It's not about the bike - Lance Armstrong
Dear Lance,
I recently finished your memoir and i would like to congratulate you. You are truely not only a two time plus winner of the Tour de France, but you are most importantly a cancer survivor. I believe that you fought past your cancer even though you say that it was the drugs and doctors who cured you. I'm going to analyze some quotes that i thought were important in your memoir.
"Och, I don't feel ready to go, i think i'm supposed to live [...] I'm not afraid to die if i have to. But i'm still not convinced i can't beat this thing" (130). First, Lance refers to his cancer to "thing". I personally think that he is just refering it to an obstackle in the way, and everyone has obstackles...but Lance's Obstackle is forcing him to think about life or death situations. Some people die knowing that it was their time, but Lance knows that he is supposed to live...which is what made him sure that he could beat his 10 % chance of living.
"The Irony was, the worst i felt, the better i got. THat was chemo for you"(140). During these times, Lance was so sick that he could barely talk. Any of his friends or family must have been heartbroken seeing him laying in bed practically dead. But he wasn't. The chemo was saving his life, and Lance thought of that whenever he felt things weren't going to get any better. It's kinda hard to picture yourself getting better when actually you felt horrible, but Lance stuck in there.
"But now i not only loved the bike, I needed it [...] If nothing else, i was my way of countering the disease and regaining the control it had stripped from me"(144). After his sickness, Lance learnes to love riding the bike. Before he recounts how he just rode because it was his job. He realizes that his bike was one of his main incentives in conquoring the diease! During his chemo he would try and take every opportunity he could to get on the bike. That is how much it meant to him.
"I was beggining to see cancer as something that i was given for the good of others"(150). Lance realizes that with his disease being a part of him now he could help others, and give other cancer patients hope too.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
OuTsIdE rEaDiNg - week 4 post A
It's not about the bike by Lance Armstrong
VOCAB!
Atrophying (142): a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage.
Peloten (276): a small ball or pellet
APPEALS!
1.) "Maybe there's a protective mechanism in our psyche that prevents us from accpeting out mortality unless we absolutly have to"(112). This is an emotional and logical appeal. Lance was feeling the emotional pain of having cancer at this point, but it's logical because it's true that it happens to everyone. No one really wants to accept their death until its absolutley necessary.
2.)"We are so much stronger than we imagine, and belief is one of the most valiant and long-lived human characteristics"(113). This is an emotional appeal because Lance is describing what he believes in. This is his opinion, but i also agree with him. At this point in his illness, he is thinking about the possiblity of death, and his emotions are going on a roller coaster!
3.) "I didn't fully see, until the cancer, how we fight every day against the creeping negatives of the world, how we struggle daily against the slow lapping of cynicism"(114). This is an emotional appeal because Lance is realizing how much cancer will affect him. He is realizing that other things are very small compared to the frightining scare of cancer.
QUOTE!
"I was alive enought to be mad"(119). This quote is interesting because right after Lance's brain sugery, he starts to get frustrated with the fact that he has cancer. He wants to blame it on something, but there's nothing to blame. Personally, i would be mad also. I mean, you cooped up in a hospital practically on your death bed, and how can you not feel just a little mad. This quote also says that Lance is only human. Even though he is a world champion cyclist, and a cancer survivor, it does not mean he can be angry. I'm proud of Lance to keep going, and even though he had doubts and moments when he was frustrated, he never gave up.
THEME!
THe theme of this memoir is to not resent the fact that an obstackle might be in the way, but to keep working until you get around it. That is what Lance did, and he did not resent a moment of it!
VOCAB!
Atrophying (142): a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage.
Peloten (276): a small ball or pellet
APPEALS!
1.) "Maybe there's a protective mechanism in our psyche that prevents us from accpeting out mortality unless we absolutly have to"(112). This is an emotional and logical appeal. Lance was feeling the emotional pain of having cancer at this point, but it's logical because it's true that it happens to everyone. No one really wants to accept their death until its absolutley necessary.
2.)"We are so much stronger than we imagine, and belief is one of the most valiant and long-lived human characteristics"(113). This is an emotional appeal because Lance is describing what he believes in. This is his opinion, but i also agree with him. At this point in his illness, he is thinking about the possiblity of death, and his emotions are going on a roller coaster!
