33 Things About Me

1. I was born at Cox Hospital at 5:08 am.
2. I ripped my pants in elementary school... more than once.
3. I love to do all things crafty.
4. Summer is my favorite season.
5. Christmas is my favorite holiday.
6. 4th of July is my second favorite holiday.
7. I am superstitious.
8. I am an Aries.
9. Opals are my favorite stone, even though they are not my birthstone.
10. I went to Wings when I was in elementary school but I hated it.
11. I love to plan things but I'm also unorganized and usually don't finish most of the projects I start.
12. I once stole a rubber glove from the hair salon when I was 7. I felt so bad that I didn't sleep for days and I thought I was going to jail.
13. I hate cole slaw so much.
14. I am very uncoordinated and un-athletic.
15. Contrary to number 14, I have been invloved in gymnastics and cheer since I was 5. I was involved in competitive gymnastics for 4 years.
16. I am a sensitive person even though I hate being emotional.
17. I am not good with handling sad situations.
18. I talk a lot, though I think even more.
19. When I was in 3rd grade, I loved Bratz so much that my parents redid my whole room in Bratz theme and surprised me. I cried.
20. When I was little I wanted to grow up and be a lawyer... that's not happening anymore.
21. I listen to a wide variety of music, from country to old school R&B.
22. I value spontaneous fun more than anything else.
23. I love deep talks late at night.
24. I could drive around for hours if I could afford the gas. Its the best time to think and listen to music.
25. In my spare time I love to paint.
26. I am just like my mom whether I want to admit it or not.
27. I really want to move away from Springfield but I also attached to this town.
28. I am easily overwhelmed.
29. I love making people laugh.
30. I love laughing.
31. My biggest fear is unachieved potential.
32. My first pet was a cat named Diamond.
33. I am so ready to graduate.

Childrens' Story Draft

1)Ruffles was a small puppy, much smaller than the rest of his siblings.
Ruffles loved to play, run, jump and lick, though some things were hard for Ruffle to do.
2)What Ruffles loved most was adventures with his best friend Tommy.
Tommy and Ruffles took the same walk down to the river near Tommy's house.
3)Ruffles followed everything Tommy did.
4)Tommy would jump every crack in the sidewalk, and so would Ruffles.
5)Ruffles would huff, puffy, wiggle and jiggle. But eventually, he would do it.
6)Tommy would roll down down the hill until he reached the bottom.
7)Ruffles would muffle, tuffle, tuck and bounce. But eventually he would do it.
8)Tommy would rustle through the leaves and frollic through the grass.
9)Ruffles would trip, shuffle, boop and bop. But eventually, he would do it.
10)Something about today was different however.
The stones that crossed the narrow river where Tommy and Ruffles would pass through had been moved far far apart.
11)Tommy skipped across the stones with ease, but Ruffles had a much harder time.
"Come on Ruffles, I know you can do it! Just put a little wiggle into it!" Tommy cheered at Ruffles.
12)Ruffles weebled and wobbled on the stones, his paws slipping into the water. He grunted and growled and leaped with all his might.
13)"HORRAYY RUFFLES" Tommy exclaimed! The two friends jittered with with excitement.
14)Though ruffles was small and things were hard for him, he could do everything anyone else could do. It just took a little work.

For the illustrations I am wanting to show Tommy the boy and Ruffles the puppy playing and running and Ruffles flopping around.

Children's Story Feedback for Friends

Page 1: It was just another Sunny day for the brown wiener dog Dexter, he woke up as happy as can be.
Page 2: Being an only dog, he was showered with all the love and food he could imagine.
Page 3: Since he has been a pup, he has had numerous adventures with his humans. Endless road trips, walks to the park, movie nights, swimming in the lake, the list was endless!(has been and was-past tense disagreement)
Page 4: One day his humans surprised him and brought home another puppy home, he could not believe it.
Page 5: Mom´s novio was trying to replace him!!!!!
Page 6: She was completely oblivious to his evil plan.
Page 7: The puppy´s name was Oso, he was half Dalmatian and half husky. Mom was completely in love with him!! (You could put this page before page 5 and 6 to explain the character first before discussing his motives)
Page 8: Mom was spending more time with Oso than with Dexter and he hated it. He acted on his best behavior to see if they noticed but they never did...
Page 9: Oso didn´t even speak English, just Spanish, (add a period and start a new sentence) right off the bat Dexter was way smarter than him.

