Graf #20 (Reaction to My Writing)

                This semester, I have written many, many things. Mostly good, but sometimes I had days where I didn’t write as good as I could have. From writing all the different stories and being taught how to write different types of essays, I have become a better writer. From writing about Kevin or Sirus, to writing about my hobbies - I have grown to know my writing style, better. I have also realized that I have a great passion for writing. Although I will probably never pursue this passion as a career, I will always know that I am a good writer. I am thankful for taking this class. It has inspired me to become more creative with my writing. 

Essay #10 (Timed Division Essay)

                When you live in Maine, you’re forced to experience all the seasons of the year. There is the season of storage, yard work, and insulation preparations for winter, the actual winter with snow and ice season, the after effects of winter with flooding, mud, and rainy weather, and then a short season in between full of humidity and bugs. With all these different seasons taking place, there are also different road conditions. The only ‘good’ road conditions are found when Maine is in its short summer season. During the preparation for, during, and after effects of the winter season, there can be wicked nasty road conditions. They either have black ice, snow, slush, or are flooded.

                Black ice is something that only a true Nor’ Easter knows all too well. For almost the whole winter period, there is black ice somewhere on the roads. It is a thin sheet of ice on the paved road. You don’t see it until it is too late. Most people can drive over it safely, depending on the location in regards to the road. However, if the ice is on a corner, the driver is in danger. When you drive on Maine road conditions, you learn to drive slowly. If someone hits a patch of black ice on a corner and didn’t slow down enough, they will almost certainly slide either off the road, or into another vehicle. Many, many accidents happen in Maine because of black ice. Unfortunately, sometimes driving slow over black ice isn’t enough, especially on a hill. In most of these cases, the vehicle slides down the hill and no amount of force from the brakes will stop it. The people in the vehicle can only hope for the best.

When snow is added to the picture, it can make things much worse. When there is a layer of snow on top of ice, it makes the ice even slicker. The snow adds a layer of wetness to the ice, and once a tire, or person, hits that patch, they are in trouble. I cannot tell you how many times I have slipped and fell because of snow on ice. I also couldn’t count the amount of times I have been stuck in my driveway because my tires had no traction with the snow and ice covering everything. When road conditions are like this, schools get cancelled, appointments get cancelled, people are sent home from work, and everything is just put on hold for the time being. Plow trucks hurry to get the roads plowed and sanded; however, they have to just do it again about an hour later, depending on how fast the snow is falling.

When it rains during these horrible winter seasons, it makes the roads just all in all, shitty. It is almost like the consistency of thin mud, except it is really, really, wet snow. It gets all over the roads. When it is still raining, or right after it rains, it is clean, but slick. It isn’t icy, but slush can still pull your vehicle one way or the other. After a day or two, the slush is completely covered in mud and dirt. This is when things get really messy. When someone drives over slush, it sprays everywhere. I have been hit by slush so many times when I was a kid waiting for the bus at the end of my driveway. When dirt is added to the slush, there will never be a clean vehicle for the rest of the season.

Finally, there are the flooded roads. This is a huge factor in the aftermath of winter. When the temperature begins to warm up, everything melts! This causes massive flooding in some areas. Backyards get flooded, driveways get flooded, ditches get flooded, rivers overflow, and roads get covered with the flood water. The flooding is also the beginning of the mud season. Now that I have a Jeep, I can drive over flooded roads. Before, I had a smaller car and I would be forced to turn around. A lot of the times, the D.O.T. will block off roads if the flooding is too bad. This makes things very inconvenient when you have to get somewhere. Also with flooding, comes hydroplaning. Hydroplaning can be very scary if you are not paying attention. A sudden wrong move can cause you to be in an accident.

Most states have a spring, summer, fall, and winter season. However, that is not how I, and most others, think of Maine. Fall is translated into: yard work, storing things away, insulating any possible heat loss areas, and preparing a cord of wood. Winter is translated into: snow tires, loss of money to rising oil prices, tardiness to work or school, and power outages. Spring becomes: still having snow, mud, flooding, mud, washing floors, and more mud. Finally, there is summer. This correlates to having humidity and lots of black flies. However, this it’s worth it to be away from the horrendous winter seasons and the nasty road conditions. Driving on slick ice, snow, slush, and flooded roads is not my cup of tea, especially with since I have a baby with me now. Now I understand why everyone leaves Maine in the winter! 

Essay #8 (Effect Essay)

                The day had finally arrived. I, along with everyone else in my class, had been waiting four long years for this. Excitement overwhelmed us as we each took to our positions. When the cadence began, a flood of anxiety flooded the room. Slowly, we each marched with our partner down the aisle and to our seats.  It was a long 80 minutes, but as the ceremony finally came to a close, we heard the words we had been longing to here: “Congratulations, Class of 2012 graduates!” That was my high school graduation. I remember it being hot and uncomfortable – but then again, I was eight and a half months pregnant, too. Since my graduation, I have noticed a big change in myself. I look at life a very differently, now. I have become the adult that I need to be for my child. I have become more insightful, more responsible, and more independent.

                Graduation was a big step in my life. Since being out of school, I have become more insightful about whom my friends are and the decisions I make. High school forced everyone to be together, including my ‘friends’. I was led to believe that I had a large amount of friends in high school. However, now that we are no longer forced to be in the same building, I have been shown who my true friends are. Also, since becoming a mother and wife, I make wiser decisions for my, son’s, husband’s, and my life. All of my decisions have to play along with them as well; I can no longer just make decisions for only myself. That is the biggest reason as to why I have a limited number of friends, now. The others don’t understand what it is like to be a parent.

                Responsibility is also a big change that consumed me since graduation. Since becoming a legal adult, I am now taking responsibility of my medical forms, paperwork, and any other legal document. I have to say, there is a lot more to being an adult then what I was led to believe! Nobody said that being an adult was going to be easy, though. Also as a parent, I am taking responsibility for Sirus’s legal documents, as well. As a wife, and a military dependent, there are a lot more forms and responsibilities that I have to deal with. It is all worth it in the end, though! I am slowly making my way into the world of financial stability. I have had a debit card since I turned 18, and had a bank account since I started my job when I was 16, but I am new to the checks, bills, insurance costs, registrations, balancing checkbooks, and taking more responsibility with what I buy. I had always tried to save my money, but now it is more important.

                Lastly, since graduation, I have become extremely independent. I was already pretty independent before-hand, but now it’s grown. I am currently living with my father until my husband gets permanently stationed somewhere and Sirus and I can move with him. It feels weird to be able to do whatever I want, when I want, and how I want without my father’s consent. I am buying things, selling things, taking care of Sirus and myself financially. I take visits, go to appointments, and take vacations! On the 19^th, I go to Florida to be with my husband, Kevin, for Thanksgiving! I bought my plane tickets and hotel reservations online. Doing that made me feel even more like an adult!

                Graduation; it gives the biggest impact on most people. It helps change people into who they should be. It helps them head in the right direction. Graduation probably has the biggest effect on a young person’s life. I know it had a significant impact on my life. It forced me to make more responsible and independent decisions for myself. Getting married and becoming a parent also made me grow up quicker than most people my age. I am now more insightful on what I do in life and who my friends are. I am also more responsible for my actions and my family’s, and more independent. After all that is said and done, I am successfully a legal adult with big responsibilities, and I’m ready to take on the world!

