It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
Garland,
lights, bulbs, tree, wooden reindeer, and other trinkets from trunks
hidden in their summer slumber, all awakened again for a season of love,
adoration, family, giving and friendship. Its Christmas time again!
Deck! The halls with boughs of Holly!
I
am writing this before Thanksgiving because its the season. I
personally cannot stand the tree only being up for three weeks. This
year with the kids being here, we have decided to leave it nearly bare,
and allow them to decorate it. Plans to get them from their mothers this
week are made, three hotel rooms, two kids, and one rental car.. I
could nearly make a 12 days of Christmas out of anything.
Yule tide carols being sung by a choir..
Memories
of singing this for my grandmother when I was a child, bring a smile to
my face. I remember my aunt being so excited and my grandmother
clapping so proudly. My grandfather with his Christmas cocktail in one
hand and a grand kid on the other. He would have loved this Christmas,
of course every year he would have loved.
Me.. I want a hula hoop!
My
wife is bouncing around the house, there goes the Cardinals world
series coke bottles from 82, back in the box until next year. I am so
ready for another season, what a disappointment they were to us all.
Hoping to have some cool stuff this year, I have included Cardinals
fans, a letter to Santa asking for a new offense and better pitching to
best the MLB next season.
I'll be home for Christmas...
This
year will be different, my brother will be here. He hasn't had a big
Christmas I do not think since, well ever. Last year we had presents
everywhere, and of course I cannot speak to the volume he experienced,
this year will definitely be great.
Oh the weather outside is frightful..
Snow
flurries forecast for tonight, I am so excited, I think we are going to
all run to the window and smudge our faces like little children with
not a care in the world, the most exciting part of Christmas is the
snow, and being close to someone you love, warm and secure.
Have a holly jolly Christmas!
It
really is the best time of the year, there will be snow, and mistletoe,
along with the feeling of giving. Christmas specials on t.v. and the
one time of the year my wife dreads, the vintage version of Santa Claus
with Dudley Moore and John Lithgow, What a great movie! Yes it's old,
and yes it may be what you kids call "corny" but I think its great and I
am reveled at the thought of my father waking me up to watch it on
Christmas eve as a child, then we would leave a bowl of sugar and
carrots for the reindeer.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock..
To
all of you who are still in your grinch like state, get out and feel
this. Its all around this year. I hear people from left to right
complain how the lights are on too early and the trees lit too soon. I
think personally that we have suffered enough warm un-like temperatures
in the last couple years, everyone was looking forward to getting
Christmas started.
I really must go..
It
is ridiculously cold outside, almost unbearable. Make sure to give back
this season, you never know who needs it more than you. This year my
whole thought and hope has been to give back, and to pay it forward to
those who need it the most. Knowing, is the first part of giving. Be
merry everyone, and give with your hearts, love in your soul and may
everyone have a blessed holiday season.
Bells will be ringing, the glad, glad news..
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
I could kiss the ground .. copied for the public from class blog.
"Don't open that door." That's what was screaming in my head when the kid in the front row stood between my professor and the door saying he was leaving. The selfishness of someone thinking about them self before everyone else in class. There were 15 of us in there. Maybe 20? Not sure.
I kept looking at the ceiling tiles, can I fit through there? My god there is someone outside that wall, somewhere with a gun.
"The kids, do I text their mom and let them know I'm ok? What do I tell my wife? Great, now I'm nervous, can this be seen, hands between my legs, that will hide the hesitance. "
Thoughts in my head as the alarm went off on the wall today in class. A shooter was here, in Springfield Missouri. Of all the places in America, here, we have four colleges, were all still learning in life, why would anyone want to harm us? We are no body at this point.
Rat in a cage.
Trapped. If I get up and leave, someone could get hurt if I open the door, but there are a million places I'd rather be today.
Texting my wife, my friend next to me says they've shot one person at Drury. Over a judge? Over what? Where do students play into this? Someone please make sense of this. Finding out later, no one was hurt, injured, or shot.
A lot of us were made aware though.
Another alarm, telling us what the suspect looks like, no one in class fits that description. Nope, not you,not you, not you. Is the glass on the door bullet proof? Is the door bullet proof? How come she's even trying to teach this right now, what did she say?
Everyone says there is nothing you can do.
As someone who has walked away from it, who got to breathe air again, I looked to the sky in thanks to the lord. I wanted to kiss the ground. I was free. There is a lot more we could be doing.
Trapped like an animal, my mind turns to the boys at Guadalcanal, trapped on that island, at the mercy of Japanese warfare, the government all but leaving them for dead. "You're on you're own."
No heroes in this. My mind plays to those lost in Aurora Colorado, trapped, like animals, backed into a wall, no where to go.
This is it.
Life, love life. Live to your fullest and don't look back. The moment that comes where you're against the wall side by side with death, looking inside yourself for your deepest fears, life is never as bad as it seems. At least you are alive.
Friday, July 19, 2013
The one before the last. 7/18
Last night I wrote the final blog post for our class. Tonight I am writing last nights post. I wanted last nights to have meaning. So maybe this will be an extension of what was last, and make greatness start now. Yeah right.
So this summer I have talked about my kids, talked about baseball, the heat of passion, or summer. However you see it right?
I am still engrossed by what is left. I travel to Texas next Tuesday night to get the kids and bring them here to Missouri. The rest of my summer will be spent writing, getting ready for FOUR classes this fall, birthday parties, lunches and times with family before the fall blitz begins.
As for the class, I have enjoyed learning from everyone and hope you hang on to continue reading. I will most likely begin a blog on blog spot, but if not this will read on as long as the pentium hearts keep beating. Do you think some garage band is out there named the megabytes? No that would be pretty weird and everyone would be too busy trying to download... Ok really bad attempt at a play on words.
Lately I have allowed irony in life coincide with cynicism and it has caused some ups and downs. I have been funny, and a lot of times, obvious and off. At least I noticed.
This summer George Zimmerman was acquitted, the president wasn't too happy about it. There was a man fired for exercising his first amendment right for speaking out against pictures posted in Rolling Stone magazine. There is argument against neighbors again, we are almost a country divided because of our words and discussions in politics, religion, and many other things.
Remember when you're sitting listening to another person express their belief or disbelief, that its freedom that gives them this option.
I leave everyone with the lines from the naturalization oath taken by EVERY naturalized citizen in America, regardless of belief, race, religion or creed. My point? You'll see at the very end.
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
So this summer I have talked about my kids, talked about baseball, the heat of passion, or summer. However you see it right?
I am still engrossed by what is left. I travel to Texas next Tuesday night to get the kids and bring them here to Missouri. The rest of my summer will be spent writing, getting ready for FOUR classes this fall, birthday parties, lunches and times with family before the fall blitz begins.
As for the class, I have enjoyed learning from everyone and hope you hang on to continue reading. I will most likely begin a blog on blog spot, but if not this will read on as long as the pentium hearts keep beating. Do you think some garage band is out there named the megabytes? No that would be pretty weird and everyone would be too busy trying to download... Ok really bad attempt at a play on words.
Lately I have allowed irony in life coincide with cynicism and it has caused some ups and downs. I have been funny, and a lot of times, obvious and off. At least I noticed.
This summer George Zimmerman was acquitted, the president wasn't too happy about it. There was a man fired for exercising his first amendment right for speaking out against pictures posted in Rolling Stone magazine. There is argument against neighbors again, we are almost a country divided because of our words and discussions in politics, religion, and many other things.
Remember when you're sitting listening to another person express their belief or disbelief, that its freedom that gives them this option.
I leave everyone with the lines from the naturalization oath taken by EVERY naturalized citizen in America, regardless of belief, race, religion or creed. My point? You'll see at the very end.
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
Thursday, July 18, 2013
All over but the crying - Final blog post 7/19
Is it the music that really died? Or was it the writing? Where will I end up in this I will not know until its finished. Funny word final. The final out, the final inning, the final sentence cancer spoke, the final exam.
The time has come!- The Walrus (Alice in Wonderland)
This is my final blog post for composition one. In this class I have come back to a better understanding of what writing is to me, how it can benefit me and where it can take me in my education. I grasped fluency by the hand, flung my arms around the neck of punctuation, throwing caution to the wind and without a care, I have found my voice. It is made up with a high pitch squeal of a young lady fresh out of high school, a 40 year old brushing up for a test at work reading my writing with a burly tone, the swagger of a soul man and in my own head I am narrating with a little hint of Craig Sheffer, and Morgan Freeman.
" Long ago, when I was a young man, my father said to me, "Norman, you like to write stories." And I said "Yes, I do." Then he said, "Someday, when you're ready you might tell our family story. Only then will you understand what happened and why."- Norman Maclean (A River Runs Through It)
Mozart had his concertos, Beethoven his symphonies, Mr. Holland (although fictional) had his opus, and I, I will have my writing. I am inspired, I will take this to new heights.
"Brown noser." - Glen Holland (Mr. Hollands Opus)
As for the future, I read work from other writers and I am intimidated by the 8-10 letter vocabulary words being used to make sentences into 6 word sentences with 25 syllables to express a point better explained in a 8 line paragraph, makes me wonder if I am doing something wrong, writing the wrong thing or even expanding my mind in the right way.
