Reading Notes: The Brothers Grimm, Part B

I started with the story of the Six Swans. I somewhat like that even though she was beautiful, the king wasn't happy. I'd like to believe he was more than just a shallow man who wanted a trophy wife. I also liked that he protected his children, showing me that he's actually a decent human being who was just put in a tough spot. The other king? Yeah, didn't like him as much. Who marries a girl who is clearly struggling and NOT SPEAKING.. Ah well, at least the girl is faithful to her family. I cannot imagine 6 years of not speaking or laughing. What a terrible fate, but I guess family is worth it. I'm glad she stuck it out until the end.

True family. Image: Un-Textbook

Reading Notes: Crane (Brothers Grimm), Part A

The "Robber Bridegroom" caught my attention, so I knew I had to read about The Brothers Grimm.
In the story of the Fisherman and his Wife, the wife was really starting to annoy me with how unsatisfied she was with everything. I would have left such a terrible person, or at least, not have married her.. I liked that the bride had a gut feeling that the man wasn't a good one. Female instincts are not be mocked! I would have run from that house the moment I heard that voice seemingly come from nowhere. Yikes, what a dark house. I tried my best not to visualize what happened with the other young girl..At least she got justice in the end. Good riddance.

Serves her right. Image: Un-Textbook

Reading Notes: Italian Popular Tales, Part B

For the extra credit reading this week, I wanted to finish up the Italian Stories from last week! I'm glad Master Francis had "incomparable courage" because if it were me, I would most definitely have run at the idea of a strange voice coming from a strange hole in the ground.. Wow, I never would have guessed the man was Pilate. What an interesting reveal, but so sad for the poor carter. Pilate was "neither saved nor damned". What a fate. So, the second story had me cringing from the start. Incest- no bueno. I was laughing at the poor sexton who could not catch a break, even though he wasn't exactly being careful, just putting everything on benches. I honestly did not expect the story to actually end happily, but hey, good for him. He got the dog hair.

How could such a little cutie make a man run in circles to heal him? Image: Wikipedia

Famous Last Words: The Last Stretch

I cannot believe it is already time for finals. This semester has flown by with no signs of stopping until finals have stomped all over me. Unfortunately, I have not always been the most diligent with this class. Because it's online, I think it's harder for me to keep track of things and remember to actually set aside time for it. By the time I remember or get free time, it will be too late for me finish things, most specifically, the project.
As far as the reading goes, I liked this week's a lot. As a huge fan of Disney and fairy tales, I liked hearing about Puss in Boots' origin. Honestly, I had never heard of him until I watched Shrek, so I didn't even realize he actually had a story of his own. As a supporting character, he was hilarious. His cockiness, the boots, and his accent were some of the most entertaining things about him. I liked that the original Puss in Boots also had a witty side to him. It seemed unusual for a cat, of course, but I think it was an entertaining story that could add another dimension to our beloved animated friend if we use our imagination a little bit.
My other classes are a little hectic right now. My finals actually begin this week, so I'm definitely worried. I have a presentation in my genetics lab tomorrow along with a lab report. Then, I have a lab final on Wednesday as well as a chapter test and final on Thursday. I'm not the best at planning my time, as I've sadly said before, so that's all starting to catch up with me. I'm trying to be proactive and balance all my classes, but it's tough, especially when we don't really have a Dead Week.. All my professors are still teaching brand new material, so it's going to be hard to crank them all out. Hopefully, it goes well!

This will be by the end of this week. Image: Pinterest

Wikipedia Trail: From Puss in Boots to the Oscars

Since my reading for last week was Puss in Boots, I decided to start with him. I wanted to learn more about the original fairy tale, where he was also known as "The Master Cat" which seems fitting. Perrault was apparently not the first one to use a trickster cat as a hero, as Puss in Boots has been used. From there, I decided to learn more about the movie Shrek. This was one of my favorite movies when I was growing up, and Puss in Boots was a great addition. I cannot believe it actually came out in 2001... It feels like just yesterday that I was watching it for the first time. Apparently, it won the first ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature, which is an awesome acclamation. So, I decided to look at the other movies that have won the same honor. Inside Out, Zootopia, and Coco have won for the past three years. It's cool to see that so many different movies can be successful in different ways.

Learning by HEART: Happiness Jar

So, I know this is already too late, so I probably won't be able to share my results, but I really like this idea. Especially with finals coming up, it's very hard to find things to be happy about. If I was trying to find something for today, I would say I'm happy I have a job that I like. It's not the easiest job in the world, but I learn so much and my physicians are great, so I'm very thankful. Let's hope I can keep this going for the rest of the week!

