Guys.
Introduction of an e-mail I sent to Dr. Raulston earlier this evening
I had to wait for my muse before I could map out my short story for this second out-of-class paper. When I realised that my muse is not being attentive to my needs, I made my little brother sub for my muse. So now I have an outline for my short story, as I borrowed one detail from what my little brother suggested, ran off into an entirely different direction, and mapped out the following: [...]
Yeah. Basically, I told the little brother that I was going to write a short story that offers some perspective on meaning/etc. and that I needed inspiration. However, I had to give him some background information, so I attempted to explain the premise of the class and to sum up a few stories we've read; overall, I did a rather clumsy and generally lousy job, but he grasped the point. He's kinda smart sometimes. Anyway, it was really weird - earlier, before dinner, we were generally p*ssed with each other for no particular reason and couldn't cooperate at all. Then, at home, we were listening to Lord of the Rings soundtracks and goofing off / doing homework in the computer room. It was odd. But I'm used to it.
Thinking about how we were viciously fighting at one point and then having fun together only a few hours later made me realise how weird guys are. (Of course, we girls are not without our little oddities, either.) And then I started thinking about guys, and then I remembered this really cheesy piece that's in The Book of Virtues (edited and compiled by William J. Bennett - I used to read this thing as if it were the Bible, so even though it's hard-back, it's pretty tattered). As I said, it's really cheesy, not to mention out-dated. But it's so idealistic, and I like it despite its flaws.
"Boy Wanted" (This "want ad" appeared in the early part of this century - credited to Frank Crane)
WANTED - A boy that stands straight, sits straight, acts straight, and talks straight.
A boy whose fingernails are not in mourning, whose ears are clean, whose shoes are polished, whose clothes are brushed, whose hair is combed, and whose teeth are well cared for;
A boy who listens carefully when he is spoken to, who asks questions when he does not understand, and does not ask questions about things that are none of his business;
A boy that moves quickly and makes as little noise about it as possible;
A boy who whistles in the street, but does not whistle where he ought to keep still;
A boy who looks cheerful, has a ready smile for everybody, and never sulks;
A boy who is polite to every man and respectful to every woman and girl;
A boy who does not smoke cigarettes and has no desire to learn how;
A boy who is more eager to know how to speak good English than to talk slang;
A boy that never bullies other boys nor allows other boys to bully him;
A boy who, when he does not know a thing, says, "I don't know," and when he has made a mistake says, "I'm sorry," and when he is asked to do a thing says, "I'll try";
A boy who looks you right in the eye and tells the truth every time;
A boy who is eager to read good books;
A boy who would rather put in his spare time at the YMCA gymnasium than to gamble for pennies in a back room;
A boy who does not want to be "smart" nor in any wise to attract attention;
A boy who would rather lose his job or be expelled from school than to tell a lie or be a cad;
A boy whom other girls like;
A boy who is at ease in the company of girls;
A boy who is not sorry for himself, and not forever thinking and talking about himself;
A boy who is friendly with his mother, and more intimate with her than anyone else;
A boy who makes you feel good when he is around;
A boy who is not a goody-goody, a prig, or a little pharisee, but just healthy, happy, and full of life.
This boy is wanted everywhere. The family wants him, the school wants him, the office wants him, the boys want him, the girls want him, all creation wants him.
Ideal, indeed.
Quote of the Day
"An idea is salvation by imagination."
- Frank Lloyd Wright
I had to wait for my muse before I could map out my short story for this second out-of-class paper. When I realised that my muse is not being attentive to my needs, I made my little brother sub for my muse. So now I have an outline for my short story, as I borrowed one detail from what my little brother suggested, ran off into an entirely different direction, and mapped out the following: [...]
Yeah. Basically, I told the little brother that I was going to write a short story that offers some perspective on meaning/etc. and that I needed inspiration. However, I had to give him some background information, so I attempted to explain the premise of the class and to sum up a few stories we've read; overall, I did a rather clumsy and generally lousy job, but he grasped the point. He's kinda smart sometimes. Anyway, it was really weird - earlier, before dinner, we were generally p*ssed with each other for no particular reason and couldn't cooperate at all. Then, at home, we were listening to Lord of the Rings soundtracks and goofing off / doing homework in the computer room. It was odd. But I'm used to it.
Thinking about how we were viciously fighting at one point and then having fun together only a few hours later made me realise how weird guys are. (Of course, we girls are not without our little oddities, either.) And then I started thinking about guys, and then I remembered this really cheesy piece that's in The Book of Virtues (edited and compiled by William J. Bennett - I used to read this thing as if it were the Bible, so even though it's hard-back, it's pretty tattered). As I said, it's really cheesy, not to mention out-dated. But it's so idealistic, and I like it despite its flaws.
"Boy Wanted" (This "want ad" appeared in the early part of this century - credited to Frank Crane)
WANTED - A boy that stands straight, sits straight, acts straight, and talks straight.
A boy whose fingernails are not in mourning, whose ears are clean, whose shoes are polished, whose clothes are brushed, whose hair is combed, and whose teeth are well cared for;
A boy who listens carefully when he is spoken to, who asks questions when he does not understand, and does not ask questions about things that are none of his business;
A boy that moves quickly and makes as little noise about it as possible;
A boy who whistles in the street, but does not whistle where he ought to keep still;
A boy who looks cheerful, has a ready smile for everybody, and never sulks;
A boy who is polite to every man and respectful to every woman and girl;
A boy who does not smoke cigarettes and has no desire to learn how;
A boy who is more eager to know how to speak good English than to talk slang;
A boy that never bullies other boys nor allows other boys to bully him;
A boy who, when he does not know a thing, says, "I don't know," and when he has made a mistake says, "I'm sorry," and when he is asked to do a thing says, "I'll try";
A boy who looks you right in the eye and tells the truth every time;
A boy who is eager to read good books;
A boy who would rather put in his spare time at the YMCA gymnasium than to gamble for pennies in a back room;
A boy who does not want to be "smart" nor in any wise to attract attention;
A boy who would rather lose his job or be expelled from school than to tell a lie or be a cad;
A boy whom other girls like;
A boy who is at ease in the company of girls;
A boy who is not sorry for himself, and not forever thinking and talking about himself;
A boy who is friendly with his mother, and more intimate with her than anyone else;
A boy who makes you feel good when he is around;
A boy who is not a goody-goody, a prig, or a little pharisee, but just healthy, happy, and full of life.
This boy is wanted everywhere. The family wants him, the school wants him, the office wants him, the boys want him, the girls want him, all creation wants him.
Ideal, indeed.
Quote of the Day
"An idea is salvation by imagination."
- Frank Lloyd Wright