Analysis of The Waltz

The short story, The Waltz, written by Dorothy Parker is a rather entertaining story that highlights the thoughts of a woman who is asked to dance. The journey follows the thoughts and actions of the woman and her dance partner as they attempt to "Waltz". In an attempt to further analyze the story
and it's messages, several aspects of the story will be focused on. In "The Waltz", Dorothy Parker creates a short story that provides comic relief, serves as a lesson for young women, and sarcasm.

It becomes apparent that conformity to societal standards is a problem in both today's society and in past times. In "The Waltz", Dorothy Parker tells of a woman being asked to dance and reluctantly saying yes. This dance in essence is the symbol of feminism and the conformity to men's standards of the Victorian era. Conformity to societal expectations, and specifically has been a theme of womanhood since the Victorian era. However, the theme of this short story is meant as a thought inducer to many readers. While many women can relate to being guilted into a dance, the possibility that they could say no to the dance has been the progress of woman's rights and their place in society today. In the short story, the woman is guilted into the dance, yet she has thoughts of complaint throughout the dance.

It is particularly important to consider the setting of this story, which is set in 1944, and is still considered an era of 'male dominance'. The dance is construed as very formal in the story, as the couple are waltzing to live band music at a ball. The mood of the dance floor can be described as somber and elegant, whereas the woman's thoughts about her partner are quite negative.

The real story begins when the woman is asked to dance, and reluctantly says yes. The woman has minor conflicts with her thoughts when the couple begin to dance. She illustrates how off rhythm her partner is, how awkward his approach is to dancing, and how she would much rather be sitting down. Her thoughts of regret, however, are not voiced. When the woman gets kicked in the shin and stepped on while attempting to waltz, she describes her sarcastically chosen words to her dance partner. When the music ends, the woman is glad, but reluctantly says otherwise to her partner, and they dance again to the waltz, dancing to the point of exhaustion, rather than the woman saying she would not like to dance.

The point of view of this story is told from the first person point of view of the woman. Readers can read her thoughts and actions, but can not tell what other's in the story are thinking. Through the use of this viewpoint, it allows for the sarcasm for the sarcasm of the woman's thoughts to be displayed in the story. "I should say I'm not tired. I'm dead, that's all I am." is just one instance of the woman's use of comical interpretations of the situation.

The main character, the woman is a rather flat character. Through the duration of the short story, her negative thoughts towards her dance partner do not change, yet she still does not have the courage to tell her partner she does not want to dance. This is evidenced in the story through the use of italics, which represent the words she speaks to her partner, and are the opposite of what she is thinking. " No, of course it didn't hurt." Her comments come off as sarcastically snarky to the reader because they know that she really doesn't want to be nice to her dance partner.

Irony in this short story is abundant. Dorothy Parker included many instances of verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony. The story includes verbal irony in the spoken language of the woman, where she says things that are nice and encouraging to her dance partner, but she really means the opposite of these things. "The Waltz" is dramatically ironic because of the audience's knowledge of the woman's real thoughts on her dancing partner, who thinks that she thinks positively of him. Lastly, the story includes situational irony because the woman does not think that she would ever have to leave her seat at her table, yet she is dancing with a horrible dancer for a large portion of her night.

I believe the symbol of this short story is the dance, and more specifically the Waltz. Dances and balls have long been reigned by men, which would escort women to the dance/ball. I believe that this story attempts to broadcast the issues of a male dominated society through the use of the woman being asked to dance when she really did not want to. Reluctantly, she danced with her partner and did not voice the real opinions that she had of the dance. It represents a shift in thought, where woman may not always be alright with men being a dominant part of society, even though the character in this story does not voice these thoughts out loud to her dance partner.

Overall, this short story was well written and included some comic relief. The story is a very quick read but the message is just as important. I would think that anyone looking for a quick, and thought inducing story read this short piece by Dorothy Parker.

Restaurant Review

A few weekends ago, I decided to make a trip to Detroit. While the city has had it's ups and downs, it is generally on track to becoming great again. In this revival process, there have been many new and exciting restaurants that have come to the city. Of these new restaurants, Potato Place, is rather exceptional. 