Growth Mindset: Cats Galore

As most cats do. Image: Growth Mindset Memes from BlogSpot
I liked this because lately, I've been trying to take more time to smell the roses which for me, is definitely a new thing for me. I normally spend so much time trying to finish everything up and take care fo what I have to do, that I forget to take some time for myself. It's definitely good to try new things.


SAME. Image: Pinterest
I picked this one simply out of amusement. There have definitely been times when I have been trying to fix a problem. I have gone the most complicated routes before realizing there was a much simpler solution. This picture is hilarious.


Cuteness to the max. Image: Pinterest
I picked this out of sheer cuteness. I don't actually like cats in real life, because I'm not great at handling pets, but I do think they're adorable in pictures. Perseverance is key to succeeding. 

Reading Notes: Italian Popular Tales, Part A

For the extra-credit reading this week, I went with Italian Popular Tales. As always, I'm a sucker for all things princess. Sisters can never be a good thing in these stories.. I think it's so tragically ironic that the youngest daughter asked for something so simple and pure compared to the other two, yet that's what led to her father's predicament. It's so different from Beauty and the Beast, but I recognize a few similarities here and there. It does suck that she chose to marry him simply because he had the power to heal her father. I liked the last story; I think I've read another version of it, and I liked that the snake was defeated by his own ideas.

Always the villain, never the hero.. Image: Pixabay

Reading Notes: Puss in Boots, Part B

Finishing off Puss in Boots!
First off, I had no idea that troll head meat was as good as beef.. I had to reread that a few times to make sure I understood it properly. I echoed the wife's sentiments on leaving a huge sack of money on the floor because he was worried about a cow.. So the trolls can also be candles? At least they got their fish from an actual river., even if their eyes are apparently connected to fish. I wonder what the moral is here haha, because this guy is a unique one. Is it terrible that all I want is to be rich, as well? How funny that the same spot grew a plant saying his secret. Thank goodness it's not real life!

No candle? No problem. Image: Blogspot

Reading Notes: Puss in Boots, Part A

This week, I decided to read Puss in Boots! He was one of my favorite characters in the movie Shrek, so I was interested to hear about his roots. It's hard to imagine him without his accent and sword. His cleverness with the ogre was entertaining to imagine in my head. How odd for a daughter to say she looks at her dad like she looks at salt in her food.. I mean, I guess it could be a compliment since salt adds flavor to food? I liked the Cinderella parallel here, even though it was the King's son, so doesn't that make them siblings? I was glad to hear how she did end up meaning the salt comment in a good way, though, even if it could have been worded a little better. The story about the dragon was slightly confusing.. Did he say the making his back straight comment because the guy was a hunchback? That didn't really make sense to me.

How the dragon was tricked... Image: BlogSpot

Reading Notes: Beowulf, Part B

So for this week, I continued reading Beowulf!
Firstly, the part with the monster just walking around was pretty terrifying. Of course, at the same time, Beowulf is also having a nightmare. I didn't realize their first encounter would be so soon. I'm so surprised that no one else woke up though, even if magic was at work.. I liked that Beowulf didn't kill him, but at least, got the upper hand in that fight, which was a little too gruesome for me. I like his fighting spirit. Of course, Grendel has a mother who sounds just as terrifying as him. I thought Grendel would be the only climax to this part, so I like that they gave him more challenges. How sad that he had to die, but I'm glad he did it victoriously.

See? Super creepy. Image: Stories of Beowulf

Reading Notes: Robin Hood, Part B

Part B started with a classic well known "Robin Hood move" in stealing from the rich to give to the poor. It was ironic to me how in the second story, the other beggars call Little John a low-life when they're doing the exact same thing.. At least he got some money for his troubles. Also, how was the old woman mistaken for a young, strong man?? While an entertaining picture, I was skeptical of its success. I like that for all of Robin Hood's good traits, he still has some vanity about him, which is what the Golden Arrow part is built on, even if he was disguised, yet again. I was a little sad to hear about his death. The story does a good job of developing him, and you end up knowing Robin Hood well after reading about all of his adventures.

