Famous Last Words: Week 4

So last week I had said the stress level hadn't kicked in, well I found it in week 4. And it is only Tuesday. I feel like week four is the week when everyone realize how much stuff needs to get done. As well as exams start to appear. This last week I had gotten behind on some of my work so I am trying to get ahead in all my classes as well as playing catch up on lots of readings in other classes. Usually I don't really need to read for my other classes but my Communication class you have to read the book or you will be completely lost.

The great thing about this class is, it makes me write every day. Which, in my opinion, makes my writing skills stronger. As well as allowing me to be more knowledgable of different ways to write something. Like my last post was written in second person. Going back to the stress part. I'm one of four captains for the Pride of Oklahoma Color Guard. And we are learning a new show every week, which we write, I just have to find time to do homework and work around the pride schedule. But don't get me wrong I'm excited for the Ohio State Game this weekend! Let's go beat those Buckeyes!

Oklahoma and Ohio State stats via Sooner Sports

But looking at the rest of this week getting ahead in this class will defiantly help me catch up on some readings for some of my other classes. I just need to keep reminding myself to take it one step at a time.

Story: Backstage Pass

You looking for a Backstage pass for the Coldplay concert? Well Calvin's your guy. Your only problem is Calvin always asks for something in return. No not money, he will ask you to go out and find something so be prepared to start your search. Calvin usually sets up shop about a block from the ticket booth. Find out what he wants in exchange and I can see I can help. 

Coldplay backstage pass via tumblr

(5 mins later)

What is it Calvin wants? Wait did you say he wanted a Jessie J album cover? Ok that will be a little more difficult to find then normal but if you go to Tina's Record Shop and ask for Jill she should be able to help you out.  It's about half a mile north of the concert hall. You smile and head towards the shop.

 You have about four hour before the concert starts and you need to find Tina's Record Shop. Your pace picks up and you have finally reached the shop. When you walk in there is only one girl with purple hair standing at the counter. "Hey how can I help you." You can assume that this is Jill by the name tag she is wearing. "Oh your the guy that's here for the Jessie J Album cover. Sorry but this is only for trade, if you get your hands on one of Philip Philips guitar picks from Billy Jean's Music store then we can talk. Oh sorry you probably need direction. Your gonna make a left and once you hit the corner make a right. Billie Jean's is on the corner. Ask for Jim. I'll hold this for you until you return." Rolling your eyes you agree and leave the store heading for Billie Jean's Music Store.  

You don't have a hard time finding the store but you have a difficult time finding Jim. Apparently he was on break. About a half hour passes and Jim finally appears from his break. Rushing over to him he answers "Oh hey you must be the one Jill sent. I have the pick right here for you. But I can't give this away freely." Frustrated you look at your watch you have about three hours till the concert. Looking back up Jim continues "If you can get your hands on one of Toby Keith cowboys hat I'll trade you the pick for the hat. Now don't freak out he's giving them away at the Longo stage complex." Talking a deep breath you bolt out the store and head for Longo Stage complex luckily it's only a couple of blocks away. 

Once you get there the line is pretty short. Seems to be towards the end of the signing. Your next, you finally get there. "hey hows it going." Your heart is racing you see no cowboy hats in sight. you begin to explain your predicament to Toby Keith "Oh that's sounds like some day your having. Unfortunately I'm out of hats expect for the one on my head." Your head falls to the ground in disappointment. "But hey I'll make you a deal you look like a singer. If you can sing me a few bars of one of my songs to prove your a true fan then I'll trade over my hat. Deal?" You agree on the spot. Toby pulls out his phone, hits record and you sing the best version of  Red Solo Cup you have ever sung. Toby is getting a crack out of your performance.  Laughing he interrupts you. "Ok ok, very nice here you go. hope you make it in time for that concert!" 

You take the hat from Toby, thank him and rush back to Billie Jean's. Running inside you trade the hat for the guitar pick. Guitar pick in hand you race back to Tina's Record Shop where Jill is waiting for you with the Jessie J album cover. You make the trade and begin to run as fast as you can to Calvin. You have about thirty minutes until the concert starts. You See Calvin in sight and present the album cover. He sits there for a couple of minutes inspecting it. He smiles and hands you two backstage passes. You and your friend made it just in time to see the band before they go on. You spend the night jamming to Coldplay's concert back stage. This will be a day that you will never forget. 

