Throughout the United States, the legal drinking age is 21. However, in most places this is not necessarily the case. Children are brought up in a alcohol society leading to disoriented lifestyles. To an individual deciding whether to drink is a personal decision that he or she will inevitably have to make. As alcohol abuse continues to spread, the consequences of underage drinking as well rises. Underage alcohol use is more likely to kill adolescences than any illegal drugs combined. Alcohol Abuse is a significant dilemma that impairs the decision making process of the individual. Alcohol prevents messages trying to get to the brain, altering a person s emotions, perceptions, movement, hearing, and vision. Under the influence, an individual may make harmful decisions such as endangering other people, harm oneself, and set bad examples.
When an individual is intoxicated, he or she makes unintelligent decisions that effects each person in his or her surroundings. Getting behind the wheel is a crucial decision that an individual should not take lightly. The driver is responsible for every life that is in the vehicle. Being under the influence, inhibits the driver to get to his or her destination safely. Adolescents, not under the influence, already have an increased risk for having an accident because of their lack of driving experience. For that reason, driving while intoxicated increases the risk of a collision. Along with getting behind the wheel under the influence, there our other ways to endanger another individual s life.
Along with endangering other people, an individual also harms oneself. Alcohol takes a dangerous toll on the human body. Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows the function of the nervous system. Alcohol combined with conditions such as depression and stress also contribute to the third leading cause of death among adolescences, which is suicide. When large amounts of alcoholic beverages are consumed several problems occur in one s body. Alcohol poisoning is a result of continuous drinking habits. The body becomes poisoned by the alcohol being consumed, and eventually stops functioning. Other problems also evolve from drinking heavily. Teen drinkers are more likely to have health problems in the future. Into adulthood an individual will have risks such as damaging organs, such as the liver, heart, and brain. Other difficulties with the body will surface if alcohol abuse is not controlled.
When an individual is under the influence, he or she can set a bad impression. Drinking impairs ones brain enabling he or she to think straight. This may cause an individual to do embarrassing acts such as throwing up. Hangovers are also a result of consuming large amounts of alcohol. Hangovers are not fun, and is very embarrassing to a person. An adolescent is admired by younger age groups. Children admire and absorb every aspect of a teen. Adolescence have such an amazing impact on children, but sometimes teens make wrong decisions that lead children in the wrong direction.
In conclusion, alcohol is forcefully promoted throughout society, and is regarded as a normal part of adolescence. Underage drinking is dangerous to oneself, other individuals, and one s reputation. Individuals who begin drinking at an early age develop serious alcohol problems that effects one s lifestyle. It can destroy an individuals life.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
My Hero
The word hero can have many definitions depending on the individual and their expectations in life. Through the eyes of a child, a hero can fly through the sky, have incredible strength, or become invisible. In reality, these abilities fail to exist, and the perception of a hero develops into something inconceivable. To me, a hero can portray far less unimaginable characteristics. A hero simply helps, listens, and gives advice when I am confused and frustrated with life. My mother fits these attributes completely. Because my mother remains a strong willed, determined woman she fits my image of a true hero. My mother is loving, encouraging, and hardworking.
My mother loves me without a doubt. No matter what I do, no matter how many times I disobey her trust, she still continues to love me unconditionally. She has a extraordinary way of knowing when I am upset and need guidance. It seems as if she can see right through me and read my mind. High morals and standards from her family is the basis of the love that she shows to me. Her mother gave the same love that my mother shows to me. That in itself demonstrates the true meaning of a hero.
Beside the fact that my mother loves me unconditionally, she works hard to keep the household running properly. She works at a job that she despises, but does it to supply the needs of the family. She has tolerated her career only for the welfare of her family. Because she chooses to put her children first, she sacrifices her own dreams. At times I take her selfless acts for granted; however, as I have matured I see with clarity the sacrifices she has made for the happiness of her family.
My mother portrays both of these attributes; however, encouraging remains her strong point. My mother’s motto in life states to always aim your goals higher than you can achieve. She tells me never to settle, and to always strive to be the best. She reminds me that life is not a dress rehearsal, but that life is happening right now, and she reminds me to have color and passion in every aspect of my life. My mother helps me to get motivated, and she sets me on a path where my individuality shines through. She uses honesty to make me stronger and prepare me for the real world.
In conclusion, my mother inspires and motivates me to be a better person. She reminds me that I can accomplish any task that comes my way and to always pursue my goals. I will forever remember the values my mother instilled into me.I know she will always be there for me through the many chapters of my life, and that, to me, shows the true meaning of a hero.
My mother loves me without a doubt. No matter what I do, no matter how many times I disobey her trust, she still continues to love me unconditionally. She has a extraordinary way of knowing when I am upset and need guidance. It seems as if she can see right through me and read my mind. High morals and standards from her family is the basis of the love that she shows to me. Her mother gave the same love that my mother shows to me. That in itself demonstrates the true meaning of a hero.
Beside the fact that my mother loves me unconditionally, she works hard to keep the household running properly. She works at a job that she despises, but does it to supply the needs of the family. She has tolerated her career only for the welfare of her family. Because she chooses to put her children first, she sacrifices her own dreams. At times I take her selfless acts for granted; however, as I have matured I see with clarity the sacrifices she has made for the happiness of her family.
My mother portrays both of these attributes; however, encouraging remains her strong point. My mother’s motto in life states to always aim your goals higher than you can achieve. She tells me never to settle, and to always strive to be the best. She reminds me that life is not a dress rehearsal, but that life is happening right now, and she reminds me to have color and passion in every aspect of my life. My mother helps me to get motivated, and she sets me on a path where my individuality shines through. She uses honesty to make me stronger and prepare me for the real world.
In conclusion, my mother inspires and motivates me to be a better person. She reminds me that I can accomplish any task that comes my way and to always pursue my goals. I will forever remember the values my mother instilled into me.I know she will always be there for me through the many chapters of my life, and that, to me, shows the true meaning of a hero.
Childhood Memories
Just beyond my yard awaits a special place where I can reminisce about happy childhood memories that I have experienced. During our childhood, my friends and I used this place as a hideaway. In this place homework was unknown , chores never existed, and our imaginations never stopped. Our troubles, worries, and responsibilities were left behind. This place was an exciting playground where our imaginations could run wild.
A babbling brook located just outside our front door served as a place to escape from reality. The pure rainwater washed over the rocks forming pools of water sporadically down the creek. These pools of water were filled with strange creatures; however, the dangerous creatures lurking nearby such as a snake or crawfish never frightened us. We would catch these creatures in our pails and admire our great find. The fascinating rocks we collected meant more to us than a chest full of gold. The rocks, in our imaginations, transformed into tools and the clay turned into makeup where we would give ourselves names and pretend we were Indians. We used this to escape from our own identity and transform into someone incredible. I often recollect those carefree days, when the sun glistened on the surface of the water, and we sat aimlessly watching the clouds float by without a care in the world.
The journey to our special place seemed to make the brook even more interesting, a challenge in itself to reach. Grown-ups were not allowed in our private world. Therefore, we told our parents to cover their eyes so they could not see where we were headed. In our minds our little world belonged to us and we made the rules. Reality failed to exist in our world and imagination flourished. To reach our destination, we traveled down a narrow path, to a steep treacherous bank. The bank ,to us, appeared as an enormous mountainside. We carefully eased down the hill and made our way to our secrete hideaway. After that, we crossed the shaky bridge that we made to cross the ditch, leading us to the creek. When we reached the creek, we immediately threw our shoes off and splashed in the cool water.
We would play endlessly until the last ray of light from the sun had slipped behind the trees. Only then, did we realize it was time to end our adventure. Sometimes I take a walk to our creek, but it has changed. The path has disappeared; the water does not feel as crisp. The images in the pools have faded, but if I stay long enough and look hard enough I see glimpses of them, or is it just my sweet memories?
A babbling brook located just outside our front door served as a place to escape from reality. The pure rainwater washed over the rocks forming pools of water sporadically down the creek. These pools of water were filled with strange creatures; however, the dangerous creatures lurking nearby such as a snake or crawfish never frightened us. We would catch these creatures in our pails and admire our great find. The fascinating rocks we collected meant more to us than a chest full of gold. The rocks, in our imaginations, transformed into tools and the clay turned into makeup where we would give ourselves names and pretend we were Indians. We used this to escape from our own identity and transform into someone incredible. I often recollect those carefree days, when the sun glistened on the surface of the water, and we sat aimlessly watching the clouds float by without a care in the world.
The journey to our special place seemed to make the brook even more interesting, a challenge in itself to reach. Grown-ups were not allowed in our private world. Therefore, we told our parents to cover their eyes so they could not see where we were headed. In our minds our little world belonged to us and we made the rules. Reality failed to exist in our world and imagination flourished. To reach our destination, we traveled down a narrow path, to a steep treacherous bank. The bank ,to us, appeared as an enormous mountainside. We carefully eased down the hill and made our way to our secrete hideaway. After that, we crossed the shaky bridge that we made to cross the ditch, leading us to the creek. When we reached the creek, we immediately threw our shoes off and splashed in the cool water.
We would play endlessly until the last ray of light from the sun had slipped behind the trees. Only then, did we realize it was time to end our adventure. Sometimes I take a walk to our creek, but it has changed. The path has disappeared; the water does not feel as crisp. The images in the pools have faded, but if I stay long enough and look hard enough I see glimpses of them, or is it just my sweet memories?
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
My Neighbor
Blog 12
11 years ago I moved into this place on April fools day to be exact. Lots of good things have happened to me and lots of bad things also. One good thing that happened to me was that when I moved in there was a little girl who lived down the road about 1/8 mile I think she was 11. We talked from time to time, and when she was about 15 she babysat for me for awhile. When she was younger she even went swimming with my kids and I, at the pool she reminds about that sometimes. As the years passed by I got to watch her grow from a skinny little girl into a, beautiful adult parent. It’s really pretty cool because now she lives rite across the road from me. So after watching her grow up now I get to watch her kids grow up that’s almost two generations I have watched. We were talking about a month ago about how neat it was that when she was in high school my son was in grade school and they road the same bus, and now my son is in high school and her daughter is getting ready for kindergarten next year. I wander if I will live long enough to see one more generation.
Anyway now she is all grown up with three kids, that is quite a handful for anyone, but she does a pretty good job. Her mom and dad still live where she grew up which is really nice for when they want to see there grandkids or if she needs extra help with the kids. I find myself talking to her more all the time we are actually growing quite close, she even had me watch her children one time about a month ago, I was surprised that she did that, she has two kids still in diapers, and I have not changed a diaper in about 12 years, but fortunately I was not called upon to perform that duty. That takes a lot of trust to leave your kids with someone, it made me feel pretty special, but I was a little nervous about it. Anyway my neighbor is quite a pleasant young lady, we got along good 13 years ago and we get along great now she is like family. I even own the same car that she used to drive, I have had it about 1 ½ years now. I know she cares a lot about me, she was always checking in on me when I was on chemo, she still nags at me if I need go to the doctor and do not. One day I fell asleep and she called when I did not answer the phone she got all worried and came beating on my door and the side of my house, then finally went back home and called me about 100 times until I finally woke up. Yep I think she cares for me as much as I do her, and that feels good.
Blog 12
11 years ago I moved into this place on April fools day to be exact. Lots of good things have happened to me and lots of bad things also. One good thing that happened to me was that when I moved in there was a little girl who lived down the road about 1/8 mile I think she was 11. We talked from time to time, and when she was about 15 she babysat for me for awhile. When she was younger she even went swimming with my kids and I, at the pool she reminds about that sometimes. As the years passed by I got to watch her grow from a skinny little girl into a, beautiful adult parent. It’s really pretty cool because now she lives rite across the road from me. So after watching her grow up now I get to watch her kids grow up that’s almost two generations I have watched. We were talking about a month ago about how neat it was that when she was in high school my son was in grade school and they road the same bus, and now my son is in high school and her daughter is getting ready for kindergarten next year. I wander if I will live long enough to see one more generation.
Anyway now she is all grown up with three kids, that is quite a handful for anyone, but she does a pretty good job. Her mom and dad still live where she grew up which is really nice for when they want to see there grandkids or if she needs extra help with the kids. I find myself talking to her more all the time we are actually growing quite close, she even had me watch her children one time about a month ago, I was surprised that she did that, she has two kids still in diapers, and I have not changed a diaper in about 12 years, but fortunately I was not called upon to perform that duty. That takes a lot of trust to leave your kids with someone, it made me feel pretty special, but I was a little nervous about it. Anyway my neighbor is quite a pleasant young lady, we got along good 13 years ago and we get along great now she is like family. I even own the same car that she used to drive, I have had it about 1 ½ years now. I know she cares a lot about me, she was always checking in on me when I was on chemo, she still nags at me if I need go to the doctor and do not. One day I fell asleep and she called when I did not answer the phone she got all worried and came beating on my door and the side of my house, then finally went back home and called me about 100 times until I finally woke up. Yep I think she cares for me as much as I do her, and that feels good.
Drug Testing Recipients of Government Assistance
Blog 11
Hello I’m going to confront you with a problem today. Then we are going to discuss the cause then we will discuss a possible solution. The problem is drug abusers’ living off of government assistance; the cause is that there is no way of keeping them from doing it, the possible solution is drug testing recipients of government assistance.
My main concern with this issue is the line of people waiting to get help who really need it, and cant because someone else is abusing the system. If we were to implement a drug screening for these recipients we could potentially solve two problems at ounce reduce drug abuse and get help to the people who really need it. I imagine every one here knows someone on assistance who really doesn’t need it and I also imagine you know someone who needs assistance and can’t get it. Well that just can’t continue in a country were the majority of people working get drug tested there is no reason that people living off of the working communities taxes should not get the same treatment. If you have a job that requires a drug screening and you fail your test in most cases you loose your job. In some cases they will require you to get help and if you can’t solve the problem then you get terminated. Well I am merely suggesting the same treatment for recipients of government assistance.
So in conclusion let’s take into consideration the needy people waiting in line for help the think about the people who are already getting it and abusing it something needs to be done. I personally think this would be a good solution if you agree I am going to give you the address to the governor and I hope you will take a little time to write him a letter to voice your opinion on this problem.
http://www.in.gov/gov/2310.htm
By Phone: 317-232-4567
By Mail:Office of the GovernorStatehouseIndianapolis, Indiana 46204-2797
Don’t be afraid to contact your voted officials remember they work for us, and they should have to answer to us not the other way around. Come to think of it maybe we should implement a drug testing policy for them after all they are no better than us so they should be treated equally. I imagine that it would be a hard job to get accomplished the politicians probably do more drugs than anyone else I mean after all they can afford it, and they probably use all the drugs that the D.N.A. and F.B.I. confiscate from the drug lords. This is one messed up world we live in any thing is possible.
Blog 11
Hello I’m going to confront you with a problem today. Then we are going to discuss the cause then we will discuss a possible solution. The problem is drug abusers’ living off of government assistance; the cause is that there is no way of keeping them from doing it, the possible solution is drug testing recipients of government assistance.
My main concern with this issue is the line of people waiting to get help who really need it, and cant because someone else is abusing the system. If we were to implement a drug screening for these recipients we could potentially solve two problems at ounce reduce drug abuse and get help to the people who really need it. I imagine every one here knows someone on assistance who really doesn’t need it and I also imagine you know someone who needs assistance and can’t get it. Well that just can’t continue in a country were the majority of people working get drug tested there is no reason that people living off of the working communities taxes should not get the same treatment. If you have a job that requires a drug screening and you fail your test in most cases you loose your job. In some cases they will require you to get help and if you can’t solve the problem then you get terminated. Well I am merely suggesting the same treatment for recipients of government assistance.
