Dora's Corner: Heartache: A Culmination of Love: Past and Present!

...For I am not Gatsby, but I have known a love so magnificent that mere mortals can never comprehend. I have had a Daisy in my life, but in my realm of the world, she came without a Tom.  Daisy has entered my once-happy life and cruelly swung a pendulum of so-called love right before my eyes, but just like her doppelgänger from the haunting novel, this Daisy retreats ever so mercilessly with the pendulum.  Like a thief in the night, she has denied me reciprocal love.  This Daisy mocks me, but she does it without realizing what she does, but still, I wonder...is she fully aware of her actions, yet willingly continues on a destructive path to tear up my world.  Robbing my world of a sweet love that I am certain that she has never known because she remains child-like in her rebellion of real love.  No, there is no Tom in this story who can be held liable for Daisy's crude and unbearable actions, but still, there remains so much disregard by this Daisy for the kind of love that I offer.  This Daisy continually avoids me and ignores me.  Her true beauty I am sure she does not see, perhaps she silently carries a disdain for herself which makes her unable to share her feelings and her love with another.  Poor, foolish me, it is I who must pay dearly for this Daisy's uncertainty and ambiguity which keeps her from extending any love to another.  Yes, poor me, I must also suffer in silence; silent lucidity indeed.  I must retreat or I will go mad, and I will forever be stuck in a maddening world from which there is no return.  I must continue to love in unnatural reticence.  Still, I keep on loving this Daisy regardless of where she is or how she feels - or does not feel.  It is my penance to admire her in shame, and to forever love her while I remain alone and lonely, heart-broken and heartless, hapless and unable to be happy.

Dora's Corner: +Self-Indulgence: ...Have You Any Dreams You'd Like to Sell?

...Okay, so the song goes: "...have you any dreams you'd like to sell?"
I ponder this, to whom/which lover was Stevie Nicks referring to, as if we need ask...of course, it was Lindsey Buckingham himself for whom the beautiful lyrics and song ("Dreams") were written.
If she was asking her lover (ex-lover) to sell her his dreams so that she could better understand him, then I can definitely understand her.  I can understand all too well how she was feeling.  I, too, wish that a certain person would have sold me his/her dreams so that I could better understand him/her.  But, oh, that was long ago...actually, not that long ago...the person is my muse of late.  I would give anything for the sweet, beautiful person to sell me his/her dreams.  To know the person, well, it might actually not only help me to know and like the person better, but perhaps, the person could know me and like me as much as I do.  Reciprocate, reciprocate, reciprocate...
My own dreams, the ones that could come true, are delayed, and perhaps even dwindling, because each day that my emotions and feelings are not properly addressed, I am left haphazardly alone and sad and in wonderment of "what could be."  It is a sad state-of-affairs in which I currently dwell and reside.  I wish I could tear at the very fabric of myself to find the me who was ecstatically happy, somewhat fancy-free, and steadily secure...until that glance.  
The glance that saw me crash into an invisible wall; the glance that made my knees fold; the glance that left me unable to breathe; the glance that made my heart skip a beat unlike any arrhythmia that my chest has been put through; the glance that has made my words turn awfully corny.  The one special, phenomenal, beautiful glance that I began, and you answered, on that awesome and unforgettable Tuesday morning.  I glanced your way, bid you fare salutations, you replied, and further added that the morning "was cold."  I heard your sweet voice, and I looked back...then thunder struck...the glance...the glance...the glance.  I glanced your way, and my heart you took.  Oh, the pain of it all.  I remain in an ambiguous, beguiling, and love-struck world...never knowing, never knowing, never knowing.  Should I tell you, perhaps hidden is how my feelings should be left...no one gets hurt except my need to be with you.  What to do, what to do, what to do...

Dora's Corner: Plagiarism is Still Plagiarism Even If You Didn't Mean To...: Literary Thief!

“Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.” 
― T.S. Eliot, The Sacred Wood
(The above quote was Eliot's stint at humor, parody, and satire)
...Sadly, there remain too many people who think that they can copy another person's literary piece sans giving the originator(s) proper credit via a simple in-text citation and works cited bibliography of sorts.  A story, a quote, a song, a poem, an essay, an idea, etc...it's all still flagrant plagiarism when you deny the appropriate and applicable credit be given to the original author of the work!  By a simple and oh-so arrogant misdeed of stealing their work followed by an incredulously stupid action of not citing the work, you are denying someone who did all the hard work from receiving the proper credit that he or she deserves.
A thief by any other name is still a thief, and he wreaks of literary theft!
More on plagiarism and why I chose it to be today's topic post when I return...

Dora's Corner: The Art of Matriculation! Then Comes Winter Interim!

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.” 
― Bernard M. Baruch
...Well, the end of the fall semester is just days from being over.  "Finals Week," is almost upon us; however, there are a couple of classes that allowed students to take their final this week.  So, that's two down for me, but two to go.  And, let's just say that the angst, that is accompanied by the torture of preparing for exams, is hitting everyone hard; for me, it is especially hard.  Not because of the studying required, because I can "hang" with the best of 'em, but because of those damned feelings I have been experiencing - the freaking melancholy.  I am taking an honor's online course this winter interim, and I am excited for that; however, it does not really replace the actual interaction one has with other students and instructors.  But, as I like to say often: "it is what it is!"
Regarding the winter course, it is going to be difficult because it is going to go fast, but I knew what I was getting into when I was asked to sign up for it...and when I agreed to it.  If I do well, then good for me (and kudos to the awesome prof who is teaching the course), but if I fall flat on my face, then no one is to be blamed but me and my stupidity and overreaching ways.  #ROTFLMAO
I will be writing a research paper for the interim course.  I love to write so it will be fun, but it will be equally challenging as well because I have to start the research first by assuming the role of an instructor, per se.  I have to come up with a survey, questionnaire, or form of communication with one student from each of the four courses I was enrolled in this fall (including my fall flex course).  I was fortunate to have gotten the full cooperation of four students who I think highly of...not only because they are serious and studious, but because they are well-rounded individuals who appear to have their act together (my English prof would end up with an ear worm (sort of)  if she read that idiom I just wrote...it's all good - it's just a blog, which is why I am also using contractions...my bad, dear prof.).
I must admit that the last student I needed from the computer-related night class that we took together, well, she was the most difficult to get to agree to this.  Not because she did not want to at first, but because she is quiet, perhaps reserved, and because she did not accept my previous invitations to partake in group activities away from class (mostly study group activities).  I love talking to people, and maybe the fact that I am too chatty made her leery of past invites.  Again - I must say: "it is what it is!"  The only thing that matters is that she is on board now, and she has especially complimented the awesome group of students who will be making the winter interim research paper easier for me to get through...knock wood.
Life is good, people are good...when you have the opportunity to have both, take it, and enjoy the hell out of it! ~ D.D. Carey

Dora's Corner: Hicksville, U.S.A.: When Did That Happen!

