Portfolio Guide

Gimme Some Color
 A lonely cactus finds himself as the outcast in his hometown. He lives a very lonely and dull life. In this story, you will see how he becomes more than bland.

The Innocent Murderer
My mother always told me to never talk to strangers. She was right.

The unFOURgettables
A small wager can have a big price!

A Parent's Nightmare
It can pay off to listen to your parents the first time.

Indian Epic Untextbook

I chose this particular unit by random. My favorite and lucky number is four. So, it just made sense to pick this sort. I have chosen Four Short Plays by Rabindranath Tagore. The text did seem a little blurry. It could just be my eyesight because it is really terrible. The stories were very short. They were a great read! I liked this unit. 

Week Fifteen: Famous Last Words

This is the last week! Thank you! We have made it! There were many days and nights that I did not think that I would make it. Luckily, I did! I am sure that finals will ot be that bad. My grades are good and I am confident that this semester will be A-okay! Today, Sunday, has been an extremely long day. I have been busy with sorority events today. We have a program that is a self-help scholarship program for upcoming high school seniors. The program provides workshops for high school girls helping them to prepare for graduation and transitioning into college. The workshops consist of fiscal management, financial aid, completing applications, sexual education, and community service. After two months, the girls will have a presentation that family and friends are invited to. The presentation is somewhat similar to a pageant. The girls will present their modeling talent, their chosen talent, a dance with their father, and some other things. I am so excited! I love working with the girls and helping to lift their spirits. Also, I am planning a trip to Fort Worth, Texas. I am originally from Fort Worth so it is not a getaway for me. My friend has never been so I will be showing him around. We are going to have so much fun! We are going to one of my most favorite restaurants, Buttons. It is great! They have live music, great drinks (I am 22 years old), and delicious food. The restaurant has a great atmosphere. I am thinking about getting us passes to ride in exotic sport cars. You get the chance to ride on a race car track in expensive cars. That should be fn too. I want to cross a lot of things off of my to do list this summer!

Buttons

Indian Epic Untextbook

For this week, I have chosen to read Nine Ideal Indian Women by Sunity Devee. I really just liked the title. As a female, I like to hear about influential women and "ideal" women. I think I say this each time I right a post but I like the navigation tools. This story was very detailed and I liked the writing. It was easy to keep up with and kept me entertained. 

Online Education Review

I have taken many classes online. I love them! If I had to create an online class, I would have assignments due only on certain days. Also, all assignments wouldn't be due until the last day of the semester.

Advantages

I don't have to spend too much time looking for a parking spot on campus.

I am able to visually see what people are saying and have time to formulate a response.

The entire semester is planned out from the beginning.

I save money by not eating on campus.

It forces me to have time management.

Disadvantages

I miss the human interaction. 

Online

Gen. Ed. Review

My general education experience has been  interesting. I have taken many classes that I would consider a waste of time. There have been a few classes that I have liked. My freshman year, I took Intro to Film Studies for an art credit and I did not like that class. I thought it would be fun because we were assigned to watch movies! The first week we watched a great movie. We did not watch another movie until after the drop deadline. Every movie we watched was in black and white and did not have sound. I felt that the instructor taught the class as an upper division course. It was really stressful. Overall, I know that general education classes have make student more diverse and I appreciate that. 

Film

College Writing Review

My major is Communication and writing plays a critical role. I have had to write papers for most of my required courses. Most of those papers were three to five pages. I have been stressing over a current assignment, which is a 10 page paper. This is the longest paper that I have had to write outside of a group setting. When I first started college, I enrolled as an International Business and Marketing major. I had to take a Business Writing course. Those writing assignments were a little different. It focused more on format than content. I really liked that course. During college, I have not had to write many literature review papers. I think courses should focus on this more. I feel that in the workforce I will be asked to provide a literature review. I have only had to write one so I won't feel very confident. 

Writing

Week Fourteen: Famous Last Words

This week, I have decided to write my famous last words early. I am really trying to make it to the finish line. It is not so easy. Right now I have been comparing life to a race. I use to run Track & Field and high school. There were many times when I did not think I would be able to make it to the finishline. No one ever wants to lose so you continue to push until the very end. If I keep this mindset, I know it will all end very well for me. 

I have so much to get done in school and outside of school. I have a paper that is due tonight for my Communication and Emotion couse, which I have been struggling with. I know that I am making the paper harder than what it really should be. My professor keeps reassuring me that I will be fine. I feel like the professors that say that are usually the ones that grade really hard. We have not had any paper assignments this semester so I am not sure how he grades. Also, those that took the course last year said that they did not have to write a paper! That is so unfair.

Outside of school, I have to get my life together. Lol. I am looking for a career position that is best for me. I do have interviews within the next few days. Please wish me luck. Thanks.

Anyways, I hope everyone is doing well. I hope you all finish this semester strong. For those that are graduating, it is almost over. I wish you all luck in your endeavours after school. The best advice that I wish someone would give me right now is that everything will be okay. You have made it this far!

