Kasey and Sallon the Super Dog

Complete I Search

2005-12-21T11:29:00.000-05:00

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary…………………………………………………………………………iii
History………………………………………………………………………………………...2
Why I’m Writing………………………………………………………………………….......5
What I Know………………………………………………………………………………….7
The Search……………………………………………………………….................................9
The Answer..............................................................................................................................10
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………16
List of Sources……………………………………………………………………………….17

iii
SUMMARY
I decided to write my I search paper about dog training. I did this because I own a dog of my own that is in dire need of being trained. He is a complete and utter mess when it comes to his behavior. I love my dog so much that I want to make both of our lives better by training him.
In the past leading up to the present time, Sallon has been wild. He has always bitten people. Even though he’s not aggressive, it’s still a problem that has me worried. He has also been jumping, begging, stealing, chewing, and pulling on a leash.

I SEARCH HISTORY
When growing up, I always had a pet. When I was about four, I used to pick on my mother's cats. They always ran from me when they saw me coming. I disliked them right from the beginning. I always got clawed by them. One cat in particular bothered me the most. Her name was Tiffany. That cat, I swear, was the meanest cat. She was white with black and brown spots on her. She used to growl at me from ten feet away just as I entered any room. My mother used to yell at me for poking her and pushing her off the table. Even when I said something about her my mother told me to be nice to that cat. Since then I always liked cats less up until a couple of years ago when I got my own cat. He is much nicer than Tiffany was and I actually enjoy him.I was also around dogs when I was younger. I remember my father's dog, named Sandy. He was a Golden Retriever. My father had him since long before I was born. He loved that dog. Sandy went all over the place with us, even in the car. He was somewhat trained but wasn't. I am sure that not being neutered had something to do with him running away all the time. Throughout the years we always had dogs. I wasn't close to any of them like I am with my dog Sallon. I learned about responsibility at a young age because of owning so many pets. My family didn't just own dogs.Rabbits were the second animals in the picture at our home. The family went to Blue Hill one summer when I was about five or six years old and my parents got my sister a rabbit. Of course when you have siblings they feel left out so my brother got one too. My mother didn't want to leave me out either so all three of us kids got our own rabbit. My sister was the one who took care of them the most. These rabbits got fat.......they were meat rabbits. I never really cuddled up to the rabbits either. I didn't like it when they squirmed in my lap, scratched me, or urinated all over me. So you can see how I wasn't enthused by them.Then their were guinea pigs. My brother somehow got into them and my mother got some. Unfortunately later on during one summer when the guinea pigs were outside to enjoy the weather Larry left them out in the sun and they died of heat exhaustion. Since then we have obtained more guinea pigs and have had them for at least for a couple of years before they died of old age. They live up to five years. Larry never left any of the guinea pigs out in the sun again.My mother got into hamsters at about the same time we had guinea pigs so she got some of those. Next thing I know we got gerbils. Then the hamsters "met" and we had a whole litter of them.Soon after the hamsters and gerbils died, my mother decided that she was going to get a bird. She always liked birds. So she got a Cockatiel that was given to her because it was mean. She named it Jerry. He was a mean little monster. When I tried to pet him he used to hiss at me and try to bite me. My mother worked with him to get him to stop. She got bit to blood on more than one occasion. Soon my mother felt that Jerry needed a companion so we got another bird. Soon after that we got another and another until we had five Cockatiels.Currently as of now, the family has seven dogs, one cat, two rabbits, seven birds, and two guinea pigs. I learned how and what to feed all these different types of pets by owning them.Sallon, my dog, has behavioral issues. Sallon’s history of behavior issues goes back to when he was a puppy. He has always jumped on people, begged, and pulled me in the direction he wants to go in when I have him on a lead. Later on he developed into a thief, stealing food off the tabletop. He started chewing furniture. He bolts out the door when it is opened. Training techniques that I have already started on working with Sallon in the past have been trying to walk him properly on a lead and trying to get him to stop jumping and biting.
I want to learn in what ways I can train him to be more calm and lovable. Last night when I got home Sallon was hooked outside to the porch. As I approached the door, I could hear him barking with joy to see me. Immediately after I was within reach, he jumped on me and started to nibble on my arms. I got him off of me and he tried doing it again. I unhooked him and let him in the house. Once inside, he jumped on me again and followed me all over the house with his tongue hanging out and nibbling me. I ignored him and walked around a little. He then calmed down a little and became a little more sensible. I them pet him and gave him a hug. This morning he begged and begged. I didn't give him any of my breakfast......he stole my little brother's right off the tabletop! What a little thief! Last night I made a sandwich and he jumped up on the counter with his two front paws and licked the mayonnaise off of that. I tried walking him but he tried to play tug of war with me. So what I did was make sure that I had a grip and just stood there not moving. He sat there and tried getting the leash from me but I ignored him. After a while he would stop but when I took one step he was back at it again with tug of war. I did this for about fifteen to twenty minutes and I only got as far as around the lawn. I worked a little but I have to keep doing this to get an effect. I hope that I can train him to be a good dog.

WHY I’M WRITING
I want to write about dog training because I own a dog of my own that needs to learn manners. Just the other day he shoved his face into mine when he was after a squeaky toy and made my lip bleed. It hurt a lot. He also begs all the time. That is just two of the many issues that he has. I want my dog Sallon to behave. I don't want him to pull and tug on the leash every time I take him out for a walk. He does this no matter what. He pulls and I cannot relax with him around because he's draining my energy and making me worry about him all the time. He steals food. This gets me angry. My motivation to write about dog training is Sallon and his bad behavior. I will use the knowledge that I obtain from writing the I-search to train Sallon and make both of our lives better. I will be able to relax.What I want to learn is why you can't be mean to show the dog the difference between what is wrong and right. Some questions that I have are:
· How do I turn Sallon's behavior around from beginning to end?
· How long will it take for him to understand what is acceptable and unacceptable for behavior?
· How many different techniques are there to train one command?
· How can I train him with other dogs around that need to be trained themselves?
· When do I give him a dog treat?
· How do I establish dominance and calm him down?
· How do I get him to stop jumping?
· How do I get him to stop biting?
· How do I get him to stop eating the furniture?
· How do I get him to behave himself when I need him to?
· How do I get him to mind me when I am walking him so we can both relax?
· What do I need to train my dog effectively?
· How do I get him to sit and stay?
· How do I get him to be a guard dog when I need him to be?
· How do I get him to stop eating out of the trash? These are the questions that I have about my topic. Hopefully Sallon and I will live a better life together when I try training him.

