Monday, November 18, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Brittaney Martell- This Is Bliss
https://vimeo.com/77701982
New Link
Brittaney Martel
First Year Writing 1150
Instructor Charteris
Personal Narrative
This is
Bliss
I
stood there preparing to jump, gazing down upon the luminous Adriatic Sea,
crashing against the base of the cliff twenty feet below me. My eyes were glued
to the alluring water. The constant motion of the waves began to alter my
perception, causing my stomach to churn. I felt the sea begin to inch towards
me, faster and faster; it consumed my courage with the rest of
my comfort. I stumbled back from the edge envisioning
the water chasing me. My restless thoughts had conquered me again. I could no
longer jump.
Earlier that day
The
Hvar Island partiers were drunkenly wandering back to they’re hotels, or as
close to a bed as they could get- the beach sufficed for some, when Grace and I
awoke to watch the sunrise that morning. We found our way to an inlet nearby
and sat perched on a small dock, awkwardly lying parallel to the beach,
watching the drunks stumble by. As each
would pass I wondered who they were, what they were thinking, and where they
were headed. I tried to read each ones’ expression, looking to find if they
seemed happy or sad. I wondered how the happy ones did it, how they stayed that
way, and if they truly were.
As I lost my self in thought and dusk arose I
realized we would not be able to see the sun rise from this side of the island.
Neither of us knew of another location, but Grace spotted a road that appeared
to stretch over one of the many giant hills that formed the mainland of the island.
Feeling impatient to see the sunrise, and curious to see the other side of the
island, I suggested we see where the road goes.
The
road was longer than expected, hill after hill, lined with only locals’
villas. We had no idea where we were
headed, and dawn was beginning to paint lavender and pink colors in the sky. I
was getting so anxious to get somewhere, a feeling I despised but had become
familiar with in the past year. My thoughts began to cloud. Are we lost? Would
we miss the sunrise? Grace was perfectly content, but I could tell she was
beginning to note the concern on my face. We had been walking for at least an
hour, and although it was not visible to us, it was obvious the sun had already
broken the horizon; then, we saw a sign pointing towards a small dirt trail
that read, Milna Beach.
Relief
flushed through my body as we began our walk down that dirt trail.
Only minutes later, we reached a clearing.
Grace and I both had to pause in astonishment, for this was the most beautiful
place we had ever laid eyes on. To the left, we saw luscious rolling green
hills, and to the right, a blissfully blue inlet lined with rocky-whitewashed
cliffs and a sandy beach. A cloudless sky, masked by the softest shades of the
unfinished sunrise, sat above the water.
After
rushing down to the beach and admiring the serene surroundings, we wondered
onto the rugged and sharp cliffs that surrounded the sides of
the inlet. Walking on them was quite the endeavor, but curiosity had taken
over, and we no longer cared. Between the rows of cliffs, we found one that
looked flat enough to stand on. This is
where we decided to cliff dive.
In our first attempts, neither of us could do it, although for different
reasons. Grace was coated in the fear of death, and I, the fear of losing
control.
After
both of our failed attempts to jump in, I began to re-conquer my thoughts,
along with a strong sense of determination and courage. If I was in the middle
of the Adriatic, on this once-in-a -lifetime morning hike, it would be a
mistake not to jump. We checked the depth of the water and the landing for any
rocks. We reclaimed our emotions and prepared ourselves to jump. This time, I
would do it. I would let go.
I
stood there preparing to jump, gazing down upon the luminous Adriatic Sea,
crashing against the base of the cliff ten feet below my feet. I squeezed my eyes shut tight, took a step
back, and ran forward, leaping into the alluring sea. The fall seemed to last
for centuries, but as soon as I hit the water a sense of refreshment,
revitalization, and serenity flooded over me.
I conquered my restless thoughts, and jumped.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
3,000 Miles Apart- Katie Thermos
3,000 Miles Apart from Katie Thermos on Vimeo.
