Christine Walden Public Feed

Benchmark and Reflection

Posted by Christine Walden in Globalization - Laufenberg on
Benchmark!: ​
Here it is.

Reflection:
What did you find most challenging about this project?
I found the most challenging aspect of this project to be first sitting down and simply starting than determining the validity of certain choices. I remember distinctly choosing a few that I felt were somewhat like "cheating" when in fact it simply highlighted the global nature of globalization.

How did you go about collecting the images or selecting the images?
I spent one morning wandering about with camera attempting to capture globalization. I imagine I looked a great deal like crazed tourist unfamiliar with the popular landmarks. After a short break, I decided the other somewhat more logical choice of thinking of the sites I wished to photograph before leaving the comfort of home.

Which image is your favorite? Why? Elaborate.
My favorite image was the safety image. It was a lovely morning when I took the picture and now each time I look upon it, I think only of the pleasantness of that morning. I am sorry, as this is probably not the answer you were looking for but it is the only one I have. Well, I should amend- the only one I will happily give for it is the only that is true.

How prevalent is the evidence of globalization in Philadelphia? Do you think it is more or less so (evident) than in other large cities in the US? Why Why not?
I think that globalization is quite prevalent in Philadelphia. I think that all large cities in the United States have similarly levels. This project showed how deeply ingrained globalization has become in our cullture and I think if we were to do this project in any other large cities we would find similar results. Granted, the overall amount may be the same but there may be some differences on the more specific levels. (Other cities may not have as high a Hispanic population or an Italian market, etc.)

A Most Fitting Goodbye

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
As I prepare to attend my last of day of classes tomorrow, I cannot help but remark upon how appropriate my farewell shall be. I will be running about, like the oft mentioned headless chicken, attempting to complete work that should have been completed days ago... as I always am.
I hope dear Science Leadership Academy you appreciate my consistency for it is the only thing I can offer. Oh... I suppose I can also offer needlessly long-winded selfishness and an appreciation for frozen treats and ill-timed dancing, but that is about it.
Anywho,
It has been a please.
An utter and complete pleasure.
Thank you.

--------------------------Thank You Dear----------------------------

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
I must thank Alex for inspiring me to read A Brave New World.
Though, I have no doubt I am missing its most basic themes and insulting the book, its author (The long dead Aldous Huxley), and perhaps even the publisher by even looking the novel. Nonetheless I shall continue.
It is lovely.
A tad sad, vaguely frightening but lovely.

Nonsense.

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on

I am not a particularly spiritual or religious individual.
I am merely one who decided years ago that I wanted magic to exist and have been consistently surprised to see that it does, though it often goes by different names.

       I am a great admirer of the world.

            It is marvelous.

Prom Wonderful Presents: A Most Lovely Evening,

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
​Prom,

   You were wonderful.

         from,
             Christine

Cameras,

    You are cruel, unflattering, and should not be made available to certain segments of the population for so small a price.
 
         from,
             Christine

Friends and Companions,

     I do not deserve any of you. Thank you dears. By the by, you are a handsome bunch. 
       
         from, 
              Christine

Dear SLA Teaching Professionals,

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
(Before you begin, I must apologize for the word choice, grammar, and punctuation of this short letter. It was written in haste and on a somewhat empty stomach, which I believe are the two leading causes of literary disasters.)

        Though I applaud your determination to see your students reach their full potential, be the best they can be, and other hallmark card appropriate phrases,​ I request that you please stop telling my parents of my work habits. They are wonderful people who, sadly, birthed a horrible first child. Se la vie. But let us do what we can to keep their knowledge of me small and carefully monitored, ensuring their dispositions remain forever sunny.
        In order for this goal to be met dear teachers, I ask of you but one thing: squash down that perfunctory need to involve my adult caretakers any and every time and instead treat yourself to a pastry of some sort, allowing each calorie to remind you that you have just done a great service by simply turning the other cheek. (Perhaps you may even find a way to write the pastry purchase off as charitable giving.) Please ruminate upon my recommendation.
        On one final note before you make you decision, I ask that you consider this: within you lies the power to protect the well-being of two extraordinary people. This pair may, nay will in turn rescue other sensational souls and so on and so forth until one day you wake up to a world born anew in all that is good and grand. A world you helped create with but a few moments of well-timed silence.


         From,

               Christine Walden 

A Simple Request

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
​I would like heels for prom that will make my ankles cry.
I would like heels for prom that drag queens would refuse if offered on the grounds of them being too over the top.
I would like heels for prom that will lift me into another level of the atmosphere each time I step into them.
I would like heels for prom that will be impossible to walk in, forcing me to spend my evening being carried from place to place until eventually the kind volunteer who has moved me to and fro, here and there injures their back, leaving me stranded for what may very well be weeks on end.
I would like heels for prom that could act as a mighty thin party tent should something prove amiss with the hotel.
Oh yes and I would like them in blue.




(Bolded sentence within: I would like drag queens that lift impossible to eventually.)

Feathers and Felines: One Man's Quest to Make His Grandmother's Cat A Star!

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
For a portion of my capstone I need to create a gang, names and personalities included. I had been making no progress on this front for the three days I had been regularly thinking about it until I sat down to do my Anatomy and Physiology homework. (For those who may have occasion to read this today, have no fear there is no new assignment. You may rest easy.) I was reading when I encountered the term osteoclasts. Osteoclasts, as defined by The Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology- Ninth Edition by Elaine N. Marieb, are large cells that resorb and break down bone matrix.
They bone breakers. (Granted this is an incredibly simplistic description of their role, but I am going to ignore that on the grounds of artistry.) I had found the nickname for my enforcers! Hoorah hoorah! What luck. While I completed my science I happened across this gem of a title, a win for everyone I think. 

Bonjour, Salam, Hello Mr. Sunshine! It Appears 8 O'Clock is the Envy Hour!

