Nicole Ortiz - Writing Portfolio

Nicole Ortiz

Copywriter | Copy Editor

Writing has always come naturally to me, and I love working with others to create the content they’re looking for. After receiving my Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing at Binghamton University, I went on to integrate the skills I learned into my career. I took online classes through Mediabistro where I received a Copy Editing

Certificate, and I use my obsession with proper grammar and strong handle on the English language to improve my writing further. I’ve been published across multiple blogs and have written copy for a diverse array of companies. I feel comfortable writing about virtually any topic and am confident in my strong, distinct voice.

516.652.6673 nicole.ortizz@gmail.com www.nicoleelizabethortiz.com

Table of Contents blogging

the wild honey pie

orsvp

pages 4-7

pages 8-10

parksbynature

pages 11-13

the website arChiteCts

pages 14-16

Copywriting

the wild honey pie

page 17

brooklyn based

elaine pasqua

pages 18-19

page 20

klazema CommuniCations

pages 21-25

personal

pages 26-29

binghamton university

pages 30-38

Creative writing

aCademiC writing

A Night Full of Dancing at Terminal 5 with Bombay Bicycle Club the wild honey pie

blogging attended ConCert and wrote a review on the performanCes.

page 4

Last week of CMJ was like a sleep-deprived, mildly stressful vacation, and I loved every second of it. Normally I browse the small venues opting for free to practically free shows, but this time around, I also had the pleasure of going to Terminal 5 to see Luxley, Milo Greene, and Bombay Bicycle Club. This concert now has me reconsidering my prior “only cheap/free shows” mentality.

I had never heard of opener Luxley, but they basically knocked my socks off and made me a fan in just one set. They were so upbeat as frontman Ryan Gray pranced across the stage, hitting some relatively high notes as he went. At one point, he ventured into the crowd and there were no complaints about it. They ended the set with their song “Dance Baby”, which was full of rolling drums, “woah oh oh’s,” and lots

of dancing from the whole band and crowd. The New Orleansbased band definitely set the stage for a dance-filled, high energy night, which is exactly the type of concert I seek out.

I’ve wanted to see Milo Greene since their self-titled album was released in 2012, so this next set was a particularly sweet treat for me. The best way to describe the band overall is to to say they were handsome as hell and had me dancing my ass off. They started off with some new songs from their forthcoming album (to be released in January 2015—YAY!) and of course played their newest single, “White Lies”. Then they moved into older, more familiar territory with “1957” and “What’s the Matter?” before unleashing a few more new ones.

At this point, the crowd had been pumped up accordingly for Bombay Bicycle Club to take

the stage, and the London foursome brought lots of synthy, danceable goodness with them. There were these wonderful visualizations in the background during their set, which definitely had me distracted (momentarily) from swaying and head bobbing—sometimes they were just churning and spinning shapes while other times there were skeleton bands dancing and playing instruments along with the actual band. When they played “Shuffle”, people were clapping and bopping to the thick bassline and soaring guitars, and this just further brought the night full circle. If you can’t tell, I had an amazing time and even got to accomplish one of my annual CMJ goals of discovering some fun new music.

http://www.thewildhoneypie.com/a -night-full-of-dancing-atterminal-5-with-bombay-bicycle-club-photos/

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Jukebox the Ghost’s New Release Might Inspire You to Make a Life Change [Stream] the wild honey pie

blogging wrote an artiCle featuring a new release.

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Jukebox the Ghost’s newest single is the perfect song to listen to right before making a huge life decision, like a big move or quitting a job. “The Great Unknown” is anthemic and upbeat, full of rollicking drums, confidence-boosting piano, and singer Ben Thornewill’s energetic crooning and belting—basically it’s exactly how you’d expect a new Jukebox

the Ghost release to sound. As always, Thornewill proves his ability to sing about any topic and turn it into something danceable. Referred to as “his own personal summer anthem,” we can’t think of a better track to drop right as the warm weather finally appears to be here to stay. Get ready to dance all night, and catch them at any of their upcoming shows!

http://www.thewildhoneypie.com/jukebox-the-ghosts-newrelease-might-inspire-you-to-make-a -life-change-stream/

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TAKUMI TACO BRINGS JAPANESEINSPIRED TACOS TO NYC orsvp

blogging wrote an artiCle highlighting and interviewing a loCal vendor.

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Takumi Taco is a fusion of delicious Mexican and Japanese food. Owners Marc Spitzer and Derek Kaye have combined their talents to bring customers this unique and convenient menu full of Japanese-inspired tacos, nachos, and more. Spitzer and Kaye make sure to stay up-todate on the latest Japanese food trends so they can keep making additions to their menu. They can be found at the Chelsea Market, Starrett LeHigh Building, Smorgasburg, and the Fort Greene Flea Market. They’ll be ready to serve at these various locations whenever you’ve got a hankering for something tasty and quick!

ORSVP had the pleasure of sitting down with Derek Kaye to discuss this year’s Smorgasburg and the origin of Takumi Taco.

When/how did you guys get involved in Smorgasburg?

We opened Takumi Taco at Smorgasburg in 2012, which was Smorgasburg’s second year.

We had heard about it from a friend who opened a stand there, and we loved the idea of a large number of vendors being curated in one space.

What’s your favorite item off the menu and why?

The Spicy Tuna Taco is our favorite item. It’s by far our most popular dish as well and consists of Ahi tuna, jicama, cucumber, avocado, and spicy mayo in a crispy gyoza shell. It has great flavor and texture and melds items from both cultures as well.

How has Smorgasburg changed over the years? Do you see an increase in your business after joining it?

Smorgasburg was the first thing we ever did. It gave us the ability to test our concept in a low cost model and see what items customers enjoyed. It allowed us to launch other locations while always having a base to work out of.

Have you been to Mexico or Japan before? If yes, what’d you think of the food?

I have been to Mexico and my partner has been to Japan. The ingredients from both countries are very different but they both share the fact that their people are so passionate about food and using every resource available to them.

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What sorts of foods are you planning to offer? Any differences from last year?