WHAT I KNOW
What I do know about my questions is that I will have to work with my dog on a constant basis, which means continuously, to get an outcome from training him. I think that I will have to go at a pace that is his and mine to be effective in changing his behavior for the better. I have tried going at a pace that is his and mine and it seems to be effective. Both Sallon and I are less frustrated when we apply this method to both of us all the time.I know that there are different techniques out there to teach a dog one command, I just don't know how many or what they are. With Sallon, I have taught him how to with a few different techniques. These were pushing his rump down, making a hand gesture, and showing him a dog treat. I don't necessarily know when to give a dog a treat, only when the dog does a trick is when I give them a treat. I give Sallon leftovers, dog biscuits, and kibbles of dog food. I know what type of treats I should give Sallon. I don't know how to establish dominance with a dog. I have tried to turn Sallon over on his back and pin him down while looking at him. The only way that I know how to get a dog from jumping is to give them the knee to the chest and tell them "no". I have given Sallon the knee to the chest and told him “no.” The method that I know to get a dog to stop biting is to chain them outdoors and use a tone of voice that they know to be as bad. I have smacked Sallon on the snout and told him “no.” I also know to hold a dog's mouth down to the floor and tell them” no". I don't know how to get my dog to stop his nonsense when I walk him so I can relax. I have tried to tell him to stop and yank him back at me with the leash to stop his nonsense. I don't know how to train my dog while he is around dogs that are not trained at this time. I am guessing that a person would have to isolate themselves and the dog to do what you want and make the dog pay attention so they can learn. I have gotten
Sallon alone on a few occasions and found that he pays more attention to me. I don't know what I need to train a dog effectively. I have tried dog toys and treats. Sallon loves to do anything for a dog toy or treat. I don't know how to get a dog to sit and stay. I have tried to get Sallon to sit and stay with a dog biscuit while walking away backwards facing him, but I couldn’t get him to stay. I do not know how to get a dog to be defensive for you when you need them to when they are considered a "wimp" dog. I have tried to get Sallon into the “sick ‘em” method. This method involves showing him something that I don’t like and getting him to see how I don’t like it so he will try to protect me from it. The only way that I know how to keep dogs out of the trash is to keep the trash where the dog can't get to it. I have put the trash outside so Sallon couldn’t get it. I’ve also tried putting a lid on the trash can.

THE SEARCH

I found the answers to my questions on the internet. At first, I didn’t know exactly what to type for the search because I came up with unrelated information that didn’t make sense to me. Eventually I typed the right words in the search dialog box and came up with my answers.
The next place that I went to for answering my questions was Eng 101, where I spoke to John Goldfine. I asked him of advice to help me train Sallon and he gladly gave it to me. I also spoke with Kasey Duncan on the issue of spiked choker chains. She told me what their use was and how to use them. She also gave me tips on how to train Sallon.
I went to the Eastern Maine Community College Library and looked up a book on how to train family dogs.
I believe that all these sources were helpful in finding my information, even if they were not relative.

The Answer

Why can’t you be mean to show the dog the difference between what is right and wrong?

You cannot be mean to show the dog the difference between what is right and wrong because dogs learn with experience, not by being told. I cannot be mean to Sallon because he will run away from me and try to avoid me. I don’t want Sallon to be scared of me all the time. Dogs don’t understand the difference between the two concepts of right and wrong. The dog must undergo a same experience when a specific thing happens or is about to happen. A dog cannot think logically, or in stages. Sallon’s memory consists of who’s nice to him, where food comes from, and who takes care of him. He knows that I feed him, take him for walks, and where and when to go to the bathroom. He knows and remembers certain tricks he can do to get a treat. You must prevent an action rather than punish the dog after it has committed his/her crime. (Olson, 28)

How do I change Sallon’s behavior around from beginning to end?

I have to continuously teach him the same commands over and over again, work with him everyday, and maintain what he has learned by staying on a regular schedule where we are both in a routine. I can also teach him new commands so he will stay amused. I could teach him a few commands for dog treats as well as ones he already knows. I have introduced Sallon to a routine schedule. He has had a behavior change, which is that he obeys me more. (Goldfine Interview, October 2005)

How long will it take for Sallon to understand what is acceptable and unacceptable for behavior?

It will take however long I want for Sallon to understand what is acceptable and unacceptable for behavior, or until he realizes what the “pack rules” are. Since he has not been taught any rules, he takes what he knows now as rules. So I will have to introduce new rules to him and show him that they are crucial. These new rules will be: No begging; Chewing dog toys only, no walking if he pulls, and no socializing if he bites or jumps. I need to help him separate himself from his habits while building a new set of guidelines that he will follow. (Deb Olson, 2)

How many different techniques are there to train one command?

There are many different techniques. There is clicker training, which is a method to teach and reinforce desired behavior. There is also the Eclectic methods, which are specific to each dog being trained (i.e. breed, or origin, temperament, etc). The Koeler method of dog training, is brutal, and basically means to abuse the dog until it follows the rules. Lure training uses toys to train the dog in obedience. Play-training is a method that contains both play and prey drives, and Target Wand training is a “non-force” training method. The training method that I have used already and will continue to use is lure training. When I have a dog toy, Sallon will do just about anything to get it. If I tell him to do a command, he’ll do it for a squeaky toy. I have been thinking about using the clicker training method. I think that Sallon might do better with this by realizing what is right and what is wrong. (“Training Methods and Techniques,”4, 5)

How can I train Sallon with other dogs around that need to be trained themselves?

In order to train Sallon with other dogs around, I will need to keep his attention away from the other dogs and teach him something new with every lesson. With other dogs around, Sallon doesn’t pay any attention to me. He plays with the other dogs. When I keep Sallon away from the other dogs and alone with me, he pays full attention to me. He watches me along with what I do. Teaching Sallon something new with every lesson keeps him from losing interest in the command I’m trying to teach him. (Canine Senses and learning styles,” 1)

When can I give Sallon a dog treat?

I can give Sallon a dog treat at any time. Dog treats should not affect his meals. If using treats when training, I need to use small treats so as not to distract him from his training tasks. (“Dr. Fostersmith’s advice for Dogs,” 1)

How can I establish dominance over Sallon and calm him down?

To establish Dominance over Sallon, I will have to not feed him from the table, not allow begging, no “tug o’ war” or rough play, ignore his jumping and barking, reward good behavior, and not allow him on the furniture. I will have to make him do a few commands before he does what he wants. To calm Sallon, I can massage his head, pet him, and speak to him in a soothing tone of voice. (“Dealing With Dominance With Dogs,” 1,2)

How do I get Sallon to stop jumping?

