29 January 2010

homework

so in the midst of all this blog of note hubbub, i began a new graduate class. this course is totally online - no face-to-face meetings, no gatherings on campus, no study groups at the local pub. still though, we participants need to know one other. so for the first week's assignment, as part of our getting to know you introductions, we are to describe ourselves to the online group - from our pet's point of view. i'm having a bit of difficulty getting started on this because any pet that i've had has thought i was simply wonderful. don't you think a pet's point of view is undeniably biased? better to have asked for a description from a pest's point of view - then it might be easier to get to the truth.

29 comments:

P Torres said...

I like your blog re: online classes. I've been doing "on-line" for the last 5 years (working on my degree-little by little), and the first assignment is always to do a short bio/intro so everyone in the class gets to know you. I'm a writer, but who knows why, but I struggle with this part EVERY SINGLE TIME! Wierd!

Anonymous said...

This picture is too funny. It's like the squirrel is "hiding", blending in with the tree, thinking the bird doesn't see him. I just love this one!

Nance

Anonymous said...

Nice

Eamonn said...

Pets, they see a lot more of us than we realise, I think; my dog can look at my face and act in a way she thinks I want her too, when to jump around and when to not, but also when t attract my attention for food, comfort and reward. Dont we all have a pet that knows us better than ourselves, and is it not a good way to explain ourselves to others?

Kaytea said...

Thats like the question at a job interview: "Why are you better than any of the other applicants?". or "Tell us why we should hire you.".
Really annoying......

rhyter said...

Love the picture. You captured two woodland neighbors in your shot. The esquirrel (French for squirrel) sorta looks like a mini koala bear. I love photography too.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I like your photos... just noticed the bird in profile in front of the squirrel. I'll be back to read more and look at pix.

Unknown said...

I think pets may also find us silly, and predictable, like "oh there she goes again: laughing when I lean my head on her knee, she thinks I'm cute and now I'll get hugs. I rule" I had a fox terrier wire for 15 years and I believe he was the smartest person in our house ;)

Anonymous said...

i've had several pets in the past and there were a couple that ignored me a lot unless i was feeding them. they might have had biases against me then. lol :D

CrazyCris said...

Dunno about that... pests might be unduly harsh towards you if they've been "abused" (as in your refusing to allow them access to your kitchen, leftovers etc.). Go for the pet option, it's always good to start meeting a new group of a people with good references! ;o)

Lexi Elizabeth said...

I'm am utterly intrigued by this way of writing about yourself. I have four cats, two dogs, a bunny, and a hamster (gerbil? haha). Each one would have a completely different view on me, and that's really weird to think about. I definitely want to do this. Right. Now. :D I'll definitely keep checking out your blog, though, for more interesting things. Thanks!

Unknown said...

wow pretty good, i loved your writing. Well in my opinion, your pretty right haha. check out my blog thedeadlaughter.blogspot.com :)

Watson said...

Great photos and blog, Chris.

PhotoGirlZoe said...

:)love the picture of the animals!

rhyter said...

What class are you taking? I've never taken one, but I looked into it several times. I never got into one because I was a part-time student. At that time, preference was given to full-time students.

I love your blog and your photos are great. I always tell people I'm just taking pictures of what I see.

I just started a blog. I plan to post several of my photos in my blog. I hope you will visit it sometime.

Jewls said...

Ha ha! I think it would depend on the type of pet...every dog I have ever had would say I was the most wonderful person in the world but I've had a couple cats over the years that would probably have a different opinion. he he! I love cats, I love most animals really! I have a cat now that I can't seem to please no matter how hard I try! Keep up the great blogs!

Slamdunk said...

Congrats on the online program. I completed a graduate degree a couple of years ago online, and it worked out well.

BAC Team said...

I don't know. Sounds like a much more creative, focused way of describing yourself.

I assume you have a dog of some kind to assume that animals have that devoted kind of positive attention. And positive is the way, so they say, to introduce yourself to people.

Though speaking in generalities I think cats tend to be more critical, picky and honest. I'd love to talk for my imaginary cat looking at me. Then again I do tend to speak for inanimate objects in general, especially imaginary ones.

Kristy @Loveandblasphemy said...

Hmmm, I had a cat once that always looked at me and I swear she was thinking, "Bitch."

Betsy Grant said...

Loved what you said about getting to the "truth", pretty hard to tell when you're not actually present with someone. Check out my blogs re artists and the creative process if you feel like it...freetospeakblog.blogspot.com,

Pravi--- subliming said...

I can see that you enjoy every second to the last millisecond!
Great blogs, but not your best is what I feel.

Unknown said...

If you have a cat you know that they just don't adore you. From my cats point of view, I am the lady that feeds him and allows him to sleep on her bed. :-)

Pandemic Dawn said...

What an amazing picture! i love the depth and the moment you captured!

chris said...

thanks for comments on the picture. i was focusing so much on the squirrel, i didn't see the bird in the foreground until i downloaded from the camera. see? that's serendipitous! :-)

i finished the introduction in cat's voice. it came out pretty well and i'm happy with it. the best part - it's not an assignment that gets graded!

thanks for visiting. i am still in awe of all these visitors! yikes!

Darlena Gary said...

I totally agree that a pet would think of you as the king of their world. I wish I could get people to think of me like that. I know my pets love me almost more than peanut butter.

Robert Meyer said...

I love this!

Unknown said...

I start my Master of Education today; one unit is face to face and the other online. What I was thinking as I read your post was how I could work this into the on campus class later today... It is my experience that the getting to know you idea is past its useby date and everyone always seems more interesting than what I could ever be....love your blog, pics and writing.

chris said...

Juanita: good luck on your pursuit of your masters! i was about your age when i started mine! you can do it!! thank you for your kind words as well! glad you like the blog! ~chris

Unknown said...

Thankyou so much Chris for your encouraging words, which, sometimes, maybe more often when we reach certain ages we need more than the more concrete support. I have now attended two classes and I love it. Studying in this way is meaningful especially when the subject matter has to do with social change. I keep reading your posts and they are so uplifting in such a natural and honest way and the photographs capture those things we sometimes miss in the big picture. Thankyou again, Juanita