Graduation

Week Fourteen: Extra Reading Diary

I chose to read the Andersen unit because it had my key word, short. The first story, The Princess and the Pea, reminded me of my childhood. I remember reading this when I was younger. My friends and I would put blankets on a pea to see if we could feel it. It definitely brought back memories. I remembered the story The Emperor's New Suit. I liked this unit because it brought back so many memories. 

Pea

Week Fourteen: Reading Diary B

I love the title of the first story, Queen Bee. It reminds me of Beyonce and who doesn't love Beyonce. This unit was nice in length. I appreciate that the stories were not too long. The Twelve Dancing Princesses was a good story too. I could see my storytelling assignment being based off of these  stories. The picture that I found is really great. I like all the color in it. It is very lively. 

The 12 Princesses

Week Fourteen: Reading Diary A

This week, I have chosen to read the Grimm (LibriVox) unit. The notes made me feel like this unit would be interesting to read. I have enjoyed this unit. The Frog and the Prince was a great story. I like the happily ever after ending. It also taught a lesson. You should always remain true to word. The princess's father was right to make her keep her word to the frog. Also, you should never judge a book by its cover. Overall, this was a great first half of the unit. The Disney make of this is my favorite princess story. 

Princess Tiana

Einstein Tech Tip

Week Thirteen: Famous Last Words

The semester is almost over. I am counting down the days. This week, I have had a hard time with a paper that I have due on Tuesday. I am so overwhelmed. I have gone to the Writing Center like every single day. I went today and they all looked at me crazy. It is safe to say that they are tired of seeing me in there. I think the thought of knowing that I still have nine hours to finish over the summer is depressing. I know everything will be okay though. 

My dogs are currently staring at me. Lol. It would be nice to think that they love me but they just want my french fries. These dogs are not loyal. I love them! It is nice to have them meet  me at the door, when I come home from a long day at school. They always know when something is wrong. They will lay next to me or cuddle with me. I appreciate it. I do not understand why some people do not like dogs. I am not able to have a big dog. I do not want my dog to be bigger than me. I would be scared. 

This past weekend, my mother and I participated in Moms' Weekend. It was really exciting. We got to tour the Boyd House, which was amazing. I know that I have mentioned before that I love to watch HGTV. I loved the character of the house. It was nice. I spoke with D-Bo about graduating. I should have asked him for a career!

How is everyone else doing in school? In life? I hope everyone is doing great and finishing strong, especially those that are graduating. For those that are not graduating, enjoy every minute of it. Do not take time for granted. 

OU Daily

Week Ten: Storytelling

The unFOURgettables

One sunny afternoon, there were two high school boys hanging out with their girlfriends, the Jackson sisters. The "unFOURgettable" group was known for their after-school routine. You could always find the group of four at the local Shake Shop, cracking jokes on each other and enjoying a basket of loaded cheese fries. They were close friends and went on double dates everywhere.

Senior prom was approaching, which was to be quickly followed by high school graduation. The real world was creeping around the corner like the Grim Reaper. It was time to figure out a blueprint for their senior prom! The decisions made about critical details would determine the fate of the most epic night of high school. They wanted to live the night as they were; young, wild, and free. It was unanimous vote that their night would be unforgettable.

The boys, Jack and Alex, competed in just about everything that they did such as sports, grades, and anything else that can be turned into a competition. The unFOURgettables were trying to decide which hot ride they would arrive at prom in. Jack had an old school Chevrolet Camaro that is the color of sugary red Kool-Aid and rumbled like the king of the jungle. He was sensitive about his car because he and his father refurbished it just before his father passed away of an heart attack. Unfortunately, Jack and his mother struggled financially since the man of the household unexpectedly died.

On the bright side, Alex had a matching Chevrolet Camaro just like an awesome best friend would. The only difference between the two cars is that Alex bought a new Camaro off the dealership floor. Alex and Jack thought it would only be right that bestfriends would have the same car. Jack's car had more sentimental value than Alex's car, so he felt that they should arrive to prom in his car. Jack felt that prom deserved a first-class arrival in a brand-new sports car.

The Jackson sisters knew that the boys could not come to an agreement because they had been arguing for about a week. It was a tough time for the Jackson sisters because they had to be supportive of their own boyfriend's decision, which could cause separation between the sisters. The unFOURgettables spent less and less time together as the days went by until the sisters had a great idea. They suggested that the boys race to determine who had the greatest car. Whoever won the race would be chosen to drive the group to prom. Of course, the news about the race got around school as quick as a an intercom announcement.

After school, everyone arrived at the dilapidated  Stephenson junk yard to see the battle of the old school Chevrolet Camaro versus the new school Chrevolet Camaro. The cars lined up side by side and at the count of three they were gone with the wind. The cars raced side by side with each boy hoping to take the cake. Suddenly, Alex's car began to drag a little until it jerked left and jerked right. Alex could not control the car since it was going at the speed of lightning. The car flipped and crashed into Jack's car. Both cars began to roll off of the nearby cliff followed by an explosion.