To get Sallon to stop jumping on people, I will have to make an alternative for him instead of punishing him. I can hold a dog treat when he comes running, and hold it out, and wait a little while before I let him take it, and then squat and say Hi to him. I’ll have to do this over and over again. When he goes to jump, I can tell him “Bad”, and push him down. (Olson, 41)

How do I get Sallon to stop biting?

I can get Sallon to stop biting by socializing him more with other dogs, and other people. He must learn from his own experience to stop biting. Play biting should stop. Lack of socialization can cause biting because he may bite out of fear. I will have to not be a “littermate”, have trust and respect between us, not let him bite at all, and not forget to follow up in order for Sallon to stop biting. (“Dog and Puppy Biting, Mouthing, and Teething,” 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

How do I get Sallon to stop eating the furniture?

To get Sallon to stop eating the furniture and chewing, I will have to play with him and keep him occupied, talk to him, and let him be with me as much as possible. He chews because of a lack of attention or stimulation. He gets bored, so he finds something for himself to do. I can encourage Sallon to chew toys until he picks them up and chews them on his own, instead of the furniture. (Olson, 40)

How do I get Sallon to behave himself when I need him to?

I can get Sallon to behave himself when I need him to by training him to keep himself occupied with toys or by playing with me. If I socialize him with other dogs, he won’t be so excited or try to ignore me. (Duncan Interview)

How do I get Sallon to mind me when I am walking him, so that we both can relax?

I can get Sallon to mind me when walking by training him to walk properly on a leash. Training Sallon to properly walk on a leash means to keep him on a good lead about six to eight feet ahead of me. Sallon will be waiting for me to move in a direction; therefore he will have his sole attention on me and not what he can sniff out with his nose. I can also use a choke chain to keep him from pulling until he grows to feel comfortable with how he is being walked. (Olson, 62, 63)

What do I need to train Sallon effectively?

The equipment I need to train Sallon effectively will be: A collar, a leash, dog toys, a dog whistle, patience, and an understanding of dog behavior. (Training techniques and equipment, 2)

How do I get Sallon to be a guard dog when I need him to be?

Unfortunately, Sallon cannot be trained to be a guard dog because in order for that to happen, he would have to have no socialization with anybody and have been strictly trained in bite work from puppy days on. (“Bite Work,” 1, 2, 3, 4)

How can I get Sallon to stop eating out of the trash?

I can get Sallon to stop eating out of the trash by putting a lid on the trash bin, leaving no trash around, and making sure that he is occupied while he is alone in the house. (“Training and obedience,” 3)

Conclusion

With all of my questions answered, I will now pursue to train Sallon or die trying. Training will take effect immediately after this semester. All of my answers make a difference to me because they make it easier to train Sallon. I already know what to expect. In the long run, Sallon will be a better dog and I will be happier with him.
What I plan to do is slam all of the training methods and techniques that I have learned into Sallon full force right from the start so that I will not make mistakes in training him. This way I can rest easy knowing that I’m trying my best for a better relationship with him.

LIST OF SOURCES

“Bite Work.” www.leeburg.com/drives.htm
November 15, 2005

Bjorn Olson. “The Family Guide to Training Your Dog.” New York: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc, 1991.

“Canine senses and learning styles.” www.canismajor.com/dog/obedots.html#Senses
November 15, 2005

“Chewing and Destroying by Perfect Paws Dog and Puppy Training.” www.perfectpaws.com/chew.html
September 23, 2005

“Dealing with Dominance in Dogs.” www.sspca.org/Dogs_Dominance2.html
November 15, 2005

“Dog and Puppy Biting, Mouthing, and Teething.” www.perfectpaws.com/bite.html
November 16, 2005

Duncan, Deb. “Understanding Your “Adopted” Dog…..A Dog with a Past.” www.westieclubamerica.com/behavior/understanding.html
November 15, 2005

“How to Calm your Dog Down.” www.k9magazine.com
November 15, 2005

John Goldfine. Personal Interview. Bangor, ME: October, 2005

Kasey Duncan. Personal Interview. Sangerville, ME: June, 2005.

“Keeping dogs out of the trash.” www.askmetafilter.com
November 15, 2005

“Training Methods and Techniques.” www.inch.com/~dogs/training.html
November 15, 2005

“Training and Obedience Bad Begger, and Trash Digger.” www.dogster.com
November 16, 2005

“Treating Dogs.” www.drfostersmith.com/pic/article
November 15, 2005

Woolf, Norma Bennet. “Dog Owner’s Guide: Obedience Training.” www.canismajor.com/dog/yobed/html
September 23, 2005

Graf 18

2005-12-16T11:42:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I really thought that the Prompt Reactions were hard to write......I didn't like the fact that I couldn't write poetry but it wisened me up a little ...made me better at writing about personal experiences.

Graf 17

2005-12-16T11:37:00.000-05:00

I learned how to write an essay that will knock anyones socks off. I learned how to include myself more into my writing. The course surprised me by not having topics picked out for us.....set in stone. I think that what I learned was worth my time and money. I thought that having Goldfine as a teacher was good.......no textbooks. Nothing was reall bad. Nothing should be changed. Everything should stay the same.

Graf 16

2005-12-16T11:36:00.000-05:00

The contrast essay seemed to interesting. I thought that it was fun.

Graf 15

2005-12-16T11:30:00.000-05:00

The classification essay was not that difficult to write. Once I got into it, I was on my way to getting great results.

Graf 14

2005-12-16T11:26:00.000-05:00

Writing up to this point in time has been great. I have found plenty of imformation. I believe that Goldfine's help has been great for my overall ability to do well. I like what I wrote about my experiences.

Freestyle 15

2005-12-09T11:41:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed writing the classification essay. I thought that it was a great idea to begin with.