This year we have changed our chicken recipe to reflect some Mexican flavors utilizing chipotle and three types of chilies.

The dish is called Adobo Chicken and is great on a taco or burrito/ bowl.

I saw that you served food at the WishNYC after party. Do you have any other events planned for the future that we can possibly catch you at?

You can find us this year at the Brooklyn Half Marathon Registration Pick Up in May as well as Madison Square Eats the entire month of May.

What’s your favorite part of Smorgasburg? Are there any other vendors that, from your experience, you highly recommend?

Definitely get a lobster roll at Red Hook Lobster Pound and try a chicken schnitzel from Schnitz.

How do you expect this year’s Smorgasburg to be different than last years?

Each year Smorgasburg becomes more and more mainstream. It used to be more of a “foodie” thing and now it’s become a place for people from all over to just hang out.

http://orsvp.com/takumi-taco-brings-japanese-inspired-tacosto-nyc/

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Winter Biking: Tips for Cycling through the Chilly Months parksbynature blogging blog writing about CyCling.

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Winter biking is a whole different world from biking in the warmer months of the year.

There’s a lot to take into consideration when jumping on your bike and heading out for the trail or onto the road, but freezing temperatures and slippery surroundings shouldn’t be deterrents. A new challenge is an exciting challenge, and biking during winter isn’t actually as bad as one might assume.

Properly preparing the bike, and more importantly its rider, are key to enjoying winter cycling.

Benefits of Winter Cycling First things first: Determine the perks of winter biking. Not only will you avoid any car traffic, but it also gets the blood coursing and heart thumping. Not always the easiest task in the winter!

If you’re still feeling hesitant, try setting up a schedule to ease yourself into it before making it a part of your routine.

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Clothing Before heading out, you’re going to want to make sure you dress the right way. The key is to layer but not overdo it, similar to when cross-country skiing.

Since you’ll be exercising, you’re going to end up sweating—especially depending on the amount of hills you’ll be tackling during the ride. The best way to go about it is to wear an outfit that you feel a bit chilly in at first. As your ride progresses, you’ll notice that you don’t actually miss throwing on that extra winter coat after all.

There are a few items that are particularly important to have.

It’s essential to keep your head and ears warm because even though the rest of your body is warming up, your head will have a harder time doing the same.

A scarf or balaclava is great for keeping your neck and face comfortable during the ride.

Since the fingertips and toes lose a lot of heat, ensuring that they are warm will make the difference between a positive biking experience and one that you can’t wait to end. Gloves that keep your fingers warm but don’t inhibit you from grabbing your brakes at a moment’s notice will make your ride infinitely more enjoyable. Hand warmers may just become the most valuable investment you make. Depending on how much icy rain/ snow you encounter,waterproof shoes will probably become your new best friend during winter cycling outings. For the same reason you don’t want to over-bundle, having wet shoes can lead to problems with hypothermia when you finally slow down and the cold catches up with you. Even if you don’t notice, the sweat and water will turn to ice soon enough and will be quite the unwelcome riding companion.

Winterizing Your Bike Prepping your bike is as important as prepping your body.

Similar to how car tires need to be prepped to handle intense snowfall, bike tires need to be adjusted so that they can get a good grip on the wet surface. Some prefer thicker tires while others add studs to their tires to handle the snow better. It’s best to start off with at least lowering the pressure in the tires. Monitoring your bike (especially the gears if they’re exposed) and keeping it clean is equally important in the winter.

Your bike is flying through tons of snow, sand, salt, and whatever else is buried, and all that stuff is likely to get stuck in your gears and wheels. A well-maintained bike is a happy bike, so clean it as often as possible.

Since winter means that it gets darker earlier, bike lights are more important than ever. Being visible to other vehicles is key to making sure you

have a safe winter biking experience. A pair of strong, bright front and rear lights will ensure that others can take proper precautions around you.

Stay Hydrated and Fueled It’s easy to become dehydrated and not take in enough food or water without even realizing it. Your body might not feel thirsty or hungry, but you’re releasing a lot of moisture into the air and sweating more than you may in the summer. Without proper nourishment, your body will have a lot of trouble keeping warm. Make sure to drink enough water and pack some food to keep your body satisfied.

With all these handy tips, you’re ready to have a safe and fun winter cycling session in any environment. Check out our Gear Store for anything you might need to make your rides easier and safer. Be alert and enjoy the cold!

http://pocketrangerblog.com/winter-biking-tips-for-cyclingthrough-the-chilly-months/

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Biodiesel Process Unit the website arChiteCts Copywriting teChniCal Copywriting for the roger and dawn Crus Center for renewable energy.

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Biodiesel process units allow for the study of the biodiesel production cycle at different stages.

Different parameters that affect the whole process, as well as the obtained biodiesel quality, may also be studied. The EBDC unit generates 50 liters of high quality biodiesel within 24 hours.

The ingredients required for its generation are 50 liters of raw or used oil, eight liters of methanol, and a catalyst (liquid methylate is recommended).

During the process, these substances are heated, mixed, separated, and purified. The chemical reaction to make biodiesel is quite simple. Vegetable oil is a triglyceride, therefore meaning that there are three hydrocarbon chains at the same glycerin molecule. A certain amount of catalyst is needed to break those hydrocarbon chains, which can be acquired using a chemical test called titration to determine the amount of catalyst required to compensate the acidity excess in waste vegetable oils as a result of cooking. The accessories needed to carry out the test are supplied

with the unit: pipettes, droppers, titrant, etc. The catalyst is dissolved in methyl alcohol (methanol), and the premixture is then stirred strongly with the oil to enable a complete oil conversion.

The mixture makes the catalyst break each hydrocarbon chain one by one, bonding it to a floating molecule of methanol afterwards to form biodiesel. Molecules without glycerin drop to the bottom of the reaction tank where they are eliminated.

Learn more about biodiesel production technology through the U.S. Department of Energy, or visit our Research page to learn about how to generate biodiesel.

