Over the last few weeks, I have been journaling or blogging, I should say, on this site as part of my Summer English Composition class. This is my last blog and is supposed to be reflective. I did have a little bit of trouble trying to find things to write about. Sometimes it was a stretch to get down what I did; sometimes the words and thoughts came easy, still yet other times, nothing at all. I discovered that there are some great websites out there in the Internet that give great blogging or journaling ideas, as well as the ones for assignments from the instructor.
My process was to try on my own to figure out a topic. When that did not work I would try to find one on many of the locations to get ideas. Sometimes it took quite a while to find one I liked. Other times I was able to do it right off. I then thought about and free wrote a little about what I wanted to say in the blog. I finally would go to my new blog screen and started typing. Once finished typing, I edited it and then posted the new post.
My next step in the blogging was to read and comment on other student blogs. Try as I might and that was very frustrating, I could not get any of the replies to student to post on the blogging sight. I asked for help and none could be found. So the thirty extra points that could have definitely been used are all for naught. That was what I hated about it other than the fact that I had to write. I did like doing the interview with my sons. That was fun.
I guess I have grown as a writer in that I can write things that I had not every tried to in the past.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Interviews of my boys
I thought it would be fun to interview my kids this week. One of them did the same to me for a school project so I thought I would turn the tables on them.
The first son interviewed is my almost 18 year old son. He told me his favorite food is Mexican, El Jimadors quesadillas, specifically. His favorite sport is baseball although he does not have a favorite player. His favorite game is Halo something or another. His favorite subject in school was history. He could not pinpoint a favorite song he said he has over 20 favorites. His favorite musical instrument is the snare drum, but any drum would do. His favorite book is the last Harry Potter book. His favorite movie is Fireproof. His favorite place to go is to the shooting range. His hero is every military man and woman, current and past. His best friends are Chance, Joe and Lance. He would like to learn auto repair so he doesn’t have to ask me to help. When he “grows up” he is going into the military to work on the B2 Bombers. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He had to think about it and decided he would be a lion because they rule the jungle.
The second son interviewed is my 14 year old son. He told me his favorite food is very thick crust meat pizza. His favorite sport is football. He has played this for going on five years now. His favorite game is Grand Theft Auto. His favorite subject in school is art. His favorite songs are anything AC/DC. His favorite musical instrument is the guitar. His favorite book is anything with cars or trucks in it. His favorite movie is Hangover. His favorite place to go is to the woods. His hero is every Dan Marino. His best friends are Hence and Corey. He would like to learn auto body. When he grows up he is going into the military to drive the trucks and do demolition. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He said he would be a dog.
The third son interviewed is my 10 year old son. He told me his favorite food is McDonalds. His favorite sport is football. His favorite game is Star Wars. His favorite subject in school is religion. His favorite song is Amazing Grace the John Newton version. His favorite musical instrument is the hand bell. His favorite books are the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. His favorite movie is Prince of Egypt. His favorite place to go is to Sunday School. His hero is Jesus. His best friends are Corbin, Leo, Trent, and Nathan. He would like to learn to cook. When grows up, he will be a pastor, probably for youth. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He said he would be a lamb.
The first son interviewed is my almost 18 year old son. He told me his favorite food is Mexican, El Jimadors quesadillas, specifically. His favorite sport is baseball although he does not have a favorite player. His favorite game is Halo something or another. His favorite subject in school was history. He could not pinpoint a favorite song he said he has over 20 favorites. His favorite musical instrument is the snare drum, but any drum would do. His favorite book is the last Harry Potter book. His favorite movie is Fireproof. His favorite place to go is to the shooting range. His hero is every military man and woman, current and past. His best friends are Chance, Joe and Lance. He would like to learn auto repair so he doesn’t have to ask me to help. When he “grows up” he is going into the military to work on the B2 Bombers. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He had to think about it and decided he would be a lion because they rule the jungle.
