Pages read this week: 96+55=151
Semester total:1083
"There was nothing to do, Jimeno thought, except wait until they send out rescue parties in the morning. If they lived that long."
That's such a hard thing to grasp, for those trapped to accept the fact that they might not make it out of this.
"His old paramedic shirt torn, he plodded north in the late-summer night, alone, scuffling down streets blanketed by the dust that had been the World Trade Center."
Even though this sentence has a sad connotation, I love how the author phrases this statement; it kind of hits you right in the gut.
"...I realize why dawn is called mourning."
This is from my new book A Million Little Pieces by James Frey about a serious drug addict in rehab. Frey says this statement during his first days of detox and when he is feeling his worst; I love his use of words.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
A Million Little Pieces
James wakes up on an airplane. Confused and terrified, he realizes he is in awful condition. James had a broken nose, four missing teeth, and a hole in the side of his cheek. This was his wake up call. James was then greeted by his family who took him home for the night, but he couldn't get through without a bottle of wine.
The next day James Frey started his journey to recovery. James was admitted into rehab that would test his soul and strength in every way. He is under strict orders to begin detox, do simple tasks, regularly meet with a psychologist, and his hardest talk, not talk with women at the facility.
The craziest part of the book so far that I noticed is that James was so disgusted and embarrassed of himself, that he did not look at himself in a mirror for five days. He could only imagine how awful it would be until he finally looked to find this true. It was also really interesting that James had an extremely vivid dream about alcohol and using drugs. In his dreams, he coke feel his nostrils and throat burning and even felt relief from the drugs. In a meeting with his psychologist, he informed that these dreams were very common and could occur often for more than a year.
I am so exited to continue with the book and to hear all of the unimaginable struggles James will have to go through. However these struggles will ultimately save his life.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Epilogue to 102 Minutes
Well this weekend I finished 102 Minutes! It's interesting how many different emotions I felt while reading this book. Sometimes I was a little frustrated learning about all the poor communications and improper protocols, but then I would feel sad reading about the personalities and lives of innocent workers who died, followed with great appreciation for those that risked their lives. It was such a humbling book to read and I definitely encourage others to get it. It's not a book that follows a traditional climatic plot but it's about real life, which is so much better. I commend the authors of this book, Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, for doing their detailed research and interviews. They make you feel like you're really in the event.
The epilogue at the end was a helpful addition to the book. It somewhat clarified why certain events happened. It was titled 11 Am Ground Zero so it showed only a small portion of the aftermath this attack would lead to. It starts out taking about a Port Authority police officer trapped underneath cement and debrie after the collapse of the towers. Since he had previously worked with elevator rescues at the WTC, he knew rescue operations wouldn't occur until a day after when everything was stable. He was stuck in a 45 degree angle, trapped, pinned down, and waiting to day. Reading about this man reminded me about the movie 127 Hours. Oh man is that an intense movie or what, at least for me. Like the police officer, a hiker, Aron Ralston, is trapped in a canyon's crack underneath a large rock. The movie shows the mental and physical struggles Aron faced for 127 hours until he finally amputated his arm to find help. I can't even image that. Just even the solitude would drive me crazy. I think its incredible to hear stories about victims caught it strange innocent and their stories of survival. (Speaking of, you know how people ask, "If you were stranded on an island, what one item would you bring?" Well I definitely would choose chapstick. I am so addicted to that stuff. I think I put chapstick on at the very least 20 times a day. I just bought a new exotic scented eos lip balm today and I am so pumped!) Luckily the officer was found by a US Marine who could direct rescuers to his location. Semper fidelis, always faithful. What a great story.
