How i feel about us

How I feel about you, is something I don’t think I can explain.  You’ve been a part of my life since I can remember and I can’t see life without you.  You’re the sun to my shine and beginning to my ending.  Even when I try to walk away from you, something keeps pulling me back.  I’m emotionally attached to you; you’re my homie’ and my best friend.  Who else can I run to when I need love?   When I say “we’re getting married”, you may think I’m joking, but I’m serious.  I appreciate you for all the things you’ve done for me.  I value everything you say, even when it may seem I’m not listening, my ears are always open for you.  You’re my reality check when I think the world revolves around me and you’re the caring voice I need when I feel the word is against me. 

                Who’s Tay with Zay? We’re total opposites, but we go together so well. We’re two halves of a whole and without you, I wouldn’t be complete.  My love for you goes past anything physical, it so much more.  We are mentally and emotionally connected.  You know me best and you’ve been there to grow with me.  Sometimes I feel as if you know things about me that I don’t even know about myself.  You are my lover, my best friend, you are my everything.  The thought of losing what we have terrifies me because I know what we have is what a lot of people wish they had. So cheers to us and the long future we have ahead of us.  We’ve made it far past the infatuation phase, we’ve made it through arguments and all other obstacles that was put in front of us.   We have a lifetime ahead of us; it’s no stopping us now. 

307

inner thoughts

As I sit here and think about my last weeks of my freshman year of college, I get sad.  This year has been filled with so many hardships, but I’ve also been rewarded greatly.  I’ve grown to appreciate Illinois State University and be proud to call it my school.  Looking back at the semesters, I wish I would’ve branched out more socially and got to know more people.  Being here really changed me because for the longest time I’ve always been a social butterfly.  But I’m still finding myself as a person, I’m still learning to realize everyone can’t be my friends. 

                My significant other and I aren’t on the best terms, but I’m still glad I have him through everything.  He’s stuck by me for almost 4 years (June 1^st 2008) and even though we argue almost every day, he’s still sticking around.  I can definitely agree with the statement that college changes you.  I feel like I’m a totally different person than I was when I started here in the fall of 2011.  I’m not sure if I changed for good or bad but I just know I’m a different Taylor Katie. 

I’m excited to get home for the summer.  I miss my friends and my family.  For the longest times it’s been me and my mom.  I miss her so much and I don’t even tell her. I have a tough exterior that I try and use, but I really miss the times we had.  She’s the only one that has been by my side since birth and she hasn’t given up on me.  I get emotional when I think about all the sacrifices she made for me; I could never pay her back.  But my plan is to show her that I understand.  Well I’ve reached 300 words so I’m out, PEACE!

-Taylor Katie

308

The way I write

Research has always been hard for me.  The sources I use for my paper have to be perfect, they should reinforce my thesis at all times and in many cases they don’t work like that.  I find myself using multiple quotes just to get across one point which can be time consuming.   I research the same way for all classes, I usually go online to Jstor or Google Scholar and I’m usually successful with finding academic writing that fits my topic.   When I write it is more of a free write to a topic. I don’t like to be confined to any specific thesis or to any length.  I just want to write until I feel I get my point across or I have enough ideas that can be integrated into a regular paper.    My lack of structure when I write sets me up for long periods of time where I’m writing and not really getting anything accomplished, I really kind of just taking up space which helps out when I have longer papers to write.  However It’s almost inevitable for my paper to start of like this because this helps me get out all the ideas I want to write about out.  More than likely while I’m writing the paper, I won’t have any correct grammar or even make any since to anyone; but I’m fully aware of what’s going on.  My method of writing is messy but somehow it helps me create some of my best work.  my style of free writing at the beginning of the paper gives me a chance to get all my ideas out and after that all I have to do is add some quotes, fix my grammar and then I’ll be done.   I wouldn’t recommend this strategy for anyone because it’s not really logical and unless you have the ability to type large sums of information out at one time, it probably won’t work for most.  

324

Close-Reading

I am no stranger to close reading and how they affect your interpretation of a text.  Back in high school, we were required to annotate and interact with all text that we came into contact with.  But the interesting thing that I learned about close-reading from this week, is that you have to do research on the author which can also give you a lot of information about what the text is going to be about.  For example, in the short story “the yellow wallpaper” once we found out background information on the author, we were able to better understand the text.  We were able to understand what was going on in the personal life of the author and what was going on in the world around that time.  Once we found out all this information we understood the text better and were able to connect better with the text.

            I believe that these exercises have definitely affected the way I read text: It has taught me to investigate more when reading.  I feel, I am better equipped at how to read text and respond properly.  I have been taught to look at syntax, diction and even capital letters.  All these techniques will help me understand readings better. 

Close readings are very beneficial for the reader.  You are thrown into the world of the author which helps you relate to the author better.  You are required to look at various characteristics in the text that you may not have did before.   All these tools make you more knowledgeable on the text and the author.  You’re able to better infer on what’s the underlining meaning of the text.  Being a close-reader is an important skill to have and should be used whenever coming into contact with a new text.  

