Week 1: Un-Textbook

Week 1: One story that looked really interesting to me for the first section of reading was titled Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche. This looks interesting to me because in the description is says its similar to “Beauty and the Beast” and that was a story I really enjoyed as a child. Also I really enjoy stories that include love so I think I would like this story.

Week 2: Another story that caught my eye is the story titled The Wolf Mother of Saint Ailbe. This story looked interesting to me because in a way at first I thought of The Little Red Ridding Hood story, which I enjoyed as a child. Upon reading the description for the story I found out that it is about a mother wolf that ‘took’ in a baby that had been abandoned by his parents.

Week 3: For the third reading that caught my eye I choose a story titled The Commander of the Frogs, and the Snake. This story looked interesting to me because it sounded like this is a tale of a parrot that is maybe the narrator and is seeking to tell of riches that are gathered each day and presented at the close of each night.

Week 4: Another story that seemed to catch my eye was titled The Wax Crocodile. This story drew mw in because I have always thought crocodiles were very interesting animals so I would love to read an ancient story based around them. Also I really enjoy learning about ancient Egypt so I think this would be an fascinating read!

Week: 5: One final story that really grabbed my attention was titled The Three Evils. This reading seemed interesting to me because it seems like this story will encompass challenges of someone having to decide if something is right or wrong.

Week 1: Storytelling: The Battle to Rule

Storytelling: The Battle to Rule

Once upon a time there was a lion named Leo and a unicorn named Walter, they lived in the far away town of Utopia. These two animals were the finest of their kind, but were both seeking ultimate power. They had to compete in numerous challenges throughout town in order to wear the crown.

The first challenge brought them to the town square to show how mighty they truly were. There were stones placed with rope that they would have to pull, a winner was soon to be scored. Leo succeeded and pulled more weight than his competitor, he gained fame and they proceeded on to the next round. They went all over town competing and challenging each other that they had begun to lose sight of what the real prize was. They were destroying things and beginning to anger the rest of the town members…

The Crown Leo and Walter are competing for

Source: Flickr

Leo and Walter were still being offered foods of all sorts, from the town members but the fellow animals tempers were growing quick. They felt that neither one would become an adequate leader so the members began to ban together to drive Leo AND Walter away.

Two days later on the final day of the competition, Leo was leading by 3 points so he figured there was no doubt about it, he was going to be king…..But as dawn came upon the town of Utopia, all the other animals began to push Leo and Walter out. The two felt confused at first, they didn’t understand what was happening.

Leo and Walter were alone with nothing and then it finally hit them that they had lost sight of reality and had only been focused on destroying each other in order to win. When instead the real goal should have been to win the competition but to do it “the right way” in order to gain everyone else’s respect. This was a tough lesson to learn but they then banned TOGETHER and were later on welcomed back in to the town to live happily ever after.

The end.

Authors Note: This story was inspired by the Nursery Rhyme; The Lion and the Unicorn from The Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Andrew Lang and illustrated by L. Leslie Brooke. “THE lion and the unicorn, Were fighting for the crown; The lion beat the unicorn, All round about the town. Some gave them white bread, And some gave them brown; Some gave them plum-cake, And sent them out of town.” I really liked this nursery rhyme because it was short and I felt that there was a lot of room for me to use my creative side to embellish the original story. The nursery rhyme gave the original idea that the lion and unicorn were seeking to rule the town so I ran with that idea but added in events and a different final outcome. The fact that they were ran out of town made me think of writing how they were destroying things and not remembering what the true goal was so the towns residents wanted them gone. I feel that the ultimate message the author is trying to covey is that it is important to reach goals through ways that are still respectable.

Bibliography:

The Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Andrew Long (2008)

Web Source: The Project Gutenberg Ebook

Week 1: Colorado...My Favorite Place

My Favorite Place:

Colorado

      I was born and raised in Boulder Colorado and it has easily become my favorite place in the entire world. Colorado has so much to offer within its outdoors, from hiking and concurring 14,000 foot mountains to enjoying the slopes during the winter and so much more in-between. 

    

Hanging Lake, Glenwood Springs, CO

     

      One of my favorite places in Colorado is a lake called Hanging Lake that is located in Glenwood Springs. In order to get to this lake you have roughly a one mile hike that contains pretty steep and rigorous terrain. I did this hike this past March and the terrain was covered with snow and ice so it was quite the hike! The water is magnificent and looks fake, although the color is actually present because of the advanced ecosystem the lake has created for itself. The lake helps draw a large amount of year-round tourism to a town that wouldn't do as well in the summer season without it. 

(Image Information: personal photo of Hanging Lake;

photo from March 2014.)

(Image Information: personal photo of Hanging Lake;

photo from March 2014.)

Vail Resort, Vail, CO

        

      Vail Colorado is one of the most beautiful mountain resort towns that Colorado has to offer, I grew up snowboarding and spending a lot of time there so it is a very special place to me. Vail thrives in the winter seasons by offering; snowboarding, skiing, snow-shoeing, snowmobiling and so many other activities. It also is a summer destination though, offering; hiking, biking, swimming, and boating. This past winter my family went on our annual snowmobiling trip there, we went on several day long rides throughout the back country of Vail and got to witness some pretty spectacular views. 

(Image Information: personal photo of Hanging Lake;

photo from December 2013.)

       To me Colorado will always be a very special place in my heart and there will always be another adventure to go embark on! I look forward to exploring the beautiful state more and more as time progresses!

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Hi my name is Emily McLean and I will be a senior this year, I am majoring in Marketing.