Have never viewed myself as a writer, I keep a journal of everyday things, or something I find interesting but that has been about it. This class has made me feel comfortable to write and have that writing viewed and commented on. I still find myself focusing on mostly one thing in my writing (family) but that is what is most on my mind.
I hope to write more after this class and work on other topics, views, people, and feelings. I have found that writing is a great way to express myself, clear my head, and even relax. Writing has helped me think things through and take a different approach to my writing. I find myself still thinking to hard about what I want to write and need to just clear my head and write, stop thing so hard, second-guessing myself and let it come from my head and out my finger tips. That is still a work in progress, but what isn’t.
I have really enjoyed this class and was able to learn a lot about my writing and myself. Having others writings to view was helpful because I always wonder if what I am writing is what you have asked for and that is could be where the thinking and planning comes from. The last few writings I have just sat down and wrote about what comes to mind and its been ok. I fell that this class has been a benefit to my writing and hope to take what I have learned and use it to write more.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Week 15 second
Road less traveled in US as gas prices skyrocket
Rising gas prices influence baseball fans
Gas prices soar, motorist feel pinch
Tax break won’t help much on gas prices
Gas thieves pumped up by high gas prices
Democrats hit GOP on soaring gas prices.
As gas prices soar, the bus starts looking very good
Mulling gas prices before vacation
Are rising gas prices really all that bad?
Gas prices set new record in US
As fuel prices rise, drivers back off pedal
What will you do as gas prices rise?
Gas prices up again overnight
Gas prices up again in an hour
Gas jumps above $3.67
Gas prices are changing lives
Area residents cite difficulty dealing with jump at the pumps
Going along with high gas prices only feeds the greed.
Gas prices rattle Americans
High gas prices fuel talk session
Gas prices killing confidence.
Rising gas prices influence baseball fans
Gas prices soar, motorist feel pinch
Tax break won’t help much on gas prices
Gas thieves pumped up by high gas prices
Democrats hit GOP on soaring gas prices.
As gas prices soar, the bus starts looking very good
Mulling gas prices before vacation
Are rising gas prices really all that bad?
Gas prices set new record in US
As fuel prices rise, drivers back off pedal
What will you do as gas prices rise?
Gas prices up again overnight
Gas prices up again in an hour
Gas jumps above $3.67
Gas prices are changing lives
Area residents cite difficulty dealing with jump at the pumps
Going along with high gas prices only feeds the greed.
Gas prices rattle Americans
High gas prices fuel talk session
Gas prices killing confidence.
Week 15
I had to so something today.
What a cop out.
Just make a call.
Very passionate person.
Everything is sterile
I'll be home before it gets bad.
Thirteen nervous girls
Not much different then I
I found myself smiling.
Growing into responible adults
Trying to get through school
Someday it will be possible.
Make us appreciate each other
Show that we can grow
Strong ties make a difference.
What a cop out.
Just make a call.
Very passionate person.
Everything is sterile
I'll be home before it gets bad.
Thirteen nervous girls
Not much different then I
I found myself smiling.
Growing into responible adults
Trying to get through school
Someday it will be possible.
Make us appreciate each other
Show that we can grow
Strong ties make a difference.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Week 14
I had to do something today that I had been dreading from the moment I had my children. I think of myself as being a pretty open person, able to talk about anything with anyone. That was not the case today. While I paced back and forth in my livingroom waiting for my son to get done what ever he was doing in his room, and hoping that when he came down the hall that I could open my mouth and ask him to come talk to me. I know the minute the words were out that he would not be able to look at me and I would have a hard time looking at him. I have to do this because of his age not that we haven’t talked about this subject before but not the way I feel we needed to now. All I could keep thinking as I paced some more is “shouldn’t his father have had this talk with him?” Well hell yes, this is a father, son moment. Why had I listened when my husband said “you work with kids you can talk to him better then me.” What a cop out and I fell for it.
How do you talk about sex with your fifteen-year-old son, with out having him run out the door? Do you make light of it with him and just say in passing and hope he understands? Should I sit at the table or maybe in the livingroom with the television on? Maybe I should cook him something and while his mouth is full bring it up. No, bad idea he would probably choke. I’m just going to do it casually and hope it goes well. What I really want to say is I’ll kill you if you ever have sex before you’re an adult. But I remember being his age and if my parents ever said that I would have done the opposite.