The only topic I am interested in doing my paper on is the diva herself, Beyoncé Knowles. Beyoncé has matured so much as an artist since her first solo album “Dangerously in Love”.  She has transitioned into the pop diva that is recognizable by the whole world.  Since she is idolized by so many people I thought that it would be a great idea for a paper analyzing why she is such an idolized individual.  However, I realized I am more interested in how Beyoncé has matured as an artist, so I’m going to go with the latter of the two.  A lot of aspects of her as an artist have transformed. I am most interested in Beyoncé Knowles as my topic for a variety of reasons. It begins in my childhood when Beyoncé was my favorite member of her childhood group “Destiny’s Child”. I would learn all of their songs and even some of their dances. I absolutely loved her. As I grew up and she became a solo artist, my love for her continued to blossom. She has gone from just a popular face in a world known group, to a force of her own. I enjoyed nothing more than listening to her music and watching her videos. After a while it became clear to me that she was my favorite artist in the industry. I know this may seem silly to you, but for me Beyoncé is a true idol, she is the vision of a truly successful woman who has stayed true to herself in her climb to the top. As far as resources are concerned I have found information on www.biography.com, www.beyonceonline.com, and www.tmz.com/person/beyonce-knowles. I have yet to find different sources to make my research clean and official, but I will continue the search until I find something that fits my paper and the substance of it. 

Review

Beyoncé is a very talented and passionate artist.   She is unmistakably one of the best performers of her time and has a fan base that is worldwide.  Beyoncé’s most recent album “4” is one of her best albums as a solo artist.  It is an incredible album with music that everyone can enjoy.  She was able to incorporate different styles of music that has reached various demographics that she did not reach before. On her album, she has music that reflects the independence of being a women and even music that expresses love.  There is definitely a visible difference in her maturity as an artist and the message she wants her fans to here on this album.  The album gives us a glance of where Beyoncé is right now in her professional and personal life.  It is an album made for Beyoncé’s love of music and her want to connect with her audience.   

“4” was a very diverse album especially in the style of music Beyoncé used.  This album was able to incorporate so many diverse styles of music because Beyoncé was able to get her inspiration from different cultures from around the world.  The beats to the majority of her songs are unlike any other I have heard, and the instruments used (if they are instruments) are not recognizable by the average person.  Even the background singing on this album is different from what she usually does.  This album is a total 360 degree turn from what is regularly expected of Beyoncé as an artist.  She is a pop-artist and a lot her music is to an upbeat tempo.  Usually on her albums she has 2 or 3 slow songs with the rest being upbeat, but this album, the majority of the songs were slower and you could hear the emotion in her voice as she sings.  I think this album helped Beyoncé’s fans get to know her better as an artist.  She was able to show a more vulnerable side of her in this album.  For this album, she also didn’t do a regular tour.  She did four nights at the Roseland theatre which is a relatively small area for Beyoncé’s fan base.  She wanted a more intimate area so she could connect better with her audience and give them more of her.  

One of the most influential songs on the album would have to be “I Was Here”.  This song was able to capture everything Beyoncé has accomplished in her lifetime.  It details the impact she’s had on the world and everything about her.  While performing this song at her concert at The Roseland theatre, Beyoncé gets emotional.  Her fans respond by also getting emotional.  You can hear the love and desire in her voice as she sings.  Beyoncé album “4” overall is a feel good album that has music for everyone to enjoy.  This album is a reflection of all the accomplishments Beyoncé has made over the years and a preview of what Beyoncé will put out in the future.  Beyoncé still has more things to accomplish as an artist and this album is only the beginning for a new form of music Beyoncé will make way for.  

Spring Break

Spring break for me is not really exciting.  Not to say that any other year for me has been more exciting but this one is going to be extremely boring.   I have no real plans, but to work and to study.  My grades aren’t at an acceptable standard for me, so besides working, I’ll probably be studying.   When I first arrive to the city, my family is having a small get together so I’ll attend that.  I probably won’t want to stay at this gathering for too long because I’ll just have got off a two and half hour train ride.  I’m excited to see my family but due to the exhaustion I’m sure I’ll feel, I will want to sleep!  This weekend will be the only time I will actually do anything because my plan is to work all next week.  For Saturday I’m planning on surprising a close friend of mine with a LATE birthday cake.  I hope she enjoys it, because it’s going to be a twist.  Her mother told me she likes strawberries in her cake, but since I can’t get to the bakery in time enough to order a cake with strawberries, I’m going to buy a cake and strawberries.  Then I’m going to give them to her at the same time.  I hope she enjoys the freshness of the strawberries!  To end my weekend, I’m planning on going to church since I haven’t been in a very long time.   I’m also sure I will see my significant other various times through the weekend.  We have nothing planned but something is bound to come up.  Besides the fun of this weekend I’m excited to work.  I love shopping and in order to shop, I need money.  This is the plans for my spring break so hopefully everything works out.