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
Oh he is so terribly funny. A clever lad as well. He has done just fine for himself thus far and he is still so young! What a future he has! He simply cannot help from excelling. Day in and day out...
yet I cannot hold it against the boy.
But does he have to excel so close to where I sit?
Does he have to do it so audibly?
Cannot his wonder be hidden?
Of course not. It oozes from his pores. Light shines from him and he mistakenly believes that I contain such greatness as well... it is simply the reflection of your light that you see, silly!
Well, let us not dwell on this fact. Let me simply envy and admire from my corner, warming myself in your glow, and every now and again do a musical number.

Of Dreams And The Middle Aged Count Kind Enough To Explain Them

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
I was told that if you dream of blood, you will have good luck but if you dream of losing a tooth, then a death, be it yours or someone elses', will occur somewhat soon. I dreamed I grew mustache and decided to spend the rest of my days blowing up trains. (The trains I chose to destroy were made of balloons and met their demise at the end of a toothpick I whittled* using wood from the peg leg of a flamboyant pirate. He sang as I whittled. I miss him in my conscious state.) I do not know what this dreams means but I kept all my teeth.



* Fun Fact: To widdle is to urinate. I discovered this after misspelling whittle.  I hoped you enjoyed it.

Dear The Book of Lost Things by John Connelly,

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
For many years I harbored the secret desire to become a centaur as any young girl might. However, after reading this novel I am now suitably put off the notion for any mention of the word centaur forces me to think of the deranged hunter who shared my desire to become one of the greatest hybrids mythology has ever known. So thank you very much.

         from,

             Viscountess Elvira VinHousser III

P.S. Despite the book tainting my centaur dreams, I found it to be just wonderful.




Dear Fellow Student Interested In Mark Twain,

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
Would you like to dress in white suits, smoke cigars, and exchange lazy witticisms on a wood porch on a quiet summer evening? I do hope you consider this with the utmost seriousness, I make this offer not in jest but with a quiet hope that you will say yes and allow one of my dreams to be realized. (It only works when done in pairs so surely you understand my desperation.)

           From An Incredibly Eager,

                        Christine Walden

P.S. We shall be wearing mustaches of course.

Reflexion de Marzo 29

Posted by Christine Walden on
Leer Estudio en Escarlata de Sir Arthur Conan Doyle es dificil porque es originalmente en ingles de los 1880s. Hay muchos palabras que yo no conozco en espanol y esta causa confusion. Cuando no conozco bien el vocabulario, lo que hago es leer todo el pasaje para encontrar tema principal. Entonces, yo leyo el pasaje un otro tiempo con un dictionario y busco las palabras nuevas que no puedo determinar de los "context clues". Me gusta aprender el español por leer novelas porque es un desafio y cada pagina snetido como un logro gran.

Reflexion de Marzo 8

Posted by Christine Walden in Spanish Literature - Gierke on
En mi novela, Estudio en Escarlata de Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, cosas son seria. Sherlock y Watson encontraron una cuerpa sin sangre con no heridas obviamente! O la drama...
Mi encanta la novela hasta ahora, las personajes son interesante y los secretos muchos. No tengo un idea de la identidad de la asesino o su motivo. Me gusto esta confusión. (Yo no solo en esta forma de confusión, tiene un companero: Watson.)
En terminos de la complejidad de la novela, es un poco dificil para entender cada palabra pero yo puedo entender la mayoria.

Reflexion de Febrero 24

Posted by Christine Walden in Spanish Literature - Gierke on
Titulo:
Estudio en Escarlata de Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Género:
¡Misterio!

El Trama (Hasta ahora):
Hasta hora, la fantástica Sherlock Holmes y Dr. Watson encontraron. Dr. Watson, necesitando un compañero de cuarto, esta de acuerdo a vivir con Sherlock. Todo en bueno entre los hombres. Pronto, Sherlock explicado a Watson la naturaleza de su trabaja y los dos forman un asociación profesional para investigar la muerte de un hombre.

Predicciones Que Tienes Sobre el Trama:
Yo predeciría que Sherlock y Watson resolvería el caso y sería amigos en el proceso.

¿Te gusta hasta ahora? ¿Por qué?:
Me encanta la libro hasta hora. Es dramática, cómica, y sobre un de mi personajes favoritos: el maravilloso Sherlock Holmes.

¿El libro se relaciona con algun aspecto de tu vida? ¿Cómo?:
Si el libro relaciona con un parte de mi vida. En mi tiempo libre, yo investigo crimen también.  

¿Recomindas el libro? ¿Para quién? ¿Por qué?:
Recomido esta libro a todos que le gusta intriga, disfraces, y un adición a las drogas útil. (No hay mucho adicciones útiles, pero esto es bueno… mas o menos.)

Diario de Marzo 7: Pedro Almodvar!

Posted by Christine Walden in Spanish Literature - Gierke on
​A Pedro Almodóvar le gusta subvertir las definiciones más convencionales del género en sus películas. ¿Estás de acuerdo? ¿Por qué?
Si, estoy de acuerdo para la mayoría. Creo que él selecciona un grupo de estereotipos y usólos para creado un fundación para sus personajes. Pero creo que Almodóvar añadio mas profundidad en sus personajes que no es un parte de los definiciones mas convencionales. Su película fue una mezcla de estereotipos y las parodias de esos, con una pizca de sentimientos real y sin genero. (Espero que esta repuesta tiene sentido y no es muy "cheesy")

En tu opinión y en tus experiencias, ¿cuál es el género de tomar acción y hacer cambios? ¿y según Almodóvar? ¿y según tus telenovelas?
En mi opinión, no hay un genero de tomar acción mas del otro. Es igual. (Si, si, si es muy diplomático.) Pero el opinión de Pedro Almodovar es que las mujeres son mas dinámica… aparentemente. En las película todos los hombres, excepto el personaje de Antonio Banderas, están ausente o eventualmente seria incapacitado. Solamente las mujeres hacen algo y mucho que sus acciones giran de un hombre. En el mundo de Pedro Almovador, pienso que los hombres son las catalizadores pasiva para las mujeres activas. En las telenovelas, hay un equilibrio. Muchos hombres cometen un delito o acciones mas violenta y esta es la manera para ellos a "tomar acción y hacer cambios". Las mujeres en las telenovelas usan métodos mas furtivo y secreto, pero los efectos son iguales. (Mi repuesta es un poquito fuera de tema… lo siento.)