Your story is very creative and I think making a bilingual book is unique. I think the kids will love this story. I think it would be very cool if you taught the kids simple spanish words throughout the story (that may be your plan already).

The giraffe who was too tall

On the first day of kindergarten all the animals arrived at school.
Their new teacher Mrs. Lamb welcomes them into her classroom.
But Grace the giraffe is too tall to get into the room! (You could write this in past tense to make the story flow all together in chronological order)
"Oh no", says Grace. "What should I do?"
Mrs. Lamb comes out and shows Grace how to duck into the classroom.

Next the class goes out to recess and all the children start going down the slide. (instead of saying next, try making a more settle transition to make the story even more live and flowing)
But Grace the giraffe is too tall to play on the slide!
"Oh no", says Grace. "What should I do?"
Mrs. Lamb comes over and states "You're too tall for the slide Grace, maybe try hopscotch!"

I love this story and the moral! I think once you get it all developed its gonna turn out great!

*This is just a start to my children's story Grace the giraffe then goes home and talks to her mom about her day and then feels better and more confident about being tall*

Author Bio

Alyssa Griffin is an author from Springfield Missouri. She is 18 years old and is the child of Quincy and Lisa Glasgow. She lives with her parents and two younger sisters, Aliyah and Miley. As a child she loved reading well-illustrated children's books with her mother before bed. Her favorite authors as a child were Dr. Suess, Jane Brett and Barbra Parks. These authors inspired Alyssa to begin her own creative writing of children's books. She loves to incorporate colorful pictures and elaborate illustrations to keep her readers entertained and to lighten and brighten her stories.

Books for Kids!

The book Will You Please Go Now is a children's book by Dr. Suess. The cover of the book is very colorful and shows a light brown furry character who is being pointed at by 3 pointing finger signs. The book includes 29 very colorful and illustrated pages. The main character in the book is Marvin K Moony. The story is told by a narrator but you never learn much about her/him. The setting does not take place in a specific place rather than it tells the story of different things Marvin K Moony can travel by such as trains, balloons, animals, ect. The narrator is telling Marvin K Moony that he does not care which method he wants to chose, he just has to go. The book includes animals as characters, uses rhymes, includes creatures, silly humor, lots of color, lots of illustrations, and repeated words and phrases.

This book has silly lines such as "Get on your way! Please, Marvin K.! You might like going in a Zumble-Zay." It is great for kids ages 5-8 because of its creativeness and goofy language.

I loved this book as a kid because I loved Dr. Suess and loved the creativeness and characters.

Childhood Memories

The most important person from my child would have to be a tie between my mom and grandma. My mother worked a lot so as a child I spent a lot of days at my grandma’s house. My grandma used to teach me how to do so many things such as bake, cook, sew and clean. We also did a lot of shopping. To say the least, my grandparents really spoiled me. My mother is also a really important person from my childhood. My mother used to always take me to the park and play with me. My mom is one of the reasons why I have such a big imagination and bubbly personality. My mom was so compassionate towards me and spoiled me with so much love. I am so thankful for the both of them.

As a family when I was younger, my family went to Fun Acre a lot to play putt putt. We all had the course memorized and none of us were overly good at golfing, but it always made for good memories. We would pick on eachother and have fun competition. More often than not my family would let me win. We also went bowling a lot. We really enjoyed activities where we could talk and laugh and play.