Why didn’t I look it up on the Internet I might have been able to print off a dialog to use? I should have bought a book, or set away for a pamphlet. That way when my jaw locks up I could have just handed it to him, or I could have left it in his room and hope he would read it.
Okay, here we go.
Hey, “Nate come in the livingroom I need to talk to you.”
“Okay mom.”
“I just wanted to talk to you about your relationship with Elisabeth.” (Very smooth.)
“What about it?”
“You know that your fifteen and been seeing her for a while right.” (Like he wouldn’t know that.)
“I know that, what about it.”
“Do you know that if you every need to talk about anything even sex you can come to me or your father?” (Hope you go to your dad.)
“I know that mom, but I have had sex ed and know that I need to take care of things and that there is more to worry about then pregnancy, because there is STD’s out there and mom, its ok because we are no where near any of that but knowing I can talk to you if I need to is great, but I think I’ll talk to dad.”
How do you talk about sex with your fifteen-year-old son, with out having him run out the door? Do you make light of it with him and just say in passing and hope he understands? Should I sit at the table or maybe in the livingroom with the television on? Maybe I should cook him something and while his mouth is full bring it up. No, bad idea he would probably choke. I’m just going to do it casually and hope it goes well. What I really want to say is I’ll kill you if you ever have sex before you’re an adult. But I remember being his age and if my parents ever said that I would have done the opposite.
Why didn’t I look it up on the Internet I might have been able to print off a dialog to use? I should have bought a book, or set away for a pamphlet. That way when my jaw locks up I could have just handed it to him, or I could have left it in his room and hope he would read it.
Okay, here we go.
Hey, “Nate come in the livingroom I need to talk to you.”
“Okay mom.”
“I just wanted to talk to you about your relationship with Elisabeth.” (Very smooth.)
“What about it?”
“You know that your fifteen and been seeing her for a while right.” (Like he wouldn’t know that.)
“I know that, what about it.”
“Do you know that if you every need to talk about anything even sex you can come to me or your father?” (Hope you go to your dad.)
“I know that mom, but I have had sex ed and know that I need to take care of things and that there is more to worry about then pregnancy, because there is STD’s out there and mom, its ok because we are no where near any of that but knowing I can talk to you if I need to is great, but I think I’ll talk to dad.”
Monday, May 05, 2008
Week 13
Every school year fifth grade goes on a field trip to Little Cranberry Island and today I get to go. Not because I have children in fifth grade but because the classroom teacher has planned it on an in service day and asked if I would like to chaperone. I had a choice either sits with other staff members in a training on blood born pathogens or take a trip to an island I had never heard of. Of course I picked the island.
Parents drop of children and as we wait for the bus the students talk excitedly about what they hope to see and everything they have learned about ocean life in science. They talk about the boat ride we will take to reach the island and how they wish we had to go by boat to reach our island. Students are standing in groups with their lunches and backpacks at their feet and just by looking you can tell the girls packed to many extra jackets and the boys to few. As they continue talking we take a head count as they board the bus. Once on the bus the kids either sit in groups with a few moving further away hopping to catch a nap. As I knit and the classroom teacher reads we make our way to Little Cranberry.
As the bus pulls up to the dock and the mail boat that is waiting for us we see other people waiting and some loading boats with supplies. We make sure the kids all use the bathroom because even in fifth grade there is always one that will say they don’t need to but when we get out on the water will ask if there is a bathroom. Our tickets are bought and we move down the walkway to the dock and pile our things next to the boat that will take us on our adventure. Most of the people waiting smile as we all trump down but a few look as if they wish they had picked another day. As the Captain goes over rules and tells up how long the trip will take and the one stop we will be taking the students sit a listen like they never would in a classroom. The boat moves out and we are on our way.
Reaching Little Cranberry the students thanked the driver and moved up the walkway to a field where we would leave our things and eat before exploring the island. Students eat quickly and quickly got into their two groups for to begin their scavenge hunt. In the past each group had bags to collect their finds but not wanting to disturb nature each of us adults had digital cameras and slips of papers for the kids to lay beside their item where the name will be written.