All of the Meadowbrook High School students quickly dispersed the junk yard. No one wanted to be arrested for illegal activities right before prom. The Jackson sisters stood in disbelief that their dumb idea ended so tragically. When the boys arrived to the hospital, they were announced dead at arrival. The twin sisters forever blamed themselves for the death of their boyfriends.

When doing wrong, no one wins. A friend lost can hurt, but two friends lost can kill.

Source

Author's Note: I chose to base this week's storytelling assignment from the Two Fast Runners from the Blackfeet Indian Stories by George Bird Grinnell (1915). An antelope and a deer were good friends. They enjoyed the sunrise and sunset together. They gossiped and laughed together. They always debated about who could run the fastest; therefore they decided to race to crown the winner. During the first race, the antelope won the race in the prairie. The deer believed that the antelope only won because he had home court advantage. The two friends ran a second race in the woods, which was home to the deer. Of course, the deer won. The title of the original story gave me the idea for my story.  I was not sure of my direction for the story, but as I started to write it came to me! I changed the main characters to humans and added two more characters. I chose to base the story around prom because it is that time of year. Also, I chose for the characters to race cars because Fast Furious 7 in theaters.  The ending is very dramatic because I wanted it to be similar to a real movie. In high school, I had friends that died while racing cars on the highway. There is always a lesson or some sort in movies or real life and that is what I strived for. 

Week Thirteen: Reading Diary B

My impression of the Brother's Grimm unit for the Reading Diary B assignment is similar to my impression for Reading Diary A. This half of the unit was just as interesting as the first half. Also, the  stories were similar in length and in story lines. I cannot wait to write my story for this week. This is a great unit!

The Little Lamb and the Little Fish

Week Thirteen: Reading Diary A

This week, I have chosen to read the Brothers Grimm unit from Dan Ashliman's Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales. The first story, Cat and Mouse in Partnership, is very interesting. I never knew that a cat and mouse could be in a relationship. The cat kept lying to the mouse about eating their winter food. As soon as the mouse found out, the cat ate the mouse too! You can't trust a cat. I realized from this unit that many stories were about deception. I am learning about deception in my Persuasion Principles course. Yes, it is wrong for the animals to deceive each other but they do it for survival. I think this unit is great for recreating a story in my own way.

The Wolf and the 7 kids

Week Twelve: Famous Last Words

YAY! There are just a few more weeks until this semester is over. I am barely hanging on to what is left. I think the only thing that is motivating me is that I do not have to come back. Unfortunately, I do have nine hours in the summer but I may be able to manage that. My classes are not all in the same month and such. I do not think it will be that bad.

Graduation weekend is going to be so fun. My whole entire family is coming down from Texas to spend time with me and celebrate with me. I have a huge family so we are going to have fun. I want everyone to go bowling! Also, I finally found the perfect dresses and shoes for graduation. I like to get dressed up! 

My friend and I are planning a trip to Fort Worth for Memorial Day weekend. He has never been to Six Flags! I hope all of you have been. It is so fun. We are going to do a lot of shopping! I cannot wait. I also want to go to a spa for the day. I really just want to relax and have fun. I know we are going to have a great time.

I have a job lined up for after graduation. It is not my dream job but it will do for the moment. Also, I have someone that is offering another job, which will aloow me to be flexible with my hours and has great pay. Hopefully, if everything works out, then I can accept that offer instead. 

On another note, I hope everyone else in the course is doing well. The end is almost near. Have a great week. Do not give up! I'll talk to you next week!

Celebrate!

Week Twelve: Extra Reading Diary

For my extra reading diary, I chose to read the Nursery Rhymes unit by Andrew Lang. I really like nursery rhymes for various reasons. I love poetry and stories that rhyme. I also like that they are short and get the point across. 

Babes in the Wood gave me the mystery and drama that I like to read. It is saddening that children were kidnap. I would not wish that on anyone. It makes me think of all the children that are being kidnapped and killed today. My heart goes out to those families. I do not have children of my own, but I can only imagine how they may feel. A parent should never have to bury their children. 

There was a Crooked Man and Simple Simon did not really appeal to me. They were too short. I would have appreciated a little more from the two stories. The Lion and the Unicorn was short but delightful. Delightful may not be the best word to describe the story. It was very short but it was fun. I did not really understand the point of Monday's Child. Was it talking about how people feel on a particular day of the week? Or was it talking about an actual child? These stories were all too short. Only one story was entertaining.

I never really knew the story about Little Bo-Peep. I only knew that she had sheep. I am glad that I got to read this story. I cannot think of why I have not remembered such things from my childhood. 