The epilogue at the end was a helpful addition to the book. It somewhat clarified why certain events happened. It was titled 11 Am Ground Zero so it showed only a small portion of the aftermath this attack would lead to. It starts out taking about a Port Authority police officer trapped underneath cement and debrie after the collapse of the towers. Since he had previously worked with elevator rescues at the WTC, he knew rescue operations wouldn't occur until a day after when everything was stable. He was stuck in a 45 degree angle, trapped, pinned down, and waiting to day. Reading about this man reminded me about the movie 127 Hours. Oh man is that an intense movie or what, at least for me. Like the police officer, a hiker, Aron Ralston, is trapped in a canyon's crack underneath a large rock. The movie shows the mental and physical struggles Aron faced for 127 hours until he finally amputated his arm to find help. I can't even image that. Just even the solitude would drive me crazy. I think its incredible to hear stories about victims caught it strange innocent and their stories of survival. (Speaking of, you know how people ask, "If you were stranded on an island, what one item would you bring?" Well I definitely would choose chapstick. I am so addicted to that stuff. I think I put chapstick on at the very least 20 times a day. I just bought a new exotic scented eos lip balm today and I am so pumped!) Luckily the officer was found by a US Marine who could direct rescuers to his location. Semper fidelis, always faithful. What a great story.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Sentences of the Month
"We all choke. Winners know how to handle choking better than losers -John McEnroe."
"...So I'm really good in math class, but I don't announce it because I'm a girl."
"Christ lived on cheeseburgers and Coke, for all we know."
I like the first sentence the best because it's such a true statement about sports. I'm all about sports and overcoming challenges so reading Mind Gym was good for me. All athletes are scared to fail or even if they don't admit it; the great athletes are those that train their minds to overcome this obstacle and have confidence, which is something I'm trying to work on this swim season.
"...So I'm really good in math class, but I don't announce it because I'm a girl."
"Christ lived on cheeseburgers and Coke, for all we know."
I like the first sentence the best because it's such a true statement about sports. I'm all about sports and overcoming challenges so reading Mind Gym was good for me. All athletes are scared to fail or even if they don't admit it; the great athletes are those that train their minds to overcome this obstacle and have confidence, which is something I'm trying to work on this swim season.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Currently
Pages read this week: 167
Semester total: 932
Favorite Sentences-
"Rubbing his hands together, Savas appeared exhilarated, possessed of a sudden burst of energy,"
I love how this sentence points out the adrenaline running through victims bodies; they were able to tasks they probably wouldn't have been able to normally.
"He did not want to die. Suddenly, his words were drowned out by crashing noises, a terrible scream, and even worse silence."
I know this is a disturbing quote but I really like how real this makes the book seem. It allows readers to remember that trapped victims were real people that never thought a day at work could end their life.
"The doctrine-or reflex- of telling people to stay put during evacuations was not universally applied."
It's awful to think that people in WCT2 were told to remain inside, yet most people did not know any better of how to handle the situation.
Semester total: 932
Favorite Sentences-
"Rubbing his hands together, Savas appeared exhilarated, possessed of a sudden burst of energy,"
I love how this sentence points out the adrenaline running through victims bodies; they were able to tasks they probably wouldn't have been able to normally.
"He did not want to die. Suddenly, his words were drowned out by crashing noises, a terrible scream, and even worse silence."
I know this is a disturbing quote but I really like how real this makes the book seem. It allows readers to remember that trapped victims were real people that never thought a day at work could end their life.
"The doctrine-or reflex- of telling people to stay put during evacuations was not universally applied."
It's awful to think that people in WCT2 were told to remain inside, yet most people did not know any better of how to handle the situation.
Panic
The one thing I've noticed every time I start to read 102 Minutes is that somehow I tense up. Well of course this happens because the book is written in a style that makes you relive those 102 minutes while getting the full inside story. I'm one of those people that gets really into books and movies because I put myself into certain situations given. That's why I can't get through Titanic without sobbing; it's hard imaging thousands of lives lost due to one accident. However, I think this is kind of a cool quality about me. Putting myself into the roles of characters I watch or read makes my literary experience much more exciting and real.
