Week 14EC - Tech Tips

My Library Tech Tip -

The databases at OU are sorted perfectly. Things are really easy to find because of it and it can make your life so much more easier if we use it in the lead up to a major assignment to ease some of the research time constraints on us.

OU IT

Week 15EC - Learning Challenge

Four Questions to Help You Overcome Procrastination

Procrastination was and is a big issue for me in college. I'm a crammer because I do better under pressure. Not only that but I'd never get anything done if I planned ahead of time. What I learned from the article is to get my priorities straight. If I had done that for a certain class earlier this semester I wouldn't have written 40 pages in 12 hours.

cramming and procrastination

Week 15EC - Tech Tip

Typing Test Tech Tip

Well I'm faster than the average person on the site and more accurate. I haven't taken one of these in over a decade when I was an 8th grader in middle school.

Week 15EC - Biography

Biography - My Pupper Asher

Note: Instead of talking about my first pet (RIP Coco). I will talk about my current pet. Asher.

One of the most energetic and fragile pups in the world.
He can run and play for days but if he eats grass he can get sick.
I didn't raise him like we raised his sister due to him having a previous owner that wasn't the breeder before me.
He's a very sassy boy that loves kisses from everyone.
He loves to roll in the mud when it's wet and likes to taunt the person that is going to give him a bath.
In the bathtub he likes to make things difficult for you because he lays down and sleeps when you're trying to clean him.
When he wakes up all dry he'll throw himself on the floor and roll around to get a little dirty again.
He's tough work but I'll love him unconditionally as long as we're together.

asher

Week 15EC - Microfiction

Note: Real life stories that happened while I was feeding the family live stock.

Story One - The Cannibalistic Chicken (Two Sentence)
I just saw a chicken break and eat an egg that it was nesting on.
It was pretty violent because she still attacked me when I went to pick up the shell.

Story Two - The Goat That Could (Twitterature)
There's a brick wall and there is green on the side. The goat parkour's to the other side to eat the green.

goat parkour

Week 15 Story - Exit The Inferno

exit the inferno

author's note: i start off in the final circle of hell in this story and see where that leads. since this is my last story of the semester this is going to be really free form and loose.

bibliography:
dante's inferno translated by tony kline

what am i even doing down here. why am i here?
who did you betray said a voice in the distance.
betray? no one.
only betrayers live here. we all betrayed someone.
i didn't betray anyone!

the earth shakes as hell knows that is a lie

i didn't!
if that were the case the earth would not be as mad as she is.
does going out to dinner with a life long friend count as betrayal?

the earth screeches

in what sense? asked the voices.
i took a life long friend out to dinner while she was in town. got hit by a cab outside the restaurant.
are you married? asked the voices.
yes.
then that is the betrayal.
i would never. there is some mistake.

mother earth begins to realize that it could be a mistake so she presses those in the ninth circle of hell to make him speak more.

who is she? asked the voices.
a friend from childhood that i haven't seen in a decades.
why was she here? they asked.
to have dinner with an old friend.
what is she to you? they pressed.
a friend and what should have been a business partner.

mother earth opens up as she sees the mistake she made and sends him back to the land of the living.

he awakens in a hospital to his wife and friend making small talk.

what'd i miss? he asked.
we just hammered out a deal where we can be business partners the friend replied.
your friend is persistent. i can see why you two were the best of friends for so long.
well she's a thorn in my side and now she gets to tell me i can't do x, y, or z because i could mess everything up again he said.
did you two date? asked the wife.
no. she ran the lemonade stand i bankrupted us for three summers in a row when we were growing up. he answered.

waking up from a highway out of hell

Week 15B Reading

the final reading notes shall be from dante's inferno by tony kline

1. the minotaur and the centaurs
we drew near the swift creatures. chiron took an arrow and pushed back his beard from his face with the notched flight. when he had uncovered his huge mouth, he said to his companions: 'have you noticed that the one behind moves whatever he touches? the feet of dead men do not usually do so.'