Overall, I honestly enjoyed this unit. It added variety between the stories. I do like how the stories varied in length, in topics, in endings. Also, the stories featured mini stories, which I gound really entertaining. This was a great unit to read. 

Andrew Lang

Week Twelve: Reading Diary B

Canterbury Tales

I have enjoyed reading this unit for numerous reasons. I picked this unit because it has some romance in it. I wanted to pick a unit that I thought I would really be interested in and that I could create a story from. I have most liked units that have stories that continue. I prefer to read one long story than multiple short stories. Personally, I think women want everything. Lol.

Women Want Everything

Indian Epic Untextbook

I have chosen Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914). I chose the textbook because my great-grandmother was a Buddhist. It is always nice to learn about something new. I looked at the Krishna story. I have heard of this word before but I am not sure what it means. I like the story, picture, and that it looks like an actual book. The Bhuddha story provide a lot of information. This is a great unit. I feel like a student can get a lot out of this textbook.

Google Define Tech Tip

I wish I would have known this years ago. I am always looking up the definitions of words. Luckily, my MacBook has a built in dictionary. It really helps.

Week Eleven: Famous Last Words

I am so ready for this semester to be over. Preparing for graduation is stressful. My mother has created this long list of things that I have to get done. I think the hardest thing is planning activities for my family the weekend of graduation. All of my family, except for my mother, live in Texas. So, we are creating a weekend of fun for everyone to enjoy. My family is really close so I know we will all have fun. I know I am going to need a week to do absolutely nothing once the festivities end. I think my parents are more excited than I am about graduation. All I want to do is walk across the stage. I am taking nine hours over the summer, which is probably why I am not that excited. 

One thing that I have noticed this semester is that I should take another English class. In high school, I was considered a concurrent enrollment student. I took English I and English II my junior year of high school. It has been five years and I am rusty. In other classes, my professors have not addressed my punctuation and grammar. It is possible they have only looked at the content of the paper. 

This week has been a great weekend. I have started a new book titled 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. So far, it is a great book. It will be hard to finish the book quickly since I have so many other things going on. Also, I cleaned my house from top to bottom. That always help get my creative juices flowing. In addition, I baked another pound cake successfully. Maybe I can go into business for myself as a baker. I have been getting great reviews on my desserts. My mother is always asking me to make her something.

My New Book

Week Eleven: Extra Reading Diary

Celtic Fairy Tales Unit (2)

I am not sure that I really like this unit because of the language. I feel like it is too difficult to keep up with the story. There are too many round about ways to say a sentence. On the other hand, I do like the story continues. It gets better with each story. Oifa proves that women have the ability to really cruel and wicked. In The Fate of the Children of Lir, I enjoyed the ups and downs. The first story took me on an emotional roller coaster. Lir was a man that truly loved his children. This was a great unit.

Lir's Children

Week Eleven: Reading Diary A

Ballads of Robin Hood

I chose this unit because the story of Robin Hood is one that I do not know very well. I wanted to read something that I have not read before. The unit's overview gave me good background information, which I really did need to read. Progress to Nottingham also provided me with a general idea of who Robin Hood was and gave me enough imagery to create a picture in my head. I do like this unit because of the style of writing. I think ballads and/or poetry is more of an entertaining read. I think this unit had stories of a good length. I think I should watch the movie because the trailer looks good.

Robin Hood

Indian Epic Untextbook

Four Short Stories by Rabindranath Tagore

First, I chose this unit because of its title. The number four is my favorite and most lucky number. The background information provided about the author is also good. I feel that whenever I go on a trivia game show, I will know who the first author outside of Europe to win a Noble Prize is. The plays were very entertaining and cool. Once again, I do appreciate the navigation tools that are available. 

Week Ten: Famous Last Words

This has been a great week. A better week than the previous weeks. I have turned in all my assignments for this course. I made an A on a test. Also, I have accomplished a lot of other things in other classes. I am taking 18 hours and I am tired. Blah.

My friend from Saint Louis, MO has surprised me this week. I did not think I would see my friend until May! We are really good friends because we share a passion for great food. That may not be a good thing though. We do not have self control, when we go out to eat. We went bowling at HeyDay! It was so much fun! They have really improved their facility. I like it. I like that they have a bowling area for adults over 21 years old. It was great to bowl in an adult environment. I would suggest that everyone go to HeyDay and enjoy themselves. 

We plan on hanging out again on Tuesday. Hopefully, the circus is still here. Someone just said that they were going today. I have not been to the circus in years. During my twenty-two years of life, I can count on one hand how many times I have been to the circus. It was not something that I looked forward to. The Arts Festival was something that I looked forward to. The fair always has too many people around. Too many things have happened at the fair that my mother rarely let me go anyways. 

My grandmother has always taken me to the fair in Texas. Her job gave free tickets to the employees. On another hand, I really like Six Flags Over Texas and wish we had something similar in Oklahoma. Frontier City is nowhere near as entertaining as Six Flags. Oklahoma needs to step its game up!