3.) "I didn't fully see, until the cancer, how we fight every day against the creeping negatives of the world, how we struggle daily against the slow lapping of cynicism"(114). This is an emotional appeal because Lance is realizing how much cancer will affect him. He is realizing that other things are very small compared to the frightining scare of cancer.
QUOTE!
"I was alive enought to be mad"(119). This quote is interesting because right after Lance's brain sugery, he starts to get frustrated with the fact that he has cancer. He wants to blame it on something, but there's nothing to blame. Personally, i would be mad also. I mean, you cooped up in a hospital practically on your death bed, and how can you not feel just a little mad. This quote also says that Lance is only human. Even though he is a world champion cyclist, and a cancer survivor, it does not mean he can be angry. I'm proud of Lance to keep going, and even though he had doubts and moments when he was frustrated, he never gave up.
THEME!
THe theme of this memoir is to not resent the fact that an obstackle might be in the way, but to keep working until you get around it. That is what Lance did, and he did not resent a moment of it!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Outside REading Post B Week 3 =)
Dear Lance,
At this point in your memoir, im asking questions to myself about how you survived that horrible disease and still have the guts to keep going. You had been struck with so much bad news in a short time, that i was even wondering what i would have done in that type of situation! You showed no fear, infact you declared, "To be afraid is a priceless education"(96). With your many uncertanties you said things like "You picked the wrong guy [...]when you looked around for a body to try to live in, you made a big mistake when you chose mine"(97) to his cancer. How did you even function when you knew that the cancer was in your lungs, stage three, you have no insurance, and its in the brain? Without realizing it you thought of death. While i was reading, i felt like i was in the same position. I wanted you to come out of sugery well and healthy. I wanted you to not feel so sick during chemo. I didn't want the cancer to come back. You were so determined to beat the cancer, that the doctors were taken aback. You wanted to ride your bike so bad even during your sickest times, and if you did not feel up to it, you wanted to at least walk. NOt be pushed around in a wheel chair. All in all, Lance Armstrong you are a fighter, a survivor and a changed man.
Sincerly, CEO
At this point in your memoir, im asking questions to myself about how you survived that horrible disease and still have the guts to keep going. You had been struck with so much bad news in a short time, that i was even wondering what i would have done in that type of situation! You showed no fear, infact you declared, "To be afraid is a priceless education"(96). With your many uncertanties you said things like "You picked the wrong guy [...]when you looked around for a body to try to live in, you made a big mistake when you chose mine"(97) to his cancer. How did you even function when you knew that the cancer was in your lungs, stage three, you have no insurance, and its in the brain? Without realizing it you thought of death. While i was reading, i felt like i was in the same position. I wanted you to come out of sugery well and healthy. I wanted you to not feel so sick during chemo. I didn't want the cancer to come back. You were so determined to beat the cancer, that the doctors were taken aback. You wanted to ride your bike so bad even during your sickest times, and if you did not feel up to it, you wanted to at least walk. NOt be pushed around in a wheel chair. All in all, Lance Armstrong you are a fighter, a survivor and a changed man.
Sincerly, CEO
Outside Reading Week 3 Post A =)
VOCAB!
Convalescing(173): to recover health and strength after illness
Agnostic (164): a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause
APPEALS!
1.) "Im going to beat this thing, whatever it is"(76). This is an emotional appeal because Lance is so determined to beat his cancer; almost like how he is determined to win a race. You could think that he was talking about beating an obstacle in a bike race...that was how much he fought.
2.) "Why did i ride when i had cancer?"(85). This is a logical appeal because most people would think the logical thing to do when you have cancer is to mope, and lie around. Lance, decides it was necessary to ride his bike and to lift some of the weight of cancer off of his shoulder.
3.) "The Porsche that i so treasured now seemed like an item of pure decadent self-indulgence"(87). This is an emotional appeal because Lance realizes that his prized car was really not that big of a deal compared to his new problem: cancer. He knows that cancer has changed him, and now the little things in the world like accesories dont interest him.
QUOTE!