As a family, mine bickers just like every other family. I was an only child until the age of 7, so i got a lot of attention. We didn’t fight a lot then because our family was small and simple. Now I have 2 younger sisters who require most of the attention and my parents both work full time. Our schedules can be chaotic and we fuss from time to time with everything always going on. My family is also very close and comfortable with each other so though we may fight, we quickly get over it.

My favorite game as a child was the game of life. I’m not quite sure why but having a child in that game was always my favorite part. I would cheat a lot so that I ended up with the nicest house, the most money, and a full car of kids. My family knew I cheated and they usually let me get by with it. My family never enjoyed board games as much as I did so they never took it very serious. If I wasn’t playing house, I was playing Monopoly. I loved games involving fake money.

As a kid I really loved lasagna. I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to now. I would always ask my mom to make it for dinner. My family has always let each person pick one meal for the week. That was almost always my choice. I also really loved lasagna because I loved watching Garfield and that’s all he ever ate.

Inspired by Tom Wesselmann

Cancer they say is what it brings
Smoking is but of poison to the lungs
Such a small object but of great consequence
To refrain is to maintain health
But to indulge is to maintain sanity
Though they say the do not smoke
A small drag once and again keeps them going
When days get long and work gets tough
Though it is of but poison to the lungs
On occasion it is of but the end of a long day

So simplistic it is

Life is made so complicated, yet it is simple

So long as that is of what you make it

Materialistic objects bring of but greed and misfortune

But small objects, necessities, bring of the American dream

Great wealth is brought to those with things of little value

Simple foods and valuables in which serve purpose but respect a budget

simplicity is the heart of homemade American meals and average American homes

Simple is what was retro America

Inspired By Hoper

She looked down at her gauge, realizing she was completely in the red

The dash board kept screaming out with the blinking "empty gas" light

With a sigh of desperation and exhaustion, she began to look for the nearest gas station

Knowing nothing of her surroundings, she felt uneasy and lost

Upon winding down the narrow dirt road she approached a small building

It was a small but friendly gas station

she was relieved

What she thought would be a quick stop turned into something much more

through this family owned stop she met people so different from what she knew

these were not city people, nor were they the cold and crisp people she longed to escape

The greeted her kindly with a full tank and the internal feeling of comfort
This was something she had search for so long to find
Not only did the people provide her with a sense of belonging and support
The air felt clean and warm against her skin
the scene was painted with such beautiful shades of green and yellow
she could hear the chirps of birds and the calm whistle of the low traffic
This town felt right with her soul and made promises of a new life and a new future
these people felt like lifetime friends who would take her in as family and show her love and great compassion

What was once a small building on a dirt road

was now home

Tom Wesselmann

Tom Wesselmann born February 23rd 1931 in Cincinnati Ohio

Tom first began an education at Hiram College in 1945

Before finishing his degree he was drafted to the US Army

He served stateside during the Korean War

With his return home he decided to finish out a bachelors in psychology

He transferred to the University of Ohio to do so

While he was passionate about psychology, he wanted to pursue art

Moving to New York, he attended Cooper Union Academy of Arts and Architecture in 1956

He began with cartoon strips in which would bring small fortunes

This served as Wesselmann's main income along with teaching

He had a passion for the new movement of Pop Art and had little interest in the current trend of Abstract Expressionism

He began many series in which included "Great American Nudes" and "Still Life"

He had his first exhibition at the Tanager Gallery in New York in 1961

In 1963 he married his long life best friend, Claire Selley

Wesselmann had 2 daughters, Jenny and Kate, and 1 son named Lane

Wesselman Died on December 17th 2004 due to heart failure

 

 

 

 

 

Window Poem

The window covered majority of the wall

kneeling on the couch I would look out

On rainy days I saw dreary houses and empty sidewalks

 

Out the window I could see the red truck that sat across the street

chain-link fences running side to side

straight ahead I could spot a dark red brick house

and on their drive ran cracks and overgrown weeds

and below their window grew a small garden landscape

 

