8/27/20
5-5:10pm: What are you writing in your journal? Haven’t started? All good…. Please try it!!
5:10-5:30pm: Sedaris findings… Share your thoughts. What sources did you find?
5:30-5:50pm: His character…. How would you describe it?
5:50-6pm: Before we read, what do we want from our read? That is… do you have certain expectations? What do you like to read? How do you like to feel after reading something?
6pm-6:15pm: Tell us about how you read…. Do you take notes? Write in the margins of your book? In a journal? WHAT?
6:15-6:35pm: As a student, we are constantly challenged, and show new approaches to working on our projects. We are “taught”, yes, but we also self-educate. How do you teach yourself to do something new, or improve at something? ‘Cause really, in the end, it’s all you and your efforts. And, how you study your efforts and the production from your productivity.
6:35-6:40pm: Think about how you use your time, be as efficient as possible. Any suggestions for us?
6:40-6:50pm: Closing…. What’s in your notes for tonight/on tonight’s page?
Assignment: Read the first four essays in Sedaris’ book. Please also read the “Author’s Note”. Be prepared to discuss and offer ideas on Tuesday. And as with every assignment, WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL. Let me know if have any questions. Enjoy your weekend!!! Find Happiness and Humor, EVERYWHERE.
Hi, I hope everything is going well. Glad to be in class with you guys! I haven’t started on my journal yet. Do we just do an entry every day?
That’s what I recommend!! If not more…
Hey everyone ! Yes I’ve made some entrances in my journal
Some entrances? lol
Entries omg ahah
You’re good buddy. Have fun tonight.
I wish I knew how to cook. Anyone in here cook?
Yeah, I love to cook. I even worked in a kitchen last summer
Nice!! What was that like?
It was a lot of fun, although the kitchen was extremely hot. It was at a kids summer camp, so we made 3 meals a day, everyday for 2 months
Would love to read some writings on your experiences!! Cheers!
Yep! I actually just finished helping my mom cook Fried chicken!
WHAT???? You better invite me over next time… Love fried chicken.
She makes the BEST fried chicken, too 🙂
Stop. lol
Yes I do , what do you have in mind ? Or I should say what’s appetite looking for ? Something big or small ?
Not sure yet, Ms. Evelyn… Will let you know!!
I don’t think I can say hoe to cook but I’ve been always trying. I like to try cooking things I haven’t eaten before so that way I can’t compare to anything and I just see if I like or not lol
No! I do not.
yes!
I started writing in my journal when i get home from work at night.
Nice!!
Hi everyone. I hope you’re all well.
I did start my journal! I’ve only done two entries though
All good Nina…. Thanks for coming tonight.
Hi everyone. Recently I’ve been writing down my thoughts throughout the day including how I felt after after some activities. Haven’t been writing a lot per entry because I like keeping things concise for my own sake.
Was writing earlier about cooking, like I knew how. Fiction…. Cooking something for me. Just to see if I could. Interesting freewrite.
Wassup hope y’all doing good. I usually just write in my journal before bed so I can recap my day and talk about everything that happened. If not then I write when I have nothing better to do lol.
I been writing about my day, just putting down how felt through out it . What did I do exactly and what I could’ve done . I talk my plans for the future and even wrote some ideas.
I always end up writing about how to plan out my life too😂
Good!
Awesome!
Hello everyone
Hope everyone is doing well, also I hope we are done with all this fire season. I been writing on my journal most of the time . How’s everyone else’s journal looking so far ?
I like to wake up from a dream and quickly try to jot it down before I forget. I find that doing this has made my dreams more vivid and memorable since I’m taking that extra time to remember the details
That’s a good habit and practice!
hello, i havent started yet. i cant think of anything to write
When you think, or think you have to think, that’s when there are problems and blocks. Just write freely.
hey y’all!
Hello everyone! I did start my journal. I’ve been writing down my thoughts and feelings. But I am planning to start writing more specific things like being vegan, freedom or anything I’d discuss with a friend
I love it! Enjoy!!
That’s a cool approach I think I’ll try writing like that some time its a fun idea.
Hi yall. hope everyone is doing okay! my first entry was today. In light of these recent fires from the storm it compelled me to write about waking up to the storms and experiencing it without thinking it would do as much damage as it has done.