In this class I have learned how to relate my ideas from paragraph to paragraph, how to incorporate proper editing, and that while writing has its format rules that need to be followed at times, it is still my writing. No one else can make it theirs and the words although heard in many other voices, are still mine.
Mine I tell you!
With that being said I have learned that using others' quotes, while effective, is sometimes frowned upon when needing to get across a point in simplest forms. Sometimes it is better to slow down and see what is in front of you, write it a hundred times and find the best version. Free writing. I have gotten back in touch with this and it has helped a great deal.
I want the truth! - Dan Kaffee (A Few Good Men)
In closing, I am sad to be leaving this class, but am excited at the prospect of others. It is time to move on and see what else lies ahead for me. Will I become a professional writer? Will I be writing speeches for our next public administrators? Will I run for my own office and fire everyone of my writers because they don't get what I have to say? Whatever I do I will make it my success and no one elses!
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may"- Robert Herrick
I had a choice to make this summer when dropping my third class. I had this, literature and math. I chose to drop math, although I need to take three classes before transferring. I thought I would enjoy this a lot better. Or was I procrastinating? Either way, I did not regret my choice in the issue and I am glad I learned not only something academic from this class, but a little more about myself.
Carpe Diem!
It took a few days at times to find a muse, or something to write on. Tonight's was easy. I just listened to some music and put my mind to it. It's not hard to reflect on something that has consumed the last 7 weeks of your life and months before paying off student loans to get things back on track. I really feel that finding a subject was the hardest to write about. I wanted to be influential, actually seem like I was working and put some real effort into it.
The time has come!- The Walrus (Alice in Wonderland)
This is my final blog post for composition one. In this class I have come back to a better understanding of what writing is to me, how it can benefit me and where it can take me in my education. I grasped fluency by the hand, flung my arms around the neck of punctuation, throwing caution to the wind and without a care, I have found my voice. It is made up with a high pitch squeal of a young lady fresh out of high school, a 40 year old brushing up for a test at work reading my writing with a burly tone, the swagger of a soul man and in my own head I am narrating with a little hint of Craig Sheffer, and Morgan Freeman.
" Long ago, when I was a young man, my father said to me, "Norman, you like to write stories." And I said "Yes, I do." Then he said, "Someday, when you're ready you might tell our family story. Only then will you understand what happened and why."- Norman Maclean (A River Runs Through It)
Mozart had his concertos, Beethoven his symphonies, Mr. Holland (although fictional) had his opus, and I, I will have my writing. I am inspired, I will take this to new heights.
"Brown noser." - Glen Holland (Mr. Hollands Opus)
As for the future, I read work from other writers and I am intimidated by the 8-10 letter vocabulary words being used to make sentences into 6 word sentences with 25 syllables to express a point better explained in a 8 line paragraph, makes me wonder if I am doing something wrong, writing the wrong thing or even expanding my mind in the right way.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
In this class I have learned how to relate my ideas from paragraph to paragraph, how to incorporate proper editing, and that while writing has its format rules that need to be followed at times, it is still my writing. No one else can make it theirs and the words although heard in many other voices, are still mine.
Mine I tell you!
With that being said I have learned that using others' quotes, while effective, is sometimes frowned upon when needing to get across a point in simplest forms. Sometimes it is better to slow down and see what is in front of you, write it a hundred times and find the best version. Free writing. I have gotten back in touch with this and it has helped a great deal.
I want the truth! - Dan Kaffee (A Few Good Men)
In closing, I am sad to be leaving this class, but am excited at the prospect of others. It is time to move on and see what else lies ahead for me. Will I become a professional writer? Will I be writing speeches for our next public administrators? Will I run for my own office and fire everyone of my writers because they don't get what I have to say? Whatever I do I will make it my success and no one elses!
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may"- Robert Herrick
I had a choice to make this summer when dropping my third class. I had this, literature and math. I chose to drop math, although I need to take three classes before transferring. I thought I would enjoy this a lot better. Or was I procrastinating? Either way, I did not regret my choice in the issue and I am glad I learned not only something academic from this class, but a little more about myself.
Carpe Diem!
It took a few days at times to find a muse, or something to write on. Tonight's was easy. I just listened to some music and put my mind to it. It's not hard to reflect on something that has consumed the last 7 weeks of your life and months before paying off student loans to get things back on track. I really feel that finding a subject was the hardest to write about. I wanted to be influential, actually seem like I was working and put some real effort into it.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Politically corrected.. 7/17
Writing tonight is simpler. I am studying through Ms. A's assignment and doing the research exploration. This is actually a lot of fun. How many resources are appropriate though?
I have been using the JSTOR and EBSCO resource databases.
I think the final will be simple? I have actually gotten three of my research questions completed. I am still not sure which one I will use at the end of my assignment, but I am looking forward to finding the answers to this question. Something tells me I will need to write the paper itself with my resources. I find I am excited.
Want a hard passion to find information about? Try being passionate about the Ozarks. I looked further through psychology in the Ozarks. It was harder than I thought. I thought I would be cool and do something tricky, more advanced and elaborate. I have actually found that there are more questions in politics and political science that I never thought to ask. Yes, there is a difference.
Nearing the close of semester. I am sad to leave my blog. I don't want to. However, I really enjoy writing and feel I have a good enough grasp on it as well. I want to share it. Thoughts? Ideas? Please don't say copy and paste into Facebook notes. Is this the type of writing outlet I am led to now?
I still have a yearning to write something meaningful, something worth mention, something that is remembered. Am I destined to be a writer?
This will be a rush of a week, trying to get classes all turned in, getting finals done and moving on to composition 2 this next semester, political science, history and math.. yuck.. the math part, the rest is irrelevant to where I want to be. Yes, math is practical when I want to cook, change the oil or work in my shop. Not here, not in my bread and butter. Maybe I will find some poetic stance about it, but I doubt it.
I am a literary junkie, bound to books, research and being the best I can be historically and politically, its my calling, needles? Not my scene, you medical majors, do well because we need more nurses and doctors. I cant stomach it and I do not know enough about it. Its too clean, or is it? Hospital politics always intrigued me funny enough. I know nothing of the medical field but a guy going into political science, they are always looking for paralegals and lawyers. You know, to quiz each other on legal terms in the operating rooms..
I have been using the JSTOR and EBSCO resource databases.
I think the final will be simple? I have actually gotten three of my research questions completed. I am still not sure which one I will use at the end of my assignment, but I am looking forward to finding the answers to this question. Something tells me I will need to write the paper itself with my resources. I find I am excited.
Want a hard passion to find information about? Try being passionate about the Ozarks. I looked further through psychology in the Ozarks. It was harder than I thought. I thought I would be cool and do something tricky, more advanced and elaborate. I have actually found that there are more questions in politics and political science that I never thought to ask. Yes, there is a difference.
Nearing the close of semester. I am sad to leave my blog. I don't want to. However, I really enjoy writing and feel I have a good enough grasp on it as well. I want to share it. Thoughts? Ideas? Please don't say copy and paste into Facebook notes. Is this the type of writing outlet I am led to now?
I still have a yearning to write something meaningful, something worth mention, something that is remembered. Am I destined to be a writer?
This will be a rush of a week, trying to get classes all turned in, getting finals done and moving on to composition 2 this next semester, political science, history and math.. yuck.. the math part, the rest is irrelevant to where I want to be. Yes, math is practical when I want to cook, change the oil or work in my shop. Not here, not in my bread and butter. Maybe I will find some poetic stance about it, but I doubt it.
I am a literary junkie, bound to books, research and being the best I can be historically and politically, its my calling, needles? Not my scene, you medical majors, do well because we need more nurses and doctors. I cant stomach it and I do not know enough about it. Its too clean, or is it? Hospital politics always intrigued me funny enough. I know nothing of the medical field but a guy going into political science, they are always looking for paralegals and lawyers. You know, to quiz each other on legal terms in the operating rooms..
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
No title.. just because.. 7/16
How can one person title a blog before writing it? Isn't this supposed to be something that inspires us, our silent thoughts, and points of reasoning?
I know I have written so far enough blogs that if translated to ink would take up the entirety of a pen.
I am on blog number 25.
I am going to have to free write here soon on three topics for the class and then correlate some research based upon areas of study and then reveal a research question from each section. I am excited to see how my passions will actually play in my areas of study.
Is this to give students an idea of what they want to do in life with their educated careers?
Will I remember this summer? All of this writing? Will it take me somewhere? Will I end up writing an Ozarks column for the News-Leader? Will I be at every Central / Hillcrest match up the rest of my life because I once wrote a paper on how I am passionate about the Ozarks?
What is the use of tools helping me get through college, when will I learn something that will stay with me after college? Where do those lessons come in?
I have been in the workforce since I was 15. I have had a job and had co-workers since I could remember. I have learned the importance of responsibility and being accountable for your actions. I am a smart person or at least I feel that way. Why then, do I feel so dumb sometimes in my reading and lessons? Is it because I am on new level of thinking and process of thought? Or am I really dumb? I'll take the latter.
