Pieces of April

After watching Pieces of April it really made me appreciate the family and traditions we do. Its been a while since I've been home but thats just because it costs so much to drive 800 miles to eat a silly meal. This movie was quite depressing because the family hated April and didn't have anything to be proud of her until the end. Everything seemed to go wrong, the oven broke, her family dreaded going, and it was the last time April was going to see her mother. I think the point of the movie was to show that the ultimate ritual is trying to keep a family together no matter what happens. Even if only one person wants to try, its the thought that counts. Overall, I thought this movie was really boring, but I did see how it can be a decent example of rituals. Thanksgiving is the main ritual used but others such a family bickering, the younger sibling bad mouther the older sister, parents not approving of April's boyfriend etc.. If anyone doesn't feel like renting the movie here is a good website to watch it. http://twomovies.name/watch_movie/Pieces_of_April

First Blog ( Better late than never )

I have finally found something I enjoyed enough to write about in this blog. I just finished reading Meghan Daum's article, "My Misspend Youth". It really opened my eyes and made me think about the decisions I've made that have landed me in this small town in Montana. It's crazy to me that her whole life decision came from the idea's of where she wanted to end up as a child. I think its great that she kept strong and she followed her dreams, but also think she is very naive. She clearly never had a kind of education that prepared her for the harsh realities of life. Possibly her parents didn't drill hard enough into her head that you have to become successful before you can act like it.

I was the typical kid who quizzed my parents with hundreds of questions about everything, including financials. I don't want to sit here and say I've got it all figured out, but I feel as thou I won't let a personal image overthrow reality. Maybe it was because my father is a stock broker and wanted me to be ready for what life was actually going to be like when I moved away to college and started my independent life. This article really made me think about my spending behavior. I typically use the excuse that I'm saving a bunch of money by living in Bozeman, paying a measly 300 dollars a month for rent while my close friends are living all over the country paying insane amounts of money for living and partying. I think that after reading this I'll try a little bit harder and make sure I don't let a similar situation happen to me, assuming I make it out of here before the "cops bust my party".