What Inspires You

There are many things in life that inspires me. But it usually just depends on what I am wanting. There are many people in this world that has influenced me and has made me want to be like them , and I am truly grateful. Yet at the same time there are many people who have inspired me to be complete opposite of them. They have influenced me to strive for better and to avoid all the mistakes they have made in their life. But besides all the people who have inspired me, the main thing that really gets me going is the passion for drive and the passion for life. To push forward in life and make it a successful dream is what I want to make a reality. I love the thrill of not knowing what a new path will take you on and all the experiences it has to offer. The passion  for drive and life inspires me to take what I have and apply it to my life and use it to its fullest ability. It is one thing you can never lose but always use to help achieve your greatest dreams and inspire others.

Now What?

This year has been difficult and we have all been through a lot. A new teacher will be very challenging. I really want to get through this year and accomplish more even through the difficult times to come. I want to be able to take the things I learn and apply it to college, and many other things to make my life a success. I want to be able to rely on my teacher as well as my classmates to help make this class a success. It will be very challenging and difficult to have to start all over again, so I would like to keep things somewhat the same. Like our daily writings or change it to reading on the long days like how we used to have it. I want to not only change and make a difference in this class but I want to bring something back that will remind us all about Ms. Mckenna. She was the reason I joined this class and I feel like her memory is slowly going away as we cover up her things and change what the class was supposed to be about. I want to have a fun class that not only helps me lead to success, but I would like a class that will be memorable.

Blog Reviews

Blub Blub Blub
I really like the layout and color scheme that they used. I also really liked the way the direction they took the "what i've learned" assignment. The picture is what originally caught me and pulled me in to see how it related to the post. It is really relateable to everyone and I suggest everyone make a chance to read it.

Paperclips&Applesauce
I also really liked the layout and background they used. It really focus on the important stuff like the writing she provides. I really enjoyed the post "In my Bag" because it was truthful. And majority of the items can be found in mine. I like how it's very relateable to other girls and just overall says whats up.

Asia's Blog
Even though it doesn't have much color except for the cool picture on top. I really liked how it just shows her amazing writing. I really enjoyed her anxiety post, but my favorite was remember. It spoke the truth and I really loved how she dedicated it to one special teacher I care about. Her words about Ms. Mckenna really spoke to me and touched my heart. I really recommend you read it and I hope you get that warm feeling of remembrance and that it brings a smile to your face like it did to me.

What I've learned

Ever since October 15 many things changed for the good and for the bad. Things happen in life that we wish we could understand but in reality nothing goes as planned. Since that day, that very memorable day, a part of me changed forever. We all lost someone who meant such a great deal to us. And it is very difficult to deal with. But this realistic moment helped me realize what truely matters, Life. We all need to take our mistakes and change them. We all need to take all the sad memories and make them filled with laughter. We need to forget the horrible past and make the future unforgettable. Life is life and we can't take things for granted. It's not going to be handed to you on a silver platter. There isn't going to be a perfect day, ever. It may seem like it to you but to someone else it's not. We all need to help one another get through this crazy world. We all need to live life to it's fullest. We all just need to take all the bad in the world and throw it behind us. And every single person needs to be thankful for what they have and use all the love they get from this world, to make it through and live an unforgettable life.

Blog Reviews

Iiawahrofefil
I really like the background and color scheme she used. Her What I've learned segment is really relateable and is very true. I liked everything in it and what it all had to say because we all have similar feelings about what we all have learned.

Traffic Cones on Churches
Besides the interesting and pleasing background. I really liked the "Here's to looking at you, Kid" post.  Even though it wasn't assigned I really enjoyed reading it and what everything means to them. And what really touched me was the "It means looking at the ones you love, when you know that looking is the closest you'll ever be to them."- just very touching and beautiful writing.

ABC
I really liked the background and layout that ABC presented. It was different. I really liked scrolling through the different posts but what I liked the most was the remember post about music. It was relateable to me because music is in my life everyday whether its playing outloud or in my head.

