Fashion Is A Way Of Living

Today I was assigned to write my last blog.  First of all, I want to emphasize and stress the importance of this blog.  The idea of the end is coming too fast.  Do not get it twisted, I want to get out of high school faster than anybody else.  I am ready to explore greater things, take on more responsibility, and start from scratch in college once again as a freshman.  Did you just notice my word choice?  In order to start I must end. 

I understand that, but there are certain things I will miss, this being one of them.  Teachers are next on my list, I have formed a greater bond with teachers than my peers.  This is because it was a different relationship, with respect and valid acknowledgement.  I will be keeping in touch with more teachers than students once I set off for college.  After teachers, my peers come next.  I am happy  to say that I have found those few honest and loyal friends that I can laugh, reminice, and share my life with.  Above all, I will miss my mother, yes I will only be in La Crosse, but not being able to hug her in the morning or kiss her goodnight is saddening.  Atleast I will be able to still call her and ask for advice.  I am most greatful for the hardships I have encountered.  With out them, I would not be the person I am today.  What is that you may ask?  Well good question, I am still trying to figure that out as well.  I do not think I will honestly be able to answer that ever, but I do know of the person I aspire to be: forgiving, patient, open-hearted, kind, respectful, selfless, and happy.  I do believe I am all of those things today, but not on a regular basis, but that is a challenge I strive to overcome until it comes naturally for me, even on the most difficult days.  

When I was thinking of what could be my last blog, I looked on the list I made myself for possibilites.  One that stood out the most was clothes, not the material, brand, size, but the meaning behind the clothes.  It is one of the ways I express myself each and every day.  I thought this best suited the fianlity because it is an insight to me, my outlook on others, and the world. 

I never understood the phrase, "pain is beauty," for I think the oppisite.  Beauty to me means comfertability.  When I feel comfertable I am confident, relaxed, and "beautiful".  When I was younger I never payed attention to fashion trends, not because I felt a rebel against all modern fashion, but because the money was never available.  I would use hand me downs from my sister to even cousins.  When name brand clothes began to mix in to my closet, I became fixated on only that.  I began to believe I was only "cool" to wear name brand clothing.  I still did not feel as if that really suited me.  I began to work in the summer and collected what ever money I had and started deviating from the expensive tags.  I shopped wisely but fashionably.  I still fall in trend with what is on television and magazines, but for the most part, I like to just buy what is cute.  According to most boys at my school, I dress weird, that to me is a compliment.  My favorite remark from some one was "those look like dutch shoes," awesome!

When I first got news that I was chosen for "best dressed" in our senior poll, I was not excited, but I was pleased.  I take pride in what I wear.  Sometimes when I am feeling very tired and just need to go to school for testing, then yes I will wear sweat pants and a hoodie.  I do not feel that is an emberassment, for that is what I feel comfertable in.  If at all possible, I do not like wearing things more than once within the  same month.  That in my case is not always possible, but each time I do have to reuse, I do it with different accessories and change it up a bit. 

Just like I said in my last blog, when you are trying to say something it is better when explained with a story line.  I feel strongly about clothing and it is also a form of explaining.  I have been told I look like different ethnicities with what I wear: Mexican (which I am), Italian, Brazilian, Portegues, Venezuelen, Spaniard, Native American, Puerto Rican, to even Russian.  I am not going to lie, that makes me secretely happy.  Figuring out who I am does not mean I have to stick to one image.  It can also be age decieving.  The point being, chosing what you wear is fun.  Wear your clothes do not let your clothes wear you!

I have many designers in mind when I chose how to wear my clothes.  What I found interesting was that I actually have more than just common likes and dislikes of designers, but also a common background and train of thought as them.  I was excited to watch the Ralph Lauren interview on Oprah, I feel more in tune than before about style and no, having a good style is not all about wearing crazy outfits that makes a statement, just ones that make you comfertable.

