Final blog

For me the biggest challenge was finding the time everyday to blog. In looking through other student’s blogs, it looks as though some might have struggled with the time factor as I did, if not more. One of the advantages of taking online courses is the freedom of scheduling; some days are better then others. There were several days I just had to work it in. Writing for ten minutes was not the difficult part, knowing what to write about was. The days that I put more thought into my writing ate up a lot more then ten minutes. I also feel that spending more time and thought on my writing allowed it to be more descriptive and cohesive. I wasn’t randomly typing what happened to pop into my head at the time; I put effort into it. I used the classroom resource writing prompts on a few occasions; that seemed to help on the off days when I was drawing a complete blank for a topic. I started writing a story that generated from on of the prompts, initially I had no intention of continuing the story, but found myself working through the details from blog to blog. The struggle with that was getting back into the same mind-set from the previous blog so they didn’t seem like two separate thoughts. I think the writing has a good foundation, looking back at what I have wrote I could see some areas that could improve to make the piece stronger. Writing in general this semester has provided me with the opportunity to see that intriguing writing gives very descriptive details, setting the stage so to speak and the mood; it helps to draw the reader into the text. I feel it was beneficial, but every days is really a struggle to make happen.

July 22

Home remodeling is great when it’s done. We recently put new bathroom faucets in out of necessity. The guest bathroom water shut-off under the sink was the only means of keeping a steady stream of water from running constantly. Yesterday we had new countertops installed. When the two men removed the old sink and plumbing they cut the water pipes rather then simply unscrewing them from the drain. Keep in mind that they only remove, they do not reinstall the sink, faucet, or the plumbing to make it all work. Once the counters were done we started tackling putting the new sink in. This is the point we realized that they cut the lines. I went to two stores in search of new pipe, just like what was removed. Nothing matched, so I purchased some that was similar along with some extra pipe just in case. I am not sure why men send woman after supplies that they know nothing about; of course what I bought wouldn’t work. After careful contemplation almost like working a puzzle, the light came on and the pieces started to fit together. With the counters, sink, and faucet done I started cleaning and putting my kitchen back together. It really looks nice now that it is done. I believe a fence in the back yard might be the next project, we’ll see.

July 21

Inspiration for me comes from a long-time friend from high school. I was on an emotional rollercoaster after the tornado swept through and took our home. Our home was newly built just eighteen months before the disaster. We sought shelter in a local basement during the storm, just a few minutes from our house. To return home took two hours of winding in and out of debris and devastation. The sun was barely shining over the horizon and I could see the silhouette of what was left of our home. Chaos surrounded us as we drove as far as we could before walking through everything to get a closer look. Natural gas was hissing out of the broken lines, smoke alarms were blaring, people were everywhere surveying the damage. It was chaos. Within minutes the authorities told everyone they had to leave the area; it wasn’t safe. About two-o-clock in the morning we were escorted on foot by police to our home, what was left. Chilling, stepping over power lines, trees, parts and pieces of what used to be something. It was too dangerous to enter it, so we had to leave. It took months to tear it down and rebuild it. Emotions ran through a full gamut during this time. At a lower emotional point I received a phone call from a friend, she wanted me to know that a friend of ours had been fighting cancer and her five-year-old daughter had passed away. The perspective that this brought to my own struggle was shattering. She did survive the cancer and is cancer free. To this day I remember her story and what really matters. Yes, we lost our home, but she lost something that can never be replaced or rebuilt.

July 20

List ten things I am passionate about. That is one of the many things we are to do for one of the research assignments. After contemplating this, I am not sure that I have ten things that I am passionate about. The word passionate means to adore, love, obsessive, fanatical, fervent and a few others. These are strong words to me. I am the mother of a teenager, with that being said, what I was passionate about before her birth is not what I am passionate about now. My focus changed. I am passionate about being a good mom, and taking parenting as a responsibility not just going through the motions. I love spending time with her, I always have. I have heard other parents that can’t wait for Christmas break to be over, or for school to start back up after summer; I am not one of them. I cherish the time I get to spend with her. I still have things that I am “interested” in, but she by far is at the top of the list, and the list is short. So I have a hurdle to jump before I begin our research assignment for a topic, making my list. I will be doing a lot of brainstorming to develop one.