Okay, here is my issue for the day...we were shopping at the local Academy (sporting good's store), and we were appalled at all the sad, awful music that was being played in the store.  We visited both our local store in Midland and the one in Odessa - the same bad music at each store (ugh).  'Not sure if the music being played is on a loop, all I know is that it is country (really whiney country with a severe twang), and it is awful.  Furthermore, and it saddens me to say, but the damned awful music is indicative of the (too many) hillbillies that have invaded west Texas.  Geez, as if there weren't enough hillbillies in west Texas before the oil boom hit.  The same oil boom that caused the massive influx of people from all-walks-of-life. The same oil boom that is raping our land, might I add. 
I cannot wait to move from this forsaken place.  The Permian Basin is the new Sodom and Gomorrah. 
Anyway...the same rif-raf that Midland was trying (in vain) to prevent from invading their precious, Christian-right area when the idea of allowing a casino to be constructed in neighboring Stanton, are the same rif-raf that the oil-boom brought.  Worse, the rif-raf that the casinos may or not have brought to west Texas would have been here for a few days of gambling then back to their respective homes would the visitors have gone.  However, because of the oil boom, the rif-raf are here to stay for an undetermined amount of time.  I guess the hillbilly music (and the HB peeps) will continue to plague our area ... at least we always have NYC as a second place to call home ... soon, I hope.

Dora's Corner: The Nightmare That Came True: The Two Wrong Shoes!

...You know the nightmare: you are in your underwear in front of a crowd of people...maybe at school, at work, or somewhere public; you are wearing the wrong pair of shoes, one is brown, one is black; you are at the wrong location for an important meeting or event; you arrive to an important event really late; and the nightmare scenarios go on and on and...  Why do you suppose we have these dreams.  I am by no way trying to get psychological or trying to interpret dreams.  I am basically asking a rhetorical question about nightmares that have plagued all of us at one time or another.  The  answers vary if you ask different people about nightmares.  Some say they are because a person is feeling unaccomplished, alone, scared, nervous, etc.  My guess is that we experience these nightmarish dreams because we are feeling insecure.  Let me elaborate with a hellish day I just experienced.
Last Friday, I woke up a little later than usual (my drive is long as I live across town from MC).  I almost put on two different shoes, and almost wore a shirt that needed pressing before cognizance set in.  I was tired, but ready for the weekly test in English that morning.  I got to campus with ten minutes to spare so I studied a little more.  This week we finished the definition rhetorical mode, and began on the cause and effect (causal mode/chain) mode.  At the onset of the test, I almost wrote about the wrong prompt, but I caught myself in time to correct my f--- up and ended up getting a 100.  
After English, I tended to some important matters before I ended up at the computer lab.  I like doing my assignments that are due on Monday mornings the Friday before so that I can focus on the other computer assignments during the weekend.  Well, this particular Friday I was feeling restless.  Maybe due to being tired, but I was missing someone.  Yes, missing someone.  A person I would like to get to know and talk to, but the person "throws me to the doggies" (lol).  It is more than that.  I just needed to be around other people.  I stayed on campus and went to the LRC (library), met with a professor, then ended up in the computer lab until I just could not focus so I left.  I had an essay to turn in for English so I thought I would finish it at home later.  I also needed to eat.  
I get home and eat; I watch some tele (Covert Affairs cause I LOVE me some Piper Perabo - ahh), too.  I almost fell asleep, but since I have never liked napping during the day, I got up to finish that essay.  I looked for my jumpdrive, but it is nowhere to be found.  It is not in the usual security of the small pocket in my jeans, it is not in my saddle-bag, it is not on the butcher-block, it is not on the floor anywhere, it is not in the car, it is not in the garage...then it hits me: "you left the damn drive in the g-damn computer lab!"  Panic sets in because the lab closes at 2pm on Fridays, and it was already 3:30.  I think about who I can call.  I have a friend who knows someone who works at the college, and I also have a dear friend who teaches English there, but then I decide that this situation calls for immediate and personal attention, if you will.  I tell  myself: "you need to get your ass in the car and drive there and make someone open the g-damn door!"  That is what I did, but I was nice about it.  I have learned that you do, in fact, catch more bees with honey.  The professor whose door I knocked on did not have a scan card to open the computer lab, but she suggested I call the campus police.  She had a lot of papers to grade, but she was gracious and understanding enough to get the police phone number for me.  The police dispatch employee was nice as was the officer who showed up and unlocked the lab for me to retrieve my jump drive.  The nice computer lab person, whom I have befriended, thankfully left the drive by the computer where we sign into in the lab so I grabbed it and kissed it. I would have kissed the officer, too, but he is so NOT my type.  LOL.  Aside from the important essay that was due later that night, I had so many important files on that drive.  I would have been in a deep pile of ---- had it not been in the lab!
I got over those feeling of being sad and somber (melancholy - there's that word again).  It is funny how an event can get you out of a slump and make you rethink how lucky you really are.  Anyway, I came home and finished the paper that had been eluding me for completion since it was assigned three days ago.  I worked on some other assignments, and I had to make beaucoup phone calls.  Each time I spoke to a person, if he or she mentioned that they had had a bad day, I brought up my day and the eventful scavenger hunt to retrieve the jump drive.

Dora's Corner: Rewards: The Perks of Going to College!

