Bib

Mmmh, nothing says blog post like being asked to tie in Biblical references to modern works. Prepare yourselves. Strap in.

The bible (among other various religious texts) are often drawn from for inspiration. This could be to mankind's infatuation with the unknown, or perhaps the deeply rooted fear/wonder that stems from these texts. Lets face it, there are few things as feared as the end of the world and being cast into hell for eternity. Conversely, a life in heaven is much nicer to think about. I realize that not all people are religious, and thats fine. However, most people are familiar with (at least) the story the books posses.

So why are they so prevalent?

They strike a (E major) chord in us. For example, The Road makes many a point to the bible. For example, there are many instances of biblical references thought the work; weather it be the days in the tomb (the bunker) or the fact that the father sent his son into the world alone (final scene). The fact that McCarthy did this is the best part of the book. The biblical references help create the solidity the sense of unabashed fear. What is more mortifying? The end of the world or life after the end of the world?

The poem The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock by T.S. Elliot also has undertones of biblical proportions. The most prevailing notion of religion come though in the second to last stanza of the work.

I grow old ... I grow old ...

I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind?   Do I dare to eat a peach?

I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.

I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

Can you find God in this stanza? Is he hiding behind the waves or is he with the mermaids? Being a war poem, we know that the speaker more than likely wishes to be close with his spirituality, however, couldn't be farther away from the teaching of peace and neutrality. Nonetheless, one can find the highs and lows of spirituality throughout this poem.

An equally cryptic and real kick ass post (my pal A's post) explores the feeling of what it is like to have something for so long. Much like the root of this posts, I often think of how life changes. No one knows this better than the ancient Hebrews, and the first born sons that were killed during the first passover. Life changed for all the people effected after that; everything the knew (or though they knew) was reversed. Life was drastically changed out of need. A, I feel as if you're experiencing some change. Hopefully, nothing as drastic as having your first born son killed in the name of God or converting your religion, but either way change is a somewhat scary thing. You will get through it pal, you always do.

Midday Naps Make for Midnight Blog Posts

To Whom it May Concern,

I am writing this to you, late at night (because I took an afternoon nap and can't fall asleep) from my bed.

A few days ago in class, the topic of my blog posts came up. I was flattered; practically all of the comments were positive and my classmates genuinely seemed to like what I post. After some joking around, the question of why my posts "run so long and so deep" came up. A fair question without a doubt. Most students would write (pun) this blogging assignment off and only do the minimum amount of work possible. I understand this notion, but I don't agree with it. 

When I learned that we were to have a blog and update it weekly, I groaned. More hoops to jump through, no? Indeed I though Mr. R was some devil sitting atop a mountain with pitchfork and thesaurus in hand, yearning for the opportunity to rain down the fires of red-pen (or the digital equivalent) upon the meekest of students. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The blogging assignment soon became one of my favorite things to do. Honestly.  I took advantage of the opportunity to write and express my feelings in ways only the written word could depict. I'll admit the tone of my posts range from sardonic to content, insightful to damming, and perhaps even black to white. Oftentimes I don't think of what I write until I am seated at my desk, with headphones over ear. When the tunes start ah'flowing, the writin' starts ah'goin'. 

Now, to address why I write so much.

After a sickness I was confined to my house with no physical activity for six months. For a fourteen year old boy, this was like being sent to the hole in prison. The hours spent alone seemed to outnumber those with company. My days were routine and ran way too long. Sometimes I did my homework twice; an empty house and long hours of inactivity does strange things to an active mind. There came a point when I wrote three different versions of the same paper only because I was bored out of my mind and needed something to do. 

And that was the first month. 

Upon the suggestion of a teacher, I began to write to express what I felt. Prior to that point, I had been a somewhat mediocre writer that really stuck to the tried and true tropes of the genre, but after that conversation I realized that I could get more than a grade form a piece of paper; personal fulfillment was a few thousand words away. So I wrote. I wrote about how I felt. I wrote stories about aliens. I wrote papers on music and Elvis and how middle school girls would impersonate them in their bedrooms. I wrote because it was therapeutic. It was the best thing that I could have done with my time. Its given me another outlet that I can't graduate from. 

