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.