The unit has been designed to give students a good understanding of biodiesel production technology. This unit demonstrates a Biodiesel Process Unit generating biodiesel.

The unit uses an external heater with a safety thermostat that is controlled through the software (PID control). It also includes a pump that works with air, which is supplied by a compressor. This pump transfers the oil towards

the reaction tank, homogenizes it, mixes the oil with the premix, and mixes the oil batch in swirls.

It also operates the Amberlite resin column and supplies the biodiesel to the vehicle or storage tank.

Glycerin obtained in the process is extracted through the drain valve located at the front of the unit. After removing the glycerin, a resin ion exchange integrated column facilitates the biodiesel purification process.

Through a slow recirculation, this column removes soaps, glycerin, and methanol excess, generating an excellent clean fuel. As long as the raw material is appropriate, the product will fulfill all the required standards for biodiesel.

Besides, the unit has two pumps, one for methanol and the other for the catalyst. They are manual pumps specially designed to be used with solvents (including alcohol).

The unit is supplied with the suitable sensors and instrumentation for the most representative parameters measurements and controls (electronic console).

http://renewableenergyresearch.org/modules/biodiesel-process-unit/ page 15

2015 Hall of Fame Inductions The Website architects

copywriting promotional copy for the west coast stock car hall of fame’s induction ceremony.

2015 Hall of Fame Inductions Join us Thursday, June 25th at the Meritage Resort for the 2015 Hall of Fame inductions!

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Marketing Email Template the wild honey pie

copywriting Created marketing email template for music blog events. had the highest amount of responses and gained the most sponsorships using this template.

Hey Name!

My name is Nicole Ortiz, and I work in Partnerships at The Wild Honey Pie, a Brooklyn-based music blog turned media and events company. We produce music centric original video content, concert events, and an online publication that has recently received some very exciting press. We were featured

by Billboard, named the #20 most influential music blog in every genre by Style of Sound, and were also named #15 on The Music Blog Directory’s list of most influential music blogs in the world.

I wanted to get in touch because I’m a HUGE fan of Company! Add something relatable here. We are working on quite a few projects at the moment that I feel would be a great opportunity to collaborate on. For instance, we’re currently planning our second season of On The Mountain at Stratton Mountain

in Vermont where we will film band recordings and bring winners of an RSVP lottery to join us in wintertime activities.

I’d love a chance to set up a call with you and discuss further.

Please let me know, and in the meantime, feel free to check out the second season of our interactive original series Welcome Campers that we just released.

It was a blast to be a part of, and I’m especially enjoying this video of Great Good Fine Ok. Thanks so much, and I hope to chat with you soon!

Kind Regards, Nicole Nicole Ortiz Copy Editor/Partnerships & Creative Development The Wild Honey Pie Cell: 516-652-6673 Twitter: @t1nydancaa

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Your Ideal Week: Jan. 8- Jan. 14 brooklyn based Copywriting event Copywriting for loCal brooklyn events.

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Friday, Jan. 9: While it’s true that this is a perfect time to stay inside and binge listen to your favorite comedy podcasts, the NYC Podfest is in town with a dozen chances to hear the hosts of these funny shows in person. It kicks off at the Bell House with two live recordings; The Flop House is currently sold out, but there are still tickets left for the painfully true storytelling show Risk, with host Kevin Allison of The State, Sasheer Zamata of SNL, A.J. Jacobs, and more. On Saturday and Sunday, Podfest continues at Fontana’s in Manhattan with some very special lineups like The Daily Show podcast (without Jon Stewart unfortunately) and Gilbert Godfried’s Amazing

Colossal Podcast! There are limited amounts of tickets available so act quick.–N.O. Saturday, Jan. 10: With its heavy bass and sexy synths, dance-punk band !!! (pronounced chk chk chk) is the kind of music you crank up and dance to or make a point of seeing live. They have a residency at Union Pool this week, starting Wednesday and ending Saturday, which means you get to choose the best night to brave the cold, grab a taco from the El Diablo Taco Truck and a cold beer, then dance your butt off in the bar’s cozy performance space. Tickets are $10 and doors are at 9 p.m. with a different opening DJ each night.–N.O.

Wednesday, Jan. 14: Whatever juice cleanse, paleo, carb-free diet you’re considering for your new year’s resolution, Rebecca Harrington has restricted her caloric intake in even crazier ways. For one year she tried 14 different celebrity diets, from the celery loaf favored by Greta Garbo to Karl Lagerfeld’s quail flambé, and in her new book, I’ll Have What She’s Having: My Adventures in Celebrity Dining, she explores what she lost and gained from the experience. Molly Fischer, associate editor at NY Mag’s The Cut, will be moderating a discussion about her deprivations on Tuesday, 7 p.m., at powerHouse Arena. RSVP in advance.–N.O.

http://brooklynbased.com/blog/2015/01/07/ideal-week-jan8-jan-14/

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Reality Television Pitch Elaine pasqua

copywriting promotional copywriting for national speaker elaine pasqua’s reality television pitch.

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A passion for travel coupled with a love for educating others about HIV/AIDS, sexual health, sexual assault, and alcohol safety has made for an exciting and enjoyable career for national speaker Elaine Pasqua. Hopping on a plane and trapezing around the country speaking to college students and professional athletes may seem daunting, but Elaine finds energy through her work. After witnessing the diagnoses and deaths of her

mother and stepfather to AIDS, she has made it her mission to pass on knowledge so that others don’t have to face similar struggles and pains. Her positivity and general love for life is contagious, and she leaves audiences feeling inspired and better off than before they met her. The saying “If you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life” has never seemed more appropriate than with Elaine!

Review of Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” klazema communications

copywriting book review product copywriting.

With the help of Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment,” readers will be able to successfully focus on the present rather than let worry and anxiety about the future and past consume their minds. Tolle relates to readers with stories of his own crippling anxiety and depression, then shows how an epiphany helped change his outlook on life. He uses various spiritual traditions to relate to readers, offering them meditation and

relaxation guides to ease their minds. Throughout the book, he advises using consciousness and recognizing their ego to help put themselves in the now and let go of the stresses of tomorrow or yesterday. Featured again and again on the New York Times best-seller list and with a recommendation from Oprah Winfrey, this self-help guide offers handy tips for reducing anxiety and depression while also inspiring a passion for life among readers.