The man himself. Image: The Robin Hood Project

Reading Notes: Ballads of Robin Hood, Part A

For this week, I'm reading about Robin Hood! Like a lot of others, I'm sure, I first heard about Robin Hood when I was maybe 5 years old. I was always torn on him stealing from the rich even though he was giving to the poor, because it was technically still stealing, right? While reading, I couldn't help but hear the words being read aloud in a Scottish accent. The name "Little John" for such a large fellow reminded me a little of Lenny Small in Of Mice and Men. I noticed the author used the word "bold" frequently before Robin Hood's name. He seems much more sly in this version that the fairy tale we're all so used to hearing. I was surprised to see the Robin Hood actually fought the pedlar to the point of "blood in streams did flow." At least he seems to become friends with everyone eventually. It's definitely interesting, even if it's slightly hard to understand completely.

With all that red, some might say he resembles another jolly man who also has an affinity for red and gifts.
Image: Look and Learn History Picture Library

Reading Notes: Beowulf, Part A

For this week, I decided to read Beowulf. I remembered some of my high schools read a version of this poem, so it caught my eye. I liked all the descriptive imagery on the first page alone like their eyes burning blue like the sea and their helmets being decorated with black ravens' wings. I found myself feeling sorry for Beowulf early on. He was strong, but he was lonely. The imagery in the Wanderer's song was amazing. The "limitless gray sea" and the "green-white icebergs floating treacherously" added a lot to a song, something that isn't seen to begin with, let alone in a story. I['m excited about the second part, to see if Beowulf successfully defeats the monster or not.

The great confidence of the king and queen in Beowulf. Image: Google Books: The Story of Beowulf 

Reading Notes: Native American Marriage Tales, Part B

I continued the second half of Native American Marriage Tales.
I liked the mysterious allure of the women on the rock, but I was a little surprised to see no one had any problems with him killing his "brothers-in-law" for food. Then, as I kept reading, I realized that was simply me making judgments too quickly.. It's an interesting concept, living by killing each other. I wonder why no one could touch him for 8 days, and how the deer knew about this rule. I would have liked a little more backstory there. I was also surprised that his former wife married and apparently had no problem with her man going and marrying another woman without her knowledge. I liked that this story laid the foundation for the high regard the Native Americans had for the deer. I liked the story, especially the fact that no one died, like in my last story.. The True Bride was funny. I liked that the stepsister spat out toenails instead of gold. What a contrast! I also hoped that the husband would have known his wife a little better to know that she didn't want her stepmother at the birth of their child. I wish they could have developed her personality a little more so the reader would feel more compassion when she was thrown into the lake. I liked that the four brothers came to her rescue, once again. I was surprised that the stepmother didn't take the babies, but left him under the house where the hole was. I liked the contrast between the "lazy" apple-tree, horse, and spring and the hard-working dog who ran miles and miles to help his foster-children. Also, I'm always happy when the couple ends up together and it's a happily-ever-after for everyone. Overall, I really liked this unit. I'm a sucker for romance, and most stories delivered! I liked the twists and conflicts, and everything usually tied together in the end.

The laziest and the hard-worker. Image: Public Domain Pictures

Reading Notes: Native American Marriage Tales, Part A

For this week's reading, I read Native American Marriage Tales, starting with The Piqued Buffalo-Wife. I thought it was interesting that the boy had to pick his own father as opposed to the father coming forward and claiming him. How did he know who his father was? I did like that the father had to identify his son in the end, even if some cheating was involved. I would like for there to have been a stronger bond between them. I liked The Woman Stolen by Killer Whales, but I felt like it was too short. I would make it longer if I picked this for my story. The Bear-Woman was also interesting. I didn't like the sister turning into a bear, though, since it meant her killing all those people. I also didn't understand why she continued to play with her little sister like nothing had happened.. I did like the ending where the siblings became stars in the sky, making the Big Dipper and the Bear.

Ursa Major and the Bear- the siblings' final resting place. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: American Indian Fairy Tales, Part A

I know these were American Indian fairy tales, but the moment I read "Iagoo", I immediately thought of Iago from Aladdin and had a good feeling about my story. I liked that there was a South Wind to counter the North Wind; it illustrates the importance of balance. I also like  Shin-ge-bis's boldness; he reminded me of David when he was the only one to fight and then defeat Goliath. I wish Oweenee's sisters were more supportive of her, though. It's a great thing to look at a guy's heart and not just his appearances. I'm glad she stuck to her guts, and eventually got the best of all the siblings' husbands simply because her love was the purest. I also really liked the descriptive imagery towards the end, describing the green forests and the yellow, rolling prairies.