In short, I write to make myself a better person and to let my ideas flow freely. I use this blog as an opportunity to get thoughts onto paper, and express how I may feel at the time. I know that my audience is somewhat limited, and it doesn't bother me at all. It is gratifying to see the number of views rise, but I would write even if Mr. R didn't check to my posts or even if no one saw what I wrote. 

I guess I just like having a blog. 

Regards,

AF

To Blank

A short story about what next year may be like.

To see.

To feel.

To smile.

To walk.

To ponder.

To smile.

To reach out.

To hug.

To squeeze.

To hold.

To cry.

To say goodbye.

To feel.

To compartmentalize.

To walk.

To sit.

To feel the rain

to warm a memory.

To be proud.

To leave.

To be homesick.

To want

to return.

To hope.

To wish.

To enjoy freedom.

To learn new things.

To explore.

To be homesick.

To realize things are going to be different. 

To be okay with it. 

To grow up.

To worry.

To feel.

To drive hours

to see familiar faces. 

To rock out all the way home.

To see.

To feel.

To smile.

To walk.

To ponder.

To smile.

To reach out.

To hug.

To be home. 

Who knows, my experience may be a lot different than yours. Either way, I plan on drinking a ton of chocolate milk and jumping off the bow of a ship. Here's to next year

Drug-Induced-Self-Exploration-Though-the-Grand-Canyon (DISETTGC for short)

Ah college, what a wonderful time to be at ease. Senior year is full of easy decisions! Haha, no. Not true at all. A's post really gets to the point of what so many seniors are feeling.

The pressures of life really begin to push down on us seniors as we come down the home stretch of school. I have a pathetic amount of post on this topic... Either way, it's important to feel what you are feeling" at this moment A-dawg. You're only a senior in high school once (well, if you can pass the first time 'round). 

This is the point when we learn so much about who we are as a person. I get that senior year is is not some drug-induced-self-exploration-though-the-Grand-Canyon , but rather a common of age story similar to Boyhood (ABSOLUTELY GREAT MOVIE). 

Anyway, we will learn who we are and what we can do though experience; living life and taking risks far greater than we have ever encountered. I'm so excited to move on to the next step in my life, albeit a little apprehensive to leave the life I've known for so long. 

So A-dawg, we will learn about who we are in the next few years to come; hopefully we can meet up and chill despite our busy and sometimes ungodly schedules. 

Rational

When it comes to the topic of movies, specifically short films, every shot counts. Some really stand out in one's mind (the torture scene in Rambo, Tom Hanks' farewell in Saving Private Ryan to name a few). Nothing was left to chance in these shots (pun!);  everything happened for a reason. We tried to have a similar approach for our Hamlet project.

My favorite shot in the entire short was the zoom out to the candle, that also showed the bodkin. I liked that the candle followed the exact rule of thirds and added some great character to the whole shot. The lighting was also fantastic: nothing symbolizes passion quite like fire!

Another shot that I think we all liked was when Hamlet (B) threw off the covers whilst saying "Ay, theres the rub!" Inner eight-grader aside, I think that this moment really depicted unbearable emotion that was held inside of Hamlet. Put yourself in his shoes. You are so exhausted from the days trials, and you finally come to your haven. The bed is calling your name, and you respond with falling onto its padded surface. The warmth of sleep raps around you and make you feel whole, yet the unbearable thoughts of the days injustice seem to burn though the drapes of sleep.

So Hamlet, seared with passion, gets out of bed, and walks over to the fire (symbolizing his passion). As he stokes the flame, his passion only grows deeper, and the thoughts become even more unbearable. He needs fresh air to calm down, so he walks down the steps, and outside into the cold. He brings with him a flame; not only to see but to symbolize the tiny bit of heat that he still carries with him. At the conclusion of the soliloquy he walks back in, a fire still burns within him, yet his thoughts are complete. He has plotted enough for one night. Now it is time for rest.

