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Friday, December 11, 2009
Course Reflection
Image found here
Brandon Collins
Course Reflection
English 111-63
December 8, 2009
This fall I enrolled in classes for the first time ever at Tidewater Community College. The first and only class I took that was not conducted online was English 111. I decided this would be an important course to take in an actual classroom instead of on the computer. I was right. It just would not have been the same without watching all the videos of “The Boss” on the big screen in class. Who ever thought Bruce Springsteen’s music and lyrics could be so closely related to discussions about the use of the English language and rhetoric? It makes perfect sense now. That is just one of the reasons I found Paul Gasparo’s course to be interesting. He seems to have a knack for finding ways to turn boring, drab information into something interesting and at least somewhat fun.
Being that this was my first college class, I did not really know what to expect at first. I am not sure if this course was a good example of what’s to come during the remaining years of my education, but it was surely interesting. Paul was always full of bizarre analogies and strange, yet funny jokes.
Paul seems to be a bit scatter brained at times, as I’m sure I would be, given his amount of responsibility. I would like to have seen some of the assignments graded sooner. Having instructor feedback on some of the first assignments, especially the rhetorical analysis essay, would have been a great help when writing the argument essay.
There were many changes made to the course calendar, which was confusing at times. Being that Mr. Gasparo is relatively new to teaching, I know that he is still learning the best ways to schedule things so, I’m sure his future courses will be a lot more fluid and cohesive.
Overall, I am satisfied with what I learned from this course. My writing skills have greatly improved over what they were when the semester started. I would surely recommend Paul as an instructor for anyone who is looking to take English 111. I do not doubt that there are more experienced professors out there teaching the same class, but I am sure there are much worse. Paul adds a nice twist to the normal way of doing things, which always kept me attentive during class. This is important to me because I usually have a hard time paying attention to teachers. So, as I write this, I realize that I probably got a lot more out of this class than I normally would have with a different, more traditional instructor. My reflection on this course is one of success. No instructor or college class is perfect, but perhaps, this one was perfect for me.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Maine-ly Great: Except for the Fleas
photo can be seen here
Brandon Collins
English 111-63
My Favorite Vacation
26 August 2009
Maine-ly Great: Except for the Fleas
The most enjoyable vacation I have ever had was my recent trip to the beautiful state of Maine. My ex-girlfriend, Chelsie, and I began the twelve-hour trek early on a Friday morning. As we pulled into her grandparents’ driveway late that afternoon, I was amazed by the sheer magnificence of my surroundings. We spent two days there and continued our summer retreat at a house on Square Pond in the southeast of Maine. For the next several days we would eat, drink, and relax like royalty.
In the small town of Wells, Maine, sits a charming country home surrounded by thirty acres of lush forest. Built mostly by Chelsie’s grandfather, it was constructed on the perfect setting. There is a pond in the front yard that yields a fish with nearly every cast, as I would learn firsthand. Through the woods snake miles of trails on which we rode four-wheelers until we were sore. One afternoon, under a light gray sky, I set out for a short ride through the winding, muddy trails. Unexpectedly, that gray sky turned into a refreshing deluge of rain. After making my way back to the house to dry off, I got ready to head to the lake the next day.
Square Pond is a 910-acre lake enveloped by cozy cottages and 100-year-old trees. The house we stayed in was a rustic three-story home with lots of natural wood inside and a stunning view of the lake. We made good use of the keg-fed beer tap built into the kitchen bar. The back yard slopes down to a nice beach along with plenty of water toys. When we were not fishing or tubing behind the boat, we were jumping off the floating trampoline or just laying in the sun. I cannot remember a single moment when there was not something fun or relaxing for me to do.
Fishing is an absolute top five on my list of favorite things to do, so naturally, that is how I spent a good portion of my time. Early most mornings, the guys would take the boat and troll around the lake hoping for a nice trout. We caught mostly perch and bass, but something is better than nothing. Chelsie’s grandfather, Johnny, has an interesting post-catch ritual. He keeps a bottle of Irish Cream under one of the seats in the boat and after each fish is caught, the bottle is passed around the boat for everyone to take a sip of. Although I was slightly suspicious of the age of the liqueur, I still politely obliged. In the afternoons, I would hunt for crayfish hiding in the rocks around the boat dock. Using my recent catch for bait, I fished from the end of the pier during the cool evenings with a frosty beer in hand. There are very few things I can think of that make me happier than that.
Honestly speaking, this trip was not all beauty and fun. I ended up with tons of itchy little bumps all over my feet, ankles, and lower legs. I did not know it at the time, but when I was scouring the rocks in the lake for crayfish, I was also stirring up thousands of sand fleas that were more than happy to munch on my legs and feet. These pesky little creatures caused me to suffer for the next few weeks from one of the most annoying rashes I have ever had. But, considering the joy I experienced from the rest of the trip, the sand fleas have been forgiven.