Blog Reviews

Sjoroos Stories 

I really like the remember segment she posted. It was quick, simple, yet many people have the ability to relate to the quotes. Some quotes really stood out to me more than the others, especially "Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others." -Audrey Hepburn. 

Bloggy 

I really liked the background and how you were able to see the whole image yet read all the blog posts that were there. I liked how it was organized and how the writing was really good. I really enjoyed reading the discrimination post by Kenneth Rexroth. 

Dipped in sauce?

I really liked the organization in their layout. I really enjoyed reading their posts it had a very unique style to it. I also liked how to make their blog different, they provided quotes between each post that were simple yet very straight to the point. I really liked them. 

Gratitude

Gratitude can mean many different things to many people. To some people it has a more powerful meaning in certain aspects. It has the ability to dig deep into someone’s heart and pull out a part of him or her that no one has seen before. It can take you on an emotional stroll leading you to happiness and gratefulness. It has the power to show others how much they mean to you without physically being there. Every individual voice has the strength to show everything without having any sound be heard. No matter how your day is, happy or sad, Gratitude is in your life. So express it while you can while life is still here, cause you never know exactly when that might just disappear. 

Blog Reviews

AkGirl 
I read AkGirls remember post. It was really touching. I really liked how instead of using her sister as a inspiration and follow her steps, she used her sisters mistakes and use them to better herself and make the right choices. I also liked her word choice and how it really spoke out to the reader.

lifepassion
I really liked lifepassion background and layout. It really flowed together making the posts interesting to read. I also really liked the redemption post. It really relates to many people making the reader feel more connected to the piece.

PeanutBoy
I really like his layout and background. It really flows nicely and it is well organized. I also like the color scheme because it is pleasant to the eye. And last I like the poem peanut boy picked from Martin Williams collection.

Prison Poetry

All I Know

I came into the world

knowing only three things:

I'm hungry, 

a need to be held, 

and something to cry about.

Forty-nine years later 

nothing has changed.

There's something in me 

frail and selfish, 

something that only knows

that it's hungry 

or that it's alone

or that life hurts

and if you don't fit in there somewhere, 

I can't use you.

I heard the scream of a cat

being mauled by a dog,

a primal howling shriek 

that raised all my hairs

and I knew exactly 

what he wanted.

My dictionary has 6000,000 words

that all mean

feed me, hold me, fix me. 

The last seven words of Christ on the cross

were feed me, hold me, fix me. 

I love you 

means feed me, hold me, fix me

and all the ads 

all the religions

promise to 

feed me

hold me

fix me.

I'm hungry. 

I'm alone.

Life hurts.

I knew it all along.

-Martin Williams

Write a Riff

Awkwardly stepping out of his petite smart car, he slowly walked his limber body towards his apartment door. It is mid-July and the Colorado heat makes his sweat gradually drip down from his forehead. His eyes constantly inspected every single movement nearby. He struggles with his keys in searching for the correct one, while he begins to feel like someone is watching. Fear began to fill his eyes as it made the struggle even harder. He begins to cringe as he trembles through his doorway. 

Inside he hangs his keys on one of the two perfectly aligned hooks next to the door frame. His clammy hands dropped his fairly new black brief case atop the side table closest to him. After he untied and set his newly polished shoes aligned by the door, he made his way to the kitchen. He fixed himself a sandwich filled with mayonnaise, two evenly distributed pieces of ham, and one slice of cheese set perfectly in the middle. With a knife he cut the sandwich directly in half and wrapped up one half for tomorrow. He took the other half along with a short glass of orange juice and sat down at the end of his six person dining room table. Everything around was quiet. All you could hear was him nibbling slowly at his sandwich. Ten minutes had passed and he finally finished his lunch. He pushed in his chair and began to clean the kitchen. Cleaning was one way to make his trembling stop. It helped him clear his mind. He not only cleaned the kitchen but he continued his way into his living room. He dusted the neatly organized book shelves, the small television in the corner, and his empty mantel. Once the room looked polished, he went upstairs to brush his teeth before he left. He dispensed a piece of Crest toothpaste with the line of scope parallel to the top of the bristles. He brushed his teeth gently yet vigorously at the same time. He made his way down the stairs, grabbed his brief case and headed out the door. 