"Those questions, Why me? What are my chances? were unknowable, and i would even come to feel that they were too self-absorbed. For most of my life i had operated under a simple schematic of winning and losing, but cancer was teaching me a tolerance for ambiguities. I was coming to understand that the disease doesn't discriminate or listen to the odds--it will decimate a strong person with a wonderful attitude, while it somehow miraculously spares the weaker person who is resigned to failure. I had always assumed that if i won bike races, it made me stronger and more worthy person. NOt so"(95). I really really like this quote. Lance finally learns how he is going to have to adjust to having cancer. I always thought of lance being some guy who was this big biker guy who got cancer. i guessed that he just wanted people to feel bad for him, but now i know that he knows he has changed and is a better person than who he was before.
THEME!
Another theme for this memoir is having friends and family who love you. Lance's family and friends really help him out while he has cancer, and i think that without them, Lance would have given up. He loves them all so much and appreciates their help!
Convalescing(173): to recover health and strength after illness
Agnostic (164): a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause
APPEALS!
1.) "Im going to beat this thing, whatever it is"(76). This is an emotional appeal because Lance is so determined to beat his cancer; almost like how he is determined to win a race. You could think that he was talking about beating an obstacle in a bike race...that was how much he fought.
2.) "Why did i ride when i had cancer?"(85). This is a logical appeal because most people would think the logical thing to do when you have cancer is to mope, and lie around. Lance, decides it was necessary to ride his bike and to lift some of the weight of cancer off of his shoulder.
3.) "The Porsche that i so treasured now seemed like an item of pure decadent self-indulgence"(87). This is an emotional appeal because Lance realizes that his prized car was really not that big of a deal compared to his new problem: cancer. He knows that cancer has changed him, and now the little things in the world like accesories dont interest him.
QUOTE!
"Those questions, Why me? What are my chances? were unknowable, and i would even come to feel that they were too self-absorbed. For most of my life i had operated under a simple schematic of winning and losing, but cancer was teaching me a tolerance for ambiguities. I was coming to understand that the disease doesn't discriminate or listen to the odds--it will decimate a strong person with a wonderful attitude, while it somehow miraculously spares the weaker person who is resigned to failure. I had always assumed that if i won bike races, it made me stronger and more worthy person. NOt so"(95). I really really like this quote. Lance finally learns how he is going to have to adjust to having cancer. I always thought of lance being some guy who was this big biker guy who got cancer. i guessed that he just wanted people to feel bad for him, but now i know that he knows he has changed and is a better person than who he was before.
THEME!
Another theme for this memoir is having friends and family who love you. Lance's family and friends really help him out while he has cancer, and i think that without them, Lance would have given up. He loves them all so much and appreciates their help!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
...:OUTside reading: Week2 post B:...
Lance Armstrong: It's not about the bike
In this section of the book, Lance learns how to ride like a professional. At his young age, he is still an amature, and is learing how to accel at being the best rider out there. He is so competitive, and talks about how he managed to beat a Wold champion, just because that rider forgot Lance's name. He learnes how to bike without "attacking" anytime he felt right. He was an impatient crazy rider, but underneath it all, he was afraid. Imagine living in a new country for over a year, not knowing what was going to happen next. it was tough on him, because if he "wanted to win he's have to overcome some ong historical odds; no 21-year-old had ever won a world title in cycling"(60). He ended up winning the big race, and from then on he was not known as an underdog. By 1995, Lance had not completed an entire Tour de France. He, as well as his coaches knew he was ready. "I had neither the body nor the mental toughness yet to endure the hardship"(65). Lance learnes that when he does finish the Tour that, "It is a test. It tests you physically, it tests you mentally and it even tests you morally"(69).
When Lance finds out he has cancer, a huge fear wraps around him. He calls his family members and reports the bad news, and they gave him lots of support also. Just like winning a race, lance is determined to fight his sickness. I really admire this about lance. He continues to keep going even though he had less than 50% of surviving. He could have just quit; and given up, yet he keeps riding his bike, eating healthy and following the procedures to defeat his cancer.
In this section of the book, Lance learns how to ride like a professional. At his young age, he is still an amature, and is learing how to accel at being the best rider out there. He is so competitive, and talks about how he managed to beat a Wold champion, just because that rider forgot Lance's name. He learnes how to bike without "attacking" anytime he felt right. He was an impatient crazy rider, but underneath it all, he was afraid. Imagine living in a new country for over a year, not knowing what was going to happen next. it was tough on him, because if he "wanted to win he's have to overcome some ong historical odds; no 21-year-old had ever won a world title in cycling"(60). He ended up winning the big race, and from then on he was not known as an underdog. By 1995, Lance had not completed an entire Tour de France. He, as well as his coaches knew he was ready. "I had neither the body nor the mental toughness yet to endure the hardship"(65). Lance learnes that when he does finish the Tour that, "It is a test. It tests you physically, it tests you mentally and it even tests you morally"(69).