July 19

I felt like an inchworm climbing up the mountain. It was the first part of June, the flowers, trees, and bushes were in full bloom. The air was a bit cool, a jacket felt good. It was trying to rain as we waited for the cog to return at the depot. When it did the passengers stepped off wearing hats, gloves, and coats. I asked one of them if it was cold up on the peak. They said it was 20° and snowing up there. My daughter decided to make a hurried trip to the van to grab her coat. We boarded the cog soon after she returned. I am not a huge fan of heights; I had mixed emotions about the climb. My daughter had flat out refused to go the day before, but felt better about it once she saw the cog. The cog is very similar to being on a bus with the exception of the windows. The cog windows are very big and can either be up or down. The scenery was beautiful as we wound our way through the mountainside. The cog operator gave us information about the trees and animals that we saw or would hope to see along the way. I remember being a little over half way up and saw the summit, I panicked inside at the thought of going all the way up to the top. It seemed so high. As we continued to climb the air started to get chilly and then it turned cold. All the windows at this point had been closed. Then we started seeing snow, it was strange to see it in June. I felt like an inchworm climbing up the mountain. When we reached the summit, the air was freezing and it was snowing. Just outside the cog door was a red fox, he looked skinny and dirty. He wasn’t afraid of people; I managed to get within about three to four feet of him for a picture. It was warm inside the gift shop, and the fudge was unbelievable. The 14,110 ft altitude made my daughter queasy; she had to sit down most of the time we were there. We were above the clouds and Colorado Springs looked like a dot down below. We all loaded back into the cog and slowly made our way back down the mountain. I overcame my fear of riding the cog that day and wouldn’t mind riding it again someday.

July 18

We made yesterday evening to see our friends from out of state. I have been best friends with her for thirty-three years now, crazy. She and her son are staying with her brother, sister-in-law and niece. We talked and laughed until a little after ten last night. She was telling us stories about her recent trip to Utah. Her mother-in-law is eighty-ish years old and she took her to visit her ninety-three year old sister. We reminisced about good ole times from high school and running around. Some of those memories included her green Gremlin, her first car. That car didn’t have a heater; we kept blankets to cover up with in the winter in it. The horn if you listened really close sounded like to wires trying to make a connection. If you sat in the backseat you had to straddle the holes in the floorboard, kind of like a Fred Flintstone car. Those were good times, remembering them had us laughing and our kids looking at us like we were crazy. We talked about the struggles of school and balancing it with life. I wish she didn’t live so far away. We have always talked about going into business together someday, at this point in our lives I seriously doubt that will happen. Who knows, if I ever do make it to Colorado to live I will only be about twelve to thirteen hours from her.

July 17

Life sometimes feels like a balancing act. It seems to come in waves, hectic and normal. What really is normal? Family friends flew in today from out of state so life has once again switched gears, to a faster one. I have had a roller coaster of emotions today, excited to see them and so glad that they are here, to how will I fit anything else into the next couple of weeks. This visit was a surprise about three weeks ago. We typically try in the spring to get everyone’s schedule for summer so they aren’t so chaotic. I realized that this visit was going to be making it work the best we could. I opened up the Lesson seven folder this afternoon and read through it holding my breath. I let the breath out and took another when I read through the due dates. I think I am still holding it. It is after seven this evening and we are getting ready to go see them. Their plane landed today at 1:40; after leaving the airport they headed to a family members house in another town. I feel it will be a day-to-day schedule, I am trying not to stress about getting all my class assignments done and turned in. I believe I failed to mention my daughter has volleyball camp three days this week, we are having counter tops put in this week, and starting next week I have meetings that I can not miss; no stress. I am going to do a lot of deep breathing, self-talks, and prayer to keep my sanity.