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The War Against Bloatware on Android Devices klazema communications copywriting technical copywriting for android products.

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You’ve all been there—you purchase a new Android tablet or phone, turn it on for the first time, and there are tons of programs pre-installed on the device that you just know you’ll never use. They range from anti-virus software to games that you could care less about to toolbars for search engines, all due to the cell phone company’s priorities. There have even been reports that certain bloatware programs on Lenovo computers have made users susceptible to hackers in the past, which is alarming and causes users to wonder what other devices have had this same issue. The programs slow down your device, drain your battery, and end up taking up valuable storage space. It’s easy to feel powerless against these programs, but luckily Google and Samsung are here with some relief.

As Google experiments with becoming a wireless carrier, the chance to have bloatware-free devices becomes more of a reality. The Nexus is already one of

the most bloatware-free phones on the market, and by becoming an individual carrier, Google can cut out the unnecessary programs entirely. Google fans can rejoice worldwide over this exciting prospect.

Samsung is also taking the hint finally as well by significantly cutting down on bloatware in the Galaxy S series. The Galaxy 6 and Galaxy 6 Edge both only intend to have two programs preinstalled on the devices: the S Voice and S Health.

There will also be a Galaxy Apps app where users can find the removed TouchWiz programs if they so desire. Both devices will have access to any Google apps as well as Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, and a handful other apps. Users can expect to have a quicker, thinner phone that has potential users excited.

These prospects are causing sighs of relief to be heard all around as the potential for quicker phones with only userdesired content become more realistic.

Essential Oils klazema communications copywriting product copywriting for an essential oil client.

The Guide to Knowing and Understanding Essential Oils You may have heard people talking about essential oils and aromatherapy, but what exactly does it all mean? The resurgence in essential oil use has come about from a recent increase in the popularity of holistic health and wellness. Essential oils are nonwater-based phytochemicals made up of the aromatic compounds found in various plant parts (seeds, bark, roots, leaves, etc.). Valued for bringing about a balance of mind, body, and spirit, people used them throughout history for their therapeutic and medicinal perks.

The Egyptians were among the first to use essential oils for medical purposes, beauty treatment, preparing food, and religious reasons. Soon after, the Greeks used aromatic oils for massage therapy and aromatherapy while the Romans, Chinese, and Indian Ayurvedics used them for health and hygienic purposes. The Persians

created distillation methods to extract the essential oils from certain plants to use them for anti-bacterial and fragrance purposes. This development led to essential oils being utilized across Europe. In 1937, French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse rediscovered essential oil use by treating a burned hand with lavender oils. Another French contemporary, Dr. Jean Valnet, used aromatherapy to heal injured soldiers from World War II and went on to become a world leader in aromatic practice. Today doctors continue to research and further develop essential oils.

The Science behind Certain Essential Oils Essential oil use can help with an array of medical issues. Many people use oils to assist with cancer treatment and relieve the stress and anxiety associated with chemotherapy, others use them to cure acne and skin conditions, and some use aromatic inhalers to relieve sinus

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headaches. Lavender is beneficial when treating restlessness, insomnia, depression, anxiety, minor aches and pains, and hair loss due to its main ingredient being linalyl acetate. You can use peppermint oils for a variety of digestive issues, treating the common cold and its array of symptoms, menstrual issues, and body pains in general.

Lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is found in many bug sprays due to its importance when repelling insects. Using the pure oil has not been tested enough, however, and it is advisable to use a carrier oil. Frankincense, when steam distilled, can relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and is an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial product due to its

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monoterpenes, alcohols, esters, and sesquiterpenes.

There are various combinations of steam and water distillation methods to extract oils by using solvents or trying to adulterate them beforehand. Boiling water and steam pass through the plants and separate the oils.

Expression (cold pressing) can be done to extract citrus essential oils as well. Original techniques involved using a sponge to press the essential oils from the citrus rinds, however, modern methods call for prodding the fruit peels in a spiked container so that they release the oils. Some distilled citrus oils will deteriorate quicker and are more unstable.

Deciding if Aromatherapy is for You There are various ways to practice aromatherapy, but always follow the application instructions. You can directly or indirectly inhale, use in massage therapy, or apply certain oils to the skin with lotion, bath salts, and other skincare products. It is wise to mix oils with a carrier oil or cream, before applying them to your skin. There is also a chance of an allergic reaction or a reaction in the sun with certain oils and depending on how your body handles them.

Take extra care to read the instructions and check for interactions with other drugs, especially when you are pregnant

and when using oils for children. We do not have enough evidence proving that essential oils are safe to use while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Baby and pregnancy products, which contain oils, are considered safe if you use it as directed.

Only pure essential oils made up of highly concentrated plant extracts should be used. Avoid those handled improperly or adulterated that have chemicals in them. Keep in mind that those listed as ”fragrance oil” or “perfume oil” are often not pure.

Since there is no governmental regulating body, “therapeutic/ aromatherapy grade” oils are also not advised for use either.

Products packaged with plastic or rubber will deteriorate

quicker and are at risk of being affected by the outside chemicals. The shelf lives of oils vary depending on outside circumstances and are unpredictable.

Temperature, air, and sunlight can affect the oils. Therefore, it is best to store them in an area where the temperature doesn’t often change, and they are away from direct sunlight.

Refer to your doctor before replacing any medical treatments with complementary therapies. Do adequate research before trying a specific oil to see if/what the risks are with that particular product, and you’ll be on your way to starting your aromatic journey!

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Birthday Anxieties personal

Creative writing short fiCtion pieCe.

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“Well, today is the day,” I told myself as I lay under the protection of my blankets, as still as a corpse with my dread.