Prompt Reaction # 13

2005-12-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

57. A crowd, a host of golden daffodils.
They sit, not moving, enstranged beyond recognition. They look all the same.......drones who are boring, not unique. Quiet, not moving. Praising, yet witting their hearts they know that they do not care, they just pretend. The crowd is formal, dining appropriately with their glimmering silver salad forks, spoons, and their embroidered blood stained napkins. Roars of laughter fill my breaking heart with despair. Music sets the mood for one to feel misery, hate, conceitedness. The path underlying each individual is golden, unmistakably altered. Spatters of bright rainbow colors hit my eyes from afar, spitting from the dark scaled monster at me with it's black, protruding, round eyes glaring at me, waiting for the moment to strike upon it's prey. A deep low growl can be felt beneath the wall of sin. A scent of dead carcass, mixed with that of burning human flesh floods my nostrils, yet everyone continues with their amusements. The room goes from a spectacular bright white to a dark crimson red, feeding onto the black that now has engulfed the room. Everyone turns to look at me, eyes changing to that of the monster's. They glare at me, beautiful clothes turn to rags, skin turns to cold death, and eyes, they paralyze. In a panic, I run from the room, pitter pattering throughout the great vastness, leaving it all behind. I can hear screeches, howls of despair and agony. They ring in my head as I realize that they are my own. The great black door shuts, I manage to get it back onto it's old, rusty hinges. Heart continues to pound. All uplifts and is back to the way it was. I walk home, inferior to all others who do not care to recognize the monster, whom lies within themselves.

Comparison Essay

2005-12-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

When Sallon first entered my life, I didn't know what was in store for my life later on. I had already been with Kasey, my girlfriend, for at least a couple of months. She knew how much I wanted a dog of my very own. Sallon is a little over a year old now and I've been with Kasey throughout this entire time. When I look at Sallon, I think of how he and Kasey are just alike.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Sallon amd Kasey is the fact that they get jealous of eachother. When Kasey is with Sallon and I, they both compete for my attention. Sallon does so by bringing me his dog bone or toy. He then proceeds to chew the toy on my lap and waits for me to pick it up and throw it so he can fetch it. Other times he will bark at me and jump up in my lap and wait for me to pet him on the head. Kasey, she will talk to me about anything on her mind, persuade me to let her throw the dog toy for Sallon, and try to get me to walk with her outside so we can have some time to be together and talk. We usually talk about how our days went, starting with what we had for breakfast. The topic usually jumps to where wer'e going in life and what we both want to do. Meanwhile, Sallon is back behind the front door barking, ( which I percieve as to begging to come out and be with me) which makes me feel as though he should be with both Kasey and I.
The next thing that comes to mind when I think of Kasey and Sallon is that they both are playful. Sallon loves to be playful by playing "get the ball" and tug of war. I love it when he grunts and shifts his eyes around as I try to get the multi colored red, blue, and white rope from him. I laugh hard when he does this because it's so funny to watch him pull and not get his way. His tail usually flops from one side of his behind to the other, making him even more of a riot. He loves to run outside and fetch the stick that I throw for him. The only problem is that he doesn't like to give the stick back because he likes to make me chase after it when it is in his mouth. Kasey loves to hear jokes, tell me jokes, be tickled, tickle, and laugh a lot. The jokes that are most often heard and told are dirty jokes. The reason why is that most other jokes do not appeal to us. One of the things that I love about Kasey is that when I go to tickle her, I don't even have to touch her. All I need is for her to see me lift my hand and let her know what my intentions are and she's already laughing so hard she has to take a break and catch her breath. This makes me smile and laugh myself. Of course Kasey can't fall over because we're usually lying on her bed. What makes her laugh the most is seeing me laugh, which I am very fond of. When she tickes me, I can hear her giggles and that makes me laugh even more, which, in turn, makes her laugh even more.
A third thought that comes to mind when I think about Sallon and Kasey is how much I love both unconditionally. I've watched Sallon grow into the dog that he is now and I love spending time with him. When I am with him, I can talk to him when Kasey isn't there and keep my mind off of other things. He makes me feel better when I'm sad just by entering the room because he's so goofy. I love playing with him and he loves playing with me. He'll always walk with me when I go outside and want to go to all different places. When I'm with Kasey, I also can talk to her about anything and I can take her anywhere with me. I love to spend my time with Kasey because she is fun to be with. She makes me laugh, enjoy myself, and love to live. She helps me relax when I need to. She helps me with my homework. She loves to cook for and with me. I love Kasey because she accepts me for who I am.
I wonder to myself how two different beings can be so alike to me, but then I think of how they both make me happy and I smile at that thought. I know that at times both Sallon and Kasey may feel as though they are not loved enough because the other steals that love from me, but that is not the case. What they both don't know is that when they feel that way, I love each of them a little more.

2005-12-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

Prompt Reaction # 14

2005-12-02T11:30:00.000-05:00

67. The shadows around me lengthened, darkening first my yard, then the neighborhood, then the state, nation, world, and universe.
My Universe. It all seems like a big joke. All is black through my tunnel vision. I see no stars, no lights, nothing. It's burnt out of memory, ghostliness creeps up into me, making my feverish body fill with fear, heat, and cold. Solid memories lie scattered, undetected by any being wishing to interpret them. My life is rolled out before my very eyes, gone, forsaken. I've been taken for less than what I really am. What am I? Do I really know who I am? Is is all a fake reminisce memory all in my head? Shadows lurk around every corner I concentrate on turning, I see that black loves me, I seem to love it more. Dank, deadly. Comfort. Skies whisle in my ears, thunder cracks the dawn of a new day, leading me into a revolution trampling into my soul and shredding my existence apart. The lightning itself is black here, so black that one's eye could not catch where it will strike. Boiling points will be heightened, fear will be poisoned, life will diminish as we all know it. Down, down, spiraling into black oblivion searching for a hole to fall in. Nothing. I find myself contradicting the very thought of it all, my rivalry, my head, sanity, existence. My black pearls stare off into the distance, searching, waiting, searching, waiting. Lifeless, buried, gone, dead to memory. Destroyed.