March 5, 1995; to the world it was just another day, to my parents it was a miracle, as for myself, it was the beginning of my life. I was born at 10:56 a.m. with my twin sister Emily following at 10:58 a.m. We were born two minutes apart, and inseparable since then. But it is not only that, it is not just that she has been there for me since birth. She has been there for me since the moment of my existence, from the exact time of conception. We shared a womb, a room and most importantly a bond unlike any other. My twin sister and I are as opposite as could be. Emily being the athletic, shy, left brained one and myself being the outgoing, artistic and right-brained one. It is as if we complete each other. Where one lacks, the other one exceeds. We shared our room for 18 years, we may have had some fights; she was the clean one I was the messy one, but nothing could come in between what we meant to each other. Senior year approached and we started applying for colleges, in search of the place that would lead us in the path of success for our future careers. We both considered in and out of state colleges but I was more set on staying in state than she was; in fact I was about 95% decided on CU Boulder from the start of the process. Emily was more indecisive. We both applied for scholarships but Emily went after a very prestigious one, the Daniels Fund, which gives the student a full ride scholarship to the school of their choice. My sister in hope of receiving the Daniels fund applied to Hawaii Pacific University. She also applied to University of Northern Colorado and other schools where she could pursue nursing. No surprise, she received the Daniels Fund and she deserved it. She was in the paper and even on Jay Leno for it. She had worked so hard for it and everyone was thrilled, including myself. However deep down, I could not help but become sad. I knew the outcome of the reward; she would be going to school in Hawaii. How could this possibly be bad, why would I be so upset? She would be going to school in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It was on my own selfish accord that I did not want her to go, I wanted her to stay in Colorado with me. How on earth would I ever be able to survive without her, and her without me? I was excited for her and praised her with everyone else but I never came to my full emotions until the day she left. I left for school on August 22nd and she planned to leave on the 23rd so that she could move me into my dorm room. The night before I left we were both unable to sleep. Emily, our dog Henry and I all spent the night in her bed for one last time. We cried ourselves to sleep knowing the next time we would see each other we be Christmas Break. With only a few hours of sleep we got up the next morning and began our drive to Boulder. It was a little stressful moving in, and getting everything into my dorm room. Once it was done, we looked at each other and realized it was time to say goodbye. We hugged each other and cried; there were no words that could have described our feelings. We both knew that. Our tears, just like our feelings were running together, not distinct from one another. She left with my parents that day, and the next day she was off to Hawaii and off to her future. It was not just that it was painful for her to leave; it was painful knowing that things would never be the same again. We would never be living in the same room again, going to the same school and having the same routine. That is the hardest part of growing up, change. Change is meant to be embraced because resisting it will only set one back in life. So that is my plan, to embark on my journey as an advertising student while she goes on hers in Hawaii as a nursing student. I miss her more and more every day but it would be selfish of me to wish she were home. There is a quote that goes “missing someone is not about how long it has been since you’ve seen them or the amount of time since you’ve talked. Its about that very moment when you find yourself doing something and wishing they were right there by your side.” Walking through campus, on a hike or even in my dorm room I wish she could be here with me. She is now 3,000 miles away, but she’s never been closer to my heart. I wish her the best of luck and sit here today knowing that there are 110 days until December 17th, when she comes home for Christmas.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
This Is Bliss- Brittaney Martell's Multimodel
Video Link: http://vimeo.com/77688503
Brittaney Martel
First Year Writing 1150
Instructor Charteris
Personal Narrative
This is
Bliss
I
stood there preparing to jump, gazing down upon the luminous Adriatic Sea,
crashing against the base of the cliff twenty feet below me. My eyes were glued
to the alluring water. The constant motion of the waves began to alter my
perception, causing my stomach to churn. I felt the sea begin to inch towards
me, faster and faster; it consumed my courage with the rest of
my comfort. I stumbled back from the edge envisioning
the water chasing me. My restless thoughts had conquered me again. I could no
longer jump.