So in conclusion let’s take into consideration the needy people waiting in line for help the think about the people who are already getting it and abusing it something needs to be done. I personally think this would be a good solution if you agree I am going to give you the address to the governor and I hope you will take a little time to write him a letter to voice your opinion on this problem.
http://www.in.gov/gov/2310.htm
By Phone: 317-232-4567
By Mail:Office of the GovernorStatehouseIndianapolis, Indiana 46204-2797
Don’t be afraid to contact your voted officials remember they work for us, and they should have to answer to us not the other way around. Come to think of it maybe we should implement a drug testing policy for them after all they are no better than us so they should be treated equally. I imagine that it would be a hard job to get accomplished the politicians probably do more drugs than anyone else I mean after all they can afford it, and they probably use all the drugs that the D.N.A. and F.B.I. confiscate from the drug lords. This is one messed up world we live in any thing is possible.
Chemo-Brain
Blog 10
Hello everyone today I am going to inform you about a condition referred to as Chemo-Brain. I will inform you about the cause, definition, the effects it has on victims, and what you can do to help people who suffer from it. I will also tell a few funny stories about the effects it has had on me. The medical professionals choose to refer to it as cognitive deficits or declining neuropsychological functioning. According to chemocare.com Chemo-Brain is a side effect of different types of chemotherapy that has adverse effects on the victim’s memory, attention, concentration, and abilities to perform various mental task. The medical profession has just began to study the cause and effect of the phenomena and claim that contributing factors include aging, depression, menopause, low blood counts medications, and emotional upheaval of cancer. Hey also claim that if you suffer from this side effect there are certain things you can do to help deal with it they include avoiding distractions, asking people to repeat information, practice task, write down information, use a daily organizer, keep a journal, post reminders, get organized, exercise your memory, manage stress, get plenty of sleep, increase physical activity, do crossword puzzles, and ask for help. One good thing about Chemo-Brain is that the effects are a minor debt to pay for the accomplishments that chemotherapy has on cancer, but they are starting to look for ways to prevent the side effect.
Unfortunately I am a victim of Chemo-Brain I have been suffering from it for a two years and the doctors say it can last anywhere from one year to ten years. It mostly affects my short term memory, my thought process, and my concentration. The people around me sometimes get aggravated with me because I can’t comprehend curtain concepts for instants when my son is tutoring me in algebra. Sometimes the get entertained with me because I do some really stupid stuff. For instants one time I went to fill my glass with pop but instead I filled the ashtray setting on the table by my glass. A lot of times I forget where I am going ill leave the house to go one direction but I simply go anther that’s some funny stuff there. Unfortunately in conversation sometimes I get lost and forget what I’m talking about or a lot of times I forget stupid little words and that is the part that really irritates me the most.
So in conclusion now you know that Chemo-Brain is a brain defect. You know it is caused by chemotherapy and you know how it affects the victims who suffer from it. So if you meet someone who has it there are curtain things you can do to make it easier on them be patient, repeat yourself if necessary, and if you see they have got off track in a conversation help them get back on the subject or help them think of that stupid little word that simply escaped there feeble brain, and if it happens to be me its ok to laugh about it. Because really what else can you do but laugh.
Blog 10
Hello everyone today I am going to inform you about a condition referred to as Chemo-Brain. I will inform you about the cause, definition, the effects it has on victims, and what you can do to help people who suffer from it. I will also tell a few funny stories about the effects it has had on me. The medical professionals choose to refer to it as cognitive deficits or declining neuropsychological functioning. According to chemocare.com Chemo-Brain is a side effect of different types of chemotherapy that has adverse effects on the victim’s memory, attention, concentration, and abilities to perform various mental task. The medical profession has just began to study the cause and effect of the phenomena and claim that contributing factors include aging, depression, menopause, low blood counts medications, and emotional upheaval of cancer. Hey also claim that if you suffer from this side effect there are certain things you can do to help deal with it they include avoiding distractions, asking people to repeat information, practice task, write down information, use a daily organizer, keep a journal, post reminders, get organized, exercise your memory, manage stress, get plenty of sleep, increase physical activity, do crossword puzzles, and ask for help. One good thing about Chemo-Brain is that the effects are a minor debt to pay for the accomplishments that chemotherapy has on cancer, but they are starting to look for ways to prevent the side effect.
Unfortunately I am a victim of Chemo-Brain I have been suffering from it for a two years and the doctors say it can last anywhere from one year to ten years. It mostly affects my short term memory, my thought process, and my concentration. The people around me sometimes get aggravated with me because I can’t comprehend curtain concepts for instants when my son is tutoring me in algebra. Sometimes the get entertained with me because I do some really stupid stuff. For instants one time I went to fill my glass with pop but instead I filled the ashtray setting on the table by my glass. A lot of times I forget where I am going ill leave the house to go one direction but I simply go anther that’s some funny stuff there. Unfortunately in conversation sometimes I get lost and forget what I’m talking about or a lot of times I forget stupid little words and that is the part that really irritates me the most.
So in conclusion now you know that Chemo-Brain is a brain defect. You know it is caused by chemotherapy and you know how it affects the victims who suffer from it. So if you meet someone who has it there are curtain things you can do to make it easier on them be patient, repeat yourself if necessary, and if you see they have got off track in a conversation help them get back on the subject or help them think of that stupid little word that simply escaped there feeble brain, and if it happens to be me its ok to laugh about it. Because really what else can you do but laugh.
Use of Birth Control
Blog 9
Today I am going to discuss with you, the importance of using birth control. I will talk about my experiences, abortion, birth control options, and our personal responsibilities of having control over our reproductive abilities.
When I was 17 my first child was born she was unplanned, when I was 21 my second child was born. When my son was born I realized I had all the children I could handle financially and responsibly. At that time I decided to get a vasectomy to ensure the quality of my children’s lives and the quality of my parenting abilities. Wait a minute!!! That was in 1990 where did this child come from in 1994? The math doesn’t work does it or the vasectomy didn’t work. Well the fact of the matter is that my daughter was adopted by me as a single parent in 1997. I got custody of her in 1996 because her mother or father neither had time or the desire to raise her, but they didn’t think about that when they conceived her. This happens all the time!!!
People we have a responsibility to ourselves, our children, and our society to have control over our reproductive abilities. According to Planned Parenthood of Indiana from 7-2006 to 6-2007 there were 5,160 abortions just in Indiana. Pretty sad thought isn’t it, makes me want to scream out to God and ask why!!!
A large potion of people use a pill as a form of birth control and that is very effective 99% to be accurate. Unfortunately in today’s society we need to consider the possibility of disease so I would advise a condom if you are unfamiliar with your partner as a safety measure. At this time there are no pills for males to use, but scientists are researching that avenue according to howstuffworks.com in a research paper by Stephanie Watson.
Ok so in conclusion thanks to my daughter and the 5,160 abortions that took place we can see what happens when we don’t use birth control. So how do we benefit if we do use birth control? Well for one we don’t have to kill little baby’s. We can make sure we are ready to take the responsibility of parenthood before we have children. And we can control the quality of our families lives and the quality of time we have to spend with 2 or 3 children compared to who knows how many. So please be responsible with the miracle of reproduction that God gave you.
I heard this somewhere one time (anyone can be a dad but it takes a real man to be a father) men we are just as responsible as the women so don’t try to push any responsibility off.
Blog 9
Today I am going to discuss with you, the importance of using birth control. I will talk about my experiences, abortion, birth control options, and our personal responsibilities of having control over our reproductive abilities.
When I was 17 my first child was born she was unplanned, when I was 21 my second child was born. When my son was born I realized I had all the children I could handle financially and responsibly. At that time I decided to get a vasectomy to ensure the quality of my children’s lives and the quality of my parenting abilities. Wait a minute!!! That was in 1990 where did this child come from in 1994? The math doesn’t work does it or the vasectomy didn’t work. Well the fact of the matter is that my daughter was adopted by me as a single parent in 1997. I got custody of her in 1996 because her mother or father neither had time or the desire to raise her, but they didn’t think about that when they conceived her. This happens all the time!!!
People we have a responsibility to ourselves, our children, and our society to have control over our reproductive abilities. According to Planned Parenthood of Indiana from 7-2006 to 6-2007 there were 5,160 abortions just in Indiana. Pretty sad thought isn’t it, makes me want to scream out to God and ask why!!!
A large potion of people use a pill as a form of birth control and that is very effective 99% to be accurate. Unfortunately in today’s society we need to consider the possibility of disease so I would advise a condom if you are unfamiliar with your partner as a safety measure. At this time there are no pills for males to use, but scientists are researching that avenue according to howstuffworks.com in a research paper by Stephanie Watson.
Ok so in conclusion thanks to my daughter and the 5,160 abortions that took place we can see what happens when we don’t use birth control. So how do we benefit if we do use birth control? Well for one we don’t have to kill little baby’s. We can make sure we are ready to take the responsibility of parenthood before we have children. And we can control the quality of our families lives and the quality of time we have to spend with 2 or 3 children compared to who knows how many. So please be responsible with the miracle of reproduction that God gave you.
I heard this somewhere one time (anyone can be a dad but it takes a real man to be a father) men we are just as responsible as the women so don’t try to push any responsibility off.
DON’T GET LOST
Blog 8
Hello everyone. How are you doing today? Has anyone here ever been lost? Well after today that may not happen again. Were going to discuss the interstate, highway, and county road systems and how you can use this information to keep from getting lost and if you do it wont be for long. I’m going to give you a few historical facts then show you on two different maps how you can easily keep from getting lost.
The interstate system according to wikipedia.org in 1921 when the Bureau of Public Roads ask the Army to provide a list of roads it considered necessary for national defense. The Interstate Highway system was authorized by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 it had been lobbied by major U.S. automobile manufacturers and championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. As of 2006 $425 billion has been spent on the original plan that is projected for completion in 2009.Which will be comprised of 160,000 miles of interstate and highway.
So how do we utilize this system for us? Well we need to know how the system works. First is the numbering system it is really quite simple. The Interstate numbers start on the west and using odd numbers get bigger as you travel toward the east. Then they start in the south and get larger as you travel north. There are little green signs on the side of the interstates that are called mile markers they start at the west and south side of each state and get larger toward the east and north side of each state. Very helpfully these mile markers coincide with the exit numbers for example if you want to get off at the Crawfordsville exit at U.S. 231 it would be exit number 34 so if you are traveling west and you see mile marker 38 you know that you have 4 more miles to go until you get to exit 34.
State highways work in the same way except you don’t have exit numbers, but you do still have mile markers that are little blue signs instead of little green signs. And they are numbered from the North and East and get bigger as you travel south and West. Just the opposite of the Interstates.
Now we have the county road system it is a little bit different. What they do is split the county in fourths straight down the middle north and south the straight across east and west. For example in Montgomery county they split it north and south by using U.S 231 then they spit it east and west by using U.S. 32 on the east side of U.S. 231and Base line road on the west side of U.S. 231.Then they number the county roads in increments of miles away from these three different roads for example if you were at the intersection of 150N and 650W you would be one and one half mile north of Base line road and six and one half miles west of U.S. 231.
So as you can see it is really a pretty simple system. Just remember the numbering systems, mile markers, and exit numbers, on the interstates. Remember the numbering system and mile markers on state highways. And remember the numbering system and which direction you are going on county roads and you should not get lost if you do you should be able to look at a map and figure out pretty quick were you are. I hope this information will be very useful to you in your travels. And I thank you for your time. Now please keep these maps in your car because lost is not were you wont to be.
Blog 8
Hello everyone. How are you doing today? Has anyone here ever been lost? Well after today that may not happen again. Were going to discuss the interstate, highway, and county road systems and how you can use this information to keep from getting lost and if you do it wont be for long. I’m going to give you a few historical facts then show you on two different maps how you can easily keep from getting lost.
The interstate system according to wikipedia.org in 1921 when the Bureau of Public Roads ask the Army to provide a list of roads it considered necessary for national defense. The Interstate Highway system was authorized by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 it had been lobbied by major U.S. automobile manufacturers and championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. As of 2006 $425 billion has been spent on the original plan that is projected for completion in 2009.Which will be comprised of 160,000 miles of interstate and highway.
So how do we utilize this system for us? Well we need to know how the system works. First is the numbering system it is really quite simple. The Interstate numbers start on the west and using odd numbers get bigger as you travel toward the east. Then they start in the south and get larger as you travel north. There are little green signs on the side of the interstates that are called mile markers they start at the west and south side of each state and get larger toward the east and north side of each state. Very helpfully these mile markers coincide with the exit numbers for example if you want to get off at the Crawfordsville exit at U.S. 231 it would be exit number 34 so if you are traveling west and you see mile marker 38 you know that you have 4 more miles to go until you get to exit 34.
State highways work in the same way except you don’t have exit numbers, but you do still have mile markers that are little blue signs instead of little green signs. And they are numbered from the North and East and get bigger as you travel south and West. Just the opposite of the Interstates.
Now we have the county road system it is a little bit different. What they do is split the county in fourths straight down the middle north and south the straight across east and west. For example in Montgomery county they split it north and south by using U.S 231 then they spit it east and west by using U.S. 32 on the east side of U.S. 231and Base line road on the west side of U.S. 231.Then they number the county roads in increments of miles away from these three different roads for example if you were at the intersection of 150N and 650W you would be one and one half mile north of Base line road and six and one half miles west of U.S. 231.
So as you can see it is really a pretty simple system. Just remember the numbering systems, mile markers, and exit numbers, on the interstates. Remember the numbering system and mile markers on state highways. And remember the numbering system and which direction you are going on county roads and you should not get lost if you do you should be able to look at a map and figure out pretty quick were you are. I hope this information will be very useful to you in your travels. And I thank you for your time. Now please keep these maps in your car because lost is not were you wont to be.
Abraham Lincoln
Blog 7
Today I am going to give you information about a man that most people know as the 16th president of the United States of America Abraham Lincoln. I am also going to give you information about a man that most people don’t know, one of the greatest public speakers of all times Abraham Lincoln.
MR. Lincoln was born on 2-12-1809 to a poor family in Laurue Kentucky. In 1816 his family relocated to southern Indiana, which at that time was a harsh, desolate, frontier. In 1830 they relocated again to Illinois just south of Decatur. In 1831 at the age of 21 MR. Lincoln had grown to be a tall man 6’4” to be exact, and very powerful in upper body, but also very awkward. At this time he set out to live his own life in New Salem, Illinois. In 1834 he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly. IN 1836 he received his license to practice law.In 1842 he married Mary Todd. In 1846 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. On November 6th 1860 he was electected the 16th President of the United States of America.
Now this is regarded by millions of people including me as proof that Democracy offers all men the best hope for a full , and free life.
This brings us to President Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest public speakers of all times. On 4-12-1861 the civil war started, and lasted until 4-9-1865. Thus President Lincoln had to hold this Country, and our Democracy together through public speeches, and letters of which he wrote all of personally. Through roughly four years of war between what was now a country split in two parts ,the Union, and the Confederacy. In doing so he proved to the world that Democracy could be a lasting form of Government through the worst of times.
The Gettysberg Address ,and many of his other speeches, and writings are still classic statements of Democratic beliefs, and goals.