The second son interviewed is my 14 year old son. He told me his favorite food is very thick crust meat pizza. His favorite sport is football. He has played this for going on five years now. His favorite game is Grand Theft Auto. His favorite subject in school is art. His favorite songs are anything AC/DC. His favorite musical instrument is the guitar. His favorite book is anything with cars or trucks in it. His favorite movie is Hangover. His favorite place to go is to the woods. His hero is every Dan Marino. His best friends are Hence and Corey. He would like to learn auto body. When he grows up he is going into the military to drive the trucks and do demolition. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He said he would be a dog.
The third son interviewed is my 10 year old son. He told me his favorite food is McDonalds. His favorite sport is football. His favorite game is Star Wars. His favorite subject in school is religion. His favorite song is Amazing Grace the John Newton version. His favorite musical instrument is the hand bell. His favorite books are the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. His favorite movie is Prince of Egypt. His favorite place to go is to Sunday School. His hero is Jesus. His best friends are Corbin, Leo, Trent, and Nathan. He would like to learn to cook. When grows up, he will be a pastor, probably for youth. Final answer for him was what animal he would be. He said he would be a lamb.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
What would I do if I won the lottery?
Today, while hanging out with some of my friends, one of them talked about another friend who had recently won a very large amount of money playing the lottery. We started all talking about what we would do if we one the lottery. There were many different thoughts such as trips, purchases, savings, donations , etc. So I got to thinking, what would most people do if they were to win the lottery. I think most people that is a no brainer—they would spend it! Mindsets such as this one can and have gotten people in trouble financially and legally. How many people in the country have won the lottery or big amounts of money, get a taste for the good life, spend all their money on unnecessary things, and go bankrupt? I have heard of many, I even had a cousin who did this twice, is still playing the game, is still losing most of the time. When he does win, he just puts it right back into the lottery.
What would I do if I won the lottery? I would spent some but not all of the money after taxes. I would donate some to my church. I would buy land and build a house. I would put money in a good retirement fund for my wife and I. I would put some of it into small college funds for my sons and future grandchildren. I would pay off all of my debts, including school loans. I would also put some of it back into the community especially into the Lutheran High School that is growing here in my city. I would pay to build a football field. The rest of it I would put into savings and use it sparingly. I do know that I would not squander it no matter what.
What would I do if I won the lottery? I would spent some but not all of the money after taxes. I would donate some to my church. I would buy land and build a house. I would put money in a good retirement fund for my wife and I. I would put some of it into small college funds for my sons and future grandchildren. I would pay off all of my debts, including school loans. I would also put some of it back into the community especially into the Lutheran High School that is growing here in my city. I would pay to build a football field. The rest of it I would put into savings and use it sparingly. I do know that I would not squander it no matter what.
Friday, July 15, 2011
New family addition
We have a new addition to our family. I got a new great-nephew today. He is the son of my niece, or my brother’s grandson, or my mom’s great-grandson. Any way you cut it we have a new baby. As I have said before, my family is very close knit so every new addition is as special as the members we currently have. He joins his big brother who is two years old.
My wife and I had babysitting duty this morning while the new baby got here. We love my great-nephew Ryder. He has been the light of everyone’s eyes for the last two years. He loves us just as much as we love him. He is even attached to my future daughter-in-law. He plays with my sons and knows everyone’s names and has me wrapped around his fingers. Anything he wants, I will pretty much give him. My mom is the same way.
The new baby, Jaysyn, is so handsome. We are going to really have to make sure both boys get equal attention because as I experienced with my sons, you can’t show more attention to one than another. Ryder did not really care too much for Jaysyn. He looked at him and said let’s go. He was done, ready to go. We all thought it was funny, his mom and dad did not. I said give him time. There is so much going on and his mom does not look like she typically does, so that is throwing him off. There were also a lot of people in the room that he was nervous about so many people. Ryder will be a good big brother when Jaysyn gets home. He will have to learn to share his mom and dad, which will be a big change for him.
Thanks to God for another healthy life on this earth.