Twenty minutes had gone by and he finally made it to his final destination. The heat had caused his sweat to make his antiperspirant runny and useless. It was unbearable. He parked his car four times to make sure it was perfectly between the lines. Looking in the mirror trying to make him stop trembling and calm down he finally took a deep breath. This was it. The moment he’s been dreading all day. He took a crinkle free napkin he had in his brief case and tried whipping off as much liquid on his body as he could. He got out of his car and slowly approached the front door of Mikes Hunting Shop. Ungracefully he tripped in fear as he opened the door. Cool air blew upon his face. Few eyes flew his direction as he stepped towards the front counter. He couldn’t help but stutter as he introduced himself. His name was Nervousness

Read A Riff

Excitement

Excitement wears orange socks. He understands language of flames and loves to build fires. He first taught me how to build a fire when I was seventeen. I was young and scared of being burned. Now I am preparing for another visit. This time I am going to open my heart and let the fire inside. 

Excitement is a visionary. He is skilled in the art of friendship. He has worked at many jobs... electrician, juggler, sign painter, singer, inventor, poet. Excitement has always moved around. As a teenager, he took a room in Anxiety's house, and last winter Patience sheltered him. The Wind taught Excitement how to be in two places at once, and they are still very good friends, though they do not spend much time with each other these days. Sometimes when Excitement dances with the Wind, there is lightning in the sky. 

-Unknown

Blog Reviews

Alaska Blogger
I really like Alaska Bloggers background and the "Fishies" effect to the side. It really makes her blog unique. I like how everything flowed nicely on her blog. We both have similar layouts and remember stories. Her remember post was very touching and i enjoyed her writing very much.

Splash Page
I really loved Splash Pages background. It made looking at the blog not to chaotic and also made it have a nice serene feeling. I liked how everything matched and how there wasn't many out of place things. I bet we have similar writing.

I-rroC
What I really liked about I-rroC blog page is that her background is very unique and gives off that warmth invitation to see what she writes about. I also like how she gets right to the point. Her remember post is simple, sweet, and can relate to many of us.

Remember..

The cold, frosty window let in the piercing-winter breeze linger into the warm living space. From across the room I could feel the cold air begin to touch my skin. Shivers went down my spine as tears filtered down my face. All I could do was sit there motionlessly and becoming a milquetoast. My dad would always yell in order to get his way even if he was completely wrong. He would never admit to it. I didn’t do anything wrong but in his eyes it was such a horrible thing. I was a failure to him. In situations like this, my sister Amanda was the type of person who would put herself in the situation if someone needed help. She always put others first. As the yelling continued between the two, my mind could not comprehend why it wasn’t me arguing with my dad. I could only see how courageous my sister was against my dad. How she would stick up for Sarah and I in desperate times. And how she would defend us even if we were wrong.

            As I entered high school I was known as Amandas little sister. On dance team she was voted best and most inspirational dancer for the last three years of high school. I was supposed to live up to that. She would not have been where she is in her dance ability without all the hard work she’s put in. She was always determined. Throughout our dancing years when we were younger, dancing came more naturally to me than my two other sisters. But that just drove my sister Amanda in accomplishing bigger and better things. She worked hard every day. She was committed not only to herself but to her team. She never gave up and was always prepared for what was expected. She had the passion and drive to succeed in whatever laid before her. Everything she worked for paid off. She was announced Miss Thunderbird. She was one of the two dancers picked out of a camp filled with 250 participants. She was happy but at the same time she showed respect to the other girls and never flaunted her new title.

            I can hear the graduation bells approaching. My sister Amanda is only twenty-one years old and has accomplished many incredible things. She is about to graduate from college. This is a scary moment. She is being born again. She is about to be on her own and live a life that is going to be completely different now. Everything in her life could not get any better. Her education will continue to grow as she steps into the career of a nurse. She will get to help many others and give them hope, faith, and determination to do what they want to survive in this world. She will be able to share the love and care she provides others in times of need. And she will be able to have many new faces look up to her for inspiration. Just like me.

Alaska :)