Practice Description

I smell the wet sand. The ocean water carried on the breeze. I can faintly smell sunscreen. I can smell smoke from a fire. I can hear children laughing. I hear the waves falling on the shore. I hear a coast guard helicopter-passing over-head. I hear warnings issued from a megaphone. I hear my daughter’s laughter. I hear happiness. I hear people talking. I hear birds singing. I hear splashing. I see beautiful blue water. I see a pier in the distance. I see people enjoying the beach. I see birds hunting for food on the beach. I see colorful surfboards. I see wetsuits. I see shells. I see the beach life. I see surf shops. I see coast highway. I see cars. I see bronzed bodies. I see swimsuits. I see board shorts. I see body boards. I see the white caps of waves rolling in to shore. I see the coastline. I see my daughter’s smile. I see the ocean. I see creation. I see the sun sinking into the ocean. I see a fire. I feel excitement. I feel contentment. I feel serenity. I feel a chill in the air. I feel the coldness of the ocean. I feel the yuk of kelp on my feet and legs. I feel the sand between my toes. I feel the sting of the salt water on the legs. I feel proud. I feel happiness. I feel the softness of the sand. I feel the hardness of the wet sand. I feel the warmth from the sun. I feel the moistness of the breeze. I feel the sand granules stick to my wet feet. I feel the power of the tide. I feel the dampness of the air. I feel the smoothness of the rocks. I feel the moment.

cont. July 1

When he opened his eyes, he saw the mysterious person he had spent the day wondering about. He watched as Celeste used her hands as she talked and on occasion to push her hair off her shoulder. He loved how she tilted her head slightly when she laughed. He sat and just took in everything about her. After finishing their drinks, he watched as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. They finished their conversation and parted ways. As she walked away he realized he didn’t know anything about her, how would he be able to get in touch with her? He quickly stood up and made his way to the door. He had to figure something out. Maybe he could accidently bump into her. He could follow her; that seemed too creepy. Although sitting and watching her in the coffee shop was a bit creepy. He decided to bump into her. He walked faster to catch up. As he apologized he started to smile. Celeste was a bit startled, her grimace turned into a grin; didn’t I meet you at the service yesterday? Yea, he answered. She looked beautiful in the softness of the streetlight, he couldn’t think of anything else. Do you live around here she asked him. No, I was ummm, just out for a walk, he replied. He had to ask, would you like to get some coffee sometime? I hardly know you, she said with a slight grin. I know, so that’s why you need to say yes, meet me tomorrow at seven, there’s a little coffee shop just down the street on the corner. They were both smiling as they walked away into the night.

cont. July 1

As he unfolded it, he noticed some of the letters were smudged. It read “seven o’clock at the Corner Coffee”. Gently he folded and stuck it in his pocket. The rain was merely a drizzle now as evening set in. He was awake before the alarm, the note had his curiosity peaked. Who was she meeting, a boyfriend, her sister? Thoughts raced through his head as he went through the motions at work. He rushed home to shower and grab a bite before heading out. He felt nervous as he walked toward Corner Coffee. He was early; he wanted to find a spot where he wouldn’t be seen. Feeling foolish he started to get up, he couldn’t, in Celeste walked. He watched her as she made her way to sit down. He noticed the dress she was wearing and how it stopped just above her knee. Her blonde hair flowed across her back and shoulders. She was gorgeous. His heart was pounding. He wanted to casually walk over to her as though is was a coincidence. As he pondered the thought she began to smile and waved slightly as she glanced towards the door. Quickly he turned and looked away; he didn’t want to know. He knew it had to be a man she was meeting. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Closing his eyes he reluctantly turned back around and made a bit with himself.

July 13

Have you ever noticed how good everything taste in the summer? Maybe it’s just me but I love fresh vegetables and fruit in the summer. It has to be fresh from the garden, not mine because I don’t put one out. I am so thankful to those that do; I get to enjoy the benefit of their harvest. So crisp, when you bit into them they snap, unlike the cucumbers from the grocery store, almost mushy. Yellow and green zucchini cooked in a little olive oil and topped off with butter and salt at the end. Fresh sliced tomato, throw a little bacon, bread, and mayo in for a wonderful summer sand which. The juice dripping off elbows, and so full of flavor you can taste the fuzz of the peach. I think peaches are my favorite fruit this time of year. Grilled corn on the cob, oozing with butter around the kernels. I can’t forget green beans, snapped and cooked with some bacon. Everything is so fresh and full of flavor. It is probably a good thing that summer growing season doesn’t last year round. Thinking about all of this food has me starving.