2. the harpies and capaneus

then my guide spoke, with a force i had not heard before: 'o capaneus, you are punished more in that your pride is not quenched: no torment would produce pain fitting for your fury, except your own raving.'

3. the old man of crete and geryon

and he to me: 'you know the place is circular, and though you have come far, always to the left, descending to the depths, you have not yet turned through a complete round, so that if anything new appears to us, it should not bring an expression of wonder to your face.'

4. descending on geryon's back

as the falcon that has been long on the wing descends wearily, without seeing bird or lure, making the falconer cry: 'ah, you stoop!' and settles far from his master disdainful and sullen, so geryon set us down, at the base, close to the foot of the fractured rock and, relieved of our weight, shot off like an arrow from the bow.

5. jason and the demons

the demons rushed from below the bridge and turned their weapons against him with the storm and fury with which a dog rushes at a poor beggar who suddenly seeks alms when he stops. but virgil cried: 'none of you commit an outrage. before you touch me with your forks, one of you come over here, to listen and then discuss whether you will grapple me.'

6. caiaphas

i stood still and saw two spirits who were eager in mind to join me, but their burden and the narrow path delayed them. when they arrived, they eyed me askance for a long time, without speaking a word; then they turned to one another and said: 'this one seems alive by the movement of his throat, and if they are dead, by what grace are they moving free of the heavy cloaks?'

7. ulysses and diomede

i said: 'master, i beg you greatly and beg again so that my prayers may be a thousand, if those inside the fires can speak, do not refuse my waiting until the horned flame comes here: you see how i lean towards it with desire.'

8. the giants

no huge earthquake ever shook a tower, as violently as ephialtes promptly shook himself. then i feared death more than ever, and the fear alone would have been enough to cause it had i not seen his chains. we then went further on and reached antaeus, who projected twenty feet from the pit, not including his head.

9. ugolino

'after a short chase, the father and his sons seemed weary to me, and i thought i saw their flanks torn by sharp teeth. when i woke before dawn, i heard my sons, who were with me, crying in their sleep and asking for food. you are truly cruel if you do not sorrow already at the thought of what my heart presaged: and if you do not weep, what do you weep at?

10. satan

the master said: 'that soul up there that suffers the greatest punishment, he who has his head inside and flails his legs outside, is judas iscariot. of the other two who have their heads hanging downwards, the one who hangs from the face that is black is brutus: see how he writhes and does not utter a word; and the other is cassius, who seems so long in limb. but night is ascending, and now we must go, since we have seen it all.'

nine circle's of hell

Week 15A Reading

the final reading notes shall be from dante's inferno by tony kline

1. dante and virgil
the time was at the beginning of the morning, and the sun was mounting up with all those stars that were with him when divine love first moved all delightful things, so that the hour of day and the sweet season gave me fair hopes of that creature with the bright pelt.

2. the gate of hell and charon

he replied: 'i will tell you, briefly. they have no hope of death, and their darkened life is so mean that they are envious of every other fate. earth allows no mention of them to exist: mercy and justice reject them; let us not talk of them, but look and pass.'

3. limbo

a heavy thunder shattered the deep sleep in my head, so that i came to myself, like someone woken by force, and, standing up, i moved my eyes, now refreshed, and looked round, steadily, to find out what place i was in. i found myself, in truth, on the brink of the valley of the sad abyss that gathers the thunder of an infinite howling. it was so dark, and deep, and clouded, that i could see nothing by staring into its depths.

4. poets and philosophers, heroes and heroines

so i saw gathered together the noble school, of the lord of highest song, who soars, like an eagle, above the rest. after they had talked for a while amongst themselves, they turned towards me with a sign of greeting, at which my master smiled. and they honoured me further still, since they made me one of their company, so that i made a sixth among the wise.

5. paolo and francesca

i came to a place devoid of light that moans like a tempestuous sea when it is buffeted by warring winds. the hellish storm that never ceases drives the spirits with its force, and, whirling and striking, it molests them. when they come to the ruins there are shouts, moaning and crying, where they blaspheme against divine power. i learnt that the carnal sinners are condemned to these torments, they who subject their reason to their lust.