I am intrigued to see what I learn about myself in the following months. I look forward to walking the halls of MSU this time next summer filing registration papers in a four year university. I'll be part of all my cousins, but none of my parents or grandparents ever went or graduated. My mother never even graduated high school. Has it really been that long since life was that simple?
Crazy what this class has me thinking!
I know I have written so far enough blogs that if translated to ink would take up the entirety of a pen.
I am on blog number 25.
I am going to have to free write here soon on three topics for the class and then correlate some research based upon areas of study and then reveal a research question from each section. I am excited to see how my passions will actually play in my areas of study.
Is this to give students an idea of what they want to do in life with their educated careers?
Will I remember this summer? All of this writing? Will it take me somewhere? Will I end up writing an Ozarks column for the News-Leader? Will I be at every Central / Hillcrest match up the rest of my life because I once wrote a paper on how I am passionate about the Ozarks?
What is the use of tools helping me get through college, when will I learn something that will stay with me after college? Where do those lessons come in?
I have been in the workforce since I was 15. I have had a job and had co-workers since I could remember. I have learned the importance of responsibility and being accountable for your actions. I am a smart person or at least I feel that way. Why then, do I feel so dumb sometimes in my reading and lessons? Is it because I am on new level of thinking and process of thought? Or am I really dumb? I'll take the latter.
I am intrigued to see what I learn about myself in the following months. I look forward to walking the halls of MSU this time next summer filing registration papers in a four year university. I'll be part of all my cousins, but none of my parents or grandparents ever went or graduated. My mother never even graduated high school. Has it really been that long since life was that simple?
Crazy what this class has me thinking!
Here we go again 7/15
Writing. Almost tired of it. NOT!
I have found this to be one of the best summers in a long time. I have not written so much in a long time. I feel like the kinks are all worked out, joints all oiled up and now I am ready for anything.
Or am I?
I went through the first part of lesson 7 tonight. The beginning of research. I loved Ms. A's quote tonight " I know that many of you have never known a life without the Internet, but knowing how
I have found this to be one of the best summers in a long time. I have not written so much in a long time. I feel like the kinks are all worked out, joints all oiled up and now I am ready for anything.
Or am I?
I went through the first part of lesson 7 tonight. The beginning of research. I loved Ms. A's quote tonight " I know that many of you have never known a life without the Internet, but knowing how
to use the Internet in college may be quite different than the social networking and
gaming activities you may be accustom to."
I laughed and thought about that tonight. A lot of people don't know how to use the internet or a library for research? Where do people go to research? When I was a kid, it was a big deal to get a bookmark from the librarian, to get a cloth bag to carry your books home in. It was an even BIGGER deal when your parents had to pay late fees. In high school it was worse when you had late fees and a research paper due.
My Freshman year I chose to write about the Vietnam war, encyclopedias would reference another article in another volume. I can tell you the way to use EVERY book in an encyclopedia to write a 4 page paper.
I am proud of my upbringing where we wrote everything, no. 2 pencil, our tests were short answer and fill in the blank and our finals always had an essay.
That's another story another time. I just thought this was interesting. I did want to share something with someone that I loved in Ms. Anthony's writing tonight,
"The best strategy in writing a research essay in college is to write
what you know, write what you want to know, creating questions for
research, then go find what you need to know. " - Ms. Anthony
In honor of Craft Brew week 2013 7/14
Today is my last day off until next Wednesday. I will be traveling to Houston to spend time with my kids and then bring them home for a couple weeks.
I always like days like today when its quiet, the kitchen is clean and I have a brew batch waiting to be soaked into its destiny on my stove, mixed with the correct amount of hops I am sure I will have my best brew yet.
For those of you who haven't guessed, I'm a home brewer. Legalized in 1978 here in the states, it has become a backwoods sort of pastime, with enough convenience even the biggest "city boy or girl" could do it themselves.
The kits come in a few ways. The guys at the home brew store in Ozark can set you up with a kit, meaning that a portion of the grains needed for sugar breakdown in the beer are supplied so that you can steep them in a meslun bag, sparge the sugars with water and then bring your beer to a boil.
After the boil begins you add what is call a DME or dry malt extract. Depending upon your style, you want to add hops in intervals on your recipe card. Beer recipes can be found everywhere, from down home good old style brew, to something you prefer the most. In the world of brewing we like to call them clones for lack of better terms.
After the boil completes, its necessary to drop the temperature of the beer, which at this time tastes like nothing but pure sugar. The starches in the grain turn to sugar at higher temperatures, which is what you want. The sugars in the beer interact with the yeast (comes later) that cause fermentation. You do want alcohol in your beer right?
Once the beer is chilled you siphon it off into the fermenter, this is a highly technical process involving a garden hose.. haha! Just kidding, you use an auto siphon, you put one end in the pot, and the other in the fermenter and pull the tube out, and pressing lightly into a larger tube it all comes out flowing naturally all of its sugary goodness, down into the fermenter. When the temperature of the beer reaches close to 75 degrees I pitch the yeast into the beer and then put an airlock on the lid.
The airlock is a tube that is two sided, one with air and the other with a liquor of some sort. I use bourbon, but a lot of people use vodka. The liquor is heavier than water and can resist the gases that will come up out of the beer. Yes, the beer is very very gassy. It doesn't smell, it just sounds like it should.
After a week or so the fermentation slows and drops to the bottom of the beer, using irish moss from my boil the irish moss gains a thickness to it, dragging all the hop residue, and any other malt extract residue to the bottom of the beer. I then re-siphon into a second fermenter for another half a week for clarity.
Before bottling I take a measurement of cane sugar or dextrose and mix it into the beer with a little water. The sugar will interact with the alcohol and small amounts of yeast in the bottles and create CO2 which is what makes beer bubbly..
Making beer has me saving bottles a lot. So old Sam Adams bottles, Blue Moon bottles etc are washed, boiled, and then washed, boiled again. Then they are set to dry before bottling. I have capper that squeezes the caps onto the bottles for me.
I let these bottles sit in a cool dark place for about a week to two. You want these to stay out of the fridge because coolness makes yeast live and you want the yest alive to create the co2.
Popping the top of a beer of my choosing I can hear that small hissss coming from the top tells me its ready, I pour into a mug and taste, I am looking for some things here, if the hops have blended with the grain, if the head of the beer lasts, and if it tastes good. If not, they stay out of the fridge for another week or so; a good beer will not be refrigerated for nearly a month before you cool it to drink.
I think I will grill tonight, some grilled peaches, ground raised potatoes in my wife's grandfathers garden, and some grass fed beef purchased this weekend at the farmers market.
So remember the next time you go to a bar, or a restaurant and ask for a cold one, the travels that beer made came from someone standing over a brew pot, mixing, straining, cleaning, hopping and checking it for ph, co2 and the best taste so that you can enjoy this moment with friends, family and other loved ones. Its a great hobby, completely inexpensive and its a lot of fun.
Cheers!
I always like days like today when its quiet, the kitchen is clean and I have a brew batch waiting to be soaked into its destiny on my stove, mixed with the correct amount of hops I am sure I will have my best brew yet.
For those of you who haven't guessed, I'm a home brewer. Legalized in 1978 here in the states, it has become a backwoods sort of pastime, with enough convenience even the biggest "city boy or girl" could do it themselves.
The kits come in a few ways. The guys at the home brew store in Ozark can set you up with a kit, meaning that a portion of the grains needed for sugar breakdown in the beer are supplied so that you can steep them in a meslun bag, sparge the sugars with water and then bring your beer to a boil.
After the boil begins you add what is call a DME or dry malt extract. Depending upon your style, you want to add hops in intervals on your recipe card. Beer recipes can be found everywhere, from down home good old style brew, to something you prefer the most. In the world of brewing we like to call them clones for lack of better terms.
After the boil completes, its necessary to drop the temperature of the beer, which at this time tastes like nothing but pure sugar. The starches in the grain turn to sugar at higher temperatures, which is what you want. The sugars in the beer interact with the yeast (comes later) that cause fermentation. You do want alcohol in your beer right?
Once the beer is chilled you siphon it off into the fermenter, this is a highly technical process involving a garden hose.. haha! Just kidding, you use an auto siphon, you put one end in the pot, and the other in the fermenter and pull the tube out, and pressing lightly into a larger tube it all comes out flowing naturally all of its sugary goodness, down into the fermenter. When the temperature of the beer reaches close to 75 degrees I pitch the yeast into the beer and then put an airlock on the lid.
The airlock is a tube that is two sided, one with air and the other with a liquor of some sort. I use bourbon, but a lot of people use vodka. The liquor is heavier than water and can resist the gases that will come up out of the beer. Yes, the beer is very very gassy. It doesn't smell, it just sounds like it should.
After a week or so the fermentation slows and drops to the bottom of the beer, using irish moss from my boil the irish moss gains a thickness to it, dragging all the hop residue, and any other malt extract residue to the bottom of the beer. I then re-siphon into a second fermenter for another half a week for clarity.
Before bottling I take a measurement of cane sugar or dextrose and mix it into the beer with a little water. The sugar will interact with the alcohol and small amounts of yeast in the bottles and create CO2 which is what makes beer bubbly..
