Week 8 Progress

I am pretty happy with my progress in this class so far, although I wish I was more ahead. I have a weekly routine in place to get my assignments done, but I have not found the time to work ahead, which I really wanted to do. Every week, I've tried to do at least one extra credit option (generally the blog comments), but I've fallen out of that in the last couple of weeks because I've been really overwhelmed with other stuff that's going on.

Tomorrow through Sunday is spring retreat for my sorority, which has taken up a majority of my time. I'm in charge of planning the weekend for 80 girls so that's been my sole focus, but I'm hoping that after that, I will have a lot more time to get ahead in this class and my other online class to help myself out for the rest of the semester. This semester is flying by and I am nervous for everything that still has to be done before I walk across that stage, but I'm so excited.

(Time flies; Image Source)

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

Overall, the feedback I have gotten from other students has been very helpful. Everybody has been very encouraging, which has been nice since I can doubt my writing capabilities as I mentioned in the last post. Particularly now that the storybooks have started, the feedback has been helpful in knowing what to improve on as well as giving suggestions for new paths to consider. The most useful comments I've gotten are those that are specific in detailing what the reader needs from me. It's hard to please everyone and I don't know what exactly people think needs improved unless they explicitly say it, so details help!

I think I have gotten a lot better at leaving feedback for other students. I try to point out the good, but then go a step further and point out things that I think have room for improvement. I generally have a hard time criticizing people, even if it's in a kind and respectful way, since I tend to be a bit of a people pleaser, but the online format has helped me overcome some of that.

The blog comments are one of my favorite parts of every week because I think it's so fun to get to know people and then see their creative writing process. All the weekly stories are so interesting and it's cool to see the different writing styles and how one reading inspires dozens of completely different stories.

Looking forward, I'd like to try to expand my stories more based on the comments I've gotten. When I get a bit of time in the next couple weeks, I hope to be able to dive into the feedback I've been given and use it wisely rather than letting it go to waste.

It's so important to use feedback to grow and not see it as a criticism or 

attack, it's easy to be your own worst enemy! (Image Source)

Week 8 Reading and Writing

It is always good to take some time to reflect on what you've accomplished, so that's what this week is all about. I can't believe we're already at week 8 of this semester! 

Coming into this class, I was excited for the reading, but very leery about the creative writing. Once I start writing, I enjoy it and think I can tell decent stories, but I have a difficult time getting those creative juices flowing. I have been pleasantly surprised by the fact that I've enjoyed even the writing portions of the class! I do struggle to get going, but I've been really proud of some of the work I've done. It seems silly, but I was so happy when Laura included my posts twice in the daily announcements. My reading notes have been quite helpful, as I've tried to focus my note taking on stories that I think I might like to retell. There's been a couple times where I ended up going back and choosing a different story to inspire my writing, but for the most part, my notes have been effective. I don't have a favorite story that I've told, but I'm proud of myself for drawing from different storytelling styles for each week so far. I've tried some more modern settings, retelling from someone else's perspective, giving background on a story, and so on, all of which have challenged me to think more critically about the stories we are reading. 

One of my favorite images I've used is the one I found of a water nymph, who I named Harponi in my week 6 story, The Hermit's Curse. I knew I wanted a picture of a beautiful water nymph to illustrate this story, but I had difficulties finding one who I thought would be in the east. Most of the pictures I found that were available for use were of blonde women, which I didn't think made sense with the setting of this story. I searched for quite some time before finally finding this dark haired nymph at Pixabay! She wasn't quite what I had imagined, but I thought she fit much better than the others I had found and her eyes certainly seem like those that would be able to capture most men's souls with just a twinkle!

Harponi the water nymph; Image Source

In moving forward, I think I just need to trust myself more with writing. It's important to give yourself creative license and not count yourself out, which is something I struggle with. In moving forward, I want to give myself more space and room to explore!

Week 7 Story Planning: Hidden in the Himalayas

Bhima and Hanuman
By: John Mandevill Macfie

• Recall that Hanuman remained on earth at the end of the Ramayana and he is destined to remain here as long as the praises of Rama are sung. 
• This is his one appearance in the Mahabharata, but we can be sure that he was in fact on earth during all of this, even if we weren't actively seeing him. In fact, he would still be on earth today since Rama's story is still told.
• Hanuman and Bhima are half-brothers, because they were both fathered by the wind god, Vayu.
• Bhima is walking along a path when he stumbles across a monkey (Hanuman)
• He tries to pick it up and move it because he regularly swings around dead elephants as weapons, but finds that he can't move Hanuman
• Hanuman then raises and explains who he is, telling of his time with Rama
• I wonder if at this time Rama is glorified like he is today
• Hanuman goes into his giant form at Bhima's request
• They talk about the different ages of earth: 
• Krita Yuga - complete virtue - evil didn't exist, so neither did gods or demons. All were equal and Brahma was attainable by all
• Treta Yuga - sin has entered, sacrifices become regular, men very devoted to worship
• Dwapara Yuga - 50% virtue - men become divided, subject to passion, less devoted, etc.
• Kali Yuga - only 25% virtue - evil, famine, disease, sloth, anger, etc. prevail
• Hanuman also discusses the four castes and how they reach heaven:
• Brahmin (priests, teachers, and protectors of sacred learning) - achieve heaven by their self-discipline and worship
• Vaishya (farmers, land owners, etc.) - gifts and hospitality
• Kshatriya (warriors and governors) - protecting men
• Shudra (lowest caste) - Hanuman said nothing

I want my story to be about people seeking to find Hanuman today. I imagine he'd be somewhere in the Himalayas so they will conduct their search there. I see Hanuman being the kind who would get as close to humanity as possible without giving himself away, so he would maintain his regular monkey form so as to decrease suspicion. However, the people looking for him have seen large monkey footprints they attribute to Hanuman, as well as several grainy photos of him leaping from tree to tree. Here's a website with an example of the footprint and a supposed photograph of Hanuman. This website also discusses a mantra that is meant to call Hanuman to his devotees when chanted, so that could also play into the story. 