Freestyle # 13

2005-11-29T12:20:00.000-05:00

Today I am glad to say that I am ok. Yesterday I missed two classes. I missed Goldfine's class and Speech class. All because I had to go to the hospital and receive stitches. I decided that I was going to fix Kasey's car yesterday so she could get it stickered. The plate lights were not working so I looked through the wiring and found that her trunk lid had been pinching all of the wires that made the taillights work. I found the broken wire, spliced it back together, and got the lights working. It was raining out heavily so I was trying to be quick. I was going to take Kasey's car to get inspected so that she wouldn't have to worry about it..........I shut the trunk and left the keys in it. Now, Kasey has a spare set of keys........She wasn't so kind as to inform me that she had taken them into her room and left them on the floor underneath some of her junk. I thought that both sets of keys were in the car, locked in from me. So I had decided that I would try to retrieve the keys that were in the trunk.........I ran to my car and drove it down to where Kasey's was parked. I got out my Stanley flathead screwdriver and my rusted aluminum hammer out. I crawled underneath the rear of the car in a great sopping wet puddle of water mixed with a bunch of sand and dirt. Instantly I felt myself absorb the water like dry plant soil. I knew what I was going to have to do. I pounded the bottom lid to the trunk out. I was attempting to shove my hand up in and grab the keys. I could feel the spare tire and the tire jack. They were damp and hard to move. I couldn't push the cover up off the spare tire so I took my tire iron out of my car and proceeded to shove it up through the hole and push the lid of the spare. I really got aggressive with it and ended up not being careful enough because one of those times that I was shoving that tire iron up through the hole, My left index finger caught the lip of the trunk pan and got sliced. It wasn't just sliced though, it was ripped open by the motion of me moving upward with my dirt and rust covered hand. I didn't even feel it for the first couple minutes. I crawled out from underneath the car, scooting and grunting, and I tried to make a fist. The wound opened up and I could see fat cells sticking out. I knew that it was deep. Meanwhile, Kasey just got out of the shower and had entered her room. I started walking into the dormitory swearing at myself and how stupid I could have been to let such a thing happen to me. Well, I got to Kasey's room. I walked in, and there was Kasey. I said to her "I need a napkin!" She then replies back "Why?" I told her what I had been doing while I went into the bathroom and washed out the gash that was in my hand. She then tells me " I brought my spare set of keys inside my room!" I felt so stupid. "Where are they?" I said. "Somewhere!" was her reply. Evidently she left them on the floor beside the refrigerator underneath some clutter. I said "How was I supposed to know that they were there, they should have been hanging up where they were supposed to be!" Soon after that, I felt sick, got pale, and hyperventilated, which is a normal reaction. Kasey drove me to Eastern Maine Medical Center, yelling at cars to hurry up and shaking. I was laughing and telling her that I was fine. Once in the emergency room, I went to the registration window and signed some papers. I was them taken into a room where a nurse took my vitals and asked about a tetanus shot. I then was told to wait out in the lobby. So I waited. Then I was taken to one of the emergency cubicles. Kasey and I sat there on the bed, having to wait for about two hours smelling that hospital smell that most people hate. It was also cold. I used one of those white cotton hospital blankets to keep warm. Finally the clinician came into the room. Before that Kasey had pulled on the cord that calls nurses and a bald male nurse walked in. I thought that he had looked a little like Michel Rosenberg. For those of you who don't know who he is, he plays the character Lex Luther on the t.v series Smallville. Kasy asked how long it would take before someone would come to stitch me up. He told us that we had one more patient ahead of us. The clinician asked what happened to me and told me that I needed a tetanus shot. I had to lay on the hospital bed . It was a great big cushion like thing. She put the bed up in the air by stepping onto a peddle that pumped it up. I imagine that it went up by the means of hydraulics. She then numbed my finger by putting a novicane filled needle into my cut. It felt as if a wasp was stinging me over and over again. She them cleaned it by squirting saline solution into it. Then she pushed the fat cells that were sticking out back into me. She had Kasey hold a light for her so that she could see better while stitching. I could feel the curved needle sliding into my flesh. I could feel the thread being pulled through. I looked at the wall the entire time she was stitching. It was pale, bluish grey. Rather a dull color, I thought. Kasey was whoaing as she watched from behind the clinician. It seemed as though it was amusing to her, and it was. I only got four stitches and I am glad that it was no more. After I was done getting stitched, a nurse came in and gave me the shot. I then got up and left. I had to run to the parking lot in the rain, which was coming down in buckets. We got to the car and drove back to EMCC. I was starving! So was Kasey. Since it was two thirty, we went to Denny's and ate. French Fries, Nachos, and a yummy sandwich.Then we got Kasey's car stickered. Bangor Car Care took care of that for us. Well, that was most of what happened yesterday, I'll get going.
If it's one thing I learned, it was that I should have my own spare set of Kasey's keys.

Division Essay

2005-11-29T10:36:00.000-05:00

I feel nothing. Pitch black surrounds me, swirling into and around where I am. Out of nowhere, a loud, repeating dinging rings into my head, bringing me into consciousness. My first reaction is to lift my anchored arm up high into the air to reach my old brown Scooby Doo alarm clock. In doing so, I can feel myself taking a deep breath into my lungs. The scent of cinnomin lingers in and around my nostrils. This is from the cinnamon pine cones hanging in a bundle from a nail in my bedroom wall. I can feel the hard round surface of the alarm clock. I lazily open my eyes just to glimpse the switch to turn off the now annoying alarm. In doing so, I try holding in the sweet warmth that I have contained within my floofy dark and light cherry covered comforters. Sallon lifts his head, starts stretching his whole body the length of my bed, yawns with his long pink tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, and wags his brown, white tipped tail at a slow pace. He pants heavily while he waits for me to fully awaken. As soon as I realize where I am, I open my eyes to see Sallon laying across my body and staring up at me with his yellowish green eyes. Many things in life are beautiful.
One of the many things that I view as beautiful in my life is my relationship with my girlfriend. Whenever I need to wind down she's always there to talk to me, to make me feel better. Once I got into a fight with my father. At first it wasn't a fight with my father, but rather a fight with my brother. Nasty words were exchanged and it started to get heated until my father came into the picture. That was when I had to sit down and listen to him yelling his opinion of the whole situation down at me. He never let me speak my piece, explain what I felt. He was always right. I never felt so bottled up. Later on when I spoke to Kasey, she told me everything would be ok and that she loved me. That is what helps me the most. When Kasey tells me that she loves me.
Nature is beautiful in life. Ever since I was a little boy, I always ventured off into the woods. I liked to stay under the canopy of Cedar trees, in particular. I guess that was because I loved their sweet smelling scent and the way that they were always were portrayed to me. The snarly dark limbs snaking off into every direction amused me. When the cool wind came rushing up into my nostrils and against my body, tossing my hair in every direction, I gazed up into the hazy blue of the summer sky and stared down any sliver of white clouds that could be sought out. I let the sun's rays of light warm me when I was chilled. I listened to all the chickadees, Robins, Bluejays, Crows, Owls, and Partridges sing. I become relaxed when I hear nature. The colors and sounds of of the forest inspire me, give me courage to keep moving on in life.
Learning throughout my whole life is beautiful. I have taken my education seriously since I was in middle school. I have the greatest desire to achieve many tasks in my lifetime. Learning has brought me closer to my dreams. My ability to store new information in my memory for later use awes me. I am thankful that I have no learning disabilities and take pride knowing that when I am older I will appreciate having learned many things. I learn something new everyday and love to know about things that other people do not.
Many things in life are beautiful but a lot of people take them for granted. For instance, couples who have children and a steady paying job do not see that their life or what is in their life is beautiful. They look at what they don't have instead of what they do have. Going on like that can destoy everything in a person's life. If I thought that way, which I do sometimes, I would get really stressed out and be discouraged about where I am heading in life (and I have). The question that I ask myself all the time is "will I ever be where I am heading in life?" I really don't have a truthful answer to this question but I will always remember to be thankful for what I have instead of what I don't have.