Essay #7 (Process Essay)

               My whole life I had been trying to find the right path to take. Should I go this way, or should I go that way? My life was full of so many twists and turns; it was confusing and I got lost often. I didn’t feel comfortable with the way I was driving through life. Realization finally struck me and I quickly gained control of my life and made a change. Some of those changes were good, some were bad. Life became bumpy along the way and I was left wondering if I made the right decisions. It’s been said that things get worse before they get better. Well, after getting through the rough patch, those situations led me to who I am today – a new mother, college student, and a wife.

                Senior year is the year of self-actualization. It’s a time to realize who your true friends are and where you are going in life. It is also a time to have fun with your friends while you can. However, during my senior year, I was pregnant. Unlike most pregnant girls in high school, I took control of my life and figured out where I was going, how to get there, and what to do next. All I did was look forward into the future. I wanted to do what would be best for me and my unborn child. I saved up money from my job, I graduated with all A’s and, I was (and still am) with the dad. I proved to everyone that I wasn’t a stereotypical pregnant teenage girl.

                College; the one thing people tried to get me to wait on. After graduating and having a baby, people didn’t think I could handle being a full time mother and a full time student. I started to question it myself, but I wasn’t going to let anything slow my life down. I was going to go in, all or nothing. I made it easier on myself, and for Sirus, by taking online classes. College was going to get me to where I want to be in life. I needed to prove to myself that I could handle the work with a newborn baby.

                Finally, on October 11, 2012, I married my best friend, a United States Marine. Although he had plans to go in before I got pregnant, he stuck with it for the baby. We wanted to make sure that the future would be bright for our little bundle of joy. On top of that, we will be traveling, cared for, and doing a part for our country. I finally had the feeling that I took the right path in my life. I joined my husband and son with sharing the name Ricker.

                After graduating, having a baby, getting into college, and becoming a wife, I realized that it doesn’t matter how I got to where I am. All that matters is who and what is there. I am a mother to the most incredible baby boy, married to the most amazing man and father of my son, and a full time college student. Everyone’s life can look like a road. Some are full of twists and turns, some are full ups and downs, and others are like a road in the desert; straight and boring. Life is meant to be anything but ordinary. The only way to reach that is to take the road less traveled on. I took a path not knowing where I would end up, and I don’t regret it for the world! In the words of Rascal Flatts, ‘Bless the Broken Road’.

Process Essay Intro

               My whole life I had been trying to find the right path to take. Should I go this way, or should I go that way? My life was full of so many twists and turns; it was confusing and I got lost often. I didn’t feel comfortable with the way I was driving through life. Realization finally struck me and I quickly gained control of my life and made a change. Some of those changes were good, some were bad. Life became bumpy along the way and I was left wondering if I made the right decisions. Its been said that things get worse before they get better. Well, after getting through the rough patch, those situations led me to who I am today – a new mother, wife, and college student.

Revised Timed Effect Essay

                When I was in 8^th grade, I had a lot of family struggles that I was dealing with. I couldn’t connect with anyone and I felt lost in the world. The friends I had didn’t know what to do or what to say. Dashiell, however, did. She was a girl in my class and she was the most happy-go-lucky person I have ever met. She picked up on my distress and immediately took me in and we became instant friends. Over the next couple years we grew closer and closer. We were like sisters – everyone knew that if they saw one, the other one was close by. We did everything together. That was until her parents got a divorce and she moved out of state. As soon as she moved, she stepped onto the highway of self-destruction; and following that was the loss of my trust, distancing of our friendship, and her damaging decisions.

                The first stop she reached on her highway to Hell was the loss of my trust. Since she moved to Arizona and New Mexico, I was very worried that she was going to get into bad drugs. She promised me that she wouldn’t. However, that promise didn’t stay long. She felt guilty about it, and so avoided telling me what was really going on down there. When she first told me, I gave her a second chance; but, it became a long road of lies and broken promises.

                Since I could no longer trust her, we became distant. She knew it, and I knew it. We talked maybe about once every three or four months. I didn’t know anything about her anymore. She became someone totally different then who I remembered. I tried to help, but nothing worked. She was wrapped around the finger of the drug world and couldn’t escape. It was then that I realized that she was on the fast track to ruining her life, and all I could do was sit and watch.

                Finally, she reached the one place I hoped she would never see. She hit rock bottom in her life. She dropped out of high school, quit her job, ran away from home, and started couch hopping. Nobody knew where she was most of the time. Her family members would call me to see if I had heard from her – which I never did. Doping, drinking, and getting caught by the cops were practically everything she did. I lost my best friend. All I could do was just think of the good times and move on with life.

                Her parent’s divorce caused devastating effects to Dashiell’s life. Those effects caused me to lose my trust in her, shatter our friendship, and caused her to make horrible decisions for her life. Somehow, somewhere, she managed to get away from the drug world. She is now sober and in Maine where she should be. Our friendship is starting to revive, and hopefully, she will make better decisions for herself. I can now hopefully say that she is no longer on the path to self-destruction, but instead headed towards the road to success.

Timed Effect Essay

                My whole life I had been trying to find the right path to take. Should I veer this way, or should I veer that way? I needed to find the path that would make my family happy. The road of my life was full of twists and turns; it was confusing and I got lost often. I felt like an American driver in England. I didn’t feel comfortable with the way I was driving through life. Realization finally struck me and I quickly gained control of my life and took a turn, hoping for better. The road became broken along the way, but eventually it led me somewhere where I never thought I would end up; being pregnant in high school, a college student, and a Marine wife.

                Senior year is the year of self-actualization. It’s a time to realize who your true friends are and where you are going in life. It is also a time to have fun with your friends while you can. During my senior year, I was pregnant. However, unlike most pregnant girls in high school, I took control of my life and figured out where I was going, how to get there, and what to do next. I was (and still am) with the dad, I was getting all A’s, and I kept a job to save up money. I proved to everyone that I wasn’t a stereotypical pregnant teenage girl.

                College; the one thing people tried to get me to wait on. After having a baby, people didn’t think I could handle being a full time mother and a full time student. I started to question it myself, but I wasn’t going to let anything slow my life down. I was going to go in, all or nothing. I made it easier on myself, and for Sirus, by taking online classes. Although it can be challenging at times when Sirus isn’t sleeping and I need to get some work done. Fortunately, my family has been supportive and helpful during this time in my life. I am so grateful.

                On October 11, 2012, I married my best friend, a United States Marine. Although he had plans to go in before I got pregnant, he stuck with it for the baby. We wanted to make sure that the future would be bright for our little bundle of joy. On top of that, we will be traveling, cared for, and doing a part for our country. I finally had the feeling that I took the right path in my life. I’m always up on cloud nine when I see my engagement and wedding ring on my left hand and my new USMC ring on my right hand.

                Finally, the road of my life began to get scenic. It was a time in my life where I realized that it wasn’t the condition of the road that mattered; it was the scene around it. It doesn’t matter how I got to where I am. All that matters is what is there. I am a mother to the most incredible baby boy, married to the most amazing man and father of my son, and a full time college student. Everyone’s life can look like a road. Some are full of twists and turns, some are full ups and downs, and others are like a road in the desert; straight and boring. Life is meant to be anything but ordinary. The only way to reach that is to take the road less traveled on. I took a path not knowing where I would end up, and I don’t regret it for the world! In the words of Rascal Flatts, ‘Bless the Broken Road’.