Going to college is not just about taking courses and getting good grades, it is also about being social and making friends - hopefully you will make one or more good friends that you will have for the rest of your life.  My niece, who is enrolled at MC as I am, and I spoke about the topic of why people go to college: the different classes, the things we would change, the things we liked, our ambitions, our ups and down, etc.  Mainly, we highlighted the feelings that each of us was trying to overcome lately; the inundating feelings of melancholy.  I brought it up because I have not really been able to talk to many people about my feelings, not just the feeling of melancholy, but of some weird association of feeling like I am losing something special.  Maybe I haven't learned the art form of not allowing myself to get so attached to people and to things.  Maybe I just need to check myself and be more realistic; however, at the end of the day, I like who I am, and that I cherish things and people as I do.  Once you have lost as much as I have in my own life, you will learn the other art form of appreciation.  I do not overwhelm others or myself by caring too much, but I do put a lot of effort into anything I do or any relationship that I form.  
Each day that we get closer to the fall semester coming to a close, I do not rejoice, instead I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Is it crazy for me to feel like this! (rhetorical)...  I am almost embarrassed to talk to other people, especially classmates, about how I am feeling because it seems that the more I am saddened about the semester almost ending, others are overjoyed about it; furthermore, some are overtly anxious and are counting the days until the fall semester draws to a close; to most of the overly anxious, college has become blasé and cumbersome.  Shame on them is all I can muster for now.  
I am so glad that I brought up the topic when my niece and I were riding back home from having watched the wonderful opera, Il Barbiere de Siviglia (Rossini, 1775), yesterday afternoon.  My niece drove while I basked in the comforts of her new car loving the new car smell which still permeated the interior of her beautiful car.  My bad....I went off on a tangent...  
Anyway, it was nice to finally talk to my niece (a.k.a. fellow MC student) who basically shared the same sentiments of melancholy that had been plaguing me lately.  We spoke of the wonderful professors whose tutelage we were (respectively) privileged to have been a part of this semester.  We also touched upon the many classmates that made us laugh and made some of the more difficult courses easier to deal with when the study material became arduous and demanding.  Of course, we delved upon the special classmates who provided more than humorous entertainment and study-group time, we spoke fondly of the few mates who we will miss dearly; those who provided an actual friendship to us when we needed it the most.  My niece agreed with me that she had made a couple of good friends in certain classes of hers - as I had done.  However, neither of us is certain if we will keep ties or communication with these people, we would like to, but as with so many things in life that have two sides, what we want may not coincide with what the other person wants.  In other words, we may want to keep a friendship going; however, they might not.  Simple math 1+1=2, but with people, that formula gets tossed and the end result is as vague, vast, and uncertain as is infinity ∞

Dora's Corner: Girl's Day Out: A Day at the Met (kind of): Il Barbiere di Siviglia!

So, my niece, who is also enrolled at Midland College, and I attended this afternoon's showing of Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini, 1775) at the Century Theater in Odessa.  There is a reason why we made the drive over there when Midland has better movie houses and one of them was also showing the well-known opera, but that's another topic for another post.  My niece is taking Music Appreciation at MC, and this opera was a requirement for her, and since I love the Opera, I was the lucky one to get to go with her.  It was a nice invitation and a nice event.  We both love all genres of music, might I add.
We both loved the screening of the opera, which was broadcast live from the one and only THE MET (NYC) via satellite to several theaters around the world (made possible thanks to a generous grant from its founding sponsor, The Neubauer Family Foundation, with additional funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts).
We both also discussed going to NYC to see an opera live at the awesome Metropolitan Theater (lovingly dubbed "The Met").  Anyway, getting back to Il Barbiere di Siviglia, it certainly did not disappoint.  We highly recommend it to anyone interested in the arts.  If you have the grand opportunity to see it (or any opera) in NYC, do it.  If you are like us, and do not have the luxury because of lack of time (etc.), then, please do yourself a favor and look up the schedule and see when an opera will be shown live at a theater near you via satellite as we did today.  It was breathtaking, marvelous, and beautiful.  Oh, no, The Barber of Seville did not disappoint.  It was everything I had always read and anticipated and more.  Boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, boy gets girl, but alas, maybe the union is not as solid...we have to now watch Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) to see how the marriage between the protagonist (Almaviva) and his lovely wife (Rosina) endures love's always changing ways.
My niece and I laughed because we each grew up watching Looney Tunes, and we both agreed that our first introduction to this awesome opera by Rossini was when Looney Tunes mimicked it with their version of The Rabbit of Seville (watch via MetaCafe) starring Bugs himself.  I guess today, we both grew up as did our taste in music.  LOL.  It's all good.  

Dora's Corner: Undocumented Immigrants: They Should Do What?!!

Okay, it is time for me to get on my almighty soapbox, but believe me, this rant is well worth my time in writing it, and hopefully the time of whatever audience this blog generates.
While waiting for a meeting with a professor, I overheard the prof talking to a student, actually, the prof was tutoring (or trying to tutor) the student.  The topic that they were reviewing from the student's essay involved undocumented immigrants.  The student kept referring to them as "illegals" while the prof kept trying to get the student to change the wording.  Regardless of the student's lack of empathy for the negative and difficult position which undocumented works find themselves, she should have at least refrained from using such derogatory language for the academic audience for which essays are written...
The student argued with the prof on several stances.  The prof was getting agitated, but I have to give the prof high praises for keeping her cool and still getting her point across.  The prof was merely trying to explain the rhetorical method and proper writer's craft to the student, but the student was too hell bent on insisting that: "those illegals need to go back to Mexico"..."they are mooching off the government"..."they are taking all the welfare benefits from Americans that need them" (BTW, dear student, people from Mexico are Americans)...and lastly, the most typical, over-used, and incorrectly used assumption: "those illegals are taking jobs from us in the United States."
The student is suffering from a naivete that I won't even try to justify with a reply or a debate.  The student needs to read about the causal effects and why she needs to avoid the rhetorical fallacy, hasty generalization, personal attack/loss of audience, questionable authority, false analogy, either or fallacy, red herring, slippery slope, stereotyping...all the wrong things that one should avoid while writing in the cause and effect mode, well, this student managed to incorrectly include many of the "don't(s)" in her essay.  No wonder the prof seemed a bit perturbed when she tried to explain what the student was doing wrong (the student hardly did anything correct, it seems), and how to fix it for an academic audience, but the student was not listening.
It took a lot for me to keep quiet.  I wanted to lash out at the student for incorrectly stereo-typing the undocumented immigrants because there is more behind why people from Mexico are in the United States.  The area is vastly gray; however, the student just saw black and white (another incorrect process in an essay).  The other thing that upset me was how the student kind of disrespected the professor.  I like this professor; she has taught me a lot, and I have enjoyed our conversations in and outside of class.  I respect the professor because she has gone to college and put in her time towards becoming an educator; she has earned the right to be respected and treated well.  The prof is younger than I am, but that does not matter to me...she should be respected.  She never disrespects others - even when other people act like asses.  Another reason I stayed quiet was the obvious, the conversation was between a professor and a student, and did not include me.  I mainly stayed silent in respect for the professor - not the lame student, with the one-sided point of view that had no rhyme or logic to whatever rhetorical mode she was incorrectly trying to argue.  Give me a fucking break, ignorant student.  
BTW, I can use the personal attack...it's my blog, and I'll attack if I want to.  #ROTFLMAO!