We notice that most of the houses are old on the front of the island and are weathered. There is one church that we pass and a store and we stop to go inside and find that there are very few things other then milk and bread and some candy. The kids are amazed that they don’t have more. The storekeeper at first looks like she had never seen so many people in the store at one time but smiles and answers all the students’ questions. Once on the road again we hear children playing and see the small schoolhouse where there is about six or seven children playing. The students are amazed when we tell them that it is likely all the students in the school. Moving along even though we all wanted to stop and see the school we continue down the road where houses are further apart and look newer. We see lobster traps in front yards and most of the houses have three or four wheelers parked out side. We see very few people and notice that we don’t hear cars. Leaving the road we follow a path to a beach where we begin our scavenge hunt. Students are able to walk out on rocks because of low tide and look in tide pools for items on their lists. I am running one way and then another taking pictures having a great time. We make our way down the shore taking pictures but always mindful of the time, because we have to meet the boat. There is time for the students to explore and ask questions.
Leaving the shore we move back to a path that takes up to where we left our bags and when we pass by a house the students start laughing and pointing because there in the front yard is a wooden carving of a mermaid. Well this is quite something for the students because the mermaid is naked and as the boys stare, the girls try looking anywhere else while their faces turn red.
Collecting our things we have just enough time to use the bathroom before boarding the boat to take us back to the bus.
Parents drop of children and as we wait for the bus the students talk excitedly about what they hope to see and everything they have learned about ocean life in science. They talk about the boat ride we will take to reach the island and how they wish we had to go by boat to reach our island. Students are standing in groups with their lunches and backpacks at their feet and just by looking you can tell the girls packed to many extra jackets and the boys to few. As they continue talking we take a head count as they board the bus. Once on the bus the kids either sit in groups with a few moving further away hopping to catch a nap. As I knit and the classroom teacher reads we make our way to Little Cranberry.
As the bus pulls up to the dock and the mail boat that is waiting for us we see other people waiting and some loading boats with supplies. We make sure the kids all use the bathroom because even in fifth grade there is always one that will say they don’t need to but when we get out on the water will ask if there is a bathroom. Our tickets are bought and we move down the walkway to the dock and pile our things next to the boat that will take us on our adventure. Most of the people waiting smile as we all trump down but a few look as if they wish they had picked another day. As the Captain goes over rules and tells up how long the trip will take and the one stop we will be taking the students sit a listen like they never would in a classroom. The boat moves out and we are on our way.
Reaching Little Cranberry the students thanked the driver and moved up the walkway to a field where we would leave our things and eat before exploring the island. Students eat quickly and quickly got into their two groups for to begin their scavenge hunt. In the past each group had bags to collect their finds but not wanting to disturb nature each of us adults had digital cameras and slips of papers for the kids to lay beside their item where the name will be written.
We notice that most of the houses are old on the front of the island and are weathered. There is one church that we pass and a store and we stop to go inside and find that there are very few things other then milk and bread and some candy. The kids are amazed that they don’t have more. The storekeeper at first looks like she had never seen so many people in the store at one time but smiles and answers all the students’ questions. Once on the road again we hear children playing and see the small schoolhouse where there is about six or seven children playing. The students are amazed when we tell them that it is likely all the students in the school. Moving along even though we all wanted to stop and see the school we continue down the road where houses are further apart and look newer. We see lobster traps in front yards and most of the houses have three or four wheelers parked out side. We see very few people and notice that we don’t hear cars. Leaving the road we follow a path to a beach where we begin our scavenge hunt. Students are able to walk out on rocks because of low tide and look in tide pools for items on their lists. I am running one way and then another taking pictures having a great time. We make our way down the shore taking pictures but always mindful of the time, because we have to meet the boat. There is time for the students to explore and ask questions.
Leaving the shore we move back to a path that takes up to where we left our bags and when we pass by a house the students start laughing and pointing because there in the front yard is a wooden carving of a mermaid. Well this is quite something for the students because the mermaid is naked and as the boys stare, the girls try looking anywhere else while their faces turn red.