Example Essay

                We all hunkered down in the woods around the fire while we watched the flags. The air was bitter cold. We were all bundled up in our thickest attire, but still unprepared for the torturous weather. It was negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit, without counting the treacherous wind. That wind roar across the lake as it spit snow in our faces – daring us to walk out onto the lake. We had gone too far to turn around now. We were out here for one thing, and one thing only: fish. Once we saw a flag shoot up into the air, we ran out for our catch before the wind claimed us. Ice fishing is another outdoor activity that I love to do. Although the weather can really take a toll on you, in the end, it’s all worth it. This was one of many examples of an ice fishing story worth bragging about. Here are just a few more I would like to share. 

                One of my favorite, close-by, places to fish is at Branns Mills Pond in the Garland and Dover-Foxcroft area. It is full of small mouth bass, brook trout, pickerel, and perch. This one time that we went fishing, after we set up our traps, we went and had our fun on our four wheeler. Since we were usually the only ones out there at the time, we would start zipping up and down the lake doing donuts and skidding across the ice. Once a flag went up, we ran over to the trap, took it out, and pulled and pulled on the line. At the end of the day, we caught four small mouth bass and two brook trouts. We could only keep two, so we kept the trouts.

                Another place I loved to go fishing is this lake up near Island Falls. Island Falls is an amazing place to go during the winter; it’s where Maine got its nickname ‘Vacationland’. During this one year we went up and visited Island Falls, we spent the day at this lake. We found a cove and constructed a fire up on land. While we watched the flags, we would just sit around the fire telling stories and cooking hotdogs on sticks. All of a sudden… BAM, BAM, BAM! The flags started shooting up nearly all at the same time. Each one of us had to quickly handle one trap and then move on to another before the fish got off the hook. I ended up catching the biggest fish of the bunch. It was a 25 inch long pickerel.

                My favorite trip was the one that I mentioned earlier. It was out to Spider Lake. It took us nearly three and a half hours driving just on the back roads to the lake! A bunch of us went and rented out a lodge. The weather that year was brutal! I was just a kid, and so the weather got too much for me and I had to go back to the lodge while the other continued fishing. However, I was able to make it out at least half the time. The trip was well worth it, though. We caught a lot a fish and some pretty good sized ones, as well. It was always a treat to get back to that woodstove in the lodge and fry up some amazing fish.

                Branns Mills Pond, Spider Lake, and Island Falls are three of my top favorite places to fish at. They all have their own special memories that I will always cherish. It was always fun as a kid to finally go home and brag to my mom about the size of the fish I caught. My stepfather, at the time, would always call me the Fish Slayer – it made me feel special. There was always something about hunkering down in the woods watching over the lake that felt homely. As long as my family was with me, everything felt right.

Example Essay Intro (Revised)

               We all hunkered down in the woods around the fire while we watched the flags. The air was bitter cold. We were all bundled up in our thickest attire, but still unprepared for the torturous weather. It was negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit, without counting the treacherous wind. That wind roar across the lake as it spit snow in our faces – daring us to walk out onto the lake. We had gone too far to turn around now. We were out here for one thing, and one thing only: fish. Once we saw a flag shoot up into the air, we ran out for our catch before the wind claimed us. Ice fishing is another outdoor activity that I love to do. Although the weather can really take a toll on you, in the end, it’s all worth it. This was one of many examples of an ice fishing story worth bragging about. Here are just a few more I would like to share.  

Example Essay Intro

               When those tires start spinning and the mud goes flying, you know you’re having a good time. With a big smile on your face, you grasp onto those ‘holy shit’ handles, and just can’t help but laugh away. As the view out the windows imminently disappears from the mud, you’re stuck wondering how much mud is actually left on the ground! Once things calm back down and everyone gets out of the vehicle, you glance at the vehicle. When you can’t tell what color the vehicle was supposed to be, you know you had a great time. However, it all depends on the vehicle you drive as to how much fun it can actually be. If you find the right mud hole and are in the right vehicle, you will have a blast. There are a few examples as to what a good mud vehicle should possess: a high enough lift, four wheel drive, and it needs to have good off-road tires.

Graf #19 (Reaction to Timed Essay)

                I was very happy that we were given a couple topics to choose from early so that we could think about what to write. Whenever I am under a time limit for an essay, I get too stressed out to think about what to write about and will often just stare at the blank screen or paper. The timed essay was definitely a little stressful, though. After finally getting Sirus to sleep, I tried my best to crank out a well worth, five paragraph essay within the time limit. It took quite a while to figure out what I was going to write about. Then, while I was writing the essay, I had to keep erasing, writing, erasing again, and writing again. I couldn’t make up my mind. I think I was too worried about it sounding bad. However, once I saw Mr. Goldfine’s comment to my essay, I felt like all my efforts went down the drain. He said that he would accept the essay, but he is right, it was a comparison essay – not a contrast essay. I guess that I got into the essay too much that I didn’t remember to contrast what I was trying to get across to the reader. I am very, very grateful that he accepted it. However, if he needed me to rewrite it under a time limit, I am willing to do so.

Timed Contrast Essay

               Throughout the course of the week, I am always expressing three different ‘inner animals’. These three animals, although all different, are each representing two very important aspects of mine: to protect and nurture. Nobody has ever told me that I act like these animals. However, when I have time to sit, relax, and think, I remind myself of these animals. I could be hanging out with my friends and having a good time, like a dog, slyly creeping through the woods, like a cat, or consistently on guard of my baby at night, like an owl – but I’m always there to nurture and protect.

                I usually always have to be in the company of others. I enjoy being a part of a crowd and having a good time. Whether I’m just chatting, partying, or even just listening to someone else, I like to know that I’m worth someone’s attention. This is where I feel like I am a dog. Dogs like to have attention – but too much attention and I become a shy dog and try to find my escape. I am happy to be with friends and to have fun. However, when something goes arise, I become protective. Whether it’s protection of myself or my friends, I will become all bark. If the problem heightens, I will become all bite. I do not let myself or my friends get walked on. In other aspects, if a friend needs a shoulder to cry on, I am there for them. I will listen until they can no longer talk. I am there to nurture my friends or loved ones like a dog nestling in with their upset owner. I am just a big, gentle-hearted dog that is very protective of the ones they love.

                Then there are the days where I’m out in the woods on the prowl. I have my set of skills against nature’s set of skills. I slyly creep through the woods like a cat – without making a sound. I steady my breathing, watch my surroundings, and balance my weight with each step. This way, I am as quiet as a cat on their hunt. Once I find a place that seems like a good place to rest, I sit and stay for hours without making a move. I hear every sound, see every movement, and sense every wind change. When I am out in the woods, I am on high alert. I have had hunters walk by without noticing me. When someone goes with me hunting, they are shocked at how quiet I am – it’s as if I’m not even there. When I’m out in those woods, I’m as happy as a cat with catnip.

