holden_caulfield

DAILY HOLDEN-O-METER: Holden. . .wrote a letter to his mother today:

Querida Cybermadre,

I'm sorry that I didn't reply sooner, but my college life was in limbo temporarily because of some feedback I received about my incompletes. I should have followed up on them before the semester started. Apparently, EMU didn't change the incomplete rule after all and they stay as incompletes even after not converting them for a year (or even after graduation. . .my GPA will be unaffected). Unfortunately, they cannot be converted back to normal letter grades, though. So I have to start from scratch. At least I completed one of them in time.

Since I didn't find this out until after the semester started, and my financial hold was not released until Monday, I had already missed four days of class for non-continuing ed courses. I was contemplating taking Statistics and Differential Equations, but I had already missed several classes, and classes like that should never be missed. They are complicated enough without missing classes, so they are going to wait until next semester, when I will have a better selection of classes, meeting times and professors.

So, after missing a week of classes, I finally realized that I could only take two classes that fit into my work schedule (more or less. . .I'll still probably miss some Saturday work, but will be free for officiating, interpreting and donating plasma during the week). These classes are basic electives, just filler credit that I need so that my credits will add up to 124. They are GEOG 107, Introduction to Geography and LIT 101, Introduction to Fiction. They meet on Saturdays from 9-11:15am and 11:30-2:30pm, respectively. This configuration should work best for my life, because they only meet once a week, which should be less stressful for me. My other six credits will be 400-level independent study Spanish courses, probably with Dr. Rico, with previously approved coursework.

Unfortunately, my books will cost $150. My used geography book alone (required) costs $90 (and it isn't even a very thick paperback, either). Luckily, I still have my atlases that I purchased from taking Geography earlier. My other books should cost less, but there are six of them, paperback novels as follows: "All Quiet on the Western Front," Remarque (Re-mark not Re-mar-kay, like the Spanish pronunciation); "Ulysses," (Ugh.) Joyce; Seven Gothic Tales, Dinesen; Freddy's Book, Garnder (supposedly a little known but great book. . .also the author of a novel named "Grendel" about "Beowulf"; "Mao II," DeLillo; "Love in the Time of Cholera," Garcia Marquez (I may read this one in Spanish just for good measure).

I know for a fact that I have the exact same Remarque book in my bedroom on the bookcase (or in storage somewhere). Is it worth mailing it to me (with my razor blade inserts and mouthwash that I forgot. . .and any mail that I have received recently. . .I haven't received anything from you at my P.O. box yet), or should I just go out and buy the books instead? I need to read the entire book by next Saturday. At any rate, I'll be needing a small loan to buy these books (unless you have them hiding somewhere. . .I have ISBN numbers for most of them). I can pay Dad back when I get my loan check. All that he would have to do is deposit the money into my account at Fifth-Third Bank in town.

You should also let father know that I had a few problems with the Honda. It leaked about a cup of antifreeze a few days ago (but the temperature gauge in the car seems fine. . .and I cleaned up the mess on the garage floor) and I had a bad case of window fog-up again with the heat this morning on the way to class. I'll be taking it to my low-cost mechanic in Ypsilanti to ask how much an estimate might cost and then get back to Dad about it.

Thank you for the Star Trek birthday card and the money. I haven't started pricing out dentists yet, but I'll probably start doing that soon. I hope that I can find one that will fix my tooth for less than $100.

Until Next Time,

Cyberhijo

P.S. Good luck with the school board appointment. Let me know how it goes.

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Well, if you have read this far, and you're on Holden's friends list (or you remembered to wish Holden a Happy Birthday recently), please step up to the plate and be one of the first three to request your free--absolutely no obligation--Gmail (Google) e-mail account. Holden has three invites to spare.

Should you be one of the first three to request this in Holden's journal. . .that should be obvious enough. . .be sure to drop him an e-mail through SG. . .because he'll be needing it to set you up.


My Current Literary Contribution:



Gustavo Adolfo Bcquer, 1836-1871(?)
(born G.A. Domnguez Bastida)


Rima XI
por Gustavo Adolfo Bcquer

Yo soy ardiente, yo soy morena,
yo soy el smbolo de la pasin,
de ansia de goces mi alma est llena.
A m me buscas?
No es a ti, no.

Mi frente es plida, mis trenzas de oro:
puedo brindarte dichas sin fin,
yo de ternura guardo un tesoro.
A m me llamas?
No, no es a ti.

Yo soy un sueo, un imposible,
vano fantasma de niebla y luz;
soy incorprea, soy intangible:
no puedo amarte.
Oh ven, ven t!


"Holden's Translation" (Please be aware that literary translation takes many years of study. Since I couldn't find a translation on the Internet, this will have to do for now):

Rhyme XI
by Gustavo Adolfo Bcquer

I am burning, I am brunette,
I am the symbol of passion,
My soul is full of anxious yearning.
Do you seek me?
No, not you.

My face is fair; by braids, of gold:
I can give you endless riches,
From my tenderness I guard a treasure.
Are you calling me?
No, not you.

I am a dream, an impossibility,
vain ghost of fog and light;
I am incorporal, I am intangible:
I cannot love you.
Oh, come, please come!