Dora's Corner: Youth Is Wasted on the Young: Wishing I Knew Then What I Know Now!

I agree with the adage by the mighty George Bernard Shaw: "Youth is wasted on the young."

Lately, I have come to question many decisions I made in my life beginning from when I was in my 20s.  I made some terrible decisions, but still, the good ones outweighed the bad ones.  The biggest regret was not finishing college at Texas Tech.  Those were wonderful times, yet, they were often muddled with clouds of uncertainty and fear.  Those, my friends, were my obstacles, if you will.  I have had some really terrific jobs/careers which afforded me the ability to travel the U.S. and Canada.  It also afforded me the ability to see the country sometimes with loved ones in tow, who in turn, also got the opportunity to see several parts of our beautiful country.  The pay was always substantial (in abounds at times) and that is all I need to say about that.  My regret has little to nothing with how much money I have made; monetary issues are obsolete in this point I am trying to make; however, I do regret that I did not take up other opportunities that I had along the way through to the maturity level of today.  That sounded weird, but I am going with it.
If the youth of today (20s) had the ability to travel forward into time, the ability that unfortunately none of us has, then they would see how taking things for granted and not pouncing on certain opportunities would be something they would well regret.  Had I had a time machine (oh, Jules Verne: Où étiez-vous avec vos idées de science-fiction!  and Isaac Asimov, the same question: Where were you with your sci-fi ideas?).  
Sure, I am back on track after several years to complete a certain educational journey which long eluded me or rather I eluded it.  I am back in college for the umpteenth time, but this time things are extremely different, and with God's help (I'm really not that religious, but I acknowledge His existence), I will succeed this time around.  
One piece of advice to the younger crowd at MC, stay in college, get a degree and definitely allow the world to be your oyster.  Do NOT be stupidly stupid, arrogantly arrogant, and for certain, do NOT believe that you know more than anyone else.  I can assure you that you are not intelligent the minute you close yourself off to the idea of learning from others.

Dora's Corner: Paranoia Will Destroy 'Ya! Guns in the Home!

Hell, YES, I am political as well!
Anyway, during my usual viewing of tele in the morning before my day explodes into a hellish start, I like to watch certain shows (news, sports, political, financial - never reality shows, but that is a topic for another post).  I should explain first that, on Sundays, I like to start my day off being productive in order to enjoy the afternoons with family and friends doing whatever is on the agenda, but mostly I like to have my evenings free to catch episodes of two of my favorite tele shows Madam Secretary (CBS) and The Newsroom (HBO).  
Well, this a.m., I started off by watching an episode of Take Part which is an informative show that discusses politics, culture, finance, social issues, and other topics in a nutshell.  It was recently added to our cable subscription line-up, and I have personally enjoyed it.  One of the topics for this morning's episode (not sure if it was live or a rerun) touched upon the ever-weaving, ever-controversial, gun-control issues.  I am a proponent of allowing people to carry guns, but I am by no means a card-carrying member of the much- too-radical NRA.  I believe in the Second Amendment, but to a point.  The main exclusionary proposals/rules/regulations which place a limit or much-needed block on this beautifully-crafted amendment are too complex for me to list here.  
Getting back to the topic regarding today's episode, Study Finds More Americans Believe Having Guns at Home Keeps Them Safe, it was revealed that an alarming amount of Americans find that having guns in the home make them feel more safe and better protected.  63% of Americans subscribe to that theory...that's 6 out of 10 households!  WOW and SMH! 
I do not believe 100% in gun-toting, but I neither knock down others who exercise the right...as long as they do not stockpile, sell or buy illegally, break any laws with firearms, or break any laws in the 2nd amendment that state more clearly and effectively the provisions and exclusions.  
I might/might not have a weapon, but it might/might not be situated in a place that no one can get to it besides the people who live in our home.  Too many young ones (family/friends) come over at any given moment, so we must be careful in this household; I would hate the idea of one of our younger family members or friends to get injured because of an unproperly stored weapon in our home.
Before I end today's post, I must add that I subscribe to the other theory that most people who carry weapons are more likely to get killed by them.  Just sayin'!

************************************************************************* 

Here are the figures that show who favors guns in the home (according to political affiliation) more details available via Gallup Poll:
Democrats remained steadily in favor at 41%
Republicans jumped 28 points to a not-so-surprising 81%
Independents increased 14 points to 64%

Dora's Corner: Writing Well: RYW: Represent Yourself Well!

Warning: Long post...dead ahead...