Today was the day I’ve been pretending to look forward to while secretly having anxiety attacks over for months. The day that every single person I encountered loved to remind me would only come once, accompanied with a smug grin that I read as thankful to not be me.

The day of my daughter’s fourth birthday party was finally here, and after months of careful preparation, I felt like someone threw all my organized plans into the wind and laughed as they blew away.

I prepared myself mentally for the mess and made to-do lists in my mind that I checked and re-checked. I thought of everything and knew it, but there was still the one part I could not come to terms with. And for a well-accomplished single mother of thirty, I felt incredibly childish and in need of a savior.

My alarm started chiming and interrupted my

thoughts, but let’s be realistic— how could I have slept in today?

As if on cue, I heard the pitterpatter of little feet coming down the hallway towards my bedroom. A knock that wasn’t about to wait for any response came, and the face of my birthday girl peeked around the open brown door.

“Mommy?” A hesitant pause and then, “Mommy, are you awake?”

I put a smile on my face before rolling over and answered, “Yes, baby. Good morning!”

A ball of energetic color flew at me and was now bouncing up and down on my bed.

Curly brown hair shadowed me on each jump.

“It’s. My. BIRTHDAY!” she said each word as her feet hit the comforter, with a grin that wouldn’t stop growing.

She crashed down into a crosslegged sitting position and I grabbed her up and kissed her forehead.

“I know, sweetie, I remember!” I said as I moved

her into my arms and started rocking her in my lap. “So, what do you want for breakfast this morning?” Her eyes lit up at the prospect of being able to make the first big decision of the day.

I made a check on my mental to-do list.

“Pancakes! No, waffles!

With syrup! And french fries!”

Her eyes were glossed over as she thought about the myriad of options she had. If only such a simple decision could be the hardest part of my day, too. The doorbell rang and I heard it echo through the still sleeping house.

“Wanna answer the door while Mommy gets dressed real quick?” Another present, another check, and her eyes grew to take up half her face. She blurred out of the room again towards the front door.

I began changing out of my pajamas and heard, “It’s Aunt Meg and TYLER!” screamed at me from the front of the house.

My sister Meg and her sixyear-old son here to reinforce that this was going to be a day to remember. A soft knock at

the door came, and Meg was walking in as I buttoned up my blouse.

“Oh my god, are you so excited?” She came over to me and hugged me. “This day is going to be over before you know it! They only turn four once.”

I turned my back to her to pick up my shoes. Was I going to have to hear these statements for the rest of my life? I knew my daughter was going to grow up faster than I wanted and that each day would literally only happen once. It was on the border of comical and annoying how often people opted to tell me that.

“Come on, I’m making Sammy some waffles and french fries for breakfast. Birthday girl’s choice,” I responded to her arched eyebrow.

We went into the kitchen and saw two eager, angelic faces peeking over the table. I rummaged around in the freezer for food. Unfortunately I wasn’t a very inventive cook, which was another stressor for this whole party. I ordered enough food to

feed the 35 people coming at least three times. Sandwiches, salads, pastas, and finger foods.

My mother was bringing the giant ice cream cake meant for 50 and the sandwiches since she was the only person I knew that had enough room for that much food.

I took a deep breath to suppress the nerves that were beginning to flutter around again as I set the waffles and fries on the table. Tyler looked shocked, but it didn’t stop him from covering his plate in syrup as soon as it was put in front of him. The doorbell rang again and my eyes widened with anxiety and fear.

My heart felt like it had stopped to prevent me the horror of seeing who it might be.

“Oh god,” I thought. “He’s here. He’s here! I can’t do this!” I wanted to run away and hide in my bed again.

I heard a soft bahhh as I forced myself to walk to the front door and the fear melted away. My shoulders went back down and I let out of gust of air.

Safe for now.

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I opened the door to find a large, balding man with a baby goat and a sheep. His shirt and hands were stained with dirt and other questionable brown splotches. In one hand he held two ropes leashed to the animals and the other had planks of wood and coils of wire.

“I’m the petting zoo guy,” he said as he reeled in the curious animals sniffing at my skirt.

“I’m Louis.”

“Right,” I said slipping between the goat and Louis. “Let me show you where you can set up.”

Louis and his animals followed me into the backyard, past his truck where I heard more bahh’s and, I swear, a moo. We walked through the gate into my transformed yard where two covered buffet tables, three tents (in case it rained, of course), and enough chairs to seat Sammy’s entire pre-school class plus parents waited. I directed Louis to a shaded area in the corner of the yard where he could set up his pen and lay

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down the hay. And somehow I just knew that I would be picking up that hay for the next five years.

My shoulders were already feeling tense again as I returned to the house and left Louis to set up the zoo. It’d be best if he just showed up already and I wouldn’t have to deal with this dread clinging to my muscles anymore. I wish he wouldn’t show up at all. It was an empty hope because Sammy specifically asked that he be here today, and I couldn’t disappoint my daughter.

I checked off the petting zoo in my mind and the doorbell rang again. I hardly had time to see the mess the kids made of their breakfasts, but I knew it was substantial.

“Meg, can you clean Sammy up and help her change into her birthday dress while I get the door? I think some friends might be here.” I gave my daughter a sneaky smile as her eyes lit up again. She grabbed Meg’s wrist with a sticky hand and

pulled her towards the stairs.

Maybe this day wouldn’t be as horrible as I imagined if I got to see her face light up all day.

As I opened the door with a more optimistic spirit this time, a chorus of incomprehensible screams smacked me in the face.

I saw shiny glittering presents, balloons, and I think someone even threw confetti in the air.

“Wow,” I started as I tried to gather myself while presents were shoved into my arms and people walked past me into the house. “Hello…er, everyone.”

It looked as if the entire class had carpooled together in five cars. “At least I won’t have to keep leaving the party to answer the door,” I thought, trying to deceive my panicking brain with positive thoughts.

I began to check off another part of my list and close the door, but not before a hand shot through to stop it. “Oh, and don’t forget about me!” came a deeper voice. A voice I knew only far too well from the darkest depths of the twisted part of

my mind.

