Thursday, October 8, 2009
To Get Away
As a young child my Mom would read to me the book "Bedtime Stories" or when I was two years old "Goodnight Moon". I would have her read them over and over again because I loved the stories so much. My Mom has always loved to read but not as much as my Auntie Meme. My Auntie Meme reads a book a day! She still does read a book a day, I am simply amazed of how many books she reads in a week. In her room, it is like a hidden treasure chest under water of books. It is so much fun going through all the books she has and has not read yet. Another person in my life who loves to read is my Nana. My Nana loves to read too, but she doesn't read a book a day. It is a book a week, I still consider that pretty fast. With these terrific people in my life, they have shown me the joy of a book. My life is a universe of words in beautiful books, that I like to call my getaway. From the time I started school I was encouraged to read a book or two every summer. I wasn't very fond of reading when I was little, you could say we were enemies like Grendal and Belwolf. Over time though I've became a fan of all books from Sci-fi, Romances, Comedies, Action, Biograghies, Plays and whatever else is out there. Through reading I have became more aware of my imagination. I know everyone has some imagination but mine goes beyond normal. I read three to five books at once for fun. Everyone always wonders "well, how do you keep the stories straight Katrina?" I always respond with " I cast them with people I know." Books, in my opinion are apart of your family, they'll always be there. My strengths as a reader today are comprehending and understanding what the story is about. A second strength of mine is remembering a book after I read it once and suggest it to someone several years later or the next week if I liked it. My reading habits, I never really read the same author twice now because of the book series " The Chronicles of Narnia". I read all of them and they each started the same and ended the same, there were no surprises by the third book. That's when I decided to explore the whole bookstore. I also read three to five books at a time because I treat them like a television shows. This is another reason why my mind is so out there. Right now I am currently reading "The Film Club, "No Place Like Home", "Dragon's Keep" and about to start reading the play "Private Lives". I wonder who is going to be casted in "Private Lives"?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
10/6/09 Words
Mantra: noun; a word or formula, as from the Veda, chanted or sung as an incantation or prayer.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg. 129): " I should've sold everything and brought the money to America a long time ago" became his mantra."
Context Clues: A. repeatedly told me
My Sentence: Welcome to the family is my families mantra, and are the only words I hear everytime I bring home a guy.
Backdrop: noun
1.
Also called, especially British, back-cloth Theater. the rear curtain of a stage setting.
2.
the background of an event; setting.
3.
Gymnastics. a maneuver in which a trampolinist jumps in the air, lands on the back with the arms and legs pointed upward, and then springs up to a standing position.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg. 140): " Against this backdrop of teenage angst, there would have to be a symbol, a representation of the confidence that comes with eventual intellectual and spiritual growth."
Context Clues: A. topless models in the background
My Sentence: The backdrop went from blue and purple shades to pink and red.
Frugal:–adjective
1.
economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager.
2.
entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty: a frugal meal.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg. 123): " After having baby-sat for every frugal family in town, I eventually hit the mother lode."
Context Clues: " ...five dollars and...twelve divided by sixty..."
My Sentence: My family can be real frugal sometimes, even though we are very well off.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg. 129): " I should've sold everything and brought the money to America a long time ago" became his mantra."
Context Clues: A. repeatedly told me
My Sentence: Welcome to the family is my families mantra, and are the only words I hear everytime I bring home a guy.
Backdrop: noun
1.
Also called, especially British, back-cloth Theater. the rear curtain of a stage setting.
2.
the background of an event; setting.
3.
Gymnastics. a maneuver in which a trampolinist jumps in the air, lands on the back with the arms and legs pointed upward, and then springs up to a standing position.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg. 140): " Against this backdrop of teenage angst, there would have to be a symbol, a representation of the confidence that comes with eventual intellectual and spiritual growth."
Context Clues: A. topless models in the background
My Sentence: The backdrop went from blue and purple shades to pink and red.
Frugal:–adjective
1.
economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager.
2.
entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty: a frugal meal.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg. 123): " After having baby-sat for every frugal family in town, I eventually hit the mother lode."
Context Clues: " ...five dollars and...twelve divided by sixty..."
My Sentence: My family can be real frugal sometimes, even though we are very well off.