cont. July 1

Her heart was racing, her legs felt like they had weights tied to them. She could feel a lump forming in her throat. Her meeting with the client had escaped her thoughts. She was beside Bill, standing there, numb. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them the room started spinning. She reached for the casket and in a second’s thought grabbed the man’s arm standing by her. As she glanced up at him she noticed his attempt at a smile. She gained her composure and quietly thanked him for the use of his arm. He nodded as they walked out into a large hall together. She thanked him again and tried to explain that she wasn’t feeling well. Before she could finish he interrupted, I’m Kaydan as he held out his hand. Nice to meet you I’m Celeste. They exchanged stories of how they knew Bill; time seemed to stand still. Neither of them noticed that the crowd of people were now gone. A phone rang. As she dug in her purse for her phone she panicked. Her meeting, she was late. She grabbed her phone it was her boss. Hurriedly she told Kaydan she had to meet a client. As she ran out the door she didn’t notice the paper that cascaded to the ground. Kaydan bent down and picked it up.

cont. July 1

The hall way was silent and empty. In a hushed tone she continued talking on the phone to her boss. She felt horrible interrupting the service for her co-worker. Not taking the call meant jeopardizing her career, and all the long hours she put in to get to this point. Her boss gave her the information she needed to meet with a client after the funeral. She gathered herself and quietly went back in. She could feel the piercing glares as she sat down. Her eyes stayed focused on the minister now speaking. His lips were moving but she couldn’t comprehend what he was saying, her thoughts were on sealing the deal with her client. She needed it to move up a bit more on the ladder. She felt bad for Bill, all those hours he put in at the office. She was trying to push the thought out that kept creeping in; it was going to be a little easier now without Bill to compete with. How horrible. Stop. Focus. The self-talk wasn't working. The crowd was starting to stir as they made their way to the front to pay their respects. One by one they paused, and moved on. She felt so sorry for his wife and family. She met them at a company Christmas party, they seemed so happy together. It was her turn. As she walked towards Bill she could feel her hands getting cold and clammy. Flashbacks of her life, friends, and family flashed through her head.

July 10

My daughter went on a camping trip to Arkansas with the youth from our church over spring break. Let me correct that, it was a backpacking trip. Backpacking means stuffing the least amount that you can live on for several days into a contraption that is strapped to your body and becomes your soul source of survival. Never having been on a backpacking adventure, I knew little in helping her prepare. A suggested list of survival items assisted us in preparing. Let me remind you that she is thirteen, that in itself should be enough said. Hotels, condos, swimming pools, air conditioning, running water, fresh towels, are all essentials that she is used to on vacation. When gathering the survival items I knew this expedition was going to prove to be interesting for her. The morning of, backpacks had to be weighed in. Sleeping, living accommodations, clothes, food and water all strategically place to balance the load. Twenty-eight pounds, that was before the “ugly” water bladder was included. So off they went. Three days and two nights of pure nature, no cell phone, running water, or electricity.

July 9

I have decided that vacations should be mandatory. This is the first summer in several years that we have not gone somewhere for vacation. I miss it. My daughter took a school trip to Washington D.C. at the beginning of summer and a mission trip with our church to help with children’s ministries in Nashville, Tennessee a week after her D.C. trip. The new tires look good on the car also. That is why a vacation is not happening this summer. It seems like stress from the spring has carried over into summer. Between work, school, and life, just too much going on all at one time. Getting away recharges the batteries and makes the stressors not so stressful. I know we all come back to the stress after the getaway, but it changes how we handle it. It is great to wake up somewhere and take in the sights and smells of something different, not the ordinary. To forget what a washer and dryer are, and be so caught up in where you are that the T.V. doesn’t get turned on. Next year vacation is going to be mandatory at our house.

July 8

We watched the orange glow get smaller and smaller. The sun beat down from a gorgeous blue sky. The sand was sizzling hot. Big umbrellas tried to mask the heat. The smell of the ocean was carried by a warm breeze as waves crashed on the beach. Bronzed bodies and colorful towels lined the beach like a carpet. A cruise ship sat far out in the deep turquoise water. Body boards skimmed the tops of white-capped waves as they fell to the shore. As the day matured, the crowed grew. The sun’s intense heat was starting to relax as it sank in the distance. You could feel the anticipation as everyone waited. Finally it was time. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, the crowd chanted, two, one, lift off. The space shuttle was stripping off all that was around it on take off. It was huge and the sound thundered all around. The crowd cheering wildly as we watched it head towards the blue sky. Flashes like lighting as cameras captured the moment. Time seemed to stand still as we watched it climb, we were awestruck in the making of history that afternoon. Higher and higher it went as we watched the orange glow get smaller and smaller.