6. ceberus and plutus

like a sail, bellying in the wind, that falls in a heap if the mast breaks, so that cruel creature fell to earth. in that way, we descended into the fourth circle, taking in a greater width of the dismal bank that encloses every evil of the universe.

7. fortune and phylegyas

phlegyas in his growing anger, was like someone who listens to some great wrong done him and then fills with resentment. my guide climbed down into the boat and then made me board after him, and it only sank in the water when i was in. as soon as my guide and i were in the craft, its prow went forward, ploughing deeper through the water than it does carrying others.

8. the fallen angels

so the gentle father goes and leaves me there, and i am left in doubt: since 'yes' and 'no' war inside my head. i could not hear what terms he offered them, but he had not been standing there long with them, when, each vying with the other, they rushed back. our adversaries closed the gate in my lord's face, leaving him outside, and he turned to me again with slow steps.

9. the furies and the heretics

flames were scattered amongst the tombs by which they were made so red-hot all over that no smith's art needs hotter metal. their lids were all lifted, and such fierce groans came from them that, indeed, they seemed to be those of the sad and wounded.

nine circle's of hell

Week 14 Story Lab - Microfictions

Author's Note: Part TWO of my story with my golden retriever. Part One can be found here.

The Quarrel - Part Woooooof 

OH! Now you want to play fetch?
WOOF!
Well I don't want to play.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOF!
Don't give me that!
WOOOOOOF!
What did I say?
woof.

woofers

Week 14B Reading

week 14 will be russian fairy tales by ralston

1. the witch girl
straightway all the sotniks and desyatniks came together and went from house to house. in this one there’s nothing, in that one there’s nothing, until at last they come to the ponomar’s cottage.

2. the headless princess
she began rushing at the priest’s son, but she couldn’t anyhow break into the circle. then she began to conjure up all sorts of horrors. but in spite of all that she did, he went on reading and reading, and never gave a look round. and at daybreak the princess rushed at her coffin, and tumbled into it at full length, all of a heap.

3. the warlock
when he was about to die, he gave orders that his sons’ wives should keep watch over him after his death for three nights, taking one night apiece, that his body should be placed in the outer chamber, and that his sons’ wives should spin wool to make him a caftan. he ordered, moreover, that no cross should be placed upon him, and that none should be worn by his daughters-in-law.

4. the fox physician
the old man was just beginning to say: “not much farther—” when the sack slipped from between his teeth, and the old woman fell to the ground and was smashed all to pieces. the old man slid down the cabbage-stalk and picked up the sack. but it had nothing in it but bones, and those broken very small. the old man went out of his house and wept bitterly.

5. the fiddler in hell
the fiddler hid behind the stove-pipe. then came fiends, and they began to beat the rich moujik, reviling him the while, and saying: “there’s for thee, o rich man. pots of money didst thou bury but thou couldst not hide them. there didst thou bury them that we might not be able to keep watch over them. at the gate people are always riding about, the horses crush our heads with their hoofs, and in the corn-kiln we get beaten with flails.”

6. the two friends
he ran to the village—but the village was not what it used to be. the houses were different; the people were all strangers to him. he went to the priest’s—but the priest was not the one who used to be there—and told him about everything that had happened. the priest searched through the church-books, and found that, three hundred years before, this occurrence had taken place: a bridegroom had gone to the graveyard on his wedding-day, and had disappeared. and his bride, after some time had passed by, had married another man.

7. the shroud
in a certain village there was a girl who was lazy and slothful, hated working, but would gossip and chatter away like anything. well, she took it into her head to invite the other girls to a spinning party. for in the villages, as every one knows, it is the lazybones who gives the spinning-feast, and the sweet-toothed are those who go to it.

8. the coffin-lid
the moujik cut off the left skirt of the shroud, and gave up the coffin-lid. the corpse went to its grave—the grave opened. but just as the dead man was descending into it, all of a sudden the cocks began to crow, and he hadn’t time to get properly covered over. one end of the coffin-lid remained sticking out of the ground.

