Peters - ENGL 121 - Dieterich

I read the Converse Chuck Taylors: A Personal Artifact piece on Em-Journal 1.2. This journal caught my attention more than any of the other journals because I am in fact a Converse lover as well. The most intriguing part of this journal was all of the stories of each pair that the author, Sarah Brethen, owned. She had four pairs and explained each pair of Converse with so much detail and imagery it felt like they were my own. I completely agree with her on how her shoes weren't just shoes but pieces of memories. This genre displays characteristics of a journal and reflects on tennis shoes as not only a material object but an object containing something much more special. These shoes were there for her when her friends weren't there and as she said, "...itching for another journey". All of these journeys taken in her sneakers allowed her to look back at each pair and remember exactly where she was and what she did. I think this is a wonderful and truthful journal about how someone can turn a so-called material object into an object with sentimental meaning. What may have kept my attention so well besides my love for Converse was the imagery and detail within her piece. She described every feel, smell and sight she encountered throughout her use of each pair without going overboard. I liked how she referred to the shoes as a "personal artifact". Everyone should have at least one object that reflects who they are as a person and things they have been through. These personal objects could help that person get through the day if it has been bad just like it got Sarah through some hard times in her life even if it just a little hard. 

This is the website for the Fenton Fire Hall Restaurant. I went there over the weekend and got to see all the photographs that were taken of past and present fire fighters. You can tell from looking at the photos on their website that it has kept a lot of its historical value. 

Over spring break I went to a skiing and snowboarding resort in Colorado. Me and my dad flew there and spent a week shredding the hills and soaking up the sun. Surprisingly it was in the range of 40 degrees to 50 degrees the entire time! I wish I could have spent more time there but it is nice being back home. 

The progress for my research proposal project has been going smooth over break. Not only did I do more interviews with the visitors of the Fenton Fire Hall but I actually went with some friends. When we all met up I had a notepad and wrote down some observations. Some of the observations I recorded matched the information in the interviews. Although I did come across a few observations that will fuel my research proposal even more. I'm so excited to continue finding even more out about this topic!

This website includes empowering and motivational photographs taken by photographer, Steve Rosenfield. Rosenfield came up with this ingenius project where he captures photos of all types of people with their insecurities written on themselves. Attached to each photograph is the persons story of why they were insecure and how they overcame it. I found his work really interesting and inspiring because of all the different categories he includes. If you check out the site you will see a long list of insecurities. Hundreds of people told their stories and a few or maybe more could be relatable. This project has strongly influenced many teens and people of older age groups to overcome their fears of not being accepted. Even people that don't think they have any insecurities should visit this site because maybe if they have bullied or made fun of someone because of their flaws the project will allow them to become more accepting. Cheers to 'building security with insecurities'!  

Many people from Michigan may not be aware of this phenomenon but Sleeping Bear Dunes was actually rated the most beautiful place in America a few years ago. I went backpacking on South Manitou Island which is a small portion of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. I honestly don't believe that a person can truly appreciate the beauty of nature until they have been backpacking. You see things through a completely different light when you have zero technology, no bed, freeze dried food and not a pot to piss in. That may seem like hell to most people but it's my passion and if I could do it for the rest of my life there would be no hesitation. Sleeping Bear Dunes provided me with memories I could never forget and I strongly recommend visiting whether you go backpacking or not. There are plenty of fun things to do at Sleeping Bear especially swimming, running down the dunes, fishing and hiking. Hope you all get the chance to go one of these days!

               Rarely does the small town of Fenton Michigan ever get tourists or visitors unless they are making a pit stop at the McDonald's on Owen Rd. This particular McDonald's is actually one of the busiest franchises in Michigan! But that's just one interesting fact about the small town I have resided in since my admittance into Eastern. The photo located above was taken on a country road just within Fenton. Most of the roads here are probably sixty percent dirt. However Fenton has many beautiful lookout points which I just so happen to take full advantage of. Some teenagers who live or who had lived in Fenton before will tell you that their favorite things are Fenton Lanes, Dibbleville or Mega Coney. Fenton Lanes is a bowling alley where anyone is welcome and quite a lot of high school kids pay a visit there to release stress or other built up emotion. Fenton has a small downtown but it is full of fun boutiques and restaurants. Dibbleville is what they call our downtown because the first settler in Fenton was Clark Dibble in 1834. Another good thing about Fenton besides the amazing landscape and fun activities is a coney island called Mega. This coney has been family owned for all I can remember and was always my hangout before and after school since it is within walking distance to the high school. Overall Fenton would be a great city to explore. So many different paths to travel and places to enjoy.