The rolling prairies were swarming with buffalo. Image: Wikimedia Commons 

Reading Notes: Extra Credit, Crash Course: Tricksters

I actually really liked this option for reading. The animations, the stories, everything was so interesting! I picked Tricksters because I was somewhat familiar with the topic. In my Native American Studies class, we discussed tricksters and their prominent place in a lot of Native American legends. It's also the foundation of my project, so I was drawn to it from the start. I liked that animals played such a large part in the stories; they add more color and fun. I felt bad for the wolves and coyotes because they clearly don't have the best reputation. I really liked the series though, and I look forward to watching more!

Extra Credit Reading: Brer Rabbit, Part A

I did like this reading, but because the text was a little hard to understand, I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I could understand most of it, but certain phrases like, "he wuz one er deze yer natchul pacers" had me scratching my head. I liked the Tar-baby story a lot; to be honest, it was so unrealistic, I couldn't help but laugh! I actually found out more about these stories when I watched the Crash Course Mythology videoes about Tricksters. I had no idea that they were based off of slaves and plantation owners, so that was a cool continuation of the story.

Learning Challenge: Sleep More Important than Studying?!

Like most college students, sleep is not the first thing on my mind when I'm cramming for a test. I'm always wishing I could sleep more, but it always seems impossible to get enough. I've heard some of the things in this article before, like less sleep can man lower grades, but I didn't really understand the biological effects sleep had. For instance, the brain resets itself during sleep. It clears synaptic connections, allowing for more to be learned the next day. I'll try to get more sleep this week. Let's hope it works!

Literally me almost every day. Image: Flickr

Week 8 Progress

Initially, I think I was just waiting until the last minute on everything. I also didn't realize how much the extra credit could help me, so I wish I could go back and do more, but I think I'm on a good track to get an A right now. As long as I do everything on time, I believe I'll be okay. Plus, this is one of the only classes that I somewhat enjoy, to be honest. I like reading stories so that's a major pro. 

Hoping to change this today! Image: Flickr

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

To be honest, having to give feedback on other people's work was probably my least favorite part. I definitely enjoyed looking at other people's projects, but I feel so underqualified telling them what I thought or what worked. I think as the weeks have progressed, I've gotten better, but it's still challenging. I've appreciated the comments I've received, as well. I like having someone else's perspective on the stories, especially during a phase where I am still editing, so it's not like I have to go and change too much of the story. I think my Intro and blog show me pretty accurately, so I'm sure people have been getting to know me through the writings and the blog. As the weeks progress, I hope that I continue to progress with commenting and feedback, and hopefully, it's all useful to the recipient.

Week 8 Reading and Writing

I've mentioned how much I miss reading for pleasure, so I've liked the reading assignments. It's nice to read about things not pertaining to chemistry and biology. Plus, the stories are actually interesting! My favorite story has probably been about Sindbad. He frustrated me, for sure, but the stories were so creative. You never knew what Sindbad was going to face, only that he will never reach home without a detour. The best moment was definitely Sindbad deciding to settle down and not travel anymore. I also really like my class project. I didn't know which direction I was headed at first, but I'm glad I figured it out. I'm a little worried about the storytelling part still. I like writing essays and papers, but narrative writings are so different. Hopefully, I get the hang of it!

My favorite sailor. Frustrating but a lucky guy. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Growth Mindset: Read an Article

25 Ways to Develop a Growth Mindset by Sara Briggs

I was struck after reading just the first one. I am not someone who confronts or deals with things. I like to brush them under the rug and pretend they never happened. This mentality affects a lot of the things involved in this list, so I have plenty to fix. I definitely don't see challenges as opportuinites, either. I'm SO TIRED of challenges :) I like when things are easy, and I don't have to work as hard. However, I do like the sense of accomplishment after I finish something that was challenging. I also seek approval from EVERYONE. I am such a people-pleaser despite my denial.. I simply want everyone to be happy. That means trying to get everyone to approve my actions. I'm going to strive to make a new goal for every goal I accomplish. It'll stop me from becoming too lazy.

Every failure can be turned into a lesson. Image: Pixabay

Growth Mindset: Read an Article

For this challenge, I watched a TED talk titled "How to get better at the thigns you care about". I liked that learning zone and performance zone are two separate zones. There is definitely a difference between learning about something new and then working on being the best you can be at that one thing. The story about Demonsthenes and the sword was hilarious. It makes me want to come up with a way not to fall asleep while I'm trying to study! I also like the idea about learning first in a low-stakes area and gradually upping the stakes as you become better.