9. the two corpses
there wasn’t a soul in the chapel, but stretched out on a table there lay another corpse, with tapers burning in front of it. the soldier hid himself in a corner, and remained there, hardly knowing whether he was alive or dead, but waiting to see what would happen.

10. the dog and the corpse
they fastened it to a chain; for a whole year they kept it chained up. but in spite of that, it never forgot how its master had offended it. one day it got loose, flew straight at him, and began trying to throttle him.

11. the soldier and the vampire
they came to where the wedding was; there they were given drink, and treated with the utmost hospitality. the warlock drank and drank, revelled and revelled, and then grew angry. he chased all the guests and relatives out of the house, threw the wedded pair into a slumber, took out two phials and an awl, pierced the hands of the bride and bridegroom with the awl, and began drawing off their blood. having done this, he said to the soldier: “now let’s be off.”

Leshy

Week 14A Reading

week 14 will be russian fairy tales by ralston

1. the dead mother
at midnight the cottage door opened. some one stepped up to the cradle. the babe became still. at that moment one of the kinsfolk suddenly brought out the light. they looked, and saw the dead mother, in the very same clothes in which she had been buried, on her knees besides the cradle, over which she bent as she suckled the babe at her dead breast.

2. the treasure 

he did not go on digging the grave any longer, but took the pot of gold and carried it home. well, we all know what money will do—everything went as smooth as oil! in a trice there were found good folks to dig the grave and fashion the coffin. the old man sent his daughter-in-law to purchase meat and drink and different kind of relishes—everything there ought to be at memorial feasts—and he himself took a ducat in his hand and hobbled back again to the pope’s. the moment he reached the door, out flew the pope at him.

3. the bad wife

well, the imp went to where there were merchants' wives and merchants' daughters, and when they were possessed by him, they fell ill and went crazy. then the peasant would go to a house where there was illness of this kind, and, as soon as he  entered, out would go the enemy; then there would be blessing in the house, and everyone would suppose that the peasant was a doctor indeed, and would give him money, and treat him to pies. and so the peasant gained an incalculable sum of money.

4. the three copecks

the landlord agreed to the bargain. the merchant gave him the cat, received a sackful of gold, and as soon as he had settled his affairs, started on his way back. as he sailed across the seas, he thought: “why should i give the gold to that orphan? such a lot of money in return for a mere cat! that would be too much of a good thing. no, much better keep it myself.”

5. the miser

well the wife did everything exactly as her husband directed  her. while she was sitting there drowned in bitter tears, the moujik came into the room.

6. the water snake

a week passed by, and one day they saw ever so many snakes, a huge troop of them, wriggling up to their cottage. “ah, mammie, save me, save me!” cried the girl, and her mother slammed the door and barred the entrance as quickly as possible.

7. friday

then they told her all that had taken place. she listened to it all, and then began imploringly: “mother friday, forgive me! pardon me, the guilty one! i’ll offer thee a taper, and i’ll never let friend or foe dishonor thee, mother!”

8. wednesday

so the woman took a couple of pails and went for water. as soon as she was outside the door she thought: “mayn’t something terrible happen to me? i’d better go to my neighbor’s instead of fetching the water.” so she set off. the night was dark. in the village all were still asleep. she reached a neighbor’s house, and rapped away at the window until at last she made herself heard. an aged woman let her in.

9. the leshy

the léshy groaned and seemed to be going to fall across the log, but directly afterwards he got up and dragged himself into the thickets. after him ran the dog in pursuit, and after the dog followed the sportsman. he walked and walked, and came to a hill: in that hill was a fissure, and in the fissure stood a hut.

10. the metamorphosis of the dnieper, the volga, and the dvina

one day, after toiling hard afield, they sat down under a bush to eat their last morsel of bread. and when they had eaten it, they cried and sorrowed for a while, and considered and held counsel together as to how they might manage to live, and to have food and clothing, and, without toiling, to supply others with meat and drink.