July 7

It has been a relaxing day, nothing melted down, got broke or anything worse. Ran some errands, got the oil changed in the car and ate supper out with my family. Summer just seems to set a different pace then any other time of the year. Maybe it’s because there doesn’t have to be an alarm clock going off before six-o’clock every morning, and then a mad rush to get out the door to school and work. There is something relaxing about just sitting by the pool and feeling the warm sun, almost therapeutic for me. I just love not having such a structured schedule. I am struggling this evening to stay focused on writing, my mind is flashing through all the things I need to get done. Oh, our dryer went out Tuesday evening and of course it had a load of wet towels in it. Hopefully it is a fuse, and nothing more. They just don’t make things like they use to. They used to base their reputation on how good their products were and the longevity of them, now they want you to replace them after a few years. It is so crazy how things just keep evolving. I am in hopes that tomorrow evening I will be more in tune with my writing. It reminds me of Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give when she is at her beach house in a room full of windows and if I remember she has a view of the beach and ocean. She is an author in the movie and is there to get inspired and write. I think if I were looking out at the beach and ocean right now I would be inspired, but probably not to write.

July 6

Have you ever had one of those days that everything just fell apart? I didn’t have one of those days; I had one of those half hours. Everything was going fine, I was working on English and my daughter and her friend headed outside to play on the trampoline with the sprinkler. I had just taken a break to fix some lunch when my daughter opens the back door to tell me that her friend was hurt. Seriously, it had only been like ten minutes. I hurriedly went out and had my daughter shut the sprinkler off. Her friend was lying on the trampoline crying and holding her leg. I am thinking to myself, how serious could this be in the little time they were out here? I asked her where it hurt and if she could tell me what happened. Somehow between sniffles and tears she managed to tell me that her leg hurt above her ankle. That pretty much ruled out it being a sprain. I managed to get her from the trampoline to a bench close by to sit down and get a better look at her leg. This was going to require a phone call to her mom. When she arrived we became human crutches, slowly working our way to the car. My neighbor who was watching us in our attempt came over and asked if we wanted to use her hov-around, she is diabetic and her neuropathy has made it almost impossible for her to get around with out it. We took her up on her offer and got her positioned by the house so she could lean and not have her full weight on her legs. We managed to get my daughter’s friend to the car. I am navigating the hov-around from the side as I take it back to my neighbor. As I pull it up to her I go too far and hit her leg, so I am apologizing and trying to back it up as she starts to lean on it. It is backing up and I can’t get it to stop while my neighbor is falling to the ground. It seems like it happened in slow motion. I just wanted to cry.

July 5

Do you ever have one of those refining moments when you realize that life is slipping by so fast and you can’t hold on to it? My parents are dear to me; lately the realization of them aging is starting to sink in. I am seeing changes in both of them that I want to close my eyes to and see them through the eyes of a child again. When we are little we adore our parents and want their affection and feedback in all that we do. Then we start pushing them away because they don’t know anything and it is not cool to be seen with them. The miracle happens when we have our own children and only then do we realize that our parents were putting up with us during the un-cool years. This shows that research is right about the frontal lobe of the brain not developing until later adolescent years, because most teenagers think that they are putting up with their parents. I don’t want to be looking back someday and have a lot of “I wish” or “what ifs”, I want to get it right now, no regrets. My parents are special and I am going to continue to cherish all the moments that I can. The smiles, warm hugs, laughter, and even some tears along the way will be memories that I will hold in my heart always, every moment needs to be savored.

Exercise Two

I have spent a portion of my life thinking that the world’s standards are okay to live by. I cannot completely identify with what Phyllis Allen’s life was like, although I can identify with where she is. It has taken three decades to believe in the woman that I am, just as it took Phyllis until she was fifty. As I read her story I reflected upon my own trials and the journey my life has taken, each bringing me to where I am today. I love the statement she makes regarding her “wrinkles, softened muscles, and weak eyesight came the confidence that allows me to stick to a very small list of beliefs.” I can’t say that she and I see the same picture, but I wish years ago that I would of seen part of the picture that I see now. I don’t feel that we share the same small list of beliefs, I try to center mine on faith values and principles. I do believe that wisdom comes with age, as does a deeper understanding of life and purpose, I know there are exceptions, I know some.