                At night, I represent an owl. As a new mother, I am on constant alert for my baby. I sleep with one eye open, making sure I am aware of every sound he makes and that he is okay. If he makes a sound while he is sleeping, I automatically wake up. Sometimes when I don’t hear him for a while, I have to get up and make sure he is okay. I can be up at almost any hour of the night. I sleep when I can, whether it’s during the day or night. I remind myself of an owl when I am sleeping. Once I hear Sirus make a noise, my eyes shoot open and I spin my head 180 degrees around towards his crib (figuratively speaking, of course). I am very protective of my child and am always on constant alert.

                I can be man’s best friend, the field’s quietest hunter, or be as alert as an owl. No matter what the situation, it all revolves back to one thing: who I am. As a new mother, I have become very protective and very nurturing; so, consequently, I have become these three ‘inner animals’. They may be all different, but they all share these two traits. I could be protecting my friends as a dog, myself as a cat, or my loved ones as an owl. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters to me is that everyone is safe and sound. That is what makes life perfect.

Annotated Source List

"Baby: 0-12 Mos." HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.           http://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/baby/Pages/default.aspx?nfstatus=401.

This site has lots of great information for developments of each age range for babies. It is easy and to the point, so it was easy to find the information quickly.

Biasella, Susan. "IVillage." IVillage. N.p., June 2011. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.             http://www.ivillage.com/your-babys-first-year-newborn-development/6-a-127190.

  This site has more detailed information then the previous website. It has details of    developments for every week and every month of the baby.

Loehr, Jamie, and Jen Meyers. "Part Two." The Playskool Guide to Baby's First Year: Essential                 Information, Practical Advice and Key Choices for Your Baby's First 12 Months. Naperville,                 IL: Source, 2007. 61-127. Print.

This book doesn’t have as much information of developmental stages as the websites I used. However, there are a lot more descriptive details over what can and will happen to the baby during different stages.

Revised Graf #18 (Isearch Progress Report)

                I have been doing a lot of research. Most of which has been on the internet, but I do have one book that I have looked through. Everywhere that I research, however, all have the same relative answers. This is good because I know that the information that I am getting is not faulty. There are some differences, though; but, this is because not all babies develop at the same pace. With the information that I have read, most babies reach the same developmental stages within the ranges of 0-3 months, 4-7 months, and 8-12 months. Besides reading information to get my research, I have also been sharing this developmental experience with my baby. He has been showing me more and more every day what he is capable of doing. I am learning more from him than any book or website could tell me! I gain knowledge every day about my Isearch project without even trying!

Essay #3 (Contrast Essay)

                  A young girl, who runs through the woods getting muddy, guts the fish she caught, tends a garden, and handles the woodstove, would not associate herself with a teenager who didn’t care whether she made it to the lake or woods that week. This teenager, who uses and abuses drugs and alcohol and breaks the law - with a record to prove it, would not associate herself with a married woman with a young child. These three people have absolutely nothing in common and should never cross paths. Yet, they all belong to the same body. All along for the ride, with baggage of transformations, it’s just me, myself, and I – and boy, what a journey it has been, so far!

                There was me – the tomboy whose only interest was the outdoors. The girl who never thought about any boys, cliques, jewelry, makeup, hair styles or anything else a 12 – 13 year old girl would think about.  The majority of things that were on my mind were fishing, hunting, and camping – besides the wood splitting, woodstove tending, cooking, cleaning (indoors and outdoors), and tending the garden. I had no time for friends unless they wanted to go four wheeling, snowmobiling, or fishing. Boys stuck their nose up at me at walked away when they saw me. I mean, why wouldn’t they? I had short hair like a guy, wore glasses, was overweight, and had absolutely no girly side to me. I was undesirable and straight-up invisible to the world besides to my family – and I didn’t care.

                Then, there was my teenage self. A complete transformation from who I had originally been. I moved away from the woods, met new friends, and allowed myself to do their hobbies: drugs. I didn’t care about school, family, or my health. I was just in it for the high of the ride. I got into trouble, did things I probably shouldn’t have done, and hung out with people that were bad news. I was your stereotypical doped up teenager ‘living up’ their teenage years. I had thought that that was the only way to have fun in life. I was so caught up in the moment, that I never remembered what it was like to just sit back and relax with a fishing rod in my hands.

                Now, there is I, Mrs. Jessica Ricker – a completely transformed woman from the previous Miss Jessica Webber. My teenage years are completely behind me now, and I am 100% sober. I have a better handle on my life then I ever have before. I am full time college student and am newly married to the most amazing Marine ever! We also have the most adorable three month old baby together! Now that we are officially a military family, we are getting ready to move out of state to a Marine base once Kevin gets through all his training. My new life is finally falling into place, and I couldn’t ask for anything better!

                Those three people who wouldn’t ever find themselves associating with each other, finally came together as a whole to create who I am today. There was Me; the all too innocent 12 year old who never wanted kids. There was Myself; the bad chick who never wanted to settle down. Then there was I; the completely transformed woman with a beautiful family. They say life is a rollercoaster. Well, my rollercoaster has gone up and down and every which way, until it finally shot off the tracks and landed in the clouds. I am up on cloud nine and I am never coming down!

Revised Intro of Contrast Essay

                  A young girl, who runs through the woods getting muddy, guts the fish she caught, tends a garden, and handles the woodstove, would not associate herself with a teenager who didn’t care whether she made it to the lake or woods that week. This teenager, who uses and abuses drugs and alcohol and breaks the law - with a record to prove it, would not associate herself with a married woman with a young child. These three people have absolutely nothing in common and should never cross paths. Yet, they all belong to the same body. All along for the ride, with baggage of transformations, it’s just me, myself, and I – and boy, what a journey it has been, so far!

Graf #18 (Isearch Progress Report)

               I have been doing a lot of research lately. I have found out that it really isn’t that hard to find information over the developmental stages of a baby. With the research that I have, I can easily relate it all to my baby. Sirus is three months old now, and everything that I have researched coincides with him. Such as, by three months of age, babies should be able to: grasp toys, lift their head up, stretch, kick, smile, enjoy being with people, recognize people, be alert, and start to gain hand-eye-coordination. I was shocked to realize that all of this is accomplished in just three months. I would have assumed that babies wouldn’t be able to really recognize people or gain hand-eye-coordination until later on in life.

                When I saw the accomplishments of babies between four and seven months, I was appalled! They start to stand without support, sit without support, roll over, explore and reach with hands, and can understand expressions of other people. Unfortunately, they get separation anxiety around this age as well, so they get upset when momma walks out of the room. I can’t believe how fast they grow up! I never would have imagined that babies would be this developed so fast! I definitely cannot wait until Sirus reaches this stage!

                By 12 months of age, they are so developed! They are crawling, walking, switching positions from sitting to standing to crawling, imitating people, and having a preference for people. They grow up so fast! It is unbelievable. Now that I know how fast Sirus is going to grow up, I hope that Kevin can be there to see him through these stages. He will be gone for another month, so hopefully after that we will stay together. Only time will tell.