11. emilian the fool

meanwhile, the townspeople got up a petition against him, and denounced him to the king, saying: “folks say there’s no getting hold of him the way we tried; we must entice him by cunning, and the best way of all will be to promise him a red shirt, and a red caftan, and red boots.”

Leshy

Week 14EC Biography

MUSICAL MEMORY.

I love listening to soundtracks since they help calm me down.
Not only do they calm me down but I use them to study.
I have over 15,000 tracks on my phone.
Composed by Howard Shore, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Brian Tyler, Alan Silvestri, James Horner, etc...
I can listen to them all day.
But I use Howard Shore's music from The Lord of the Rings to truly trigger memories as the score is one of the, if not the best, score ever composed.
I always get lost in the blend that Shore was able to pull off.
Just true and pure symphonatic harmony from his team.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Complete Recordings)

Week 14EC Microfiction

Author's Note: 
I wrote The Quarrel because my golden retriever does not like giving me his ball back when we play fetch. So in order to get the ball back to throw it I always have to threaten him by saying I am leaving.

The Quarrel
Bring me you ball so we can play fetch.
No? Play fetch by yourself then.
Oh now you want to give me the ball.

Pup Playing Fetch

Week 13 Story - King Arthur

Author's Note: Merlin and his followers have enlisted Arthur and his Knights to fight against the Saxons who are invading and killing their families.

Arthur and his Knights have long been unbeatable on the battlefield. That record will be tested against the Saxons. After years of trying to kill the young Roman Knight, Merlin has enlisted Arthur to help repel the invading Saxons. The Romans and Britons shared a common enemy in the Saxons. Together they hoped to repel the invaders. But the Saxons easily overwhelmed the defenses of the Britons and Romans through sheer strength in numbers. The Roman cavalry led by Arthur covered the infantry's retreat to Hadrian's Wall. At Hadrian's Wall the Britons and Romans prepared massive traps. The Britons Archers were lead by Guinevere, when she saw the advancing Saxons she ordered the archers to empty their artillery and to charge out for hand to hand combat. In awe the Roman cavalry lead by Arthur and Lancelot charged into the teeth of the Saxon army. Thousands died. But the Romans and Britons prevailed. The remaining Saxons retreated back to their homeland or were cut down by Roman cavalry before they could board their ships. Merlin and Arthur made a new found alliance to protect Britain long after the Romans left. As a result Knight Arthur became King Arthur. Together he and his new bride Queen Guinevere ruled Britain fairly. And it was all thanks to Merlin being able to put aside his petty difference and join together with an enemy that truly could be his friend if they had just spoken to each other instead of trying to cut each others throats the entire time. Finally, the deceased Knights and Britons were never forgotten. They were never mourned. They were never celebrated. Their memories and sacrifices were handed down for generations to come. Of how King Arthur and his Knights made Britain. An country that would become its own empire as the Romans had theirs.

King Arthur and his Knights

Week 13B Reading

This week we'll take notes on The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs

1. Grendel Attacks
But Beowulf hung between sleeping and waking, and while the spell did not completely deaden his senses, it so ensnared his waking dream that he fought desperately against it in his half-sleep and was not quite overpowered. This Grendel did not know as he placed his great shoulder to the door of Heorot, while Beowulf on his couch tossed in the nightmare that possessed him.

2. The Battle with Grendel
Their bodies wove in and out among the sleepers, and Beowulf felt the hot reek of Grendel's breath upon his cheek, and the sweat stood out on Beowulf's broad brow and ran down into his eyes and blinded him. And Grendel's huge hands sought over and over again to clasp his opponent's head, to crush it in their iron grip.

3. A New Misfortune
Forthwith Hrothgar and his queen hastened to Heorot and there too came Beowulf and his earls, not knowing of the new misfortune. And once again they found the vast hall a scene of death and destruction. Grendel's arm was missing from the roof-tree, and the body of Aescher lay mangled before their horrified gaze.

4. Seeking Grendel's Mother
Above the mere two great vultures with blood-red wings hovered in the foul-rising vapors, crying hungrily to each other, circling and circling.