Earlier that day
The
Hvar Island partiers were drunkenly wandering back to they’re hotels, or as
close to a bed as they could get- the beach sufficed for some, when Grace and I
awoke to watch the sunrise that morning. We found our way to an inlet nearby
and sat perched on a small dock, awkwardly lying parallel to the beach,
watching the drunks stumble by. As each
would pass I wondered who they were, what they were thinking, and where they
were headed. I tried to read each ones’ expression, looking to find if they
seemed happy or sad. I wondered how the happy ones did it, how they stayed that
way, and if they truly were.
As I lost my self in thought and dusk arose I
realized we would not be able to see the sun rise from this side of the island.
Neither of us knew of another location, but Grace spotted a road that appeared
to stretch over one of the many giant hills that formed the mainland of the
island. Feeling impatient to see the sunrise, and curious to see the other side
of the island, I suggested we see where the road goes.
The
road was longer than expected, hill after hill, lined with only locals’
villas. We had no idea where we were
headed, and dawn was beginning to paint lavender and pink colors in the sky. I
was getting so anxious to get somewhere, a feeling I despised but had become
familiar with in the past year. My thoughts began to cloud. Are we lost? Would
we miss the sunrise? Grace was perfectly content, but I could tell she was
beginning to note the concern on my face. We had been walking for at least an
hour, and although it was not visible to us, it was obvious the sun had already
broken the horizon; then, we saw a sign pointing towards a small dirt trail
that read, Milna Beach.
Relief
flushed through my body as we began our walk down that dirt trail.
Only minutes later, we reached a clearing.
Grace and I both had to pause in astonishment, for this was the most beautiful
place we had ever laid eyes on. To the left, we saw luscious rolling green
hills, and to the right, a blissfully blue inlet lined with rocky-whitewashed
cliffs and a sandy beach. A cloudless sky, masked by the softest shades of the
unfinished sunrise, sat above the water.
After
rushing down to the beach and admiring the serene surroundings, we wondered
onto the rugged and sharp cliffs that surrounded the sides of
the inlet. Walking on them was quite the endeavor, but curiosity had taken
over, and we no longer cared. Between the rows of cliffs, we found one that
looked flat enough to stand on. This is
where we decided to cliff dive.
In our first attempts, neither of us could do it, although for different
reasons. Grace was coated in the fear of death, and I, the fear of losing
control.
After
both of our failed attempts to jump in, I began to re-conquer my thoughts,
along with a strong sense of determination and courage. If I was in the middle
of the Adriatic, on this once-in-a -lifetime morning hike, it would be a
mistake not to jump. We checked the depth of the water and the landing for any
rocks. We reclaimed our emotions and prepared ourselves to jump. This time, I
would do it. I would let go.
I
stood there preparing to jump, gazing down upon the luminous Adriatic Sea,
crashing against the base of the cliff ten feet below my feet. I squeezed my eyes shut tight, took a step
back, and ran forward, leaping into the alluring sea. The fall seemed to last
for centuries, but as soon as I hit the water a sense of refreshment,
revitalization, and serenity flooded over me.
I conquered my restless thoughts, and jumped.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Dear Noah by Sarah Buckhouse
My
Miracle
Do you believe in miracles? I guess you
have to know what a miracle is in order to believe in one. I believe that a
miracle is an unbelievable, unexplainable, and unimaginable event that happens
to a person when it is most needed, because of this definition, I do not
believe that miracles happen very often. However, when they do occur, they have
a lasting effect on a person.
I was changed by a miracle once;
sometimes I believe that I am constantly being changed by it. Miracles can come
in many shapes and sizes. My miracle came in the form of a little brother.
My family found out in the summer of 2006
that my stepmother was expecting a baby boy, but that wasn’t the only news we
received from the doctor that summer. We were told that the baby, my little
bother, had encephalocele. Encephalocele is a birth defect that occurs in the
brain and is most often fatal.
Our specialist gave us very few options
and at the top of that list, of course, was termination. That wasn’t an option
for my family, because we knew that even though he was sick, my brother was
still part of the family. We were told that he probably wouldn’t make it to
term and that, if he did, there was very little chance he would live through
childbirth.