July 3

I am sitting here this evening listening to the fireworks popping both near and far. I can hear a distant rumble of thunder and light rain hitting the window. The fireworks have been shot off consistently for the past three nights, not so many tonight I guess because of the rain. Tomorrow is the fourth; our country’s celebration where families will gather and communities will come together to celebrate. I am guessing that there will be a lot of hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on grills, I can already smell the aroma of a cookout and taste that home cooked burger hot of the grill. I can also feel the juice from a watermelon running down and dripping of my elbow, it is so sweet this time of year. And you have to make homemade ice cream; the fourth wouldn’t be the same without it. There is just something about the sound of the ice cream freezer churning and the anticipation of it being ready to eat. Kids running and playing, the smell of fireworks and a thick cloud of smoke will fill the air. The sky will be a light show in every direction, different colors, shapes and sizes; it will sound as like a war zone for several hours. Some will shoot off the really big expensive fireworks and others will settle for a smaller show with a little less bang for a little less buck. The morning after will show the signs of the festivities; all the bits and pieces will have to be cleaned up. Happy birthday America.

July 2

I love it when I can pick up the phone and call her and it seems like we just spoke yesterday. We can pick up a conversation and just run with it no matter what the subject is about. Friends like that don’t just happen every day; it takes someone very special to have that type of friendship with. I have been best friends for thirty-three years with Melissa. We became friends according to her when I saved her from being bullied in fourth grade; she has to tell this story because I don’t even remember it. We were friends from that day forward. She moved shortly after we graduated from high school, she didn’t want to but her mom was moving to Arizona and Melissa didn’t have a choice. After she lived in Arizona for a few years her mom decided to move to Arkansas, my friend stayed in Arizona because she finally had a decent job and had bought a reliable car. Her mom eventually moved back to Arizona and became her daughter’s roommate, which didn’t work out very well. During the time that her mom was in Arkansas Melissa met a guy and fell in love. After they dated for a while he got down on his knee and asked her to marry him, which was twenty years ago. Their son will graduate from high school this next school year. My family has been blessed to have the opportunity to travel and vacation with Melissa’s family. We have been to Disney Land, Las Vegas, and California twice with them. We all meet in Florida one summer and went to Disney World and watched the space shuttle launch from Coco Beach, which was a very cool experience for all of us. She has flown back to Missouri several times also to see her family and friends here. I just found out a couple of days ago that she and her son are going to make a trip back in just a couple of weeks. I am excited; it is pretty neat to have a friendship like we share and to be able to remain best friends for all these years.

July 1

Her laugh broke the silence. The immediate family sat in the front row, friends and relatives sat behind them. Most everyone was in dark attire with a few exceptions. Music could be heard playing very softly, and the lighting was low. A few moved about here and there whispering and talking amongst themselves. A constant rain outside was filtered somewhat by the roof of the building. Wet umbrellas sat at the feet of those gathered inside. A man walked in and began talking to the crowd. He spoke softly and with gentle words. He was telling a story about how he and Bill had grown up together and played in the field behind their house for hours on end. The winters they played in the snow until they couldn’t feel their fingers or toes. The two of them double dated and graduated high school together. He expressed that he felt as close to Bill as he did his own brother. When he finished another man spoke about working with Bill and his dedication to his co-workers and his firm. How Bill went above and beyond the eight-hour day, always. He spoke of how dependable and self-motivated Bill was and how any one would be honored to have him as an employee. When Bill’s wife spoke, a tear trickled down her check as she reminisced about how they met and the story they wrote together. She told of their two children and what a joy they were to raise and the blessing they were to her and Bill. She expressed how proud Bill was of them and who they had become and what they had accomplished in their lives. A woman close to the back broke out in laughter and her laugh broke the silence that had filled the room. She apologized and excused herself as she slipped out grasping her cell phone in her hand.