¿Cómo son diferentes las representaciones de género en Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios y la telenovela popular que miras en clase?
En la película y las telenovela hay un colección de mujeres y hombres fantástica y dramática. Yo solamente hablo de un grupo selectiva de las mujeres en los dos. Hay una chica "en control que arriba de la drama" que es mas dramática de muchos en su mundo. A menudo esta personaje fue el protagonista. Hay una chica estúpida o una cabeza hueca que necesita la ayuda de la protagonista para funciona (esta personaje es cómica.) Hay los antagonistas, mujeres que no le gusta el protagonista y intenta a destruir su vida completamente en una manera mas dramática y ridículo de todo en existencia. Es maravillosa.

Reflection Post #2

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
Well things have gone a tad awry. My character has deviated a bit from the scheduled plot line. I would like to say that this is me attempting to add authenticity to my her- "she needs to get acquainted with the website before she starts making such personal revelations"- but in truth it is because I forgot that this was just a character in a story. I enjoy the gal, now I need to start telling her predetermined tale. On the bright side of this accident, I think I can comfortably say my character is a great deal more "fleshed out" than she might otherwise have been and we are able to see more her relationship Merriweather a.k.a. the "Anonymous Asshole."
All in all, I am enjoying it immensely.

Gait Into A Stanger's World*

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
He walked with a slight limp in his right leg.

There had been a boy in his elementary school class who had dared him to jump over the school's fence and confront the crazed madman's whose property rested on the other side. Invigorated by the prospect of heroism and school-wide acclaim for encountering what most were almost certain was a wizard, he undertook the dare with a suspicious amount of eagerness that caused the classmate to doubt the severity of his choice. The aspiring hero then climbed up the fence with ease and sat at the top, preparing himself for the battle to come. Sure of his noble purpose, he jumped down from the fence realizing only a moment before touching the ground that the fence was much to high to be dismounted in this fashion. He should have climbed down. The next moment he reached the ground and felt the effects of this lack of foresight. He had broken his ankle. Now, some forty years later, the limp remains from that childhood accident. Now, some forty years later, he looks both ways twice before crossing a street. Now, some forty years later, he quietly tells disheartened children that being a knight is not for everyone. Selling insurance can be just as fun. Now, some forty years later, a girl is walking onto the train behind him wondering how he got that limp. Wondering if it had been the result of something heroic. Something bold. 



*The title is so wonderfully cheesy. Please take a moment to frown and lament at the humor.  

Benchmark Reflection!

Posted by Christine Walden in Globalization - Laufenberg on
      ​For my benchmark, I chose to compare New Zealand and Brazil. In order to fulfill the requirements of the project, I needed to research each of the five provided components of collapsibility for both countries, assign a score, and give my reasoning. I chose to research the five points for each country individually, focusing my investigation on one nation at any given time. I found this approach terribly helpful, particularly in the initial stagesl because it allowed me to acquaint myself with the country while also providing me the opportunity to throw in fun, relevant tidbits I happened upon while looking the nation.
     While completing my benchmark, one thing I found wonderfully helpful was the five point framework. It created a relatively open structure around which to build my project. It was just grand! However, I cannot highlight only the good things… there are things I would have liked to change about my project, namely its submission time. I once again turned in this benchmark late which I find has sullied the whole process for me. I wish, if given an opportunity to do this project again, I would have the good sense to finish it on time.

A Monologue For A Mirror In Regards To My Present Productivity

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
(Judge me kindly friends, the hour is early and I am no poet.)

Mirror, mirror
on the wall
why must I go
and wreck it all?

Such prosperity awaits!
A future pristine!
Tarnished and ruined
by my internal fiend.

This habit confines
all possible splendor.
Each acceptance shall be
returned to its sender.

Mirror, mirror
on the wall
Please tell diligence
to give me a call.

Reflecting On The Benchmark Thus Far

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
First, I would like to address the work I have done so far for my benchmark: I have created my character's Tumblr and sent out my first few posts. Next, I would like to discuss how terribly difficult it was to stop after completing the aforementioned tasks. Tumblr is so terribly interesting! I set aside a half hour to complete the work on my benchmark because I thought the registering and posting would take all of ten minutes with the most time consuming portion her blog's creation being character appropriate decorating or customizing (to use the Tumblr lingo.) However, by the time I had logged off her account, a good hour had passed. I just wanted to keep posting! I wanted to pick a favorite book for her, a favorite movie, a favorite weekday dessert, a favorite place. So I did, condoning my actions with pointing out that had she really just created this account she would have been as over zealous as I was. What I neglected to note is that I had known this would happen and had built such excitement into the timeline. Tomorrow was the day I was supposed to go buckwild on the site, posting each menial thought and seemingly inconsequential like or dislike.  Oh the horror! I had deviated from the timeline on the first day! Wishing to return to the clearly laid path, I took down everything I posted excepting the first post and saved it in a word document making my deviation preparation. In summation, I think things are going well for my benchmark. ​

Lamentations! (The Pity Party Musical Sweeping the Nation!)

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on

Here I sit:
Feeling as proud as can be
Because a few colleges
expressed an interest in me.
Yet one look at their tuition
restores my sanity.


On a side note, I would like to acknowledge that a great many of my most upsetting moments are best expressed through lighthearted rhyme. (Evidence of my admiration of Dorothy Parker, I imagine.)

B C F&M G H O S T W&M

Financing Your College Education!

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
Hey gang! Have you just gotten accepted to the college of your dreams but find the financial aid package to be lacking and your disposable income unable to fill the demand? Well have I got a list of money-making ventures for you!