Graf 2 of Contrast Essay

               There was me – the tomboy whose only interest was the outdoors. The girl who never thought about any boys, cliques, jewelry, makeup, hair styles and anything else a 12 – 13 year old girl would think about.  The majority of things that were on my mind were fishing, hunting, and camping – besides the wood splitting, woodstove tending, cooking, cleaning (indoors and outdoors), and tending the garden. I had no time for friends unless they wanted to go four wheeling, snowmobiling, or fishing. Boys stuck their nose up at me at walked away when they saw me. I mean, why wouldn’t they? I had short hair like a guy, wore glasses, was overweight, and had absolutely no girly side to me. I was undesirable and straight-up invisible to the world besides to my family – and I didn’t care.

Intro #2 of Contrast Essay

                Me, myself, and I. Three people you would never expect to share the same body. They have all had a part in the way I looked at life. I have dramatically changed over the years.  With each growing experience and the meeting of newer people, I have had different views on life. Each year, I grew up, matured, and realized what was important and not so important in life. Then finally, I became who I proudly am today: Mrs. Jessica Germaine Ricker.

Intro #1 of Contrast Essay

                Me, myself, and I; all the same person, yet three different people. My whole life I have dramatically changed from one person to another. All the experiences and people in my life have influenced my stance on life at one point or another. Over the past five years, I have had completely different personalities and viewpoints on each and every topic. Some people would think I am a completely different person. However, I know that I, now, am a better person than my past selves, me and myself.

Essay #2 (Classification Essay)

                The morning dew glistens from the rising morning sun - signaling the start of a new day. As the sun warms the air, the dew slowly drips off the trees, and the lake slowly ‘wakes up’ as it goes from being calm to having gentle ripples. Through this liquid mirror, the fish take a quick peek above water as they collect their breakfast. At the same time, the frogs slowly soften their nighttime singing as the loons proudly share their lovely morning solo. All is quiet, except for the harmonies of nature. Upon taking a deep breath, you feel completely rejuvenated. The fresh, crisp air is so pleasurable that smiling becomes involuntary. There are no people arguing, no television, no drama, no work, no school, no nothing – just you and nature. The easygoing morning hours let you clear your mind and free it up for noteworthy thoughts. This is a lot of the reason why I love the outdoors. That is why most of my hobbies take place outside. If it is a good day, I could easily have a morning like this while doing my favorite, and stress relief, hobbies: hunting, fishing, and camping.

                Hunting; the one place that requires my complete concentration on my surroundings, myself, and my skills. People have told me that I have great hunting skills. I am incredibly quiet once I’m in the zone. As I walk towards the woods, I let my mind dump all that is bothering me behind me. Once I enter the woods, my mind is completely blank. Nobody is there to bother me about stupid questions, concerns, or lectures. I don’t have to worry about work or school. When I finally find a good spot to sit down, I make myself comfortable, and stay in the same position for hours upon hours. Then, and only then, do I allow thoughts to come across my mind. It is very relaxing to think things through while staring at the wonders of nature. When a deer finally walks in your line of vision, it is very rewarding. Deer are so elegant; whether I shoot one or not, it is still rewarding to know that you were quiet enough for a deer to come that close to you.

                Fishing gives me a different kind of stress relief. It lets me spend time with my family in a calming environment. We talk about the past – the funny, cool, and meaningful stories. We all laugh and joke around with each other. Once someone gets a bite, we are all rooting them on. I love to fish! Trying to figure out the right way to reel the right type of lure through the water for different fish is intriguing. It’s really fun to learn what makes each fish tick. When I’m reeling in one of those giant fish, I can’t help but smile and laugh the whole time. I have a blast fighting the battle with those fish!

               Finally, there is camping. Camping is also a family oriented thing. I love sitting around the fire pit telling stories under the stars while listening to the frogs sing. It is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Especially when it’s with the people you love. It’s almost as if you can feel the bond of the relationship with everyone growing. I love to be completely surrounded by the woods and a lake. I’m talking about camping with a tent – not a camper. Camping with a camper, I believe, is cheating. As long as my favorite people are with me, I could care less about electronics, gossip, news, and anything else that is at home. All you need is a cuddle buddy, family, and a bonfire.

                The only thing that is just as good as watching the sunrise, is watching the sunset. The sky illuminates with an array of oranges, yellows, and hints of red. As the shadows from the trees become longer, the crickets begin their choir as the geese flying up above let everyone know they’re about to settle down. Once in the twilight, the frogs begin their nightly chorus and, behind them, you can hear the plop….plop….plop of the fish getting their last minute meals. Looking across the lake, you see a beautifully reflected picture of the sky up above. Following the reflection, you see the sky completely extended across with bright, shining stars. Of the billions of stars, you gaze at one in particular and remember that childhood rhyme. Star light, Star bright, The first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish tonight: For many more days like these.

 

Revised Intro to Classification Essay

               The morning dew glistens from the rising morning sun - signaling the start of a new day. As the sun warms the air, the dew slowly drips off the trees, and the lake slowly ‘wakes up’ as it goes from being calm to having gentle ripples. Through this liquid mirror, the fish take a quick peek above water as they collect their breakfast. At the same time, the frogs slowly soften their nighttime singing as the loons proudly share their lovely morning solo. All is quiet, except for the harmonies of nature. Upon taking a deep breath, you feel completely rejuvenated. The fresh, crisp air is so pleasurable that smiling becomes involuntary. There are no people arguing, no television, no drama, no work, no school, no nothing – just you and nature. The easygoing morning hours let you clear your mind and free it up for noteworthy thoughts. This is a lot of the reason why I love the outdoors. That is why most of my hobbies take place outside. If it is a good day, I could easily have a morning like this while doing my favorite hobbies: hunting, fishing, and camping.

Outro of Classification Essay

                The only thing that is just as good as watching the sunrise, is watching the sunset. The sky illuminates with an array of oranges, yellows, and hints of red. As the shadows from the trees become longer, the crickets begin their choir as the geese flying up above let everyone know they’re about to settle down. Once in the twilight, the frogs begin their nightly chorus and, behind them, you can hear the plop….plop….plop of the fish getting their last minute meals. Looking across the lake, you see a beautifully reflected picture of the sky up above. Following the reflection, you see the sky completely extended across with bright, shining stars. Of the billions of stars, you gaze at one in particular and remember that childhood rhyme. Star light, Star bright, The first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish tonight: For many more days like these.

Intro 2 of Classification Essay

                The rising sun shines through the morning dew clinging to the leaves and grass - signaling the start of a new day. The birds gently stir as they stretch their wings. The fish take a quick peek above water as they collect their breakfast. At the same time, the frogs slowly soften their nighttime singing as the loons proudly share their lovely morning solo. All is quiet, except for the harmonies of nature. There are no people arguing, no television, no drama, no work, no school, no nothing – just you and nature. You are able to let your mind wander from the daily stresses of life to the invigorating thoughts of your surroundings. Your mind is free to think about whatever you want. This is a lot of the reason why I love the outdoors. That is why most of my hobbies take place outside. If it is a good day, I could have a morning like this while doing my favorite hobbies: hunting, fishing, and camping.

Intro 1 of Classification Essay

                Once you are out there and take a deep breath, you feel completely rejuvenated. The fresh, crisp air is so pleasurable that smiling becomes involuntary. The morning hours are quiet with gently stirring critters. You stare as nature does its work: the morning dew slowly drips off the trees, the sun warming up the air, and the lake slowly ‘waking up’ as it goes from being calm to having gentle ripples. The easygoing morning hours let you clear your mind and free it up for noteworthy thoughts. There is nothing better than being outside. That is why most of my hobbies include being outside. If the day is right, I have mornings like these while I'm doing my favorite hobbies: hunting, fishing, and camping.