To my left is the start of a trail

a trail Mom and I would often walk

Today the sun rays peak through the pane

Days like today are perfect for adventures with Mom

Through this window I see the best of my childhood

 

I see myself learning to ride a bike, my first dog, and ice cream trucks

I see walks home from school and telling mom about my day

 

In the distance I see St. Johns

The hospital where I would soon meet my little sister for the first time

Miles away I see a new house with a new story and a new view



Memorable Passage

“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

-To Kill a Mockingbird

This passage stands out to me because I believe this book was creative in creating a bold analogy. The mockingbird represents innocents. To kill a mockingbird would be to kill innocents. I think there are two ways this could be interpreted. I believe the little girl loses her innocents when she becomes educated upon the ugly truths of the discrimination of her town. I also believe this represents to false accusation upon the innocent black man. This book was such a beautiful novel to me in the way in which it told a sad yet realistic story of discrimination and racism.

Writers as Readers

When I read a book, it is very important I am comfortable. I like reading in a comfortable position that won't strain my neck. I will often ready in my bed, leaning on pillows and warm under blankets. I also need silence in order to read. I am very easily distracted so noise is frusterating for me when I am trying to digest a plot. I must also have good lighting. I have a really hard time reading in dim lights and they cause me to be drowsy.
The genre I enjoy the most is realistic fiction. I enjoy a book more if I can relate the characters emotions and situations. Realistic plots do a better job at reaching my feelings and drawing my into the plot. I start to feel like I know the characters personally and I am deeply affected by what they go through. I do not connect with other genres as well because I find them hard to relate to and cheesy.
One of my best memories connected with reading is when I finished my first chapter book in which was not Junie B Jones or Captain Underpants. The first book I finished cover to cover all on my own was Jane in Bloom. At the time I had decided reading wasn't for me. I found it boring and hard to invest in. I am more of an artistic person so I didn't spend much time with books. At first I dreaded reading the book. But as I began to read it , I was hooked. I cried, laughed, cried and laughed some more. I became attached to the characters and wouldn't put the book down. Once I finished the book, I was so proud of myself for actually staying engaged in it and finishing it all the way through. I realized then I loved reading, I just had to find the right material for me to read.
The first teacher who introduced me to reading was my first grade teacher, Mrs. Zinter. She would read Junie B Jones to us every day. She had such animation in her voice and made the books come to life. Because of her, I still to this day own every book in the series.
I think reading can really improve your writing. Being exposed to new ideas, vocabulary, and grammatical structure can teach you thinks you don't even realize you're learning. Reading is a great way to boost your writing abilities and expose yourself to a wide variety of literature and writing styles/techniques.

In The News [papers]

Two Dead After Eating Listeria-Contaminated Cheese in Connecticut and Vermont

Ratatouille had been running the business for over 5 years now and business had been great. It took a while for the idea of a rodent chef to attract consumers, but his food was irresistible. He had a few downfalls with some kitchen but staff, but for the most part had maintained the same kitchen crew. Just when he thought things were finally working out for him, tragedy happened.

It was all over the news and it couldn't be denied. Two were dead after consuming his delicate cheesy dish. Ratatouille was never dirty in any way, and had always maintained top sanitation. He knew this had not been his fault, but he also understood that this would be the downfall of his business. More than anything, he was sad to know he ruined the legacy of the late Gusto.

Six Word Memior

In the end, I thank Momma

Keeping It Real (like Dan)

Can you know in three days if you love someone? I do not think you can know if you love someone in three days. I think it takes a lot longer to know a person than three days. I think you can learn something new about a person everyday. You won’t learn all of person's bad habits and and guilty pleasures in three days. I believe that you fall in love with people over time. Love is something that is grown between two people the more you get to know each other and become closer.
Describe your perfect day My perfect day would include being with the people I care about most on the beach. We would start off the day with fresh fruit for breakfast. Then we would go to the beach and soak up the sun. The day would be wrapped up with shopping and eating a nice dinner on the beach while watching the sunset.