Making beer has me saving bottles a lot. So old Sam Adams bottles, Blue Moon bottles etc are washed, boiled, and then washed, boiled again. Then they are set to dry before bottling. I have capper that squeezes the caps onto the bottles for me.
I let these bottles sit in a cool dark place for about a week to two. You want these to stay out of the fridge because coolness makes yeast live and you want the yest alive to create the co2.
Popping the top of a beer of my choosing I can hear that small hissss coming from the top tells me its ready, I pour into a mug and taste, I am looking for some things here, if the hops have blended with the grain, if the head of the beer lasts, and if it tastes good. If not, they stay out of the fridge for another week or so; a good beer will not be refrigerated for nearly a month before you cool it to drink.
I think I will grill tonight, some grilled peaches, ground raised potatoes in my wife's grandfathers garden, and some grass fed beef purchased this weekend at the farmers market.
So remember the next time you go to a bar, or a restaurant and ask for a cold one, the travels that beer made came from someone standing over a brew pot, mixing, straining, cleaning, hopping and checking it for ph, co2 and the best taste so that you can enjoy this moment with friends, family and other loved ones. Its a great hobby, completely inexpensive and its a lot of fun.
Cheers!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
All Aboard! 7/13
Lately in calls with my son he has been talking to me about his house boat for when he gets older.
Most of us when we are young discuss with our parents dreams of things we will buy when we get older and have jobs. You know how I actually thought I would have a house full of candy and Coca Cola. This of course until my father passed away when I was 18, living a diet of pepsi, bologna sandwiches, and coffee.
So far my son has told me he wants the boat to be white, I visualize a huge pontoon, with white pontoon floats, and white baseboards. The house structure itself according to him would be red. I envision something with a farmhouse, or candy apple texture to it.
Inside the house will be pictures of famous Disney characters, and plenty of videos with cartoons playing on the chair t.v.s purchased especially for this venture.
As for dining, there will be banana splits for everyone, as many as you can eat, candy will NOT be provided since it is bad for you. Included on this buffet will be hot dogs, cookies , juice and water. Everyone can have seconds and everyone can enjoy it free of charge.
You must have a fishing license to board, no passports or id's, just the legal ability to fish. No catch and keep either.
On the back of the boat will be a room big enough for a jump zone. You know like jump mania, or monkey business? These inflatable toys will be in their own separate room. No shoes allowed.
The rooms will not have roofs so that everyone can see the stars and sleep underneath them.
Food will be delivered daily and will be fresh. It will also be available 'round the clock for your service.
Lastly, this boat will be situated in the backyard pool of his house, a mansion no doubt, with its own bounce houses, plenty of banana splits and fishing.
Again, admission is free and everyone is welcome.
Welcome aboard..
Most of us when we are young discuss with our parents dreams of things we will buy when we get older and have jobs. You know how I actually thought I would have a house full of candy and Coca Cola. This of course until my father passed away when I was 18, living a diet of pepsi, bologna sandwiches, and coffee.
So far my son has told me he wants the boat to be white, I visualize a huge pontoon, with white pontoon floats, and white baseboards. The house structure itself according to him would be red. I envision something with a farmhouse, or candy apple texture to it.
Inside the house will be pictures of famous Disney characters, and plenty of videos with cartoons playing on the chair t.v.s purchased especially for this venture.
As for dining, there will be banana splits for everyone, as many as you can eat, candy will NOT be provided since it is bad for you. Included on this buffet will be hot dogs, cookies , juice and water. Everyone can have seconds and everyone can enjoy it free of charge.
You must have a fishing license to board, no passports or id's, just the legal ability to fish. No catch and keep either.
On the back of the boat will be a room big enough for a jump zone. You know like jump mania, or monkey business? These inflatable toys will be in their own separate room. No shoes allowed.
The rooms will not have roofs so that everyone can see the stars and sleep underneath them.
Food will be delivered daily and will be fresh. It will also be available 'round the clock for your service.
Lastly, this boat will be situated in the backyard pool of his house, a mansion no doubt, with its own bounce houses, plenty of banana splits and fishing.
Again, admission is free and everyone is welcome.
Welcome aboard..
Swim between their legs... 7/12
The psyche of a child is so resilient. A child can be scared and afraid of something new, swimming, eating, and a new person.
I had the opportunity to spend time with a young man last night that has had a few troubles in his childhood. To know what he has been through in his life and to know he is just simply happy making flatulence noises and picking at his dinner in pieces. His father is away on business and he was spending time with my sister in law last-night, she is really passionate about him being the best young man he can be.
After a couple tosses in the swimming pool and a few hugs, I got to carry this young man back to the house and watch him drift off during the movie Rango that he chose because the latter option of Alice in Wonderland was not appeasing to him.
What do children want? To be snuggled, or told things are ok? Do they want to be happy, or live in fear? Children are happier when they are seen happy. I thought of my children last-night. I felt like the kiss on the forehead of this young man, went through him and to my own sons forehead.
Children sleep so well, a conscience not being developed into guilt, shame, or regret for a lot of years in their upbringing, they can rest on anything. I really do embrace the innocence of children. Or is it their faith in those older than them?
I had the opportunity to spend time with a young man last night that has had a few troubles in his childhood. To know what he has been through in his life and to know he is just simply happy making flatulence noises and picking at his dinner in pieces. His father is away on business and he was spending time with my sister in law last-night, she is really passionate about him being the best young man he can be.
After a couple tosses in the swimming pool and a few hugs, I got to carry this young man back to the house and watch him drift off during the movie Rango that he chose because the latter option of Alice in Wonderland was not appeasing to him.
What do children want? To be snuggled, or told things are ok? Do they want to be happy, or live in fear? Children are happier when they are seen happy. I thought of my children last-night. I felt like the kiss on the forehead of this young man, went through him and to my own sons forehead.
Children sleep so well, a conscience not being developed into guilt, shame, or regret for a lot of years in their upbringing, they can rest on anything. I really do embrace the innocence of children. Or is it their faith in those older than them?
Thursday, July 11, 2013
What would you do if I sang outta tune.. 7/11
I was raised at the end of what was the "get outside and do something" era, or the era of "go pick a switch." My grandfathers favorite line when we got to his house when I was a kid, kept us out of trouble. I think only one of us caught it in our whole life time though. I sure wish my cousins would have gotten it a little more and I am sure they are praying for my misfortune as well.
I remember, my uncle got a riding lawn mower to mow the yard full of trees and a gravel driveway. My grandfather who worked for nearly nothing his whole life to have something, had just bought a brand new 1993 Chevy blazer with an electronic rear window. You know, when they came out with defrost on the back window? SOME of you might. Well uncle Randy's tire kicked the rock and it went through the windshield. How I still hate him for looking my grandfather in the eye and blaming it on us grand-kids who were in the woods all day playing, doing nothing minding our own damn business. I can still hear my cousin to this day wailing so loud. My mother knew better and promised to spank me when I got home, but when grandpa held out his hand for her share of the 300 dollar window... Have you ever have that moment when you wish you were somewhere else? Or someone else's kid?
We as kids were complete hell. At my mothers wedding we got a hold of a case of lemon lime soda and my cousin from St Louis taught us to barely pop the top and shake it at just the right angle. We learned how to make a soda can into the best 45 second soda water gun ever! At least that's what we thought until the next morning when my aunt got a hold of us for spraying it all over he brand new pick-up. My aunt is a beautiful woman and not a bad aunt either, I was her baby, which is why she called my mother on her honeymoon to come to the house to whoop me for it.
My family drank ice cold Michelob, and Coors after drinking water all day. Grandma always had tea in the morning and there was always toast. I went to sleep on Saturday nights with Hank Williams in my ears, woke up on Sunday morning with Robert Shuler, and Charles Osgood, when MASH came on we either got outside, or went to lay down for a nap.
We rode big wheels, ate bologna sandwiches and I think we all know the wonder that is the ham salad sand which. Lightning bugs after dark were our favorite sport, and who the heck cared what was on t.v. xbox? PS-what? I'll show you what a ps is, it sounds like something you do behind a tree so ladies don't see you.When us boys fought we split a beer, and we all knew what wrasslin' was. I too tried to jump from my grandfather shed wearing a batman cape, and we all nearly drowned at least a dozen times.
Ill be 30 years old in a few months. I am still a baby myself but Ill never forget the sounds of cicadas in the evening after a hot July afternoon. The music so loud and my parents playing cards all night. My grandpa passed almost 13 years ago. Moms been gone now for two. My step dad is doing the best he can to get on, and most of my family does their own thing. The Bar-b-que pit was sold off years ago along with the land and the trailer. The screened porch has long since been torn down and, in the middle of nowhere in the bottom hills of the Niangua river in Roach Missouri is a chained link fence around what used to be my amusement park, my swimming hole, my home, and part of the best memories a boy could have.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
I grew them from seed... 7/10
I start with 6 straw bales. Adding water and fertilizer each day. I am planning the base of something that will feed my family through winter. I cut the holes in the bales and then start adding seeds.
I started with a few blankets and a couple bottles, some diapers and stuff that makes babies laugh. I named them Alexis, Haley, Derek and Peyton.
More water.
The seeds in about a week or two start to poke their heads out and begin to take shape. I see the leaf form first that will always be at the top, starting to spread.