June 30

I trip on my way down the steps in the garage and spill my cup of coffee down the front of me. I go back into the house and change, so at this point I am running a bit behind but I think that I still have time go grab a cup of coffee in a drive through. I hop into the car and hurriedly make it to McDonalds to find a line that looks like a snake wrapping itself around the building. Forget the coffee I can get some when I get to work. Back into the line of cars we go moving like a snail towards our destinations. I cannot seem to make a green light this morning for anything. The pace of the snail picks up a bit as we move almost in unison. Finally at work and I am looking for a good spot to park, found one not to far from the door. On the way in I drop my purse and it seemed like slow motion as it tumbled through the air and crashed onto the ground. The contents went everywhere as though a bomb exploded. Just as I finish picking up my purse, I sling it back up onto my shoulder and the strap on it breaks and down it goes again, pouring the contents back out onto the ground. Once again I gather up the contents. By the time I get to my desk I am late. All I can think about it getting a cup of coffee. My boss walks by my desk and plops down a stack of papers on it and with an exasperated comment tells me he needs all of the reports done before the end of the day. I glance at the coffee maker on the counter and it is empty.

June 29

I don’t know if you have seen the movie Soul Surfer, I took my daughter to see it yesterday and we both enjoyed it. The setting of the movie was absolutely gorgeous, it is in Hawaii, how could it not be, right? I love the beach and ocean so that added to the experience for me. The movie has a good story to it, especially for pre-teens and teenage kids. It is based off a true story of a young girl that lost her arm from a shark attack in 2004; I can vaguely remember it happening. The young girl in the movie had to overcome the trials of not having two arms, but also had to struggle with why this would happen to her. She questioned it several times and asked several different people to help her try and figure it out. She did manage to surf again, one struggle accomplished and then after failing at a competition quit. She then went on a mission trip to Thailand after a tsunami hit and devastated that country. It was on this trip that she truly began to realize the bigger purpose and picture for herself. She helped a little boy who had not spoke since the tsunami and got him on a surfboard that she borrowed, a milestone for both of them. After returning back to Hawaii she started to train to surf again in another competition. This time she went about it differently, it wasn’t about winning; it was just about going out there and giving it your best even if it wasn’t going to be first place. She allowed her faith to start taking control of her life rather then trying to control it herself. Surfing was not her life and she wasn’t put here for that purpose, she realized that her accident was a way for her to connect and embrace others and show them the love she has in her heart.

Know Your Audience Analysis

It was neat to read through the different responses to the questions and interesting to see what questions were asked. It appears that most took advantage of the ELO opportunity also.

I think the question that really helped me see the other personalities in this class was Jaclyn’s question “Which road would you take and why? The neat, trimmed stone path that everyone travels? Or would you take the overgrown trail that leads into the deep forest? Both take you to the same destination.” I really thought about why one path would be more beneficial over the other. After reading the responses I believe that most chose the “overgrown trail” leading into the deep forest. Those that chose this path did so because of the adventure that might go along with it, and some wanted to take this path as long as it was safe. A couple wanted to stay on the tried and true because it was like a freeway. All of these responses allowed me to know each person a little more.

Jacob’s question about which time period would you live in offered a lot of insight to me as to who we are also. I really found it amazing that about a quarter of the class wanted to live when there was no indoor plumbing or electricity, the 1800s. This surprised me personally because I really like indoor plumbing and electricity. I think that it would be neat to experience that era but there is something to be said about walking into your house and feeling the coolness from the air-conditioning and turning on the faucet and water coming out. Retro represented another quarter wanting to travel back to the 1950s, wearing poodle skirts, listening to doo-wop and living in a time that seemed simple in comparison to today. A few wanted to stay right were they are, here and now.

Even though this class offers some diversity in our backgrounds and beliefs I feel that general consensus is that we all want to eat with someone famous, we want the would we live in to be free from crime, horrific hatred, and hard economic times. We would love for there to be cures for horrible diseases, and to live in peace with one another.

I Believe

I believe that I want to live in Colorado someday.