One part of his success was his character he was a noble man with great merits, and insight. President Lincoln’s insight on the civil war was that at any cost the Union must be saved, and that Democracy would not be destroyed by a minority of the American people. The other factor of his success was his ability to express his convictions so clearly, and with such force. He simply wanted to be convincing, and understood. He didn’t realize that he was writing words that would set the frame of the U.S. Government , and the Americans beliefs for years to come.
So let’s talk about the Gettysberg address as an example shall we. A two minute speech in which he defined his beliefs, and remorse for the fallen lives of both side of the great battle, and that they had not died in vein. But and I quote “THAT THIS NATION UNDER GOD SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM, AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE,FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THIS EARTH”. This two minute speech given at Gettysberg, Pennsylvania on 11-19-1863 is now carved on a stone plaque in the Lincoln Memorial. There were five copies of this speech written only one of which President Lincoln signed, and according to THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA were I got all of this information none were written on an old brown envelope with a pencil on the train ride to Gettysberg.
Some of President Lincoln’s speeches, and writings have come to be honored as great pieces of literature. Wouldn’t he be amazed?
On 1-1-1863 he issued the Emancipation Proclamation another great writing by President Lincoln. On 11-8-1864 he was re-elected as President of the United States of America.
So in closing Abraham Lincoln was not only the 16th president , who held this country, and democracy together through one of the nations’ worst moments. He was also one of this countries greatest public speakers, and writers. So this young boy who grew up in worse than what we now consider poverty stricken conditions, and rose to fulfill one of the most powerful, and responsible positions in the world. Had his extraordinary live shortened by John Wilkes Booth at forde’s theatre on 4-14-1865. When Booth shot him in the head with a pistol. President Lincoln died on 4-15 1865 at 7:22 AM in Washington D.C. with his family, and high Government officials watching over him. Not to leave you in suspense MR. Booth was hunted down ,and killed by the U.S. army on 4-26-1865 near Port Royal Virginia. President Lincoln was buried on 5-4-1865 at Springfield, Illinois the monument on his grave is a place of universal pilgrimage.
Blog 7
Today I am going to give you information about a man that most people know as the 16th president of the United States of America Abraham Lincoln. I am also going to give you information about a man that most people don’t know, one of the greatest public speakers of all times Abraham Lincoln.
MR. Lincoln was born on 2-12-1809 to a poor family in Laurue Kentucky. In 1816 his family relocated to southern Indiana, which at that time was a harsh, desolate, frontier. In 1830 they relocated again to Illinois just south of Decatur. In 1831 at the age of 21 MR. Lincoln had grown to be a tall man 6’4” to be exact, and very powerful in upper body, but also very awkward. At this time he set out to live his own life in New Salem, Illinois. In 1834 he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly. IN 1836 he received his license to practice law.In 1842 he married Mary Todd. In 1846 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. On November 6th 1860 he was electected the 16th President of the United States of America.
Now this is regarded by millions of people including me as proof that Democracy offers all men the best hope for a full , and free life.
This brings us to President Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest public speakers of all times. On 4-12-1861 the civil war started, and lasted until 4-9-1865. Thus President Lincoln had to hold this Country, and our Democracy together through public speeches, and letters of which he wrote all of personally. Through roughly four years of war between what was now a country split in two parts ,the Union, and the Confederacy. In doing so he proved to the world that Democracy could be a lasting form of Government through the worst of times.
The Gettysberg Address ,and many of his other speeches, and writings are still classic statements of Democratic beliefs, and goals.
One part of his success was his character he was a noble man with great merits, and insight. President Lincoln’s insight on the civil war was that at any cost the Union must be saved, and that Democracy would not be destroyed by a minority of the American people. The other factor of his success was his ability to express his convictions so clearly, and with such force. He simply wanted to be convincing, and understood. He didn’t realize that he was writing words that would set the frame of the U.S. Government , and the Americans beliefs for years to come.
So let’s talk about the Gettysberg address as an example shall we. A two minute speech in which he defined his beliefs, and remorse for the fallen lives of both side of the great battle, and that they had not died in vein. But and I quote “THAT THIS NATION UNDER GOD SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM, AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE,FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THIS EARTH”. This two minute speech given at Gettysberg, Pennsylvania on 11-19-1863 is now carved on a stone plaque in the Lincoln Memorial. There were five copies of this speech written only one of which President Lincoln signed, and according to THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA were I got all of this information none were written on an old brown envelope with a pencil on the train ride to Gettysberg.
Some of President Lincoln’s speeches, and writings have come to be honored as great pieces of literature. Wouldn’t he be amazed?
On 1-1-1863 he issued the Emancipation Proclamation another great writing by President Lincoln. On 11-8-1864 he was re-elected as President of the United States of America.
So in closing Abraham Lincoln was not only the 16th president , who held this country, and democracy together through one of the nations’ worst moments. He was also one of this countries greatest public speakers, and writers. So this young boy who grew up in worse than what we now consider poverty stricken conditions, and rose to fulfill one of the most powerful, and responsible positions in the world. Had his extraordinary live shortened by John Wilkes Booth at forde’s theatre on 4-14-1865. When Booth shot him in the head with a pistol. President Lincoln died on 4-15 1865 at 7:22 AM in Washington D.C. with his family, and high Government officials watching over him. Not to leave you in suspense MR. Booth was hunted down ,and killed by the U.S. army on 4-26-1865 near Port Royal Virginia. President Lincoln was buried on 5-4-1865 at Springfield, Illinois the monument on his grave is a place of universal pilgrimage.
My Youngest Daughter
Blog 6
Well the first thing I have to say about her is she is a blonde, not literally, but she acts goofy all the time. She is smart she gets good grades, and is involved with school functions. She is active in sports basketball and softball, and she pretty good at both of them. She lived with my son and I for years then about 4 years ago she decided she was going to go live with her mother. Which I thought was a bad idea, but at her age I figured it was up to her, so away she went.
One day when her mom was mad at me she was running her mouth about me, and my daughter told her not to talk about me like that, and her mom blurted out in rage that she had been adopted my me when she was 3 years old. That’s wrong on so many levels, and then my daughter went into meltdown emotionally. It took her about 6 months to get over it but she finally did, and I am glad it would kill me to loose her. Now we are ok not as close as we were before, but ok.
Now she comes down almost every weekend and we try to have a good time, but classes keep me pretty busy so we usually just hang around the house but that will be different after this week. I’m only taking 2 classes in the summer so hopefully we can start having some fun like we used to.
One thing a little strange about her that I never did figure out about her is, that the whole time I was on chemo she hardly ever came to visit. I think it scared her that there was a chance I might die, and I think she thought she might accidently be here when it happened, but I am really not sure what it was.
She is not quite as self motivated as my son but she is a pretty good worker when she wants to be. She is 4 years younger than my son, but she can hold her own when they start wrestling around, she is a big girl not obese but big and pretty athletic. She likes to talk on the phone a lot, and chat on the internet. She never reads for entertainment which I think is strange because my son reads a lot. She likes to go camping, fishing, swimming, and canoeing, she likes it outside she goes hunting with me, she likes to watch TV which I don’t do much of, but from time to time I’ll watch a movie with her and we both enjoy that especially scary movies. Ok that’s all I’m going to say about her for now.
Blog 6
Well the first thing I have to say about her is she is a blonde, not literally, but she acts goofy all the time. She is smart she gets good grades, and is involved with school functions. She is active in sports basketball and softball, and she pretty good at both of them. She lived with my son and I for years then about 4 years ago she decided she was going to go live with her mother. Which I thought was a bad idea, but at her age I figured it was up to her, so away she went.
One day when her mom was mad at me she was running her mouth about me, and my daughter told her not to talk about me like that, and her mom blurted out in rage that she had been adopted my me when she was 3 years old. That’s wrong on so many levels, and then my daughter went into meltdown emotionally. It took her about 6 months to get over it but she finally did, and I am glad it would kill me to loose her. Now we are ok not as close as we were before, but ok.
Now she comes down almost every weekend and we try to have a good time, but classes keep me pretty busy so we usually just hang around the house but that will be different after this week. I’m only taking 2 classes in the summer so hopefully we can start having some fun like we used to.
One thing a little strange about her that I never did figure out about her is, that the whole time I was on chemo she hardly ever came to visit. I think it scared her that there was a chance I might die, and I think she thought she might accidently be here when it happened, but I am really not sure what it was.
She is not quite as self motivated as my son but she is a pretty good worker when she wants to be. She is 4 years younger than my son, but she can hold her own when they start wrestling around, she is a big girl not obese but big and pretty athletic. She likes to talk on the phone a lot, and chat on the internet. She never reads for entertainment which I think is strange because my son reads a lot. She likes to go camping, fishing, swimming, and canoeing, she likes it outside she goes hunting with me, she likes to watch TV which I don’t do much of, but from time to time I’ll watch a movie with her and we both enjoy that especially scary movies. Ok that’s all I’m going to say about her for now.
My Oldest Daughter
Blog 5
My oldest daughter and I have had quite the rocky relationship; we actually got along pretty good until she moved to Louisiana, when she was 15. She was born when I was 17, and her mother and I did don’t stay together long after that. She has always lived with her mom except for the 3 months she lived with me soon after her mother moved to Louisiana. Before that she lived in Darlington most of her life, with her mom and step father a friend of mine from school, he was pretty cool. She would come down almost every other weekend for years. Then her mother and step father hooked up with this couple from Louisiana, and decided to swop partners, for the weekend. Then they decided they were going to swop for life, so both couples got divorced, and they all moved to Louisiana. That’s when my daughter came to stay with me for the last three months of school, when she went to Louisiana to visit for the summer, she never returned.
I have not seen her sense that was 6 years ago; let me tell you that really messed up our relationship. They expected me to drive back and forth to Louisiana to visit her, well that was not at all in my budget. So everyone blamed me because we never got to see each other the whole time. Oh well someone has to carry the load why not me.
Now she is coming up to visit in about a week, and I will get to see her for the first time in about 6 years. I am really exited about the visit, and I hope she is to, and I hope we have a good visit while she is here. She will be here for a week, but that is not near close enough time to catch up on 6 years.
She just turned 22 and is graduating from community college this spring; I guess she did good in school that’s what she says. I’m not sure what her plans are now that she is out of school she has a few ideas but has not made a permanent decision. Whatever it is I’m sure she will do fine, she is a strong willed young lady with good morals. I have to admit her mother did a good job raising her despite the fact that she moved her away from me, and caused me to loose out on 6 years of my daughters’ life. Water under the bridge I guess if we work at it I’m sure we can make up for some of it. Anyway we will find out next week.
Blog 5
My oldest daughter and I have had quite the rocky relationship; we actually got along pretty good until she moved to Louisiana, when she was 15. She was born when I was 17, and her mother and I did don’t stay together long after that. She has always lived with her mom except for the 3 months she lived with me soon after her mother moved to Louisiana. Before that she lived in Darlington most of her life, with her mom and step father a friend of mine from school, he was pretty cool. She would come down almost every other weekend for years. Then her mother and step father hooked up with this couple from Louisiana, and decided to swop partners, for the weekend. Then they decided they were going to swop for life, so both couples got divorced, and they all moved to Louisiana. That’s when my daughter came to stay with me for the last three months of school, when she went to Louisiana to visit for the summer, she never returned.
I have not seen her sense that was 6 years ago; let me tell you that really messed up our relationship. They expected me to drive back and forth to Louisiana to visit her, well that was not at all in my budget. So everyone blamed me because we never got to see each other the whole time. Oh well someone has to carry the load why not me.
Now she is coming up to visit in about a week, and I will get to see her for the first time in about 6 years. I am really exited about the visit, and I hope she is to, and I hope we have a good visit while she is here. She will be here for a week, but that is not near close enough time to catch up on 6 years.
She just turned 22 and is graduating from community college this spring; I guess she did good in school that’s what she says. I’m not sure what her plans are now that she is out of school she has a few ideas but has not made a permanent decision. Whatever it is I’m sure she will do fine, she is a strong willed young lady with good morals. I have to admit her mother did a good job raising her despite the fact that she moved her away from me, and caused me to loose out on 6 years of my daughters’ life. Water under the bridge I guess if we work at it I’m sure we can make up for some of it. Anyway we will find out next week.
Gas Prices: blog 12
The gas prices are really starting to put a dent in my pocket. At three dollars and eighty cents a gallon it is costing me around fifteen dollars every time I drive up to Lafayette. I am so relieved that school is almost out for the summer, and I don't have to drive up to Lafayette five days a week. But what about next school year? Who knows I may not even be able to afford to drive to school anymore, and I'm sure I'm not alone on that matter. People are trying to better them selves by going to school and it's just getting harder to do. How is anyone supposed to live when we are paying four dollars a gallon?
I saw on the news a month or so ago that oil companies are making billions of dollars in profits. How can our government let this go on? The gas prices and increasing rates of food, etc are dragging every one into a huge hole that we one day aren’t going to be able to get out of. Minimum wage is like six dollars or somewhere around there and the people that are making this kind of money are having to spend pretty close to an hours work pay for a gallon of gas. This is ridiculous!
Us working people can't even enjoy our money when we get it because everything is increasing and no one is making more money. Someone need to do something soon, because gas is just going to keep going up. When the gas goes up everything else goes up. I am so glad that I still live at home and I don't have to worry about paying for food, a house, and other life necessities. I could never make it.
Someone out there is getting rich and it sure isn’t us “normal” people. I think that every one should boycott buying gas. If every one stuck together and didn’t buy gas, didn’t go to work and so on then no one would lose their job, because if that was the case then everyone would have to be fired. I believe the semi-drivers tried to do this and some of them, but not all semi-drovers stuck to the plan. The reason why these oil companies are charging so much is because they can. If we keep paying, then they will keep increasing the prices of oil. It’s going to be a never ending cycle if we don't do something about it.
I saw on the news a month or so ago that oil companies are making billions of dollars in profits. How can our government let this go on? The gas prices and increasing rates of food, etc are dragging every one into a huge hole that we one day aren’t going to be able to get out of. Minimum wage is like six dollars or somewhere around there and the people that are making this kind of money are having to spend pretty close to an hours work pay for a gallon of gas. This is ridiculous!
Us working people can't even enjoy our money when we get it because everything is increasing and no one is making more money. Someone need to do something soon, because gas is just going to keep going up. When the gas goes up everything else goes up. I am so glad that I still live at home and I don't have to worry about paying for food, a house, and other life necessities. I could never make it.
Someone out there is getting rich and it sure isn’t us “normal” people. I think that every one should boycott buying gas. If every one stuck together and didn’t buy gas, didn’t go to work and so on then no one would lose their job, because if that was the case then everyone would have to be fired. I believe the semi-drivers tried to do this and some of them, but not all semi-drovers stuck to the plan. The reason why these oil companies are charging so much is because they can. If we keep paying, then they will keep increasing the prices of oil. It’s going to be a never ending cycle if we don't do something about it.
My Son
Blog 4
Now there is an example of memories and observation, to which I’m sure I can not begin to do justice to in close to 500 words. All the way from his first breath, to coming up on his 18th birthday in less than 3 months. That boy has taught me a thing or to of course I have him to, that is my job and I do my best with what I have. As I had mentioned he will be 18 soon, he just received his learners permit recently so I let him drive me every chance I get. He has a very delightful girlfriend whom loves him dearly, as he does her. He is admired by many of people young and old, my landlord for example thinks he is a wonderful young man, as do I. he gets good grades in school, and is active in diving, band, cross country, and many other school activities. He is a hard worker, he has worked for the same construction company every summer for the last 3 summers, and I’m sure he will again. On top of that he does odd jobs of all sorts and mows lawns to make extra money, for what ever he has a already planned to purchase.