Freestyle # 14

2005-11-29T10:35:00.000-05:00

13. Take a look at a photo of a person. What do you see?
When I take look at Kasey in a photograph, I see hope. I see that she has something in her that drives her to live. I see a mix of colours, all leading to the beauty of her hair, her skin. I faintly can make out her eyelashes, which are long, curly and dark black. Her hair is tossed around in every direction, provided by the hiardryer that is next to her head. I can see her delicate nose, nostrils flared slightly. I can see intelligence beyond her beauty in her eyes. I see artistry, a well known subject that Kasey loves. I see fear, something that she does not want to encounter lies ahead. I see love, she feels so intense. I see Kasey for what she is in her naked eyes.

Prompt Reaction # 12

2005-11-23T12:08:00.000-05:00

53. Robin Redbreast in a cage puts all heaven in a rage.
When I was younger, I was limited to doing certain things because I was a middle child. It always seemed like my brothers and sister always got to do the things that I was never able to do until I was older. Until then I was stuck with doing mediocre tasks that I know I would not enjoy as well as if I had been able to do what my older brother was doing. For instance, I was not allowed to drive a moped and Larry was. I was only allowed to watch. Then after Larry was done driving, he would tell me all the cool stories of the experiences that he had had while driving. It made me so jealous. My younger brothers always got what they wanted from my parents, including more attention. I never got nearly as much attention as they did. When I tried talking to my parents about school, after school projects or friends, I was never able to because my younger brothers were telling them something and they made a big stink if I tried telling them something that was important to me. It always seemed like whenever I tried to fit in with my younger brothers, I was immature. If I tried to fit in with my older brother, then I was boring to my younger siblings. I felt as though I was in between and didn't know where to go. It continued on like this until I was so angry that I decided to run away. I achieved this task on the night of Valentines day. I hopped in my car that I just put on the road and I had the keys pulled from the switch on me. So I got dressed and walked out the door and down the road in the dead of winter. There were so many things going through my head that evening that I felt puzzled and out of place. I didn't feel needed nor wanted. I headed towards Kasey's house where I knew that I would be able to relax. I walked a total of fourteen miles. My feet were aching, they were stinging. Flurries were spiraling downward from the cold, dark, blank sky. Still I walked.My nose was running, I could feel the sweat covering my body. I wasn't scared, I wasn't cold. I was angry and hurt. I kept walking, running a replay of the events that previously happened. I admit that I did cry as cars rolled on by me. I stared through my fogged glasses down the road and looked onward through the snow, my chest heaving, body stinging, and headlights illuminating my soul, cutting me in two as I knew that they knew I was not supposed to be there. Eventually I was picked up. I stayed with Kasey for a week. I spoke to my parents over the phone. Once I got home, therte was an "intervention." It didn't work and everything stayed the same. The exception was that My cage had been lifted. I am now allowed to do things that I want to do. I see that I am viewed as an adult now.

Prompt Reaction # 11

2005-11-23T11:42:00.000-05:00

51. Just calm down and begin at the beginning.
It's five minutes before I take the math exam. I don't understand what the hell the teacher was teaching us in class leading up to now! What am I supposed to do? My stomach doesn't feel so good. I'm starting to sweat......oh, God help me! I frantically start to look over my notes, feeling my heart beat quickening with every moment nearing the exam. If I don't pass this one, I'll be in trouble. I ask for help from my friend sitting next to me.......he is just as puzzled as I am but doesn't care. I need this grade! I begin to feel dizzy, like can't stand even if I wanted to. My feet are moving but I can't stop them. The notes that I am overlooking are not effective........the important stuff that we went over was in class. He enters the room. He has a stack of tests. My mind is racing! He sits down! He tells us to put all studying implements away! He then stands up and proceeds to hand out the exam! I'm a gonner! Ok, the crisp white paper is before my very eyes now. Maybe a fire will start and I won't need to take the exam today. It doesn't happen. Instead, I sit there, looking around the room at all the others taking the exam and seeming as though they are not having any trouble. "Ok", I tell myself. My teacher says "No talking while taking the exam, Josh." So I give him a menacing look, start at the beginning of the exam with my vividly yellow number two pencil and take deep a breath. I can do this. I look at the first problem. Was this a polynomial. I don't remember. Sara just looked at me. Does she like me? Or was that a look of digust on her face. No, she doesn't hate me, does she? She's twirling her glimmering hair in front of me. Is she doing that to get my attention. Stop it, Josh! Get to your test! Ok, I'm thinking of math. Math, math, math. I can do this. I'm focusing. How do I divide that into a polynomial? Damn it! Oh, well. Ok, next one. Maybe this one is doable for me. Uh, nope! Relax, I have to relax. Deep breaths........close your eyes for a minute. I'm looking at the paper again. I remember the rules for polynomials now. Ok, that is how I do the problem! I have to distribute first! Step by step, I can do this. I continue to do the exam until it is time to leave. I get up and hand in my exam, feeling a little sick.
One week later I recieve my exam grade......an eighty five on account that I could calm down and focus. Phew!

Freestyle # 12

2005-11-23T09:53:00.000-05:00

This morning I woke up to being cold. Yesterday it was warm out and rained all day, today it is cold and for the most part clear. When I walked through the door Sallon jumped on me and tried to nibble on me. I didn't let him. Later on he chewed on his dog bone.......this keeps him from eating the furniture. After that, he watched me like a hawk and followed me wherever I went. I didn't see him wanting to go outside though. This morning he did. He really wanted to go for a car ride because he was really barking at the front door when I had to leave to come to class. Just at that moment my father hooked him on the dog chain. Sallon just looked at me and stared me down the whole time I was leaving the driveway looking disappointed. I guess that he has his moments where he likes to stick to me as if I were glue. I like it when he displays that he wants to be with me but I don't like ot when I have to leave because I know that it can cause him to mess the house, chew furniture and things of that nature. Lately I have been trying to keep him occupied when I leave by setting toys around the house and encouraging my brothers to play with him so he won't feel so lonely without me. He slept well for the most part, not laying on top of me or anything. He actually let me pet him. When I try he usually wants to play and ends up biting me.