5. Beowulf Battles Grendel's Mother
Then all the spells dropped from him, and he stood panting above the dead monster. And he saw that the fire of the hearth had leaped high to the roof of the cave. Quickly Beowulf cut off Grendel's head where he lay in the corner of the cave, and then threw the two bodies to the flames.

6. Beowulf's Triumph
There was great rejoicing when at last they arrived at the great hall, and a banquet was prepared, such a banquet as had never before been seen in all the land of the Danes or throughout the North.

7. The Arrival of the Dragon
The servants would have thrown the stranger out again, so disgraceful was his attire, had not Wiglaf, son of Weohstan, called to them to let the visitor remain, for there was something in the man's face that caught the earl's interest.

8. Preparing for Battle
And Beowulf was right, for, even as he spoke, the dragon, writhing his way from the desolation of the king's country, was informed, by magic of the plans that were being made for his destruction, and, switching his scaly tail so that twenty stout trees fell at its movement and snapping gigantic jaws in horrid rage, the creature hastened to protect that which he had guarded during three hundred years of sleepless vigilance.

9. Battle with the Dragon
For a moment there was a death-like stillness in the night. No sound came from the cave, and no steamy breath, and no dull glare of fire. Then with sudden roaring that caused the night to splinter and the earth to quiver in horrified response, the lordliest dragon in all the world rushed from its lair.

10. The End of Beowulf
They brought Beowulf's body to the pyre. He was borne upon his mighty shield, the great sword Naegling was laid upon his breast, and the jeweled crown from the cave was on his brow, and he was carried upon the shoulders of six earls.

Beowulf

Week 13A Reading

This week we'll take notes on The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs

1. King Hygelac of Geatsland
In battle, these lords were fierce and terrible, and their war-cries froze the blood of their enemies. But in their own halls, in times of peace, they often dropped their warlike mien and sang and laughed and fondled their dogs and played jokes upon one another like children.

2. The Young Beowulf
Here and there stood a huge dog, resting his head upon his master's knee and waiting patiently for a rough caress or a chunk of meat. The servants hurried from bench to bench with ox horns adorned with beaten gold and filled with heady mead, that favorite drink of the Northmen, flavored with honey. Large wooden bowls, painted in bright colors and overflowing with various meats, stood on the tables and were dipped into by the seated guests.

3. The Wanderer's Song
Then the tune of the Wanderer changed. His voice fell to a lower note, and he sang of Hrothgar who was king of the Danes, that country not far from Geatsland, across the water.

4. Beowulf's Resolve
Thus spoke Hygelac the king, and great was the shout of approval that went up from all the lords of Geatsland as they crowded round the brave young Beowulf. For here was a Beowulf they had never known before, and they greeted him for the first time as one of themselves, and not as a sullen boy whose strength had been so great that he had been made to seem a fool for it.

5. Beowulf's Journey
As they passed, the birds that slept in the branches of the trees wakened because of the light, and thought it must be daytime, and flew about calling to one another that the dawn had come. And the little animals scurried underfoot, not knowing what to make of this strange disturbance, and squeaking or growling to warn their small comrades.

6. Beowulf Lands in Daneland
For a time Beowulf's earls tried to prevail upon him to turn away from that black coast, saying that they would be dashed to pieces on the rocks, but Beowulf turned a deaf ear and urged his captain forward.

7. Beowulf Comes to Heorot
While they waited for the king, the men from Geatsland looked curiously about them and peered into the dismal hall which in other days had been so famed throughout the countries of the North. Its once shining goldbright pillars were now cobwebbed with the years. The benches were mossgrown. No fine hangings were upon the walls. And on the hearths no fires were blazing.

8. The Words of Unferth
The tables were spread with viands such as warriors crave and there was much mead in great cups. The drinking-horns were passed from hand to hand, and many healths were drunk that evening to Beowulf and his earls, and many cups were raised to the destruction of Grendel.