He pulled the door from my hand and I saw his evil face veiled in a shadow. Covered in shimmering fabric with colorful face paint and a curly orange wig, he was a cliché straight from my nightmares. My voice caught in my throat where my heart was also trapped as it tried to escape. And before I could do anything, he was walking past me into the house, squeaking as he moved.

“I’m Ben, but you can call me Bubbles today,” he said with a grin painted on his face. “Four years old, huh? I’ve got two of my own; they grow up so darn fast! This is one of those moments that’ll only happen once, but she’ll remember it forever, y’know.” He laughed a high-pitched, escalating laugh. I followed Bubbles the Clown into my once safe house and made a last mental check for the day that my daughter and I would remember forever.

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Shakespeare Final Paper binghamton university

academic writing researched and wrote an academic piece for binghamton university’s shakespeare class.

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Throughout Romeo and Juliet, the Friar Lawrence and Juliet’s wet nurse acted as surrogate parents for the young lovers.

However, the role that the two played as surrogates led to the deaths of the two youths from their unrealized crossing of class boundaries. Romeo and Juliet’s parents were not major characters in the play and therefore the Friar and the Nurse helped the couple through their problems and also acted as the bridge between the two. Aside from passing messages along, Friar Lawrence and the Nurse also took on a lot of responsibilities that Romeo and Juliet were not mature enough to handle.

Although they were not major characters, they acted as the stronger characters while the two main characters were usually weaker and more desperate.

Friar Lawrence was seen as the surrogate father for Romeo since the Montague parents were hardly in the play and there was little connection between them and their son.

When Romeo’s parents were

mentioned in the beginning of the play, they had no idea where their son even was, creating their roles as irrelevant parent characters.

O, where is Romeo? Saw you him today?

Right glad I am he was not at this fray (lines 116-117 (Shakespeare 1106).

The parents were only in the first and the last scene of the entire play, not really adding much to the storyline. Replacing the parents in the scenes were Romeo’s friends; instead of being with family, he was always found with his friends.

They gave him advice when the Friar could not be there for him, although that was rare. Romeo should have confided more in his friends than in the Friar because they would have been staying within their boundaries while also giving him sound advice.

Friar Lawrence could be thought of as Romeo’s spiritual surrogate father as well because

of his job. He is “one trained in a particular discipline, yet free to think and act on his feet” (Glover 168). Friars at the time were able to perform wedding ceremonies, perform funerals, and were also herbalists. At the time, the friars had two books that they followed: the bible and the book of nature, the Doctrine of Signatures. This was the theory that everything on earth was marked by God with a sign that described its purpose. There was also a similarity between Friar Lawrence’s role in the play and the general story of Christian religion. The Christian story is one of reconciliation with God through love, and similarly, Friar Lawrence made himself into a Christ-like savior between the two families. His trying to marry the two youths was also an attempt to try and fix the feuding between the Montague’s and the Capulet’s.

“The Romeo/Juliet union is not the impossible objective one might suppose, but a way to bridge the rift between the feuding Montague’s and Capulet’s”

(Glover 168). However, the Friar could not imagine the problems that would be encountered from his simple planning; instead of helping the situation, Lawrence instead led toward Romeo’s death.

The Friar was Romeo’s righthand man by giving advice and being the level head that Romeo needed when he started to stress out. Romeo had been characterized from the beginning as the perfect example of the Petrarchan lover. He was effeminized by the two women he loved in the play because he placed them on a pedestal and took the role of the frustrated lover.

O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me efeminate, And in my temper soft’ned valor’s steel! (lines 112-115 (Shakespeare 1122) Romeo blamed Juliet for making him a weaker character as he fell neatly into the Petrarchian male role. When he faced

trouble, Romeo was usually at a loss of what to do and depended on his father figure to help him out. For example, when Romeo was exiled from Verona for murdering Tybalt, he was unable to figure out what to do while he acted dramatically and threatened to stab himself.

Friar Lawrence had to scold him and give him reasons of why he should want to live and why it would be unfair for him to kill himself. He is relieved that Romeo was merely banished, yet unhappy with the situation. “He is understanding but furious at Romeo’s lack of gratitude to the Duke for his clemency” (Glover 171). The Friar also had to devise a plan for Romeo and Juliet because Romeo was unable to calm himself for long enough to think of anything to do.

Ascend her chamber, hence and comfort her.

But look thou stay not till the watch be set, For then thou canst not pass to Mantua, Where thou shalt live till we

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can find a time To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends, Beg pardon of the Prince, and call thee back With twenty hundred thousand times more joy Than thou went’st forth in lamentation (lines 147-154) (Shakespeare 1126).

While being the person to calm Romeo and make him more levelheaded, the Friar also had to give him step-by-step instructions of what he should do during his exile. “[Friar Lawrence is] practical again, facing the alternatives, finding and promoting the only possible solution” (Glover 171). The Friar was his friend when he should have taken a more adult role in the boy’s life; he should have scolded the boy and showed more discipline instead of giving him options to further plunge deeper into the situation.

Juliet also went to the Friar for help and he aided her in a similar way when she was in a hysterical state. She went to

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Friar Lawrence after finding out that she had to marry Paris or face family exile, and she started to weep and lose control of herself. Juliet also threatened to kill herself, however she did not face the scolding that Friar Lawrence gave Romeo for the same threat. Friar Lawrence would not scold Juliet because he was not her surrogate parent; the Friar was there for Romeo in his time of need like the Nurse was for Juliet. The Friar or the Nurse would not give the other child similar treatment, but would instead treat them like a friend seeking advice. It was not the place of a parent to scold their child’s friend the way they would reprimand their child, so they kept with that sort of tradition. Friar Lawrence, however, did give Juliet instructions of what to do when she could not think for herself because of her desperation.

To-morrow night look that thou lie alone, Let not the nurse lie with thee in thy chamber.

Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilling liquor drink thou off, When presently through all thy veins shall run A cold and drowsy humor; for no pulse Shall keep his native progress, but surcease; No warmth, no [breath] shall testify thou livest; The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade To [wanny] ashes, thy eyes’ windows fall, Like death when he shuts up the day of life (lines 91-101) (Shakespeare 1130).

