Week 4 due 7/9 Group #2

“Week 4 due 7/9 Group #2
1.Title and Author: Ode to Cal trans by Hector Tobar
2. Summary:This is a man from Guatemala who has a dream where he goes back in time when he was eight years old. His thoughts and fascinations of the freeway transportation in Los Angeles. How this dream sparked so many memories for him from a child to adulthood. It was classic the way he took the items of the story backwards till he was eight again. Then began to tell his experiences and feelings.
3. Favorite sentence or paragraph: “I hadn't been so cautious when I turned thirty and decided I would ask my future wife to marry me, speeding along those same sinuous lanes toward the Bridewell Avenue exit in South Pasadena with a dozen red roses on the front seat of my pickup truck and thinking that “Bridewell” had to be a good omen.” pg 54
4. What the reading made me think of: This story reminds me of the time my family drove to Disneyland. I remember being stuck in mid-afternoon traffic in LA-it was horrific! I wondered where did all of these people come from. It was overwhelming how all the freeways connected together and we were just stuck there for hours.
5. The one thing I didn't know: I was interested in the results of the teachers science-test. I did not know that if you cover a piece of cardboard with Vaseline and face it toward the freeway that it will turn black in a few days. Such an eye opener on how cars cause such pollution.
1.Title and Author: Montalvo, myths and dreams of home by Thomas Steinbeck
2. Summary:This story depicts the several different myths and stories of California. From the French and Spanish novels of the 1500's to the myths on how California got is name. It also covers The Big Sur in which there are myths about the Sasquatch to The Dark Watchers. How California is viewed and constantly reinvents itself and what it means to each individual. For me this was a hard story to follow.....jumped around to much for a short story.
3. Favorite sentence or paragraph: “And speaking of searches, I invite the reader to hold fast to the concept of “mythology” for the present. It will prove helpful in the task ahead, for an odd truth remains to be revealed and witnessed. In part, the following meanderings will illustrate that he brilliance and energy of a rational dream inevitably fades, and in nature's season becomes little more than a source-myth to succeeding generations. It's happened before. It's happening now. I present such an example”. Pg 62 HE HAD ME GOING AT FIRST!
4. What the reading made me think of: This story reminded me on how Califormia is a beautiful place to live.How it offers its beauty to each and every person. How California flourishes and is constanly changing.
5. The one thing I didn't know: That The Big Sur was the solitary habitat of the great Sasquatch.
1.Title and Author: The last little beach town by Edward Humes
2. Summary: This story of Seal Beach, I liked the best! Is about a coastal town, the last of its kind that may soon be destroyed. A natural coastline beauty with the “Old Town” way. Due to needed funds and the city council who wants to make change it may fall to strip malls and snooty coffe shops.
3. Favorite sentence or paragraph: “The center of Old Town is Main Street, a true old-fashioned downtown, where most of the businesses are locally owned and the fanciest restaurant's only requirement is shirt and shoes.” pg 74 It brings memeories to me of a town called Capitola. A beachfront town where me and my sisters go and spend time together. It will always have a special place in my heart.
4. What the reading made me think of: The reading made me think of the town I live in. I live in a small town in Sonona County where people still live on the honor system Everybody knows everybody syndrome. It is not equipped with strip malls and fancy shops. It is still quite the “Old Town” sytle. I complain sometimes, but if that is what I want I can drive 15 minutes away to get it!
5. The one thing I didn't know: Being a beach lover, I didn't know that Seal Beach existed. Seal Beach is located between the San Gabriel and Anaheim Bay. I did not know the Ten Commandments was filmed there. When in the LA area, I would love to vitsit!
1.Title and Author: Surfacing by Matt Warshaw
2. Summary: This is a story about a great surfer names Moriarity. His trials and tribulations of the this dangerous sport. His near death experince and how it motivated him to get right back on the board and face his challenges.
3. Favorite sentence or paragraph: “You experience a thrill and fear at the same time,” big-wave surfing pioneer Buzzy Trent wrote in 1965, in a passage that might apply equally to Prohibition bootleggers and Maverick's surfers. “You hear that crack and thunder, you feel the wet spray...you just power through, hoping you won't get the ax. And then if you do make it, you get a wonderful feeling inside.” pg 85-86
4. What the reading made me think of: It made me think of a man dedicated to his love of surfing. How his dangerous experiences never stopped him from pursuing his challenges. On the contrary, seemed to fuel the fire for his motivation.
5. The one thing I didn't know: Being a lover of Santa Cruz, I did not know that it was the world's greatest surf city.
What similarities and differences do you see between the authors and the topics they chose to discuss?
All the authors talk about their experiences in California and how they were affected by them. Yet different in the respect of transportation, sports, people, places and names they are all similar in the beauty of California. How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful and special place. How Califronia is filled with opportunity for each individual person and their interests.
10 Classmates
1. David-Goodquestion-There is somehting to the saying-You don't know what you are missing...All that that have loved can easily relate to the pains and joys of finding that one person, and losing them.Which is better, to have loved and lost,or rather, than to never loved at all?
2. Kimmie-The story is about love and loss, something that is felt no matter who we are or what we believe in all of us have in common and are able to relate too. Love and loss is able to transcend borders, because it’s universal, but most importantly it’s part of being human, and again regardless of our heritage is felt by all. Very well put...
3. Tarissa-Very well put! Love is an emotion that translates to everyone across every boarder. This story also illustrates that you must not listen to discouragement from others when you know in your heart what needs to be done. You must always follow your heart and pursue happiness.
4. Rachel-There are no written words or opinions of others that can determine a persons success. What a person accomplishes in life is up to themselves, and the amount of effort they are willing to put into their work. I agree. I tell my kids this all the time!
5. Jason-You are right, people love watching drama and heartbreak and about falling in love...being human we can all relate to it! People also enjoy watching drama and heartbreak, this movie covered all emotions that are complementary to love and they all touch the human heart.
6. Daniel-Interesting point. I did not know that. What happens if you don't find love by 20. Are they arranged marriages? She feels that by 21 she should be married, which is common practice in Colombia, all of my female cousins were married there by the age of 20.
7. Mark-Ariza begins having sex with several women and eventually assigns each one a number. My opinion.. but I think that is so sad! That is a lot of women...scary to me! Such a loving man to assign #'s to women. The quantity, you must raise the issue.
8. Vanessa-This is one couples story... I don't believe that love is obsession ..It shows that there is a very thin line between love and obsession for someone to wait and obsess over one person for so long one might think is crazy, but isn't love obsession anyways? Anything that has to do with feeling and emotions is human because that is how we know that we are human and that we are alive. This film touched on so many different emotions and the range of depth that those emotions could come in.
9. Katherine-Freire longed for a world that transcended the boundaries of class, where all are equal and have the same opportunities. He wanted to put an end to oppression and fought for the privileges of all. It was Freire's belief that the same opportunities should be given to all people, no matter what class, culture, race, or ethnicity they belonged to.
10.Nicolas-“It is life, not death, that has no limits. We should all live life to the fullest!