Monday, December 31, 2007

The Importance of the Work

This article makes a very good argument in favor of Holden and many other's like him during the time period of the 50's. It talks about how he is very graphic and it shows how Holden truly thinks and what is really going on in his head. It states about how the book has been banned in many schools and libraries around the country. When the as the article states, it brings out the graphic realism that is the world today. It shows what this person really thinks about the world and despite all the profanity its the truth. It argues how Salinger may have helped pave the way for many other novels that followed The Catcher in the Rye. Holden is a very unique character who truly speaks his mind. The article argues these points very well.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Gray-Because it's American

Gray is the color of reliability, security and maturity. It has a laid back and calm like quality. It’s the color that is always dependable, and always comes through in the end. It is a safe color that is mature and will always be there. Its color than can always be trusted and will always be there when needed. It is the color that will do anything for anyone just to help a friend. It is the most reliable and dependable color there is.

I am gray because I possess very similar qualities to the color. I am extremely dependable to all of my friends. If I have a friend in need I am there immediately to assist them. In the recent snow storm I had a friend slide off the road into a ditch and he couldn’t get his truck out. I came along with my Jeep and a tow strap, and pulled him out of the ditch. When friends are in need I’m usually the first one to be called, because they know that no matter what I will be there and that I am very reliable and will do anything for anyone to help them out.

I have been called mature by my friends and family. I’m usually the one to reel in people if they get out of hand or off task. While working on projects or “The Cabin”, I help to keep everyone working and paying attention to the task we have at hand. I’m able to do this but still have a good time, even though I get the, “yes father”, from all my friends when I do. I am very responsible and I can be trusted with just about anything. I am very capable of handling most any situation.

I am also a very calm and laid back person, like the color. It takes a lot to really get me mad and going. I’m easy going and I usually won’t argue with anyone, I’ll just go along with what they want to do, unless I know for a fact it won’t work or is a bad idea all together. I like to relax when I can and work when I should. This quality allows me to have fun and not to just be all about work.

Gray is the perfect color to match my personality. It is me; it’s all the qualities about me. I am dependable, reliable, secure with myself, and laid back. My friends would all agree that this color describes me and my personality. It is the color I am, and it is color that I like. It says who I am, what I’m about, and what I believe in. It shows the true person that I am inside. Gray is me.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

The Joop

I can still remember when I bought my Jeep like it was yesterday. It was three years ago in the summer before freshman year. I was 15 years old and my father and I were looking for a vehicle for me that we could fix up so it would be ready when I could drive. I looked at a few trucks and even a Dodge 2500 Cummins, but then I found it. Less than 2 miles from my house, a 1988 Jeep Wrangler. It had my name written all over it. We bought and drove it home to my garage where it would be torn apart and put back together for the next two years.

On the outside my Jeep looked good, but under the hood was a different story. The interior was nice, gray leather seats, gray and stainless steel steering wheel, and the old-fashioned gauges Jeep is known for. With 220,000 miles on it that engine was on its last legs. We decided to replace it, we put a brand new 2.5L, 4 cylinder, 150 cubic inch engine in it to start. Slowly piece by piece it became a brand new vehicle. I spent every waking moment on that Jeep. New gears in the rear, all new joints and bearings, and new carpet. The old white finish on the body was faded and dull, though there wasn't a speck of rust to be found.

We stripped the whole body down, sanded it right down to bare metal. We turned our garage into a spray booth as my father and I prepped and primed the Jeep, and finished it off with a nice charcoal gray finish. We proceeded to paint the hard top a gloss black as well. From there we installed new Bush Whacker fender flares and slow pieced the Jeep back together.

Of course, no Jeep is complete without a lift. We decided to go with a 3 1/2 inch lift from Rough Country Suspension. To accent the lift and the black and gray color scheme we put on Black "D" Window Wheels and a set of 32X11.5 Sport King off-road tires. The Jeep is finally done.

This one of my prized possessions, it represents my ability to work hard and my perseverance. It represents my skills and what I'm capable of doing when I put my mind to it. I learned an enormous amount about trucks when I started on my Jeep, expanding my knowledge as best I could. It represents a bond between my father and I, all the time we spent working together on it, that can never be broken.