He has grown to be my best friend and sometimes that makes it hard to be dad, but I take a deep breath and do what I know is rite, if I did not I would be cheating him and I. Him and I have been through a lot together, we live alone just the two of us, and have for about 5 years. Before that it was him, his little sister and I so we have had plenty of time to bond. He stood beside me through 2 years of fighting cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and numerous surgeries. He knows god and believes in his word, and tries hard to be a good Christian. He tolerated the days when I used to drink, and I know that sometimes that was hard for a young man. He has had to spend numerous hours home alone while I was working, but we had fun spending those paychecks on the weekend, I really miss that part myself, I bet he does to. He has had to deal with all the crazy woman in my life, but we have a deal about that they are not aloud to live here.
There was a time how ever when he was young and needed dad for different reasons. We had to go swimming, fishing, hunting, canoeing and many other activities that we both enjoyed. Ill be back to normal someday I hope and we can those things once again. As I said I cant do my son whom I love so much, any justice in 500 words, and I was correct because I have not began to scratch the surface of the memories or observations about this delightful young man, than I get to call my son.
Blog 4
Now there is an example of memories and observation, to which I’m sure I can not begin to do justice to in close to 500 words. All the way from his first breath, to coming up on his 18th birthday in less than 3 months. That boy has taught me a thing or to of course I have him to, that is my job and I do my best with what I have. As I had mentioned he will be 18 soon, he just received his learners permit recently so I let him drive me every chance I get. He has a very delightful girlfriend whom loves him dearly, as he does her. He is admired by many of people young and old, my landlord for example thinks he is a wonderful young man, as do I. he gets good grades in school, and is active in diving, band, cross country, and many other school activities. He is a hard worker, he has worked for the same construction company every summer for the last 3 summers, and I’m sure he will again. On top of that he does odd jobs of all sorts and mows lawns to make extra money, for what ever he has a already planned to purchase.
He has grown to be my best friend and sometimes that makes it hard to be dad, but I take a deep breath and do what I know is rite, if I did not I would be cheating him and I. Him and I have been through a lot together, we live alone just the two of us, and have for about 5 years. Before that it was him, his little sister and I so we have had plenty of time to bond. He stood beside me through 2 years of fighting cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and numerous surgeries. He knows god and believes in his word, and tries hard to be a good Christian. He tolerated the days when I used to drink, and I know that sometimes that was hard for a young man. He has had to spend numerous hours home alone while I was working, but we had fun spending those paychecks on the weekend, I really miss that part myself, I bet he does to. He has had to deal with all the crazy woman in my life, but we have a deal about that they are not aloud to live here.
There was a time how ever when he was young and needed dad for different reasons. We had to go swimming, fishing, hunting, canoeing and many other activities that we both enjoyed. Ill be back to normal someday I hope and we can those things once again. As I said I cant do my son whom I love so much, any justice in 500 words, and I was correct because I have not began to scratch the surface of the memories or observations about this delightful young man, than I get to call my son.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
My House
Blog 3
When I was a very young boy I was fortunate to live deep in the hilly woods of central Indiana, just on the North-East side of shades state park. We lived in a house trailer on my grandfather's lake (LOK SHANGRELA). It was in my opinion the best place in the world to grow into a young man. It was very secluded and surreal there was a five acre lake and his property totaled ninety acres of woodland full of hills and hollows. It was fun, educational, although at times very harsh, if you can imagine going back in time about two hundred years. My childhood was much comparable to that of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer I spent most of my time trying to stay as far from authority as I could. Deep in the woods I was free and I loved it, the longer I could spend in the woods the happier I was. There was more to do in the woods than I could get accomplished in ten childhoods, building forts, playing Indians, climbing trees, building rafts, carving spears, or digging a hole in the side of a hill the list goes on and on.
I can not fathom how a young boy living in a fun filled place such as this could ever say he was bored, but my brother sure did he was what I call a momma’s boy, Always hanging around the house watching TV and playing video games. I imagine as his older brother I should have invited him to go on my adventures with me, but to tell the truth I really did not like him much, and still do not. I was quite content all alone in those majestic woodlands, and never got bored. Once I stepped into those woods my imagination was the only limitation there to the amount of fun I could have.
Although as I said it could be a very harsh place, the winter time was the worst. The infamous winter of 78 that was an extremely harsh time. We missed 30 days of school sounds fun huh, 30 snow days in a row. Well it was just the opposite I thought I would rather do anything than go to school, but let me tell you that winter I learnt a big lesson. Our driveway was 1 mile long and the snow had drifted it closed, so we had to pull a sled all the way to the road 1/8 mile west our driveway, to meet someone who would pickup supplies and bring them to us. Yep it could be nasty, but those summers by the lake made it all worth the hard work. If I had a chance to do it all again, you could bet your last dollar I would.
Blog 3
When I was a very young boy I was fortunate to live deep in the hilly woods of central Indiana, just on the North-East side of shades state park. We lived in a house trailer on my grandfather's lake (LOK SHANGRELA). It was in my opinion the best place in the world to grow into a young man. It was very secluded and surreal there was a five acre lake and his property totaled ninety acres of woodland full of hills and hollows. It was fun, educational, although at times very harsh, if you can imagine going back in time about two hundred years. My childhood was much comparable to that of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer I spent most of my time trying to stay as far from authority as I could. Deep in the woods I was free and I loved it, the longer I could spend in the woods the happier I was. There was more to do in the woods than I could get accomplished in ten childhoods, building forts, playing Indians, climbing trees, building rafts, carving spears, or digging a hole in the side of a hill the list goes on and on.
I can not fathom how a young boy living in a fun filled place such as this could ever say he was bored, but my brother sure did he was what I call a momma’s boy, Always hanging around the house watching TV and playing video games. I imagine as his older brother I should have invited him to go on my adventures with me, but to tell the truth I really did not like him much, and still do not. I was quite content all alone in those majestic woodlands, and never got bored. Once I stepped into those woods my imagination was the only limitation there to the amount of fun I could have.
Although as I said it could be a very harsh place, the winter time was the worst. The infamous winter of 78 that was an extremely harsh time. We missed 30 days of school sounds fun huh, 30 snow days in a row. Well it was just the opposite I thought I would rather do anything than go to school, but let me tell you that winter I learnt a big lesson. Our driveway was 1 mile long and the snow had drifted it closed, so we had to pull a sled all the way to the road 1/8 mile west our driveway, to meet someone who would pickup supplies and bring them to us. Yep it could be nasty, but those summers by the lake made it all worth the hard work. If I had a chance to do it all again, you could bet your last dollar I would.
the aftermath blog 12
Well this class is almost over; Thursday is the last day for meeting in classroom number seven. It has been an enlightening experience through this whole semester. Our professor did give us food for thought when it came to our writing assignments. As a whole, the class has been great. I have made new friends that I needed in my life, and I have learned to write a lot better through this experience. I am grateful to have had such a small class that individual attention was available. The teacher was kind and courteous to everyone’s ideas, thoughts, and voice from the beginning; and almost all the way to the end. We have written three papers in this class, twelve blogs, and numerous in class writings to help us better our writing. We even did a presentation over what our research paper is going to be over. We were all able to provide input for everyone’s presentations to help them better their papers. So were we graded fairly on these? I am not quite sure. I know that it is not my place to correct a teacher, so I won’t. But I am going to address my fellow students about this subject and the grades that I received from them. While I was presenting my information I noticed that those who were grading me were staring out into space the whole time not even listening to the information. On a positive swing, I just wanted to say thank you to the teacher for his great input. I know that he has had a hard semester. He had a lot of personal family problems that he unfortunately had to deal with, and I do have sympathy for him. I want to congratulate him on his new home, and I wish him a long prosperous employment here at Ivy Tech Community College and/or at Purdue University. I want to wish him luck on his dissertation and whatever the rest of the year holds for him. I would like to wish the class luck on earning their majors or certifications. So thank you for a great semester and I wish you all luck.
postpartum presentation information also outline for paper blog 11
Postpartum Depression
By Bonny Ellingwood
What is postpartum depression?
Also known as PPD
It is a depression that can affect a new mother after the birth of a child.
This depression not only affects mothers; it can affect the entire family as well.
There is a difference in the severities of the depression.
These are three different types of postpartum depression in order of severity.-
Baby blues
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Psychosis
Next, I am going to tell you the difference between the three, what their symptoms are, and how they can be helped through medication and therapy.
Baby Blues
Effects 70-80% of new mothers
Occur 3-4 days after the birth of child
Usually go away in 14 days
The symptoms of the baby blues are:
Anxiety
Sadness
Irritability
Crying
Headaches
Exhaustion
A sense of inadequacy
Baby Blues Continued
Since this down period is usually short and not severe; it does not need medical attention.
There some things that can be done to help ease these symptoms:
Try to sleep when the baby sleeps.
Don't try to be super mom; do what you can but try to rest as much as you can.
Swallow your pride and ask for help from family for chores and, if bottle feeding, nighttime feedings.
Talk! Tell your husband, friends, and/or family how you are feeling. You could also join a support group of new mothers feeling the same way.
If this period of “blues” last longer than 2 weeks; the mother or family should seek help.
If it lasts longer than 2 weeks the baby blues can turn into postpartum depression.
There is a 10-20% ( 1 out of 5) chance of a mother developing postpartum depression after those 2 weeks.
Postpartum Depression
Though the signs of postpartum depression are very similar to the baby blues; the depression’s symptoms are more severe and they last longer.
the symptoms of the depression are:
Constant fatigue
Lack of joy in life
A sense of emotional numbness, feeling like a failure, feeling guilty, or feeling overwhelmed
Withdrawal from family and friends
Lack of concern for self and baby
Scared of hurting self or baby
Decreased sex drive
Severe mood swings
Impaired thinking or concentration
Sleeping too much or too little
Constant crying
Eating too little or too much
Having panic attacks
Headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations (heart beating very fast and a feeling like it is skipping beats), and/or hyperventilation.
Postpartum depression continued
Postpartum depression can come into affect anywhere within the first year after the child is born.
10-20% of new mothers will end up with PPD
This part of depression can last for months to years; it usually does not go away without help.
This depression can affect family life severely, but I will talk about that later.
Now onto the scariest part of PPD -postpartum psychosis
Postpartum Psychosis
This is the most severe but rarest form of PPD
Occurs about 1 or 2 out of 1000 births
Usually appears within the first six weeks after the child is born.
Some of the symptoms for the psychosis are:
Total loss of grip on reality
Delusions
Hallucinations
Sleep disturbances
Rapid mood swings
Obsessive thoughts about the baby
Paranoia
Thoughts of suicide or thoughts of killing the baby
A mother experiencing these symptoms needs to receive medical attention as soon as possible.
The most famous case of this is Andrea Yates.
Drowned all five of her children because she thought if she didn’t they would go to hell. She was tried and found guilty of capital murder. She was sentenced to life in prison. In July 2006, she was retried and was found NOT guilty by reason of insanity.
What causes PPD?
They have found that three major factors that can lead to PPD-
Physical changes
Emotional changes
Lifestyle changes
Physical changes:
A major drop in estrogen and progesterone after the child is born
Hormones produced by the thyroid may drop suddenly
Leaving the mother feeling tired, sluggish, and depressed
changes in blood pressure, blood volume, immune system, and metabolism
Can cause fatigue and mood swings
Possible Causes of PPD
Lifestyle changes:
A demanding baby or older children
Which can lead to exhaustion
Having difficulty breastfeeding
Financial problems
Lack of support from family, friends, and/or partner.
Having been diagnosed with depression/bipolar disorder
Also if it runs in the immediate family there is an increased risk
Also severe PMS has been attributed
Marital discord
Young age
The pregnancy was unwanted or unplanned
Possible Causes of PPD
Emotional Changes:
When you are exhausted, it is harder to manage simple things. So you may feel:
Overwhelmed
Anxious about the new arrival
May feel less attractive
Feel a loss of self identity
Feel loss of control over life and decisions
Why do I need to know this?
If a mother is suffering from PPD; it is vital for that mother to receive some sort of help.
If the mother is not treated:
Could harm herself
Harm the child
Since the mother doesn’t really care
May not be as involved with the child
Early childhood interactions are found to be important to development of the child. This can cause the child to have behavioral and learning problems.
could cause the couple so much stress; could lead to divorce
This makes it very important to identify this disorder early so that the mother and family can cope with it.
How do you treat it?
They are using a either hormone therapy, talk therapy, medication, or a combination of all three.
Hormone therapy:
Estrogen replacement may help counteract the drop after childbirth
Runs risks of drying up breast milk, and increased risk of developing blood clots in legs and lungs. Weigh the pros and cons of this treatment before trying it.
Talk therapy:
Talking to a counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or a group of mothers going through what you are going through.
Helps you find better ways to deal with stresses, feelings, helps set realistic goals, and helps with problem solving.
Treatment continued
Medication:
Antidepressants:
Found to be the most effective
There are certain ones that can be given to mothers who are breast-feeding
Can enter the breast milk if breast-feeding; but there are have been studies that show, with certain antidepressants, the amount that goes from that mother to child has little to no effect on the child later on.
Anti-psychotics:
These are given to the mothers with postpartum psychosis.
The one that is best known is Lithium.
It is used as a mood stabilizer.
What can you do?
To help mothers who are going through this the family and partner can play a very important part.
Talk to her
Help her with household chores
Sweeping, dishes, general cleaning
Taking over the baby so she can catch a cat nap or a break
If she is having trouble sleeping:
Provide a hot bath
Ear plugs
A snack and/or warm milk
Encourage activity but don’t pressure her
Swimming
Walking
Deep breathing
More you can do…
Don’t take her attacks at you personally
If you do get mad; get mad at her depression not her. It is hard for her to control her outbursts.
Don’t expect her to just “snap out of it.”
It is a serious illness, much like a flu or cold, but it affects her hormones and chemicals on the brain. It is a serious thing that takes time to recover from.
Encourage her to take her medication and to seek a group/counselor to talk to about how she is feeling.
Also remember, it is okay for you to feel overwhelmed and depressed too.
If you feel this way; find someone to talk to as well. What’s it going to hurt?
As you can see, this is a serious disorder that needs to be recognized and dealt with. It does not just affect the mother, but the whole family. Be on the look out for the symptoms and you could be able to help someone you love.
EL FIN
The End
By Bonny Ellingwood
What is postpartum depression?
Also known as PPD
It is a depression that can affect a new mother after the birth of a child.
This depression not only affects mothers; it can affect the entire family as well.
There is a difference in the severities of the depression.
These are three different types of postpartum depression in order of severity.-
Baby blues
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Psychosis
Next, I am going to tell you the difference between the three, what their symptoms are, and how they can be helped through medication and therapy.
Baby Blues
Effects 70-80% of new mothers
Occur 3-4 days after the birth of child
Usually go away in 14 days
The symptoms of the baby blues are:
Anxiety
Sadness
Irritability
Crying
Headaches
Exhaustion
A sense of inadequacy
Baby Blues Continued
Since this down period is usually short and not severe; it does not need medical attention.
There some things that can be done to help ease these symptoms:
Try to sleep when the baby sleeps.
Don't try to be super mom; do what you can but try to rest as much as you can.
Swallow your pride and ask for help from family for chores and, if bottle feeding, nighttime feedings.
Talk! Tell your husband, friends, and/or family how you are feeling. You could also join a support group of new mothers feeling the same way.
If this period of “blues” last longer than 2 weeks; the mother or family should seek help.