Author's Notes

 I based this story on Ignacz Kunos's The Liver. It follows the same guide lines of a maiden that buys a liver for her and her mother but then the liver is stolen. To get it back she has to find items to give to other merchants in return to get the liver back from the stork. I wanted to change it to a modern day feel to see what I could do with it based in the music realm. The hardest part was trying to come up with different items to trade with.  

Bibliography: Ignacz Kunos The Liver link to text   

Reading Notes:Turkish Part B

Book Cover of Forty Four Turkish Fairy Tales blogspot

The second reading had about six different stories. In most of these stories I felt like the person who did wrong got what they wanted. Such as in the Wizards Pupil, the apprentice left the wizard and did not follow the intrusions. In the end he was granted the princess in the end. I was very confused by the last story Kunterbunt. The whole thing was a riddle and I couldn't figure out what the answer to the riddle was. I was trying to figure out the lesson to be learned in this story but i have a feeling there wasn't one. It was there to be a riddle and make the reader really think when reading this story.
There was a common theme amongst them. It was that everything comes at a price. Whenever you want to get something you must give something in return. We can clearly see this in The Liver. Anytime the maiden would need something someone else would ask for it in return. If I was going to do one of these stories I would probably do The Liver. I would base it off of one of the characters the maiden talks to. Base a short story around them. Or even twist the story and make it be at an amusement park. I think The Wizards Pupil and The Liver where my favorite stories to read this week.

Bibliography: Ignacz Kunos Forty-Four Turkish Fairy Tales Link to text 

Reading Notes:Turkish

I chose the Turkish story for this week. Within this there were four separate stories I really enjoyed the first one called fear. I feel like it had a lesson to be learned. That even the bravest hero is afraid of something. I am thinking of using this story for this week. Maybe placing it in the 80s or ever modern times. I feel like the idea of showing someone what fear is, would be a very interesting story. The other one I liked was the wizard-dervish.

Turkish Illustration Mythology and folklore 

I was also thinking of using the scene where the maiden and the youth are trying to hide from her mother. I was thinking of kinda using these ideas and creating a new story from it but i haven't decided yet. I felt like I escape into a difference work when reading these stories. I really enjoyed these readings this week. And I can't wait to see what the readings are tomorrow.

Bibliography: Forty-four  Turkish Fairy tale by Ignacz Kunos link to text

Famous Last Words: Week 3

It's week three of the semester and I am actually socked how fast this semester is already going by. Luckily the stress has not kicked in yet. I haven't had any major projects yet. I have actually had time to do my readings in most of my classes. last week was a little bit of a struggle with the reading but having Monday off has helped me play catch up just a little bit.
For some reason I do my best writing during my film screenings on Wednesday. I watch a movie musical every week in my film class. My creative process has been the strongest during this class. So far this has worked. I am going to keep trying to do this and see what I come up with. My writing is getting stronger every time I write a new story.

My mind when I read webdevelopment

I am loving creating a new story every week for this class. And it is actually a stress reliever. I get to escape into my own worlds and let my imagination take over. This is the same result when I am reading other peoples stories. It is my favorite point of the week. It gives me a chance to escape into someone else's world and imagination. I did some extra credit commenting as well.
All of these things have helped me keep my stress level down so far. The rest of the week seem like it will flow by very nicely, especially since we have our first home game this weekend!

Story: Film Week

Film week in Vegas was here. Holly had been looking forward to this all semester. Her school only picked seven film students a year to fly out to Vegas, to work on a set of a major motion picture. This year the movie was called The Beautiful Sirens, based on the Greek mythology creatures the sirens.  All Holly had to do was get through day without to many distractions. Luckily she had managed to do this. All she had left was the required trip meeting, which she almost missed because of a nap. Before she knew it, she was on a plane with six of her friends to Vegas. 