Process Essay

2005-11-18T10:21:00.000-05:00

When people go to get a Christmas tree, they don't take into consideration how much work has been put into them. When I look for a Christmas tree, I admire how the tree is taken care of so that it can arrive at my door step with easy care and handling. There are three steps that balsam Fur has to take before it can reach my living space. Step one is cutting the tree. Stage two is bailing the tree. Finally, the next procedure is moving the tree.
In step one, cutting the tree sounds easy. It can be a hassle. First, I have to walk deep into the dry, dark green of the tree farm with a saw nestled under my arm. The cold of late November stings me as I move swiftly out from behind the door where heat was keeping me in a comfortable warmth. Even the cold sifts through the fibers of my blaze orange hunting hat, slamming into my forehead to only then make my teeth chatter. I always have to be careful this time of year. Even though I am on a tree farm, there are still trigger-happy dumbasses who have what is known as buck fever and will shoot at anything with a spot of white or brown moving around. The soles of my boots are becoming cool with every chilly, wakening step that I put forth. Depending on what type of saw that I am handling, the outcome of how the Christmas tree will be cut can either be difficult or impressively easy. I usually use a scarred blaze orange Huskavarna chainsaw with a sixteen inch bar. The chain is usually a bit dull, and there is no rust from cutting all the trees that fill orders. The way that the trees are cut depend on how I handle the saw. I kneel down on the cold, hard ground and then face the saw away from me. I let the saw do the work while I control the throttle on the chainsaw and where to cut. When the tree is almost completely cut and the puffs of two cycle exhaust have made me reek of gas, I attempt to knock the tree over by kicking it, followed by a few manly grunts that are exerted from my lungs. If kicking doesn't work, I then proceed to cut the rest of the enemy tree with my saw. Chips fly everywhere so that when standing from a distance my face cannot be seen. Then , triumph! I felled the tree!
Once the tree is cut, I have to move on to stage two, which is bailing the tree. This means that I have to drag the tree, huffing and puffing, to the tree bailer, which looks like a bigger version of a log splitter but is nothing like a log splitter. As I near the sound of the eight horsepower motor chugging along, I get ready to throw the butt of the Balsam fur into the bailer. I then lift the tree, holding my breath slightly in doing so, and then throw the butt of the tree into the bailer. Once in the bailer, I move to where the butt of the tree is sticking through. I then rap the sappy grasping hook and loop the cable around the butt of the tree. I hook the other end of the grasp to the chain that pulls the tree through the bailer. I step on the foot pedal and bring the tree forward and through the bailer just a tiny bit. I then tie twine around one of the branches near the scarred butt of the tree and then bring the tree through with the foot pedal all the way while pulling a lever that wraps the twine around the entire tree until it is all the way through. I then cut the end of the twine with a razor blade that is conveniently placed on the bailer for that specific purpose, then tie it to the tip of the tree. Once I have achieved that, I pick the bailed Christmas tree up off the bailer, then put it in a pile with other bailed trees.
After the trees are all bailed, they are ready to move. This is when I walk, tired, down to the naturally stained log home on the farm and hop into an old eighties Chevy pickup truck. As I open the door, it creeks with the sound of age. I then sit in the blue, broken down, sun cracked bench seat. I start the truck and it sputters for a moment, then starts to chug. There is a loud ticking noise in the motor, which is from the truck being roused in mud a couple years back. I then drive the truck, bouncing up and down as if I were a rodeo cowboy on one of those huge brown, smelly bulls. I drive through the rows of trees, looking for stocked piles of pine smelling goodness.I then shut the truck down, letting the motor stop with a halt. The motor still runs, burning the access gas through it. I then get out of the truck, door squealing, and walk over to where the mountain of trees lay. I then lift the trees, put them on the truck, and make sure none will fall while I am in transport. I load the trees so that there are around fifty trees on the truck. Once the truck is loaded, I then get back into the truck. The door, this time, creaks. I start the truck, slowly put the truck into drive, and let the truck roll through the hard, rocky, bumpy fields. Once into the road, I can move a bit faster. The truck sounds even more sick in the road than in the fields with it's sputtering, knocking, squeaking, squealing, and screeching. I enter the driveway to the farm, pull into the center where the already bailed and counted trees are stacked and ready to load onto trucks, and park the truck. I then get out of the truck, door squealing, and begin to unload the trees. I take one at a time, moving the heavy, pitchy trees off the truck, onto the ground, and onto the existing stack of ready to go trees.
Once this process of preparing Christmas trees is finished, I can then throw one of the trees onto my car, take it to my house, unload it, and very easily load it into my living space. I then put the butt of the tree into a Christmas tree stand and put water in it. I cut the strings and voila! The tree is finished. I leave the rest of the family to decorate the tree.

Freestyle # 11

2005-11-18T10:10:00.000-05:00

This morning I thought that the weather was magnificent. I don't know about Sallon, though. He didn't like being outside this morning as he had in past mornings. I think that it was because he got cold. When I was eating my breakfast he decided that he was going to beg like he usually does. This time was worse. Every time that I lifted my sandwich, Sallon thought that he could stick his nose right underneath it. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that he was secretly trying to steal it out from underneath me. Al least he isn't half as bad as Molly. That little devil jumps in the center of the table top and steals whatever is edible. She then continues to watch for food being put there after she has been caught. Sallon usually stays off the table, but he gets food that is in the plate of my little brothers who sit on the couch and watch the television programs. I have tried scolding him before, but it doesn't work. I think that that is because everybody else gives him handouts. I think that I will try to block him from the kitchen area when I eat.

Prompt Reaction # 10

2005-11-14T11:21:00.000-05:00

42. The key is in the lock, but I can't turn it.

There are so many things that I have been wanting to do for a long time but I just can't seem to find the courage. No, I'm not talking about love, I've already jumped over that barrier. At home, I lay in my bed with dreams soaking up my head like a dry, yellow sponge. I am currently sitting at an intersection. Hesitation has settled into me. I don't know where I want to go, or what to do. If I follow my heart, I am scared of what will become of me, whether I will succeed or not. Emotions run through me, telling me what I should do, where to go. I don't listen. I'm caught in the spider's web and very frightened. I turn these thoughts of what I really want to do in my head. I see flashes of white light and speckles of orange, yellowish colors bleeding into my soul, feel a thousand pin pricks stab into my quivering, blistered heart, and still, I cannot listen.
I become dull and feel wrenched out of place at the mere thought of knowing that I should be following my own lead. My stomach churns and burns.
My lifelong dreams are the wager here and I recognize that. I guess that you could say that I have the key in the lock, but I cannot turn it.