I am astonished at how many college students lack a sense of writing and/or good writing skills.  I often partake of peer reviews which includes editing papers for mechanics and grammar, and as doing as such, I am mostly met with moments of: “SMH!”
In today’s social media, hashtag e-world, we all know that SMH is the acronym for: “Shaking My Head”.  Heck, some millennials not only lack the ability to write well, or at all, but some are impacted with a lackadaisical disability which severely impacts their sense to write words in their entirety.  Possibly that is why they revert to using acronyms.  Perhaps their time is much too important to spend on writing out every single solitary word.  But, no, I disagree.  I realize and accept why words are cut short; texting.  Texting has to be done so quick that one has to short-cut many words to send a quick text or reply to a text.
I accept that justification (of short-cutting words) when it pertains to texting, and I have come to the realization and acceptance of why one must short-cut words via social media as well...short-cutting via the likes of Facebook might not always be done due to time-constraints, but to be cool.  However, unless one is "tweeting" and only has 140 characters with which to get one’s point across, then a person's purpose for posting updates with acronyms is shamefully to appear cool.  Those who subscribe to the idea of short-cutting words through acronyms and such might think that they appear cool (and uncaring because uncaring is cool these days), but in reality, they appear hindered from living in the real world, quizzas!
IMO (there I go with an acronym, but it is justified here)...millennials short-cutting words and phrases to appear cool is okay - if that is how they will fit into today's society (or lack of society), then more power to the millennials.  But to add, I do not really  wish to know what someone was trying to convey in a silly, short-cut phrase via social media.  Instead, maybe stay clear of social media, or for certain, just keep your post to yourself, because I am not going to read it.  Take that (acronym) “ROTFLMAO” and shove it!
If one is on another social media site other than Twitter, one should really not short-cut one’s words.  When you think about it, short-cutting one’s own words is under-cutting one’s own ideas and views. It becomes self-stifling.  If we do not want others to undermine our ability to write and express our opinions (i.e. rights given Americans via The First Amendment) then why would we allow ourselves to self-edit what we have to say!  If one is going to write on a social media site or perchance on a blog, then would it not be more correct and proper to translate word-for-word what one has to say instead of using acronyms and such for which others might not know the meaning.  Writing well not only includes: proper sentence structure, mechanics, and grammar, but it also includes the ability to express one’s intended purpose(s); to explain!  What the story/post/update means is up to the writer to translate properly in order for the reader to understand.  If a reader has to look up a word, and decides to go with the incorrect definition of a word (or acronym), then most likely he or she will lose the meaning of the entire piece.  I.E. the piece gets lost in translation.
A good writer will properly and thoroughly interject his or her views onto a piece of writing and leave little chance of losing the audience or having his or her ideas get muddled.  One must define one’s writing as one defines oneself.  Perhaps the lack of translating what one has to write onto paper stems from one’s lack of knowing himself or herself...the lack of not having fully and properly defined oneself.
Anyway, if a person is hell-bent with his or her purpose to keep short-cutting words and using acronyms while texting or via social media sites, at least try to improve on one’s grammatical skills.  Most importantly, if one is going to write a paper for school and such or to blog, be mindful of one’s audience and remember that one must put one’s best foot forward.  Write, read, rewrite, reread, and be mindful which people are reading the piece; one's audience could include fellow students and writers, or professional readers and writers, professors, or someone waiting to discover the next J.K. Rowling.  Write eloquently, be respectful, and be professional.  Refer to and please remember the post I wrote on this very blog not long ago: “Contractions are for Pregnant Women…” and also refrain from using contractions and such.
Rereading is another rule in English 101, if one rereads a piece he or she just wrote, and if the piece does not sound or read well or fails to convey the message for which it was intended, then chances will favor the odds that others will not be able to understand or comprehend the piece either.
For certain, find, correct and omit the misspelled words.  My pet peeve; simple spelling errors that go uncorrected.  People who spell badly despite the fact that everyone has equal access to programs that will check one’s spelling (and grammar – a fragment is for software developers and for math - not for English), and do not correct the errors, well, they irk me.
When reading other people's updates, stories, or blog posts, the moment I get to a misspelled word or to a badly structured sentence, I lose interest and move on to something else.  If I do not read your essays, updates, tweets, or posts, it is your fault – not mine!

Dora's Corner: Writer’s Craft: The Art of Writing.

Warning: Long post...dead ahead...

I love writing.  I have been in love with the concept since I was a sophomore in high school.  The tenth grade was when one of my English teachers took notice of my ability to write well; the teacher especially took notice of my affinity for writing.  She encouraged me to write almost all the time, but foolish me, I did not have enough sense to allow myself to believe her…much less to accept her verbal accolades of my writing skills.  I let her praise of my writing ability go wayward simply because she was the mother of my best buddy.  “She had to be lying to me, right?”…that was how I would justify not taking my writing skills more serious.

Through-out high-school as I moved up a grade and into my upperclassman years, I continued to write, but I kind of put the teacher’s words aside; however, the English marm’s words still lived inside of me despite the fact that I remained hesitant, foolish, and scared to heed her positive feedback and perceptions.  The tiny little creative creatures that reside in my head would often, and silently, spew their echoes of what the English teacher had told me on several occasions about my excellent writing skills, and I would allow myself to gradually believe the wonderful teacher’s words of praise and encouragement.

It took several more years for me to believe that I did possess a wonderful craft for writing.  These days, as my love for reading and writing has greatly increased, I pay close and finite attention to what other regular people, similar to myself (non-professional, non-published) are writing.  I am amazed at how other people write.  While some are naturally able to jot down exactly what they are trying to express and convey with a keen sense and style of elocution, other people struggle so much.  Those who struggle often do not have a passion for writing, but then there are those who love writing, yet, they are unable to interpret their ideas into words then onto paper.

The latter type of writer used to be me a long time ago until I decided that it was time to take more serious the very thing which brought out my most passionate side; writing.&nbsFp; Though I struggled with the mechanics of writing, and sometimes with basic grammatical skills, my love for writing never diminished or faded regardless of my lack of proper mechanics and grammar.  I carried onward, and if anyone had issues with my writing, well: “it was their fault - not mine!” – or so I thought.  These days I work hard on improving my mad writing skills because I do care what others think.  English 101 rule #1 is to be mindful of one’s reading audience.  That rule is one that I carry with me all the time now.  Not only is it wired into my brain, carved into my heart, but I keep a tangible copy of it on my person at all times.  I not only know the rule, but I live the rule. 