HeyDay

Week Ten: Extra Reading Diary

Native American Marriage Tales Unit

The Piqued Buffalo Wife
This was a great story. I appreciate the imagery. I can somewhat relate to this.

Bear Woman and Dear Woman
It really cracks me up that they were searching each other's head for lice. I don't know why but that is so funny and random. This story was somewhat confusing. I am not sure what this story was really talking about.

The Fox Woman
This is very interesting. Did the man not know he had a wife? Was the wife really a fox? What caused her to have such an odor? Too many questions. 

Fox Woman

Week Ten: Reading Diary B

Blackfoot Stories

The Red-Eyed Duck

The title of this story really catches my attention. Some of the feedback on my stories has pointed out my less than creative titles. This is something that I need to work on. Good story.

The Smart Woman Chief

I also like the title of this story. It is always nice, when a woman is in charge. This title gives so much life to the woman. A lot of storytelling ideas come to mind with this title. 

I agree...Lol.

Google Timer Tech Tip

I think the best time management skill to use would be to work ahead of time. I fall short of this many times. It is best t do work, when you have free time. Starting on projects ahead of time is also good. I do like to browse the internet. Timing my internet browsing would help me stay focused on what I need to get done.

Week 10: Reading Diary A

Blackfoot Stories

Two Fast Runners

I like the length of this story. Two Fast Runners reminds me of two high school boys hanging out after school one day. I believe studies have proven that boys are more competitive than girls. In this story, it is safe to say that it has shown that you always do well with home court advantage. 

The Buffalo Stone

This story represents the beginning of a tradition. Folktales are passed down from generation to generation. Many times the story changes over time and  but this story seems to be an original. It clearly states why people pray to the rock.

The Theft from the Sun

You cannot hide. What you do in the dark will come to the light. The Sun is the chief and you cannot avoid the chief. It is somewhat similar to a mother and her children. The mother always finds out what is going on.

The Sun

Indian Epic Untextbook

Bengali Household Tales by William McCulloch

https://archive.org/stream/bengalihousehold00mccu#page/n13/mode/2up

pg. 1

I appreciate how accessible the storybook is. Also, I like the tools provided that help adjust the story's size. You cannot avoid karma. It will come to get you in the most random ways. What is meant to be will be. 

Week Nine: Famous Last Words

First, I would like to say that the feedback that I have been receiving for my storytelling is wonderful. I am really grateful for the comments that everyone has provided. I am also happy that I have been able to create stories. Usually, I like to tell stories to friends and family about the most random things. 

It gives me the opportunity to have control over something and express my creativity. 

Friends and family can always laugh with me and listen to my stories. They kind of have to listen because I am going to tell it anyways. *Laugh out loud* I know that someone has to read my story for a grade but I do like that someone else enjoys it. 

Sidenote: I am currently watching Millionaire Matchmaker and would like to be on the show. I am not looking for love but I think it would be fun. Oklahoma does not have speed dating that I can attend. I just like to socialize. I would have to work really hard to have the income to get on the show. Anyways, that is my random fact for today.

Millionaire Matchmaker

 Outside of school, I am have made progress on some of my personal goals. I am really happy about that. I am currently looking for a job, which seems to be a full-time position itself. I know more of what I do not want to do versus what I would like to do. I have a few options but nothing that says, "This is life." I am sure that it would just come to me one morning. Hopefully, that morning is some time within the next two weeks. I feel like there is just so much out there for me to choose from. Can you tell that I may be a little indecisive? Yikes!

YouTube Tech Tip

Week Eight: Reading Review Week

I have learned that it is easier to focus on a few stories rather than focus on all the stories. For the longest time, I would write a review over each story in the book. Now that I write about a few key stories, I really enjoy the material more. Also, I like taking notes as I go versus waiting until I finish all the reading. I do like to read but not the genre used in this course. This genre is nice but I would not like to read it for pleasure. I enjoy stories that have a little more drama or suspense. For future students, I would suggest that they work ahead of time. Commit to a certain amount of hours a day.

True Friendship

A story that I have really enjoyed this semester is The Woman, the Ape, and the Child. I appreciated the length of this story and its storyline. It was a great story. I could definitely see it as a movie.

Indian Epic Untextbook

Twenty Jataka Tales retold by Noor Inayat

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.39000000078449;view=2up;seq=12

pg.63

I most enjoyed The Empty Lake. It was a great story. It was short and to the point. Also, I liked the narration of the story. I chose this particular story because of the title. The Empty Lake seemed to have a deeper meaning to it; therefore, I was curious. It was very easy to read and entertaining. I also like being able to flip through the pages.

Week Seven: Famous Last Words

I believe during the first week or two that I wrote about starting a personal blog. My friend has been encouraging me to create one, so that, I can express myself more. Well, I created one earlier this semester but never posted anything. During this past week, I was inspired by an old friend. 

