Response to Video Clips

I greatly enjoyed watching the video clips in class last week. In the end while, I did enjoy both clips I preferred the interview with Jonathon Miller. The reason I enjoyed his interview more was that he used humor throughout, this engaged me as a viewer and I found it easier to focus. The other video was interesting as well, but was told from the point of view of a daughter. Her voice also slightly bothered me (it was mono-toned). The topic of her mother’s photography and how she enjoyed photographing freaks was fascinating, however it was the presentation of Jonathon Miller’s interview that made me like him the best. He was quite funny when explaining how he would stutter on certain words and therefore try to get around this by either saying them in a different order or just coming at them in a unique way.

Halloween; A Child’s Dream Come True

Growing up in a small town in upstate New York, Halloween was always one of my favorite holidays. I clearly remember the excitement of picking out my costume each year. It was always such a major decision, one of the few decisions elementary me could make on their own. I was a Barbie superhero, a ballerina, a witch, Hermione from Harry Potter and a penguin just to name a few. All of these costumes were of course after I insisted on dressing as Thomas the Tank Engine three years in a row.

Going to school on Halloween was like an all day party. First overachieving homeroom moms all trying to out-do each other would bring in trays and trays of baked good’s. I’m talking Halloween themed cupcakes, brownies, cookies, rice krispy treats, blondies, you name it they baked it. This meant that a portion of the day would be spent celebrating the holiday while eating as much sugary goodness as one could. Following the food fest my elementary school would hold a parade. A time when everyone would dress in his or her costume and walk through the halls of the school. Parents were welcome to attend and take pictures. I always felt extremely proud walking down the halls in my Halloween outfit. After all, I thought I looked pretty cool.

After school the evening usually consisted of carving pumpkins. Or as I liked to do pull all of the “guts” out of the pumpkin and letting my father handle the carving part. Then after a quick dinner it was time for the best part of the day, Trick-or-treating time. In my neighborhood this was not an event to be taken lightly. This was a hardcore mission, to go to as many houses and gather as much candy as humanly possible. I usually went with my brother and our neighbors Lauren and Greg. Forget about pumpkin shaped buckets we all brought pillowcases. This way there was no way we could not fit all the candy in out container. Sometimes I would get cold or my feet would ache but I knew that if I wanted to stay with my brother I would have to walk (sometimes run) fast enough. After all this was a mission and I would be left behind if I could not keep up.

By the time we finally got home, everyone dumped out their candy and counted. First seeing who go the most and then trading with each other to get the kinds we liked best. I don’t ever remember being ripped off, but apparently according to my parents, my brother used this trading session to trick me into giving him more of my candy than he gave me. All that was fine though, I always had enough candy to last me for months to come.

I think that in the life of a young child what makes Halloween so exciting is that it is so different from most other days of the year. Let’s recap. How many days of the year can a child get away with wearing a costume, eating loads of sugary treats before lunch, pulling guts out of a pumpkin and then decorating it, running around the neighborhood ringing door bells and demanding candy from strangers and then possessing more candy than they know what to do with? Not to mention many years this is all on a school night. Did I love Halloween as a child? Of course, I did, who wouldn’t! Although it may be annoying to answer the door all night long handing out candy to children, it is important to remember the joy that Halloween brings.

The Colloseum Tells All

From the ancient roman times to present day, the Colloseum opens up about his past, present and future. 

Thank you so much for meeting with me today. I am extremely excited to learn more about your story.

It is my pleasure, I know it is not everyday someone gets to speak with something that is over 1900 years old.

What year were you built?

Construction began in 72 AD and was finished in 80 AD. It is thought that I am the best work of roman architecture and engineering of all time.

Wow, that is quite impressive that you are still standing here today. What are you made out of?

 I am built out of concrete and stone, making me able to last a lifetime. I became damaged, damn earthquakes got me, but I intend to last many years to come.

You must have seen quite a lot over the years, how has your role changed?