Words are beautiful…and when done properly, writing opens up a world to everyone where nothing is improbable and the lack of doing something or not being able to make something happen is merely due to the lack of one’s imagination.  Imagine if you will, if someone or something had convinced good writers such as Asimov, Auden, Austen, Bradbury, The Brontës, Brown, Herbert, King, Plath, Rice, Rowling, Tolkien, Verne, or Wells that their works of art where nothing but a bunch of gibberish!  Imagine where our world would NOT be had anyone dared tell any of them such a horrid thing, and worse, imagine if anyone of those writers had listened and not written his or her respective "magnum opus"!  Living in a world sans any of their great works - or without the works of many other writers - is not a world where I would like to reside.  “Love Thy Writer’s Craft!”

Dora's Corner: Rock the Vote: Voting Goes Awry…More Like Vote Missed the Rock.

Well, the National Mid-Term election returns were a bit unsettling this past Tuesday (Nov 6, 2014); however, here in the great state of Texas, things were not so disturbing only because politics and voting remained status quo.  In other words, the “good ole boy network” won in a (landslide victory) by securing a statewide triumph for all republican candidates.  Yes, the “good ole boy network" was at its best slinging mud and spewing untruths about Democratic candidates in order to demagogue their way towards ensuring that every single Republican/Tea Party candidate was victorious over any Democratic candidate.  Sadly, any Democratic candidate who dared try to run against his or her cronie-conservative counterpart was found on the losing side of these mid-terms, and that includes the one and only Wendy Davis who ran in the gubernatorial race.  I canvassed for her, did the grassroots collaborating for her, and did the door-to-door politicking for Davis, but it was all done to no avail.  Nonetheless, I would do the same thing even if I had a crystal ball advance warning that Davis was going to lose.  Regardless of how many percentage points that Davis lost by (and I had the pre-warning via a crystal ball), I would have still supported Davis and canvassed for her.  I subscribe to the “paradox of participation” because I firmly believe that all qualified persons (VAP/VEP) should have a moral obligation embedded within themselves to vote.  Voting should not only be viewed as one’s civil obligation, but it should be something one wants to do regardless of what the turn-out might be.  For example, here in Texas, Democratic or Third-Party candidates seldom have a chance to win versus the Conservative-crew, but it does not mean that the Democratic Party (or Third-Party i.e. “La RAZA”) does not pursue to elect its own candidate to represent their respective Party, their ideals, and their platform.  To conclude, despite any political party not having a chance to have their candidate elected does not mean that a member of that political party should not vote.  One always needs to vote; strong Democrats were always going to vote for Wendy Davis regardless of the polls or rumor mill that had her losing to Abbott by a substantial margin.  Rock the vote means exactly what it states, one must shake up the very structure of voting in order to impact the turn-out and the way politicians make choices for us their constituents.  Bottom line, if one does not vote…one does not get the right to bitch.

Dora's Corner: Rest In Peace (#RIPMaya): Remembering A Legend--Maya Angelou.

...‪#‎RIPMaya‬ "A lyrical person was she!"
Seldom does a person make such a positive impact on our lives these days! Seldom does anyone provoke others to justly stand up for the good of the masses; to oppose oppression against any one person, cause, or organization. Maya Angelou was just that kind of person who inspired and incited all of these wonderful things within us all.  Her words (written or verbal) were beautiful, eloquent; always pertinent and relative to issues that plagued our world.
She was a rare gem in this jaded world of ours. She was one of my heroes.
She always encouraged others (especially women) to stand up and fight for themselves. However, she always stood ready to defend those whom needed representation regardless of gender, race, national origin, creed, religion, age, marital status, class, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or disability.
I admired her tenacity and her ability to not just tolerate others, but to accept us all as her equal. Never a negative word was said or written, by Maya, of another. If you had a negative remark to make about someone, she kindly reminded you to be mindful; those who could not were not welcome in her home.  Maya did this because she firmly believed that the degrading of another person was the complete opposite of being a good person. Oh, how I especially admired her for taking that stance.  Expletives and name-calling were not allowed in her home; though-out the years, it is not tolerated in mine.

Post by D Dominguez Yerac.

Dora's Corner: Supporting A Cause...To Boycott Or Not To Boycott (And Do We Really Need To Ask)!

...Lately, companies that are anti-LGBT anything just anger me.  My partner and I therefore choose to boycott companies such as those.  Anything that is against who we are is not something that we need nor want in our lives.  Places like Chick-fil-A, Hobby Lobby are such places.  For those very reasons and for not having any type of support or a mere inkling of compassion or understanding is why I, also, ban the catholic church.  Sara is officially an Atheist and has been for several years.  She is the most intelligent person I know for such a stance.  I wish I could be more like her.  A war with G-d is one which I have yet to wage.  Believe me, I have plenty of reasons for such a war, but in the end, I find that it would just not be worth it.  I am not sure how I feel about religion, but I have managed to keep my spirituality in tact.  The other stuff will eventually get fixed--or perhaps not!

Anyway...Sara and I have several friends and some family members (mostly on Sara's side of the family) who support us without question.  The family members and friends we have, plus those who are also members of the LGBT community, follow suit with certain boycotts of ours for obvious reasons.  At the end of a very long, tiring day, why should any of us put up with nonsensical opinions of others.  Having a dislike of LGBT persons is as bad as disliking people based on their color/ethnicity.  If you are not LGBT, then you have no idea how difficult it is.  And before I continue, it would be remiss of me to educate--or to remind everyone--that being homosexual is NOT a life-style.  Being LGBT is who we are. 
It is a difficult life as I have mentioned, so being (openly or not) part of the LGBT community is something that we have learned to cherish, guard and protect.  If you do not like us, that is your right, but do not impede upon our rights.  We have a right to gather, live and to shop anywhere we want to without having to put up with haters.  In these United States, if you own a store, restaurant, team, anything that requires an ownership, you need to be ready to be open and accepting of every person you want as a customer, employee, etc...  You cannot decide to go back 'pre-1964' and think that you can verbally place people at the back of a bus because once you start judging others, and you think it is 'your right' to publicly bash them, then that is when a group of people can boycott you until your place of business shuts down.  I am aware that most boycotts do not lead to the closure of certain businesses, but it is our right to never patron there again.  Even if likes of Chick-fil-A or other businesses change their views (in public, that is) regarding LGBT persons, Sara and I will never again eat there.  It is a matter of principle, and if you do not have any principles, then we do not need or want you in our lives.  Lest we try to even get you to understand.

