deconstructing and exegeting: part one of two

deconstructing.

Image by Jam Project
{link to http://www.flickr.com/photos/64292272@N07/6183182015}

How do we know the events of the past, when one person discovers a place that another already has? Historians realize it isn't always about being the first to find facts; it isn't a race to find this or that. It's not about a new discovery but about a change in perspective. When observing the past we must undergo the process of deconstruction, to place one's self in that time, place or setting. A historian's task is to become one with their study.  By this we mean the best way to observe history is to understand how those people observed themselves. It is of little use to place our cultural norms on the past; would we want the past to place their norms on us now? Historians by trade, try not to place moral judgments on the objects of their study, they simply wish to know the choices that have gotten us to the present. Cause and effect is the puzzle that is followed, a maze of questions and answers through time, space and matter. With the past we can learn from it, we can study it, we can try not to repeat it but the truth of the matter is we can't control people. The only device or artifact we can control is ourselves and with humility pass on the wisdom to the souls who succeed us. Deconstructing historically comes with a weight of postmodern philosophy; it's not accepted by all and not meant to be infallible. A term that promotes no absolutes can be a tautological problem. Therefore the point here is not to argue about the proper definition or practice, but to express how this blogger intends to put it to action.

It is with this notion that I hope to deconstruct my own life, I share with you my experiences based on my observations about myself.  I intend to piece together the events that caused and affected me.  How great is it that I get to do this job for myself instead of leaving the interpretation up to someone else based off of things that would otherwise not have been written.  In summary of part one, deconstructing my life is the process through which I will begin to analyze the obscure path I have been on through my current understanding.  Historically speaking, I am writing the primary source for my life.  When someone looks back to learn who I was, they need only to look to my writings.  It is through writing that history is recorded either through shapes on a wall or a well structured system.  I want to provide my own record of my life, not just a record but an interpretation of facts.

---

the novelty section

---

Game/Recipe of the day: Boggle Soup

Items needed:

• 1 can of Alphabet Soup (Or make your own as suggested by Shannon at Cozy Country Living)
• 2 competitive people

How to play:

With a slotted spoon, scoop up 25 letters out of the bowl.  Flatten the letters out on a clean table surface and arrange the letters in a 5x5 grid and set a timer for 1 minute.  Following traditional Boggle rules, write down as many words you can find.  After tallying the points based on word length, decide who wins.  The loser has to lick, slurp or suck the noodle letters off of the table.  Continue making the grid and playing more rounds until the noodles are gone.  Whoever has either won the most rounds, or has the highest overall score (make this decision clear and be sure to argue about it for an hour before playing) has to chug and chew the remainder of the soup in 1 minute.  Have fun playing an overly complicated game that I think I invented but I'm sure someone else has thought of.

---

Image Credits: Jam Project, http://www.flickr.com/photos/64292272@N07/6183182015
Recipe Credit: Shannon at Country Cozy Living, http://www.cozycountryliving.com/homemade-alphabet-vegetable-soup/