Peer Review

I was looking over the comments from the peer review tonight and I found them to be conflicting. One person thinks that a certain part of my paper about the food is interesting and brings in good points while the other person thinks that it isn't a real part of my thesis and draws attention away from the focus. Plus it's not the most interesting stuff, I agree. I'm not quite sure what to do with this. I like my thesis, and I think that you have to describe food if you are going to talk about a restaurant. So maybe to please both I will prune out the boring or unnecessary things and keep the better parts. Probably the more I go over my paper the more I will see what needs to be cut or added. I'll mull things over some more.

Writer's Block

I've been putting ideas down on for the last few days, a little here and a little there. Usually I can put together a paper all right and I know just want I want to say. But, for some reason I'm having some trouble. For my paper I don't know how to articulate the feelings that I feel when at Leo's without just outright saying them, and if I do that it defeats the purpose.

Leo's Interviews

I have interviewed 3 people so far: two employees and the boss himself, Leo. I'm glad I talked to Leo because I got more of a history from him, why he has Leo's, and what goes on. With the two employees, I have one that currently works there and another that quit. Two slightly different perspectives, but they are pretty much on the same page I would say. I have worked there since July of this past summer, 7 months. This was my first real job, other than Leo's all I did was babysit, mow lawns, and do odd jobs that included electrical work, go figure. I am already starting to get a sense of loyalty to Leo's. It's not just a job anymore. Sure, the point is to make money. But, now it's starting to become more about the people. I love seeing Moe's face from behind the food area looking out at me. It's comforting to know these people. There is always a smile from the busboy Ferris. He doesn't know very much English, but he tries to start conversations with me. Even if they are just simple ones about soccer. Sure you are going to have the people you dislike to work with, but eventually you just get into a pattern where you tolerate them. Others, you can't wait to tell your weekend stories to. Anyway....I digress. I still need my print resources. I wonder if a takeout menu could work? It's print. I could name the most popular items on it. Other than that, all I know of is a facebook group of dedicated teens who frequent the restaurant and Leo's website. I shall continue my sleuthing.

Initial Thoughts for Leo's Paper

I was thinking today who should I interview for my Analysis paper on Leo's Coney Island. Initially Leo came to mind. He is the owner and would know the most information about the place. But, then I thought that's the obvious answer. Perhaps I can ask him to give a comment but he is usually so busy that it wouldn't be very insightful or beneficial. I would like to get the "back-alley" view. The employees view. I'm waiting for a response to see if one of the waiters will do a mini interview with me via AIM. He is actually an ex-boyfriend so I thought that he might be willing to put more effort into an interview than say someone else who just started working there. Or I could juxtapose someone who was hired in the past week to someone who has worked there for years and get the different views. Or possibly my own views too. I actually did not like working there at first but now I don't really mind it that much. It's the people. Once I got to know them everything changed. I would like to possibly get a few words from my favorite cook, Moe. He is such a sweetheart. I couldn't even imagine him saying anything negative about Leo's. Then there is the possibility of comparing the younger clientele to the older generations that frequent the restaurant. Maybe I'll just talk to people, get some quotes and initial ideas from what they have to say and then decide from there what direction I want to take with this. I really want to analyze it from the inside looking out though. The employee's view.

Response to "Jiving with Java"

I enjoyed reading this selection. I found it brought life to certain things that I questioned before. My ex-boyfriend used to go to Starbucks everyday. I couldn't understand why. Was it that the drinks tasted that much better than other places? or was he addicted to the caffeine? It was the ambiance. It was the atmosphere that engulfed him. This is what pulled him back everyday. Some days I was there, or friends, but I think he also went alone too sometimes. This explain a lot. A coffee place is a refuge from the monotonous daily life that awaits you at home. Only chores and things that need to be done are waiting for you. I don't think I'll be going to a coffee house anytime soon because of this excerpt, but I do have it filed away in the back of my mind for one day. I also hate coffee, so that could also have something to do with it.

Detroit's Last Chance

Detroit has had many years and chances to change. Now it's starting to be the point of no return for Detroit. Once a place has gotten so bad it will be extremely hard to build it back up to the point that it once was. For example, it's much easier to lose 5 lbs than it is 50 lbs. Detroit should not let itself go to this point. The longer Detroit stays this way or the worse it gets, the harder it will be to fix the problems. There is "one way" for Detroit to head from here. Up. The sign points to the left which has more open sky shown rather than the dark side of the building taking up the right of the picture. The sky represents the possibilities for Detroit's future. Endless possibilities.

Response to Homeplace

Overall, heartfelt accounts. But, I felt that the story moved a bit slowly and repeated in certain areas almost. Perhaps to emphasize a point, I don't really know. I would like to know what period of time this was written in and about. Today, I don't see this as relevant to just African Americans. Everyone considers their home a "homeplace," otherwise what would it be? Everyone looks at their home as their safety area where they can rest and recharge. I didn't agree with her on that only African Americans do this. It was most defiantly harder for them to when this was written or the time period she was talking about, I'll give her that. Otherwise, it seems to just be writing common sense but a more specific personalized view on it.