The kids are walking now, into everything. They're holding themselves up on the side of coffee tables and couches they make their way to me to so I can rock them to sleep.
More prayer.
The leaves now have started to sprout and have grown some height. The daily sun and water from my rain barrel keep them saturated, the humidity adds moisture too.
They're talking now, ABC's and 123's always a laugh at something. Happiness comes in diapers. Or maybe it just wears them.
More laughter.
The plant has now become a flower, yellow, green, and white. Soon I will have a fruit from my toil in this garden. I will certainly reap what I have sown and we will have food!
School. PTA, soccer, gymnastics and theater. My hopes are raising as they learn their ways in life and begin to bloom their little personalities.
More faith.
Finally! Our first tomato and four more blooms, yes! Yes! We will invite family! We will have a dinner and feed everyone!
They're dating. I cannot stand her boyfriend, and his girlfriend is such a little; well, I feel sorry for that poor boy, she is a wild one for sure, and I know he likes her a lot. As for her boyfriend I have every eye I know in town watching him. Who am I to say anything? They know everything now.
More patience.
Dinner is over and there are dishes in the sink. I go back out to water the plants, still more time for harvest in a few weeks. I'll sit and just see if they have any more oomph left in them.
So many trophies, and medals, certificates, boxes full of clothes and applications signed with checks attached to them. Dear Harvard, please don't let him stray... Dear Princeton, good luck. Cars are full of gas, and credit cards set with limits to cover what they need.
More money.
Time to harvest. Canned beets, tomatoes, salsa, and corn. The sunflower seeds drying in the oven along with a freshly marinated batch of jerky, just enough to have while we drive to see the kids at school.
They're coming home now, graduates! "Dad, they want me to go to Japan to fix their problem", "Daddy, me and the girls are going shopping for dresses, I can't believe he asked me to marry him!"
More time.
First snow has come, halfway through the salsa. Had a great dinner with wine traded off for three bushels of tomatoes. The hops came in nicely for the Christmas ale. Big reviews expected.
I wish they'd hurry up and get here, were ready to open presents. His wife is so beautiful and gracious, her husband is a gentleman and takes good care of her. Still, I wish they'd visit more often.
More memories.
They say its too hot outside this year to do anything. I can't seem to get this walker through the door anymore. The doctor says a few more months and I'll be out of the woods. That's good because it's time for another planting season.
They are home now and visiting more often. He's got a job in local politics and she's running a boutique down the road. They come to see me when they can. Its always nice to see the grand kids. Another generation rearing to grow.
More years.
The idea of planting this year totally came and left faster than the spring. I didn't get the seedlings in the ground like I planned. Too many trips to the doctor. Sleeping a lot more, I feel like its all I can do to stay awake and out of the hospital.
I think Ill go lay down and see what comes of things. Hopefully Ill feel better in a few more hours.
The kids are standing there and I can hear their whispers. I can't make out what they are saying but everyone seems to be sad. Its all of a sudden going dark....
More life.
Waking up this morning I realize that its only 9 a.m. and relieved that I need to get to work. I went to the garden and watered the plants. You see I am growing them from seed, and they need everything I can give them.
I spoke with Derek and Peyton this morning on my way to work. A six year old young man fantasizing about having a house boat and acting in the school play. A little 4 year old ballerina excited about playing house today and then going to dance class tonight. Not a single word about the future, school, husbands, wives, going away or living in another country. Right now I breathe a sigh of relief.
The way of my life depends upon everything I do. Loving and caring for them. Then just praying for more water, patience, faith, time, laughter, love, memories, and life.
This is of course, because I grow them from seed.
writing the unwritten 7/9
I work from home, and I have been inundated with the worst computer system in the world it feels like. I love my company and they do great work, but today has been challenging.
I have however, completed my essay for this class and will be excited to post that to my writing group later this next week. I still need to proofread and edit it. I will lose mostly a half a page and then have to rebuild it.
Today I had to use references from a place I have never been, have heard about for years and have wondered about all my life. You know, the white house? If you've read all my other posts you would be on that one so far with me.
Thanks to my wife for her patience these last few weeks writing all these blogs. I am really excited to be seeing the last week of this assignment, I am really excited to turn that final blog post in, to hit end and close this thing until composition 2. Where I have heard the grass is a bit greener. Or maybe the ink spills a bit more on paper.
I have learned a lot about my writing this semester. How to formulate my thoughts into words, how to punctuate and make things more simple for people to understand when they read what ive written.
I have found a grasp on punctuation although I don't care really if its grammatically correct or not, its my writing and its my voice.
There is a lot to be written over the next few years here at OTC and even when I go onto MSU and write my papers for the many professors that I INTEND on butting heads with just out of pure individualism. Conformity? Get real.
There is so much to be written, and there is a lot I have left unwritten. Come on let me show you..
I have however, completed my essay for this class and will be excited to post that to my writing group later this next week. I still need to proofread and edit it. I will lose mostly a half a page and then have to rebuild it.
Today I had to use references from a place I have never been, have heard about for years and have wondered about all my life. You know, the white house? If you've read all my other posts you would be on that one so far with me.
Thanks to my wife for her patience these last few weeks writing all these blogs. I am really excited to be seeing the last week of this assignment, I am really excited to turn that final blog post in, to hit end and close this thing until composition 2. Where I have heard the grass is a bit greener. Or maybe the ink spills a bit more on paper.
I have learned a lot about my writing this semester. How to formulate my thoughts into words, how to punctuate and make things more simple for people to understand when they read what ive written.
I have found a grasp on punctuation although I don't care really if its grammatically correct or not, its my writing and its my voice.
There is a lot to be written over the next few years here at OTC and even when I go onto MSU and write my papers for the many professors that I INTEND on butting heads with just out of pure individualism. Conformity? Get real.
There is so much to be written, and there is a lot I have left unwritten. Come on let me show you..
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Eagle on the move... 7/8
"Ice age, heat wave can't complain"
Why should I complain? Life is good for the most part. Living in this damned heat makes me want to sweat off everything that is bad.
Picked up books today for the Final 1 assignment, you know what is this place? I found books on the white house, it seems as though I will need to focus my writing on this aspect.
What will I smell in the white house? 400 year old mahogany? Turpentine, shoe polish, cheap perfume and democracy? The smell of anxiety building in those around me hustle, bustle and the thought that there is so much you can do in 24 hours. Around here the clock does not stop, old family, new family, first family..
Good morning Mr. President!
Imagine living in a world where time doesn't stop, it continues in long morning hours and late evening hours, how to address someone on a regular basis is a wonder to me on how one would know what time it is.
Good afternoon Mr. President.
The place itself is magnificent, full of history and preserved exquisitely. Hugely public, it still houses the first family. Privately public. Some of the worlds biggest and most dangerous decisions are made here. Its exciting while very intense all at the same time.
Good evening Mr. President.
The white house also houses dinners, socials, and other events that we do not even know about. It used to be the iconic family place to be. Carnivals and events would take place on the front lawn, luncheons and photo opportunities would also take place in the rose garden.
Good night Mr. President.
The white house is among all things, offices, mess halls, decision rooms, and lastly a home. The name "house" gives us that feeling that it is a home to the most powerful leader in the world. There lies within this palace a place where even small citizens like ourselves will never know. What does the kitchen look like? Are there dirty coffee cups in the sink, dirty clothes in the bedrooms? No one sees behind the doors of the presidential residence. Does the first daughter and son play sports and win trophies? Do these same awards line the walls and shelves of the white house residence? What happens if the presidents son plays football, will he take off early for a game?
I am nearing my first an second page in writing now, enjoying these practices...
Why should I complain? Life is good for the most part. Living in this damned heat makes me want to sweat off everything that is bad.
Picked up books today for the Final 1 assignment, you know what is this place? I found books on the white house, it seems as though I will need to focus my writing on this aspect.
What will I smell in the white house? 400 year old mahogany? Turpentine, shoe polish, cheap perfume and democracy? The smell of anxiety building in those around me hustle, bustle and the thought that there is so much you can do in 24 hours. Around here the clock does not stop, old family, new family, first family..
Good morning Mr. President!
Imagine living in a world where time doesn't stop, it continues in long morning hours and late evening hours, how to address someone on a regular basis is a wonder to me on how one would know what time it is.
Good afternoon Mr. President.
The place itself is magnificent, full of history and preserved exquisitely. Hugely public, it still houses the first family. Privately public. Some of the worlds biggest and most dangerous decisions are made here. Its exciting while very intense all at the same time.
Good evening Mr. President.
The white house also houses dinners, socials, and other events that we do not even know about. It used to be the iconic family place to be. Carnivals and events would take place on the front lawn, luncheons and photo opportunities would also take place in the rose garden.
Good night Mr. President.
The white house is among all things, offices, mess halls, decision rooms, and lastly a home. The name "house" gives us that feeling that it is a home to the most powerful leader in the world. There lies within this palace a place where even small citizens like ourselves will never know. What does the kitchen look like? Are there dirty coffee cups in the sink, dirty clothes in the bedrooms? No one sees behind the doors of the presidential residence. Does the first daughter and son play sports and win trophies? Do these same awards line the walls and shelves of the white house residence? What happens if the presidents son plays football, will he take off early for a game?