My wife and I had babysitting duty this morning while the new baby got here. We love my great-nephew Ryder. He has been the light of everyone’s eyes for the last two years. He loves us just as much as we love him. He is even attached to my future daughter-in-law. He plays with my sons and knows everyone’s names and has me wrapped around his fingers. Anything he wants, I will pretty much give him. My mom is the same way.
The new baby, Jaysyn, is so handsome. We are going to really have to make sure both boys get equal attention because as I experienced with my sons, you can’t show more attention to one than another. Ryder did not really care too much for Jaysyn. He looked at him and said let’s go. He was done, ready to go. We all thought it was funny, his mom and dad did not. I said give him time. There is so much going on and his mom does not look like she typically does, so that is throwing him off. There were also a lot of people in the room that he was nervous about so many people. Ryder will be a good big brother when Jaysyn gets home. He will have to learn to share his mom and dad, which will be a big change for him.
Thanks to God for another healthy life on this earth.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The scariest experience I’ve had
Two years ago, my then eight year old son was ill. We did not know what was wrong. He had stomachaches with the symptoms that go along with that illness. It started on a Friday night and finally by Sunday afternoon he had some other symptoms that worried us. So we took him to the emergency room.
They ran tests including ultrasound, blood work and CT scan of his abdomen. His blood work was abnormal and he was admitted to the hospital. At 2 am Monday morning, his Pediatrician called and told us they found a mass in his abdomen. My wife freaked out. Our doctor told us my son would need to be transferred to a children’s hospital. So at 6 am the doctor was in our room examining him again and asking us where we wanted to have him transferred. The decision was made to go to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. By 8 am, we were on the ambulance heading to St. Louis.
Once we got there, we spent another seven hours in their emergency room. We had so many medical students, residents, and physicians come and go we did not know what end was up. They kept thinking that he had sustained an injury to his abdomen. He kept saying no, just that it hurt and he could not pinpoint an area that did hurt.
Finally, he was admitted to the hospital. The next day they did an MRI and found what they felt was a softball sized tumor on his pancreas. I was terrified. My little boy was so small and all I could think of was that cancer is so rampant in my family; it could not get to my son so young. The doctor told us he would have to do exploratory surgery to know for sure. The surgery was scheduled for the next day. Let me tell you that was the most terrifying and sleepless night I have ever had. Then the day of the surgery came. My little guy was nervous and upset. My wife and I kept telling him everything will be okay. Jesus would be in the operating room with him. He believed us. I was very hard to reassure him when we were crumbling inside. Two hours later the doctor came out and told us the mass they thought was solid was really his under formed lymph nodes had collected lymphatic fluid which did not have anywhere to go. I felt like a million tons were lifted off my shoulders. We cried and thanked the surgeon for taking good care of our son.
Today, he is doing fine. He has been written about in medical journals. We thank God every day for the health of our sons, because we saw some children in that hospital who were in truth much, much sicker than my son.
They ran tests including ultrasound, blood work and CT scan of his abdomen. His blood work was abnormal and he was admitted to the hospital. At 2 am Monday morning, his Pediatrician called and told us they found a mass in his abdomen. My wife freaked out. Our doctor told us my son would need to be transferred to a children’s hospital. So at 6 am the doctor was in our room examining him again and asking us where we wanted to have him transferred. The decision was made to go to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. By 8 am, we were on the ambulance heading to St. Louis.
Once we got there, we spent another seven hours in their emergency room. We had so many medical students, residents, and physicians come and go we did not know what end was up. They kept thinking that he had sustained an injury to his abdomen. He kept saying no, just that it hurt and he could not pinpoint an area that did hurt.