If it lasts longer than 2 weeks the baby blues can turn into postpartum depression.
There is a 10-20% ( 1 out of 5) chance of a mother developing postpartum depression after those 2 weeks.
Postpartum Depression
Though the signs of postpartum depression are very similar to the baby blues; the depression’s symptoms are more severe and they last longer.
the symptoms of the depression are:
Constant fatigue
Lack of joy in life
A sense of emotional numbness, feeling like a failure, feeling guilty, or feeling overwhelmed
Withdrawal from family and friends
Lack of concern for self and baby
Scared of hurting self or baby
Decreased sex drive
Severe mood swings
Impaired thinking or concentration
Sleeping too much or too little
Constant crying
Eating too little or too much
Having panic attacks
Headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations (heart beating very fast and a feeling like it is skipping beats), and/or hyperventilation.
Postpartum depression continued
Postpartum depression can come into affect anywhere within the first year after the child is born.
10-20% of new mothers will end up with PPD
This part of depression can last for months to years; it usually does not go away without help.
This depression can affect family life severely, but I will talk about that later.
Now onto the scariest part of PPD -postpartum psychosis
Postpartum Psychosis
This is the most severe but rarest form of PPD
Occurs about 1 or 2 out of 1000 births
Usually appears within the first six weeks after the child is born.
Some of the symptoms for the psychosis are:
Total loss of grip on reality
Delusions
Hallucinations
Sleep disturbances
Rapid mood swings
Obsessive thoughts about the baby
Paranoia
Thoughts of suicide or thoughts of killing the baby
A mother experiencing these symptoms needs to receive medical attention as soon as possible.
The most famous case of this is Andrea Yates.
Drowned all five of her children because she thought if she didn’t they would go to hell. She was tried and found guilty of capital murder. She was sentenced to life in prison. In July 2006, she was retried and was found NOT guilty by reason of insanity.
What causes PPD?
They have found that three major factors that can lead to PPD-
Physical changes
Emotional changes
Lifestyle changes
Physical changes:
A major drop in estrogen and progesterone after the child is born
Hormones produced by the thyroid may drop suddenly
Leaving the mother feeling tired, sluggish, and depressed
changes in blood pressure, blood volume, immune system, and metabolism
Can cause fatigue and mood swings
Possible Causes of PPD
Lifestyle changes:
A demanding baby or older children
Which can lead to exhaustion
Having difficulty breastfeeding
Financial problems
Lack of support from family, friends, and/or partner.
Having been diagnosed with depression/bipolar disorder
Also if it runs in the immediate family there is an increased risk
Also severe PMS has been attributed
Marital discord
Young age
The pregnancy was unwanted or unplanned
Possible Causes of PPD
Emotional Changes:
When you are exhausted, it is harder to manage simple things. So you may feel:
Overwhelmed
Anxious about the new arrival
May feel less attractive
Feel a loss of self identity
Feel loss of control over life and decisions
Why do I need to know this?
If a mother is suffering from PPD; it is vital for that mother to receive some sort of help.
If the mother is not treated:
Could harm herself
Harm the child
Since the mother doesn’t really care
May not be as involved with the child
Early childhood interactions are found to be important to development of the child. This can cause the child to have behavioral and learning problems.
could cause the couple so much stress; could lead to divorce
This makes it very important to identify this disorder early so that the mother and family can cope with it.
How do you treat it?
They are using a either hormone therapy, talk therapy, medication, or a combination of all three.
Hormone therapy:
Estrogen replacement may help counteract the drop after childbirth
Runs risks of drying up breast milk, and increased risk of developing blood clots in legs and lungs. Weigh the pros and cons of this treatment before trying it.
Talk therapy:
Talking to a counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or a group of mothers going through what you are going through.
Helps you find better ways to deal with stresses, feelings, helps set realistic goals, and helps with problem solving.
Treatment continued
Medication:
Antidepressants:
Found to be the most effective
There are certain ones that can be given to mothers who are breast-feeding
Can enter the breast milk if breast-feeding; but there are have been studies that show, with certain antidepressants, the amount that goes from that mother to child has little to no effect on the child later on.
Anti-psychotics:
These are given to the mothers with postpartum psychosis.
The one that is best known is Lithium.
It is used as a mood stabilizer.
What can you do?
To help mothers who are going through this the family and partner can play a very important part.
Talk to her
Help her with household chores
Sweeping, dishes, general cleaning
Taking over the baby so she can catch a cat nap or a break
If she is having trouble sleeping:
Provide a hot bath
Ear plugs
A snack and/or warm milk
Encourage activity but don’t pressure her
Swimming
Walking
Deep breathing
More you can do…
Don’t take her attacks at you personally
If you do get mad; get mad at her depression not her. It is hard for her to control her outbursts.
Don’t expect her to just “snap out of it.”
It is a serious illness, much like a flu or cold, but it affects her hormones and chemicals on the brain. It is a serious thing that takes time to recover from.
Encourage her to take her medication and to seek a group/counselor to talk to about how she is feeling.
Also remember, it is okay for you to feel overwhelmed and depressed too.
If you feel this way; find someone to talk to as well. What’s it going to hurt?
As you can see, this is a serious disorder that needs to be recognized and dealt with. It does not just affect the mother, but the whole family. Be on the look out for the symptoms and you could be able to help someone you love.
EL FIN
The End
next queen of england blog 3
Emily is an interesting, beautiful, charismatic individual. She has this gorgeous red hair. Her hair does not lie about her temper either. She has a fast, furious temper that gets the better of her right now. As you go farther down you see her eyes, which are a sharp contrast to the red of her hair. They are brown as dirt one moment, then the dark green of an evergreen tree the next moment. Looking into her eyes, you see a little girl that loves life and loves her family. Her eyelashes, thick and dark, extend past her eyebrows, accenting her eyes beautifully. With pale skin she looks like a porcelain doll, but her skin holds up to the sun very well. If this fair skinned diva gets sun burnt, all she has to do is sleep that night and she will have a beautiful tan. I know I might be slightly biased because she is my daughter and she is my first, but she is a beautiful child inside and out.
Underneath her outer beauty, this diva of the family can be the biggest troublemaker you could know. With her being twenty months old I understand where this energy and vitality comes from, but it can be exhausting. She is always into everything. She is very intelligent but she uses this intelligence to find any way to drive us insane. She can’t sit still for even a minute. The only time that she will sit or lie down is if you hold her down when she is tired. Emily has shown that she loves music. She loves to dance to it, head bang to it, and she will drum on anything. With her always being on the move, she has become proficient at climbing everything that she isn’t supposed to. Her favorite thing to climb has been the stairs. The past time of choice is sticking her head between the bars in the railing, until it gets stuck and she has to cry for help. She has also found another place to get her head stuck, in the entertainment center. Emily does believe that she is the queen of the house; just seeing how she walks around you can see that. Her cousin Terran came over Friday night and she asserted her authority. She beat up her cousin who is almost two years older than she is. This little diva is the princess of the house. Someday she will be a queen, but not yet.
I have been watching my daughter in a different light lately. I have started to see what she will probably be like when she gets older. She is friendly to everyone she meets. Just watching her I know that she will make friends very easily. Hopefully she will be more successful than I am at making friends. I want her to have a life full of possibility, and I think that she will achieve that. Watching her dance around like a fool makes me see that she is very talented. She is very full of life and I think that will help her with everything that will come towards her. Seeing her happy makes me want to give her every opportunity that I can to help her achieve whatever she wants in life. It has been very interesting watching my daughter in a different light than what I usually do. I will cherish this experience as a way to better understand her and myself.
Underneath her outer beauty, this diva of the family can be the biggest troublemaker you could know. With her being twenty months old I understand where this energy and vitality comes from, but it can be exhausting. She is always into everything. She is very intelligent but she uses this intelligence to find any way to drive us insane. She can’t sit still for even a minute. The only time that she will sit or lie down is if you hold her down when she is tired. Emily has shown that she loves music. She loves to dance to it, head bang to it, and she will drum on anything. With her always being on the move, she has become proficient at climbing everything that she isn’t supposed to. Her favorite thing to climb has been the stairs. The past time of choice is sticking her head between the bars in the railing, until it gets stuck and she has to cry for help. She has also found another place to get her head stuck, in the entertainment center. Emily does believe that she is the queen of the house; just seeing how she walks around you can see that. Her cousin Terran came over Friday night and she asserted her authority. She beat up her cousin who is almost two years older than she is. This little diva is the princess of the house. Someday she will be a queen, but not yet.
I have been watching my daughter in a different light lately. I have started to see what she will probably be like when she gets older. She is friendly to everyone she meets. Just watching her I know that she will make friends very easily. Hopefully she will be more successful than I am at making friends. I want her to have a life full of possibility, and I think that she will achieve that. Watching her dance around like a fool makes me see that she is very talented. She is very full of life and I think that will help her with everything that will come towards her. Seeing her happy makes me want to give her every opportunity that I can to help her achieve whatever she wants in life. It has been very interesting watching my daughter in a different light than what I usually do. I will cherish this experience as a way to better understand her and myself.
The Sign
Blog 2
It is all alone with visitors as few as the deepest parts of the forest. Its black silhouette stands in the sun at the end of the three months or so of darkness at the North Pole. If that was a window on the north side it would be a great place to view the local scenery.
So cold and bleak yet says more in one sentence than we do in a whole paragraph. It probably wants to come inside with us to get warm, but it and I both know that will never happen. I somehow thanks to MR. Josh Brewer have become almost attached to this cold lonely piece of unappreciated art. Its sole purpose is to speak to us, but no one ever speaks back. If they did we would think that they were as crazy as I am writing 450 words about the cold piece of steel that, my English teacher forced me to go out in the freezing cold to stare at the lonely tower of advertisement. Not just once, but twice in one day I’m not sure what is going through his mind, but he’s the teacher so ill be a good boy and do as I am told.
I really can’t see the other side to see what it says, so let’s imagine maybe a beer commercial, no that would not be the case this time of year how about fireplaces that would suite me rite about now. There are 3 hotels in the nearby area that could be a possibility, there are 3 restaurants that would be appropriate, or just maybe by coincidence it is telling people about the Ivy-Tech which I am attending.
I bet MR. Brewer would freak if he new we out here smoking ha ha!!! Anyway this sign I speak of could be telling us any number of things, this I know for sure it is doing its job everyday either informing us about something, or selling us something, probably something we don’t even need. That’s what its main purpose is I imagine, selling us things we don’t need. Companies pay big money to put there product up there, so if they are paying big money you know they are making big money, off of guess who, us.
I wonder how long it took to pay for itself I can imagine that a structure as big as that is very expensive and I imagine it took along time to make that money back. That’s the way it works though kind of like nature one big cycle, someone gets paid to build it they spend money, someone gets paid to rent it they spend money, someone makes money off of what it says then they spend money. Such is the cycle of money, and the purpose of the huge sign.
Blog 2
It is all alone with visitors as few as the deepest parts of the forest. Its black silhouette stands in the sun at the end of the three months or so of darkness at the North Pole. If that was a window on the north side it would be a great place to view the local scenery.
So cold and bleak yet says more in one sentence than we do in a whole paragraph. It probably wants to come inside with us to get warm, but it and I both know that will never happen. I somehow thanks to MR. Josh Brewer have become almost attached to this cold lonely piece of unappreciated art. Its sole purpose is to speak to us, but no one ever speaks back. If they did we would think that they were as crazy as I am writing 450 words about the cold piece of steel that, my English teacher forced me to go out in the freezing cold to stare at the lonely tower of advertisement. Not just once, but twice in one day I’m not sure what is going through his mind, but he’s the teacher so ill be a good boy and do as I am told.
I really can’t see the other side to see what it says, so let’s imagine maybe a beer commercial, no that would not be the case this time of year how about fireplaces that would suite me rite about now. There are 3 hotels in the nearby area that could be a possibility, there are 3 restaurants that would be appropriate, or just maybe by coincidence it is telling people about the Ivy-Tech which I am attending.
I bet MR. Brewer would freak if he new we out here smoking ha ha!!! Anyway this sign I speak of could be telling us any number of things, this I know for sure it is doing its job everyday either informing us about something, or selling us something, probably something we don’t even need. That’s what its main purpose is I imagine, selling us things we don’t need. Companies pay big money to put there product up there, so if they are paying big money you know they are making big money, off of guess who, us.
I wonder how long it took to pay for itself I can imagine that a structure as big as that is very expensive and I imagine it took along time to make that money back. That’s the way it works though kind of like nature one big cycle, someone gets paid to build it they spend money, someone gets paid to rent it they spend money, someone makes money off of what it says then they spend money. Such is the cycle of money, and the purpose of the huge sign.
A Writer of Necessity
Blog 1
I am mostly a writer of necessity, usually to get something accomplished. Such as an argumentative letter, or to get a specific point across to someone. I write allot of notes and keep allot of records such as my sugar levels, blood test, and medical procedures. I keep written logs for vocational rehab, and work one.
I am a very fictional writer, such as comical short stories for or about friends. I have started several songs that will probably never get finished, however I really hope they do. I enjoy writing the comical short stories for, and about my friends. It is fun for me, and my friends. Laughter is always a good way to lift everyone's spirits.
I can see myself being a better writer the more I am subjected to the aspect of different types of writing. The fact that I have not been a writer of essays, poems, or any other artistic writing does not limit my writing by any means. I actually have a lot ideas that I would like to write about. Writing short stories about the things that are going on around me would definitely be possibilities for me to be a successful writer. Considering the fact that a successful writer can be some one who writes about anything, success is that the ready gets the point and can get into your mind and understand what you are trying to say.
This class is not really what I was expecting. It is actually very interesting, and I enjoy it a lot. It will definitely help me in my endeavors as a professional person. Although web management is my major, I will need to do a lot of writing for every class. It has already helped me with my public speaking class; it helps me get ideas, details and points of view in line with what I am actually trying to give my speeches about.
If for some reason in the future I was to become a professional writer it would probably be short stories, comic strips or maybe some sort of complaint column in a news paper. Actually a complaint column mite be rite up my alley, considering all the complaints I have about this society we live, but I won’t go into that now. Instead we will continue to talk about what kind of writer I am. It’s really sad I guess that I never was a recreational writer; I have lots of friends in different states that would love to receive a letter now and then. Not to mention all my friends and family in jail.
Maybe someday that will change I doubt it though it just seems like I’m always to busy and I am by all means a procrastinator.
Blog 1
I am mostly a writer of necessity, usually to get something accomplished. Such as an argumentative letter, or to get a specific point across to someone. I write allot of notes and keep allot of records such as my sugar levels, blood test, and medical procedures. I keep written logs for vocational rehab, and work one.
I am a very fictional writer, such as comical short stories for or about friends. I have started several songs that will probably never get finished, however I really hope they do. I enjoy writing the comical short stories for, and about my friends. It is fun for me, and my friends. Laughter is always a good way to lift everyone's spirits.
I can see myself being a better writer the more I am subjected to the aspect of different types of writing. The fact that I have not been a writer of essays, poems, or any other artistic writing does not limit my writing by any means. I actually have a lot ideas that I would like to write about. Writing short stories about the things that are going on around me would definitely be possibilities for me to be a successful writer. Considering the fact that a successful writer can be some one who writes about anything, success is that the ready gets the point and can get into your mind and understand what you are trying to say.
This class is not really what I was expecting. It is actually very interesting, and I enjoy it a lot. It will definitely help me in my endeavors as a professional person. Although web management is my major, I will need to do a lot of writing for every class. It has already helped me with my public speaking class; it helps me get ideas, details and points of view in line with what I am actually trying to give my speeches about.