The Audition
One day in my fifth period during my freshman year in theatre class, my theatre teacher announced that we all need to audition once to get a sense of what the actors/actress’ go through. This was a class that I was put into accidentally. I really didn’t want to be there. The first play auditions came and went in a blink of an eye. The next play to audition for was “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, the one after that was a musical and I really cannot sing; I had to audition for this play. Weeks went by before the auditions began. In that time my theatre teacher was teaching us the concept of only one out of a thousand auditions you will be casted. It was because of this little trivia, which made me feel at ease going into the audition. She handed out a list of characters that are in the play and I chose Betty Paris. It is a very small part and I figured if I got it, it wouldn’t be much to memorize. I didn’t think I’d get a part anyway, this is my homework or class work that I had to do and besides she’ll see me and give me my points for doing it.
The day has come, I was a little excited but really balmy about the whole thing. The auditions promptly started at three o’clock. When I arrived there were tons of students in the audience ready to audition. A tall rather put together man handed me a paper and told me to “fill out the following, and return it to me once you are done.” This is my first audition, and it was nothing that I expected. I looked around at the vast amount of seats filled with nervous students; I found a seat next to this very tall skinny girl who looked like she was going to vomit because of nerves. I began filling out the questionnaire that asked questions like “Do you have any talents, Can you do one or more of the following, but one question really stumped me. The question was “What previous productions have you been in?” I really had no other previous shows I’ve been in, unless they wanted me to write out Grandma’s Christmas show, I had nothing. I was looking around at all the other anxious students at this point in time I felt like an ignorant fool who had no business being there. I asked the girl next to me who looked like she was now going to pee her pants what to do? She was very nice and told me that if you haven’t been in anything you don’t have to fill that part out. She introduced herself as Melanie and I told her mine as well, as we were talking, a big booming voice came from the front. It was the Assistant Director (AD) telling us how this all will work. Before I knew it I was on stage introducing myself to perform with my partner to do a scene. In my opinion we did pretty good considering it was her first time auditioning too.
Everyone did so well and it was kind of cool watching others do the same scene as I just did. After everyone was done the AD announced that they are going to start dismissing people. I waited for me name to be called, it never happened. I went through the whole process again. The second cut came and went again and I was still there. I couldn’t believe it, I lasted two cuts. I knew it meant really nothing but it was still an adrenaline rush. The Director (my teacher) told me to grab a script and go on stage. Her AD went up there with me to be the other character, we did the whole scene. When we were done he left the stage and I was too but she told me to stay up there but drop the script. I really had no clue what she meant by that, so I literally dropped the script and it went in slow motion to the beaten up stage. The AD, Stage Manager (SM) and Director were all laughing at me, I looked at them all and said “What?” I was a bit confused on why they were laughing since I did what I was told which was to “drop the script” The director said “I meant set it down.” I really felt stupid and dumb and I wanted to leave the stage but I couldn’t move one muscle. She continued talking saying “go get a chair.” I started to move and once again I was stopped, my confidence level went down drastically. The AD brought up a chair and she told him and the SM get up there with me. The directions were for me to sit in the chair and say “I didn’t do it”. The other two are standing and questioning me with “Did you do it?” When I was done I needed to say “no”. We started and they came close to me and then back away like I was their prey. They were screaming the questions for about five minutes and me saying “I didn’t do it.” I started to feel tired and annoyed so I said the magic word “no”. My audition was now officially over; they let me go after that. I felt relieved that it was all done. There was still one more day before the callbacks were posted. I can now only wait for that list to be posted.
Its d-day, I’m either on it or not on it either way it doesn’t really matter. The list is just those who they are not sure about. The list was just waiting for me to look at it. The paper was taped on the theatre door; my finger was now gliding down the grimy paper. I was in a state of shock for a few moments because my name was on it. I made it on the callback list. I ran my finger over the grimy paper several more times just to make sure that I wasn’t seeing things. My name was on there each time. On the top of the paper I read “Meet in room F-120 for all callbacks at three o’clock that afternoon”.
Once again I was in a room filled with nervous students; most of the crowd was girls this time. I felt a little intimidated by all of them. We were lined up at the back of the room like we were criminals being lined up to see who did it. Some of these girls I have witnessed there audition and they were really good. The Assistant Director went over what we were going to do for this audition. He was done instructing us and we began the last round. My name was called first to read for Mary Warren, I thought it was odd but, I did it anyway. As I stood in the middle of the room looking at who is still in the line of terror, one by one was called to do the scene. I was up there for all of them. It was near the end of the auditions when my teacher declared in front of everyone but being directed to Nicole and me these words. “Katrina and Nicole if you didn’t know it already, Katrina you are Mary Warren and Nicole you are Betty Paris.” My heart stopped as my mouth dropped to the floor. My eyes filled with tears of joy but it seemed as if it was a dream and I was going to wake up. I never did wake up I was just on cloud nine. We were all dismissed after that, I grabbed my cell phone to call my Mom. I could barely hold my phone with the shakiness of excitement, not fully there, nervous, tired and awake; I felt every emotion possible as I called my Mom. I could barely talk to tell her that I got the part not as Betty Paris but as Mary Warren. I was speechless; my emotions surpassed my capability to function.