I realized how fast time flies by. When we were little, we could not wait for the next step in life such as: going to high school, getting our driver's license, joining the cheer squad, and having a boyfriend. We were crazy for wanting all of those things coming so soon! I can say that now that I have experienced all of those things. I can say that now that I can look back to elementary school and know things were so simple. 

My friend Jessi, also known as Biskit for whatever reason, called me crying and I was shocked. I had not spoken with Jessi in almost two years. We did not have a huge disagreement or anything of that nature. We just seemed to grow apart and I no longer felt comfortable. She moved to California our sophomore year of high school, which was hard on us both. Luckily, she returned to Oklahoma to attend college at a local junior college. I was so happy that she was back and believed that everything would begin exactly where it ended two years prior. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Jessi was a completely different person. She was drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and had had several boyfriends. On the other hand, my mother did not let me do anything outside or school, work, and sports. I did not really have time for anything outside of those focuses. I claimed to have had a boyfriend in high school but it was not like having a boyfriend now that I am older. 

Jessi and I hung out and conversed in moderation. Everything was going great until she dropped out of college. She had a full ride sports scholarship and dropped out! She began to date this guy, which I have known for years and do not really care for, and moved closer to where we both grew up. The two lovebirds moved in with each other and began to play house. I tried many times to warn her of the path that she was on; but she would never listen. We began to talk to each other less and less as the days went by. I was too busy to consume myself with a friend that was not as focused on school as I was. 

During the summer before my Junior year, she calls me and asks that I be her maid of honor. Lol. I was shocked but said yes. She was really about to marry this guy. If it made her happy, then I would be happy for her. So, fast forward to about two years later, which is present day, and I get her call of her hysterically crying. She found her ex-fiance cheating on her with some other girl.  After calming her down, she catches me up on everything else going on in her life. She still is not in school, she has a job but is actively seeking another, and she does not plan on going back to school. She says that the LPN program, 15-18 months of school, is just too long. 

My point is that I am really proud of myself. The group of friends that I had from middle school and high school have fell off the wagon. Out of the five friends, I am the only one still in school. I do not have a baby. I do not have a record. I do not feel that I am better than any of them. I just appreciate my mother. I was always teased for having a strict parent but it has gotten me this far. I have had the senioritis this semester but that phone call has helped. I'm appreciative. 

Which do you choose?

Week Seven: Reading Diary B

The Monkey King Unit

It is really sad that the Ape King is behaving like he is. Many people are making complaints about him and he does not care. He does not even appreciate the fact that he has been given a lesser punishment He think he deserves everything. In The Great Saint, he finds out that his position of Stable Master is nothing special. It is not even a rank. His attitude towards this is crazy. He breaks his way out and returns to his mountain. He considers himself Heaven's equal. the Great Saint.

I never knew that someone could be so ungrateful and arrogant. Not even an ape.

Ape King

Week Seven: Reading Diary A

This week I have chosen to read The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung unit. I really like how the unit explained the Monkey King's life from his birth and so on. In week six, I noticed that many classmates chose to do their storytelling on Handsome King of Apes, which is why I chose this particular unit. This story reminds me of a quote that I have seen on numerous occasions but never really focused on its true meaning. The quote says something like "if an egg is cracked, then life has ended; but if the egg is cracked from within, then life has begun." I am not sure where this quote comes from besides social media. Another story that I really liked was Sun Wu Kung Gets His Name. I like to think of my name as my identity. I couldn't imagine  not having an identity. I think him getting his name was truly the beginning for him.

The young king

Week Six: Famous Last Words

Week six has been a pretty good week. I think I had a good story this week and received great feedback. Also, others had great writings too. As far as school is going, everything is pretty great. All my classes are going well and the semester is half way over. 

Spring break is coming and I cannot wait. I do not think I have a lot planned. I do know SXSW is that week. Friends and I have talked about going there. Also, I have a sorority conference that week too. I am sure that I will be busy Spring Break. I would like to relax and do absolutely nothing. That just is not possible. 

I have been applying for jobs after graduation, which is a job itself. Lol. Completing applications can become so time consuming. I am sure it will be worth it, when I receive a great opportunity. 

There is an upcoming event that I am super excited about. Oklahoma State University is hosting The Big 12 Conference. Students form all over the nation attend. There are many events over the weekend. I cannot wait to see some friends that live too far for weekend visits. There will be a greek stroll off! These are the best! They are similar to step shows but a little more relaxed. Also, there will be a party!

Speaking of step shows...There will be a step show in Norman on Friday, March 20th at The Embassy Suites Hotel at 11:00pm. I think everyone should go. It will be a great chance to learn about a different culture and black greek letter organizations. Also, who does not want to see a step show? No one. Lol. It is always fun to see students doing something that they love. Be there or be square.