Friar Lawrence helped both children in similar instances when they were unable to come up with a plan of action for themselves instead of just staying out of their problems.

While giving them comfort and helping them regain their level heads, he also had to plan out exactly what they should do.

Even as the main characters they were unable to devise their

plans for themselves and instead needed to rely on the Friar for such things.

By the end of the play, all of Friar Lawrence’s hard work with helping Romeo and Juliet was basically useless; the deaths and problems that arose could not have even been foreseen. “It is not until the forward impetus of his plans is thwarted by that wretched plague that Lawrence suddenly perceives the enormity of what he’s done” (Glover 175).

Friar Lawrence could hardly handle what he saw when he entered the tomb to wait for Juliet to awaken.

Romeo, O pale! Who else?

What, Paris too?

And steep’d in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour Is guilty of this lamentable chance! (lines 144-146) (Shakespeare 1137).

Friar Lawrence witnessed the boy who was like a son to him dead, with another man dead, and knew that Juliet was going to want to kill herself as well.

“He recognizes the impossibility of the situation, and his own guilt overwhelms him” (Glover 175). His final speech to the Capulets, the Montagues, and the Prince was his way of releasing all his guilt because now “the man is dead inside” (Glover 176). The Friar told the entire story to the listeners; he told about his involvement and the Nurse’s, and at the end of his speech he put the blame entirely on his shoulders, saying he deserved punishment by law.

And if aught in this Miscarried by my fault, let my old life Be sacrific’d some hour before his time, Unto the rigor of severest law (lines 266-269) (Shakespeare 1138).

Although the Prince excused him with no punishment, Friar Lawrence had to suffer for the rest of his life since his help led to the death of three innocent people; “the most significant emotional upheaval of his life”

(Glover 174). Friar Lawrence felt that he deserved some sort of punishment for what his help had led to, but instead he was denied that luxury. Having a punishment would have at least helped him to recover from the tragedy, but instead he had to live with guilt and lack of punishment.

The wet nurse was Juliet’s surrogate mother in the play; she weaned the child and she also helped her by giving guidance as she grew older. “She is in fact the Mother, the person in whom Juliet lays her trust and confides her secret love” (Bruce 91). In Act 1, Scene 3 the Nurse appeared for the first time involved in a conversation about marriage between Lady Capulet and Juliet. The Nurse gave a short speech about taking care of Juliet and some events that happened while she was growing up that her parents were absent for. William Toole concentrates on this speech and how it foreshadowed certain parts of Juliet’s life.

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And then my husband- God be with his soul!

‘A was a merry man- took up the child.

“Yea” quoth he, “dost thou fall upon thy face?

Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit, Wilt thou not, Jule?” and by my holidam, The pretty wretch left crying and said, “Ay” (lines 39-44) (Shakespeare 1109).

Toole remarked that these lines represented the relationship between Juliet falling down and the sexual awakening that was in her future. It was an inevitable thing, and the act of Juliet falling down made the Nurse’s husband think of Juliet’s future sex life. The “innocent ‘Ay’ of infancy” is related to Juliet’s sexual awakening and how she might not have been ready for it. However, the casual manner that the Nurse and her husband mentioned sex caused Juliet to maintain a similar disposition for when she “acquires ‘more wit’” (21-22).

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Juliet’s parents were also rarely seen in the play except for when money was concerned.

In the beginning of the play, Lady Capulet approached Juliet to ask her about her desire to marry Paris. However, when she does approach her daughter, she asked her questions that she would know the answer to were she closer to her daughter. Lady Capulet needed to ask her if she would be able to love Paris because she would not know otherwise since she rarely interacted with her daughter. Similarly when Capulet talks to Paris, he assumed how his daughter felt about having to marry him without actually knowing.

When Juliet was opposed to the marriage, Capulet was enraged because he was wrong about his daughter and also because he might not get the money he was expecting. It was just another instance similar to how Romeo’s parents were displayed, in which the parents of the protagonists do not know their children at all. They make assumptions about their children or just flat

out show their ignorance of how to appeal to them.

Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender Of my child’s love. I think she will [be] rul’d In all respects by me; nay more, I doubt it not (lines 1214) (Shakespeare 1126).

The Capulets were driven by their love for money, and therefore Juliet was pressured into a second marriage with Paris.

Although a woman at the time was allowed to deny her father’s wish of who she was to marry, Juliet was threatened with exile because her father did not want to miss this opportunity. The girl was left with no choice and had to comply. Even at the end of the play when their daughter is dead, all the Capulets concentrated on was competing with the Montagues about erecting a larger statue of the other deceased child. Instead of involving themselves with their daughter, Capulet and Lady Capulet were too obsessed with

money and their image of appearing more powerful than the Montagues.

The Nurse was a comic relief for Juliet when she had a troublesome time, but she was also there to cater to her every whim. If the Nurse had just stayed in her role as a wet nurse and not acted as Juliet’s friend, then Juliet’s death could have been avoided. However, since the Nurse had lost her daughter, she used Juliet as a replacement and therefore did whatever the girl wanted. At the party where Juliet and Romeo first met, Juliet went to her Nurse to ask her questions about the stranger she danced with briefly.

Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman? (line 128) What’s he that now is going out of door? (line 130) What’s he that follows here, that would not dance? (line 132) Go ask his name.- If he be married, My grave is like to be my

wedding-bed (lines 134-135) (Shakespeare 1113).

Juliet relied on her Nurse for answers, similar to how a child would rely on a parent for answers that they would not otherwise know. The Nurse gave the girl the answers she sought, and even helped her out in other ways. She looked for Romeo to warn him not to hurt her ‘daughter,’ for the simple reason that Juliet asked her to find out more about him. “The only interest in her life is Juliet and Juliet’s happiness” (Bruce 93), and she would go out of her way to help her.