The man behind the sword. Image: WIkimedia Commons

Growth Mindset: Share Mindset with Someone

For this challenge, I talked to my roommate about what I learned in the TED talk. She agreed, but she was talking about how sometimes, she works best under pressure. This can sometimes mean putting yourself in a high-stakes position even when you might not be ready for that level yet. Maybe some people can skip levels like that, but I'm definitely a gradual progress kind of person. She laughed when I mentioned Demosthenes and I "joked" about how I should poke her with a sword every time she snored in her sleep.

Not always a good thing. Image: DeviantArt

Tech Tip: Google Art Project for Chrome

This is so cool! I can spend hours searching for a theme I like. My biggest issue is that I like seeing different themes every time I open a new tab and a lot of themes don't have that feature. This tip makes it easy and I learn more each time. It's pretty cool to learn about all these different paintings when all I wanted to do was open a new tab.

Tech Tip: Ninja Cat

I'm not going to lie; it took me a while to get the hang of this game. Five minutes later, I was yelling at my cat telling him he was not fit to be a ninja. It was fun! Sometimes, I would type the right letters, but it wouldn't show up on the page? I'm not sure, but definitely one of my favorite assignments!

Tech Tip: Google Reverse Image Search

This is awesome. There have been so many times where I'm trying to find differnet versions of one picture or I don't have the right citations. It's so easy to just paste the picture and so many results come up! I have my pick of which source I want to use. I don't need to know the specifics of a picture to figure out what it is or who is was taken by.

Tech Tip: Typing Test

I work as a scribe in a hospital, so this test was a little more personal for me. I ended up getting 83.61 WPM with an accuracy of 89.76% which isn't terrible! I think I may just be used to medical terms. I'll feel better if I just repeat that excuse to myself. I do like testing myself though. Hopefully, I'll continue to get better.

Tech Tip: Google Timer

I cannot study for extremely long periods of time without a break. I have to take a small break from all the learning. I had been using a timer on my phone, but I didn't know about Google Timer! I definitely like having something on my laptop that lets me see how much longer I have until I can take a Youtube break! It even makes a little beep in case I accidentally close it!

Tech Tip: Course Announcements Email List

I'm someone who constantly checks their email. I have both my gmail and my OU emails synced on my phone so it's easier than having different apps. I like getting a daily email reminding me of what I need to do or things I need to know. I'll almost always check my email, so I make sure not to miss any assignments.

Tech Tip: Browser Bookmarks

Bookmarks definitely make my life easier. There are so many websites I use on a daily basis, so it's nice to get there with just one button. Also, some websites can be hard to find multiple times if they have a long URL or hard-to-spell title, so one click is way more effective. I also like that I can name it anything, so it's more easy to understand.

Learning Challenge: The Anti-library

Reading used to be one of my favorite pastimes. Any free time I had would be devoted to finishing up my books, but once college started, my days of reading for pleasure vanished quickly. Because of this, I haven't had time to put anything on my reading list or add any books to my library. The article discusses an interesting topic. When I first thought about it, seeing all the books I haven't read makes me feel less accomplished, but I guess it could motivate me to learn more. I can't even imagine what Eco's library must have looked like. I do like the idea of surrounding yourself with potential knowledge.

The possibilities are endless. Image: Pexels

Growth Mindset: Multiple Intelligences

I liked the illustration because it was simple, but it provided a lot of information in a small space. I would say I struggle with the intrapersonal intelligence the most. I'm not someone who likes to reflect on myself because I believe ignorance is bliss! I know it's not good, but I hate to look back. I prefer to just keep going, but I should work on this intelligence more. I think musical and interpersonal intelligence are probably two of my stronger ones. 

Another view of multiple intelligences. Image: Flickr

Reading Notes:The Monkey King, Part B

I was surprised that Sun Wu didn't bow to the Lord of the Heavens, but I'm glad he wasn't punished in the beginning. For his actions afterward, I have no excuse for him. It almost reminded me of Lucifer from the Bible, who also let pride get to his head. He thought he could be on the same level as God, like Sun Wu and the Lord of the Heavens. To be honest, I had almost forgotten about his many transformations until he began using them against the warriors. What an ending, I loved the twist about the pillar being Buddha's finger! I'm glad Sun Wu learned his lesson. It's probably been my most favorite story so far. I liked all the action.

He finally bested Sun Wu. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Tech Tip: Word Count

This has definitely been my favorite new addition to my browser. I hated having to write a post in Word first and then transferring it over because I didn't know how many words it was. It seems like a minor issue, but it's so helpful to just hightlight a paragraph and see how many words I'd written. It works on any text regardless of if you've typed it in or not.

Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part A

I haven't read much from Japan yet, so I thought it would be interesting to read The Monkey King. I was a little confused as to why the ape was magially born from the stone. I also didn't believe he would go unnoticed among humans for NINE years just because he was wearing a fisherman's clothes. I liked that the saint knew he was out there, but why didn't he just knock instead of hoping someone would find him? I have no clue how he understood the "secret message" from the three blows to the head. Why wouldn't the saint simply tell him? I liked the specificity of "72" times for how much he could transform himself. It gives the idea that these dangers won't be easy to fight off. I like how the story quickly progeresses as opposed to dragging with the minute details.

The Stone Ape in 2-D. Image: Pixabay

Reading Notes: Southwestern and California, Extra Credit

I read a lot about Native American creation stories and the Coyote in this reading. I liked the idea of the eagle's feathers coming down and becoming trees. It's interesting to see how many different animals are involved in these stories. I like the variety! No one would think a spider could make the world, but it's one of the cooler stories for me. I was itching to know what was in the boxes at the beginning. Coyote's seen as a clever, cunning character, so I understand how he could make the earth and light. I like that these stories address a lot of aspects of the world coming to be and they have stories for it all. They believed in the Great Flood, like Christians, I believe. Even the course of the sun is addressed in one of the stories.

The sun goes where he pleases. Image: Flickr

Tech Tip: Canvas Calender

This is probably one of the best features about Canvas. You can see every upcoming assignment, quiz, or test in every class on one calendar. It's useful and helpful when trying to figure out what to first. I usually keep my agenda updated, but I sometimes use my Google calendar too. Syncing them together brings your entire life together, so it's pretty nice. The only issue is sometimes, professors won't put everything on Canvas until after the assignment, but other than that, it's great!

Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Part B

As I've said many many times before, I'm a huge Disney fan, so naturally, I was waiting to read the original "Aladdin". It was interesting to see all the various differences between the two versions. I liked that it was multiple parts because it allows more depth to the story. I thought the part about the father's grief over the son being lazy was a bit dramatic, but I overlooked that. I liked the evil magician and his brother, but I feel like their storylines were too quickly resolved. This great and powerful magician was taken down by a little bit of poison. It's not that it's unlikely; it just seems too neat and clean. There's no real sense of urgency throughout the story, so I missed that aspect. I did like the small details, like the unfinished window in the castle and the extra genie in the ring. I wish he had more powers, though. Character-wise, I think they did a good job with Aladdin, but I wanted the princess to have some more depth to her. I could be feeling this way because the Disney version emphasized Jasmine's emotions and beliefs so strongly. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I missed Abu, of course!

The moment Aladdin fell in love with his bride-to-be. Image: Un-Textbook

Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Part A

This week, I read Arabian Nights. First off, Scheherazade is one of the most clever and creative characters. I would not be able to tell that many stories in succession, let alone make them interesting. I was very surprised that the genie let him go, especially for an entire year! I feel like this is unlikely. I also feel like an alternative title could be "Story-ception". I don't know that my version will have characters with this much patience. They're all too trusting! I enjoyed the first part, but in all honesty, it was a little too confusing for me.I wish it would be one long story instead of a lot of little ones. It's slightly hard to follow and keep track of who's telling which story. I look forward to reading the rest, though, and finding out how it ends.

A story in a story in a story. Image: Un-Textbook

Reading Notes: The Voyages of Sindbad, Part B

What to say. I think "Luckiest Unlucky Person Ever" is the most appropriate title for Sindbad. His decision to stay home after 7 (yes, seven) terrifying, near-death experiences was a wise one. I liked that the author acknowledged the fact that he was not learning from these experiences. It's interesting to see the creativity of these stories, but they all seem to follow a pattern. Sindbad goes on an adventure, some evil befalls him, we think he may die, then he somehow gets saved and goes home with riches upon riches. It's funny how exasperated I became with him. I'm just glad he finally agreed to stay home and grow old with his family. The best part of the stories was definitely the creative detail. The author included so much imagery, it was like seeing everything in real life. Overall, it's an entertaining albeit slightly frustrating story!

He went down a dark river into the unknown and survived. Again. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Learning Challenge: Reading Out Loud

So this week, I tried reading out loud. Normally, I'm not a fan. I'm much faster if I just read in my head. However, I actually liked reading the stories. It forced me to read every single word and not skip anything. Since I'm a silly person, my favorite part, of course, was adding sound effects and appropriate sounding voices for all the characters. I don't think I can always read out loud since I usually do my reading in the library, but I'll definitely keep it in my mind!