Graf #17 (Reaction to Comment)

                I was really glad that Mr. Goldfine liked my essay. I was happy that I was able to pull it all together nicely. I already explained most of what was running through my mind in Graf #15. I think about Jazz all the time – it’s sad to have gotten rid of her. When it comes to the comment, I’m not sure what a real intro and outro is, though. I’m assuming it just means a good intro/outro? In addition to his comment, I do not know what he sees in poodles! They are said to be the world’s smartest breed of dog. I have never seen a poodle, so I can’t judge. Be that as it may, I still love my shepherds! They are the perfect dog for me!

Graf #16 (Reaction to Classification Essays)

                I read a couple of the classification essays, and they were really great essays! I read the first one about guys being snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails. I thought that was a brilliant essay! She really defined most men right through a simple nursery rhyme. I wouldn’t classify all guys as being that way; although, it sure seems like it is. The other one I read was about that person’s mystery fish on their line. I go fishing all the time and he really nailed what each one of those fish were like to catch. Salmon are definitely the best ones to catch because they give the biggest fight. His essay took me back to the numerous occasions I went fishing. I haven’t gone fishing in a while. Maybe my classification essay will be about the outdoors. I love being outside!

Graf #15 (Meta-Graf)

                It was late at night, and I had just gotten Sirus to sleep after an hour and a half of rocking. I took out my laptop and just stared at my intro and outro of my cause essay. I was stumped. I didn’t want to write about my dog at that moment. All I could think about was how soon I was going to see Kevin. I tried to clear my head and think about my dog instead. I chose to write about my dog after reading one of the example cause essays about a guy’s dog. It made me think about how much I missed my dog. With my mind now jumbled with thoughts of Kevin, my dog, and everything else that could possibly enter my mind, I stood up and walk over to the crib. As I gently tucked Sirus in a little more, I began to think about our future. I began to think about how Kevin wanted a Rottweiler and I wanted a German shepherd. Then how I would want the dog to act like – Jazz. Finally thinking about Jazz, her personality, and her little quirks, I sat down on my bed, grabbed my laptop, and began writing.

Essay #1 (Cause Essay)

                It’s about ten o’clock at night and she’s outside. I sneak out the back door of the house, quietly slip down the stairs, and then bolt down the shadows of the lawn. I’m dressed in a couple hooded sweatshirts with one of the hoods covering my head. I make it just around the house when, all of the sudden, it feels like I was just hit by a truck. As I’m crashing to the ground, she’s on top of me biting my arm. “Jazz, it is okay it’s just me,” she perks her ears, wags her tail, and licks me in the face. “That was a good job! You’re a good girl.” Unscathed, we walk back to the house. That was just one of few tests I would randomly (and stupidly) do to just test how protective my German shepherd was. I always knew I was safe with her around. German shepherds have always been my favorite dog. There are so many reasons why, but the top reasons are: loyalty, smarts, and protectiveness. I could always relate each one of those to my German shepherds.

                German shepherds are known for their protectiveness. I always felt safe with any of my dogs around – especially Jazz. She was always on alert. When someone was at the door, she would come and let me know by barking. She could always recognize people who had been to the house. So, when someone stopped by that she didn’t know, she would get VERY protective until I showed her that it was alright. She always would make sure I was safe. She would get really anxious when my friends came over and we would rough-house around with each other. She hated it. She didn’t want any chance of anyone getting hurt, so she would try to get us to stop by giving small barks. If we continued, she would try to draw our attention away by lightly nipping one of us. German shepherds are very protective of the ones they love!

                These dogs are also incredibly loyal. No matter what I did to that dog, she would always listen to me. If she was bad one day (got into garbage) she definitely knew it. However, once she realized that it was okay to come out of the kennel, she would be such a kiss-ass to me to try to make up for it. No matter who was in the room, or what the situation was, she would always listen to me; except when she saw another dog – never quite got her to break that habit. She knew who her owners were and listened to them reasonably well.

                Finally, German shepherds are also well known for their brains. They are unbelievably smart dogs! It took me very little time to train her. She knew that the kennel meant either bedtime or punishment. Once she was trained, I never had to shut the door to the kennel. If she was bad, I would simply say, “Jazz, kennel!” and she would march right in there and stay there until I said it was okay to come out. If she was being a nuisance, I would tell her to “go to bed”, and she would go. She knew “let’s go to bed” meant that it really was bedtime and she would jump up in bed with me and go to sleep. On the weekend when I slept past seven o’clock, she would wake me up by licking me in the face. She was always so used to me getting up at seven during the week days because of school. When I took her outside and she was getting too distracted to do her business, I would just have to tell her to “go pee, Jazz” and she would run off and do it. I never really taught her these things, I just talked to her all the time and I think she picked up on it.

                Jazz always knew exactly what I was saying to her. I could tell her to do something, just about anything, and she knew what I meant. That dog was incredibly smart! She went everywhere with me. She was my pal – my friend. Unfortunately, I had to get rid of Jazz a few years ago because of living situations. It broke my heart. Hopefully, when Kevin and I finally get settled down into a place of our own, we might get a German shepherd. It would be nice having a German shepherd, again. I miss my bed-hogging, protective, lovable Jazzy!

Graf #14 (Isearch Research Plan)

               For my research, I plan on mainly using the internet and a couple of baby books that I have (and have never opened yet). If I can’t find an answer to one or more of my questions, I may start asking other mothers that I know, or Sirus’s pediatrician. I believe I can find most, if not all, of the questions that I asked. I am sure that baby developmental stages are quite easy to find on the internet or in any baby book. When I use the internet, I am not using Wikipedia. I do not trust that site. People can go in and change anything or write anything they want – I have tried it, and succeeded. I am going to use trusted sites. I am also using popular books for child development. I also am definitely going to use a timeline. It will help bring everything together more easily.

                One of the problems that I foresee is that each site or book will have a different age for different developments. This is because each child develops differently. Conclusively, my answers for the age of different developments will most likely be a range then an estimate. If the range is too high, I will talk to the pediatrician about it. Sirus will be my little experiment while this project carries on. He will also help me narrow down those age ranges.

What I already Know

               I do not know much about the different developments of a baby, but I am learning from watching my baby, Sirus. Before I had Sirus, I knew that babies can typically walk before they are the age of one. Unfortunately, that’s all I really knew. Now, with Sirus, I have learned that babies have full head support by two months of age. I have also learned that they start actually smiling by around one month of age. I know that Sirus definitely knows who his momma is! I think that he has started to recognize people, as well. He is 11 weeks old now and growing like a weed!
 

                What I don’t know is basically everything else that is happens beyond 11 weeks of age. I still don’t know when about babies start to crawl, sit up, walk, or run around. I believe they start to crawl around five months, sit up around six months, walk around eight months, and run around ten months. However, I do know that all babies develop differently. Which was also another one of my questions: why do some babies develop faster than others?