If for some reason in the future I was to become a professional writer it would probably be short stories, comic strips or maybe some sort of complaint column in a news paper. Actually a complaint column mite be rite up my alley, considering all the complaints I have about this society we live, but I won’t go into that now. Instead we will continue to talk about what kind of writer I am. It’s really sad I guess that I never was a recreational writer; I have lots of friends in different states that would love to receive a letter now and then. Not to mention all my friends and family in jail.
Maybe someday that will change I doubt it though it just seems like I’m always to busy and I am by all means a procrastinator.
The worst words to ever hear... blog 10
The words that drastically changed everything in my life left my mother’s lips while we were watching one of my nephews play on the swing set. My parents had set my oldest sister, my brother and I down and started a talk with us. They had waited for my sister Lora to leave their house, so she wouldn’t cause a big controversy of the situation. At first we were all just sitting having a good time talking. Then it started; the sorry look appeared in their eyes, and their tone became sadder while they were talking. Of course my mother said those horrid words; she had wanted it for such a long time it was killing her that it hadn’t happened. Those words still ring in my head, and cause my heart to ache a little. “Your father and I are getting a divorce”. April, Harry, and I looked like fish; our mouths dropped open, and we were dumb-founded. The next thing I did was hug my father. At that moment I didn’t care how my mother felt. My father used to worship my mother, and loved her with all his heart; so I knew that he was hit the hardest by this divorce. April became very angry and hasn’t really talked to my mother since. Harry went over to comfort my father as well; he was living with them still because he was still in high school and was going to go into the Navy after that. It was just an awful feeling of my family falling apart, that we haven’t really recovered since. The reason I bring this up is because recently the divorce became finalized. My mother got a lot of money and went to Vegas recently; but she has been irresponsible since she got her own place. If you really want to know; I blame my mother for the most part for the divorce. I know that is bad but I still blame her.
Monday, May 5, 2008
A & F
Upon examining the Abercrombie and Fitch website I am struck by the first image that is on the homepage. There is a young man from the waist up with no shirt on smiling with his hand behind his head. If I’m not mistaken, A&F sell clothes yet there are no clothes to be seen. Instead, there is a model in typical model form: dark skin, straight teeth, young, physically fit and down right good looking. The man represents what every guy who wears A&F wants to be, an Abercrombie model. Abercrombie produces this image in order to sell its merchandise. They are implying that buying and wearing these clothes, or lack there of, contributes to your physical appearance.
On the A&F homepage is a link entitled A&F TV: Loch Ness. After following the links, I was presented with a seven minute video that involved three girls who went to Scotland in search of Loch Ness. They went through a series of interviews with people who have seen the ‘monster,’ visited the museum and even went out on the lake in search of the mysterious monster. Now, what the hell does this have to do with A&F clothing? Well, I did notice that the girls were wearing the product, but no where in the video did they mention A&F clothing or try to sell them. I think that this is a symbol of adventure that A&F uses to sell their clothes. The girls did have plaid skirts or kilts and high socks on which are two items of clothing that they sell. This implies that if you wear our ‘cultural’ clothes i.e. Scottish Kilts, then you too can believe in the Loch Ness monster and even go search for it if you want. However, while watching this video, I became more intrigued with the story of Loch Ness rather than what kind of clothes the girls were wearing. It might also be useful to say that all three of the girls were young and beautiful, which seems to be a continuous theme with A&F clothing.
In examining the other links for men’s clothing, there are other pictures of A&F models, all of which are male and all of which have little or no clothing on. There is one picture of two guys in a dune buggy and the gentleman on the left has a white t-shirt on with no marks of A&F on it. Ironically, when you purchase any piece of clothing that A&F sells, it is ‘defaced’ with their own logo either spelling out Abercrombie and Fitch, an A&F logo, or even a moose. This is a way for A&F to create their own form of advertisement. They use their consumers for their own greater good and the consumers like it!
On the A&F homepage is a link entitled A&F TV: Loch Ness. After following the links, I was presented with a seven minute video that involved three girls who went to Scotland in search of Loch Ness. They went through a series of interviews with people who have seen the ‘monster,’ visited the museum and even went out on the lake in search of the mysterious monster. Now, what the hell does this have to do with A&F clothing? Well, I did notice that the girls were wearing the product, but no where in the video did they mention A&F clothing or try to sell them. I think that this is a symbol of adventure that A&F uses to sell their clothes. The girls did have plaid skirts or kilts and high socks on which are two items of clothing that they sell. This implies that if you wear our ‘cultural’ clothes i.e. Scottish Kilts, then you too can believe in the Loch Ness monster and even go search for it if you want. However, while watching this video, I became more intrigued with the story of Loch Ness rather than what kind of clothes the girls were wearing. It might also be useful to say that all three of the girls were young and beautiful, which seems to be a continuous theme with A&F clothing.
In examining the other links for men’s clothing, there are other pictures of A&F models, all of which are male and all of which have little or no clothing on. There is one picture of two guys in a dune buggy and the gentleman on the left has a white t-shirt on with no marks of A&F on it. Ironically, when you purchase any piece of clothing that A&F sells, it is ‘defaced’ with their own logo either spelling out Abercrombie and Fitch, an A&F logo, or even a moose. This is a way for A&F to create their own form of advertisement. They use their consumers for their own greater good and the consumers like it!
Culture
Material culture can be defined in many different ways. Culture, being the root of anthropological study, is one of the most widely defined words of the English language therefore we should first examine its many meanings and interpretations.
Culture is a shared set of learned behaviors, values and meanings. It assumes that there is a pattern to social behavior and it is widely accepted or distributed by the entire society. In other words there is a certain appropriateness that people share in how they act in public versus how they act at home. Culture is structured with dominant patterns that constantly change because there are a number of influences that come outside the mainstream culture (sub-culture) that challenge the patterns set forth by the dominant culture. Having said, there is no one dominant group that determines what a culture is, however, in a structured society, we find that certain groups have more influence over others. This hierarchy of social structure is clearly visible when Britney Spears started to wear trucker hats and soon there were lines galore at Hat World© for the latest style of Von Dutch’s mesh-backed hats. In other words, there exists a struggle among the ‘lower classed’ or non-dominant social force to grasp what it is the dominant class is up to, but yet there is a limit to everything. At some point there exists a level of tolerance among the non-dominant culture group, believing that this is the way it is supposed to be and I’m ok with my average car and average home.
As a result of the said definition of culture, material culture examines a culture through all of its material aspects i.e. what kind of cars they drive, while still focusing on the attitudes and beliefs (culture) towards these objects and their impact on or what they mean to society. Material culture focuses on every member of society, from Bill Gates to John and Jane Doe, and it is not exclusive to any dominant or non-dominant portion of society. By examining and focusing on material culture, it provides an outlook or identity to the person and their impact on society.
Culture is a shared set of learned behaviors, values and meanings. It assumes that there is a pattern to social behavior and it is widely accepted or distributed by the entire society. In other words there is a certain appropriateness that people share in how they act in public versus how they act at home. Culture is structured with dominant patterns that constantly change because there are a number of influences that come outside the mainstream culture (sub-culture) that challenge the patterns set forth by the dominant culture. Having said, there is no one dominant group that determines what a culture is, however, in a structured society, we find that certain groups have more influence over others. This hierarchy of social structure is clearly visible when Britney Spears started to wear trucker hats and soon there were lines galore at Hat World© for the latest style of Von Dutch’s mesh-backed hats. In other words, there exists a struggle among the ‘lower classed’ or non-dominant social force to grasp what it is the dominant class is up to, but yet there is a limit to everything. At some point there exists a level of tolerance among the non-dominant culture group, believing that this is the way it is supposed to be and I’m ok with my average car and average home.
As a result of the said definition of culture, material culture examines a culture through all of its material aspects i.e. what kind of cars they drive, while still focusing on the attitudes and beliefs (culture) towards these objects and their impact on or what they mean to society. Material culture focuses on every member of society, from Bill Gates to John and Jane Doe, and it is not exclusive to any dominant or non-dominant portion of society. By examining and focusing on material culture, it provides an outlook or identity to the person and their impact on society.
My 2nd Concert
My second concert experience came on March 25 at a local bar here in the town of Crawfordsville. Even though I am not of age to be at a bar, I got in but just could not drink. One of my friend has a band, Transient Clef, in which he has competed in many competitions gaining statewide attention such as the Battle of the Bands at Birdy’s and the Music Mill in Indianapolis. They perform a lure of songs that may be classified as punk or alternative. They write all of their own songs and don’t perform any cover songs. Transient Clef used only your typical amplifiers for two guitars, one lead, one bass, and microphones for the drummer and the vocalist respectively. I learned about this event through word of mouth as well as many fliers that had been put up around the town. They do have a CD out, but I’m not sure of the name of the song that I like. It sounded awesome performed live, though. This concert was very well performed. They did an excellent job of gaining audience support and maintained it well throughout the performance, despite such a small venue. Their songs are really catchy, or at least good enough to make a CD, and are even that much better performed live. The lead singer doesn’t play an instrument and just concentrates on singing, something of which he does very well. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone and everyone that I know. They need as much publicity as they can get and word of mouth is the best form of communication! In order to spread their popularity, I might get them to give out some music samples, for example CD’s or perhaps a free concert somewhere. Needless to say, Transient Clef is a band on the rise. They just haven’t been heard by the right person yet.
Air Conditioning
It is almost unheard of these days to not own an air conditioner to cool your house. But there are a rare few out there. Air conditioners have been a round for a long time. Today they are becoming cheaper and more environmental friendly. So who wouldn’t want one? You might know what the air conditioner is but you probably don’t know how it actually works.
Usually you will see a square or circle unit sitting up on some kind of pad. What is the pad for? The pad it sits on is the unit can sit level and not sink in the ground. As you look closer from the top; you will see a big fan through a grill looking thing. This is to draw the hot air from the coil that surrounds the entire unit. The coil consists of copper pipes running through these little aluminum fins. The coil is surrounding this black cylinder that sits in the middle on the bottom. This is called the compressor; it all starts here. A compressor is more or less like a pump. It has two different size copper pipes running out of it. The compressor pumps a gas called refrigerant through these two pipes which go inside. Each pipe takes the refrigerant in a different direction. From the outside unit these copper lines bring refrigerant to an inside coil also known as a furnace or air handler. The gas changes into a liquid before entering the inside coil. This is where you get your cold air from. The cold air is then blown through the building or house. This is the whole cooling process.
Having an air conditioner is not necessary but it is good to have for your comfort. There are different air conditioners that cool buildings different was but all work about the same way. If you ever need to buy an air conditioner or need an air conditioner worked on; you don’t have to know how to do it. You can just call a local service company and they will get you straightened up. It can be expensive but it is necessary.
Usually you will see a square or circle unit sitting up on some kind of pad. What is the pad for? The pad it sits on is the unit can sit level and not sink in the ground. As you look closer from the top; you will see a big fan through a grill looking thing. This is to draw the hot air from the coil that surrounds the entire unit. The coil consists of copper pipes running through these little aluminum fins. The coil is surrounding this black cylinder that sits in the middle on the bottom. This is called the compressor; it all starts here. A compressor is more or less like a pump. It has two different size copper pipes running out of it. The compressor pumps a gas called refrigerant through these two pipes which go inside. Each pipe takes the refrigerant in a different direction. From the outside unit these copper lines bring refrigerant to an inside coil also known as a furnace or air handler. The gas changes into a liquid before entering the inside coil. This is where you get your cold air from. The cold air is then blown through the building or house. This is the whole cooling process.
Having an air conditioner is not necessary but it is good to have for your comfort. There are different air conditioners that cool buildings different was but all work about the same way. If you ever need to buy an air conditioner or need an air conditioner worked on; you don’t have to know how to do it. You can just call a local service company and they will get you straightened up. It can be expensive but it is necessary.
Snow Days
Not that I can really remember the very first time I saw snow. But one of the first times that I do remember was about second grade. The winter of second grade was the starting point of sledding with friends. I woke up one morning to get ready for school when my mother told me that it was canceled. Being the person that I am I wasn’t too bummed. Later on in life I would have went back to bed and slept all day. But I was young so I had energy. I called up all my friends and we rounded up sleds and headed to our near by hill. This hill was special because all the other kids did not know about it; so it was never to busy. Being only a couple blocks from the house our parents would let us go by ourselves. Every snow day that we would have from now on we knew what we were going to do and where we were going to be.
The hill consisted of this big valley that ended up running through the woods. Before it go to the woods though you could sled down either side of the valley. This soon became a hot spot as we grew up. There were a lot of memories that we had at the hills. It was where I had my first kiss which was really EXCITING. Also became the first place my friends and I got drunk. About 200 yards back from the sledding area was sugar creek; which would become our swimming hole during the summer time. This place will always be in our memories. The good and bad memories that is.
As my friends and I grew older and started skateboarding; once it snowed we would have to turn to snow boarding. No where else better to try to snow board then our hill. Since skateboarding wasn’t too hard, snow boarding was not either. We were not professionals but we tried our hardest to be. We would build ramps that got bigger in size as we gained more experience. I was lucky enough to have never broken anything but two of my friends did. Once we were better we started snow boarding down the wooded side of the valley. Which we considered the advanced part of the hill; just because of all the trees you had to dodge. Forget the snowmen I think that every child’s past time is sledding.
The hill consisted of this big valley that ended up running through the woods. Before it go to the woods though you could sled down either side of the valley. This soon became a hot spot as we grew up. There were a lot of memories that we had at the hills. It was where I had my first kiss which was really EXCITING. Also became the first place my friends and I got drunk. About 200 yards back from the sledding area was sugar creek; which would become our swimming hole during the summer time. This place will always be in our memories. The good and bad memories that is.
As my friends and I grew older and started skateboarding; once it snowed we would have to turn to snow boarding. No where else better to try to snow board then our hill. Since skateboarding wasn’t too hard, snow boarding was not either. We were not professionals but we tried our hardest to be. We would build ramps that got bigger in size as we gained more experience. I was lucky enough to have never broken anything but two of my friends did. Once we were better we started snow boarding down the wooded side of the valley. Which we considered the advanced part of the hill; just because of all the trees you had to dodge. Forget the snowmen I think that every child’s past time is sledding.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
My new Jeep-Blog 1
I knew it was time for a change when my tires began to just spin in the snow and ice this winter. I was fed up and wondered why on earth I had gotten a car. Finally the warm weather began to sink in and I knew it was time for a change. One night I headed on over to Kahlo Jeep in Noblesville to pick myself out a new ride. I knew right then exactly what I had wanted; a black Jeep Liberty with all of the extras. But when I arrived I had realize I had wasted about a half a tank of gas. Bummed and ready to give up I slowly head back towards Crawfordsville. I was going through Lebanon when I noticed a small car lot and right there shining beautifully was a brand new Jeep Cherokee Laredo. I slam on my brakes and pull into the lot. I had never thought about buying one of these, but something in my heart tugged at it. It was a shimmering black with leather seats and "oh my goodness" a sunroof. I thought to myself that this thing was perfect. I just was really worried about the price...could I afford something like this. I walk slowly up to the door hoping to talk to one of the usually annoying salesperson, but I could not find one when I wanted one. I looked on the door and noticed that I had arrived fifteen minutes too late. Bummed, I drove back to Crawfordsville. I knew that I could try again in the morning. That night I tossed and turned just thinking about driving that black beauty. I jumped out of bed as fast as I could at 8 o'clock in the morning and drove to Lebanon with great speed. As soon as I pulled in, but what do I see? A friendly salesperson just waiting there for me, it seemed as if he knew what I was after. He was extremely nice and worked within my budget. We crunched numbers for what seemed to be hours. Within' the day I must have signed away my life 100 different times until a hand shake ended the deal. And lying in the palm of my hand was a set of keys with a yellow tag that said..."2005, Grand Cherokee Laredo, Black." Now the only thing missing is my Dave Matthews Firedancer sticker sitting on the windshield; trust me I am stilling waiting for that to come in the mail. Then the Jeep will begin to feel like ALL mine!