For those who want to go into medicine, steal kidneys or other high demand organs!

For the athletes out there, try robbery or joining a mob!

For the aspiring engineers and/ or scientists, create a death ray or medication resistant plague and hold a city for ransom.

For writers, try kidnapping or some other activity in which you need to leave written demands/ clues for law enforcement officials.

Remember gang there is no wrong way to go abut paying for college.
Do anything and everything to ensure you have the most successful life possible.

It Exists!

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
This fabled happiness is real! It lurks within you, barely contained, sitting in a small chair awaiting some external stimuli to let it loose. It was never meant for such a sedentary existence.
When said catalyst makes itself known and the confines holding this marvelous emotion are broken, it overwhelms. It drowns. It floods. It skips animatedly within your veins and must make itself known to all those around you.
It is a fidgety bliss that was never content with stillness.

Should one find themselves overcome with such feelings, I recommend running barefoot down the sidewalk on a chilly evening. Though I warn this jog does nothing to dampen the effects of the feeling, it merely makes one bearable to their family.

A Moment of Pride for Dear Mama

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
Standing outside the bathroom for ten minutes under the impression the door is locked. Reading a paper as I wait. A woman comes over and gets in line behind me. We wait. She is approached by two lovely drunks eager to flirt. Awkward, slurred conversation commences. She gets uncomfortable and I check the door once more and realize it was not locked, merely heavy. Shame then takes a physical form and forever attaches itself to my back.

You Are...

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
You are the baking soda to my acid burn.
You are my royal title in this monarchy-less age.
You are the nearby stick to my poo-covered shoe.
You are the French checkbook to my American Revolution.
You are used by me and appeased by metaphors. 
​

The Blaming of the Supernatural for Personal Faults or The Christine Walden Story

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
My social and physical awkwardness stems from a curse placed upon my family years ago by an embarrassed and angry witch. This witch had encountered one of my ancestors, a young, dashing lass, who walked as if upon water: enjoying the ripples beneath her feet all the while knowing that any who looked upon her believed themselves witnessing a miracle. A goddess walking amongst men, if you will. The witch, an opportunistic old croon, believed that if she was to befriend such a woman she would be propelled into the top tiers of polite society. With her magic and this ancestor-o-mine’s grace, they could control the small world in which they lived. Energized by the prospect, the witch approached my relative  and eloquently explained the proposition. Upon hearing the witch's idea, my ancestor looked at her, smiled kindly, and told her no. The witch, not completely dissuaded, asked why my ancestor would refuse such an opportunity. My ancestor replied, in a serious voice, I have no other desire than to spend my days wandering about these woods until I am accidentally shot down in a horrific hunting accident. I fear your plans would greatly interfere with my own. The witch was shocked. Hurt. Confused. Forlorn at the notion of my ancestor  wasting her gift. Shocked once more. And finally angry. (“ How dare some young harlot deny me  such a  future so she could be shot down in the woods!”) The witch, not ashamed to fulfill the stereotypes that had prevented her species from being considered socially acceptable, felt that my ancestor’s actions required punishment. Having accepted that the only redeeming quality my family member possessed was the innate grace which first attracted the witch with its silent call, she determined it was that gift that must be taken. She placed a curse on my relative which resulted in a hobbled, clumsy number that could only be called a walk in the most open-minded of circles and inspired ridicule and pity in all who saw it. Yet even in her lame, borderline dialed state, my relative retained her wits and good humor. The witch found her reaction to be an affront on the entire process and decided it was necessary to increase the size of the curse. She now made it so the curse affected my dear relative’s means of social interaction. She was unable to form cohesive, intelligent sentences or maintain eye contact with whomever she spoke. She stuttered, paused awkwardly, and tended to ramble in a fashion that caused mother’s to hide their children in her presence. She now suffered not only a bothersome lack of elegance while walking but its verbal equivalent! The witch was pleased. She had thoroughly disheartened my ancestor and punished her for her insolence. However, the amount of power the witch used in this punishment far exceeded the limits both women believed it lived within: it did not just affect my ancestor but her descendants as well. There now existed a discrepancy in my ancestor’s genetic code which manifests ever so rarely, an alteration that when dominant plagued its owner with the jilted witch’s curse. (There have only been a few recorded cases of this highly recessive gene surfacing with only one victim alive today. The living patient has tried various gene therapies and spells to have it removed but that witch proved most powerful albeit terribly fickle. I shall give you one guess as to who this mystery patient is. Give up? It is Rumpelstiltskin. It is always Rumpelstiltskin where guessing names and fairy tales are involved. Oh yes and first-born child payments. He often has a hand in those.)

A Rather Lackluster Tale About Red Pumps

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
This marked the first time he had worn a suit in years. He found it uncomfortable and unflattering, somewhat like his relationship with his father. He found the comparison to be particularly fitting when considering that he was only wearing the "polyester identity repressor" at his father's request.
He walked down the hallway, obvious discomfort marring what otherwise might have been a dapper outfit and handsome face, and tried to enjoy the rather distinct clack of his shoes on the hardwood. (It was a lovely sound that reminded him of enthusiastic lip-syncing, red pumps, and companionable silences.)
He reached the door to his father study, cursed whatever stork misread the address given to him as a babe- a quiet ritual that preceded every entry into this office- and crossed the threshold. His father sat in a leather chair, reading the paper, and smoking a cigar. (Having come from a middle-class family, his father's only understanding of how properly to convey innate pretentiousness came from films- please forgive the cliched choice of snob expression on his part. He has yet to finish watching them all.)
His father chose not look away from the paper and assess the outfit when his son approached, choosing instead to compliment the sound of his entrance.
"Now that is the way a true gentleman sounds as he enters a room. Clear, strong footsteps."
The young disgruntled son smiled at the comment for he sounded just a strong and clear when he wore pumps and a well-trimmed dress. Knowing that vocalizing such an observation would in no way be welcome, he kept his silence. (His father had gotten far enough in his cinematic studies to know cross-dressing was a no-no in terms of acceptable upper class behavior.)
The boy sighed, stared down at the brown dress shoes, willing them to the reds pumps awaiting his return at his closet door.