As a family we mourned for our brother as
though he were already gone. We hope and we prayed that things might turn out
differently. On November 10, 2006, Noah Samuel Buckhouse was born. Now I can’t
say he was born a healthy little boy, because you already know that is not
true, but he did live long enough for us to take him home, Which we never
thought would have been possible.
Noah Sam lived to be 72 days old. That is
1,728 hours or 103,680 minutes or 6,220,800 seconds. In that time he was able
to go on family walks, have weekly birthdays, experience Christmas, and have
visits from Grandma and Grandpa. We as a family loved him every second of every
day. There was never a moment when he was left alone or was not being held. Every
moment he was left alone was a moment lost that we could never get back. If
only I always lived my life that way! If only I lived as though every moment of
my life or a loved one’s life might be the last, my own life might have more
meaning.
No, we were not delusional and we knew
the inevitable was going to happen. While we were waiting for it, we made the
most of the time we had. Most would say it would have been smarter had we all
just remained detached, because to become attached would be too painful. I’m
not going to lie and say it wasn’t painful to sit back and watch and wait for
my little brother to die. It was one of the most painful experiences of my
life. And not only did I lose my little brother, who was the embodiment of
innocence, but I also had to look around me and see the rest of my family in
the same pain that I was in. It is hard to comfort someone when you yourself
need comfort.
Since Noah Sam has been gone, my family
and I have run the Race for Fetal Hope 5K in Denver, Colorado in his honor.
Oddly enough, it falls on the week of his birthday every year. Also, my family donates to Hospice on
Noah Sam’s behalf as often as they can. We do these things not only to celebrate
his life, but also to help other families who may be going through the same
thing. Noah Sam’s life brought us all closer together and it is because of that
closeness that we were able to heal as a family. If Noah Sam’s life did nothing
but accomplish that, I believe that his life was more successful than one would
think a 72-day-old baby’s life could be. Now I believe it is our turn to help
comfort those who are going through similar situations and find that they
cannot comfort themselves!
Noah Sam bought my family together in his
life and continues to do so in his absence. Had my family chosen to terminate
the pregnancy, we never would have been able to meet our precious Noah Sam. We
would have missed out on a very important time in all over our lives. He was
not expected to be around long enough to touch our heart and change our minds,
but he was, and that is what makes him a miracle.
Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed from Tori Kinoshita on Vimeo.
Do you remember when we were eight and we used to talk about our future husbands, the number of kids we wanted, and our first kisses? Well, I’m still wondering all of those things. My best friend had her first kiss when she was eleven. It’s been a while since, and she’s already had many first kisses with multiple boyfriends. As for me, I’m seventeen and you could pretty much count me in as a virgin in every category known to man. It’s not that I haven’t had the opportunity to fall in love or have a boyfriend. It’s just that I haven’t been interested. Bad timing, I say, because usually the guy that I liked just so happened to have a girlfriend. I could go on and on about the things I haven’t done, but then the list might go on forever. As to date, one my biggest fears is how my first kiss will turn out. I’ve heard pretty horrible first kiss stories with too much tongue, lots of slobber, and too much biting of the lower lip. If it’s not too much to ask, I hope I share none of these horrible first kiss experiences with my friends. A first kiss should be magical. It should be in the right place, at the right time, with the right person. It’s dreadful and exciting not knowing what the future has to hold. However, with every day that goes by the clock slowly counts down to the very moment when my turn will come to kiss someone that I will be truly and madly in love with. I’m not expecting some extraordinary and incredible first kiss like the one from the Notebook with Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. I mean it was rehearsed probably multiple times and was critiqued by people who were actually watching them kiss. I’m not even expecting my foot to pop like Anne Hathaway’s does in the Princess Diaries. I just want to make sure that when I do kiss somebody it means just as much to them as it means to me. It can be as plain and a simple as a peck on the lips. I may sound really innocent and naïve and I won’t deny that I kind of am both of those things. I was never one of those girls who just wanted to “get it over with.” I guess watching Cinderella over and over again and having Taylor Swift on replay has made me strive for that perfect princess fairytale. I know it’s not realistic and that my prince charming won’t be as nearly as perfect as he seems in any movie, but I hope that when I do meet someone he’ll resemble prince charming because in every flaw I’ll see perfection. Maybe I might seem a little corny but believe me I’m the farthest thing from liking cheesy relationships. I just want a real one. I’m not big on hook-ups, and I don’t like playing games with people. The way I see it you’re either committed or you’re not. You’re either in or in the way. I’m extra careful, if it wasn’t made clear already. I don’t want to get hurt even though I know it’s impossible to dodge that bullet because I know that everyone experiences some form of heartbreak in their lives. I’m looking for love not lust and commitment opposed to “things.” If I sound like I’m asking for too much maybe it’s because it is too much. But then again, if I sound vulnerable, innocent, and completely naïve it’s probably because I am. But on the contrary you are hearing my thoughts and I am the girl who has never been kissed.Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Dear Mikey T.Barbato Mulitmodal
WRTG 1150 MULTIMODAL from Taylor Barbato on Vimeo.