When Lance finds out he has cancer, a huge fear wraps around him. He calls his family members and reports the bad news, and they gave him lots of support also. Just like winning a race, lance is determined to fight his sickness. I really admire this about lance. He continues to keep going even though he had less than 50% of surviving. He could have just quit; and given up, yet he keeps riding his bike, eating healthy and following the procedures to defeat his cancer.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Outside Reading: Week 2, Post A
LANCE ARMSTRONG: It's NOT ABOUT THE BIKE :)
...:VOCAB:...
monotonous(85): characterizing a sound continuing on one note.
imperturbable(107): incapable of being upset or agitated; not easily excited; calm
...:APPEALS:...
1.) "My reputation was as a single-day racer: show me the start line and i would win on adrenaline and anger, chopping off my competitors one by one"(65). Lance was a fearless biker, and he raced with passion. He began to build up a reputation that other riders might not have liked. This is a logical appeal because he is so determined to reach his goal [of winning], that he has to show his competitive side to every racer!
2.) "Everything now stacked up differently: the anxieties of life -- a flat tire, losing my career, a traffic jam --were reprioritized into need versus want, realy problem as opposed to minor scare(70). Lance realizes that now the reality is his cancer. This is therfore an emotional appeal. He comprehends that Cancer will change his life and point of view, and most small things he thought were big before, are not as big anymore.
3.) "As I sat in my house alone that first night, it was humbling to be so scared. More that that, it was humanizing"(71). Lance has never felt this way because he was an althlete, and he had never though of himself in terms of being a regular human. He also did not know what was going to happen to him...what cancer could do. This is also and emotional appeal, because Lance's emotions were so confuzed, and scared.
...:QUOTE:...
"I had learned what it means to ride the Tour de France. It's not about the bike. It's a metaphor for life, not only the longest race in the world but also the most exalting and heartbreaking and potentially tragic"(68). Lance learns that the T.d.F is not just an extremely long race that endures huge mountains, cold and pain, yet beyond all that it's the "[...] unthinkable beauty, yawning senselessness, and great self-questioning"(68-69), that makes him so determined to build up his mind, body and character in order to pass the test.
...:THEME:...
The theme of this novel is still to live life to the fullest, and also to fight the obstactles in your way, and become and better person that who you were before.
...:VOCAB:...
monotonous(85): characterizing a sound continuing on one note.
imperturbable(107): incapable of being upset or agitated; not easily excited; calm
...:APPEALS:...
1.) "My reputation was as a single-day racer: show me the start line and i would win on adrenaline and anger, chopping off my competitors one by one"(65). Lance was a fearless biker, and he raced with passion. He began to build up a reputation that other riders might not have liked. This is a logical appeal because he is so determined to reach his goal [of winning], that he has to show his competitive side to every racer!
2.) "Everything now stacked up differently: the anxieties of life -- a flat tire, losing my career, a traffic jam --were reprioritized into need versus want, realy problem as opposed to minor scare(70). Lance realizes that now the reality is his cancer. This is therfore an emotional appeal. He comprehends that Cancer will change his life and point of view, and most small things he thought were big before, are not as big anymore.
3.) "As I sat in my house alone that first night, it was humbling to be so scared. More that that, it was humanizing"(71). Lance has never felt this way because he was an althlete, and he had never though of himself in terms of being a regular human. He also did not know what was going to happen to him...what cancer could do. This is also and emotional appeal, because Lance's emotions were so confuzed, and scared.
...:QUOTE:...
"I had learned what it means to ride the Tour de France. It's not about the bike. It's a metaphor for life, not only the longest race in the world but also the most exalting and heartbreaking and potentially tragic"(68). Lance learns that the T.d.F is not just an extremely long race that endures huge mountains, cold and pain, yet beyond all that it's the "[...] unthinkable beauty, yawning senselessness, and great self-questioning"(68-69), that makes him so determined to build up his mind, body and character in order to pass the test.
...:THEME:...
The theme of this novel is still to live life to the fullest, and also to fight the obstactles in your way, and become and better person that who you were before.
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