I had the opportunity to go to Colorado last year for vacation and absolutely feel in love, so much so that I am ready to pack up and move. The sky is so blue, the air is much drier then it is here in Missouri, and there are so many outdoor activities. We rode four wheelers, went up to the top of Pikes Peak and just enjoyed the snowcapped mountains that were all around us. We drove from Colorado Springs to Leadville to ride four wheelers and that drive was beautiful. At one point we were in a low valley and the mountains were all around us for as far you could see, amazing. The four-wheeler ride was climbing up the Continental Divide to an old abandoned gold mine the altitude was just above the tree line at eleven thousand feet. All around were snowcapped mountains. The air up there was thin, but a little chilly. There was some snow here and there as we rode along the trails and gravel roads. We had to cross a small river at one point that was flowing pretty good from the winter and spring snowmelt. The experience was completely breathtaking. As we drove back to Colorado Springs we all just kept reflecting on how gorgeous the view was when we were on top of the Divide. The weather there is less humid and hot then here, the snow is a dry snow rather then wet like we experience in the Ozarks. It was early June and the spring flowers and bushes were just beginning to poke out to feel the warmth from the sun. Short sleeves felt good during the day and in the evening I typically found myself looking for a jacket to put on. The traffic flowed much better in comparison to Springfield, need I say more? It was just an overall awesome vacation that left me wanting to stay. The tour guide mentioned he went there on vacation several years prior and never left, it was tempting. School, jobs, a mortgage, and retirement was enough inspiration to point the van back in the direction of home.

Word count=369

This I Believe

I believe that the earth is round.
I believe that people are smart.
I believe that it is hot outside.
I believe that water is wet.
I believe that I am writing some stupid stuff.
I believe that ten minutes seems like forever right know.
I believe that I am trying not to correct spelling errors.
I believe that taking classes in the summer is not a lot of fun.
I believe that a summer vacation would be better.
I believe that I want to live in Colorado someday.
I believe that snow is fun to play in.
I believe that the sky is very blue in Colorado.
I believe that humidity just sucks.
I believe that there are a lot of rescue animals from Joplin.
I believe that ten minutes is far from being over.
I believe that it is hard to focus on I believe statements.
I believe that I dislike shopping at the mall.
I believe that I don’t know what else to say.
I believe that I still don’t know what else to say.
I believe that I can’t believe I am writing I don’t know what to say.
I believe that the mail has not come today.
I believe that peaches are so good in the summer.
I believe that blackberry cobbler is to die for.
I believe that I could use a mocha coconut frappuccino about now.
I believe ten minutes is up, not.
I believe that this is not so bad.
I believe that my dog is lying at my feet thinking he is glad he is a dog.
I believe that he is spoiled.
I believe that I would rather be at the pool.
I believe that I would rather be swimming at the pool.
I believe that I would love to be on vacation with a friend in California right now.
I believe that today is my Dad’s Birthday.
I believe that we have celebrated three birthdays this week.
I believe that I will be glad when the timer goes off.
I believe that I hear a car going by the house.
I believe that it is cloudy outside.
I believe that I dislike the humid air in Missouri.
I believe that I have miss-spelled believe several times.
I believe that I will have to go back and correct.
I believe that supper is starting to sound really good.
I believe that in the summer cookouts are fun.
I believe that the fourth of July is just around the corner.
I believe that there will be lots of fireworks.
Yeah…
Word count=429

Typology and Writing

The Jung Typology was fairly accurate in assessing my personality type; ESFJ. Some discrepancy exists as to whether or not I am an extravert or introvert. I have several of the traits to prefer extraversion but I would rather work alone for the most part rather in groups. I can and have worked in groups on several occasions but would rather work on a project myself. I am also on the fence with the social aspect, I am dramatic with self-expression and yet I tend to be private and somewhat contained. I tend to keep anything regarding me with the window shade partially closed but everything else I will have the window open. Most likely this stems from being hurt in the past so part of me is somewhat guarded. Otherwise the outcome of this test was rather insightful to know that I am in a field that suits my personality.

I am still struggling a bit with the idea that I am a “writer,” I still have a misconception that a “writer” is an author of a famous novel. On a positive note I am working on getting past this mindset as a result of being in this course. I believe anytime we learn more about who we are and why we think, feel or act as we do allows us to grow in many aspects. Let’s say I am middle aged, just sayin’ and have found through the years that everything we do in our lives is a learning experience in some fashion. I have friends that are older then myself and I remember realizing that even though they have lived more life than I have they are still learning. I don’t think that taking the test will assist in college writing but using and comparing the results to who we are will.