Good to write about it…
I just think that sometimes when you really want to think of gloomy things, how insanely fast we can turn from completely fine to chaos.
Chaos is Composition.
Hey everybody! I’ve been trying to write in my journal at least once a day. Some days I can keep writing through several pages, but when my mind is focused on getting other stuff done I can barely get one page out. I don’t try to force it though
I relate to this so much! Sometimes the thoughts(and life) get overwhelming, but other times the words flow so easily. Not forcing it is good though, helps keep it from not feeling like a chore! I like your mindset!
Hi y’all! Hope everyone is doing so so well! I’ve made a small amount of progress on my journal. I find that there’s so much going on right now that I’m getting overwhelmed by what to write. Each time I write it gets a little easier though!
Hi Sarah! Welcome!
Ive been writing in my journal every other day!
Good for you! Any particular focuses or thought consistencies?
my findings on David would be that he is a comedian, he started in New York I believe.
Well, kind of…
Chaos is, or can be, Composition…
I just write about my day or the pass couple days if I haven’t wrote in a while. I’ve learned so far, how important family is and how I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without them. It kind of just make me more appreciative towards things and what I have.
Family is a substantial segment of Sedaris’ work.
I write about my family a lot, but that is usually the work i keep private. Its easy to write about because I have so many topics to choose from, its just not something I share
Whatever you want to do with it… Long as you write for YOU!
I did find that. He writes has essay about his abusive alcoholic mother and his sister that committed suicide
He deals with the pain with his paragraphs. Heroic.
I found out that Sedaris is related to the receptionist girl from the movie Elf !
Amy’s awesome!!
It’s cool to learn about an openly gay man! I don’t think that I’ve ever had that experience in a class setting before yet.
Sedaris embraces and writes from everything that he is. He is FEARLESS, and I really admire him.
YESSS! I really admire that about him. Loved it
In my journal you can find my daily reflections on my day.
I loved searching about David. His interviews are hilarious. I like the way he deals with life and how he finds humor in every thing, even the most tragic things. He feels he lives his life in the lightest way
Good way of putting it.
How would I describe his character is just as a humble person. And I believe that having a lot of experiences through your life , makes you the person you become in the future. Also like David said everything will make me laugh when I look back . And it’s true our past mistakes and our past experiences makes us laugh and say oh s** I could done this a different way…..
Interesting balance of humility and aggression….
i Just typed a whole ass page out of my journal gave me a can’t be posted and it’s gone ;(
?
I salvaged it.
YES!
I really enjoy learning about funny people. Oftentimes the happiest can be the most depressed.
Robin Williams is a great example! That man exerted so much positive energy into the world, yet he lived and struggled in his own darkness. His talent was a true gift in our lifetimes
I really like the comparison there !
Agree. Usually people who try and make people laugh are the saddest and know what it feels like to be sad so they don’t wish that on any body else. Like Robin Williams 🙁 He was my favorite
Agree! You can even see the conception of clowns.
It seems I learn something new about this man every class. I love it!
He wants to be read, but even more he wants to help… A noble author as well as a slightly combative one.
yes he challenges all aspects, I think even to people that might not like him, you still have to respect that at the very least.
Hey how’s everyone doing one of my journal entries was about a dream I had. It was cold fall morning, I opened the barn door at my grandmothers and heard rats scuttling around in a frenzy. I wanted to see the steer, my cousins kept them inside the barn at night but they didn’t always wake up early. I was wading through the piles of hay and slipped right on my ass with a thud. I got up and investigated, plunging my hands deep into the hay and I pulled out a treasure. It was soft and had cherry red accents with a cowhide so white it gleamed. The white turned to blue and I was aboard a boat with massive swells all around us. Lighting struck down on the bow and the crab pots were out, we had to get them in before the storm washed them under. I’m struggling to hook the buoys, I see a white tentacle sprout from the depths and the orange balloon shoots beneath the surface. I’m wide-eyed and look around panicked, no ones there,I can’t breathe. I wake up to my cat sitting directly on my face. I somehow got it.
This is great! Thanks for sharing!
Wow I wish I could remember my dreams like that.