Ralph: The question is, "Why do you know who you are?" There I was, an insecure kid with a sense of style and—

Oprah: Were you always the best-dressed kid in school?

Ralph: As a kid, I was always into clothes, but I didn't have the money to buy them. When I'd get my brothers' hand-me-downs, there was an energy in me that made me say, "I want to get my own things, to make my own statement." Somewhere along the line, that energy—coupled with my exposure, through movies, to a world I hadn't known—turned into something.

Oprah: What you do is beyond clothes—it's about life. I get you, Ralph!

Ralph: You've got it. Over the years, we've all probably seen Cary Grant or Fred Astaire with their shoes lined up in a closet and thought, "Wow, that's amazing." As a kid, I shared a messed-up closet with my brothers—I couldn't even find my clothes. When I went to a friend's house and saw his closet, I thought, "My God, look at the shoe horns in his shoes!" It's those little things that make you think, "Could I have that?"

I love Ralph Lauren.

Adios bloggers, stay simplemente simple.

I Am As ___ As A ___

In my advanced composition class, my teacher asked of us to write out thoughts beginning with I am as ___ as a ___.  I did not know what I wanted to write so I just picked something random.  I usually begin all of my papers that way.  It gives me a start and I expand on it sentences by sentence word for word.  My thoughts jump around to much to actually know what I want to write about before hand.  It is more of a process.   

I am as peaceful as a stream that ventures out vigorously but quietly.  With every rock that is thrown at it, the current picks it up along, only adding to its beauty, calm and collect.  Through out the many types of scenery it passes, many breathe taking, few memorable, each contributing a different outlook.  As it weaves it also fluctuates but never bends out of shape, only explore caressing the curves.  Many explore, others destroy and pollute, but the few, the ones that take the effort to preserve, are the ones that appreciate the limited abundances.  As it reaches over mountain tops, the stream is at its highest peak but not its last.  Just as the journey may be long and tiresome and even lonely, it will not be for long.  At the end, many streams alike meet and join each other for a bigger voyage in the oceans open arms.  Together their past will create a future.

As I finished my thoughts with in the given time period I tried to expand my thoughts on friendship, the experiences and lessons I have learned, human interaction and also schooling.  Environmental factors came in to play due to the class I am taking this year and also the chapter we were just in, which is about water.

I loved how this whole paper did not have to be straight forward with what we actually wanted to say or felt, it could be in a form of a simile and metaphors.  I think that is a better way of explaining something instead of just telling the person how u feel, explanations can go further.  When you really want to give an explanation it is best to do so with a story line.

If I were to change what I have written to better my piece, I would say I would expand more and go deeper in to descriptions.  I am interested in seeing what readers got out of my thoughts before I briefly explained what it was about.  I think my best writing has come from this class because we get to express our feeling freely. 

Conquista Me

A veses sueño,
Somtimes i spelunk,
Pero sin dudar...
I never jump
Sin preguntar
Sometimes i cry,
A veses yo siento...
A whimsical notion
Y me ensima.
All fairytales expunge
Fuera de un libro,
With a plethora
De palabras
Of eloquent love.
Me hacen pensar
In an item
De tí y de mí.


In this poem I wanted to incorporate Spanish to mix things up.  Speaking Spanish is different than writing it.  What I found most difficult was making it flow while still making sense with the English.  In the end I find it satisfying to be able to speak both languages and express it in a way that makes sense to me.  In the future I will also be writing complete pieces in Spanish with an English translation.  Stay posted!

President Obama's Address

My teacher assigned extra credit if we would write about President Obama's address to the nation that Osama bin Laden has been killed.  Instead of just writing a traditional paper I decided to share my thoughts on the address in my blog.



What I found most admiring about this speech was his ability to instill pride in listeners and readers, myself alike, as if we were holding the gun that did the job.  His speech skills are impeccable.  Contrary to what most Obama “haters” out there, and if you are in my advanced composition class and reading this, then yes I mean a number of you, he did not only give credit to himself for the assassination. 