Looking back on this trip, I can easily say it was my favorite. Some people would rather go to Disney World or skiing in Colorado, but to me, this was paradise. Spending a week four-wheeling, fishing, and just relaxing by the lake tops my list. With good friends, food, and drink, even the idle times were enjoyable during that week. Although I cannot know for sure what future endeavors may outshine my escape to the peaceful state of Maine, I am certain that it’s number one for the time being.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Diagnostic Essay: Maine-ly Great
Photo courtesy of Chelsie Darling Photography
Brandon Collins
English 111-63
My Favorite Vacation
26 August 2009
The most enjoyable vacation I’ve ever had was my recent trip to the beautiful state of Maine. My girlfriend, Chelsie, and I began the twelve hour trek early on a Friday morning. As we pulled into her grandparents’ driveway late that afternoon, I was amazed by the sheer magnificence of my surroundings. We spent two days there and continued our summer retreat at a house on Square Pond in the southeast of Maine. For the next several days we would eat, drink, and relax like royalty.
In the small town of Wells, Maine, sits a charming country home surrounded by thirty acres of lush forest. Built mostly by Chelsie’s grandfather, it was constructed on the perfect setting. There is a pond in the front yard that yields a fish with nearly every cast, as I would learn firsthand. Through the woods snake miles of trails on which we rode four-wheelers until we were sore. One afternoon, under a light gray sky, I set out for a short ride through the winding, muddy trails. Unexpectedly, that gray sky turned into a refreshing deluge of rain. After making my way back to the house to dry off, I got ready to head to the lake the next day.
Square Pond is a 910 acre lake enveloped by cozy cottages and 100 year old trees. The house we stayed in was a rustic three story home with lots of natural wood inside and a stunning view of the lake. We made good use of the keg-fed beer tap built into the kitchen bar. The back yard slopes down to a nice beach along with plenty of water toys. When we weren’t fishing or tubing behind the boat, we were jumping off the floating trampoline or just laying in the sun. I can’t remember a single moment when there wasn’t something fun or relaxing for me to do.
Fishing is an absolute top five on my list of favorite things to do, so naturally, that’s how I spent a good portion of my time. Early most mornings, the guys would take the boat and troll around the lake hoping for a nice trout. We caught mostly perch and bass, but something is better than nothing. In the afternoons, I would hunt for crayfish hiding in the rocks around the boat dock. Using my recent catch for bait, I fished from the end of the pier during the cool evenings with a frosty beer in hand. There are very few things I can think of that make me happier than that.
Looking back on this trip, I can easily say it was my favorite. Some people would rather go to Disney World or skiing in Colorado, but to me, this was paradise. Spending a week four-wheeling, fishing, and just relaxing by the lake tops my list. With good friends, food, and drink, even the idle times were enjoyable during that week. Although I cannot know for sure what future endeavors may outshine my escape to the peaceful state of Maine, I’m certain that it’s number one for the time being.
English 111-63
My Favorite Vacation
26 August 2009
The most enjoyable vacation I’ve ever had was my recent trip to the beautiful state of Maine. My girlfriend, Chelsie, and I began the twelve hour trek early on a Friday morning. As we pulled into her grandparents’ driveway late that afternoon, I was amazed by the sheer magnificence of my surroundings. We spent two days there and continued our summer retreat at a house on Square Pond in the southeast of Maine. For the next several days we would eat, drink, and relax like royalty.
In the small town of Wells, Maine, sits a charming country home surrounded by thirty acres of lush forest. Built mostly by Chelsie’s grandfather, it was constructed on the perfect setting. There is a pond in the front yard that yields a fish with nearly every cast, as I would learn firsthand. Through the woods snake miles of trails on which we rode four-wheelers until we were sore. One afternoon, under a light gray sky, I set out for a short ride through the winding, muddy trails. Unexpectedly, that gray sky turned into a refreshing deluge of rain. After making my way back to the house to dry off, I got ready to head to the lake the next day.
Square Pond is a 910 acre lake enveloped by cozy cottages and 100 year old trees. The house we stayed in was a rustic three story home with lots of natural wood inside and a stunning view of the lake. We made good use of the keg-fed beer tap built into the kitchen bar. The back yard slopes down to a nice beach along with plenty of water toys. When we weren’t fishing or tubing behind the boat, we were jumping off the floating trampoline or just laying in the sun. I can’t remember a single moment when there wasn’t something fun or relaxing for me to do.
Fishing is an absolute top five on my list of favorite things to do, so naturally, that’s how I spent a good portion of my time. Early most mornings, the guys would take the boat and troll around the lake hoping for a nice trout. We caught mostly perch and bass, but something is better than nothing. In the afternoons, I would hunt for crayfish hiding in the rocks around the boat dock. Using my recent catch for bait, I fished from the end of the pier during the cool evenings with a frosty beer in hand. There are very few things I can think of that make me happier than that.
Looking back on this trip, I can easily say it was my favorite. Some people would rather go to Disney World or skiing in Colorado, but to me, this was paradise. Spending a week four-wheeling, fishing, and just relaxing by the lake tops my list. With good friends, food, and drink, even the idle times were enjoyable during that week. Although I cannot know for sure what future endeavors may outshine my escape to the peaceful state of Maine, I’m certain that it’s number one for the time being.
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