Why One Ought Not Play With Their Food

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
I poured a bag of skittles into a jar, turned out all the lights in the room excepting the flashlight I had placed underneath said jar, and stared at the delicious rainbow candies within. I then moved the jar about until the skittles formed a mountain and gazed upon this little world under the bright light of its false sun. I imagined myself inside jar. I imagined myself inhabiting that simple world. I imagined while in this place, I climbed the malnutritous mound of skittles. I had looked haggard and hungry during this expedition, comically so when considering the location. I climbed with fervor, deciding the petite me in the jar had long stared at this mountain. It had haunted me, forever looming above, keeping a secret knowledge at it peak. Anywho, as I mentioned before: I climbed until the peak and I were but yards apart. Feet. Inches. I took my final step and stood atop, looking out through the glass of the jar to see me, in my present 5'6'' form, staring down at my petite me's world with a giddy curiosity. My petite me yelled "Atlas!". Both 'me's laughed heartily. I than hastily shut off the flashlight, turned back on the lights I had earlier turned off, and repressed the terribly unpleasant thoughts that arose as I ate little me's scrumptious mountain.

A Poem Concieved While Choking On Tea

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
As the title explicitly states, I conceived this poem while choking on tea. I felt it worthy of being posted not for its content or structure, both somewhat commonplace, but rather for the thrilling fact that this is the manner in which I confronted the notion of death by tea. Though it is impossible for me to die from that particular incorrect ingestion of the beloved drink, I find it sensational how terribly dramatic this rhyme is considering the circumstances

Death by Tea
I have dreamed of wasted talent.
I have dreamed of foreign shores.
I have dreamed of all this planet.
Now I find, I'll dream no more.

The Oft-Neglected Lives of Parents

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
She has gypsy blood hidden in her veins.
His father was a quiet man.
She has a long-lost sibling.
He lost a sibling long ago.
She drowned library books in a murky pond.
He wanted to be a priest.
She wanted to be a nun.
He spoke Chinese.
She taught herself Spanish but daydreamed in French.
He kept his faith.
She lost hers.
He built a car.
She wanted six boys.
He wanted five girls.
She scuba dived.
He was once invited to join.
They scuba dived.
She knew what she wanted in her youth.
He has yet to decide.
She bleached her hair blond and smoked her mother's cigarettes.
He is tall.
She is short.
They met while doing heroic things.
She the ears.
He the hands.
They were romantic.
They were spontaneous.
They married on a holiday.
They danced to Ella Fitzgerald.  
They planned.
They bought an abandoned house.
They reproduced.
They made a home.
Every now and again they share a tale of times long since past.
Their children doubt.
Perhaps because of selfishness.
Perhaps because these same voices read them fictional tales.
They age.
They tire.
They grow jaded.
Yet they ensure that for however fleeting a time their children never age.
Never tire.
Never grow jaded.
They go to the movies.
They giggle as they clean.
They disgust the young with public displays of affection.
They have spoiled.

Six Six Word Sentences!

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
1. Her eyes wandering, his love misplaced.

2. His father's sweater but his mistakes.

3. Painted ceiling blue, hid from sky.

4. "Please excuse my dust"*. Cremation messy.

5. Painted ceiling blue, forgot the sky.

6. Painted ceiling blue, cursed the sky.


*Originally said by the seminal Ms. Dorothy Parker. (She is just darling...)

2 Love Stories In 2 Sentences

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
Let us begin with a melancholy tale:

He crossed the street, well aware that she would not notice his absence until she awoke tomorrow without a ride.

Now to uplift the spirits!:

Bold he shall never be, but when she returns to sing- poorly- beneath his window he will turn off the sprinklers and provide her a chair.

Pardon Me, I Must Be Going.

Posted by Christine Walden on
"He will love me when the horns start to show. Mother says we should start to see them by next fall. He will adore me when my pigment changes and the color leaves my eyes. He will love me always. I know it. From the minute I saw on him on the subway car, staring  awkwardly at the weird stain in the corner of the neighboring seat, he was mine. Father thinks him odious, boring, and easily replaceable. I happen to oppose everything Father says, simply for the thrill of it, so his dislike is all the more evidence of our perfection for one another.
He will love me when others cower at my feet, afraid and broken. Mumbling of days long since past, begging for my mercy. He will stand unflinchingly by my side. He loves me in what some might call an "inescapable fashion". I quite like the sound of that. Inescapable. I suppose such devotion is upsetting for his house harpy, or "wife" as some know her. What a retched thing she is. Crying all the time about love lost and my cruelty as though I am to blame for his feelings. This is fate! The cosmos! Destiny! She was but a pit stop on his way to me and she has overstayed her welcome! I wish he would dispose of her. Perhaps I will make him do that tomorrow, proof of his undying love. Oh that is a grand idea! A perfect Valentine's Day gift.
He is mine, mine, mine… goodness, look at the time! Pardon me, I must be going. It has been lovely chatting with you."

Brownish Nail Polish: Indecisiveness Manifested

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
​X: I. Must. Get. This. Nail. Polish.
Y: I. Do. Not. Care. You are paying for it, buy what you please.
X: But how often would I use this. I mean, it has been months since I last painted my nails.
Y: Well perhaps this will rekindle your nail painting fire. Buy the thing so we can leave.
X: Alright, you said I should get it. Here we go.
Y: Maybe you were right to hesitate. It may just go to waste, sitting unused in our bathroom. Also, if I may be completely honest, it is a rather unflattering brown.
X: Dammit! Now you have confused me!
Y: Oh I know, dearest. I felt the need to nullify my previous comment. I am now without bias.

(This exchange continues for the next three minutes ending in...)