All or Nothing

UnTextbook Online Reading Options

1. Laptop
2. I read the PDF in my browser, Safari.
3. Heath seemed like a great option to read PDFs. I like how all of the controls are right there for you to see. On the other hand, I think Google would be best for this class because we use Blogger. I like everything in one place.
4. I don't think any of the options were undesirable.
5. I read a lot of books on my laptop. I use the Nook app by Barnes and Noble. I like it more compared to actually buying the physical book.
6. I use the same technique for note taking. Sometimes, I use Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
7. I use the same method for note taking.
8. I do not like to print anything. I do not like to use paper, if I don't have to. If I do, I print on campus.
9. No comments

URL Shortener Tech Tip

I really like this tech tip. It will definitely come in handy!

Short URL: goo.gl/EZ8EIi

Original URL: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/book-negroes-illuminates-journey-freedom-n305491

Reading Diary Essay

I have really enjoyed this unit, Nigerian Folk Stories. This unit offered a variety of topics such as: tricksters and fools, women's roles, and children's stories. The stories were very entertaining and to the point, which I enjoy. 

There were a few stories that consisted of trickery and foolery. Of the Pretty Stranger Who Killed the King, was the first story of the unit. This was a great example that you should always treat others with respect because you never know how karma will come back to get you. A country really disliked their king that reigned over them. He was not friendly and boasted about his riches every chance that he had. A decietful witch dressed up as a pretty young woman, so that, she could attract the attention of the king. The relationship between the two progressed very quickly and they married. While the entire town slept one night, the pretty newlywed sliced her husband's head off! Crazy! Karma came back to retaliate against him in one of the worst ways. 

The women in this unit were the center of attention in a few stories. There are about six stories which women swept off their feet, helping someone less fortunate, or the person deceiving or being deceived. For example, The Disobedient Daught Who Married a Skull is the story that I chose for my week six storytelling. I was really able to be creative with this story and write a story that reminded me of a movie. It was not necessarily a particular movie; but I imagined a move as I wrote it.

The Woman, the Ape, and the Child was a heartbreaking story. A lustful man, Edem Effiong, tried to seduce the wife of Okun Archibong and mother to a newborn. A jealous man told a husband that his wife was romantically involved with an ape. The husband shot the ape, unsuccessful at killing him, so the ape tore the newborn baby to pieces. Next, the husband shot the wife out of anger! Love will make you do some crazy things.

The little baby could have grown to read some of the stories in this unit. Many stories answered questions that most children ask. Why are bats only awake at night? Why do hawks like to eat chickens? Why do cats eat rats? Why do we bury humans, when they die? Why does the moon disappear and come back? These stories answered questions in a rememberable way.

There are many stories that have the answers to these questions. I am twenty-two and still enjoyed these stories. Yes, I know the real reasons why these things happen but it is nice to have a cool story that goes along with it. 

Ape and Baby

Week Six: Storytelling

A Parent's Nightmare

The night was late with a nice spring breeze. The stars illuminated Norman, Oklahoma, sometimes referred to as Nompton. It was the eve of May Graduation at the University of Oklahoma. Students, graduating and not graduating, crowded Asp Avenue with intentions to celebrate their accomplishments big and small. Destiny, a graduating fifth year senior, was one of the few that did not have such a jovial spirit as she laughed, drank, and danced with friends and strangers. It was as though she was just there so that she would not get fined.

Many students on campus admired Destiny's beauty, her poise, her intelligence, and her involvement in the community. She also considered herself to belong to the elite on campus. Her resume was very extensive. She believed that during her collegiate career that she remained faithful to her morals, values, and goals. She rarely dated because she had standards that could not be questioned. She was very selective with who she chose to associate herself with. The thought of being seen on social media in the wrong way frightened her.

Bang! A door slammed and hit Destiny.

"Hey! Watch out for the beautiful lady. You should still have some type of respect even if you are drinking!" said this tall Italian guy. His curly brunette hair blew in the breeze and his muscular arms flexed. He turned and smiled at Destiny with perfection. His teeth were white and straight.

It was love at first sight.

Destiny found herself consumed by admiration and unable to respond. Her friends began to laugh and sing, "Ooooh...Destiny has a crush." The two lovebirds locked eyes and time stood still. He held her in his muscular arms for her knees seemed weak. He took in her beauty.

Four weeks later...

As Destiny's father walked her down the narrow church aisle covered with roses, family and friends gazed in awe at her elegance. Her mother could not stop crying her eyes out. Her sobbing was somewhat distracting but no one could blame her. Her tears expressed the pain that she was feeling. Her little girl was marrying a random boy that she barely knew and moving overseas the next day.

"I do!", said the two newlyweds. They left the altar with bright smiles and focused on a happily ever after. The newly married Mr. and Mrs. Tinkleberry traveled hours to their new home, Chris Tinkleberry's hometown.

