Cosmogram

Like Conwell's story in the "The New Cakewalk," I have my own places I identify in my walk of life.  I mapped out some significant places in my hometown and connecting the dots it makes out to be a face with a big nose, much like Pinnochio's. I do not think his makes iamb, I think what it is it symbolizes my transformation from boyhood. In a sense, I am still in it, living here and in education and have yet to leave and put it behind me. Pinnochio knew that in order to become a real boy, he had to experience life. This is like what I am going through right now. Maybe I am destined to leave home and that is what will separate my manhood from my boyhood. Or maybe I have a lot to work on still after all of these years here in Cumming. The question will be answered in the next year before I graduate in July andI am looking forward to what is ahead and what will come after.

Mapping Home

I mapped out some of the most prominent places in my life. Starting with my home, up to where I spend many Thursday and Friday nights at Taco Mac. Next we head to Dawsonville at my mentor's lake house, one of my favorite places on the planet. Next is to where I spent every Wednesday night starting sophomore year in HS at a local dive called Roosters. Up North is my high school and middle school. Driving is where I played Rec-ball as a child. Down to the YMCA I spent many summers at. Then that puts us down to Fowler Park, where I like to go on runs. Right off Ronal Regan Blvd is the Cumming attraction and shopping center called "The Collection". We then end our journey where I started my education almost 17 years ago at Mashburn Elementary.

Vernacular Genres

 The Griswold family tradition for the Christmas tree is just like ours. 

Chevy Chase is not my dad. 

And Beverly D'Angelo is not my mom (that would suck, cause she is hot).

No we do not go and chop down our own tree.

But the process of taking the tree down and getting out all the decorations reminds me of all the chaos that this dysfunctional family goes through in the film Christmas Vacation.

I am excited Christmas is almost here.

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of my favorite traditions.

Decorating a Christmas tree takes place once a year.

Some of us overdo it. Some of us do not even help at all. 

Each year, the tree looks different because of that purpose.

But it is because of that, is why this is one of my favorite traditions.

Micro Scenes

I am at a college event at my church and the emcee asks us to introduce ourselves to someone we do not know. I was standing in the back and I saw her. Light was shining so brightly on her, it was like I was being probed to walk up to her. I ran up to the front of the room and knocked the dude out of the way that was walking towards her and I introduced myself, and she did the same.

We did not speak much with the music and the communicator following, but afterwards we broke into groups for discussion and she talked a lot. And so did I. We spoke to one another after group and I invited her out to coffee on the spot. Minutes later she gets into my car and we are heading to Caribou. This is too freaking good to be true. I turned on my favorite artist's brand new album that had just released that day and she asked how I already had it. I returned and said it released that day. I then took it out of the CD player in my car and gave it to her to rip to her computer. She asked when she could return it and I said at dinner and the Braves game next week. She smiled and said okay.

It was that easy and I had never been such a smooth operator in my life. How did I get a girl this gorgeous to go on two dates with me? In one night! Confidence, my friend. Fast forward a month later and we both were in different seasons of life. I know for the next go-around, I am going to play my hand the same way.

Memory Glimpse

My absolute earliest memories were fishing with my Grandfather. I can remember the gamey stench in the air of fish. I remember the fist-sized snapping and box turtles climbing out of the pond at the Trout Hatchery. I remember putting my little hands, not even a quarter of the size of what they are now, going into the tupperware of dirt carrying the worms to go on the hook. I remember pricking myself with the fish hook, and not being upset because of what I was doing, all while I was not even four years old. It was not hot outside, but I can feel the sun baring its hot rays on my then hairless face while casting a line on my Batman fishing pole I had just bought from Wal-Mart. Grandpa had his suspenders on over his short-sleeved button-down wearing his dirty white nike shoes. I remember this because he died when I was very young. The impression he left on me was a feeling of comfort and I get it every time I drive past the old hatchery. I wouldn't say the feeling is just like going back to a homepage, but it is similar in description.

Decision Scene

A good image for my making of decisions is the illustration of walking into the 'Dining Hall' at KSU. I know where I should go every single day and that is the soup, salad, sandwich bar. I feel you can never go wrong with any of those options. They are all healthy choices, they never get old to me and the line is shortest. But I always walk around the Commons to have a look see of what I will be turning down. Piggy-backing off homesickness, I know right where to go to what makes me feel comfortable, but I feel like in order to be sure about my decision, I need to explore. Just like test-driving a car.

vs.

When I go to Turner Field to watch a Braves Game, could I watch the exact same thing on Television and not leave my home or go to the local Taco Mac? Absolutely. But that is not what it is about, it is about the atmosphere. The feeling of comfort of being at a playoff game during a loss, feels a lot better than being at home for a playoff win. It is the comfort of being there within the atmosphere of Atlanta fans and America's oldest pastime.

"Homepage"

This particular homepage is probably the most recognizable in the world. Homepages make us feel comfortable. They are the vehicle that ale us to the different directions of the site. Hypothetical situation: if I am on Duck Commander's website and I want to find out more about the time Si served in the military or about his stay in Vietnam, I would direct myself to "bios". I would then select "Si Robertson. Following, I would read his bio and maybe find related links onto online shops on where I can buy his book, dates for functions or conferences he may be speaking at, even a link to the shop where I can tea cup. I want to buy his tea cup, now I am directed to the store link but not to the exact link to where I can buy his tea cup. Now I am just frustrated, I cannot find it, but I found Willie's bandana. I have decided I am going to buy his bandana instead. Never mind, I do not want the bandana anymore, I remembered I can buy it at Wal-Mart. What do I do now? I just want to connect with the Duck Commander warehouse phone number. There is no link for contacts. How am I going to get there? Lets click "Homepage". I'm back. I didn't have to per say "ride a horse" to get to this sub link, then to this sub link. It is as Ulmer says, the horselesss carriage. It can redirect me to back to the start.