Potato Place is in the heart of Midtown, located on 107 W. Warren Ave, situated closely to Wayne State University. The restaurant is designed to be fast causal and has a "hole in the wall" aura to it. This restaurant mainly specializes in dine in and take out orders, which can be placed over the phone at (313) 833-8948.

Exterior of Potato Place

Side street parking for The Potato Place is as expected for the businesses in the area, but the few spots close to the building require the use of parking meters. 

When entering the building, it has a typical restaurant set up with booths placed next to the window and about ten other tables throughout the dining area. Upon entering the building, you are greeted to a large counter, an ice cream freezer and a large menu board overhead. Overall, the restaurant seemed a little crowded and put together in a rush when it was built, as the ice cream freezer doesn't exactly make sense in a restaurant that specializes in baked potatoes.

A view of the front counter and Ice Cream freezer

While the decor was nothing to rave about, the color scheme represented on the outside signage, is reflected on the interior with purple and yellow accents throughout. The atmosphere was very urban, with music from various hip hop and R&B artists playing through the speakers both on the exterior and interior. Additionally, as a nod to Detroit's rich history, there are many Detroit themed memorabilia and artwork placed throughout the dining area.

The clientele that visited the restaurant during this visit were in the range of 25-40 years old, of various nationalities, which represents the cultural diversity of Detroit very well. 

Corned Beef with Mozzarella

The Potato Place specializes in baked potatoes, but also offers baked goods as well as ice cream and smoothies. The menu is displayed largely over the main counter, but with a variety of options for potatoes and other menu items, it is a time consuming activity to look over the options. 

Items on the menu range from $4-$10 but the average baked potato with your choice of toppings will cost around $8. The price is justified for the size of the potato and the quality of toppings available. 

The quality of the food is exceptional, the corned Beef with Mozzarella baked potato (as pictured) was very good, with a generous amount of garlic, cheese, and high quality corned beef. The baked potato comes in a take out box regardless of taking out or dining inside. The dish is roughly the size of a small clipboard, and is rather large for a baked potato. 

Unfortunately, the presentation of the potatoes aren't the top priority of The Potato Place. This is a shame, because the right amount of effort spent on making the food more appetizing will go a long way in the overall experience. 

Listed options for the Potato

The wait time was around 5 minutes, which is rather quick for this type of establishment, however, there were signs addressing the wait time near the counter, suggesting that there may not always be such a short wait time. 

The only major disappointment in The Potato Place is that they do not accept any sort of credit card purchase, and is cash only. The signage makes that clear before ordering but is a major hassle if you don't carry cash and want to visit this establishment. Overall, this is an interesting restaurant with unique food and is worth a visit if you're in the area. 

Cash Only signage near the register

Influential People

For some people, recognizing their top 3 most influential people to them is easy. Whether they helped them through a rough time, or they have always been there to lean on; they are able to list these people easily. For myself, it took me a few moments to really think about who influences me the most and who inspires me. However as I look at the people that influence me most in my life, I am quite proud of who I surround myself with.

The first person that I would consider influential to me is my good friend, Kristen. Kristen and I have been friends since elementary school, but were never too close going through school. When High School came along, we became much closer as we were involved in many of the same clubs and different groups. I realized that more than ever, the compliments that people around school would give her in regards to her personality, and overall character were true. Every single day that I would run into her at school, or in class she would ask me how my day was going, and what was new with my life. It's not everyday that someone who isn't immediately in your group of friends will go out of their own way to catch up with you, but Kristen did, no matter what mood she was in. Even on days I could tell she was in a bad mood, she would make an effort to ask how everyone's day was. While not a huge gesture by any means, it isn't exactly normal in this day and age. 

Kristen and I 

Kristen not only made sure you felt important as a person, but she also did countless good deeds for the city, the school, and the special needs kids in the school. Now that high school is over, we don't see each other as often, but she still holds a great deal of influence on me. In my life, more than anything, Kristen has shown me that it is important to be more personal with people and to be kind to everyone, and this is something that I try to live by everyday.

