Post A

Vocabulary:
1) milieu [pg. 23]- suroundings especially of a social nature
2) desultory [pg. 80]-digressing from the main subject

Logical/Emotional Appeals:
1) "it is an intoxicating exoerience to taste Coca-Cola as if for the firsttime[...]" (pg. 55) in this sentence "intoxicating" not only means giving one a drunk feeling, but a sense of happiness involved in drinking a soda for the first time since being on the trail. (emotional appeal)
2) "now what kind of straps do you wnat with that[...]" (pg. 10) The salesman at the camping store convinces Bryson that he needs straps for his backpack. He basically tells Bill that if your going bakpacking, your going to need them. (logical appeal)
3) "It'll be hell.' 'Yeah, I know" (pg. 21) In this dialogue, Bryson's wife is not only telling him that the trip will suck, but her use of the word hell also implies the annoyance, agony, and mutual hatred that could arise from bringing his old firend along. (emotional appeal)

Quote:

" 'What did you get rid of?' I asked. 'Heavy f****** s***, that's what. The pepperoni, the rice, the brown sugar, the Spam, I don't know what all. Lots. F***.'[...] He acted like he had been betrayed by the trail." (pg. 39)
-This quote explains how heavy a backpack can get when going backpacking. One's perception of the weight is elevated further by the fatigue induced by such excercise. This brought an irrational result from Bryson's friend, who got rid of almost all their food in his pack.

Emerging Theme:
A theme emerges in Bryson's memoir as the two begin their hike over the AT. The amount of strenuous activity they put into climbing the trail induces irrational behaviors, thoughts, and actions.