for me, On the front porch in that blue swing, you'd be smiling and we would sing amazing grace and jesus loves me.
You were like my mother, you were my bestfriend, you were everything i want to be and all the good inside of me there's never been, never been another that loves me like you do..
My Grandmother, My Angel
I love you Grammy and you already know this songs for you!

sleepless nights

I am so into this new novel I'm writing. I just can't help it, it's like I will get random ideas about what would sound good and I just have to write it down, or I'll dream about something ( i literally had a dream with my characters again the other night) and have to find a place to put it. I'm not going to lie, I get stuck with it at times so I just won't open the file back up because it will only discourage me. Instead I just wait until something just pops in my head and get a whole load of writing on it done. It's going to take so much longer than this semester to write, i know. But I'm excited :)

coming back home

I never thought I would ever return to this hot, small town. Once I was gone I was really gone. Driving down these curvy black roads only bring back the memories as a child. I loved it here, but I couldn’t wait to get out. The Dogwood trees were like leaves through the pine trees as I slowly rode over the old bridge above the creek we used to walk down until we hit the deep end and then we would swim with the rocks beneath touching our toes. The splashing and laughter still echoes in my ears. Driving off the bridge, I pass the house on the left whose blue wooden mailbox that was the first thing I ever hit with my car; believe me it wasn’t the last. The ivy on the side of the road still looked like the same old green and tangled ivy just a little overgrown. Pulling up to the last stop sign before home I start to think back to when we would meet in the middle of the night and sit around the stop sign. We talked, sang, caught lightening bugs, and listened to the crickets and those crickets sang their own song all night.
There it was, just in front of the stop sign. It wasn’t necessarily a big house, just a one story house with a basement. The old brick seemed to be wearing away and those turquoise shutters have not changed since the 70’s. The dogwood tree in the front yard just didn’t look the same. Nothing did really. It all seemed smaller or maybe I have just grown up too much. When I pulled into the driveway and got out of my car the air seemed really heavy. This place used to be my sanctuary, playing outside in the humid and pollen filled air, I know most people hated it but I always enjoyed playing outside. I walked into the garage that was still filled with tools and plenty of cans coke that my nana would always buy in advance on sale. All I could do is smile and shake my head. Then I was at the door that matched the shutters outside and still had the 70’s style curtains; this is what happens when you live with your grandparents who have had this house for over 20 years. Opening the door and walking in nothing has been moved but it all feels different. Picture frames still fill up every wall in the house along with rhyming birthday signs. These signs are behind the couch in the den and rhyme. For example, “Kaeli is eleven, isn’t it heaven,” and “Kaeli is fifteen a teenage queen.” This was my life growing up.
I walked outside onto the back deck that my papa built. I looked over the railing into the crystal clear pool and immediately wanted to jump in. The pool floor was reflecting in the sunlight like pebbles in the bottom of a lake. The trampoline behind the pool looked like it had not been touched in years. It was covered in leaves and pollen. The playground that we built when I was four was literally falling apart; the slide was on the ground and the swings were hanging on by one chain. Thinking about all the memories as a child made tears fill my eyes. I wanted to come back, I wish I could. There was no possible way. It didn’t feel the same. I guess you can never go back home again and it be the same. I wish it was the way it used to be; popsicles on a hot day, running down the hill in the backyard and picking the roses in the rosebush that grew up the side of the deck, playing in the little creek that ran next to the trampoline, painting the rocks we found with glitter glue and pretending we were mermaids in our pool. It will never be the same again; however, the memories will last a lifetime. I will always look back on them with a smile on my face.

My story

I have started to write a novel. I do this often; however, this one is the only one I have stuck with this long.  I started out with researching name meanings for my characters and then ideas were just flowing through my head.  Actually putting these ideas in just the right order and on paper is the hard part.  I am in the first chapter still, I finished the Prologue already.  I think this one might be the one i finished because I had a dream about it the other night. That never happens, and i dreamed about certain characters and what they looked like.  It is so much better having a visual in my head. When I woke up I immediately wrote down what I dreamt because It was too good for me to risk about forgetting. I am going to keep update about my story throughout the semester because I highly doubt I will finish any time soon. :)

Starting College with English 1101

So this is my first year in college and I am really enjoying it. I took both AP courses in high school for English Literature and Language Composition. I did that because I enjoy reading, and I also enjoy writing. I write on a daily basis, but there is always room for improvement and hopefully thats what this class can help me do. I am hoping that this will improve my writing and improve my inability to express my writing to others. I think that writing in this class will help me over all in improvement.

I am really excited about reading the Kite Runner. I saw the movie last year and am really excited about being able to read it because books are ALWAYS better than the movie...