Another person I would consider influential in my life would be my High School drama director, Kelly Klug. Although I was only a part of the Drama club for the latter half of senior year, the impact Kelly made on me and my life was incredible. Like so many other cast members that she has directed in the past, she makes everyone feel at home and like one of her own children, of which she has 5. When I first met Kelly, I was essentially being forced to audition for the school musical by my friends, and I was very negative about the whole experience and my ability to actually perform on stage. As soon as auditions were over and I got to know Kelly better, the more I became comfortable being on stage. This would not have been possible if it weren't for Kelly. She truly is a super human, she manages to be the mother of 5 kids, a wife, an elementary school teacher, and a drama director for multiple shows at once. Her caring personality and approachable attitude are definitely some of her best qualities and what allows her to successfully direct plays and musicals with such large amounts of people involved with the production. 

Without the experience of going out of my comfort zone and auditioning for the musical, I would have never met one of the best people I have ever met in my life. Kelly no doubt has changed lives, she truly inspires everyone, because she is a great person at heart and she will do anything it takes to help someone succeed. While I, myself couldn't handle the work load that Kelly has, I definitely admire her perseverance. Kelly Klug has inspired me and so many others that have had the pleasure to meet her to be the best you can in anything that you do, and theres always things you can do to improve yourself.

Kelly Klug, a fellow cast mate, and I

Last, but not least, I am influenced by Ellen Degeneres. While this blog post may seem categorized into influential women, it is just coincidence that the people that influence me the most, happen to be women. Ellen is probably the most generous person the world has to offer. Her show is also probably one of the most recognized. No matter what background, wealth level, or any other characteristic, she always stresses that people need to be kind to one another. It isn't often that a talk show host will remind you of this and consistently do good deeds for people that may be struggling or need support. Ellen Degeneres is also probably the most generous of the talk show hosts. Just recently, in the light of the Detroit Public Schools conditions scandal, she donated half a million dollars, to a school she has never been to and a city she probably has never visited. It just goes to show that kindness can go a long way, especially during a crisis. While Ellen may not be able to save every single school in the Detroit, the effort put forth will raise awareness of the critical conditions the public school system is in. It is people like Ellen, and Kelly and Kristen that inspire me to be a great person everyday, and to make the most out of everything. 

Bucket List

If you were to die today... would you be satisfied with the choices you've made throughout your life? Would you be proud of the accomplishments that you have achieved? Would you have regrets? These types of demanding questions get people thinking and ideally make them question their life choices.

If I were to "bite the dust" today, at this very moment... I would probably be disappointed. No one can ever live a "perfect life", although some may seem like they do. I certainly do not and I accept that fact, but I still would like to make improvements that would allow me to spend my time on earth to its fullest extent. While It can be said that you shouldn't strive to create a perfect life, it is beneficial to strive to be the best you can and live your life to the fullest extent possible. 

It is this fact that has made me ponder what things I would like to do before that day comes, in order to better myself and live my life to the fullest extent. In no particular order, my bucket list items are as follows:

Madrid, Spain

1. Live in Europe for at least a year. 

Paris, France

As a person of various nationalities of European descent it has always been a dream of mine to, in essence, pay a visit to my "homeland". My must visit destinations include France, Poland, and Spain. Ultimately, I'd like to experience the different cultures and to become more culturally diverse. This bucket list item is one that may even occur in the near future with studying abroad opportunities.

Town square in Wroclaw, Poland

                                 




                                             




2. "Flip" a home. 
Attributed to my obsession with HGTV, I would like to flip a house... or multiple houses in the future and perhaps even make it a side job. I would like to begin with flipping a house I intend to live in at first to gain experience and create a timeline for the project. I truly enjoy home design and architecture and it would be a great experience to transform something ugly into something great with your own touches and style.

3. Skydive.
Ever since I was a kid, the idea of flying was so fascinating and when playing make believe, my super power was often flying. I hope to one day actually obtain this power, but for now skydiving will have to do. While the height may be an issue to tackle mentally, the freedom of free falling and the adrenaline that comes along with it is what makes me want to sky dive at some point in my life.





   











4. Own a fast car. 

Lamborghini Aventador

Audi RS7

At the time I am writing this, I currently drive a Chrysler 200. By no means is it a rocket, it is simply comfortable transportation that will get me places in style. In the future I would like to own a fast car. Whether or not that car is a supercar or not will depend on my financial situation. Regardless, I would like to own a fast, sporty car. The problem for me is that I love too many cars to choose one "dream car". My interest in cars is so deeply rooted into my lifestyle that I will sometimes make a trip to an exotic car dealer just to admire all the cars.