What are three tips you would give parents to teenagers? The first tip I would give to parents raising teenagers is that 1) You must be understanding with your teenager. At that age, things don’t always make sense the way they should. We don’t always make the best decisions and we don’t always reason situations the way we should, but we’re just trying to figure out who we are and what we want out of our life experiences. 2) Because is never a good explanation. To us that just means there is no good reason behind whatever it is, you guys just really like the word know and shutting us down. 3) Let us know when you’re disappointed, even when we don’t  want it. However don’t forget to let us know when we make you proud too. Yes we mess up a lot but we also do more than you would realize just to make you happy. Let us know we’re doing alright every now and then.

Marty says, "Love isn't a feeling, it is an ability" I believe this to be true. I don't think you always feel love. You make the choice every day to work harder to love someone. Loving someone is a promise you make to yourself and that person, and the dedication to compromise and care for someone else like you would yourself.

"Reely" Good Quotes

-Matilda

I fell so completely in love with these shoes, I bought enough pairs to last my whole lifetime. This is my last pair.
-Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

"Reel" Life

My favorite movie is a tie between quite a few movies. My top favorites would be Matilda, Nanny Mcfee, Series of Unfortunate Events and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. I have a deep love for children's movies. I believe I will always be a child at heart. I am not as big of a fan of more modern day children's movies because I feel like the moral lesson to be taught if often to cheesy or over used. These movies stand out to me because they not only teach unique lessons about the values of life and importance of intangible things, bu they also uphold unique plots. All of these movies seek out plots that stay unique from the beginning to the end, without cheating detail or becoming too predictable. These movies are very well thought out and crafted with creativity and magic.
My least favorite types of movies are action movies. I have found very few action movies to be intriguing. For me personally, I cannot stay attentive with mature films for the most part. Most action movies include violence and battle and those are things I have never cared to watch.
I watch movies at least a few times a week. Occationally I will go to the theater but I mostly prefer to stay in and cuddle up to some Netflix.
When I watch a movie I really enjoy, I get really frusterated when people talk or get on their phones. I do not enjoy watching movies with other people who aren't engaged or enjoying a movie. I also have to watch movies in darkness. I cannot stand to watch movies with light glaring against the screen. I have to be comfy and warm if I'm going to be watching a movie, otherwise its hard for me to be engaged in what I'm watching. I also like snacks and drinks during a movie, just for something to do and enjoy while I sit through the movie.
This quiz says that I enjoy Pleasure-Seeking, Nostalgia, Catharsis and Sensation-Seeking movies the most. I would agree with that for the most part. I enjoy Sensation-Seeking movies as far as horror films go but I hate action.
If I had a movie about my life I would have Ana De Armas play me because I think she is stunning. My life movie would be about me growing up as a child and working hard to accomplish my dreams. It would probably include romance and me falling in love. I would wish for it to end with me overcoming hardship and making an impact on the world.

This is... Photo Writing

This is my team

The team made up of many bonds and memories

the team who has shared many tears, laughs, love and hate

This is a chilly, fall football Friday

Lining up side by side by the Teepee waiting for the football players to rush through

Singing boys of fall, swaying side to side

Eager to watch the boys kick but and hoping for a chance at state

This is before the season was over

Before we cheered side by side one last time

Before the last team huddle where we shared joy and energy and excitement

This is one of the last times we stood side by side on that track out beside the football field on a windy Friday evening

This is one of the last time we could look at each other and knew we belong to something bigger and bonded

This is what is left of high school nights and football memories

This is my team before season was over and our lives went in new directions

This is forever love

Flea Market Photo

Hellen Marie Frank and Alice May Frank were the daughters of Jean Paul and Laura Frank. The girls were born in a small town in Wisconsin. Hellen is age 11 in this photography and Alice is 8. The girls grew up in a middle class family and spent their days studying and helping their mom around the house cooking and cleaning. Their father Jean Paul was a hardworking man who spent most of his days at the factory helping cut and sort metal. His working conditions were hard and he often came home agrivated. Jean Paul and Laura worked hard to give the girls nice things and keep the house up. 