In other words, with no knowledge and no expectations out of my first audition I nailed a major character my freshman year. It is all thanks to that accident, I am now one of many who will have high expectations for now on. Who knew that an accident could be a good thing? Though, I didn’t want to audition for “The Crucible” it made my life a little more theatrical. It is because of the play I am now a Theatre major and will always be thankful for being pushed into the unknown.
The day has come, I was a little excited but really balmy about the whole thing. The auditions promptly started at three o’clock. When I arrived there were tons of students in the audience ready to audition. A tall rather put together man handed me a paper and told me to “fill out the following, and return it to me once you are done.” This is my first audition, and it was nothing that I expected. I looked around at the vast amount of seats filled with nervous students; I found a seat next to this very tall skinny girl who looked like she was going to vomit because of nerves. I began filling out the questionnaire that asked questions like “Do you have any talents, Can you do one or more of the following, but one question really stumped me. The question was “What previous productions have you been in?” I really had no other previous shows I’ve been in, unless they wanted me to write out Grandma’s Christmas show, I had nothing. I was looking around at all the other anxious students at this point in time I felt like an ignorant fool who had no business being there. I asked the girl next to me who looked like she was now going to pee her pants what to do? She was very nice and told me that if you haven’t been in anything you don’t have to fill that part out. She introduced herself as Melanie and I told her mine as well, as we were talking, a big booming voice came from the front. It was the Assistant Director (AD) telling us how this all will work. Before I knew it I was on stage introducing myself to perform with my partner to do a scene. In my opinion we did pretty good considering it was her first time auditioning too.
Everyone did so well and it was kind of cool watching others do the same scene as I just did. After everyone was done the AD announced that they are going to start dismissing people. I waited for me name to be called, it never happened. I went through the whole process again. The second cut came and went again and I was still there. I couldn’t believe it, I lasted two cuts. I knew it meant really nothing but it was still an adrenaline rush. The Director (my teacher) told me to grab a script and go on stage. Her AD went up there with me to be the other character, we did the whole scene. When we were done he left the stage and I was too but she told me to stay up there but drop the script. I really had no clue what she meant by that, so I literally dropped the script and it went in slow motion to the beaten up stage. The AD, Stage Manager (SM) and Director were all laughing at me, I looked at them all and said “What?” I was a bit confused on why they were laughing since I did what I was told which was to “drop the script” The director said “I meant set it down.” I really felt stupid and dumb and I wanted to leave the stage but I couldn’t move one muscle. She continued talking saying “go get a chair.” I started to move and once again I was stopped, my confidence level went down drastically. The AD brought up a chair and she told him and the SM get up there with me. The directions were for me to sit in the chair and say “I didn’t do it”. The other two are standing and questioning me with “Did you do it?” When I was done I needed to say “no”. We started and they came close to me and then back away like I was their prey. They were screaming the questions for about five minutes and me saying “I didn’t do it.” I started to feel tired and annoyed so I said the magic word “no”. My audition was now officially over; they let me go after that. I felt relieved that it was all done. There was still one more day before the callbacks were posted. I can now only wait for that list to be posted.
Its d-day, I’m either on it or not on it either way it doesn’t really matter. The list is just those who they are not sure about. The list was just waiting for me to look at it. The paper was taped on the theatre door; my finger was now gliding down the grimy paper. I was in a state of shock for a few moments because my name was on it. I made it on the callback list. I ran my finger over the grimy paper several more times just to make sure that I wasn’t seeing things. My name was on there each time. On the top of the paper I read “Meet in room F-120 for all callbacks at three o’clock that afternoon”.