Future: Why?

Imagine riding on a train and entering a tunnel that lasted for four years. Now imagine that three great years have zoomed by you and you can see the light on the conductors face. She is smiling, exposing her pearly white teeth and crooked smile. The contrast is incredible; the inch of coal dust on her face casts the illusion similar to a certain cat in tree from long ago. She looks happy for you and casts a look your way that seems to say congratulations, you made it. Now on to the rest of your life. As you push your way up through the train cars fraught with excitement and with little discretion for others you realize that for some reason the train is slowing down. No, its stopped. You sit down and wait. You wait for an hour, A day. A week. A month. Another month. And then one day, you take a look to your past.

You've thrived the past three years in so many ways; athletically, musically, academically, and perhaps even personally. You've built yourself up to be a great person with amazing friends and an amazing family. You savored the relationships you've created and feel so at home in your skin. Everything was somewhat simple. Everything was routine. 

But things are so different now. You've got to prepare, or at least thats what so many people are telling you (cramming down your windpipe). They are right though. One can't go to college on being a good person; there are a literal assload of hoops to jump through in order to even be considered by a school. See, a freshman __your name here___ wouldn't have any problem doing the tasks it takes to be accepted. You had so much energy back then; the world seemed so new and exciting. 

But its not like that anymore. You're a senior, and that means...

SENIOR = SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL 

*Disclaimer* 

Is this true for every high schooler in their last year? No, I don't think so. But the following is what I feel at this point in my life right now. Perhaps you feel similarly or have had some moments that you can relate to? Everything below will be from my personal experience as a Senior at Mt. Blue, and what Senioritis means to me. 

Honestly I have mixed emotions when it comes to graduation, or this light at the end of the tunnel. One piece of me wants to ride a motorcycle though a fire hoop with some 80s hair metal hit playing in the background at the conclusion of graduation. The other pice of me is scared to move on knowing that whatever lies ahead I will have to deal with on my own, as a man of the world. My parents and family will always be there for me, but it won't be like coming home from school everyday to a smile and an armload of wood.

Graduation is going to be a really happy, yet really sad time. I'm going to miss the nuances of high school and the friends that I have made. I'm really going to miss the sports that I've been blessed to play and the music that I somehow found a way to play. I've had a stereotypical Senior year so far; the highs of success and the lows of heartbreak. Its worth it though. Every moment of stress and physical exhaustion has made me who I am today. 

But I haven't really answered the question, have I?

How might we define Senioritis?

Senioritis is many things to many people. Defining it would only profess what it means to you as an individual. I can imagine the word means something very different to someone who is ready to go to Harvard to find the cure for cancer and someone who is going to UMF undecided (who could also cure cancer). Some find it dreadful to move on while others can't wait to flip the bird to their teachers on the way down the halls the second they get their diploma. However, there is some common ground between the two. The notion of an impending change hangs over both of the students heads. Their life is going to be drastically different, and there is nothing they can do to stop it. 

This is what distracts us in class. This is why we:

take liberties when we probably shouldn't

• Do dumb things
• Don't pass in our homework on time
• Do really dumb things
• Take too much time on projects
• Get in doomed relationships
• Get our hearts broken
• Did I say do stupid shit yet?
• Listen to hours of albums with insightful titles
• Go for road trips with friends
• Stay up too late
• Exceed at all of our extracurricular activities
• Turn 18 and try smoking a cigar only to throw up and have the worst damn headache of our lives (true story)
• Do things we never thought we would ever do
• Listen to more music than humanly possible
• Let ourselves be vulnerable and open up to people we barely know
• And thousands of life experiences unique to every senior out there

Senioritis is living like life is going to change forever. For better or for worse, we trade finite schoolisms for infinite memories. Personally, much of this year has been about living, because I have no idea what is going to happen after this.