Finally, he was admitted to the hospital. The next day they did an MRI and found what they felt was a softball sized tumor on his pancreas. I was terrified. My little boy was so small and all I could think of was that cancer is so rampant in my family; it could not get to my son so young. The doctor told us he would have to do exploratory surgery to know for sure. The surgery was scheduled for the next day. Let me tell you that was the most terrifying and sleepless night I have ever had. Then the day of the surgery came. My little guy was nervous and upset. My wife and I kept telling him everything will be okay. Jesus would be in the operating room with him. He believed us. I was very hard to reassure him when we were crumbling inside. Two hours later the doctor came out and told us the mass they thought was solid was really his under formed lymph nodes had collected lymphatic fluid which did not have anywhere to go. I felt like a million tons were lifted off my shoulders. We cried and thanked the surgeon for taking good care of our son.
Today, he is doing fine. He has been written about in medical journals. We thank God every day for the health of our sons, because we saw some children in that hospital who were in truth much, much sicker than my son.
Monday, July 11, 2011
My Collection
I collect Breyer animals. I started the collection when I was five years old and have been getting them every year since then and I am 41 years old now. I got the first one which was the Clydesdale stallion. It was retired in 2005. My grandma gave me that for a birthday present when I was five. I started this collection because at the time my parents owned several show horses and we all really liked them. So my grandma thought this would be a good present. Let me tell you my grandma never expected it to turn into what it is now. I have over 500 pieces ranging from my first Clydesdale stallion to the animal sets. I have multiples of the same animals, just with different paint jobs. I have wild animals such as the deer family, goat, buffalo, elk, moose, and mountain lion. I have farm animals such as the pig, bulls, cows, donkey, and many horses.
I have some special run horses. I have one porcelain Christmas horse. I receive two horses every year, one for Christmas and one for my birthday. I get the yearly holiday horse and whatever special runs may be going on at the time. My parents still give me these gifts because it is hard to break a tradition. My wife refuses to get me any because she hates having to help me dust them all. It is a very long and tedious process but it is well worth it. I get them down and by sons and I talk about them, when I got each one and what special meaning it has for me.
Last year at Christmas, I turned the tables on my mom. For Christmas, I bought her a Breyer. It was the model of Elvis’ horse, Rising Sun. She went crazy. She said she thought she would never see the day when she was receiving a horse.
I have some special run horses. I have one porcelain Christmas horse. I receive two horses every year, one for Christmas and one for my birthday. I get the yearly holiday horse and whatever special runs may be going on at the time. My parents still give me these gifts because it is hard to break a tradition. My wife refuses to get me any because she hates having to help me dust them all. It is a very long and tedious process but it is well worth it. I get them down and by sons and I talk about them, when I got each one and what special meaning it has for me.
Last year at Christmas, I turned the tables on my mom. For Christmas, I bought her a Breyer. It was the model of Elvis’ horse, Rising Sun. She went crazy. She said she thought she would never see the day when she was receiving a horse.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Memories
Well, what a day it has been. First, we did our typical Sunday morning routine: get up, eat breakfast, get showered, and go to church. After church was a different story. We went to my mom’s house to have lunch and spend time with her. Happily, my great-nephew was there visiting. He is 18 months and we all just love that little guy. He is so expressive and has everyone pegged at what they will do for him. He knows I will get him anything. So time was spent with my family.
In the afternoon, my cousin called my mom to tell her they were cleaning out her mom’s house. Her mom would be my aunt, my dad’s sister. Anyway, she wanted us to come and get some personal items that she thought we would all like to have. My aunt is in a long term nursing home and will not be home. So they are selling the house and wanted to get it cleaned out.
The thing that was amazing to me is how I just went back in time to my childhood as soon as I walked into her house. I remembered, with clarity, events with my cousins, aunt and uncle and grandma. We talked and laughed about those events. The memories were great.
My sons had lots of fun too. My uncle had collected die cast cars and tractors. Many of them would be worth some money. My cousin gave all of them to my boys. They were ecstatic. My middle son collects models and was in teenage boy heaven. They also had a box of Bibles they were going to donate. My cousin gave that box to my youngest son who is a “church nerd.” He is planning on being a pastor when he grows up so this was his favorite find of the day.