 I haven't decided yet if they should actually find him or not. If they did, it would obviously be purposeful on Hanuman's part, because if he didn't want to be found he wouldn't be. I wonder if he would have a reason for allowing this group to find him? If not, they could continue their search further down the line, hoping to one day get a glimpse of Hanuman themselves. 

(Giant footprint inside of the Veerabhadra Temple, 

said to be Hanuman's; Image Source)

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata Part D

Bhima and Dushasana
By: Donald A. Mackenzie
I didn't know Bhima was being literal when he swore he would drink the blood of Dushasana back when he made an embarrassment of Draupadi, but apparently he was. After torturing him and cutting off his head, Bhima literally drinks Dushasana's blood and declares it sweet. Again with these literal interpretations, have these guys never heard of hyperbole?

(Bhima drinking the blood of Dushasana; Image Source)

Parikshit

By: Sunity Devee

Uttara, widow of Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu, is disconsolate at the loss of her husband. She begs Krishna to just let her die so she can be reunited with her love, but he consoles her and reminds her that he is in heaven and happy, where she will join him in later years. Several months later, she bears Abhimanyu's son (who was dead in the womb, but Krishna resurrected), and was ready to throw herself on the funeral pyre. However, Krishna saved the day again, convincing her that a son needed his mother to raise him. Parikshit is trained up as the heir to the throne, for he is the only Pandava descendant. 

Horse Sacrifice

By: Donald A. Mackenzie

Apparently a bloody war with your family is not enough to prove your sovereignty, so Yudhishthira conducted an ashwamedha (the horse sacrifice). The horse wanders for a year and Yudhishthira's army, led by Arjuna, defeats all who challenge it. When the time came to sacrifice the horse, Vyasa was there, as was Krishna. An elaborate ceremony ensues, in which Yudhisthira is named the sovereign ruler of his kingdom. 

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Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata Part C

The Himalayas
By: Donald A. Mackenzie
Arjuna has been gone in the Himalayas first, and then in Indra's celestial city once Shiva gave him the celestial weapons. Indra trains his son and they wage war against some of Indra's enemies. Meanwhile, the four other Pandavas and Draupadi are moving about in the forest. They are learning many things, including dice skills (Yudhishthira definitely needed that). Arjuna returns to his brothers and Indra promises Yudhishthira that he we regain his power.

(The Himalayas; Image Source)

Bhima and Hanuman
By: John Mandeville Macfie
Hanuman's back! Apparently he stays on Earth as long as the Ramayana is told. He and Bhima are half brothers, as they are both the sons of the wind god, Vayu. Bhima stumbles upon Hanuman laying on a path and he is unable to move him (even though he regularly uses elephants as weapons?) so he's quite amused and knows this isn't an ordinary monkey. Hanuman tells who he is and he talks about Rama. They also have a good talk about the the different stages of the Earth, as well as the castes.

(Bhima trying to lift Hanuman. Illustration from

the Vana Parva; Image Source

Riddles at the Lake
By: Donald A. Mackenzie
The youngest four Pandava brothers go to drink from a pond, all of them ignoring the Voice warning them to answer his questions before drinking. They all dropped dead upon drinking the water. Finally, Yudhishthira comes forward and pays attention the the Voice. He answers riddle after riddle (although I don't know if I would personally call these riddles, more like regular questions), and finally the Voice reveals himself to be Yudhishthira's father, Dharma (god of wisdom and justice). He brings the other Pandavas back to life and grants them all the ability to be unrecognizable by anyone for a full year.

(Yudhishthira talking with the Voice before it is revealed

to be Dharma; Image Source)

Krishna's Mission
By: Donald A. Mackenzie
Krishna goes to try and talk some sense into Duryodhana and his court. Unfortunately, Duryodhana's heart is hardened and he seeks to harm Krishna to weaken the Pandavas and their army. Krishna captures his thoughts and reveals himself in his form as Vishnu, surrounded by other gods and celestials. Everyone present is terrified, except for the stubborn Duryodhana. Krishna reprimands him and departs. This reminded me of the angels in Supernatural - showing their true form when necessary.

(Krishna unveiling his celestial state while speaking

with Duryodhana; Image Source)

Tech Tip: Typing Test

For this tech tip, I thought it would be interesting to take two typing tests, one on Key Hero and one on TypingTest. I've always deemed myself a fairly quick typer, so I wanted to see how I stacked up to the average! When I was a kid learning to type, my dad installed a bunch of typing games on my computer where you blasted aliens/popped balloons/etc. to try and help me get the hang of it.

Key Hero: I scored at a speed of 103.97 words per minute, with 96.94% accuracy.

TypingTest: I got a speed of 100 words per minute with 96% accuracy!

Not bad! This of course is just reading and retyping what I'm seeing, obviously I can't type this quickly if I'm having to come up with things on my own! These tests were very similar, both involving typing stories presented to you and making sure that you're following the same capitalization, punctuation, etc.