Reading: It's not for everyone. Pixabay

Growth Mindset: Challenge: Exploring Random Growth Mindset Cats

So I decided to look through some adorable pictures of cats and pick some that made me laugh out loud. :)

Yes, he can. Growth Mindset Memes

First off, we have this daredevil. I know cats don't necessarily have the same expressions as humans, but I love the seriousness with this cat. He could be jumping into grass or a pool, for all we know, but he's doing it like a boss.

Maybe he can make it. Growth Mindset Memes

Next, we have this poor little squirrel who just wanted some lunch. Honestly, when I first saw this picture, I didn't even see the cats/ I was wondering why this was a cat meme.. I can't even tell how many there are.. poor mouse.

I hope he finished it. Growth Mindset Memes

Last, we have this ambitious little fellow. I'm going to be completely honest. If that bag had chocolate or cheesecake inside, this cat would literally be my spirit animal. Kudos to him for being motivated.

Wikipedia Trail: From Sindbad the Sailor to Peter and the Wolf

Since I read the story of Sindbad this week, I thought I would start out with some history on him. It's commonly known as part of The Book of One Thousand and One Nights" but it actually wasn't added until the 14th-century manuscript which I thought was crazy! The book had been going for over 1300 years, and it was still being rewritten and modified. As it is a popular tale, I found out that it was one of the aliases of Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo. I remembered liking this book when I was a child, but not so much that I actually remembered the reference, of course. It has such an interesting plotline; I would highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to read through some dense wording! Wikipedia said that the book is as much of a classic as the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. It has been interpreted and retold in so many different ways, some of which included an ogre or vampire took the place of the wolf. The theme of the wolf has been adopted in a few stories including the Russian tale, Peter and the Wolf. It's actually a musical composition, which surprised me, about a boy who rescues his grandfather from a wolf. It's the most popular of Sergei Prokofiev, the author.

A coloring book cover from 1947. Image: Wikipedia

Reading Notes: Voyages of Sindbad, Part A

Voyages of Sindbad taken from The Arabian Nights Storybook
I know I'm only halfway through, but I feel like this should be titled "Why Sindbad and Islands Don't Mix" or something along those lines. No matter how many islands this guy goes to, he still wants to travel the world! I'm trying to decide if I should try to include every story but a little shortened, or stick to one and make it different. I think the more realistic option would be to focus on one voyage. My favorite, by far, was the trip to the valley with the large diamonds and big birds. Even though I was slightly annoyed at Sindbad, I think he was really clever in that scene. I could never have guessed about the large hunks of meat being thrown down, but it's smart. I like that it's all told from Sindbad's point of view. It's comically dramatic, of course, but without a doubt, entertaining.

An eagle larger than an elephant? Yeah, I would be scared too. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Learning Challenge: Pomodoro Timer

So I didn't have an actual Pomodoro timer, but I have an app called Tide that allows me to study for 25 minutes and automatically take a 5-minute break. I like this method a lot because I'm not struggling to stay focused for like an hour. With a break, I keep my mind fresh and not too overwhelmed.

What an ideal Pomodoro timer looks like. Image: Flickr

Comment Wall

My Storybook: Why Redbirds aren't Yellow
It's still in progress, of course, but I hope to make it's fun and interesting way to learn about Native American culture and how they believe animals got certain characteristics.  One of the main stories I want to focus on is "Why is the Redbird red?".

I know, it's a cardinal, but we're going to pretend it's an unnamed redbird. Image: Pixabay

Tech Tip: Canvas Dashboard

I like this feature of Canvas because I can see all my classes in one spot. I also like that I can change their names. Seeing "Sociology" is a lot easier than the course name plus the course number and the section number. THe colora also help to brighten up an otherwise sad page.

Tech Tip: Canvas Notifications

Canvas notifications are very useful. I used to have then turned off, but I realized how helpful they were when I was about to forget something. I no longer miss emails from my professors and get a notifcation every time. Sometimes, they're a little annoying because they can get excessive, but they are helpful.