It turned out to be a great day with family that I don’t get to see very often.
In the afternoon, my cousin called my mom to tell her they were cleaning out her mom’s house. Her mom would be my aunt, my dad’s sister. Anyway, she wanted us to come and get some personal items that she thought we would all like to have. My aunt is in a long term nursing home and will not be home. So they are selling the house and wanted to get it cleaned out.
The thing that was amazing to me is how I just went back in time to my childhood as soon as I walked into her house. I remembered, with clarity, events with my cousins, aunt and uncle and grandma. We talked and laughed about those events. The memories were great.
My sons had lots of fun too. My uncle had collected die cast cars and tractors. Many of them would be worth some money. My cousin gave all of them to my boys. They were ecstatic. My middle son collects models and was in teenage boy heaven. They also had a box of Bibles they were going to donate. My cousin gave that box to my youngest son who is a “church nerd.” He is planning on being a pastor when he grows up so this was his favorite find of the day.
It turned out to be a great day with family that I don’t get to see very often.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
What is my idea of a perfect vacation?
My idea of a perfect vacation is to go somewhere that can spend the whole time camping, hunting and fishing. I think Colorado would be a great place to do that. I love to hunt and fish here in Missouri, but other states have different game.
In Colorado, I could hunt moose, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion, turkey, squirrel, rabbit (cottontail and jack), snapping turtles, rattle snake, minx, badger, fox and many other animals. Some of these animals have family in Missouri, but we do not have the variety and big game in Missouri that is found in Colorado.
I think it would be exhilarating to harvest a big animal like a black bear, elk or moose. I know those animals are huge and I know it would take some power to bring them down, but buck fever would not come close to the pure adrenaline that would be coursing through my veins while harvesting one of those big creatures.
After I am finished getting my hunt on, I would then fish. I would like to fish for rainbow trout and for that I would angle in the Arkansas River. There are many streams, lakes and reservoirs in which I could spend days on end fishing. I love to fish, and love to eat them even more.
When I have spent my day hunting and fishing, I would love to retire to the camping area where my camper is set up. Normally, when we camp, we are in a tent. That will not do in Colorado where there is the previously mentioned big game, such as bears. So we would borrow my father-in-law’s camper to stay at a place between Glenwood Springs and Aspen. We would grill the fish that was caught during the day’s fishing outing.
After all is said and done, spending time in the outdoors enjoying God’s creation is a great vacation for me.
In Colorado, I could hunt moose, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion, turkey, squirrel, rabbit (cottontail and jack), snapping turtles, rattle snake, minx, badger, fox and many other animals. Some of these animals have family in Missouri, but we do not have the variety and big game in Missouri that is found in Colorado.
I think it would be exhilarating to harvest a big animal like a black bear, elk or moose. I know those animals are huge and I know it would take some power to bring them down, but buck fever would not come close to the pure adrenaline that would be coursing through my veins while harvesting one of those big creatures.
After I am finished getting my hunt on, I would then fish. I would like to fish for rainbow trout and for that I would angle in the Arkansas River. There are many streams, lakes and reservoirs in which I could spend days on end fishing. I love to fish, and love to eat them even more.
When I have spent my day hunting and fishing, I would love to retire to the camping area where my camper is set up. Normally, when we camp, we are in a tent. That will not do in Colorado where there is the previously mentioned big game, such as bears. So we would borrow my father-in-law’s camper to stay at a place between Glenwood Springs and Aspen. We would grill the fish that was caught during the day’s fishing outing.
After all is said and done, spending time in the outdoors enjoying God’s creation is a great vacation for me.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Personal Creed
My personal creed is the statement of what I believe. I have three things I believe in most.
I believe in the Lord God. He is my Savior and my friend. I love Him because He loved me so much He sent his Son, Jesus to take me to live with Him when my time on this earth is over. I follow His rules and believe in His Word. My family all are strong believers and followers in the Lord.