Collecting our things we have just enough time to use the bathroom before boarding the boat to take us back to the bus.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
just asking
John, there is no comment on week seven, I don't know if you missed it or would like me to rewrite it. I also need your e-mail address for some reason I don't have it. Thanks Karen
Saturday, May 03, 2008
week twelve attempt 2
Piles of books on the shelf, in boxes, on the floor, even the widow sills. No dusting needed for nick knacks just move the books and give a good swipe. Children’s books, young adult books, biographies, how to do most anything, knitting books, mysteries, even romance and many more. There are new books that wait to be read and books that have been read by you and many unknown people. Some have copyrights before you were born and some have no copyright because they are books the kids have made for birthdays, Christmas, and valentine gifts. Even with so many books there is no hesitation to buy more. Books are knowledge, entertainment; they even share places you would like to visit. Books open the world to whoever takes the time to read them.
week 12 attempt 1
Steps to changing a flat tire:
1. Open the trunk and try to figure out how to lift the cover that hides the tire.
2. 10 minutes to figure out the little thingy that holds the tire down.
3. Remove the tire and the jack thingy too.
4. Turn the jack over in your hands and stare at it like the artifact it will some day be.
5. Bend down near the flat tire and try to figure where the best placement for the jack would be. (There is no arrow telling you to place jack here.)
6. Give up on jack and turn the tire iron around in your hand thinking you will never be able to loosen those little lug nuts.
7. Turn your attention back to jack and place it under the car.
8. Place handle thing in jack and try to reach jack with out getting you dress clothes dirty.
9. Take jack out and throw it back into the trunk.
10.Remember you have Triple A. Make the call.
1. Open the trunk and try to figure out how to lift the cover that hides the tire.
2. 10 minutes to figure out the little thingy that holds the tire down.
3. Remove the tire and the jack thingy too.
4. Turn the jack over in your hands and stare at it like the artifact it will some day be.
5. Bend down near the flat tire and try to figure where the best placement for the jack would be. (There is no arrow telling you to place jack here.)
6. Give up on jack and turn the tire iron around in your hand thinking you will never be able to loosen those little lug nuts.
7. Turn your attention back to jack and place it under the car.
8. Place handle thing in jack and try to reach jack with out getting you dress clothes dirty.
9. Take jack out and throw it back into the trunk.
10.Remember you have Triple A. Make the call.
Week Eleven
On an early morning in February with the snow falling a young mother struggles to give birth to a baby that she knows her actions may cause the baby to suffer while grew inside her for the last eight months.
This baby when born four weeks early had to have help breathing, and struggled with withdrawals that caused him to be on a feeding tube and oxygen for the next three weeks and four more weeks of being wend from the drugs that entered his system as he grow.
This baby has grow into a very active two year old who wants to know how everything works and watches his older brother and sister closely so he can try what they do when no one is looking. He has temper tantrums that can make your hair stand up until you are ready to give him anything that might make him stop. He is clingy when he feels the need and independent when you wish he would be a little bit clingy. He wants you to think that he has no idea what the word no means, even when you can see his head turn slightly in your direction when you say the word. After all he is two.
Ashton was born with a large strike against him on that day in February because his mother was and still is a drug user who lost him due to her inability to clean her life up in order to have her baby. He has become an important part of our family to the point of being the center of each of us.
This baby when born four weeks early had to have help breathing, and struggled with withdrawals that caused him to be on a feeding tube and oxygen for the next three weeks and four more weeks of being wend from the drugs that entered his system as he grow.
This baby has grow into a very active two year old who wants to know how everything works and watches his older brother and sister closely so he can try what they do when no one is looking. He has temper tantrums that can make your hair stand up until you are ready to give him anything that might make him stop. He is clingy when he feels the need and independent when you wish he would be a little bit clingy. He wants you to think that he has no idea what the word no means, even when you can see his head turn slightly in your direction when you say the word. After all he is two.
Ashton was born with a large strike against him on that day in February because his mother was and still is a drug user who lost him due to her inability to clean her life up in order to have her baby. He has become an important part of our family to the point of being the center of each of us.
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