Reading Notes: Homer's Illiad, Part A

Feedback Strategies

I read Be a Mirror and found it had some very good points. I almost always give feedback starting with "I think" or "I believe". I liked the article focusing on how we should do everything to keep the attention on their style and not pleasing us. Feedback has always been hard for me. I feel like I'm not qualified to give someone feedback on something I myself am not familiar with. It's challenging, for sure. How do I know if they need to add more or what if their style is just different than mine? One thing I really liked about the article was how it empasized focusing on what is on the page and not on what is missing. If you're a mirror, you can't show something that isn't seen. I also read Presence, not Praise which was a fascinating read. I thought the study was very interesting. Since I don't like to critique, I usually stick to praise. I always feel bad saying things that might make the writer feel bad. I liked how it said to identify the unique things as opposed to praising it all without really looking at it. I will definitely try to use some of these tips when I'm critiquing in the future.

Be a mirror. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Topic Research: Why Animals are the Way They Are

So, one of my ideas was to a project about creation stories, but then I realized that the ones about animals are even more interesting. I think it would be cool to look into Native-Amerian stories about how animals came to be with their distinctive features and characteristics. Here are a few that I would like to build upon. Sacred Texts is a great site to find some of these stories.
1. How the Redbird Got His Color. This story says the redbird became red because of a deal he made with a brown bird who wanted to change his color. It would be cool to expand upon the story and add more details, like why the brown bird was so unhappy with his color or why he would trust an animal who could eat him.

 How did this bird come upon the color red? Image: Flickr

2. Why the Bear Has a Short Tail. I like this story for the wittiness of the fox. He tricks the bear into freezing his tail off (literally) and because of that, all future bears were doomed to have a short tail. Unlike the first story, this one has more dialogue and is longer. I would want to develop the characters more, maybe give the fox and bear a backstory so his trickery has more meaning.
3.Why the Mole Lives Underground. In this story, the mole lives underground because he was hiding from people who were angry with him. He helps a man who is in love with a woman who does not return his feelings. The man had tried several ways to win her love but was unsuccessful. I would make the mole friends with either the man or woman so he has a personal connection to both of them. Either he works for the woman and wants her to find someone so she'll be happier or he's friends with the man and wishes to fulfill his wishes.

Topic Brainstorm

1. In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned how much I liked fables, and I used one of Aesop's for my post. I think I would enjoy working with those. Specifically, I like the creation stories. I was in a Native American Studies class last year, and we spent a lot of time on the stories people told to illustrate how the earth came to be. It's fascinating to see the similarities and differences in creation stories as you look at different cultures. If I went with this idea, I would like to research these stories and see how they show a common ending in different ways. The Four Creations is one of many examples I could use.

The Pillars of Creation. Image: Wikipedia

2. A big part of my life is my heritage, which stems from India. I've read a few stories from India, including the Mahabharata in high school, but it would be cool to delve more into the legends and fairy tales that the country has. I used an Indian fairy tale for my Storytelling post, and I liked it a lot. I'm not sure if I would focus on one specific aspect yet or be more general, but I know I want to draw from a variety of stories. The UnTextbook has a ton of stories that would be helpful.

3. Growing up, I heard a lot of nursery rhymes as I'm sure a lot of us did. So I really liked the Nursery Rhymes unit in the UnTextbook. I would like to read them all and try to recreate some of the ones that aren't as well known. It would also be a challenge to keep the plot of the story, but try to find new words to rhyme and go with each other. If I do this one, I know I would have fun with this one. Sometimes, these rhymes don't make sense, so it'd also be cool to try to rewrite them in a more understandable way.

4. Another big part of my life is my faith. I'm Christian, so I was drawn to the Bible Women unit. It's interesting to see how many women are in the Bible, because we only hear about a few, like Esther or Ruth. I would like to research women like the Witch of Endor and Susannah, whose names are less-known, but still played a vital role in the Bible. It's important to remember them and their stories.

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part B

Cupid and Psyche Notes:
I thought Venus's character was very interesting in the first part of this part. She is absolutely furious that her own son would betray her. Again, the descriptive words are used well. Ine one line, it reads that Psyche "drenched the goddess's feet with a flood of tears". I wonder how the story might be different if Venus hadn't become so upset and allowed her son to be happy with Psyche. The loyalty between Hera and Venus is apparently very strong. Again, another thing I might change in my story. The ant part of the story definitely reminded me of Cinderella and was a nice touch in an otherwise heavy scene. I liked that the animals, plants, and even gods were willing to help her. I want to keep those characters to give Psyche some friends in Venus's palace.
The instructions given by the turret for her final mission are a bit on the long side. I would shorten it, if I were to keep that in.
We finally see how the story ties in with the main character, which I like a lot. Sadly, the rest of the story was in another book, but I did like the allusion and lesson the girl learned from the old woman's story.

A happy ending. Image: Wikipedia