I believe in my family. I have been taught to love everyone from my family. My ancestors have shaped and molded me to what I am today. I have been taught to back up your family, love them as they are, and always follow and continue traditions. My great-grandmother was the core of our family and it has spread throughout the following generations. I have taught my sons they value of family and I hope and pray someday they will continue on with their children and on down the line.
I believe in working hard and putting my all in everything I do. I have worked hard all of my life and I will continue to do so. I am in school now to learn and new form of work and I want to continue in that line of work until I can no longer function in that role. At that point, I wish to hand it off to my children. I teach my children the value of working hard and I hope they teach their children the same.
This is my belief statement.
I believe in the Lord God. He is my Savior and my friend. I love Him because He loved me so much He sent his Son, Jesus to take me to live with Him when my time on this earth is over. I follow His rules and believe in His Word. My family all are strong believers and followers in the Lord.
I believe in my family. I have been taught to love everyone from my family. My ancestors have shaped and molded me to what I am today. I have been taught to back up your family, love them as they are, and always follow and continue traditions. My great-grandmother was the core of our family and it has spread throughout the following generations. I have taught my sons they value of family and I hope and pray someday they will continue on with their children and on down the line.
I believe in working hard and putting my all in everything I do. I have worked hard all of my life and I will continue to do so. I am in school now to learn and new form of work and I want to continue in that line of work until I can no longer function in that role. At that point, I wish to hand it off to my children. I teach my children the value of working hard and I hope they teach their children the same.
This is my belief statement.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Help With This Blogging Thing
Frustrated is not even a word that comes close describing how I feel. I cannot get any of my replies that I type up to my fellow classmates to post. Anyone else having this problem, or am I the only one that doesn't know what I am doing?
So here are my steps. I click on the link to a student blog through Ms. A's Classroom. Then I read the posts and choose one to respond to. I choose the post in the blog archive list. Next, I type my reply or comments into the post comment box. My next step is to choose the profile, which is Google Account. Some one stop me anytime if I am doing something wrong. Next, I click post comment. The next page from that is the sign in page, which requires my email and password. Blogger.com then takes me to the post I am trying to comment on and asks for the word verification. I put in the word that is shown. I never get past that point. The system takes me back to the page asking for my email and password. Frustration!
Can anyone out there tell me what I am doing wrong? I am hoping I am just not holding my tongue the right way when I am doing this.
Thanks to all my friends. In the mean time, I am going to make some Kickin Cakes.
Mike
So here are my steps. I click on the link to a student blog through Ms. A's Classroom. Then I read the posts and choose one to respond to. I choose the post in the blog archive list. Next, I type my reply or comments into the post comment box. My next step is to choose the profile, which is Google Account. Some one stop me anytime if I am doing something wrong. Next, I click post comment. The next page from that is the sign in page, which requires my email and password. Blogger.com then takes me to the post I am trying to comment on and asks for the word verification. I put in the word that is shown. I never get past that point. The system takes me back to the page asking for my email and password. Frustration!
Can anyone out there tell me what I am doing wrong? I am hoping I am just not holding my tongue the right way when I am doing this.
Thanks to all my friends. In the mean time, I am going to make some Kickin Cakes.
Mike
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Do you feel you are too old to pursue your dream?
When is too old considered too old? Is it 30 to a 5 year old? Is it 60 to a 20 year old? I feel you are as old as you feel. Even though I am only 41 years old, sometimes I feel like I am 20 when I am doing activities with my family. Other times I feel I am all of 41 plus some when I am with people who are much younger than me in the classroom.
Am I too old to follow my dreams? Well, almost three years ago, I found out the hard way that I was too old to follow my biggest dream of being a soldier in the United States Army. I got to basic training and my heart did not like the stress. So I got sent home. Last year, I started on my next biggest dream of becoming a chef. I started classes at OTC in the summer taking online courses. At that point, I told my wife I am too old for this. She encouraged me by saying you never stop learning and are never too old to go back to school. Then the fall semester began. Wow did I ever think I was too old to be at school! Most of the students in my classes were 15 to 20 years younger than me. I found out that I can learn from them as much as they can learn from me. I have learned a lot in the last year about how young I feel.