I believe encouragement has a lot of beneficial factors to a baby’s development pace. If the baby is consistently encouraged to do something and is applauded when that goal is reached, they will probably develop faster. If a baby gets no encouragement and is not congratulated when they achieve something, they will probably not try that ‘stunt’ again. With having Sirus, I try to encourage him to hold on to a toy all the time. He is slowly getting the concept of it, but I don’t believe he understands what he is holding. He probably won’t understand what a toy is (another one of my questions) until five months of age. I am just estimating ages, I really have no idea.

How long should a baby breastfeed for? If I’m not mistaken, I am pretty sure up to one year old is very healthy to do. That is my plan – to breastfeed Sirus until he is one. His pediatrician thought it was very good that I was going to continue breastfeeding him until he is a year old. Another question concerning food was: when do babies start to eat solid foods? Considering babies need to have teeth (I think) before they have baby food, they probably won’t get their teeth until nine months old. That is just a shot in the dark; I don’t have the slightest clue when they get their teeth. I am hoping to learn so much more through this project. I am excited to learn all the steps my child is going to experience!

Outro #1 of Cause Essay

                Jazz always knew exactly what I was saying to her. I could tell her to do something, just about anything, and she knew what I meant. That dog was incredibly smart! She went everywhere with me. She was my pal – my friend. Unfortunately, I had to get rid of Jazz a few years ago because of living situations. It broke my heart. Hopefully, when Kevin and I finally get settled down into a place of our own, we might get a German shepherd. It would be nice having a German shepherd, again. I miss my bed-hogging, protective, lovable Jazzy!

Intro #2 of Cause Essay

                She always knew exactly what I was saying to her. I could tell her to do something, just about anything, and she knew what I meant. That dog was incredibly smart! She went everywhere with me. She was my pal – my friend. German shepherds have always been my favorite breed of dog. That is why I have owned so many. Each and every one of them had just about the same traits. They are traits that are very important to me for a dog to possess. Protectiveness, smarts, and loyalty: it’s what separates the good dogs from the bad.

Intro #1 of Cause Essay

               It’s about ten o’clock at night and she’s outside. I sneak out the back door of the house, quietly slip down the stairs, and then bolt down the shadows of the lawn. I’m dressed in a couple hooded sweatshirts with one of the hoods covering my head. I make it just around the house when, all of the sudden, it feels like I was just hit by a truck. As I’m crashing to the ground, she’s on top of me biting my arm. “Jazz, it is okay it’s just me,” she perks her ears, wags her tail, and licks me in the face. “That was a good job! You’re a good girl.” Unscathed, we walk back to the house. That was just one of few tests I would randomly (and stupidly) do to just test how protective my German shepherd was. I always knew I was safe with her around. German shepherds have always been my favorite dog. There are so many reasons why, but the top reasons are: loyalty, smarts, and protectiveness. I could always relate each one of those to my German shepherds.

Graf #13 (Reaction)

                When I opened up the link to read the cause essays the first time, I read all the wrong ones because I wasn’t paying attention to the headings. Stupid, I know. The second time around, I got it straight. Now, I have a better understanding of what a cause essay is all about. I really liked the first one about dishonesty, fear, and selfishness when it came to love. I think she nailed that topic. I think a lot of women could relate to that. Her essay kept me reading on. The ballerina one was cute. I think a lot of little kids look up to someone older than them and try to be just like them. I think I am still going to keep my topic that I chose for my cause essay. Even though I did not do it right the first time, I am going to revise it to make it work.

Graf #12 (Place)

                I knew we were almost there once we drove past the sign with the town slogan, “Don’t get useless in Eustis”. We were driving to my most favorite camping site, Natanis. With my face pressed to the glass, I watched the Chain of Ponds guide us to our destination.  I had never been happier to reach that bumpy dirt driveway after a long three hour drive. Once seeing that old, rickety ‘sign-in’ building, I knew we were finally there.

                After we signed in, we drove around the corner… and there it was. That long narrow strip of land that cut across the ponds. I gazed at the beauty of nature’s openness as we crossed the bridge. The vast majority of the camp sites were on the other side of the pond, but we found their secret spot that very few knew about. On this strip of land, the whole length of it on one side is a beach; so, we used it as our boat launch. We put all our camping supplies into the boat, drove underneath the bridge, and sped off down one of the ponds. At around a mile out, we came to a stop at a secluded ‘island’ (it looked like an island, but technically it wasn’t). We stopped the boat on a little beach and tied it up to a tree. The island was raised about six to seven feet; so, there was a steep incline until level land. There were tree roots that acted as stairs, which made things easier to carry up our load.

After everything got set up, I would just sit in the sun and take in the beauty surrounding me. Trees bordered the island to offer us a little privacy. Mountains were in the background over every angle you looked at. The pond beautifully reflected the trees and mountains before it. It was also an amazing place to fish. At night, the sky was always so clear. We would often have a huge bonfire as we sat beneath the stars, reminiscing about old times. The frogs would sing us to sleep and the loons would gently wake us in the morning. There is nowhere in the world I would rather be then spending the summer here with the people I love.

Graf #11 (Real-Life Research)

                You’re running through the deep, dark woods as fast as you can, trying to get away from whatever is chasing you. You’re lost, but you just keep on running and running. All of the sudden, you find yourself in Wal-Mart. You are hurriedly looking down each aisle for that person who was after you. You are scared, but curious – so you keep looking. When you glance down one of the aisles, you see a bear just sitting there peering around. Nobody seems to notice this bear. They all just keep on walking by as if there is nothing out of the ordinary. Dumbfounded, you approach the bear. It seems gentle until you see a flash of teeth and… BAM! You thought you were about to be this bear’s lunch, but instead you’re waking up after jumping ten feet in the air. You just had one of those strange dreams, again. Curious about what they all mean? Each dream has a meaning. Those random, misplaced objects that strangely appear, those weird actions you do, and those disorienting setting changes – they all have a meaning.

                For years, I was always curious what dreams were all about. Dreams that would scare you, dreams that would bring back memories, and even dreams that left you wanting to come back to the dream world. While at school (and not doing what I was supposed to be doing), I looked up all the different meanings of dreams and the symbolisms behind them. I was so intrigued that I actually wrote down all the different types of dreams, why we have them, websites to understand different symbolisms, and so on. It's amazing that a sophomore in high school actually did research on their own time! So, I did my best in finding the answers.

               When you wake up from a dream, you will sometimes be left pondering: “Why was that in my dream?” I bet it wasn’t the first time sometime strange appeared in your dream. There is a reason why it happened. Seeing a bear in a Wal-Mart – weird. However, spotting a bear in your dreams symbolizes life and death; much like going through a period of self-renewal. There is a wide assortment of different objects that symbolize different emotions that you are experiencing. How about the woods? Running lost through the woods signifies that you are having anxiety about leaving something behind that is familiar to you. Finding yourself in a store indicates that you are emotionally or mentally strained. So, put the dream all together: you are seeking self-renewal by leaving or getting rid of something that is close to you, but it is causing emotional or mental instability.