I am nearing my first an second page in writing now, enjoying these practices...
Monday, July 8, 2013
To my children.. a lesson 7/7
If I could write you something that would stick for the rest of your life. It would be this.
If your friends ask you to jump off a cliff, make sure its not that high up, that there is water below you and you know what you're doing. With that being said never mind stay dry, tell them to jump first..
If you get the chance to jump out of a plane, do it once, talk about it forever and never forget it.
Love. Love from the deepest depth of your heart. Give back, take no for an answer and fight for a yes.
Learn. At every moment in your life there will come an opportunity to gain knowledge. Don't be careless with this information. Don't be too careful either.
Be kind to your siblings. They will become your best friends. They will stand beside you in your times of loss, anger, sadness and even in your times of celebration and love.
Pay it forward even when its something you don't have. Kiss your money good bye so it always has a chance of coming back to you.
Eat unhealthy, someone has made their masterpiece, it may not be what the doctor ordered but its going to taste good. You're going to remember it, and chances are you'll want to try and make it yourself but really eat healthy.
Remember the past. Someone has crossed this path at one time or another and their experience can and will help you to your next crossroad. In fact, your experience will eventually help someone else. Or more importantly yourself.
What hurts you won't kill you. Its just pain, pick yourself back up, dust yourself off and keep walking.
Remember family, you are a cog in a web of names and persons that make you who you are. Your hair and eyes come from me and your mom.
Keep your faith, even if its not in our heavenly father or in a higher power still, your faith is what keeps your head up, keeps you moving at the right place
Do not forget that you are loved.. love is what made you,what keeps you and what will follow you. I look forward to the gifts of life that will be granted to you along your path..
I love you, would jump off a bridge for you, would jump out of a plane with you and will always be there to remind you of your history.
Love Always,
Dad
If your friends ask you to jump off a cliff, make sure its not that high up, that there is water below you and you know what you're doing. With that being said never mind stay dry, tell them to jump first..
If you get the chance to jump out of a plane, do it once, talk about it forever and never forget it.
Love. Love from the deepest depth of your heart. Give back, take no for an answer and fight for a yes.
Learn. At every moment in your life there will come an opportunity to gain knowledge. Don't be careless with this information. Don't be too careful either.
Be kind to your siblings. They will become your best friends. They will stand beside you in your times of loss, anger, sadness and even in your times of celebration and love.
Pay it forward even when its something you don't have. Kiss your money good bye so it always has a chance of coming back to you.
Eat unhealthy, someone has made their masterpiece, it may not be what the doctor ordered but its going to taste good. You're going to remember it, and chances are you'll want to try and make it yourself but really eat healthy.
Remember the past. Someone has crossed this path at one time or another and their experience can and will help you to your next crossroad. In fact, your experience will eventually help someone else. Or more importantly yourself.
What hurts you won't kill you. Its just pain, pick yourself back up, dust yourself off and keep walking.
Remember family, you are a cog in a web of names and persons that make you who you are. Your hair and eyes come from me and your mom.
Keep your faith, even if its not in our heavenly father or in a higher power still, your faith is what keeps your head up, keeps you moving at the right place
Do not forget that you are loved.. love is what made you,what keeps you and what will follow you. I look forward to the gifts of life that will be granted to you along your path..
I love you, would jump off a bridge for you, would jump out of a plane with you and will always be there to remind you of your history.
Love Always,
Dad
Where am I? 7/6
Looking at the next few weeks assignment from composition I am writhing inside myself.
I can write about one place artistically. It is almost like she has asked for some sort of abstract from us as a class.
Where to start is really the tough part. I could write a mysterious piece of writing about standing in the middle of the oval office. The office suggests the name, the position, the person, The President of the United States. One place I would love to see one day. No, not as the President, but as an adviser, not as a visitor but as someone who works in the West Wing.
I have been re-watching the show West Wing. How awesome it would be to be a writer for the President. To know its my creativity behind the words, and almost song like percussion of the Inaugural address. I would love to be able to write the speech given at the State of the Union. How wonderful it would be to live a life of politics and to be able to write about it. The press? Get real.
I could also write about one of my most favorite spots in the United States. The ballpark. Most people enjoyed their visit to the Hammons field fireworks show this weekend. Baseball, fireworks, one dollar bratwurst and ice cold beer. The older boys of summer in their crimson, midnight and greys. The smell of summer, the sting of sweat on their brow as another batter leans in for the coldest stare towards the mound. The wind up, the pitch..
One place to fill 4-5 pages with research, new and old things learned about this place of reference.
It's going to be a really good piece and one of the easiest pieces of writing Ive ever written.
I can write about one place artistically. It is almost like she has asked for some sort of abstract from us as a class.
Where to start is really the tough part. I could write a mysterious piece of writing about standing in the middle of the oval office. The office suggests the name, the position, the person, The President of the United States. One place I would love to see one day. No, not as the President, but as an adviser, not as a visitor but as someone who works in the West Wing.
I have been re-watching the show West Wing. How awesome it would be to be a writer for the President. To know its my creativity behind the words, and almost song like percussion of the Inaugural address. I would love to be able to write the speech given at the State of the Union. How wonderful it would be to live a life of politics and to be able to write about it. The press? Get real.
I could also write about one of my most favorite spots in the United States. The ballpark. Most people enjoyed their visit to the Hammons field fireworks show this weekend. Baseball, fireworks, one dollar bratwurst and ice cold beer. The older boys of summer in their crimson, midnight and greys. The smell of summer, the sting of sweat on their brow as another batter leans in for the coldest stare towards the mound. The wind up, the pitch..
One place to fill 4-5 pages with research, new and old things learned about this place of reference.
It's going to be a really good piece and one of the easiest pieces of writing Ive ever written.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
The road goes on forever 7/5
Tap on the breaks, slow down there's a curve up ahead. You can see nothing in your rear view but the open road behind you. The road before you dips, turns and winds up the hillsides of the valleys in front of you. The smell of Juniper mixed with the summer heat cooked by mother nature wafts into your nose and you press the gas a little harder.
The sign up ahead signals a three way stop and you decide to go right.
The mixture of fresh air, rain and a cool breeze greets you as you approach a creek bottom at the edge of another farm property. You slow down to count the turtle heads, see the fish and watch for wildlife crossing. The road going forward twists to the right in front of you, you pull over just past the curve and stop to pick wild flowers.
The freshness of a summer breeze can be exhilarating and freeing in a sense that no one can stop you except the gas tank.
The music blaring from the car becomes annoying trying to hear over the cicadas of the twilight. Turning this down you notice the red sky in the west signalling another hot day tomorrow. You don't care because all that lies between you right now is the night, the road and the thoughts in your mind.
Drift off in thought again as you steer another turn, you can faintly see the horizon as the farmhouses and distant four way stops in the middle of nowhere begin to light up.
The gas station of a one horse town, busy with the last of the nights customers getting their last fixes of cigarettes, beer, gas, and lottery tickets, attracts your business and curiosity.
This is the first time you've had to relax in a long time yet, you realize you need to stop now or you'll be stopped on a back road with no gas.
The cheap jerky behind the counter entices your purchase along with a bottle of water and ten dollars in gas. You fill up and head back out on your adventure.
The remnants of a late 4th of July celebration sound in the distance. You can still smell the sweet scent of juniper, mowed grass and manure mixing your nose hairs in to a swirl of summer that makes your creativity roam these very hills faster than your car could ever take you.
Wherever your dream takes you, it is on your own way that you can make it. The road goes on forever.. or so the song may say, but whats to be said of nature.. driving you the other way?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Oh beautiful, for spacious skies.. 7/4
For amber waves of grain..
I wanted to write my blog early today because my afternoon will be filled with hot dogs, hamburgers, friends, family, and baseball.
I wanted to write my blog early today because my afternoon will be filled with hot dogs, hamburgers, friends, family, and baseball.
My kids this summer are with their mother so I wish I could bring more light into their spot this year but I am sure their top lips are smothered in the remnants of ice cream, cookies, ketchup and juice. The temporary reddening of the hairs surrounding their lips gives them a patriotic 'stache to watch this years fireworks.
For purple mountain majesties..
It is my hope that when the loud boom of the fireworks go off tonight you remember the boys on the beaches of the Pacific theater, fighting in the blood, sweat and tears for our freedom. Remember the boys who took the beach in Normandy who witnessed their own fate so that we may celebrate today. Remember the boys who fought in the trenches of Vietnam, the rice paddies and the boys who lit up the night along the Ho Chi Min trail. Remember those who never came home.
Above the fruited plain!
Tonight the boys of summer will be running through the streets, the flashing streamers in neighborhoods will be accompanied by one hand on a bottle rocket and the other on a hot dog. There will be many baseballs thrown, ice cream eaten and families brought together. Mothers will be beckoning loudly at their kids to get away from the fireworks,while their dads will be tying the fuses together to make the best fireworks show ever. Grandma's and grandpas everywhere will be wrapping their grand kids in blankets to keep them warm from the July night that brings the ironic chill from a day that is "hotter than the 4th of July". It's merely the togetherness that brings the kids and families together under these blankets, not necessarily the chill.
