2.23 Diction Exercise

A Farewell to Arms By: Ernest Hemingway


Representative Words: bed, swiftly, powdered, marching, stirred, rich, fighting, flashes


Elevation: Low - casual, mediocre

Sound: Harsh - natural, mono-toned

Concreteness: Concrete - soothing, sleek, mellow

Claim: Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms soothing and mediocre description of the troops portrays mellow battle beginning to erupt.

Survivor Reveiw

My favorite reality show is Survivor. I don't know why, I just have always really enjoyed it. I think it's one of those loves where you completely love it, but you can't explain why. Anyway, with that last episode (last Wednesday) I felt the need to talk about it.

So first I need to discuss to newest weirdo, Phillip. If you have watched the last two episodes, then you know what I am talking about when I say weirdo. The first thing that stood out to me about this former Federal agent, was the pink briefs he proudly marched around in. Really? On the first day? Wow. Anyway, he also made that tribal council the best one in the world (I don't want to go into detail about it, but it was funny). Anyway, this week at tribal council, he made his speech about the lion and the gorilla. The Lion is the King, who no one messes with. The Gorilla is another strong one, but knows when they mess up, they must pay the price.

Secondly, Rob and the little romance. So Matt, and Andria, had started this little lovey duvey flit fest. And who sees it, none other the Rob, the most famous person known for falling in love on Survivor. Anyway, Rob knows the power it brings to have an alliance (cough relationship) like that in this game (hello Amber). So when they lost, and he saw Matt do a kind thing to the winning team, he got him voted out. This kind of disappointed me. Matt was just being nice, but his teammates saw it as betraying his team. What really made me sad was right before Tribal, he pretty much said how Boston Rob is the coolest person ever. Broke my heart. haha.

And third, Russel being a know-it-all. Well we all knew it was coming, his famous line "Your either with me, or against me." Well it finally came out with new country guy Rlaph. Russel went out calling Ralph inexperienced, and dumb. Well Russel, Ralph seems to have something you don't....the hidden immunity idol. Now if Ralph does it right, he may be able to use that to blind side Russel...and you know you all want to see it.

I am excited for this weeks new episode! :)

Two Way Street (pg 80 - 105)

So Courtney's best friend, Jocelyn, does not like the idea of her and Jordan as a thing. She warns her not to go there, and not even to think of going there. Courtney agrees, even though she is already infatuated over him. She then tells Courtney that she was hooked up with someone, the very someone who goes by the name B.J.. Courtney finds this gross (so do I) and never wants to here about it. They also discuss that the only way Courtney can talk to Jordan is if he says hi first, and then all she is allowed to say back is hi.

So Jordan is totally annoyed that Courtney is ignoring him. He doesn't understand. He confronts her about by saying "so is that how you treat a guy who just bought you a meal" and Courtney tells him she "was busy texting." Cute, cute, cute!! He then asks her out to get something to eat, she says no, but that doesn't do for him, so he asks her why. She kind of blows up at him, but when she realises he really wanted to go, she agreed, but made it clear she doesn't want to. So they go out and eat in his car, and talk about family. He also gives her a pet name, Court. Hehe, I found this cute too. This chapter ended with him talking to B.J. about the girls.

Review: I thought it was really adorable how Jordan got all upset when Courtney ignored him. I wanted to go over and give him a hug or something. hehe. Both these chapters was of before the trip, and they were so cute.

Word Count: 105/288

Two Way Street (pg. 50 - 80)

Good, good, good!! That is mostly what I have to say over these pages. Picking off what what happened, Jordan asks for Courtney's number, he gets it, and we find out that Courtney is not dating her best friend Lloyd, even though she has been in love with him since forever (yuck!). Jordan did this to make a girl jealous, and it works, only not to his advantage. He has to go help his drunk friend, and the girl gets bored of waiting around for him, so she leaves with someone else. Then, a big shocker...when Jordan goes home, his mom is making out with someone! Well obviously Jordan freaks out, so he leaves in his car, and calls Courtney to hang out. They do, but its not a date (mhmm, whatever they say). One funny thing is Courtney is facebook...erm, myspace...stalking Jordan before he calls. So when she sees its him that called, she feels like she could see her.

So then we flash back to the trip. Courtney's stomach growls...and this is like very amusing for Jordan, because she wouldn't let them stop for food, so they do, and when they get food at some rest stop his phone rings. Courtney acts all bratty and is like "don't not answer your girlfriend on account of me" and stuff (it's not even his "new" girlfriend). Well Courtney eats her food really fast, because the faster she eats, the sooner this awkwardness can end. Anyway, that was a bad idea, because the food was bad. We find this out when she throws up.

Review: I love this book! hehe. I don't know why, but I was very entertained with these pages. I just adore reading the "before the trip" because we get to see how they met, and later, how they were as a couple. It's just great. Sometimes Courtney gets on my nerves, cause she can be really mean, but hey, she is stuck on a road trip with the person who dumped her, she has a right. hehe.

Word Count: 80/288

Spring!!

I don't know about you, but I am ready for spring! Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the winter, but when all that snow melted, and we had those two days of warmth, I never wanted to go back to the cold. Now I look out my window, and see snow again. It's a little upsetting. So, here are a few spring pictures to put everyone in a happy mood, or a sad mood since it's not spring yet. haha.

Two Way Street (pg. 1 - 50)

This is one of my favorite books to read. Yes I have read it before...about 4 times. haha. But I enjoy it, and I was bored, so that is why I am reading it again. Or at least read some of it.

Anyway, this book starts out with Courtney thinking about how this road trip with her ex is going to suck. You see, she and her ex-boyfriend are going to the same college, and before they broke up, they made this plan to go on a road trip to college together. However, they broke up, but it's to late to get plane tickets, and there parents are still making them go. We here Courtney say how much Jordan is lazy and never on time. We also learn how she just has to follow her schedule, because she won't let Jordan take them out for breakfast because it will put them behind schedule. It then tells us how they met at this party. It's really funny, because they are both friends with these immature people.

Review: The one thing I love about this book is that is shows Jordan and Courtney's different point of views. Also, It doesn't just show the present, as in them on the trip, but flashes back to when they were dating, which is nice, because you get a feel for the characters before now.

Word Count: 50/288

Before I Fall (pg. 430 - 470)

So, Sam has her friends drop her off and leave her at Lindsey's house. They don't understand why, but it is all part of her plan to see Kent and let him be her hero, so that the promise he made to himself is fulfilled. He picks her up, and they have a really heated kiss. She tells him some sweet things, but then runs into the party, leaving him pretty confused. She goes and sees her friends, and spends some time with them. They have some laughs, but then when she checks the time, she knows its time to say goodbye. She does a simple "See you Later" and even tears up some. It was kind of sad, because we knew this was her last time with them. She then goes to find Juliet She finds her, and talks to her. Saying she is sorry and knows what she has planned, and can't let her do it. Kent comes and distracts Sam, and Juliet gets away. She tells Kent he has to trust her, and that she needs to help someone. Then she runs off and gets to Juliet by the road. In the distance, she hears Kent, Lindsey, and her other friends calling her name. When a truck comes rolling by, and Juliet jumps in front of it, Sam pushes her out of the way, getting hit herself. And this time, she stays dead.

Review: Well thats the end, and I thought it was a good ending. I mean, she saved the person who she tortured all this time. She got to spend one last day with the guy she should have been with from the start, and she got to make things good with her family, and just have fun with her friends. Over all, this book was a good read. Would I read it again? No. Do I wish I didn't buy is? Sorta. But over all, it was worth it, and if you want and easy, semi-moral book, then you should read this one :)

Word Count: 470/470