Love how descriptive you are, I can imagine this being a really cool video
The source I used was youtube. I watched his interview with Jimmy Kimmel. Even though it was a couple of minutes you, could really tell what type of person he was.
Try finding some articles on him…
I watched his interview with Jimmy Kimmel too.
I loved watching his interviews because he is so effortlessly funny and enjoyable to watch. But I got the vibe that he tries to do all this funny stuff so often to hide that he is sad. His eyes look so sad
I think that too, sometimes…
What do you guys think about Sedaris?
I found very interesting and useful facts about David . The sources I found were , Wikipedia and all the interviews on YouTube. I also found the first job offer he had for New York Times.
I thought he was scholar but funny, open about his life and a good man. He picks up litter at night in his neighborhood, just a stand up man.
That’s an interesting practice of his, I think…
Hey guys whats up! I’m having a lot of fun writing in my journal and lately what I’ve been writing in it is just about my day and what are my thoughts that stuck with me that day.
I’ve done a bit of research of David Sedaris, however I will admit that I went down a bit of a rabbit hole listening to his podcasts on npr! Sad that there aren’t many and they’re from so long ago. Listening to him speak, whether it be reading a piece or giving his opinion on one is so entertaining. Plus, podcasts are such a convenient way to take in information, art, in today’s busy lifestyle! So I love that!
I’m liking what you guys are putting into this discussion! I’m listening to an interview right now, and it’s quite interesting
What is he saying?
It’s with Stephen Colbert- they’re talking essentially about success and growing up. They both compliment each other’s humor very well.
Thanks for sharing the link!
Hey everyone! Sorry I was late. I got caught up with some other homework.
All good! Jump in!!! How’s the journal? Your research on Sedaris?
A note for your notes….. Humor is a medicine and a weapon.
Using humor as a weapon is something I’m kind of familiar with. You can use humor to lower someone’s guard or to convince someone that you aren’t what you seem. You can use humor to separate groups of people aka bullying or making fun of someone.
Researching David was really intriguing I enjoyed learning about all his different compositions such as play writing and radio experience. On Kimmel he seemed like cool person to meet considering how personal he makes his interactions. His sense of humor is pretty relatable too.
Sadly I haven’t started my journal yet because I’ve been super busy lately but I plan to soon.
Start tonight!! You have plenty of time. Sedaris actually talks about this in his Masterclass.. when people say they work a lot and they don’t have time to write. His response, “So did I…” Just an encouraging FYI… enjoy your writing!!
I mostly watched his interviews on YouTube and podcast he did with Whitney Cummings.
Also didn’t know awesome meant fine.
I think it’s inspiring to see someone so vulnerable to share stories like this. I’ve found that the best humor is oftentimes found from a personal story that is easily related to. Nobody knows your great aunt Sally, but we all know that one family member who pinches your cheeks and smells like week-old fruit cake
Nice post here, Dominic…
I would say that his vulnerable is what makes people feel so comfortable about him. Which what makes him such an amazing writer (:
A note for your notes….. Your journal is for YOU. Yes you can get credit if you send me pics of it, but it is FOR YOU. Please have this documented in your notes for tonight.
Should we send them after we finish writing it every time or save them and send them in a bundle with each other.
Send pics of whatever you want, or email. Whatever is best for you.
Probably offbeat from his writing, but I found out that Sedaris is known in the Sussex, the town he lives in, for going out in the middle of the night and picking up trash for hours with a headlamp. He’s been nicknamed ‘Pigpen’ and even got invited to meet the Queen for his good deeds 😀
Oh, also fun fact but Sussex, where Sedaris lives, is around the area where my family is from!
Cool!
I found out that David Sedaris has never ever played a video game. That’s crazy.
What?? That’s unheard of
Note for your notes….. Mind how Sedaris tells a story then interjects his own voice, opinion, estimation and observations.
Exactly! He tells a relatable story while also interjecting with his own personality which is a great recipe for comedy writing. Listening to him reminds me of Dave Chapelle and how they both are great storytellers that can bring an audience along for a ride
Very vocal and reactive..
It’s crazy how he comes up with jokes and little remarks on the stop! It’s very entertaining and keeps things interesting!
Yes! It’s intentional, as well as a but unintentional!
unintentional is the best part
Very true!