Unfortunately, their honeymoon did not last very long. Chris only wanted to marry Destiny to help grow his illegal businesses. The plan was for Destiny to lure rich druglords while Chris robbed them of their riches. Chris's sister, who was also part of the illegal festivities, felt sorry for the beautiful girl. The sister knew that her brother was up to no good and did not deserve such a wife. The sister knew that Destiny was raised in a different environment.

The sister started stashing money so she could send Destiny back home. Destiny once was a beautiful girl that had her whole life ahead of her. Unfortunately, one wrong decision ruined her life. After about two weeks, she sent Destiny back home by boat.

Once Destiny arrived home, she became a different person. She followed her parents' wishes and married a family friend. They lived happily ever after forever.

The Proposal at graduation

Author's Note: I chose to use The Disobedient Daughter that Married a Skull for this week's storytelling. Afiong had beauty that every other female in Calabar wanted and that made every man fall in love. Afiong was aware of her beauty and denied every man that asked for her hand in marriage. She wanted to marry the best-looking man on earth. She knew that she was not going to settle for just anyone because she deserved better. A skull borrowed body parts from other skulls so that he could look the best for Afiong. He got a new leg here. He got a new arm there. Her parents warned her about him. They knew that all that glitters is not gold. Soon enough they realized that there was nothing that they could say to their daughter. They finally let the two marry. The skull took Afiong back to the graveyard, which was not what Afiong imagined. She thought they would live in a luxurious home and have a luxurious future. The skull's mother wanted to send her back to her parents. His mother knew that he was up to no good. She disguised Afiong and really wanted to return her back to her parents. I decided to add a little drama to my story. I tried to make the story somewhat like what would happen in a movie. I changed the setting of the story and made it something that I could relate to. Many men did not ask to marry Destiny but wanted to date Destiny. Instead of a graveyard, I changed it to a bad neighborhood. Also, I changed the mother that sent Afiong home to a sister.

Bibliography: Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell (1910).

Week Six: Reading Diary B

Nigerian Unit

The Story of the Lightening and Thunder

I feel sorry for the Ram, Lightening. No one should ever be so angry that there anger destroys the peacefulness of others. Especially, a child. The king did right to make them live far away in the sky. The poor mother needs a husband that can help raise her son to be a respectable man.

The Bush Cow and the Elephant

The chief was completely wrong for shooting them with a bow and arrow. I think the leader should have found a better way to put an end to the fighting. That was an amateur decision.

The Cock Who Caused a Fight Between Two Towns
Jealousy is such a cruel thing. It causes more issues than what seem to exist. The half-brothers should know to trust each other. Friends should never come between family members. I am glad that everything ended well. I am sad that many men died and the cock was killed.

The Affair of the Hippopotamus and the Tortoise
Poor king hippo. The tortoise cheated and that is not fair. I think a better way to go about the situation would be to genuinely get to know the king. The king was willing to feed the people in his own home. I don't think he was too worried about everyone knowing misname but more worried about them actually caring about him.

Why Dead People are Buried
This story is very interesting. It can be interpreted so many ways. Today, a dog is known as a man's best friend. I feel like it is because the dog is loyal; therefore, I am sure that the dog would have given the word correctly. I guess he did but the sheep beat him to the delivery.

Of the Fat Woman Who Melted Away
This story is too comical for me. Lol. Why would someone want to marry a woman that is made of oil. How do you have feelings for oil like that? Once again, one's jealousy ruined the happiness of someone else. At least, the husband did the right thing by returning the jealous wife to her parents.

Why the Moon Waxes and Wanes
This is another great story. I really enjoy this unit. This would be another story to tell children that ask a million questions. Lol. The poor woman was too greedy. She didn't care about the moon. She only cared about herself.

How the Tortoise Overcame the Elephant and the Hippopotamus
Another cunning character. The tortoise was too clever for the elephant and the hippopotamus. Why couldn't he just go to work like everyone else? Also, why would he want to be separated from his son. I realized that this unit highlights the selling or sacrificing of children.

The King and the 'Nsiat Bird
I have always wondered why some birds insist on invading town. For example, the birds at Sooner Fashion Mall are everywhere. I like the explanation for the birds being everywhere humans are.

Concerning the Hawk and the Owl
I agree with the hawk's friend about others that do not make much noise. I watch a lot of crime and drama shows such as: Castle, Lifetime, CSI:Miami, and Fatal Attraction. The person that is always guilty is the one that does not make a scene. I am very mindful of people that are very quiet in a room or try very hard not to be noticed.

The 'Nsasak Bird and the Odudu Bird
Why must we deceive our friends? I guess it is an "every man for himself" kind of world. I commend the Odudu bird for being honest. He is the true winner. Unfortunately, he starved to death and then his remains were eaten.

The Election of the King Bird
I like that Essiya did not feel the need to possess many slaves. As humans, we do not think that slavery exist for the animals too. The eagle is the definition of a true leader. A leader that is respectable doesn't have anything to prove.

African Fish Eagle