Sara's family has always been supportive of us and they boycott establishments that are anti-LGBT.  We also have dear friends who do the same.  Before I continue, let me add that all of us boycott anyone/anything (no just LGBT-haters) that hinders the rights of others and shows a disdain of anyone because of who they are.  Personally, I wish I had stronger family members with the same honor-system and convictions to boycott these places.  My late mother supported us, and in turn, boycotted with us.  Many of my family members do not know the real story behind the reasons that mom had for boycotting the places/people that she did.  Several of my family members would never be able to deal with the truth so I keep it between just a few handful of people.  Bottom line is that I know, and that is the only thing that matters.  I had a terrific, rare relationship with my mom that my family and most others do not understand.  Mom was my friend, mother, protector, supporter; we shared a bond, a kinship, that I have yet to see shared in any other mother-daughter relationship.  I cherish it, and I do not feel the need to injure or blight others with that fact.  The last thing I wish to do is to cause hurt to others.  If I told family-members these truths, they would crumble.

With that said about not wanting to hurt others--especially not family--then why do you suppose that certain family-members wish to hurt me.  Saying that they support me and love me no matter what is no longer acceptable.  Showing such support is the only way to prove their love, loyalty and allegiance.  Going forward, all family members who know of my boycotts of anti-LGBT establishments is going to have to choose a side.  They will either choose to continue to patronage these places or lose me.  I would never support anything or anyone who was against someone I love so why should I accept anything different from family (rhetorical).  I should not have to accept it.

When my family invites me to places (i.e. Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A) knowing why I boycott them, they should be ashamed.  I accepted such an invite not long ago by a sister to go with her to Hobby Lobby, and I ended up being very disappointed in myself.  I respect her as a sister, but it is apparent that she does not respect me or such a thought, much less the audacity to say it out loud, would have never entered her mind much less spewed from her mouth.  As well as being disappointed in myself, I lost much respect for my sister that day, and the entire ordeal just made me sad.  If I do not insist on getting respect from a sister, who knows my LGBT-plight, then I might as well not expect it from anyone else.  So, for that reason (and hundreds more), I refuse to be quiet and mindful when I am invited somewhere that does not approve of who I am.  I will also not be so kind when others keep patronizing anti-LGBT places, and especially when they admit it to me in a nonchalant-manner. 

And please spare me the reasons why you do or do not boycott certain establishments.  I assure you that the reasons you have are not like mine.  I boycott for reasons that obstruct my rights as an LGBT person.  Your boycotts are not done, I am certain, because it is hindering your right as a human being, as an American, etc...  Your boycotts are against establishments that do not share in your convictions.  Boycotting places like Sonic Drive-In because of their pro-choice views (or whatever) is clearly not the same as boycotting Chick-fil-A or Hobby Lobby who do not like homosexuals.  Sonic is not threatening or impeding on your rights nor are they treading on your beliefs.  I might admire you just a tad for your boycott if I knew that you were against any establishment that infringed upon anyone's rights and incited hatred.  The latter commotion is exactly what Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby did.  They incited hatred and tore people against one another.

The Chick-fil-A issue against the LGBT community created much strife in my own personal life.  Certain cousins of mine came at me with a vengeance via Facebook; cowards that they are--they could not do such in person and to my face!  Luckily I had many FB friends who came to my defense.  In telling the story to some family members, most were appalled and even threatened to confront such cousins.  I said that they did not need to defend me so they did not go forth with defending me against these cousins.  Had roles been reversed, you better believe that I would have defended my family member no matter what! 
Anyway, months later, after the Chick-fil-A written-thrashing I received, after getting FB de-friended/deleted/blocked, you would think that the family members, who knew about all of this CFA-controversy, would have my back...but they DO NOT!  They still eat at Chick-fil-A (and shop at Hobby Lobby to add) without batting an eye and without hiding the fact.

It is like they have no shame or honor or for sure they lack loyalty.  If that is how they feel, then I am not just disappointed in them, but I am disturbed and disgusted by their actions.  One day you will know how it feels to have someone/something dislike you just because of who you are.  Remember me when it does happen.  Remember that you did little or nothing to support me when I endured such dislike simply because of who I am and who I love.  Remember that you were one of the people whom I loved.  You should have supported me completely when others were bashing me.  If you find yourself alone, after you are bashed for whom you are, remember how you did nothing to support me...remember me!

Just my take for the day!

Dora's Corner: Just Pondering: Why People Change and Why They Do The Hurtful Things They Do (1of2)?!!

     Here I go once again pondering "why?"  So many questions, and still not enough answers.  Even my curiosity for asking so many questions is a question, in itself.  Why do I have to know so much about things that should clearly no longer matter to me. 

     So...I ponder with why people change.  I know we all have to change.  I am not so naïve to think that change is not part of the realm in which we all live, and to which we eventually succumb.  I adhere to such an unwritten rule.  I realize that we, as humans, need change.  I especially agree with what the character, in one of my all-time favorite sci-fi movies, DUNE (1984), said about change;

Duke Leto Atreides: "I'll miss the sea, but a person needs new experiences. They jar something deep inside, allowing him to grow. Without change something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken."

     I love that part/quote in the movie because it is so true.  I am not against the reason why people change as much as I loathe how they change.  Most often, as it has been my personal experience, some people do not change for the better.
     Many previous friends of mine have undergone such negative change.  That is okay, though.  If that is what they need to get through life, then it has to be okay; okay for them.  However, for me, if I have changed for the worse, then I hope someone lets me know.  If my change has been for the best, then good.  I just never want to regret that my change was bad.

