Sorting Laundry

14 Days 

My favorite poem this year was "Sorting Laundry" by Elisavietta Ritchie, and not just because of the author's cool name or the fact that I got a 7 on my poetry paper. It may be partly because for a while I thought the title of the poem was "Dirty Laundry," and I thought that to be a great poem title, now I realize I was wrong. I enjoy reading poetry, for the most part, but I don't always understand it. With this poem, I understood what was going on. It could be because of the simple structure and syntax, but still, being able to read the poem and know what was going on definitely made it great. I also really liked this poem because it was really relatable, it didn't really have any crazy metaphors or personification, it was about a women's feelings. The speaker in the poem really emphasizes the emptiness of life without love, and I think that fact is also very clear in Everything Matters! Junior feels "as safe and content as [he's] ever been in his life" when he's around Amy, someone he loves (86). Junior also feels great sadness when he is not around Amy, much like the speaker feels when she thinks about having to fold laundry herself or sleep with an empty half of the bed next to her. Much of the feelings in this poem were very easy to relate to, like her uncertainty in allowing someone to get really close in her life. Junior also struggles to make decisions, specifically to tell her about the Destroyer of the Worlds, and at the end of the first life he finds out that these "choices had been wrong, wrong, wrong" (52). At the end of the poem it seems that the speaker found out what the right decision was, and like Everything Matters!, the poem has an optimistic closing, because it seems that the speaker finally has a clear understanding of love. Both the endings of the poem and book leave you believing that "anything is possible" (302). And this uplifting message from the poem really made me very excited for the speaker, so that is another reason why I enjoyed this poem.

Maybe if this was the man folding her laundry she wouldn't have such a difficult time opening up. 

All About Me

17 Days

I remember when we got the October/November calendars, and I quickly scanned to see what we were doing on October 6: my birthday. Truly, it doesn't really matter what happens in AP English 12 on my birthday, but everyone can agree that it's very sad to have tests/quizzes/due dates on your birthday. Imagine my excitement when I realized that not only would there be no work in English class that day, but I would have a work free day spent down in Cleveland with my fellow AP English-ers watching Othello! Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the play, it's safe to say that the best part of that day was that it was almost entirely all about me. After receiving many compliments for my specially picked "birthday outfit," I felt that "I [had] reached 'absolute perfection,'" and not just because many people were telling me so (Wilde 31). After the play, when everyone had to sing "Happy Birthday" to me, I knew that this would be a very special birthday. We never sing to others on their brthdays, and this felt good. In fact, all of this attention on me felt so good, "I felt like I was flying" (Kesey 324). Not only did I get to spend my birthday with Ms. Serensky, I got to avoid school, everyone paid a lot of attention to me, AND we got cupcakes. Wow. What a day. All in all, I'd say it was "sort of epic" (Currie, Jr. 181)

The New Faces of Match.com: Reggie and Cecily

21 Days 

Reggie and Cecily, a young, happy couple, met on Match.com a few weeks ago, and immediately sparked a connection. They had been chatting back and forth, sending flirty texts, e-mails, and even the occasional phone call. They decide they need to meet face-to-face, and set the date for April 14, 2011. Here is an account of their first interaction:

Cecily: Reggie...is that you?
Reggie: "'You're late'" (Currie, Jr. 119).
Cecily: Oh, darling, I'm so sorry! I've been here for over twenty minutes, I just wasn't sure what you looked like, so I had a difficult time finding you.
Reggie: I guess I forgot to mention that I was in a wheel chair, huh?
Cecily: Yes. Also the fact that you do not have legs, and only about half of an arm.
[Cecily and Reggie get past the initial awkwardness, and eventually start to have a lovely time together]
Reggie: Cecily, I've been thinking, about us. I have never met anyone like you, and there is nothing in the world that would make me happier than you becoming Mrs. Fox. And I know you might think that we haven't known each other long, but my motto is; engaged today, engaged tomorrow, "'makes no difference to The Fox'" (Currie, Jr. 117).
Cecily: Oh, dearest Reggie, I would never think this is too soon for an engagement. In fact, silly boy, "we have been engaged for the last three months" (Wilde 32).
Reggie: Wha-? The last three months? We've only been talking for a few weeks.
Cecily: Well, I've actually been viewing your profile for almost six months now, and even though we didn't talk at all, just your profile, the beautiful picture, and inane facts, well, "I daresay it was foolish of me, but I fell in love with you" (Wilde 32).
Reggie: That's...beautiful. Is there anything else I should know about? Have you adopted children for us to raise together?
Cecily: No, do not be ridiculous my love. However, I have already started planning the wedding! It's going to be amazing, I'm gonna get real weird with it.
Reggie: Really, the crazy hasn't been turned on yet? [To himself] That's awesome. [To the bartender] "'Pour me a shot'a that Turkey,'" actually, make it two (Currie, Jr. 108).
Cecily: Celebratory shots! How delightful! I'll have two, too!
[Reggie looks a bit perplexed]
Cecily: I have all of the wedding plans organized in multiple binders back at my house, my good friends Lady Bracknell and Gwendolyn have been helping with every detail! Would you like to come over and look through everything? I'm sure we have cucumber sandwiches, cake, bread and butter, and muffi-
Reggie: Hold that thought! Is that my phone ringing?
[Reggie picks up his phone, which clearly was not ringing, mumbles something into it, and then hangs up]
Reggie: Oh! Wow... I'm so sorry to do this to you, but I just remembered, my brother, Bunbury, is very very sick. I'm supposed to go over to his house tonight to take care of him!
Cecily: Oh, my love, that is so very thoughtful of you! Taking care of your brother like that. I am so lucky
Reggie: Yes. I am a very generous person, always putting others before myself. Why don't you go home, I should be there in no time!
Cecily: "Considering...that I only met you to-day for the first time, I think it is rather hard that you should leave me for so long a period," please go as quickly as you can, so soon you will be back with me? (Wilde 34)
Reggie: Of course, sweet Cecily, I will be back in no time.
[Reggie wheels himself off, never to return again, Cecily still looks giddy and cheerful]

Debate Day

24 Days 


When I walk into the room, I see two desks facing each other in the middle of the room, surrounded by all the other desks. I heard all about the AP English debate earlier in the day, and now, seeing these desks facing that way, everything became way more serious. I knew what I had to do. Bring. It. On. I knew that I, Cecily Cardew, was ready to take on whoever sat in front of me. After all the instructions, I received the assignment and prepared all of my notes. Even though I felt confident, when I found out I had to go first, I definitely felt a chill down my spine. Even worse, when I found out who my partner was, the meanest girl in the class, Jackie Shroyer. For some reason, she had it out for me. (I secretly think it's because she wishes to steal my sweet fiance, Algernon, from me). When she approached me in the middle of the room, she did not try to disguise her hatred, and resentfully said, "having to face-off against YOU has ruined my week." I was terrified when I had to present my case first. However, after I went, the class stood up and applauded my efforts, for over ten minutes! At this point, I knew I had "reached 'absolute perfection'" (31). At this point, I was clearly the most amazing person in the world. When the praise subsided, I motioned to my partner, already accepting defeat, and telling her, "you can go on" (31). I held the power over the meanest person in the room, and it felt good. Jackie had her opportunity in the spotlight, but it paled in comparison to the moving, intelligent argument that I made. Sitting across from Jackie, I felt that she finally had overcome her hatred for me, seeing that I could hold my own against her in a discussion. When we both had to leave to go back to our seats, I felt sad, because "it is always painful to part from people whom one has known for a very brief space of time" (31). I felt like this new connection between me and this bully could eventually lead to a great friendship. However, I was snapped back in to reality when the vote took place at the end of class. I had completely forgotten that this was a competition. Even though the friendship I got from the debate was far greater than any bonus points, I still wanted to WIN. I didn't expect anything other than first place. But, when the votes were tallied, and the results were announced, it wasn't my name that I heard coming from Ms. Serensky's  lips. No. Instead of "Cecily Cardew," I heard, "Jackie Shroyer." My heart dropped. How could I not win? What cruel, cruel world. I wish I could hide forever and never enter the AP English classroom again. Not only was this the worst day of AP English 12, but it was also the worst day of my life.