My young lady bid me inquire you out; what she bid me say, I will keep to myself. But first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her in a fool’s paradise, as they say; for the gentlewoman is young; and therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be off’red to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing (lines 163-170) (Shakespeare 1119).

The Nurse’s words of warning were similar to how a parent would warn a new boyfriend about hurting or disrespecting their daughter. Bruce compares her interview with Romeo to how Capulet talks with Paris when he became a choice as Juliet’s future husband (97).

The Nurse took on this motherlike role with open arms since she had been there for the girl her entire life. Bruce brings up how even after her services as Juliet’s wet-nurse were finished, she was further employed as a servant for the Capulets. She taught Juliet how to walk after weaning her and was also the keeper of the household (96).

She did not have to cater to Juliet any further, but felt it necessary to maintain the bond that was already instilled.

In two instances the Nurse had certain valuable information for Juliet that she decided to build up suspension for to have brief moments of power.

When she returned from meeting with Romeo and giving him her warnings about how

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he should treat Juliet, the girl was found waiting anxiously.

Although the Nurse knew what Juliet wanted to hear, she complained about her backaches and headaches.

Lord, how my head aches!

What a head have I! It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.

My back a’ t’ other side- ah, my back, my back!

Beshrew your heart for sending me about To catch my death with jauncing up and down! (lines 4852) (Shakespeare 1120).

All Juliet wanted was to hear what Romeo had to say about her when the Nurse went to speak with him. She built up unnecessary suspense to have a moment of power since she rarely had them. When the Nurse also brought the news of Tybalt’s death, she made it seem as if Romeo had died. When Juliet questioned her to clarify

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if Romeo was dead, the Nurse did not give a straight answer right away. The Nurse had to do everything for the Capulets since she was the servant, and there were rarely any moments when she was in control of a situation. Although she wanted to help Juliet, she teased her by not giving her the information she wanted immediately to hold onto the moment for as long as possible.

Upon hearing about Romeo’s banishment, the couple fell to pieces, leaving their surrogate parents to take care of them.

The Nurse comforted Juliet after finally telling her the news about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile. The girl wept, thinking that it was the end of their romance. However, the Nurse knew how to comfort Juliet: “she takes the desperate child in her arms, [and] she promises to find Romeo and help them consummate their marriage” (Bruce 98).

Hie to your chamber. I’ll find Romeo To comfort you, I wot well where he is.

Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night.

I’ll to him, he is hid at Lawrence’ cell (lines 137-141) (Shakespeare 1124).

The Nurse told Juliet what to do and took it upon herself to help find Romeo to further comfort her. She created these responsibilities for herself to make Juliet as happy as possible, even when things did not look good. Soon after, the Nurse found Romeo in a similar state because he was equally as desperate. However, she delivered the message and Friar Lawrence devised his plan to help the young couple. In their most desperate moment, the couple was unable to act for themselves and needed the aid of their parent figures to help in every way.

They did not form any plans; they only wept and complained

about their bad luck. The love of their surrogate parents was what saved them from earlier suicides, but also what got them into the complicated relationship where they found themselves in the first place.

In her final scene of the power, the Nurse recommended moving onto Paris for Juliet to make her loss not seem as bad.

I think you are happy in this second match, For it excels your first; or if it did not, Your first is dead, or ‘twere as good he were As living here and you no use of him (lines 222-225) (Shakespeare 1129).

Although the Nurse did not agree with these words and knew that they were probably useless to the girl, she said them with her heart in the right place.

If Juliet did not succumb to her father’s wish to marry Paris, then she faced family exile.

“Parental control and approval and marriage were the only possibilities for a woman” (Bruce 100). The Nurse had Juliet’s best interests in mind even though she knew the girl was already married and to marry again would be sinful. The next day when she went to awaken the girl, she found her dead, and “when Juliet is dead, there is no Nurse” (Bruce 96). With Juliet supposedly gone from the play, there was no more purpose for the Nurse to be around, and therefore she faded from the play.

The Friar and the Nurse were both supposed to be characters of a more servant-like role, however when they crossed their class boundaries and acted more as friends to the couple, they helped lead to their deaths.

Lawrence and the Nurse should have left Romeo and Juliet alone; it was not their place to give them advice or help them when they were in a tough situation. They had the hearts

to reach out to the children in need, thinking that they could only help them. As soon as the Nurse crossed her boundary from servant to friend, Juliet was doomed. She talked back to Capulet when he scolded Juliet and did certain favors for Juliet that were beyond her job. Her loyalty to Juliet only made the situation worse, which was a message that people should not leave their roles in society even to help a desperate person. Friar Lawrence helped the two negatively by secretly marrying them and helping them in private. He went out of his way as a friar to help them and went behind the backs of their parents who had control over him in society. Both surrogate parents went behind the backs of the actual parents, and by cheating them in that way, they only led the children to death quicker. If they had stayed in their lower positions in society, the couple would not have lied to their families or got caught up in the complicated ro-

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mance. The second they crossed into the friend sphere with the two, they helped them attain a brief happiness and an early death.

The Nurse and Friar Lawrence were both surrogate parents for Romeo and Juliet. They aided the couple when they needed guidance or helped them devise plans when they were unable to think straight. Both parent figures helped the other child as well, usually for the sake of helping their own child though.

Friar Lawrence planned out what Romeo should do during exile, and the Nurse ran around to meet with Romeo on multiple occasions despite her weak back.

In the end, the Nurse was gone from the play once Juliet was apparently dead, and the Friar was left with a lifetime of guilt when he discovered the three dead bodies.

Works Cited Bruce, Brenda. Players of Shakespeare: Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985. 91-101.

Glover, Julia. Players of Shakespeare 4: Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. 165-176.

Shakespeare, William. The Riverside Shakespeare. 2nd.

Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.

1104-1139.

Toole, William B. “The Nurse’s “Vast Irrelevance”: Thematic Foreshadowing in “Romeo and Juliet”. South Atlantic Bulletin 45(1980): 21-30.

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516.652.6673 nicole.ortizz@gmail.com www.nicoleelizabethortiz.com