He gave credit where it was due, “thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counter terrorism professionals” and “a small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability.”  Not once did he say he did it all.  Yes, indeed he used “I” in his speech, “I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden,” but is it not President Obama’s job to do so?  Detractors need to stop and listen to what he said, and stop nit-picking at every little word.  Instead, really listen to what he has to say.  Unfortunately politics have to come in to play and attempt to ruin such a historical mark in history.

Osama bin Laden is dead.  Maybe that was not clear enough for the conspirators on the radio talk shows or even your next door neighbor.  I also support the decision of the government for not releasing pictures or videos.  Such cruelty does not need be seen by ten year old children.  If you are not taking action to make a change then do not complain, we do not need a whiney, complaining nation, we need “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

I am proud to be an American and feel an even stronger sense of safety.  “Thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country.”

Creative Minds Think Alike

To continue on with my piece of "Little To Tell; A Lot To Know," here is a piece from class that comes to terms with another writer.  Hopefully in this paper you can further see in to my train of thought. 

Common sense is a foreign word in my vocabulary.  Some how I turn everything I do into a puzzle.  Instead of reading something as it is, I read into it more than I have to.  I am okay with this, for it allows me to come up with new ideas from just reading. For example, the blue sky turned grey.  I don’t only see colors; I couple objects and actions with emotions, people, and personal experiences.  I imagine a whole story line, one with a seventies feel, of an unhappy elderly marriage that is consumed in bickering that happens religiously every day:

“George, don’t, you can’t mix light with darks, the clothes will come out with a taint color.”

“Marge, don’t tell me what to do I know what I am doing.  Just let me, be me for once.”

“Well you can start by tucking in that shirt, you look like a hooligan.  Can’t you see I am only helping you out; you would be lost with out me.”

George mumbles under his breath as he throws in socks, Marge’s favorite sky blue skirt, and his dark navy blue work uniform with a white under tee. 

“No I would be happy.”

I eat, breathe, and think random thoughts all the time.  I prefer to stay in this state of mind because reality is too quite for all the traffic that is going on upstairs. 

Just as Flaherty’s motivation comes in periods of a couple months out of a year, mine comes and goes as it pleases every other day.  I may not be writing my thoughts down, but I day dream all the time as a substitute.  Flaherty hibernates while I sleep walk, her heart moves her work while my mind has a mood of its own that drives its own Fred Flintstone mobile.  It drives accordingly to the effort I put into it, one day I can be a body builder speed racing and others I am a turtle taking my time through the scenery in my head.  One thing is certain, creative minds think alike, although differently, but both in a state of awareness. 

In my writing, I have a lot of hit or miss finished products, although none of my pieces are ever finished.  When I write, I have an itching sensation to finish or complete a thought.  I can best relate to a subject when I can create an image in my head and further describe it and in most cases they are in forms of analogies and or metaphors.

            As I begin a piece, it all starts in my head.  I instantly zone out of reality and in to my imagination.  I refer to this place as the play room in my head.  I sit back and turn on a screen, as my eyes are glued on; I filter through a slide show of readings in mass, what my mom has told me, fights I have overcome with friends, movies, readings and etc.  I think about the lessons they have taught me.  I pick them apart and sort them out according to my feelings, the role others and I played, the raw situation, the outcome, how I felt the way I did in that exact moment and then I do what I do best and analyze, and then I apply.  

            Once I have mastered that part, I can turn on the lights on again and begin writing.  As Flaherty stated “most of what poured out was trash.” Just like her output was not satisfying to her, neither was mine.  I am a type of person who likes to have everything right.  And by right I mean the type of right a two year old thinks by wearing a pink tutu and an overly sized green sweatshirt.  I have a problem with getting an idea across clearly and in one word so I tend to make the majority of my papers based off of metaphors and analogies.  That part is all fine and dandy until some one else looks at it and gets a quizzical face, as does a puppy when they tilt their head as to wonder how to reach the bone from the top of the counter.  Frustration takes over and I try to re-mold it to fit others way of thinking and understanding. 