America ...
We may all be separated by race, creed, religion, beliefs and desires yet we are all still Americans. You are on American soil, you live under the protection of the old red white and blue. Bleeding heart, or one that is content in your own belief. You believe in the American way if you celebrate this holiday. Nowhere else in the world is this holiday being celebrated except amongst our friends in other countries who are fighting for our freedom.May God be with them tonight as they fight on for our freedom as we celebrate their cause.
Sweet America..
Freedom in America, whether it was for a religious sake or not, it was freedom we fought for, and it is freedom that we have. Let freedom ring, my fellow Americans, God bless your friends and families , God bless America.
God done shed his grace on thee!
For purple mountain majesties..
It is my hope that when the loud boom of the fireworks go off tonight you remember the boys on the beaches of the Pacific theater, fighting in the blood, sweat and tears for our freedom. Remember the boys who took the beach in Normandy who witnessed their own fate so that we may celebrate today. Remember the boys who fought in the trenches of Vietnam, the rice paddies and the boys who lit up the night along the Ho Chi Min trail. Remember those who never came home.
Above the fruited plain!
Tonight the boys of summer will be running through the streets, the flashing streamers in neighborhoods will be accompanied by one hand on a bottle rocket and the other on a hot dog. There will be many baseballs thrown, ice cream eaten and families brought together. Mothers will be beckoning loudly at their kids to get away from the fireworks,while their dads will be tying the fuses together to make the best fireworks show ever. Grandma's and grandpas everywhere will be wrapping their grand kids in blankets to keep them warm from the July night that brings the ironic chill from a day that is "hotter than the 4th of July". It's merely the togetherness that brings the kids and families together under these blankets, not necessarily the chill.
America ...
We may all be separated by race, creed, religion, beliefs and desires yet we are all still Americans. You are on American soil, you live under the protection of the old red white and blue. Bleeding heart, or one that is content in your own belief. You believe in the American way if you celebrate this holiday. Nowhere else in the world is this holiday being celebrated except amongst our friends in other countries who are fighting for our freedom.May God be with them tonight as they fight on for our freedom as we celebrate their cause.
Sweet America..
Freedom in America, whether it was for a religious sake or not, it was freedom we fought for, and it is freedom that we have. Let freedom ring, my fellow Americans, God bless your friends and families , God bless America.
God done shed his grace on thee!
Read this aloud... 7/3
I am halfway through this weeks lesson on Poynter's NewsU papers. That was a
period. I ended the sentence because I wanted YOU the reader to know what I was
reading. The subjects I am focusing on are reading about writing, and passive or active verbs, no adverbs, really im lost.
I opened the third portion of the reading on useful habits and said to myself, two hours? No way has this ever taken anyone two hours! I am finding it interesting though.
The writer is really witty, and smart, and on top of current events, he writes like a song, or is that something I read? Its a lot of good reading and I enjoyed what Mr. Clark had written.
I am excited to use parts of these exercises in my writing in the future. Although I cannot agree with repetition (parallel writing) in my writing. I understand this is used to emphasize a point, or to create a crescendo in my writing. It worked for Martin Luther King Jr. I just don't see it working for myself.
I like making writing sound like music. This is something I look forward to. It will help me articulate my writing. It will help improve my writings flow. I used the number seven as example. The number seven makes a good sentence. Hopefully everyone uses seven words in sentences. I think it would make things easier. Can you feel my rhythm right now? Are you getting bored with seven words?
Ok, I know it’s a bit abstract and weird but I wanted to try and see if I could write in that form. It is incredibly difficult and I feel that it would help a writer keep it short, manageable and help to cut more evenly through his/her writing.
As a kicker I think I will leave you wondering exactly where I am going in my writing as I am writing this I am driving myself nuts because I am not writing in a traditional manner I think you will understand when you finish reading this paragraph what is missing There are no little croissants or even road blocks or trees lying across the road If you can figure it out good for you If you didnt read the NewsU essays then you will not understand that this is my writing I can write it the way I want and I dont have to use punctuation
I opened the third portion of the reading on useful habits and said to myself, two hours? No way has this ever taken anyone two hours! I am finding it interesting though.
The writer is really witty, and smart, and on top of current events, he writes like a song, or is that something I read? Its a lot of good reading and I enjoyed what Mr. Clark had written.
I am excited to use parts of these exercises in my writing in the future. Although I cannot agree with repetition (parallel writing) in my writing. I understand this is used to emphasize a point, or to create a crescendo in my writing. It worked for Martin Luther King Jr. I just don't see it working for myself.
I like making writing sound like music. This is something I look forward to. It will help me articulate my writing. It will help improve my writings flow. I used the number seven as example. The number seven makes a good sentence. Hopefully everyone uses seven words in sentences. I think it would make things easier. Can you feel my rhythm right now? Are you getting bored with seven words?
Ok, I know it’s a bit abstract and weird but I wanted to try and see if I could write in that form. It is incredibly difficult and I feel that it would help a writer keep it short, manageable and help to cut more evenly through his/her writing.
As a kicker I think I will leave you wondering exactly where I am going in my writing as I am writing this I am driving myself nuts because I am not writing in a traditional manner I think you will understand when you finish reading this paragraph what is missing There are no little croissants or even road blocks or trees lying across the road If you can figure it out good for you If you didnt read the NewsU essays then you will not understand that this is my writing I can write it the way I want and I dont have to use punctuation
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
The boys of summer 7/2
It's not mine anymore. The pool I mean. When I was a teenager I would spend endless hours at the Fassnight swimming pool. I loved the way the summer felt on my back, the water soothing the heat as it dried my skin. I loved to fight and argue back and forth on the diving board as we waited for the next to jump off into the water.
Today I visited this childhood haven. I missed the way the pool was scratched on the bottom, the water cool to my skin and the way the place hadn't changed a bit. Half expecting my old lifeguards to be looking down upon me as I did my usual breast stroke laps, diving board rounds and turns down the slide, I realized that one of the lifeguards I had just seen at Target a few weeks ago with her daughter, hadn't heard from the other three, let alone remembered their names. It was a time machine to the future for me.
The same old things still existed, the concession stand where I proudly bought two airheads and a bottle of water. I thought to myself that the 2.50 was a huge amount to my 15 year old self. Now it was nothing, change in a jar on the way out the door this afternoon.
I remember not wanting to go to Grant Beach where I lived because all the cool kids would be at fassnight. I liked the Parkview kids better, half the kids I liked at Central anyways were all too young to even think of leaving the house at their age.
I met a lot of girls when I went to that pool. One in particular still takes me back to when girls would do anything because they were mostly spending the summers with their grandmothers, were thinking of wanting to stay here and liked the thought of me. The summer nights were great back then, but not as fun as hanging with your girl at the pool. There was something elegant about them that you couldn't see. They were all the same, trying to look great, feel great and work on their tan. They didn't care who they met as long as they thought they looked good.
At the pool today I remembered what I loved about America. How in small town America there still exists swimming pools like this. Grandparents with their small grandchildren, the jr high girls trying to impress the high school boys, so they walked around like it was their different territories. The boys trying to play dumb, and trying to impress the girls. The silent whispers back and forth about who knew who from what grade. It was youth at its best.
What I realized as I made my way around, was that, now since I am married with kids, pursuing other things, that this wasn't mine anymore. I was nlo longer as youthful as I once was, I was not the same kid that could do a double gainer off the board. I wasn't that same kid who hoped to find a girl at the pool, and I didn't know anyone. It was like the whole place just kept on going without me.
The ideal of a small town swimming pool such as this brings me to one of my favorite movies of all time. The one you pop in about a million times as a kid and can recite every line. The one that I feel is the true soul and spirit of what America really is. The Sandlot.
I will not go too far into an explanation because it is my hope that some of you watch it over this 4th of July. Feel the summer night on your back as you take in a night game, taste the hot dogs, the tingle of an ice cold Coke down your throat, and the wonderful feeling of being a young man in love with a woman. The summer is magical, its full of wonder and excitement. It allows even the meekest to dream in a comfortable state about who you really truly want to be.
As a child I was a pool rat in the summer, a rink rat in the winter and I kissed the girls, enjoyed 25 cent airheads, I still LOVE hot dogs, and there is nothing like a baseball game on a warm sultry night. Yes, I can definitely say I was a boy. A boy of summer.
Today I visited this childhood haven. I missed the way the pool was scratched on the bottom, the water cool to my skin and the way the place hadn't changed a bit. Half expecting my old lifeguards to be looking down upon me as I did my usual breast stroke laps, diving board rounds and turns down the slide, I realized that one of the lifeguards I had just seen at Target a few weeks ago with her daughter, hadn't heard from the other three, let alone remembered their names. It was a time machine to the future for me.
The same old things still existed, the concession stand where I proudly bought two airheads and a bottle of water. I thought to myself that the 2.50 was a huge amount to my 15 year old self. Now it was nothing, change in a jar on the way out the door this afternoon.
I remember not wanting to go to Grant Beach where I lived because all the cool kids would be at fassnight. I liked the Parkview kids better, half the kids I liked at Central anyways were all too young to even think of leaving the house at their age.