Taylor Barbato
Frances Charteris
WRTG 1150
September 2, 2013
Dear
Mikey
I remember the
first bubble bath we took together. I was probably only 5, you only 2. The memory seems more vivid with the awfully
embarrassing pictures mom keeps sitting out on the counter. Seems like just
yesterday we were in that small, big at the time, yellow wood house on the top
of the hill in the suburbs of the Springs. Sunday mornings we’d wake up and
rummage through those obnoxious Wal-Mart adds to show mom and dad what we so
desperately “needed”; most times you were only in a Blue’s Clue’s pull-up. I
remember going to my 4th grade sock-hop at Antelope Trails and you
were by far the cutest kid there. But lets be real, the only reason for that
was because my inner beautician came out and you ended up looking like Danny
from Grease. You rocked the limbo bar that night. And should’ve got the award
for the lady killer.
Do you remember
your first baseball game? Football game? I do. I couldn’t help but to get
nervous when you went up to the plate to hit; when the ball would be snapped to
you. You never missed one of my games; soccer or even basketball. No one could
ever ask for a better fan. Someone to support them in their every move. You
were always there. Athletics had been such an imperative part of your life and
created the amazing man that resides inside you today.
Our age gap became
a barrier in our relationship as we grew up but I could see it gently
diminished the past six to eight months. Who would’ve imagined that you would
end up being my best friend after this summer? I didn’t, but I couldn’t be
happier that it did. Somewhere I feel a sense of loss, but deep down I feel
happiness. Because you happen to be my best friend and brother, there is most
definitely a hopeless sense of heartbreak that transpires when I move one
hundred miles way. Moving into such an
important part of your adolescence, I want to be there to share every moment
with you. Nonetheless, I am so overjoyed with happiness when I ponder upon the
hundreds of life changing memories you’ll make in the next few year.
It’s now 2013 and
I’ve moved on to such an intricate part of my life. You’re still at home in
that stuffy little house and off I went to study in the most beautiful cities
in the world. It seems like just yesterday that you started your first day of
kindergarten, and this year you’re starting your first of four years in high
school. I can picture you walking through school with that oversized backpack
that doesn’t seem to fit you, mindlessly wearing your half-calves too high, and
quietly watching others as you make your way to your next class. I’m hopeful
you will cherish every minute of these next years because they mean so much.
You’ll hate mom when she constantly lectures you to make sure and get good
grades and to get involved, but listen to her; she knows what she is talking
about. I would’ve never been so comfortable with who I was, or have become the
person I did if it wasn’t for high school. Mikey, if you’re willing to be
outgoing and optimistic as you grow these next few years, you’ll grow into a
successful young man that you have been striving for the past 15 years.
Mikey, you’ll
never understand how quick you grow up until it happens, so treasure it. You’ll
wish it would all come back to you. That little energetic kid will always
reside somewhere inside of you, you may just have to dig deep to find when you
are all grown up. I’d do anything to share your last few childhood years with
you, but for now, I’ll admire you from afar. Good luck little brother, and
forever stay a kid at heart.