When it came time for me to decide whether or not I was too old to follow my dream of becoming a chef, I considered the following thoughts.
Is my dream unrealistic? No. If I do my best and try my hardest, I will realize my dream.
Am I going to follow my dream someday? Someday is today. If I waited for someday, I will still be in my factory job taking pain killers to get through each day. Someday is today!
Will I be able to get a job when I get done? I don’t know what I will get when I am finished. I do know that people will always need to eat. I will find something to pad my resume’ with and work up from there until I can have my own business.
In answer to the blog question, do I feel too old to pursue my dream, the answer is no. I feel old enough to be mature, but still young enough to have fun while learning.
Kickin cakes,
Mike
Am I too old to follow my dreams? Well, almost three years ago, I found out the hard way that I was too old to follow my biggest dream of being a soldier in the United States Army. I got to basic training and my heart did not like the stress. So I got sent home. Last year, I started on my next biggest dream of becoming a chef. I started classes at OTC in the summer taking online courses. At that point, I told my wife I am too old for this. She encouraged me by saying you never stop learning and are never too old to go back to school. Then the fall semester began. Wow did I ever think I was too old to be at school! Most of the students in my classes were 15 to 20 years younger than me. I found out that I can learn from them as much as they can learn from me. I have learned a lot in the last year about how young I feel.
When it came time for me to decide whether or not I was too old to follow my dream of becoming a chef, I considered the following thoughts.
Is my dream unrealistic? No. If I do my best and try my hardest, I will realize my dream.
Am I going to follow my dream someday? Someday is today. If I waited for someday, I will still be in my factory job taking pain killers to get through each day. Someday is today!
Will I be able to get a job when I get done? I don’t know what I will get when I am finished. I do know that people will always need to eat. I will find something to pad my resume’ with and work up from there until I can have my own business.
In answer to the blog question, do I feel too old to pursue my dream, the answer is no. I feel old enough to be mature, but still young enough to have fun while learning.
Kickin cakes,
Mike
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Freewriting
I am writing about how I believe that I make kickin cakes. I follow steps to my recipes. i also experiment. i make changes to the recipes. i like doing different things. my cousin said i am the next cake boss-no way! i make things interesting. I like to do different patterns or create from memory. i like to make sure every one is pleased. i am disappointed if others are. my wife helps with creations too. i do the baking and most of the icing. my wife creates fondant and gumpaste pieces. flowers and shapes. she likes to work with that stuff because she says its like playing with playdough. Just like being a kid! i don't like it because I can't control it as well i think. i like watching the shows to see what new ideas i can come up with. i want to own my own bakery someday. well on our way. my wife says i have to graduate and work for someone for while before i can go on my own. I like doing the bakery stuff on the side. we do cupcakes too. its fun to see what i can do with such a small area. we do a lot of candy pieces and chocolate piece. make names and words out of candy. really stands out on a cake. made a baby shower cake and everyone loved it. got stood up on a wedding cake. glad we did not have to do that because i doubt we would have gotten paid. bride asked if she could pay for her cake with food stamps. i said no. she wanted her cake topper to spin on a motor. i said no. i am glad we did not do that cake. my wife does most of the bookings for us i just do the creating mostly. my son is the only boy in 4h doing cake decorating. i am going to teach him how to make kickin cakes too. he really likes it. my other son likes to help my wife with the candy making. i am going to teach my sons how to cook because that is a life skill they will always need.