X: I am doing it. I am getting the color. I read nude colors make you look years younger... I will look like a six year old. This will be great!

(Ten minutes later, having made the purchase and left the store, X sits and paints her nails.)

X: Uh… this is not the color I thought it was. I think I just waited $5. 

2 Pleasant Rhymes For the Untalented Actor

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
A simple rhyme to help alleviate the pain caused by having the dream of preforming in a school production of a beloved novel vanquished by a startlingly obvious inability to act.

To be in Pride and Prejudice
Is my deepest little wish;
But I lack the skill, I know,
So I shall only watch the show.

Another somewhat sad rhyme that should in no way determine one's parenting style or career aspirations.

To dream, to dream
Of the silver screen
Uplifts many young, sullen souls.
But to the parents of such,
Remove thy loving crutch
And recommend lower goals.

A 249 Word Sentence With Viscount Odin Prudence Monroe

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on

It was noon when I told her -- her being a woman named Roberta who is prone to hysterics at the sheer mention of Monaco, bastard children, blonds, brunettes, tabby cats, or breakfast cereal due to the rather infamous actions of her eldest son at the end of the oh so harrowing France-Australia war -- of the very dead gentleman now adorning her critically acclaimed gnome sanctuary (a body which came to be in its present state, oh Reader, when a young, vivacious, albeit paranoid and often ridiculous woman from a small Minnesota town, who decided to leave her childhood home to join this small grouping of wayward individuals in Montana, including the befuddled Roberta, in the hopes of escaping the seemingly ever-present feeling of dread that stemmed from her growing realization that the world existed beyond the scope of her limited and often quite morose imagination, perceived she was in danger and being stalked as she walked home from her unfulfilling employment as the town’s assistant deputy sidewalk and bike lane inspector - a familiar feeling for this paranoid lass which tends to manifest itself most aggressively in the evening hours of a mildly comfortable day with a 50% chance of rain after ten, when she decided for safety’s sake to attack the assailant that was “undoubtedly” prowling behind with her purse bayonet, killing him instantly with his last thought being one of confusion as to why this crazed woman stabbed him while he was walking to his sister’s house.)

Story Time With Christine's Itunes!

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
Afternoon drive.
I see a darkness, Twilight.
Turn left...
Crash!
Ambulance, in limbo, dosed.
Dreams, gasoline dreams.
Into the sun until the sun dies.
Tryst with Mephistopheles at my heels.
"Wake up my love!"
Never. Never. I saw the light.
"Come home my love!"
Never. Never. It's over.
La momma morta.
The big sleep.
"Say it ain't so!"
Hope you don't stoop to dirty words...
"Hell's Bells!"
 All for the best.
"Keep your hands off her bodysnatchers!"
Maybe not.
"Buggin' out if you go away"
Do me a favour, wild love, stay golden. 
 


​
Screen shot 2011-02-08 at 3.36.09 PMScreen shot 2011-02-08 at 3.36.21 PM

Father?!

Posted by Christine Walden in Storytelling - Chase on
CHAPTER 1

My father is a supernatural creature. He feigns humanity, imitating those who surround him, and he does so quite well, if I may say so. It took me many years to first recognize the signs, ignorance and naivete shrouding me from his true nature.

Now before I delve into the particulars that led to my shocking realization, I must first let you know, Reader, that I do love the man and will continue to do so be him homosapien or something else. I cannot hold his natural form as a fault against his character, he is a swell man, pardon me, creature, to know.

To recommence the story of my "awakening", as it  has come to be called in certain semi-circles and octagons, my suspicions were first aroused by the cats. It started with one, a black cat who made a home for himself on our porch. He was quiet, refrained from eating my mother's flowers, and proved a wonderful neighbor. None of us in the house paid him any mind. By the next week there were four cats, varying in color and appearance and not nearly as quiet as the first tenant. The end of the month welcomed ten more. With such an inexplicable number of cats now living directly outside of my house, I started to search for a reason why. Initially I assumed that they were two opposing cat gangs who had moved onto the same turf and were recruiting members to prepare for the imminent gang war, as is always the case in such situations, but a few minutes of observation proved that theory false. These cats were waiting for something. For a moment I thought that someone in the house had taken to feeding our feline friends but my mother's dislike of cats, my indifference, my sister's disdain for full-grown animals, and my father's dog preference proved that an impossibility. This left but one other option in my always rational mind… magic. There must be something magical happening in my house, something otherworldly, something just waiting for me to discover it.
With this new tidbit of information, I began a new round of observations. I watched closely for when the cats appeared and to where they wandered. They arrived on our porch at night and circled the basement windows… the windows to my father's lair. This is when I knew whatever magical thing that was occurring in my house took place there and my father was involved. Cats  do not lie.

Final Blog Post!

Posted by Christine Walden on
​In my previous blog posts, I presented a plan for how I was going to attempt to save the Divine Lorraine and this is my last update. Since I last wrote, I got into contact with several organizations, half of whom had an interest in the salvation and restoration of the Divine Lorraine. However, they have found that the "private property" aspect has proven troublesome in terms of seeing substantial changes, for if the owners do not care not much can be done. Even so they recommended I continue my quest and try sending a letter to said owners in the hopes of convincing them to do something with the glorious structure. A recommendation I think has some merit.
3letters

In terms of a next step I believe the letter mentioned above ought to be written and a few more as well. If I am able to get in contact with the legislators discussed in previous posts and discuss viable options for the building's future. I know this was an idea posited in the past but I now know what needs to be discussed in these letters to legislators. I can ask specific questions and gain a better understanding of more Lorraine-relevant information. In terms of the letter to the owners, I may be able to propose a few new ideas with information gathered from the legislators. Surely if they knew of the benefit this building might bring to the community, the illustrious history of this glorious piece of architecture, and the tax breaks that might be given, they would be all the more willing to invest in the  Divine Lorraine. However, this is all conjecture. I do not know of the owner's awareness of the existing possibilities for the building but I shall write them a letter nonetheless.

img_divinelorraine

Benchmark Reflection- Q2

Posted by Christine Walden in American Government - Laufenberg on
My benchmark is here! 