One cloudy morning, Laura had just finished reviewing school words with the two girls and decided to head to the store to pick up dinner to be prepared before Jean Paul got home. On this particular day the air felt stiff and cold. No birds flocked, no dogs barked, and no roosters crowed. It was if the world did not wake up that morning. When the girls returned to the house to unpack their groceries, they found something very stomach wrenching. Their father seemed very enraged and began acting very out of sorts. All you should know is that the family was never found again. To this day, this photo is the last to have been taken of the girls.

Photo Hunt + Captions + Hashtags

 I've always thought these plants looked like mini corn on the cobs #areinsideplantsevenconsiderednature

Goal: eating well and traveling often. Reality: eating potato chips on my couch. #handwrittenlifeadvice

 If I've learned anything from high school, it is how much one teacher can change your life in just a few short months #coolerthanthecatspajamas

 Ohio is getting my better half. Thank you for 4 years of smiles and laughs #bestfriendsformiles 

 4 years later and I still make sure I'm always stepping over the chief head. #onceachiefalwaysachief

This book actually turned out to be alright. #abookofmanywords

If nothing else, I will miss Nance so much #Iwannabemorelikeyou

Is it too late for me to watch Star Wars for the first time? #whathappenedtomychildhood

Ive always been bothered by the fact that pluto is now a moon #onceaplanetalwaysaplanet

From this angle it kinda looks like I took this in prison #highschoolorprison

Photos of the Millenium

The young weep and mourn at the ache of their souls

The mothers scream at the face of despair

The rivers run muddy and infested

The food lay scarce and of great demand

Though cries reach out, the world hears but silence

The young cling to the breasts of their mothers

The mother's work to give what they can

The village hold on hand in hand

The community braces against adversity, holding on to what they have

The children lay weak, nothing but skin and bones

Though their souls reach, the world feels nothing

The young run and play with joy deep in their souls

The mothers send their children to the villages for the search of food and activities

The soil lay dry, spread level as the children chase balls and skip around

The culture runs deep throughout the village and the love warms the people at night

Though the support bonds the people, the world stays unaware

Dream Threads

A cold room puts me into the deepest sleep. I lay in bed, trying to block out the sounds of the sleepy traffic as a lay upon my cold sheets in total silence. The room is bare with darkness, as no light shines through the heavy drapes. I lay my head this way and that in hopes to find a balance in which I feel no strain on my neck. I rotate to feel as if I am sunken deep into the fabrics of my mattress. My body begs for sleep and rejuvenation but my mind fights back, running wild with thoughts. After hours and hours I begin to feel weary and my eyelids begin to droop deeper and deeper. I finally drift away into a soft sleep. This feelings is so temporary as I find myself awake once again only hours later. I look back up at the clock: five more hours, I tell myself.

Caged Bird- Inspired Piece

Freedom sings of no limitations and endless possibilities
It sings of self expression without a rubric or guidelines
It sings of acceptance and respect

Freedom sings of free land and brave citizens
It sings of goals, dreams and potential waiting to be released
It sings of people who feel compelled to meet a standard and others who feel they fall so short
It sings of people limited by burdens and personal restrictions

Freedom sings of individuality and self worth
It sings of unique belonging in a small-minded society
It sings of a bigger goal; it stands for total unity

Writers Dreaming

1.The caged bird sings for freedom. the caged bird wants to be free from the cage and fly free in the sky but instead he is trapped and limited. I understand this allegory with many real life examples. African Americans experienced similar conditions during times of slavery. African Americans would sing in the fields to pass time. They would sing songs of the free land and of freedom from slavery.