I can't even imagine what I would do in a high-stressful situation like this. I already stress and worry way too much that I think I would just freeze up. Luckily, and for many victims' advantage, my adrenaline would kick in and allow me to make quick judgment actions to get myself to safety. This reminds me of a time this summer when we ran into a little bit of trouble at the pool (remember I lifeguard). While I was on my shift guarding the baby pool, there was a birthday party cookout nearby in the eating area. As I'm sitting there watching siblings tackle each other and cute little kids float around in a floaty as big as them, I see the grill catch on fire. My natural reaction was to run over to help. However, I couldn't abandon my shift and I had to trust that the other lifeguards would follow the pool's safety procedures. It turns out the fire was only a small grease fire and was extinguished fairly easily. It's really nice to know that I work at a place that had particular safety protocols, especially since safety in our number one concern. Thinking of that instance makes me realize just how important protocols are along with making smart choices in fast-moving situations. If only 9/11 could have been fixed that easily.
I can't even imagine what I would do in a high-stressful situation like this. I already stress and worry way too much that I think I would just freeze up. Luckily, and for many victims' advantage, my adrenaline would kick in and allow me to make quick judgment actions to get myself to safety. This reminds me of a time this summer when we ran into a little bit of trouble at the pool (remember I lifeguard). While I was on my shift guarding the baby pool, there was a birthday party cookout nearby in the eating area. As I'm sitting there watching siblings tackle each other and cute little kids float around in a floaty as big as them, I see the grill catch on fire. My natural reaction was to run over to help. However, I couldn't abandon my shift and I had to trust that the other lifeguards would follow the pool's safety procedures. It turns out the fire was only a small grease fire and was extinguished fairly easily. It's really nice to know that I work at a place that had particular safety protocols, especially since safety in our number one concern. Thinking of that instance makes me realize just how important protocols are along with making smart choices in fast-moving situations. If only 9/11 could have been fixed that easily.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The North Tower
So far this week, I've been really interested in reading about the inside of the North Tower of the WTC in 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn. Fire departments said they could have attempted to put out a fire that only covered one or two stories; however, the plane crash completely engulfed five floors into flames. Firefighters knew their mission was not to extinguish the fire, but to rescue as many victims as they could. Although they were trying to the best of their ability, firefighters measured the time it would take to reach the floors above the fire in hours instead of minutes. With nearly all 99 elevators stuck and many staircases in flames, it would be a difficult task to reach the top. To add, firefighters were literally carrying another on their back. Their uniform and equipment weighed about 56.5 pounds and some engine ladders brought along a 30 pound hose.
A lot of poor communication and failed protocols hindered the rescue attempts of 9/11. For example, after the 1993 bombing, the city approved firefighters to ride in police helicopters in case of high-rise fires. After the attack, the city's police and fire departments went along with their own missions and did not communicate at all. Therefore, police helicopters lifted off and at 8:52 could clearly see the damage of the building. It would have been beneficial for firefighters to accompany them and get a first glimpse at the source of the fire and collapsing floors.
It's crazy to think of all the minuscule errors were made during the rescue of 9/11, but also the numerous amount of workers that risked their lives for others. A lot of times I tend to only remember those working in the WTC whose lives ended that day. But in fact there were firefighters, policemen, and even fellow co-workers who reentered the burning buildings to save more lives. I would love to be able to visit Ground Zero when it is finished in 2013. Although it would be a sorrowful place of memories, it also serves as a reminder to our country's heros and unity.
A lot of poor communication and failed protocols hindered the rescue attempts of 9/11. For example, after the 1993 bombing, the city approved firefighters to ride in police helicopters in case of high-rise fires. After the attack, the city's police and fire departments went along with their own missions and did not communicate at all. Therefore, police helicopters lifted off and at 8:52 could clearly see the damage of the building. It would have been beneficial for firefighters to accompany them and get a first glimpse at the source of the fire and collapsing floors.
It's crazy to think of all the minuscule errors were made during the rescue of 9/11, but also the numerous amount of workers that risked their lives for others. A lot of times I tend to only remember those working in the WTC whose lives ended that day. But in fact there were firefighters, policemen, and even fellow co-workers who reentered the burning buildings to save more lives. I would love to be able to visit Ground Zero when it is finished in 2013. Although it would be a sorrowful place of memories, it also serves as a reminder to our country's heros and unity.
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