Once again I was in a room filled with nervous students; most of the crowd was girls this time. I felt a little intimidated by all of them. We were lined up at the back of the room like we were criminals being lined up to see who did it. Some of these girls I have witnessed there audition and they were really good. The Assistant Director went over what we were going to do for this audition. He was done instructing us and we began the last round. My name was called first to read for Mary Warren, I thought it was odd but, I did it anyway. As I stood in the middle of the room looking at who is still in the line of terror, one by one was called to do the scene. I was up there for all of them. It was near the end of the auditions when my teacher declared in front of everyone but being directed to Nicole and me these words. “Katrina and Nicole if you didn’t know it already, Katrina you are Mary Warren and Nicole you are Betty Paris.” My heart stopped as my mouth dropped to the floor. My eyes filled with tears of joy but it seemed as if it was a dream and I was going to wake up. I never did wake up I was just on cloud nine. We were all dismissed after that, I grabbed my cell phone to call my Mom. I could barely hold my phone with the shakiness of excitement, not fully there, nervous, tired and awake; I felt every emotion possible as I called my Mom. I could barely talk to tell her that I got the part not as Betty Paris but as Mary Warren. I was speechless; my emotions surpassed my capability to function.
In other words, with no knowledge and no expectations out of my first audition I nailed a major character my freshman year. It is all thanks to that accident, I am now one of many who will have high expectations for now on. Who knew that an accident could be a good thing? Though, I didn’t want to audition for “The Crucible” it made my life a little more theatrical. It is because of the play I am now a Theatre major and will always be thankful for being pushed into the unknown.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Vocab 9/24
Exempt: verb (used with object)
1.
to free from an obligation or liability to which others are subject; release: to exempt a student from an examination.
–adjective
2.
released from, or not subject to, an obligation, liability, etc.: organizations exempt from taxes.
–noun
3.
a person who is exempt from an obligation, duty, etc.
4.
(in Britain) exon
Context Clues: Respect all religions
Sentence from: "Funny in Farsi"(pg 105) "The christian and Jewish students at my school were exempt from religious studies, a fact that caused much envy among the rest of us"
My sentence: I was exempt from class today.
Lucrative:–adjective
profitable; moneymaking; remunerative
Context Clues: N/A
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi"(pg 123) " I didn't want to get on her bad side early on in this lucrative job so I smiled as I tried to untangle her arms."
My Sentence: My up and coming job is very lucrative.
Gendarmes: noun, plural -darmes
1.
a police officer in any of several European countries, esp. a French police officer.
2.
a soldier, esp. in France, serving in an army group acting as armed police with authority over civilians.
3.
(formerly) a cavalryman in charge of a French cavalry squad
Context Clues: sifting through my suitcase
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi"(pg 133) " The gendarmes started sifting through the clothes and the myriad of gifts I had brought for my host family."
My Sentence: When my friends and I went to France, we saw lots of gendarmes.
1.
to free from an obligation or liability to which others are subject; release: to exempt a student from an examination.
–adjective
2.
released from, or not subject to, an obligation, liability, etc.: organizations exempt from taxes.
–noun
3.
a person who is exempt from an obligation, duty, etc.
4.
(in Britain) exon
Context Clues: Respect all religions
Sentence from: "Funny in Farsi"(pg 105) "The christian and Jewish students at my school were exempt from religious studies, a fact that caused much envy among the rest of us"
My sentence: I was exempt from class today.
Lucrative:–adjective
profitable; moneymaking; remunerative
Context Clues: N/A
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi"(pg 123) " I didn't want to get on her bad side early on in this lucrative job so I smiled as I tried to untangle her arms."
My Sentence: My up and coming job is very lucrative.
Gendarmes: noun, plural -darmes
1.
a police officer in any of several European countries, esp. a French police officer.
2.
a soldier, esp. in France, serving in an army group acting as armed police with authority over civilians.
3.
(formerly) a cavalryman in charge of a French cavalry squad
Context Clues: sifting through my suitcase
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi"(pg 133) " The gendarmes started sifting through the clothes and the myriad of gifts I had brought for my host family."
My Sentence: When my friends and I went to France, we saw lots of gendarmes.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Reflection Post
The impact of all these vocabulary words have had on me is making me aware of my use of words.This course in reading is not only for reading for me, but also for Theatre, English, math, science etc. It has effected my daily life from the train conductor to radio annoucers using unknown and known vocabulary. The current words that I have now been recognized with beautiful words surround me like ubiquitous. This particular word is always being used by the conductor on the train along with awry, queer and diabolical. He gives me my word of the day everyday of the week. When I see a word nowadays, I tend to stop and look them up right then or if I don't have a dictionary present I mark the word and look at it later. I try to use the techniques that are shown in class to make my experience in reading more effective. I have to admit, I don't use a lot of these words in my vocabulary. If I do use these atrocious words they are usually out of context. I am trying to use them in the correct context when I want to show off to my friends and family. Learning and using these new vocabulary words make me feel better. Though once the test comes I would freak out about the definition and context clues and screw them all up. I know the words that need to be known but like a car accident between a cement truck and an SUV, my mind just explodes with all that is on the page. Overall, it may take me awhile to get some more words into my daily life but I am doing the best I can. I will continue learning new words from now to enternity, well until I die.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
9/17/09 Words of the Day!!!!