    When attempting to choose the 12 examples of how the government and I interact, I found it easiest to observe my actions throughout a day and consider what has made them possible. For example while determining my outfit for the day, I realized the freedom I had to wear almost anything to school, be it a political and/or personal statement. A freedom provided to me to some extent by Tinker vs. Des Moines. It made the my list of 12. From here, once dressed and relatively awake, I get into a car to go to school. I situate myself and buckle up, a practice taught to me for safety and legality's sake. The Pennsylvania seat belt law made the list. This same manner of operations was applied for the remaining 10 and before I knew it I had a completed list.
    Though simple in concept, the actual self-awareness needed to create said list was rather taxing. I often forgot what it was I was doing and some of the government connections I managed to find were rather vague and a tad farfetched. These had to be invalidated and I found that completed list took its far share of effort.
    However throughout this process, when I managed to remember the task at hand, I realized at present I have it rather easy. I have my rights and I am expected to adhere to the law, but being a minor these rights are restricted and the laws are regarded to as norms enforced by parents and teachers, rather police and courts. When I get older, I imagine the government and I will become a great deal more familiar with one another. I will have to know my rights and defend them, rights far expanded.

Bureaucratic Flowchart Reflection

Posted by Christine Walden in American Government - Laufenberg on

Me and the great Harrison "The Cat" Talese-Rhodes were tasked with understanding how to file income tax and decided shortly after we began that never should wish to have to go through this process again. as Harrison said "I would rather get divorced than file income tax." Things did, however, take a turn for the better when we permitted to put limitations on the project, having to understand the income tax process for a single person with no dependents, it became markedly better. It became a great deal simpler for us to understand the basic steps and by the end we felt somewhat comfortable with income tax for single, dependent-less people. (If we were to have to do this for a family of four we may not have been able to finish.) When it came to paperwork, it was for the most part rather straightforward when you had the W-2 and instructions in hand. The biggest problem we initially faced was determining which of the 3 forms we needed to fill out and which aspects of the W-2 were relevant. With help we overcame such obstacles.

This foray into income tax, though logical in a fashion, when completely finished would benefit from changes being made to the resources provided to those filing for the first time. It took quite a bit of scavenging to find the list determining which 1040 form needed to be filled out and the list itself was mildly confusing. If I could change one thing I would make it so more of the lists were created and clearly displayed, filled with every and any definition one might need to complete this bureaucratic function.

As I list these recommendations for alterations I would like to see in this system, I must take a moment to consider why it has become so very complex way. I think in its initial creation it was rather simple since there were a limited number of lifestyle options. Now if you can dream is you can live it. What once was frowned upon or done by few is commonplace, the amount of diversity that has become ingratiated into American life is amazing. This diversity soon needed to be accounted for by its government and they most certainly did want to recreate the system to accommodate changes that may very well disappear in a few years so they add and add form after form leading to the overly complex system now in place. Or that is my theory at least.

Communication!

Posted by Christine Walden in American Government - Laufenberg on
Throughout my previous blog posts I have been mentioning various lawmakers and restoration groups with whom I would like to get acquainted. I have a building in need of saving and I find I cannot accomplish this alone. I have now reached the stage in my campaign where I can no longer list folks I should like to meet but must actually take the steps to forge the bond. How do I plan on meeting (hopefully) my new colleagues? Read on dear friends, read on. First I plan on sending a letter. Outdated? Perhaps. Unoriginal? Indeed. Effective if done properly? Oh yes. We need these folks to understand the importance of protecting these buildings, particularly the Divine Lorraine. A letter is a most perfect medium for a heartfelt expression of the importance of revitalizing these dilapidated structures. However, a few letters alone will not bring about the change necessary to this cause but it is a fine start.

Another approach worthy of consideration, nay, of being enacted is to create little, adorable, perhaps comical films to be put on youtube. This will spread awareness and hopefully interest in the matter. This will lead to a meeting with various relevant people solidifying the explanation of its importance, a meeting that will involve the lawmakers to whom I have been sending letters. (Most likely just one letter, perchance two if pushed to such limits.)

One other approach I am considering to spread the word is a Dear Stranger campaign. I place festively designed envelopes with letters inside telling of my cause throughout the city and allow curious individuals to peak inside. I am tossing the idea around.

A Most Divine Lorraine- Blog Post #3

Posted by Christine Walden in American Government - Laufenberg on

My issue, despite its obvious presence in this fair city, is not often addressed. Building restoration is too often neglected especially in this city, a living monument to the past. However, on November 9, 2010 headway has been made in the campaign for one of the other shriveling structures: the Divine Lorraine. Now, I feel it necessary to elucidate the manner in which I have chosen to organize this particular blog post. Due to the scarcity of direct building restoration legislation and the difficult financial climate preventing the existing legislation to be enacted, I am solely going to address the Divine Lorraine as my example of neglected buildings. It is my hope that should we manage to save the dear Divine, it will act as an example and inspiration for countless other buildings.

 

http://www.andipantz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/divinelorraine2.jpg

In November, the current owners of the Divine Lorraine recently applied for the state low income housing tax credit in hopes of turning this abandoned hotel into low-income housing. They are well aware that it will be some time before this lovely structure “shines” once more, but it is a step in the right direction. It is an wonderful example of owners deciding to maintain this historic site, not tearing it down. To read more of this request by the Divine Lorraine, click here.

In order to hurry this renovation along, it is necessary for me to get a great deal more familiar with the Office of Housing and Community. The director of this office is Deborah McColloch and it is this department that can grant the necessary tax credits and finances to allow the restoration of the Divine Lorraine.