Love always,
Tay
Charles Schueler Multimodal
<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/77478737" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/77478737">CharlieSchuelerProject</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user22018194">Charles Schueler</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
http://vimeo.com/77478737
http://vimeo.com/77478737
Cooper Turley - Red Rocks Amphitheater
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOcF3WQDh4Y
'
Cooper Turley
Frances Charteris
WRTG 1150
22 October, 2013
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
As my eyes open for the first time that morning I have one thing on my mind. Red Rocks. Tonight is the night of yet another incredible show at my favorite venue in the entire world. Red Rocks is a 10k seated amphitheater carved right into the heart of the Colorado Mountains. During the day, this magical place is a simple tourist attraction full of runners, dog walkers, and photographers alike. Who could resist the beautiful mountain wind as you casual climb up over 80 rows of stairs just wide enough to avoid another fellow jogger or friend. This incredible venue has been around for over 80 years and even has a museum built right inside. In this “hall of fame” signed instruments from famous artists like the Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix, and Grateful Dead can be found along with a hallway full of every show every played in this legendary place.
As the early hours of the day pass, I prepare myself by making sure to eat a filling breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as keeping on track with my hydration patterns throughout the day. At around three o’clock in the afternoon it’s go time. The half hour drive provides me with a view of the surrounding mountains and beautiful Colorado forests that are simply breathtaking. The scenery in Colorado is simply amazing, and the longer you take to appreciate it, the more you will enjoy it. Feet tapping, music blasting, and heads bobbing as the car slowly rolls up the mountain to the parking lots.
The second I take a step outside I am immediately hit by a blast of happiness. LED hoops light up the parking lot lanes as the smell of freshly made burgers and hot dogs instantly hit your nose. The people you meet at Red Rocks are the people you will remember for the rest of your life. The Colorado Concert Family is that like no other state. Everywhere you look, people’s faces are filled with warming smiles and accepting attitudes. Good vibes fill the air and nothing else seems to matter when the beat drops.
After an exaughsting ten or fifteen minute walk up countless paths and the stairway to heaven, tickets are scanned and bags are checked. A quick pit stop and water refill is taken, it’s time to jam. Now the great thing about red rocks is the ability to enjoy the show on a variety of levels. The first couple rows are jammed pack of diehard fans raging to some of their favorite tunes. As the bass slams against your chest, you can slowly feel your eardrums degrading…. Hearing might be a little difficult for the next couple days. But not all of show is like this. As the row count increases, the mood mellows. The higher you go the chiller it gets. If you are the kind of person that hates crowded areas, then the top rows are definitely for you. Unlimited room to dance, chill, and relax as the openers drop some fresh new tracks or that classic song that everyone knows the words to. The venue is even brilliantly curved upward, providing a perfect view of the stage from any angle.
As the sun sets, the cool breeze falls over the night sky. The stage has been constructed and up steps the main act. (Video Fill Here) exclaims the artist as he takes the stage. Cheers fill the air as the first note is played. A mass of glow sticks are sent flying through the night sky. A quick look up and your jaw drops as you first notice the beautiful night sky illuminated by a mass of millions of stars. As your view comes down to the horizon you become immersed in the beautiful Denver city, filled with lights from office building, skyscrapers, and house alike. As you sweep your head from left to right you finally experience how amazing the venue truly is. Thousands upon thousands of people jam packed into rows guarded by two giant boulders on both sides of the venue. Love is in the air as thoughts of happiness fill my mind.
As the show comes to an end, a feeling of sadness encumbers my body. The general mood of the crowd shifts to a feeling of “I wish this never had to end”. Concerts at Red Rocks are more than just the show. Red Rocks is truly about the experience. There truly is nothing better than the feeling of internal bliss as you sing along to that song you and your closest friends love. The people you meet and conversations you have are truly something else. As I ride home, I gaze at the stars and feel a relaxing sensation come over my body as I look back on all that had just occurred in a matter of hours. It really is amazing how much a person can truly experience in one night. A show at Red Rocks could change your life forever. If you have never been to this incredible place, I highly recommend a visit as this venue is truly one of the most unique national structures in the entire world.
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