                There are several different types of dreams, although there are two that are the most common. Let’s say that this dream often repeats itself. This is called a Recurring Dream. It usually means that there is a conflict in your life that you are not dealing with – and until it is solved, that dream will continuously come back. Maybe you are really bothered by to leave that object behind. You have to learn to cope with this issue. If you let this issue eat away at you, you may always find yourself having this same dream (or something similar to it). It is much the same with nightmares. Nightmares usually occur because you are refusing to accept something that has happened or is happening in your life. It also may be showing that you have a fear of confronting something. Talking to someone about these dreams or life situations may be the only way to cease the horrid dreams.

                In your dream, while running through those dark woods, you feel a strong sense of panic. Panic often signals that you feel a lack of power in your life. What you see in your dreams may be important; however, what you are feeling is also very important. Although you are curious at the details of your dreams, you should ponder about what your emotions were throughout the course of the dream. What you are feeling in your dream corresponds to what you actually feel in real life whether you know it or not. Your mind tries to uncork all those bottled up emotions that you kept throughout the day, or longer. Understanding what your dreams are trying to tell you may help you figure out important life decisions, issues, or even why you have been having all those migraines lately!

                It’s amazing to know that running through the woods, to searching Wal-Mart, to finding a bear can all mean so much! Figuring out what your dream is trying to say can help you a lot in life. Your dreaming state opens up your subconscious to reveal all those deep, dark feelings or desires that you didn’t know you had. Dreams can also teach you more about your thoughts, goals, and aspirations that you didn’t know about yourself. Learn from your dreams – or else you may experience recurring dreams or nightmares over unresolved issues. So, if you are having anxiety over leaving your ‘Blankie’ at your mother’s house, you may continue to have bad dreams about running around lost in the woods! It’s time to cope with the issue and immerse yourself into a nightmare-free world!

Graf #10 (Person)

                It’s all about impressing your friends in middle school; especially for the guys. There is always those few guys who try to out-do each other by seeing who gets into the most trouble. You know – the ones who start the candy war in the gymnasium. Or, the ones who decide to draw cartoons of massacres in Art class. Even the ones who try to tick off the teacher while already in detention. Well, these guys were in my class, and I was a part of them.

                Kevin and I were friends with the same interests: getting into trouble. It was just a game to us. Once one of us got kicked out of class, the other one followed shortly after. Walking down the hall towards the office, we would spot each other and just grin a devilish little grin, “Ha ha, good job. What did you do?” We would then proudly share our story. Detentions meant nothing to us except an hour of our time either doing homework or pissing off the teacher. We were an unsuspecting pair. Teachers thought nothing of us until they had a few classes with us. We just had our way and had fun with it.

                Soon enough, we became best friends. As best friends, we did what best friends do. We shared secrets of the past, explained our worries to each other, and just helped a friend in need. Ultimately, without realizing it, we were having the same conversations with our mothers: “You two should date!” “No way, he/she is just my friend.” However, time got the better of us. We figured out that it was worth a shot to try dating. Long story short, we are now engaged and have a baby boy together!

Why I'm Writing

                The reason why I chose the developmental stages and skills of a baby is because I do not know much about a baby. I had never been around babies that often growing up and I had never taken care or baby sat one. So, consequently, all I knew about babies is that they eat, sleep, and poop. Now, I have a baby of my own. I am learning every day on what they do, why they do it, and how to take care of it. As a new mother, since I wasn’t all that prepared in the beginning, I want to be prepared for the future. I want to learn what the different developmental stages and skills that a baby goes through and when it will happen. I want to be prepared so that I can have the house baby-proofed and the cameras ready! Especially since his daddy is in the Marines. I want to know what Sirus might begin to do, or already be doing, on the few occasions that Kevin will be home. Some of my questions are…

·         When do they understand the concept of grabbing ahold of objects?

                 o   When do they understand what a toy really is?

·         How many months old is a baby when they begin to crawl, sit up, walk, or run around?

                 o   Why do some babies develop faster in these areas than others?

·         When do babies begin to retain information, such as recognizing people’s faces?

                 o   When do they recognize people’s voices?

·         When do babies start to eat solid foods?

                 o   How long should a baby breastfeed for?

Isearch Background

            Babies are the one topic that I really know nothing about. Growing up, the only person I babysat was my brother who is only three years younger than me. I never babysat anyone else. There was no need for a babysitter because my aunts and uncles already had a daycare provider. I am the oldest cousin on my dad’s side of the family (rarely see my mom’s side) and, so, I have been around little kids. However, the youngest of the cousins, besides my younger half-brother, is only six years younger than me. That being said, I was only six when she was a baby. With my half-brother, he is nine years younger than me. I do remember him being a baby, but I wasn’t around a lot to see him grow up. The most I remember of him being a baby is crying, eating, and sleeping. This is pretty much how I thought of babies about a year ago. I was never really around babies as a kid, never babysat one, and never really talked about them. When I went to daycare, there were older babies and toddlers. I would watch them scream, throw stuff, cry, scream again, take a nap, and then scream some more. The daycare provider always seemed to be running around trying to satisfy the needs of each kid. I did not want to have a kid!

All that changed last year in September once I found out that I was pregnant. Given my experience with babies, I was skeptical on how I would take care of one. I looked back on all the experiences I saw with someone taking care of a baby, and tried to hold on to those memories for future assistance.  I read books, looked online, and talked to other moms. I tried gathering all the information I could, but I still didn’t feel ready to be a mom by the time I was in labor. I was scared, but everything seemed to come naturally. My maternal instincts kicked in. I am learning every day with my son, but I would like to learn more.

Graf #9 (Object)

             Right in the beginning, soon after Kevin and I started dating, he got a ’95 Chevy Blazer. We spent a lot of good memories with that Blazer. It gave us good times and bad times, dirty times and dirty (wink wink) times. We went to Hell and back with that vehicle; however, it was persistent and kept on trucking through all the chaos we put it through - even if we didn’t treat her right all the time.

            There were those times where we would cruise through the woods in no man’s land. Bottoming out on rocks, clipping trees, spinning out in wet mud, and somehow burning rubber on the small patch of tall grass we would find. That Blazer really took a beating when we went trail riding or mudding out in the woods! When it was just Kevin and I, after we were done our fun in the woods, we would decide to call it a night and just park in the middle of the woods, lay out the sleeping bag in the back (no backseat), and go to sleep.

            The woods weren’t the only beatings that Blazer took. One night in the middle of winter, we were headed back to my house. On the way to my house, there was a very steep hill. We started going down the hill and realized that there was a police vehicle stopped at the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. Kevin tried to slow down but the road was just glazed with ice. He was able to veer away from the cop before hitting it, but instead we crashed into a massive snow bank – almost flipping the Blazer sideways. The cop never noticed… Then, later that same winter, Kevin was dropping me off at my house. My landlord was plowing and didn’t see Kevin behind him and slammed into the vehicle causing $2500 in damage. The Blazer went out of commission for quite a while after that.

            I would always be looking for that grey Blazer. That Blazer meant Kevin was driving – which meant happiness. When I was having a bad day, I would be looking for that Blazer to come pick me up. When I was lonely, I would anxiously await that Blazer to pull into my driveway. When I was bored, I would be running out to that Blazer once spotting it. That Blazer, although we beat the shit out of it, meant a lot to me. It meant fun, comfort, and happiness – especially when Kevin put new front seats in so that I could sit right next to him with his arm around me. It was perfect.