9. The Words of Beowulf
Then the warriors of Geatsland unfolded their cloaks upon the benches and laid themselves down to slumber, and Beowulf stretched his great length upon the dais of the king and resolved that through the long night he would never once close his eyes. Near the door lay the young Hondscio, Beowulf's favorite earl, who swore that if any one broke through the door of Heorot, he would be the first to give the intruder battle.

Beowulf

Biographical Writing - W12 EC

Note: I wrote about this as social distancing has made me take all of my friendship to an internet communication medium for most of them. 

My virtual friend(s)

I met Tommy, Raj, and Eric on Twitter. I eventually grew close to them. Tommy and I talk sports. Raj and I talk about law school. Eric and I talk about movies and tv shows. Raj and Tommy are night owls that I can ALWAYS talk to. Eric on the other hand falls asleep at 10:30 pm every day. The friendship has evolved into close bond between us that I can confide in them for advice. That type of trust is only bestowed among one person in real life and that relationship started when we were just toddlers.

internet friends

Microfiction Story

Note: I picked the World War Z clip because of the pandemic and the length of our social distancing practices. I picked the Lord of the Rings story because I watched the movie an hour ago.

We have a chance.
But is it really a chance?
We still do not know where it came from.
Or how to cure it.
We have to hide in plain sight because of it.
The damage is irreversible.
Even with a cure.
Bibliography: I tell a much darker version of the ending narration of World War Z as shown here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPRTSaXnwew


Memory isn’t what the heart desires.
Bibliography: Lord of the Rings quote from Gimli

a laughing dwarf

Week 12 Story Lab - Biography

I'm going to deviate from the provided prompts and write about the pandemic and how it has impacted my life. 

Well, COVID-19. I took 18 hours this semester so I yearned for a break from having to go to my in person classes every single day. Spring Break provided that break. Little did I know that Thursday, March 12th would be the last time I would see my friends in Norman until August at the earliest. 

On March 13th I got laid off from my part-time job. A few days later OU moved classes entirely online. It was a massive shakeup in just a few days. The repetitive system rug was pulled out from underneath me. And I could no longer afford to live in my apartment. 

I was able to terminate my lease early and I moved my stuff back. The following day I went to go file my 2019 taxes. My cousin is my tax preparer. Their offices are on the third floor. Elevator was out of service so I walked up and down the stairs. When I walked down I took a tumble and broke my foot. 

Perhaps one of the most disruptive months in my life as everything went against me. Broken foot? sure, I can live with that given we were already locked down as a result of social distancing. I can't live with my family, the cabin fever is real. 

I hope we're all practicing social distancing. But I think the OU football team has us all beat because they've social distanced themselves from greatness for 20 years now. 

me, an introvert

   

Week 12B Reading

This week we will continue to take notes over King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang. 

1. Sir Galahad and the White Knight
The two Knights saluted each other courteously, and then the White Knight told Sir Galahad the story of the shield and how it had been given into his charge. Afterwards they parted, and Sir Galahad and his squire returned unto the Abbey whence they came.

2. Sir Lancelot's Vision
A voice spoke to him, and it said, "Sir Lancelot, more hard than is the stone, more bitter than is the wood, more naked and barren than is the leaf of the fig tree, art thou; therefore, go from hence and withdraw thee from this holy place."

3. The Adventure of Sir Percivale
As soon as it was day he looked about him, and saw he was in a wild mountain, girt round with the sea and filled with wild beasts. Then he rose and went into a valley, and there he saw a young serpent bring a young lion by the neck, and after that there passed a great lion, crying and roaring after the serpent, and a fierce battle began between them.

4. Sir Lancelot and the Five Hundred Knights
Sorrowfully he rode on till he passed a chapel, where stood a nun, who called to him and asked him his name and what he was seeking. So he told her who he was, and what had befallen him at the tournament, and the vision that had come to him in his sleep.

5. Sir Gawaine and the Hermit
Sir Gawaine rode long without meeting any adventure, and from Pentecost to Michaelmas found none that pleased him. But at Michaelmas he met Sir Ector de Maris and rejoiced greatly.