Dote: verb (used without object) Also, doat.
1.
to bestow or express excessive love or fondness habitually (usually fol. by on or upon)
2.
to show a decline of mental faculties, esp. associated with old age.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg.103): "Now whenever we visit my relatives, all of whom dote on my husband, I realize that he didn't marry me despite my tribe, he married me because of them."
Context Clues: N/A
My Sentence: They dote on their youngest daughter.
Enviable:–adjective
worthy of envy; very desirable: an enviable position.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg 98): "Even though their condominium has only a tiny garden, they managed to cultivate an enviable cornucopia of figs, pomegranates, sweet lemons, and herbs."
Context clues: A. Cultivate
B. wonderful
My Sentence: I have an enviable outlook on my goal in life.
Strewn:verb (used with object), strewed, strewn
1.to let fall in separate pieces or particles over a surface; scatter or sprinkle: to strew seed in a garden bed.
2.
to cover or overspread (a surface, place, etc.) with something scattered or sprinkled: to strew a floor with sawdust.
3.
to be scattered or sprinkled over (a surface): Sawdust strewed the floor.
4.
to spread widely; disseminate: to strew rumors among the troops.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi"(pg. 113): " To my delight, I found that the lawn had been strewn with miniture Iranian flags."
Context Clues: A. miniture Iranian flags
My Sentence: My neighbor has a strewn of flowers in her front yard.
1.
to bestow or express excessive love or fondness habitually (usually fol. by on or upon)
2.
to show a decline of mental faculties, esp. associated with old age.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg.103): "Now whenever we visit my relatives, all of whom dote on my husband, I realize that he didn't marry me despite my tribe, he married me because of them."
Context Clues: N/A
My Sentence: They dote on their youngest daughter.
Enviable:–adjective
worthy of envy; very desirable: an enviable position.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" (pg 98): "Even though their condominium has only a tiny garden, they managed to cultivate an enviable cornucopia of figs, pomegranates, sweet lemons, and herbs."
Context clues: A. Cultivate
B. wonderful
My Sentence: I have an enviable outlook on my goal in life.
Strewn:verb (used with object), strewed, strewn
1.to let fall in separate pieces or particles over a surface; scatter or sprinkle: to strew seed in a garden bed.
2.
to cover or overspread (a surface, place, etc.) with something scattered or sprinkled: to strew a floor with sawdust.
3.
to be scattered or sprinkled over (a surface): Sawdust strewed the floor.
4.
to spread widely; disseminate: to strew rumors among the troops.
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi"(pg. 113): " To my delight, I found that the lawn had been strewn with miniture Iranian flags."
Context Clues: A. miniture Iranian flags
My Sentence: My neighbor has a strewn of flowers in her front yard.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Vocab week 9/8
Bucolic: Adj. Pastrol, ruralistic 1. of or characteristic of the countryside or its people
Syn. rural
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" pg. 31: "Or we'd try to become more bucolic, mentioning being south of the beautiful Caspian Sea, 'where the famous caviar comes from.'
Context clues: A. try to be
Syn. rural
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" pg. 31: "Or we'd try to become more bucolic, mentioning being south of the beautiful Caspian Sea, 'where the famous caviar comes from.'
Context clues: A. try to be
B. Is a simple form to live expressing rural contry and life to be
Our Sentence: A. We went through a bucolic neighborhood.
B. I was very surprised that we saw children in such bucolic streets.
Dubious: Adj. Uncertain or questionable
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi" pg. 10: "My brother Farshid, with his schedule full of soccer, wrestling and karate, was too busy to be recruited for his dubious honor."
Context clues: The young women that got pregnant two times and had two children in each pregancy was uncertain.
Our Sentence: A. I was dubious on what to get for lunch.
B. I was dubious on which movie to rent tonight.
Ubiquitous: Adj; Excisting or being everywhere at the same time; at the same time[omnipresent]
Sentence from "Funny in Farsi"pg.42: " The media is also ubiquitous present in airports, elevators, classrooms, bars and restraurants, and hospital waiting rooms."
Context clues: A. Present
B. Its an adjective that is always present in anytime.
Our Sentence: A. The ubiquitous swarm of mosquitoes blanketed the sky.
B. We were offered the ubiquitous hamburger.
All words were found on:http://www.dictionary.com/
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