The restoration can also be facilitated by my increased communication with the various other legislators mentioned in earlier blog entries. Time for me to make a few new friends!

http://philly.brownstoner.com/2010/09/the_divine_lorraine_revisited.php?gallery3874Pic=2#gallery-3874

On the subject of acquaintance making, I am hardly the first to fall in love with the glorious Divine Lorraine and those who discovered this structure before myself have devoted a great deal more time and effort to seeing its continued existence. Below I have attached links to various organizations that have taken an interest in the former hotel in hopes of joining forcing to create a super group of Divine Lorraine protectors!

A fun resource that is invested in seeing this little love live!

An interesting development idea that may be in the works….

A group that lists several buildings in need of saving. (The Lorraine is not alone!)

A slide show made by another admirer of the building. (In case you needed evidence of it disrepair.)

http://philly.brownstoner.com/images/divine%20lorraine%202.jpg

Sadly, when asked to discuss the time frame this restoration will supposedly take place within, I can offer no specific dates. Despite the wonderful step the application for tax credits signifies, it is hardly the first time such revitalization has been promised. This building has been abandoned since the 1990s. It is necessary to first garner the necessary support to ensure there is a time frame.

http://johnnygoodtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/dlorraine.jpg

History Benchmark Q1

Posted by Christine Walden in American Government - Laufenberg on
A Fallen Hero's Tale: The True Story of the Product Liability Fairness Act of 1995View more presentations from NigelTheGreat.

Work Cited

Clymer, Adam. “Henry J. Hyde, a Power in the House of Representatives, Dies at 83.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 30 Nov. 2007. Web. 5 October 2010.

Greenburg, Jan Crawford. “Senators Feel Heat Of Lobbyists.” The Chicago Tribune. The Chicago Tribune, 4 May 1995. Web. 4 October 2010.

Labaton, Stephen. “Playing With The Words In the Product Liability Bill.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 5 March 1995.  Web. 8 October 2010.

“The Damages Bill is Veto Bait.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 May 1995. Web. 5 October 2010.

United States. House of Representatives. Congress. “Common Sense Product Liability Reform Act of 1995.” Library of Congress. House of Representatives, 1995. Web. 5 Oct 2010.

United States. House of Representatives. Congress. “Innocent Sellers Fairness Act.” GovTrack.com. House of Representatives, 2009. Web. 5 Oct 2010

United States. House of Representatives. Congress. “Product Liability Fairness Act of 1995.” The Library of Congress. House of Representatives, 1995. Web. 5 Oct 2010.


Voter Interview!

Posted by Christine Walden in American Government - Laufenberg on

My interview with a fellow in a great hat at some ridiculous morning hour.

1.     Why did you decide to come out and vote?
“Like all great rights, I believe it needs to be exercised. “

2.    What change would like to see in the political realm?
“I would like to see an end to the fighting, finger pointing, and arguing so we can focus on some greater cause. I don’t know which greater cause but something other than yelling. “

3.     Do you vote every election day?
“I try to.”

4.    Do know why we vote on Tuesdays?
“Nothing productive gets done on a Monday.”

5.     Where have you heard the most campaign ads?
“Radio and TV, mostly radio.” (However, he found that TV had a higher number of ads.)

6.     What is the most memorable campaign ad you saw this election?
“The first Dan Onorato in which he explained the proper pronunciation of his name. That was a great ad!”

7.     Are you always sure of who you are going to vote for when you enter the voting booth?
“Yes.”

8.     What changes would you like to see in the city because of the election?
“I would like to see the city waste less money.”

9.    “Well you know what they say ‘Every vote counts.’”

10.  Did you learn about voting in school?
“To be honest I can barely remember school but I think it did. Yes, school did.”

Peacocking or The Enticement, Perhaps Foolishly, of the Opposite Sex

Posted by Christine Walden in Science and Society - Best on

The woman adorns her face in make-up, covers herself in perfume, removes all “unnecessary” hairs, puts on a most flattering outfit and enters the field. The man grooms himself, applies a hearty amount of cologne, and drapes himself in his finest clothing, entering that same realm. These are the stereotypical, if abbreviated, versions of preparation each human gender takes to make themselves a viable option for the opposite sex, a process that has only gotten more complex. Yet despite the understood belief, this is not the only species that undergoes such strenuous enticement methods. It exists everywhere regardless of the harm it may cause!

A grand example would be the peacock. This lovely creature is known for its noticeable plumage, an addition that both attracts the opposite sex as well as makes them a target for any predator on the prowl. This attachment has remained despite the danger it poses because of the higher probability of being chosen by the females for the proud honor of fatherhood. (No female can resist beautiful plumage.)

But why pick the incredibly-feathered peacock ? Or the cologne laden male? It can all be attributed to the implication. The female peacock will pick the male because if such a gentleman could survive despite the hindrance the tail causes and maintenance energy it requires, the female can safely assume this fellow is of a strong caliber and in possession of a quality genotype. This choice of the fittest mate, despite its troublesome side effects, is necessary in ensuring the peacock’s survival. Now if we look to humans, it must be acknowledged that there are somewhat more complex methods put in place but it is the same at heart. By primping oneself, it also implies the same strength and quality genome as the peacock feather. But here lays the greatest difference: humans have evolved the ability to mislead quite a bit better, meaning that such preparations may cover up an unflattering truth. (A thing no peacock can muster.) 


Peafowl_3


(http://www.haryana-online.com/images/Birds/David/Peafowl_3.jpg)


On a final note, the lady’s choice in mate is also chosen in consideration to the way their offspring will come out. A female will choose an attractive mate to give birth to others who will prove just as attractive, to ensure they will also be chosen. However, in the case of the male peacock and countless other species, these “attractive” traits are detrimental to their continued existence, yet they are chosen nonetheless. Oh how curious it is…





Hewett, C. (2003). Theory of sexual selection- the     human mind and the peacock's tale. The Great Debate,

 

 

Huk, T, & Winkel, W. (2008). Testing the sexy son hypothesis- a research for       

 

empirical approaches. Oxford Journals, 19(2), 456-461.


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