Goofy Golfing! Blog 2
So the other day Megan and I had the great idea to go to a driving range and hit golf ball. We both do not have any experience with golfing and we knew this would be a laughing good time. As soon as I was leaving my last class in Lafayette, I called Megan up to tell her to head over. I knew we were going to have a blast. We then decided that my mom should go with us. Since she is so much fun , she is like a teenager ,and always makes any situation a blast. We soon all piled into my Jeep and headed to the driving range near New Richmond. We head out and saw such a funny sight...someone driving a machine that picks up the golf balls. It reminded us all of Happy Gilmore and we began making bets to hit that machine. I grabbed my bucket of golf balls and they followed close behind all the way to our spots. First thing I do is grab my camera and began taking pictures of my mom and Megan hitting golf balls. Let's just say this was such a funny sight to see three goofy girls trying our best to hit golf balls. We all missed the balls and did a funny spin. Right after I missed I turned around and a golf ball came flying at me. Somehow Megan had hit me with the golf ball. This made us drop to the ground and just die laughing. I can't remember the last time I had cried from laughing. I was extremely excited to hit the ball clear to the yellow flag which to everyone else was only 160 yards. Lying out in front of Megan was a huge pile of white....let's just say she did not hit her golf balls very far. My mom had the best golf swing I have ever seen. Her little body put out so much effort and will all that strength behind her swing, the golf balls seemed to only travel with a slow pace. I had such a great time that day. We all knew the next day we would be sore, because it must have taken us two hours to get through our huge bucket of balls. I can not wait until the day that we can go golfing on a real course, since we have become instant pros overnight!
Advertising blog 9
We talked about advertising in class, and if the messages they send do or do not affect how we think. A lot of people got upset at the thought that advertising effects how they think, but if you think about it; it does affect us greatly. If you look back to even the early 1900’s advertising had an effect on what was bought, what was thought, and what was worn. The propaganda that was used did influence people’s thinking. During WWII they had posters about car pooling, about how evil Japan and Germany were, and to buy war bonds. People believed these advertisements and propaganda so strongly that even today you can see the effects of them. After WWII, there was the McCarthyism that struck the country. McCarthy was a senator that tried anyone who was different and said that they were communists. There was propaganda up about that and people freaked out. This continued until McCarthy attacked the U.S. Army; causing him to be discredited. I know that people want to think that they are totally independent, but they’re not.
Even now we have advertisements that shape our way of thinking. Just think about the concept of beauty. In Marylyn Monroe’s time, a beautiful woman was considered to have big hips and big breasts. Later on it became a skinny woman with no hips or breasts. Now it is a skinny woman with large breasts but no hips. You want to know how you can tell the tastes have changed? Just look at who the famous models are now. They have gotten that way from advertising. All of the latest styles come from Italy usually, right; those styles come here and presto, instant attractiveness change. It is amazing. How do you think you want to wear Abercrombie and finch? You see sexy people in those clothes and it goes to your mind that, “Hey, if I dress like that then I will be coo and sexy too.” Why else would you pay almost 100 dollars for ONE pair of jeans that are going to fall apart soon anyways?
Even now we have advertisements that shape our way of thinking. Just think about the concept of beauty. In Marylyn Monroe’s time, a beautiful woman was considered to have big hips and big breasts. Later on it became a skinny woman with no hips or breasts. Now it is a skinny woman with large breasts but no hips. You want to know how you can tell the tastes have changed? Just look at who the famous models are now. They have gotten that way from advertising. All of the latest styles come from Italy usually, right; those styles come here and presto, instant attractiveness change. It is amazing. How do you think you want to wear Abercrombie and finch? You see sexy people in those clothes and it goes to your mind that, “Hey, if I dress like that then I will be coo and sexy too.” Why else would you pay almost 100 dollars for ONE pair of jeans that are going to fall apart soon anyways?
Friday, May 2, 2008
'Tona blog 8
Do you remember your first car? You know, the car that you paid for with your own money. I remember mine. It was a 1988 red Dodge Daytona; it was and is my dream car. I loved it even though it was old and starting to fall apart. It wasn’t a beautiful thing to look at, but that didn’t matter. The driver’s side door would not unlock with a key if you unlocked; the passenger side door didn’t open from the outside; and if you accidentally locked all the doors, you had to crawl in from the trunk to open the doors. It was great. How I got it is an interesting story. My mother actually bought it for her window-washing business. When I saw it then, I was instantly in love with it. It was that cheap car that was actually in fairly good condition; well eventually she got to the point where she wanted a truck because it would be easier to tote everything around in. So the vehicle went to my brother and me so that we could drive to school. We paid, mostly me, the gas while mom and dad paid the insurance.
It was also at this time that we were working at the RCA Dome concession stands to raise money for the band and the winter guard. Since my brother had a job, and was working all the time; I got “volunteered” to ALWAYS work at the dome. At first it was fun but after the 30th time you work there, you start to dread it. So as a way to make it up to me, mom and dad decided to give me the car. They said that since I was always working at the dome; I had earned the five hundred dollars they had spent on it.
Now you know this story doesn’t have a happy ending because this is all in past tense. Well it was the morning of my graduation open house; I was on my way to pick up my boyfriend. He was going to help us set up the chairs, balloons, pictures, etc. I was driving along to go get him; when at the intersection next to Pizza Hut and 47, in Crawfordsville, this girl ran the red light. You have no idea how hard a hit is at 30 miles per hour unless you have experienced it. Well she T-boned me on the passenger side, bent up the wheel well, and officially totaled my car. I was so upset that I cried, but I also felt a queer sort of pride because the SUV that had hit me was completely totaled, more totaled than my ‘tona. That was the end of her but I someday I will own another ‘tona. A red ’88 Dodge Daytona, my dream car.
It was also at this time that we were working at the RCA Dome concession stands to raise money for the band and the winter guard. Since my brother had a job, and was working all the time; I got “volunteered” to ALWAYS work at the dome. At first it was fun but after the 30th time you work there, you start to dread it. So as a way to make it up to me, mom and dad decided to give me the car. They said that since I was always working at the dome; I had earned the five hundred dollars they had spent on it.
Now you know this story doesn’t have a happy ending because this is all in past tense. Well it was the morning of my graduation open house; I was on my way to pick up my boyfriend. He was going to help us set up the chairs, balloons, pictures, etc. I was driving along to go get him; when at the intersection next to Pizza Hut and 47, in Crawfordsville, this girl ran the red light. You have no idea how hard a hit is at 30 miles per hour unless you have experienced it. Well she T-boned me on the passenger side, bent up the wheel well, and officially totaled my car. I was so upset that I cried, but I also felt a queer sort of pride because the SUV that had hit me was completely totaled, more totaled than my ‘tona. That was the end of her but I someday I will own another ‘tona. A red ’88 Dodge Daytona, my dream car.
My Parents: Blog 1
My mom is the person in my life that means the most to me. She is the person that I can go to if I need anything at all. She will do anything for me to make my life easier. I admirer her for every thing she has been through and for the compassion she shows my sisters and me. She will sacrifice her happiness to make us girls happy. She became a mom at the very young age of seventeen. Although her and my dad had me at a very young age they stepped up to the plate and did what they had to do to raise their children. My mom had all three of us girls by the time she reached age twenty three. She was a great mom even though she was still a kid her self.
I have no idea how she did what she did. I could not imagine being a mother at my age, let alone having two kids by the age of twenty. Although you still see young mothers quite a bit today, a lot of them seem to push the job of raising the baby on someone else. That was not my mom’s case at all. Her and my dad did it all on their own, with out the help of anyone else or even money from the state like a lot of people do these days. They had jobs and sacrificed things in their lives to be able to take care of our family by them selves. They both have great paying jobs and with out their hard work I wouldn’t have the things I have today.
I wouldn’t be able to go to college and have a nice house, or clothes on my back with out good parents. They are relatively strict parents, and it used to drive me crazy, but I wouldn’t be the girl I am today if they would have let me do what ever I wanted. I wouldn’t be a goal oriented person that wants to succeed in life if it wasn’t for my mom and dad. They push me to do the best that I can and to do good in school so that I can one day fulfill my life goal of becoming a nurse. If my parents had not of taught me to work for what I want and that for every action there is a consequence, then who knows what type of person I would be today.
I want to succeed in life so that I can make my parents proud. To show them that every thing that they have done for me paid off in the long run. I know that I will make them happy they day I become a nurse. Me succeeding will make them feel as if they did a good job at raising me. And ill be the first person to tell them that they have.
I have no idea how she did what she did. I could not imagine being a mother at my age, let alone having two kids by the age of twenty. Although you still see young mothers quite a bit today, a lot of them seem to push the job of raising the baby on someone else. That was not my mom’s case at all. Her and my dad did it all on their own, with out the help of anyone else or even money from the state like a lot of people do these days. They had jobs and sacrificed things in their lives to be able to take care of our family by them selves. They both have great paying jobs and with out their hard work I wouldn’t have the things I have today.
I wouldn’t be able to go to college and have a nice house, or clothes on my back with out good parents. They are relatively strict parents, and it used to drive me crazy, but I wouldn’t be the girl I am today if they would have let me do what ever I wanted. I wouldn’t be a goal oriented person that wants to succeed in life if it wasn’t for my mom and dad. They push me to do the best that I can and to do good in school so that I can one day fulfill my life goal of becoming a nurse. If my parents had not of taught me to work for what I want and that for every action there is a consequence, then who knows what type of person I would be today.
I want to succeed in life so that I can make my parents proud. To show them that every thing that they have done for me paid off in the long run. I know that I will make them happy they day I become a nurse. Me succeeding will make them feel as if they did a good job at raising me. And ill be the first person to tell them that they have.
My Pets
At my house we have three dogs, two cats, and ten horses. That is a lot of animals! I personally don’t consider the horses pets, because I never mess with them. My parents on the other hand absolutely love the horses. I am more of a dog or cat person. I don’t know why I don’t like horses a lot, but I think the main reason is that they aren’t very loving animals. Horses usually don’t even learn their names, and they never seem happy to see you unless you have food for them. Dogs and cats on the other hand are always at the door ready to greet you when you walk in.
My cat Charlie is the pet that I’ve had the longest. I've had him around eight years or so. Charlie is orange and white with the biggest belly you have ever seen on a cat. I bet that cat weighs at least 20-25 pounds. He is huge. Charlie is the typical lazy cat. He loves to sleep, eat, and be rubbed on. Sometimes I wish that I could be Charlie for a day. He definitely has a nice and easy life. Mama cat on the other hand is a barn ct we have. She ended up living in our horse barn one winter and has never left since. She is a black and white cat. You can really tell she is an outside cat. She used to be scared to death of people until we started feeding her. She lets us pet her now, but she isn’t as loving as Charlie. Neither one other cats like the dogs.
We have three dogs that stay inside. Daisy is a golden retriever, Springer is a boxer, and Maddie, the newest addition to the family, is a rat terrier. Daisy is a laid back dog that loves the water and playing fetch. She also likes to chew up all of my socks. She loves water so much sometimes she swims in the horses' water trough. That really pisses my mom off because she gets hair in the water. We used to breed golden retrievers and Daisy was our main female. Springer was a what I call a hand-me-down. She was given to us by a former cop. Springer is our guard dog. No person would ever walk foot in our house by themselves because Springer would tear them up. She may sound like a mean, viscous dog, bit actually she is probably the most loving dog I have ever had. She acts like a person. She sits on the couch like a person, and even sleeps under the blankets on a pillow. Springer is also one over fed beast. We had to put her on a diet because her joint were beginning to go out on her from being so over weight. Maddie is the little rat terrier I bought myself for Christmas. I fell in love with her when I saw her at the pet store. She was the smallest dog that I’ve seen. She could fit in my sweat shirt pocket. Now that she is older she is still fairly small. Maddie weighs around 5 pounds. It’s funny to see her next to Charlie. She is by far the most hyper dog of the bunch
My cat Charlie is the pet that I’ve had the longest. I've had him around eight years or so. Charlie is orange and white with the biggest belly you have ever seen on a cat. I bet that cat weighs at least 20-25 pounds. He is huge. Charlie is the typical lazy cat. He loves to sleep, eat, and be rubbed on. Sometimes I wish that I could be Charlie for a day. He definitely has a nice and easy life. Mama cat on the other hand is a barn ct we have. She ended up living in our horse barn one winter and has never left since. She is a black and white cat. You can really tell she is an outside cat. She used to be scared to death of people until we started feeding her. She lets us pet her now, but she isn’t as loving as Charlie. Neither one other cats like the dogs.
We have three dogs that stay inside. Daisy is a golden retriever, Springer is a boxer, and Maddie, the newest addition to the family, is a rat terrier. Daisy is a laid back dog that loves the water and playing fetch. She also likes to chew up all of my socks. She loves water so much sometimes she swims in the horses' water trough. That really pisses my mom off because she gets hair in the water. We used to breed golden retrievers and Daisy was our main female. Springer was a what I call a hand-me-down. She was given to us by a former cop. Springer is our guard dog. No person would ever walk foot in our house by themselves because Springer would tear them up. She may sound like a mean, viscous dog, bit actually she is probably the most loving dog I have ever had. She acts like a person. She sits on the couch like a person, and even sleeps under the blankets on a pillow. Springer is also one over fed beast. We had to put her on a diet because her joint were beginning to go out on her from being so over weight. Maddie is the little rat terrier I bought myself for Christmas. I fell in love with her when I saw her at the pet store. She was the smallest dog that I’ve seen. She could fit in my sweat shirt pocket. Now that she is older she is still fairly small. Maddie weighs around 5 pounds. It’s funny to see her next to Charlie. She is by far the most hyper dog of the bunch
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The First Time It Snowed
The first time that I ever remember seeing snow I was probably 4
years old. I know that I was pretty young but, it seems like it was
only a few days ago. I was at my mom and dads house. I don't remember
everything that I saw, but I do remember how pretty the snow was. I
remember how excited I got at the thought of going outside to play in
it. I think that I was watching TV. I usually got up before my parents
when I was four.
We had this big sliding glass door right next to the kitchen. My mom
must have got up and started to cook breakfast. She then told me to
come over to her because she had something to show me. She said it was
snowing outside, and that there was snow all over the ground. I got up
and ran as fast as I could over to the big sliding glass door. All of
these pretty white things were falling out of the sky. I immediately
fell in love with this snow, and wanted to go outside and explore for
myself. My mom later told me that I stood at the window until she
finally gave in and took me out.
Once I was able to finally go outside I did not know what to do with
myself. My mom and I walked over to this hill. She was carrying this
big red plastic thing that she said we could sit down on and ride down
the hill. We made it to the hill and lay what I know now as a sled
down on the ground. I climbed in first, and then my mom sat behind me.
I was really scared to go down the hill, but I told my mom I was ready
anyway. She gave us a little push and we flew down the hill. I
absolutely loved every second of it, and could not wait to drag my
tired mom up the hill as many times as I could talk her into.