I met a lot of girls when I went to that pool. One in particular still takes me back to when girls would do anything because they were mostly spending the summers with their grandmothers, were thinking of wanting to stay here and liked the thought of me. The summer nights were great back then, but not as fun as hanging with your girl at the pool. There was something elegant about them that you couldn't see. They were all the same, trying to look great, feel great and work on their tan. They didn't care who they met as long as they thought they looked good.
At the pool today I remembered what I loved about America. How in small town America there still exists swimming pools like this. Grandparents with their small grandchildren, the jr high girls trying to impress the high school boys, so they walked around like it was their different territories. The boys trying to play dumb, and trying to impress the girls. The silent whispers back and forth about who knew who from what grade. It was youth at its best.
What I realized as I made my way around, was that, now since I am married with kids, pursuing other things, that this wasn't mine anymore. I was nlo longer as youthful as I once was, I was not the same kid that could do a double gainer off the board. I wasn't that same kid who hoped to find a girl at the pool, and I didn't know anyone. It was like the whole place just kept on going without me.
The ideal of a small town swimming pool such as this brings me to one of my favorite movies of all time. The one you pop in about a million times as a kid and can recite every line. The one that I feel is the true soul and spirit of what America really is. The Sandlot.
I will not go too far into an explanation because it is my hope that some of you watch it over this 4th of July. Feel the summer night on your back as you take in a night game, taste the hot dogs, the tingle of an ice cold Coke down your throat, and the wonderful feeling of being a young man in love with a woman. The summer is magical, its full of wonder and excitement. It allows even the meekest to dream in a comfortable state about who you really truly want to be.
As a child I was a pool rat in the summer, a rink rat in the winter and I kissed the girls, enjoyed 25 cent airheads, I still LOVE hot dogs, and there is nothing like a baseball game on a warm sultry night. Yes, I can definitely say I was a boy. A boy of summer.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Writing until my fingers fall off 7/1
I've been writing I feel mostly all day. My wife and I live a pretty quiet together. She has a flea market booth that she manages in her time off, and we keep our back storage here at home. I hung four more shelves today. They were full before I left the room.
It's much like when I write. I sweated the "4 page mammoth" that I wrote about last night. I got back inside and was finished within two hours, rough draft, proof written and turned in to the writing group. My hands were sweaty from their fast movement on the keyboard and cramped from nearly 1700 words. The Frankenstein response I began and completed today. It was just a day full of writing.
I sat down on the couch and watched a movie with my wife and realized after the movie.. I STILL HADN'T WRITTEN MY BLOG!
I have found that life is full of composition no matter where you go. Sign your name here, write your address down, initial next to the "x", submit an email request to this address. Everywhere you go there is writing. Someone formulating thoughts into a melodic paint scheme. The solidarity of black ink flowing across the page leaving one impression. It's amazing how this one color stands for so much but can be so vivid, colorful and explanatory.
My wife told me today, she is the first person ever in my life as well, that I am a good writer.
It feels good. I guess if my fingers fall off, I'll just sew them back on and continue writing.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Oh Brother... Good grief 6/30
So today I went through and found supporting articles on my writing due this next week. I have been brainstorming all week. Looking at different aspects of passion, what it means, how is it derived in society, examples of people in society who have used their passion to obtain goals. Einstein, Patrick Henry, Paul Revere, and many many others.
I was stumped. I said to myself all day, where do I start? I work from home so my computer sits next to me, while my work computer sits on the other side. I plan vacations and talk to people all day. I didn't want to start a thought, take a call, and then come back, read what I wrote to catch up on my thoughts to continue writing. Its tiring and endless and totally not worth the headache. I'd rather read up, research and brainstorm and write after work.
So it was after a day of researching and reading that I started backwards with my citation page first. What will I use after that? I then started my thesis statement. Wondered halfway through if I should be using my credo as my opening paragraph. Is this the meat Ms. Anthony wants to add to the skeleton?
Harumph!
After taking a shower this evening, I sit down to continue writing. I have found this exercise to be comforting and my productivity for the day. I tend to look over the next days assignments and write, then I look over literature, read, and answer questions. I then see this evening still due, two quizzes due tomorrow, writing on Frankenstein due this week and this 3-4 page mammoth that scares the living crap out of me.
I started probing my wife for answers. "Babe, I am reading this assignment again (because I always double check my assignments like everyone else) did all this research and come to find out she (Ms. Anthony) wants personal experiences". "I'm stumped". She sits down next to me and says, "your children? Beer making? Airplanes? Your marriage? Politics?" DUH! The look first (deer in headlights, or raccoon you pick) and then the word comes out of my mouth.
Now I don't know where to start.. all over again.. Ms. Anthony I will attempt to keep it within 4 pages. I have hobbies, I love life and do quite a bit of things that keep me interested. I am passionate about all of them. Otherwise whats the point in doing them?
I appreciate the challenges school has presented in the last few months, the balance in classes, the reading and amount of writing involved has been exceptional.
Oh brother! .. Good Grief!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Always go to a funeral response - blog 6/29
I believe I wrote earlier in the blog about how people will find themselves. In Deirdre Sullivan's Always Go to the Funeral, she points out how even though its an inconvenience, you still always go to someones funeral.
I actually had this encounter not so much as an inconvenience but merely as an unexpected instance in life. A family member of mine had passed away. The problem with a death in the family that shocks everyone is the one where arrangements are made at the last minute, outfits, who will be a pall bearer, who will say what? Do I mention the uncle that isn't here that our recently departed loved that everyone disliked? Where will everyone eat afterwards? It's a shuffle. Almost like planning a wedding, family can be the worst or the best at big life events, birth, marriage, and death. The funeral was not an inconvenience. I would have went anywhere to remember this person, as much of an influence as he was in my wife's life. The people who had to sacrifice time to make the trip. It's really something when it happens so fast.
On the other hand I have experienced funerals where we knew someone was passing, almost a week before it happened. It was so surreal, everyone had taken off of work a week before, came home and made plans almost to the day that they would return to their homes. The funeral director proclaimed it had been the most well put together funeral he had ever directed. Everything just fell into place. It's strange how this all happened though.
I like how the author showed that going to funerals is an inconvenience. What she doesn't mention is how much of an inconvenience death is for the person who has died. To know looking down that all these people had to miss work because of them. To be dead pure and simple. Is death really an inconvenience for everyone?
I actually had this encounter not so much as an inconvenience but merely as an unexpected instance in life. A family member of mine had passed away. The problem with a death in the family that shocks everyone is the one where arrangements are made at the last minute, outfits, who will be a pall bearer, who will say what? Do I mention the uncle that isn't here that our recently departed loved that everyone disliked? Where will everyone eat afterwards? It's a shuffle. Almost like planning a wedding, family can be the worst or the best at big life events, birth, marriage, and death. The funeral was not an inconvenience. I would have went anywhere to remember this person, as much of an influence as he was in my wife's life. The people who had to sacrifice time to make the trip. It's really something when it happens so fast.
On the other hand I have experienced funerals where we knew someone was passing, almost a week before it happened. It was so surreal, everyone had taken off of work a week before, came home and made plans almost to the day that they would return to their homes. The funeral director proclaimed it had been the most well put together funeral he had ever directed. Everything just fell into place. It's strange how this all happened though.
I like how the author showed that going to funerals is an inconvenience. What she doesn't mention is how much of an inconvenience death is for the person who has died. To know looking down that all these people had to miss work because of them. To be dead pure and simple. Is death really an inconvenience for everyone?
Friday, June 28, 2013
MEN ARE HERE! - In reflection of Bird by Bird 6/28
Tonight I went to a goodbye party for someone who took a
chance and a leap of faith to move to Phoenix. My sister in law is dating him
and she is really truly happy to be with him. It is a big deal for her to have
someone who truly treats her with dignity, respect and like a lady. So sayonara
seeester! Have fun in Phoenix.
As for the dinner, how do you listen and respond to a
conversation you have nothing to speak about? I am a person who likes to be
social, but bring out the conversation about edelbrock engines, carburetors,
and spark plug ignition timing and I am lost, sleeping rather. I remember text
messaging my wife saying.. “car talk *yawn* can we talk about baseball or beer
brewing now?”
In civilized conversation I would like to know where we
stand as writers if this is our chosen path. I am not saying that I am wanting
to do the “sophomore class shuffle” but I am really enjoying writing each
night. I may get a job as a paralegal but as excited as I am to be writing
again I may chose to do it for fun again. Much like our story Bird by Bird, how hard is it to get up and write something each day? This man was an
engineer and went to work with tougher men than nails and still had a sensitive
soul enough to write. Am I to banish my new found hobby to the closet? Am I
only supposed to write once a day to feel artistic enough to fulfill my soul?
I am challenged each day by people at work, my exes with my
children to live a life of stress. I have found solace in my words, the way
they flow onto the paper. Can my writing help fight against heart disease? I’m
happy doing this. I felt that in Bird by Bird the author’s father was
happy doing it.
How about that Cardinals game? I think those Chiefs have a
chance this year. Argghh! Men are here. Talk motors, eat meat. I was so happy
to come home and write. It’s crazy how these last few weeks I have changed in
this respect.
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