He was shy.
I saw him for the first time sitting, alone, at a coffee shop. People walking by did not distract his concentration on the television, it remained as constant as the morning sun glaring on a skyscraper. The coffee occupying his right hand steamed strongly as he diligently removed the lid and waited for the coffee to cool. The aroma of an amaretto americano filled the morning breeze with a sweet tang. He moved his fingers round and round, looking as if he was thinking, thinking of something to occupy the time. All the while he could be socializing. Was he scared to start a conversation? Scared to ask for a newspaper or a journal? "Hello, my name is Lo, what is your name?"
Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Dialogue Practice
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. Carlos scrambled to pick up the paper plates from the kitchen table, “I’m coming!” Seconds later he noticed the mess he had made on the kitchen floor. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
“Carlos it’s me, Tammy, your next door neighbor.”
“Carlos it’s me, Tammy, your next door neighbor.”
“Ahhh, be right there,” he yelled as he grabbed a rag to wipe up the remaining crumbs on the floor. He threw the rag in the dish piled sink and ran for the door. “Hi Tammy, how’s it goin’?”
“Well ya know, just came by to see if ya wanted to go out for breakfast, grab some grub. How much money do ya have?”
Reaching for his pockets, Carlos was aware he was broke as a bum. Digging the lint and loose change out of his pockets he stammered, “I have about thirty-five cents.”
“Thirty-five cents? Huh, guess I’ll just see what Bob’s doin, see ya lata.”
“Well ya know, just came by to see if ya wanted to go out for breakfast, grab some grub. How much money do ya have?”
Reaching for his pockets, Carlos was aware he was broke as a bum. Digging the lint and loose change out of his pockets he stammered, “I have about thirty-five cents.”
“Thirty-five cents? Huh, guess I’ll just see what Bob’s doin, see ya lata.”
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Free Writing
Watching a child being born was the best experience I have endured in life. Watching my sister give birth to her second child had many thoughts running through my head. This was someone that was part of her, a little creation coming to the world. I could only imagine what her little boy was going to be like when he got older; curly hair or straight, funny or shy, normal or a genius? At the hospital I remember being with my sister when she started having contractions. It was absolutely scary! Unlike the first, she wouldn't have to be induced. I knew that baby Aden was coming, but when?! My sister, Heather, was bound determined to make it to Walmart before she got to the hospital. She had to get those darn baby clothes that ended up being too small for the little guy. After arriving at the hospital she was not given an epideral or any medicine when she was having contractions. Neither the doctor or Heather knew how big the baby was going to be. I remember clearly Heather pushing to get Aden out and the doctor watching tv. Of all things, tv. Every time she would push, Aden's head would pop out and go right back in, it must've seemed like all that effort had gone down the drain. She looked really exhausted until the doctor told her the baby was coming. Heather looked like she had an epiphany and worked harder and harder. Aden was born weighing in at 9 lbs 13 ounces! The nurse and doctor got him cleaned off and Heather held her beautiful boy.
Riding on a train for two and a half days was quite an adventure. I was with my two sisters and my dad. Being in 6th grade I thought this was way cooler than riding on an airplane. The first day was the day my sisters and I did all the exploring. My favorite event was waiting for the doors to open between each of the boxcars and jumping over the cable from where they connected. The first door opened to reveal a lounge with seats along the window and in the middle of the isle along with tv's mounted on the walls. We watched the first Harry Potter movie that first couple of hours. After the movie we went downstairs to the cafe to get some grub. Never being on a train before I had no idea the extent of the cost of food. I went first when ordering, I got a burger and fruit snacks, mine totaled $6.00! After the first day of eating the food I couldn't wait to get off the train and get some real good tasting food in my tummy. Our first stop was in Chicago. We had a three hour delay before our train would be on its way to our destination, Waterloo Indiana. Looking at the way the city was versus a small town like Kalispell was definately a comparison. One block would be littered with trash and the next would be clean as a whistle. In Chicago there were tall buildings almost making me feel clasterphobic. I liked looking up at the Sears Tower. On our way back to the train station to board I saw kids no older than me running around, selling candy bars to raise money, how cool! We rode the train through the second day and into the third the instructor announced we were pulling in Waterloo. I will always think about the experiences I had on the train and the breathtaking views I got to observe and enjoy with my family.
When I was in elementary school I knew I was a shy kid compared to others. Sitting in class if the teacher asked who had the answer I would know it but I wouldnt want to speak up and say anything for the lack of confidence and the feeling that I might be wrong. I happened to be one good speller. This was my last year in elementary school and I was looking forward for something that would make me remember it very well. The geography bee had already passed and I kept thinking of the talent show or the spelling bee that was coming up. Knowing I loved to read and I was a decent speller, I entered the spelling bee, not expecting to win. When the day came for all the oldest classes to compete for the top 3 seats I knew one of them had to have my name on it. When it came down to the finalists, I happened to be one of them. Getting ready for the spelling bee that following week was nerve racking, and then the time came. At school that day I kept thinking of a million words that were running through my head and how to spell them and sound them out. The finalists were taken out of class early that day to go to the gymnasium and get ready for the competition. As all 20 contestants took our seats the ultimate rush began. I was speller number six. When my first round came about I was given the word glucose. With my teachers and fellow classmates looking at me I nearly forgot how to spell the word. G-L-U-C-O-S-E. It was correct! After getting the initial first word out of the way I began to feel more comfortable on stage and in front of everyone spelling the words that were given to me. Then it came down to one of my close friends and I. She was the winner of the geography bee. I knew I couldn't break my concentration. She went, correct! I went, correct! The final round was an all out battle for the title. After multiple rounds of competing, I had claimed my victory and was declared the winner of the spelling bee. At that moment I came to a realization that if I wanted something badly I knew it wasnt impossible.