After we got done playing outside, we walked back to the house. When
we got there I realized just how cold I really was, and how much I
really did not care. My mom then made us some hot chocolate. After we
drank that my mom bundled me back up and let me go play in the
backyard. After that day I could'nt wait until it would snow again. I
would always ask my mom when was it going to snow, and when it did I
was always outside.
years old. I know that I was pretty young but, it seems like it was
only a few days ago. I was at my mom and dads house. I don't remember
everything that I saw, but I do remember how pretty the snow was. I
remember how excited I got at the thought of going outside to play in
it. I think that I was watching TV. I usually got up before my parents
when I was four.
We had this big sliding glass door right next to the kitchen. My mom
must have got up and started to cook breakfast. She then told me to
come over to her because she had something to show me. She said it was
snowing outside, and that there was snow all over the ground. I got up
and ran as fast as I could over to the big sliding glass door. All of
these pretty white things were falling out of the sky. I immediately
fell in love with this snow, and wanted to go outside and explore for
myself. My mom later told me that I stood at the window until she
finally gave in and took me out.
Once I was able to finally go outside I did not know what to do with
myself. My mom and I walked over to this hill. She was carrying this
big red plastic thing that she said we could sit down on and ride down
the hill. We made it to the hill and lay what I know now as a sled
down on the ground. I climbed in first, and then my mom sat behind me.
I was really scared to go down the hill, but I told my mom I was ready
anyway. She gave us a little push and we flew down the hill. I
absolutely loved every second of it, and could not wait to drag my
tired mom up the hill as many times as I could talk her into.
After we got done playing outside, we walked back to the house. When
we got there I realized just how cold I really was, and how much I
really did not care. My mom then made us some hot chocolate. After we
drank that my mom bundled me back up and let me go play in the
backyard. After that day I could'nt wait until it would snow again. I
would always ask my mom when was it going to snow, and when it did I
was always outside.
Writer's Block
I have writer’s block. Throughout this semester I have been able to sit down and write without much effort except for this last blog. With all the other blogs I have either read something than wrote about it or thoughts just came to me, and the words would just flow. This has not been the case this time; I have stayed awake to see 3:00 a.m. for days now worrying myself sick over the ending of the semester. I have been challenged with trying to balance school, my three boys and everything their lives intel, and trying to conquer my deep fear of computers. The hardest part has been trying to keep myself from going into neither a depressant state nor a manic state; this has proved to be impossible. Getting out of bed and going to school has been a rollercoaster. I am sometimes so excited, I can’t wait to arrive at school and get that feeling of knowledge and accomplishment. Then there is the other end of the spectrum. I could lie in bed forever and forget I am trying to reach a goal and in this state I could careless. Both are very extreme feelings. I have been told by people when I am in a manic state to slow down. I would begin on my homework and continue doing it for days without sleeping or eating. I would read and reread assignments and try to commit things to memory, but in this state of mind most knowledge does not stick. I have written one thing after another and then come back later to find the writing doesn’t make since. I sometimes do extra math problems because my anxiety gets out of control, and I worry that I won’t remember the processes of how to do them when it comes time for a test. The down side is being depressed. I consider this to be a more difficult mood to stabilize or maybe I just like being full throttle in a manic state. During depression all I want to do is sleep and forget the world around me exists. My school work piles up. I start to become extremely overwhelmed, and then I curl up in ball. It takes an outside person to help me out of this. I have to be forced to eat, forced to get up off of the couch or bed, and then finally forced out the door. I have found this to be the only way to start functioning on my own again. I would like to say I have periods of normality, but being that they are so few and far between I can’t say much about them. All I know now is that my writer’s block is gone.
Being Aware
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, so I decided to look into the child abuse problem we have in Montgomery County. I called The Division of Family and Children to find out how the department works. The supervisor’s name is Amy Wals. She first explained what happens when a call is made to them reporting child abuse. If it is a serious report, the case is assigned to one of our only 16 caseworkers. If the report is made about a child being neglected, the caseworker then has up to five days to begin an investigation. I realize that procedures are procedures but a child could easily die in this amount of time. If the report comes and it is an accusation of a child in immediate danger, the caseworker has 24 hours to just make contact with the family in question. This disturbed me greatly. The child is in danger and is waiting to be rescued and all they do is call ahead to warn the family in question. Between the months of January 2007 and December 2007 there was an average of 88 reports made each month. The supervisor did not have record of exactly how many children were actually removed from their homes. Another large problem we have is the fact that there are approximately 40,000 people in Montgomery County, yet there are only 14 foster families. Of these 14 families most are either full or no longer accepting children. It takes only about four weeks to become a licensed family, but it takes a big heart and hard work to open your house to children in need. In the case that a child would need removed from their home and there was no available placement, the child in question would then be transported to a different county. Unfortunately, other neighboring counties have the same problem we have, no placement. With the lack of foster homes in this county or should I say state, you would think Indiana would have some type of solution. I thought the state might possibly have some children’s shelter for these innocent victims to await proper placement, but no. There is only one in the entire state called The Guardians Home and of course, it is full. I believe politicians don’t care to spend money for children because children don’t vote so therefore, they don’t count. Politicians mostly address inner city kids because that is what they directly see. These children at least have a little advantage over abused country kids. The inner city kids might be able to make it to a soup kitchen or get to a police officer. In the country there is no one around to hear the screams.
First Deer
One of my favorite memories to look back on is the first time I ever killed a deer. It was very early in the morning and it was very cold out. At least that is what my dad told me when he woke me up that morning. I rolled out of bed and began putting on what seemed like ten layers of clothes. When I was finally dressed I could barely move my limbs. We loaded our guns up and the other supplies we thought we were going or might need that day, and headed for the woods. I fell asleep on the drive out there. I woke up when my dad shut the truck off and asked me if I was ready. I jumped out of the truck and we started our mile hike to the ground blind we had set up a few weeks earlier. When we got there it was still dark outside so I just sat there for a while. I was only 12 years old and was bored out of my mind. When the sun finally started to come up the forest came to life. All of the birds started to sing and every once in a while you would see a squirrel on the ground. After a few moments we started to hear gunfire in the distance. It was not that far away so I was getting excited. We sat in that same spot all day. It was going to be dark in about an hour when I saw the first deer. Then I realized that there were two of them. I looked over at my dad and he told me to shoot the bigger of the two. I took aim and fired my first shot. The deer that I did not shoot at was still just standing there so I shot her too. About fifteen minutes later a buck walked in front of me. I looked over at my dad again and he told me to shoot him too. I could not believe it. I was about to shoot my third deer of the day. I aimed as carefully as I could at the heart of the deer. When I was good and ready I pulled the trigger. Nothing happened; I realized that I was out of ammunition. I looked over at my dad and lipped what the problem was. He did not have any bullets for my gun either, and did not have a buck tag. I had to sit and watch my first buck get away from me.
The First and Only Car
The first car that I ever bought will defenatly be the car that I wish I would have never gotten rid of. The year was 2004. It was January and the roads were covered in snow and ice. I was on my way up to Lafayette to go out to eat with some friends. Well I got up there a little too early, so I was thinking of something I could do for a couple hours to kill some time. I am not much of a mall person, so I decided that I was going to go test drive some cars. I had no idea what I was about to do. I pulled in Mike Raisor Ford and got out of the car. A man came out to greet me and see if there was anything he could do for me. I told him that I was just looking around and I would let him know if I needed anything I needed. I walked up and down the rows of cars for a while and then I came to what I thought had to be one of the best looking cars on the lot. I don’t believe in love at first sight, but I fell in love with that car the second I seen it. It was a 2004 Mustang GT. It was a two-tone color of blue and purple, five speed. After I looked the car up and down for a few minutes, I casually walked up to the man that approached me a short while ago. He smiled and greeted me again as I asked him if I could drive that car. He went to the back to grab the keys and a temporary license plate for the car. He came back and we were on our way. I drove the car around town for a while and then we headed back to the dealership. The whole time we were going back he was of coarse telling me what a great deal he could get me on that car. By time we got back to the dealership we had already made a verbal agreement that if the loan went through we had a deal. The loan did go through and I went and picked up my new car a few days later. Two years after I bought it I traded it in on another car. I don’t know why I made that decision, but I think I am going to regret it for a long time.
Spring Fun
I am starting to get very excited about spring. I can't wait to go
mushroom hunting, and fishing. Spring has to be my favorite time of
the year. The woods come to life before your very eyes. All of the
trees start budding, and the flowers start blooming. Finally after
waiting through all of those cold months. It is time to go outside and
get some fresh air. Around the third week in April the mushrooms will
start to come up for everyone to find. Usually I like to start the mushroom season off in the southern part of the state. It seems like every year they start to come up in the southern part of the state, and then they make there way north. Around the same time the mushrooms come up you can bet that it is time to go fishing too.
The bluegills start bighting in the ponds, and the silver bass start to run up the creeks. There is no better day in the spring than one where a person can catch a mess of fish and a few pounds of mushrooms all in the same place and time. I remember the first time that I ever found a mushroom. I was about two years old. My family lived right next to some woods on the edge of town. I remember I walked into the woods just to play around. I was walking down this little trail when I seen my first mushroom. I did not know exactly what it was, but I picked it and started towards home. I went in the house to find my dad so I could ask him about my find. When I showed him the mushroom his face lit up like a lantern. He took me outside and wanted me to show him exactly where I had found the mushroom. I took him back to the exact spot on the forest floor where I had found that mushroom. There was a bunch more not too far away. We went back to the house and my dad grabbed a couple of grocery bags. We went back to that spot in the woods and starting putting all of them into the bag we could find. We looked around for an hour or so and then we headed home. Later that night I remember my mom cooking all of those mushrooms. I ate them until I got sick to my stomach. From then on I have always enjoyed the spring time, and one of my most favorite hobbies is to go mushroom hunting.
mushroom hunting, and fishing. Spring has to be my favorite time of
the year. The woods come to life before your very eyes. All of the
trees start budding, and the flowers start blooming. Finally after
waiting through all of those cold months. It is time to go outside and
get some fresh air. Around the third week in April the mushrooms will
start to come up for everyone to find. Usually I like to start the mushroom season off in the southern part of the state. It seems like every year they start to come up in the southern part of the state, and then they make there way north. Around the same time the mushrooms come up you can bet that it is time to go fishing too.
The bluegills start bighting in the ponds, and the silver bass start to run up the creeks. There is no better day in the spring than one where a person can catch a mess of fish and a few pounds of mushrooms all in the same place and time. I remember the first time that I ever found a mushroom. I was about two years old. My family lived right next to some woods on the edge of town. I remember I walked into the woods just to play around. I was walking down this little trail when I seen my first mushroom. I did not know exactly what it was, but I picked it and started towards home. I went in the house to find my dad so I could ask him about my find. When I showed him the mushroom his face lit up like a lantern. He took me outside and wanted me to show him exactly where I had found the mushroom. I took him back to the exact spot on the forest floor where I had found that mushroom. There was a bunch more not too far away. We went back to the house and my dad grabbed a couple of grocery bags. We went back to that spot in the woods and starting putting all of them into the bag we could find. We looked around for an hour or so and then we headed home. Later that night I remember my mom cooking all of those mushrooms. I ate them until I got sick to my stomach. From then on I have always enjoyed the spring time, and one of my most favorite hobbies is to go mushroom hunting.
Something For Me
After giving birth to my two oldest sons my body would never be the same again. I was mostly concerned about the fact that my breast had shrank down to an A cup. As vain as it sounds the realization that my breast were now small and ugly threw me into a deep depression. I began hiding, only getting dressed in the dark and crying while in the shower. People say you should be happy with what you are given, but they are not me. The search was on, I wanted breast implants. I started by checking around for plastic surgeons with great reputations. I talked to other women who had the surgery. I had no idea how many different types of surgical procedures or how many different types and shapes of implants exist or how many places on the body the doctor could make an incision for the surgery. I found a doctor in Noblesville, Dr. Christopher Jones, he had the qualifications I had been searching for. I did not want someone who made their living doing nose jobs and fixing boobs all day. I wanted a doctor who did mostly reconstructive surgery not just cosmetic. Money was the next obstacle. The entire surgery from start to finish would be $4200. WOW ! And for an extra $125 I would be able to purchase a life-time guarantee on the bags that held the saline. It would also cover operating room fees, anesthesia, and surgical cost for ten years. If nothing ever goes wrong, saline implants can be left in forever or until you choose to have them removed. Although my fiance' thought it was stupid for me to get this done he agreed to pay for it anyway. My first visit was so exciting. The doctor measured my frame and chest to see what type of implant would fit me best. Luckily, since my nipple placement was the same as the average college age girl who had not had children yet I would not have to have them lifted. The doctor explained that he would only allow me to have between 375cc and 425cc of saline because he refused to let a women weighing 105 with a small frame have breast too big for her body. February 21,2003 was the day, it couldn't arrive fast enough. I walked to the operating room and the nurse had me lie back on a table that looked as if they were going to crucify me. The doctor had choose to do the endoscopic approach, which means the incision would be made under my armpit. The bag would be rolled up, placed under my pectoral muscles, and then filled with the saline. The nurse strapped my arms down, the anesthetic was given, and I started counting backwards from 100. I woke not with pain, but with absolute excitement. My insecurities about my breast were gone.
My Brother the War Hero
The war in Iraq has been hard on every American. We all have different opinions on what our country should or should not do concerning the war. The one thing we should all be thankful for is our soldiers, they keep us safe not our government. I believe that American soldiers keep us so safe that a lot of us forget we are even at war. I believe there are other heroes like people in the Red Cross and a certain few journalist that put themselves in the line of fire, but our soldiers are like the big brothers that protect us from harm. We sleep safe at night because of them. Most of us know someone who has served our country in one way or another, but I have a brother who has dedicated his life to serving America. Tech Sgt. Michael S. Shropshire has many war stories from all over the world, places most of us have never heard of or knew our country had anything to do with. My brother is in the Air force, but he was moving with the Army's 3-7 Calvary Division of the 3rd Infantry as their air control during the time we were trying to get into Baghdad in 2003. When his unit reached the bridge over the Euphrates they already knew they were out numbered, but that's the way it is when you're the first group going in. My brother began coordinating the air strikes being careful to not hit our men. Once the attack started it lasted for 78 hours straight. Down in the trenches were a few hundred versus about 3000 Iraqis and there was a terrible sandstorm that showed no signs of letting up. Our soldiers were surrounded and could not retreat to the tanks. Michael's radio was shot and ammo was running out, even the commanding officer was giving up. Michael said a prayer, took out the picture of his wife and kids he kept next to his heart and went into Rambo mode. He ran through enemy fire and got to a tank where he was able to rig the radio enough to start calling in air strikes. He had to be extremely accurate because the enemy were with in ten feet of our guys. Running back through the cross fire he was on his radio and shooting people at close range. The first jets came in taking out the tanks and the heavy artillery. The bombs then started taking out the enemies soldiers and that's the night we heard the news America has taken the bridge into Baghdad. My brother was honored by the Air Force and the Army with the Silver Star of Bravery and Courage. He saved 137 of the other soldiers with him, but they never said how many he killed. This is just the skeleton of my brother's story, most has been kept top secret and has been put into the archives of the Pentagon's top war stories. My brother has been asked by the General of the Air Force to speak to the senate twice now about issues about the war. Many writers have talked to him about writing his biography, but he has important things to do like protecting our country and doesn't have time to stop and tell stories. Yet anyway.
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