 Well back in the days of ancient Rome I was used for entertainment. Those were the best of times for me. I would be filled with as many as 50,000 people. Gladiator fights, dramas, executions even reenactment of famous battles were held inside me. It was never boring, that is for sure! Then in the medieval era my life became a lot less exciting. I was used more for odds and ends like housing people and as a place for religious quarters. It was not nearly as exciting as roman times.

What about now? What is your life like?

Well, I am still incredibly popular. I am one of the most famous tourist attractions in Italy. People come from all over the world to see and admire me.

How do you like the shift from active theatre to tourist attraction?

I don’t mind the attention of people taking my pictures. I enjoy hearing people exclaim at how beautiful I am. I do however miss the action of hosting gladiator fights and such. It seems to me that gladiators do not even fight each other any more. I would love to bring that back.

Bring back gladiator fights?

Why yes. The fights were so entertaining.

So other than the gladiator fights, what plans do you have for the future?

Just as I mentioned above with the fights, I would like to bring some action back to this place. I am talking about holding dramas, gladiator fights and maybe even some movies.

It sounds like you show no intention of slowing down!

 Not at all, I may be 1932 years old but I have a lot of years left. I was constructed to last forever and that is what I plan to do.

Well, that is good to hear! Thank you for meeting with me today, and I wish you the best of luck with your future plans.

Thank you, it was my pleasure.

Travel Piece – The Spouting Whale

 

            Every summer from when I was three until thirteen years old, my family spent a week of the summer in Moody Beach Maine. We went with my father’s college roommate, his wife and their two daughters to stay in a house named, The Spouting Whale located right on the ocean. To me this trip always seemed like paradise, having all day everyday to play, with my brother and friends. What could be better? Stepping out of the minivan after the seemingly endless car ride to the salty smell of ocean air, was one of the greatest feelings I have ever known.

Everyday began bright and early around 6am. When my brother, Tyler would wake me up, shouting, “It’s morning, it’s morning!” We would quickly put on our bathing suits and run outside to the beach, dragging our buckets and shovels with us. Us kids would play on the sandy beach creating magical looking sandcastles for hours on end until an adult came outside and we were permitted to enter the frigid ocean water. Some years even putting one toe in the water would cause pain, due to the chill. Other years the water was tolerable and we could boogie board, body surf and tube until the point of exhaustion. At night we would have bonfires on the beach or drive into town to go out to dinner or for ice cream. Everyday was a new adventure and I was always terribly sad when it was time to return home.

Last year, my family returned to the same house we stayed in all those years ago. The crew was different instead of my father’s friends I went with my parents, brother, his girlfriend and a friend of mine. It was remarkable to see how much my life had changed since I had last been there, but the house and beach looked exactly the same; from the close line hanging out front to the Space Jam poster on my bedroom wall.

 When we got there I soon ran down to the beach and took a walk with my friend. The sand felt soft and warm between my toes as the seagulls sang above me. The ocean breeze and fantastic ocean smell reminded me of summer’s past. I have had countless memories on that beach and in that house. Although I was older now and days were spent sleeping in, sunbathing, taking long walks and drinking (no drinking for me of course). Everyone still played in the ocean flipping over the waves and even making a sand castle or two. It was the perfect vacation, and at the end of the week I was again sad to leave. I don’t know if we will return to the Spouting Whale next summer or ever again for that matter, but I do know that no matter how much my life changes that house will always be there, remaining exactly the same as it was all those summers ago when I was growing up.

My Five-year Plan

In five years, I hope to be a psychologist working mainly with adolescents. In addition to my career in psychology I hope to continue writing on the side. Mostly for fun, but maybe I will write some articles related to the field of psychology which I will be working in.

In order to reach my goals, here is what I will need to do in the next five years:

~Earn good grades at The College of Saint Rose

~Continue to build my writing platform

~Graduate from The College of Saint Rose in spring 2014

~Attend Graduate School for a Doctorate in Psychology

~Find a job as a psychologist

~Write articles regarding psychology

This plan is not set in stone, it very well may change again. However, I believe this is what I want to do with my life. But then again, last year I wanted to be a journalist.