6. The Adventure of Sir Bors
On the shore he found a vessel covered with white samite, and as soon as he stepped in the vessel, it set sail so fast it might have been flying, and Sir Bors lay down and slept till it was day. When he waked he saw a Knight lying in the midst of the ship, all armed save for his helm, and he knew him for Sir Percivale and welcomed him with great joy, and they told each other of their adventures and of their temptations and had great happiness in each other's company.

7. Sir Galahad and the Mysterious Ship
So first Sir Percivale stepped forward and set his hand to the sword, but he might not grasp it. Next Sir Bors tried to seize it, but he also failed. When Sir Galahad beheld the sword, he saw that there was written on it, in letters of blood, that he who tried to draw it should never fail of shame in his body or be wounded to the death.

8. Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad
The next day Sir Lancelot made his way back to Camelot, where he found King Arthur and Guenevere, but many of the Knights of the Round Table were slain, and destroyed more than the half. All the Court was passing glad to see Sir Lancelot, and the King asked many tidings of his son Sir Galahad.

9. Sir Galahad and the Graal
And by and by Sir Bors said to Sir Lancelot, 'Galahad your son saluteth you by me and, after you, King Arthur and all the Court, and so did Sir Percivale, for I buried them with mine own hands in the City of Sarras. Also, Sir Lancelot, Galahad prayeth you to remember of this uncertain world, as you promised when you were together!'

10. The End of Arthur
'Ah, Lancelot,' he said, when he stood looking beside his dead body, I thou wert head of all Christian Knights. Thou wert the courtliest Knight that ever drew sword, and the faithfulest friend that ever bestrode a horse. Thou wert the goodliest Knight that ever man has seen, and the truest lover that ever loved a woman.'

Excalibur

Week 12A Reading

This week we will take notes over King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang. 

1. The Drawing of the Sword
Sir Ector tells Arthur that he is not his father. When Arthur realized that he was King, Ector asked him to make his foster/step-brother seneschal of that lands. And Arthur did so.

2. The Questing Beast
Merlin stalks Arthur and presents himself to Arthur as a boy.

3. The Sword Excalibur
They rode into the town of Carlion, and Arthur's Knights gave them a glad welcome, and said it was a joy to serve under a King who risked his life as much as any common man.

4. The Round Table

Merlin asked the King to give him a company of Knights and esquires, that he might go to the Court of King Leodegrance and tell him that King Arthur desired to wed his daughter, which Arthur did gladly. Therefore Merlin rode forth and made all the haste he could till he came to the Castle of Cameliard, and told King Leodegrance who had sent him and why.

5. The Passing of Merlin
When Merlin was under the stone, she used the magic he had taught her, and the rock rolled over him and buried him alive, as he had told King Arthur.

6. King Arthur and Morgan le Fay

When she beheld that sight, her heart fell, for she dared not touch the sword, knowing well that if Arthur waked and saw her she was a dead woman. So she took the scabbard, and went away on horseback.

7. The Quest of the Holy Graal

The Knights, against King Arthur's wish, made a vow to find it and gave up their duties of redressing wrongs and keeping order to pursue the beautiful vision. But most of them, for their sins, were unsuccessful, like Sir Lancelot, and the Round Table was scattered and the kingdom was weakened by the neglect of ordinary duties in the search for what could never be gained by mortal men. This appears to be the moral of the story, if it has any moral. But the stories are confused almost like a dream, though it is a beautiful dream.

8. The King's Pilgrimage

In his dream it seemed that the King had ridden away to the quest and had left his squire behind him, which filled the young man with fear. And in his dream he set the saddle and bridle on his horse, and fastened his spurs, and girt on his sword, and galloped out of the castle after the King.

9. The Coming of the Holy Graal

They bade farewell, and mounted their horses, and rode through the streets of Camelot, and there was weeping of both rich and poor, and the King could not speak for weeping. And at sunrise they all parted company with each other, and every Knight took the way he best liked.

Excalibur