From my writing at the beginning of the semester, to my most recent paper, many changes have occurred. I am now a stronger writer and feel more comfortable reading my writing. I can come up with better, more focused thesis’ and I have better writing strategies. I can’t wait til next semester to improve my writing further!
Thanksgiving November 20, 2009
My FAVORITE part of the Thanksgiving holidays would have to be the food. My family is big into cooking and I love home cooked meals. We get the whoole family together and have tons and tons and tons of food. We eat until we can’t eat anything else. Turkey, Ham, casseroles, mashed potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pies, pecan pies, blueberry cobbler, cookies, cakes…anything you can imagine.
But the best part of the day is being with family. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without my family there to celebrate with.
Paper #2 and #3 Thesis Statements November 13, 2009
Paper #2:
Through researching the process of banning a book and learning how the above named book became banned, the many complexities of this subject can be revealed.
Paper #3
I have become who I am today because of this significant event in my life.
My Favorite Season November 13, 2009
My favorite season would definately have to be summer. I love warm weather. I love going to the beach and swimming and just being outside in general. I don’t necessarily like the 110 degree weather, but I love a nice 75 degree day with a breeze 
I’m not sure why love the summer so much but it just seems to make me happier! I do know most of the BEST movies of the year come out during the summer season, so that is always a plus!
The Notebook: A Love Story November 6, 2009
The Notebook, a beautiful novel written by Nicholas Sparks, opens with an elderly man in a nursing home, reading a story to an elderly woman. The story is about two young lovers, Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun, who meet one day at a carnival. Although the two are falling in love, Allie’s parents prohibit the relationship and move Allie away. After waiting to hear from Noah from years and no response, Allie meets Lon and becomes engaged. Despite her commitment to Lon, Allie still finds that she has feelings for Noah. Subsequent to seeing his picture in the newspaper in front of a house he said he was going to restore, Allie decides to visit Noah. This house was an antique house built in the 1700s that Noah had become infatuated with and spent all of his time remodeling. When Allie and Noah reunite for the first time after years apart, it soon becomes apparent that they both still have feelings for each other. Allie now has to choose between Lon, the man she had already scheduled to marry, and Noah, the man who she subconsciously wants. Allie picks Noah, her one true love, and leaves Lon. Noah and Allie end up having a happy life and die together peacefully in the nursing home, side by side. The Notebook is a beautiful story that clearly affirms love and lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, therefore deeming this novel one of the best love stories around.
As with any romantic relationship, this book shows that things do not always work out perfectly. Noah and Allie did not hit it off immediately. In fact, in the beginning, Allie rejects Noah, but he continues religiously to pursue her. Allie’s parents also do not approve of Noah because he is “from the other side of the tracks” and doesn’t have prospects to be rich or upper class (Monroe). This factor does not stop them; in fact, it makes them want each other more because this constitutes as a “forbidden love”, such as a perfect “Romeo and Juliet” love. Their relationship is also tested once Allie is forced to move away for school. They find themselves in other relationships, but once again, it does not end their undying love for each other. When Allie became engaged to Lon, she realized that it was not right and that she needed to be with Noah. They find each other once again and let their love for one another grow. Finally, their love is tested by a heartbreaking illness at the end of the story, but even this cannot destroy their love.
In the last quarter of the book, the lifelong commitment for one another is proven. This part of the book is focused back on the elderly couple from the beginning, the man who is reading the story to the woman in the nursing home. The woman has Alzheimer’s disease and often forgets the marvelous life she shared with this elderly man. He does not give up hope, and by reading their love story to her every day, he tries to give her back her memory each day. As anyone would be, the doctors and nurses are touched by this undying love the couple has for each other. The man’s faith sometimes fools the disease, and his love gets her memory back once in a while (Coffin). The moments they share are priceless and Nicholas Sparks describes them well. The last scene of the book may bring tears to the reader.
Some readers may argue that they do not like this book and that the characters had faults. Some say that this is a story of love in its purest form. One reader, Amy Coffin, comments of her reaction to The Notebook:
…I have to confess, I was kind of annoyed with Allie. Why did she wait so long to find Noah? She was just about to get married before she figured out that she needed to see him again. Now, I suppose her place in post-war high-class society has something to do with it. However, in the rest of the book, she seems like a strong woman who says her piece. All of a sudden when it comes to Noah, she obeys her parents? Please. (Coffin)
Some readers believe that with a depiction of a love so strong, so enduring and so everlasting, it is difficult not to think of it in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His love, like the one honored in this book, is one that will never die. And He loves us unconditionally, desiring us to know him personally and intimately, and not only in this life, but for eternity. Our earthly romances may never be as ideal as Noah and Allie’s, but there is a perfect love always being offered to us from God through His beloved Son (Monroe).
As one might conclude, there is no such thing as a perfect love story; and that is agreeable. It is for this reason that The Notebook is one of the best love stories around. Because this love story is not perfect, one can better relate to the story and it becomes more realistic to the readers. While Noah and Allie’s love is rare and idealistic, the way it comes to be draws the reader in. The Notebook affirms love in its purest form by proving that love does not always work out the way one expects. By the end of the story, when we find out that the old man reading the story to the elderly woman actually are the characters from the story, we can see that lifelong commitment is shown and one recognizes the struggles and wins of this type of commitment. This type of love is every girls dream. Where can I find one?
Halloween! November 6, 2009
What I thought was to be the most boring Halloween I’ve ever had to endure, turned out to be quite an eventful night. I had to work that day from 3-11, which of course was boring. When I got off, I had planned to just go back to my room and wait for my friends to get back. Well, my best friend Cassie wouldn’t have that! I got back and I kid you not, with in a matter of 5 minutes, I was decked out in a toga for my Halloween costume. Once she had fixed my hair and costume we went to the Pike house for a little while. The rest of the night was spent going from here to there and meeting people and just hanging out. It ended up being a great night.