Riding on a train for two and a half days was quite an adventure. I was with my two sisters and my dad. Being in 6th grade I thought this was way cooler than riding on an airplane. The first day was the day my sisters and I did all the exploring. My favorite event was waiting for the doors to open between each of the boxcars and jumping over the cable from where they connected. The first door opened to reveal a lounge with seats along the window and in the middle of the isle along with tv's mounted on the walls. We watched the first Harry Potter movie that first couple of hours. After the movie we went downstairs to the cafe to get some grub. Never being on a train before I had no idea the extent of the cost of food. I went first when ordering, I got a burger and fruit snacks, mine totaled $6.00! After the first day of eating the food I couldn't wait to get off the train and get some real good tasting food in my tummy. Our first stop was in Chicago. We had a three hour delay before our train would be on its way to our destination, Waterloo Indiana. Looking at the way the city was versus a small town like Kalispell was definately a comparison. One block would be littered with trash and the next would be clean as a whistle. In Chicago there were tall buildings almost making me feel clasterphobic. I liked looking up at the Sears Tower. On our way back to the train station to board I saw kids no older than me running around, selling candy bars to raise money, how cool! We rode the train through the second day and into the third the instructor announced we were pulling in Waterloo. I will always think about the experiences I had on the train and the breathtaking views I got to observe and enjoy with my family.
When I was in elementary school I knew I was a shy kid compared to others. Sitting in class if the teacher asked who had the answer I would know it but I wouldnt want to speak up and say anything for the lack of confidence and the feeling that I might be wrong. I happened to be one good speller. This was my last year in elementary school and I was looking forward for something that would make me remember it very well. The geography bee had already passed and I kept thinking of the talent show or the spelling bee that was coming up. Knowing I loved to read and I was a decent speller, I entered the spelling bee, not expecting to win. When the day came for all the oldest classes to compete for the top 3 seats I knew one of them had to have my name on it. When it came down to the finalists, I happened to be one of them. Getting ready for the spelling bee that following week was nerve racking, and then the time came. At school that day I kept thinking of a million words that were running through my head and how to spell them and sound them out. The finalists were taken out of class early that day to go to the gymnasium and get ready for the competition. As all 20 contestants took our seats the ultimate rush began. I was speller number six. When my first round came about I was given the word glucose. With my teachers and fellow classmates looking at me I nearly forgot how to spell the word. G-L-U-C-O-S-E. It was correct! After getting the initial first word out of the way I began to feel more comfortable on stage and in front of everyone spelling the words that were given to me. Then it came down to one of my close friends and I. She was the winner of the geography bee. I knew I couldn't break my concentration. She went, correct! I went, correct! The final round was an all out battle for the title. After multiple rounds of competing, I had claimed my victory and was declared the winner of the spelling bee. At that moment I came to a realization that if I wanted something badly I knew it wasnt impossible.
Have You Ever...
Have you ever won a spelling bee?
Have you ever slammed your thumb in a car trunk?
Have you ever caught a sucker fish and placed it in the highway?
Have you ever gone huckleberry picking and fell down a hill?
Have you ever sang and thought no one could hear you but someone was listening?
Have you ever watched a child being born, real life?
Have you ever hit a deer that is flying that someone else just hit?
Have you ever got stranded on a lake all by yourself?
Have you ever been city queen?
Have you ever been on a train?
Have you ever pet a baby deer?
Have you ever caught a bat?
Have you ever slammed your thumb in a car trunk?
Have you ever caught a sucker fish and placed it in the highway?
Have you ever gone huckleberry picking and fell down a hill?
Have you ever sang and thought no one could hear you but someone was listening?
Have you ever watched a child being born, real life?
Have you ever hit a deer that is flying that someone else just hit?
Have you ever got stranded on a lake all by yourself?
Have you ever been city queen?
Have you ever been on a train?
Have you ever pet a baby deer?
Have you ever caught a bat?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Google Response
I realize after watching the video about Google Docs how resourceful and efficient the program is to use. I am able to maintain organization and upload important documents from my computer to utilize at any time. Whether it's in class or at work, Google Docs provides the tools to edit and create documents, sharing them with the people I desire. I am able to use spreadsheets, word documents and create presentations all in the same application. Google Docs also simplifies communication by allowing multiple people to work on the same document and have it published sooner than working in a classroom and printing a final document. All in all the application is a positive way to stay connected and advance communication.
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