So everyday I will wake up, 

get dressed and eat my oatmeal

brown sugar and walnuts

and drive to school in a car

that should have warmed up for at least ten more minuets

I'll show up to class on time,

and be polite,

say hey, how are you? 

Fine, and you?

I'll pass in my work 

and crack one to many jokes

but the teacher won't mind

she actually laughed!

Then I will see you walking

and remember what it was like,

the time we spent together

and the memories we made,

how much I miss you

and what our friendship was

Another class

another bell

and its off to practice 

where bonds stronger than steel

are formed and memories 

that will last a life time are made,

I wish I had one more left in me

At least one more go around,

But I can't. Its gone and new things are on

the horizon. The clock is ticking

change is coming 

and you need to focus,

FINISH STRONG! 

And when the day finally comes,

you will be ready

or you hope you will be.

You will be. 

You will be. 

Adventure is a hundred days away.

If you actually read this whole thing, I am impressed and truly grateful. My Senior year has been movie-esque, yet I have no idea what genre it would fall under. So thanks you again, for making it this far, and I hope that we can correspond and share our experiences at some point. 

Oh, and here is a kick-ass song from my friends band, Havenfield.

It seems to describe exactly what I am feeling to perfect detail. Its so cool to see your friend do what he loves and make great music that couldn't be more applicable than right now. Thanks Z. Keep doing what you're doing and make some more great music. I can't wait to see you live someday. Just be sure to save me some tickets (pit preferably).

And if you want more of this kick-ass tuneage, check it out here. Download the album! 

The Definition of Success: Blake Mycoskie v. Anthony Franchetti

Success is something we all strive for in life. We constantly yearn for self-validation much like Blake and his personal conquest. Blake sets out to make the world a better place though his own invention (meanwhile making some cash along the way). In no way am I saying that Blake is doing this purely for his own personal monetary gain; he is getting more from this endeavor than just a boatload of money.


Blake is bringing a valuable service to the world. He is reaching out far beyond the typical businessman turned philanthropist (for personal *cough* tax reason). Blake's idea of matching his sales, ie. One for One is a very prominent theme in the book and his business. I feel that we all are called to do this in our own way. It is hard to not notice the local charities and the good that they do with small amounts of money. Blake has taken this idea to a new level and made it a cornerstone of his business.


People who buy TOMs feel good about their purchase. Under Blake's model, the consumer is responsible for putting shoes on on some child’s feet. I think this is probably the most important part of TOMs. The act of buying shoes makes the consumer feel good about what they have just done; something charitable and worthwhile. Now the real question, will they come back for another pair? The answer: ABSOLUTELY. Look at the local population, have you seen the vast shades of pinks and off-greens that roam through the hallways on a warm spring day? TOMs is a statement; I care a lot, so I buy a couple pair. A win-win. Fashionable shoes and a warm and fuzzy feeling on the inside.


Blake’s last and most apparent theme really is the driving force behind the book. The idea that anyone can make a positive difference in the world is a powerful one. Blake business couldn’t have started anymore modestly. Though the right connections and perseverance, he grew an idea into something that could actually feed his family and change the world. Blake really seized an opportunity to change the world one pair of TOMs at a time.


Blake is what I would call successful. Our definitions of success may differ, but her is without a doubt making a difference in the world. My definition of success is still seeking a definition: I’m a senior in high school. My definition of success is getting an A and kicking butt whatever sporting event comes next.





Obviously, this will change over the course of the next few years. It will shift to graduating college, landing a job, and maybe even raising a family. However, I know that if I am happy with myself I will be successful. I just hope I can give back to this community half as much as it has given me. I have really been lucky to be brought up here, and I am grateful to all those who have got me to where I am today. The next few years are going to be interesting and a lot of fun. Who knows, I may even end up selling shoes from my apartment (under my landlord’s nose).