     As I did change through the years, I hope that I never hurt or created strife for anyone.  Long ago, I admit that I was a hot-headed, immature person; seeking retribution was too quick and easy for me.  I have not been that revenge-seeking person in a long time.  I wish certain, previous friends knew me now.  I regret that they may only remember that odd, unhappy, and vengeful person.  I outgrew that person.  I reached a point in life when it was no longer okay for me to be spiteful and negative--so I changed.  With that change came much reward.  But such change also came much too late as I also lost a lot.  I lost friendships I once cherished.  If I could add change to my changes, I would want my friends back so that they could know me now.  I would want to wipe out past, negative memories they may have had of me.

Just one of my takes for the day (another one follows)...

     

Dora's Corner: Just Pondering: Why People Change and Why They Do The Hurtful Things They Do (2of2)?!!

.....Some change is good, but some is also so, so bad!
     The negative change of my ex is what doomed another previous friendship of mine.  Maybe I had it coming and my ex got her revenge by interfering in and ruining another friendship that I once cherished.  I have written about this topic many times so I will not get into much detail about it.  I just want to put it out there for that special someone, whom might one day read this blog of mine, and come across this (and the other posts), and know how deeply regretful I am that we could not continue our friendship all these years ago.  Whether I had a direct impact on the bad things that this other person did to you, to make you think it was I who did them to you, I sincerely apologize.  That is the best I have to offer you!

     I know why you changed back then, and why you decided to erase me from your new life.  I accepted it so that you could be happy.  I wanted you to be happy because it would help me to seek happiness of my own.  I left you alone as you indirectly wanted of me.  Only a handful of occasions did I reach out to you.  Not for comfort or solace as I had those things.  I just needed to hear your voice, and to know that you were still out there--listening to me.  I now know why you may have had such disdain for me all these years later.  Please just believe me when I say that I did not mean for you to be hurt.  I accept all culpability for everything that I did, but I cannot accept any accountability for the bad things someone else did to you just to spite me.  I have a difficult time expressing how disappointed I am that you could believe I would ever harm you.  Part of me is angry with you, and then there is the other part of me that could never stay angry with you.  I forgive you.  You no longer know me---especially the new me who wishes we could have remained friends.  I no longer know you either, but I do forgive you for being made to think that I had any ill feelings towards you or that I could think so little of you, and of our previous friendship, that I could do things to hurt you, to anger you, or to make you not want anything further to do with me.  I hope one day...  Not sure what I hope.  All I know is this simple passage: "I did love you once!

     Forgiveness is forgiveness, but hurt is still hurt.  Everyone hurts someone at one time, then they forgive.  Forgiveness might be the easiest part of getting hurt--it is the forgetting part that is difficult.  In ending, I would be remiss if I did not quote one of my favorite poets, Pablo Neruda: "Love is so short, forgetting is so long."

Just my take for the day!

Dora's Corner: Defying the Defiant!

     I am a defiant person by nature, and I must insist on my autonomy as well.  I like knowing that everything I have is because of my hard work.  I do always try to give (respective) credit to those around me, whom have assisted me in my accomplishments! 

     Lately, I regret to say, I have come to notice that certain people I know/knew, have changed in a manner that leaves a sour taste in my mouth.  They believe that they are better than me, better than other people.  They chide others while they wrongly partake in self-praises.  If they could throw parades for themselves, I am certain they would.  They have become rather crude, insensitive, much too prideful, always unaccountable for their negative actions and their juvenile-induced pride.  They believe that they have attained true success, although the entire time, they were riding on the coattails of another. 

If I ever become such a person, please someone slap me!

     Much of what I have done has been through much hard work; much sweat and many tears.  Many persons have helped me through-out my life.  Through my late mother's tutelage-of-life, I have learned to work hard and to study hard.  I am proud of what I have done.  I welcome all the changes, that must come my way, for me to continue being successful.  May it be via monetary means, love, family, with it all, may success continue to touch my life and never elude me.  The good L-rd willing--knock wood--may success always be one of my blessings!  May I always see my blessings and never take anything or anyone for granted.  May my pride never overshadow my life nor the people who stuck around and loved me without condition.

Just my take for the day!

Dora's Corner: Grading The Gatsby's (1-of-2): 1974 and 2013: Rich Girls Don't Marry Poor Boys!

...So I was caught in a bit of a pickle regarding the wonderful and magnificent movie, well, between the two most-known versions: The Great Gatsby (1974) and The Great Gatsby (2013).

The 1974 movie was not the first one made--not the last one made.  There are two previous movie versions of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel prior to the '74 movie, and another one that lives, alone and sad, and in between the 1974 movie and the 2013 movie.  I won't discuss any of the others versions for they did not interest me too much.  You see, this person is a die-hard Robert Redford fanatic so there was no doubt that I would not allow myself to delve into the non-Redford versions...that is...until the 2013 version stirred my interest.

I am not really a Leonardo DiCaprio fan, but I am rather fond of Tobey Maguire.  Maguire is why I decided to watch the latter film version of this great, American classic novel turned-film.

Oh, but how did I protest watching the 2013 remake.  Why?  Well, first let me say that I did enjoy the 2013 film, which was directed and co-written (screenplay) by Baz Luhrmann.  It was similar to the 1974 film, but of course, both movies did stray somewhat from the Fitzgerald novel.  Novels always trump their film cousins with the cousins usually left in the dark like a red-headed-orphaned-step-child.  Movies seldom or never do a novel any justice. 
But, I must stress that some stories are too important, and do need to be told.  Movies like The Great Gatsby fall into that category; hence the novel.  However, sad but true, many people's interest is mostly captured through movies.  Hollywood discovered this fact early on, thus came story-telling via the big-screen.  More people are visual than imaginative (hmm?).  ANYWAY...

I read a lot of reviews by experts and by everyday people like myself.  Depending on one's age, I suppose, is what made people choose one over the other, but the 1974 version was decidedly picked time and time again over the 2013 film.  The latter film was torn apart more times and more severely for a variety of reasons; one being the soundtrack; most agreed that it was too modern.  I liked the songs especially "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey, but I did agree that some of the other songs did not add anything to the film, and at times, it detracted from the points the story was trying to tell.

Just one of my takes for the day--continued below...