2.I believe I have to power over adversity. Growing up as a biracial female I have experienced much adversity first hand. Through much of my educational experiences I have felt what it is like to be different and have to push through criticism for things beyond my control. Yet, I have still been successful at my education and plan to continue to do so.

3.I do think talking about negative things give them more power. I have noticed when I am having a bad day, the more times i tell the story or complain about the negative events, the more sorry I become for myself and the more negative my attitude becomes. However when I try to move past negative things and focus on the positive I receive a happier response from myself.

4. I do believe that dreams may reveal things that we may not admit to ourselves. I have had dreams about feeling guilty over things I have convinced myself they no longer matter. I have also had dreams of boys I thought I know longer cared about. I think dreams can sometimes represent thoughts of our subconscious mind that we like to believe we don't think. On the other hand, I think dreams can also reflect metaphors for things going on in our lives. These are dreams such as the teeth falling out which may represent insecurities. I think all dreams are very unique and tell many different secrets.

Dream Marks On My Pillow

When I lay in bed at night and cannot sleep, i think. I think about things I have to do the next day or the following days. I often stress myself out, making it even harder to sleep.
Somtimes I will make up "what ifs" in my head, such as what would happen if someone broke into my house and what would be my plan.
Other times I may try to get on my phone and occupy my mind. Usually that wakes me up more than it puts me to sleep. I have a hard time keeping myself asleep. By mind begs for sleep  but  my body refuses. I am a very picky sleeper. It must be pitch dark and silent. My mind looks for reasons to stay awake. The bed must also be a certain temperature. I prefer for my bed and pillow to be cool but my covers to be warm. When one side of the bed becomes too warm, i will rotate to the other side. I fight sleep until my eyelids become to heavy to stay open and my body becomes weak and restless. It is then that I finally find myself falling asleep.

If I Were in Charge of the World

If i were in charge of the world, I'd cancel early mornings, deadlines, heavy traffic and also curfews.
If i were in charge of the world there'd be endless summer, no budgets, and free travel to unlimited destinations
If i were in charge of the world you wouldn't have diets.
You wouldn't have small talk
You wouldn't have Gen Ed.'s
Or "American College Testing"
You wouldn't even have student loans
If I were in charge of the world Taco Bell Cinnamon Delights would be a vegetable.
All people would be nice and have good intentions
and a person who sometimes forgot where she left her keys and sometimes forgot to be on time would still be allowed to be in charge of the world.

Paint Chip Poems

Worn turquoise rain drips

down the seal of the window pane

like soaked tears they run

With watery eyes

the sad child silently wept

the air stood calm

Crashing against rocks

tidewater salty and clear

dancing with the sand

Down where the fields sway gently

And the sun warms the air, as if hugging it tight

No one knew the little girl who danced among the flowers

Dancing for whoever would watch

Young in age she was yet old and wise at heart

Lively she glistened and shimmered like gold

In circular motions she swirled

On the days she came, the rain would cease. However,

No sun would shine without the little girl

Happiness, she radiated throughout the field

One rainy day the little girl disappeared 

No sun would shine without the little girl

Even the flowers begin to weep and droop

Yonder and near it rained and poured

But soon enough the little girl returned

Every flower replenished in vibrant colors

It was even more powerful than before she had left

Golden was the sun once more

Everlasting the girl was, dancing among the flowers

Nanny's Cookie Jar

This story is inspired by an American Atelier Buon Appetito Chef Cookie Jar, just like the one my grandma has in her kitchen.

While most little girls would prefer to spend time with their daddy adventuring or helping their mommy cook, Josie could not wait for he Fridays she could spend with her grandma. This Friday Josie and her grandma (who she preferred to call Nanny) were going shopping together. Nanny would be picking Josie up at noon and Josie could not wait.