Word count: 368
Word count: 368
This I Believe
I believe in God
I believe I am a good husband
I believe I am a good dad
I believe I am a good son
I believe I am a good brother
I believe I am a good uncle
I believe I am a good friend
I believe I am a good cook
I believe people are good
I believe teachers do the best they can
I believe people should be truthful
I believe people should not take things that do not belong to them
I believe I have lead a good life
I believe I will make a great chef
I believe I make beatiful cakes
I believe I make kickin cakes
I believe my son will do great in the Air Force
I believe my son will do good in high school
I believe my son will be protected from his injuries in football
I believe I will make the most out of my education
I believe I will use what I learn in class in my future
I believe in following the rules
I believe in teaching a child how to hunt and fish
I believe in teaching my child to save for the future
I believe in using my cell phone to talk to people, not text
I believe spirits are real
I believe in my Native American heritage
I believe in a tight knit family
I believe in showing love to my family
I believe in learning from different cultures
I believe in making the best of the situation
I believe in finding the silver lining in every cloud
I believe in the power of having a good friend
I believe that a good friend will be with you no matter what
I believe in setting a good example for my kids
I believe in experimenting with my food
I believe in providing for my family
I believe I am a good husband
I believe I am a good dad
I believe I am a good son
I believe I am a good brother
I believe I am a good uncle
I believe I am a good friend
I believe I am a good cook
I believe people are good
I believe teachers do the best they can
I believe people should be truthful
I believe people should not take things that do not belong to them
I believe I have lead a good life
I believe I will make a great chef
I believe I make beatiful cakes
I believe I make kickin cakes
I believe my son will do great in the Air Force
I believe my son will do good in high school
I believe my son will be protected from his injuries in football
I believe I will make the most out of my education
I believe I will use what I learn in class in my future
I believe in following the rules
I believe in teaching a child how to hunt and fish
I believe in teaching my child to save for the future
I believe in using my cell phone to talk to people, not text
I believe spirits are real
I believe in my Native American heritage
I believe in a tight knit family
I believe in showing love to my family
I believe in learning from different cultures
I believe in making the best of the situation
I believe in finding the silver lining in every cloud
I believe in the power of having a good friend
I believe that a good friend will be with you no matter what
I believe in setting a good example for my kids
I believe in experimenting with my food
I believe in providing for my family
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Typology and Writing
The Jung Typology Test was very interesting. I am not sure how accurate my results are because some of the questions either made no sense to me or I could have answered yes and no on the same question.
The indicators for writing said:
The only indicator I do not agree with is the creating and following a specific study plan. I usually just study when I have time to study, such as between classes or in the evenings after school or work.
I am not really sure that it will help me with my writing in college, because I am not sure how much of my writing style I can base on this test.
Mike
The indicators for writing said:
- Create and follow a writing plan
- Use a step-by-step process to assess data and complete their writing
- Emphasis the main point and support it with gathered data
- Understand when to stop researching and begin the writing stage
- Need to consider how their writing will impact their audience
- Benefit from remaining open to new ideas
- Meet the deadline but should be cautious not to rush through the writing stages
My responses are:
- I do not create and follow a writing plan. I just start writing and develop on the fly.
- I do not use a step by step process unless instructed to do so. I write, research and edit at the same time.
- I do emphasize the main point and then try to support it with gathered data. Sometimes I support it with what makes sense to me.
- I am stop researching or writing on the fly when I am finished writing.
- I do care about what I write. I usually don't care what is thought about it, because everyone is entitled to their own opinions.
- I do remain mostly open to new ideas. I will listen to the new ideas, but will not promise to adopt them.
- I do meet my deadlines, but don't always start early in my project.
All in all, the writing section did not match my perceptions of myself on most levels; however the student/learning section did match me on most levels.
The student/learning indicators said:
- Prefer learning through a step-by-step and hands-on process
- Apply information in order establish its relevance
- Dislike learning theory
- Desire to hear clear presentations and explicit expectations
- Want instructors to evoke interest in a topic and support their information with facts
- Create and follow a specific study plan
- Study well with others
The only indicator I do not agree with is the creating and following a specific study plan. I usually just study when I have time to study, such as between classes or in the evenings after school or work.
I am not really sure that it will help me with my writing in college, because I am not sure how much of my writing style I can base on this test.
Mike
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