Hers. Mine. Ours.

To make things fun, my best friend and I chose to tell each other what to write about.  We chose to write about our friendship.  This shall be interesting to see how we view it when we compare them at the end. 

Our friendship started when another one ended.  We decided to dump a mutual friend to the waste side when we realized it was toxic to be around her.  Now we sort of gravitate towards each other because we understand each other.  As time passed on, we became more honest.  We get in tiffs because sometimes our brutal honesty is too much to handle.  I personally prefer to be straight forward, it saves time, and if feelings get hurt along the way then so be it, I can explain later.  Everything tends to be upfront and on the table.  It was not always like this.  Lets revisit the past again just a little.  Our fights use to consist of a few mean words exchanged and then a period of ignoring each other, then once again that gravitational pull played an effect and we were right by each others sides.  As we matured we began to tell each other right away when we did something that bothered each other.  We realized that every time we fought we wasted valuable time!  The days are getting shorter, college is right around the corner and we do not need another day apart due to fighting.  We can go hours on the phone, days with out end together, and then all of the sudden weeks apart.  No matter what we still come back to each other.

Although we are close and we do not need much verbal communication to get what we mean or want to say, we are actually really different people that find commonalities with in our differences.  I am a devout Roman-Catholic and she an Atheist.  With those beliefs we tend to act differently with certain things.  I mostly preach to her when I think it is appropriate.  I went to confessions recently and told her about it, she is now going to let me take her.  I am proud of my best friend because she is not narrow minded and is open to try things.  She agreed on going on the basis that my priest was able to give applicable advice and is not just a man of the Lord but of knowledge also.  Yes she believes that because I told her that, but that is the beauty of trust.  She is originally from Albania and wants to be part of the American culture more than of the Albanian.  I on the other hand was born in the United States and want to revert to my Mexican culture from which my parents are native born.  The cool thing is that both of our parents watch Spanish novelas.  We get a kick out of that.  Speaking about parents, we love our mothers dearly and share that love with each others too.  Currently on my fridge I have a picture of us four from prom.  We are both standing with each others moms, not our own.

As we see our other friendships we have with other people and others friendships, we laugh.  It is so easy to tell when there is a dominant friend who bosses the other around.  That is all fine and dandy since those differing personalities may click better that way.  We take pride in being equal.  We dont try to one up each other instead we help each other out and praise our own individual achievements.  Being girls, we like to dress up.  Her style is.... questionable sometimes, and I voice my opinions about her... outfits that she puts together.  Instead of being offended she says something about mine and we agree to disagree.  But most of the time she listens to me :)  We have a mutual friend that always wants to dress the same and does not feel comfortable leaving the house unless we all look the same.  That not only irks me but her too.  We work best in a pair because we want to be individuals.  As contradicting that statement may sound, it makes sense.  We do not need each other but because of that fact we enjoy each others presence so much more.  When other friends are thrown in the mix we value our own more because of how dysfunctional theirs are.

Little To Tell; A Lot To Know

It is very difficult to really describe myself as a writer.  The best I can do is say that I like to rant.  My mind is a big play ground.  My thoughts are constantly jumping around on a trampoline, endlessly.  I best write a paper when a teacher gives me a topic and gives me room to expand.  As soon as it is up for interpretation, I am able to write for days.  Organization is typically a reoccurring skill I stumble across.  Typically, outlines do not exist for me, but multiple drafts do.  Since my mind set is not on a one way railroad track, it is easier to just jump in.

In hopes of becoming a successful blogger, I hope to provide a different insight and appeal to a variety of readers.  As an eighteen year old, I not only bring in a young adults perspective but also of a Mexican-American bilingual.  I want to compose in Spanish, about my culture, and how sometimes those factors influence my train of thought with the tasks given to me.