Josie pulled her suitcase out of the closet. It was a pink roller suitcase with an image of barbie on the front. The plastic front was busted from the heavy loads the suitcase had endured one too many times. The zipper was split and no longer served the same purpose as it once had, and the wheels were bent, causing the suitcase to drag at a sideways angle. None of this bothered Josie. In her suitcase she packed her favorite pink Hello Kitty pajamas with her matching Hello Kitty slippers what were no longer white, but rather a light brown. She also packed an image she had drawn for Nanny at school. She couldn’t wait to show Nanny in hopes it would make it on the fridge. The only thing left to pack was her stuffed bear that no longer rattled, but rather had a low rumbling sound such as a nail polish bottle would when shook. The bear however, was too important to be packed away. The bear stayed tightly clutched to Josie’s side as her security.

Josie waited patiently by the big bay windows in the living room. Finally she saw Nanny’s black Pontiac pulling up in the drive. Josie leaped from the window and tore open the door. Nanny was dressed stylish as always in her dark olive jeans, short black boots, and a cream colored oversized sweater. She wore a delicate floral scented perfume that ever so slightly filled the air. Josie loved that perfume, as she would often put it on when she went to her grandmother’s house.

Josie and Nanny went to the store and looked at new kitchen decor for Nanny’s new kitchen. Nanny had always had her kitchen decorated in Chef decor, or what she liked to call ‘Baker Man’. Josie picked out a large cookie jar shaped like a chef. Nanny put it in the cart without any contemplation. Josie and Nanny finished up their trip with snacks of josie’s choice. Josie chose no-bake cookies; those were her and Nanny’s favorite.

When they returned to Nanny’s, Josie helped Nanny unload all of their goodies. Nanny placed the new cookie jar on the counter next to the oven and told Josie they could but the cookies in the jar once they were finished. Josie gathered all of the ingredients for the cookies and grandma pulled out the recipe from a large box full of papers and note cards containing all sorts of recipes. Nanny measured and poured while Josie mixed and scooped. When the cookies were finished, Josie and her grandma both ate one cookie and nodded in pleasure of their creation. They placed the remaining cookies in the cookie jar for Josie to have when she came over next time.

Many Friday nights came and went and the cookies were gone quickly. In their place Josie and Nanny made many other desserts and goodies. Years later when Nanny passed, Josie was grown with a young six year old girl of her own. Every Friday night, Josie would bake with her little girl just as her grandma had done with her. When the cookies were done, Josie would eat one cookie and her daughter would eat another. They would then place the remaining cookies in the cookie jar; the same jar her and Nanny had once used. To her daughter the cookie jar may not mean much, just as it had not meant much to her as a child. However over time the jar grew into something so much more than a container. The jar was a capsule of so many shared memories and lots of cookies. Josie kept the jar on the counter right beside the oven as a constant reminder of the Friday nights spent with her grandmother.

I Am Poem

I AM…

A Springfield native, a christian girl with a rebel heart

Two younger sisters, parents and grandparents full with laughter and support

Outdoors child full of imagination and stories

A late night summer drive with long conversations and the windows rolled down

A barefoot summer on the water, skipping rocks and laying out

A Friday night baking with my grandma and looking at old photos

Randall, who is patient with me when I’m being high strung, who knows just how to make me smile on days when i can’t catch a break, and who supports me unconditionally

I AM…

Iced tea and no-bake cookies

Lifetime Movie Network on a dreary day, cuddled up on the couch

A lazy day off, sleeping and painting

A t-shirt with yoga flares, a hat and slide on shoes

Creative, crafty, and always hungry for a new project

My grandmother’s green eyes and my father’s cool toned tan complexion

My mothers stubbornness, as well as her big heart and open mind

Hyper with eagerness to start something new and too short of an attention span to finish something old

I AM…

“Some feel the rain, others just get wet” (Bob Marley)

“ A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men” (Roald Dahl)

“ It doesn't matter what blood or race or creed or color. Love is love and it breaks all boundaries and you see it right away.” (Michael Jackson)