Las Vegas Strip Bilnkit Travel Journal

     When they got there, they had about six hours to kill. "Come on lets go explore before the shoot." Jake said. They all agreed and headed out for the strip. There weren't a lot of people out and it was rather quiet, which was strange for a city. So Jamie and Holly decided to throw on their headphones and jammed out to the playlist they made for the trip. The seven of them couldn't decide which casino they wanted to go in first. They had past the Bellagio, Planet Hollywood, MGM Grand Casino, and casino after casino they still didn't go in. They had been walking for about a hour and once they past the hooters casino Holly moaned, "Ugh Jake can you just pick one! We have to be on set in like two hours." he waved her off and they wake about five more until a striking women with a singing voice like a bird caught their attention. Well everyone except for Holly and Jamie who were still jamming out to their music.

   The group had stopped so abruptly it caused Jamie and Holly to run into them. "Hey what gives" Holly said. There was no reply, just blank faces; the group’s attention was on the woman. An abandon casino rested behind the striking woman and as soon as she turned away everyone except for Jamie and Holly followed her inside. "Hey guys, I don’t think this is a good idea." Jamie said trying to steady her voice. As they walked inside the beautiful melody grew stronger. They had walked into the center floor of the casino and about three dozen women with equally beautiful singing voices appeared. 

Inside an Abandoned Casino Untapped Cities

      Jake was following a girl with silky black hair, that didn’t look older then twelve, straight to a black pit in the ground. “Jake look out!” Jamie screamed, but nothing happened he kept walking towards it. She ran towards Jake, pulling him away from the pit. Before she knew it the silky blacked haired girl ripped her headphones out of her ears and began to sign louder putting Jamie into a trance. “Ok guys we should, probably head back.” Holly said. But once again nothing happened. The music grew stronger and Holly had had enough. She began to drag Jamie by her arm but she wouldn’t budge. “What’s wrong with you?” she yelled.

  “Shh... Relax Holly. Listen to the beautiful music.” Jamie replied with a breathless voice. Holly sat there for a moment staring at Jamie. “music…music.. THEIR SIRENS! IT’S THE SINGING.” Right then she scrolled through her phone to find the most grunge song she owned. She pulled out her beats pill from her bag. Putting the volume as loud as possible the grunge music blared through the hall causing the women’s music to stop just long enough to pull her friends back to reality.  “What happened.” Jake said coming out of the trance. “I’ll explain once we are out of here. Just listen to my music and only my music.” Holly ordered. With confused looks on there face they began to follow the horrible sounding music. The women tired to regain the melody but the music blaring through the speaker changed melodies every measure causing the women to shriek and fall back deep into the hall.

   Finally out side and at least a block away from the abounded casino they stopped to catch their breath. “I don’t think I would ever say this but thank the lord for grunge music.” Jake said laughing.  “You and me both, you and me both.” Jamie said. After a long walk back to set in silence and jumping at any sound of a woman singing they met up with their professor. “So how did exploring go?” he said. The group gave a little giggle, and Holly said, “They are right what they say about this place.  What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

Las Vegas Sign About Travel

Authors' Notes 

I based this off the last story in the Odyssey. The story about the sirens. Instead of Odysseus and his crew on a ship and trying to make it through the sirens with no damage, I changed it to a trip to vegas and exploring gone wrong. I felt like this was a new way of showing the sirens trance and the idea that the group of students already know what sirens are by the film they are about to work on. 

Bibliography: Homer's Odyssey Link to text

Reading Notes: Odyssey

I choose to read Homer’s the Odyssey. It was one of my favorite stories we read in high school. This story intrigued me by the adventure aspect it had. Anytime Odysseues’ looked to be in the clear something else bad or challenging would happen. One of my favorite stories was the one about the sirens. I am thinking of using this part of the story and using that idea to create a new story. I had some suggestions to continue the story from last week. So I think I am going to try and tie in last weeks story with this one. But the setting of this will be in Vegas or I may keep them there at the school.

Odysseues and the Sirens wikipedia

The idea of using the sirens to distract people into doing something they wouldn’t really do may be the lead of my story for this week. The reason I liked the last story so much was the idea even when we was told not to listen he disobeyed and listened anyways. He did this just to see what he would be missing. I am going to try to tie in the lesson into my story this week.

The one difference I did see from Homer’s lliad to Homer’s Odyssey was the odyssey was writing from a person’s point of view instead of third person. I felt like this gave the story a more storytelling vibe then lliad. Even though we don’t see inner thoughts we can tell what the emotion from Odysseues. To me this adds a spicy of adventures from ones point of view to it.

Bibliography: Homer's:The Odyssey link to article