My Chrysler 200

5. Own a Beach House.
The beach may be my favorite place ever. Specifically the beaches of Florida, I can't get enough of them. While Florida may currently be the only state I have been to with amazing beaches, I can say that I would love to live there in a beach house, right on the ocean. I love the sights, the smells of the ocean, the sounds of the waves and the feeling of sand between your toes. In the future, I will make sure that I own a beach house. I could truly embrace the beach going lifestyle for my whole life, but since I haven't won the lottery yet, that isn't so easy to come by. It would be so amazing to wake up to a sunrise and be within steps of the beach every morning.
















6. Go to a Music Festival.
Of all the concerts I have been to, none have been a music festival. I would like to go to one in the future. Some popular ones that I would be interested in attending include Lollapalooza, Coachella, SXSW, Bonnaroo, and Faster Horses. I like almost every genre of music and festivals like these would allow me to see all of my favorite artists in one place.

Lollapalooza 2015 in Chicago, Illinois

7. Become a better Samaritan and create a charity.

While I don't completely make myself useless to others and my community, I would like to continuously work at improving my charitable work. More specifically I would like to create a charity that helps children with Asperger's syndrome and other high functioning autistic get to college affordably. I hope to create this charity also to organize social events for children with similar disorders to come together, socialize, and make friends.

8. Foster Pets.
I always have loved animals and have had a soft spot in my heart for animals that have to spend their lives in animal shelters if they can't be adopted. Sara Mclachlan and her famous commercial has always made me feel terrible for the animals who have suffered abuse to be kept in a shelter. While I can't adopt every single animal, fostering animals will allow me to give them attention and care rather than them living in the shelter until they can find a more permanent home.

"Me by the Numbers"

Numbers may seem insignificant to some people, but they can often tell a story. Here are some of the numbers that have meaning to me.

A picture of my parents

The first number that comes to mind for me is the number 3. This number represents the number of siblings I have. I am the oldest of my siblings at 18. My brother, Jared is 16 and my two sisters, Jaclyn and Julia are 14 and 12 respectively. If you notice a naming pattern there, you aren't hallucinating. My family's names all begin with the letter J, including my parents, Jerry and Judy.

Me and my siblings on my graduation day.

Another number that comes to my mind, is the number 8. This number is special to me because it is the number of best friends that I still have since the beginning of middle school. The years since then have brought us closer and we even went on our Senior Spring Break trip together in Florida. Since the beginning of College we have continued to keep in touch and hang out together as much as possible.

The beautiful beach in Destin, FL

The pool area of the resort we stayed at in Destin, FL

The number 8 also signifies the number of "jobs" I've held at one time. While this only pertains to amount of cars I detailed in one day, it still reminds me of the long days I spent cleaning cars in the summer. The number 3 is a more realistic count of the jobs I've held at one time. During the summer after graduation; I was an assistant manager at a frozen yogurt shop, I cut lawns and did landscaping for 5 of my neighbors, and I also detailed cars as often as I could. I made a decent amount of money but was often left stressed and too tired to do anything. 

An interior photo of my workplace

Similarly, the number 5 is also special to me. While being the date of my birthday in August, it also signifies a symbol of luck for me. Every sport that I played since elementary, I was number 5 and it came to bring me luck in almost every soccer game and track event that I've been a part of. The number continues to be lucky for me monetarily as well. I've won reasonable amounts of money on scratch-off tickets five times since I was old enough to legally buy them. I can only hope that this luck will continue and win me a jackpot in the lottery someday.

Lastly, but certainly not least, the number 0 is the amount of pets I currently have. This being due to the untimely passing of my dog Jinger. Jinger was a great dog and  had  a young soul. Unfortunately, cancer had run it's course and she passed away about a month ago. The house isn't the same without her in it. Eventually, we will get another Golden Retriever, but she can never be replaced. As for now, the arguments still continue as to what gender we will get and what name (that begins with a J) it will receive. 

A picture of Jinger