Freestyle # 10

2005-11-08T10:03:00.000-05:00

Last night when I got home I didn't see Sallon until I found him laying on my parents bed. He came straight to me and tried to jump on me. He then tried to nibble on me, which I did not think he would do. Every single time I think that I have him to a point where he might be getting better at things, he gets worse in about two and a half seconds. Anyway, I didn't stay long. He followed me all around the house until I took him around the yard for a walk. Once outside, he did what he is known for: Playing tug of war with me on his leash. I didn't like it. He really doesn't respond to the whole stop-until-he-knows-he's- not-going -anywhere method. He just tugs.....and tugs.....and tugs until he knows that I am just standing there. Then he stops and sits. I believe that I have not tried click training yet and wonder if it will fix this whole problem.
This morning when was about to walk out the door he jumped on me and bit nibbled on my hand. When I was sleeping last night, Sallon would not stop whining. He didn't have to go to the bathroom because I had taken him outside. I couldn't get him to stop until I got out of bed. I think that he did it because he smell food being cooked and he thinks he needs to go beg.

I do not know what the resource requirements are for the I search.......I looked on Goldfine's website all over and could not find any imformation on it. I am actually starting to panic about all this because I need to start writing it right away so I can make it good. I want to interview goldfine but do not know what types of questions to ask....I have an idea but would rather have all the research done before moving to an interview.
I watched the movie Pacifier last night also.....wasn't that bad. I also ate milk duds. NO I DIDN'T LET SALLON HAVE ANY!

Prompt reaction week # 9

2005-11-07T11:31:00.000-05:00

38. The things I see as I walk along the street--that's heaven to me. Or is it?

As I walk down the street, specifically in Bangor, I watch passersby in their cars and trucks leaving for work.....I watch the traffic, wondering where every individual person is headed. I look for the rust on the cars, thinking about how I could fix it. I see those fat, grey, chattering squirrels in the fall just as the air is starting to become cool and leaves are beginning to turn their colours for me to view. Orange, red, yellow, brown. I see them flutter to the ground, some slowly and some quickly as a harsh gust of whistling wind plucks them from spiny branches.
I walk rythematically as if in a hurry, but then remind myself I have nowhere to hurry to at this particular moment in time. I slow, looking down at the snaking cracks and crevices in the old tar. I look at the brilliant bright green grass that grows in between them. Once in a while I see a shiny tin foil gum wrapper, what I perceive to be wriggley's wrappers most of the time. I hear the cling clang of my keys in my pocket moving around as my legs move. I hear the thud of my feet as my shoes hit the ground. I look up, seeing unfimiliar faces as people walk by me. Sometimes I run into dogs being taken out for a relaxing walk before the day has ended. As I walk, I gaze upon streaming, yellow bursts of sunlight filtering it's way through the clouds, into the atmosphere, and through and between all of the young maples, cherry, and oak trees that are planted along the roadside. As I walk pass the football stadium, I hear roaring engines shut down, car doors slamming shut and people hustling to get the best seats.
I can hear my breathing, see my breath on a spine tingling cold winter day. My nostrils frost up and feel as though they are sticking together because the cold hits them. I can hear and see the swishing and splashing of gritty slush as cars pass by. The clouds turn to a dark grayish purple and it begins to snow heavily, leaving the ice covered ground that much more slippier. Large snowflakes smack into and melt onto my cheeks. My hair feels as though it is being caressed softly as the white, cottonny snow flakes tangle themselves into it. I can hear an ambulance off in the distance rushing to the scene of a car accident. I hide my hands in my coat pockets, trying to keep them warm from the shifting chill-to-the-bone winds. When my ears get cold and turn blister red, I take my hands out and cover them for a few seconds, then put them back into my pockets. I walk by a convenience store, which is heaven because it is freezing outside.
In the spring, I walk through warming snowbanks and into the warmth of those shining rays of sunshine. I stumble over myself and land into water and/or mud puddles or just mud when I come to a low dip in the increasingly dirty sidewalk. Cars of all sizes zoom by splashing threatening cold, muddy water at my entirety. Wetness surrounds me everywhere I look. I see that the tar has changed to a very dark grey if not turned black because it is wet. I see chunks of tar strewn all over from where big, heavy town plow trucks have plowed snow and took some of the road with it.
In the summer, I see dead grass everywhere from the sweltering heat. I see cars with the a/c on and cars with all the windows rolled down. I see old beaters such as a 1980's rusted out Ford Tempos with blistered paint passing by with the radio cranked and see brand new cars rolling by with the driver looking as happy as a clam. My feet burn with every forsaken step that I take. Sweat beads down my face, soaking my shirt and making me miserable. I walk by the pool, which, in this case, can be classified as heaven. I can see people sun bathing in the latest fashion designer bathing suits. I hear splashing water and yelling from playing kids.
At night when walking the streets, I see the glow of the city. I see dimly lit street lamps illuminating my way to wherever I am headed. I see black, which can be horrible at night. I see awkwardly dressed people out screaming and chanting. I see very few cars passing by. I see that I am the only.
Depending on what part of the year or what part of the day it is, any place can be heaven

Freestyle # 9

2005-11-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

I just finished my contrast essay. I feel that it is good. I like it. It was amusing.
Sallon has been better lately. I don't know it it has anything to do with Kasey being with me or not. He jumps on me very little now when I first enter through the door into the house. He still likes to get excited and run around a little. On Halloween he was so happy to see me that he did nibble. He still sometimes does this.......I am hoping that he calms down.
This morning I saw a guy in a green Audi get busted for speeding in front of the campus. I am glad that it isn't me that got caught. I'll have to be more careful when I am driving through and around here from now on. I can't afford a speeding ticket.
Whenever I take Sallon outside to walk him, he still seems to think that he has control over me so he still bites at his leash and tries to pull me everywhere but where I want to go. I'm still trying to get him to calm down.......This morning he was begging for my food.....He is getting better at not stealing food from the table. It seems this way for now. He was being really good. He didn't even bark at me. The other night I was concerned because he kept shaking his head. I looked at his ears and for some reason he would yelp. He may be infected. I will probably have to get him some ear medicine. Last night he was fine......Slept with me and didn't wake up. Later, when I get home, I'll have another look at him.

Contrast Essay

2005-10-31T11:40:00.000-05:00

Going to the big city of Bangor was always something to look forward to when I was younger. The only downside that I can think of is how I had to ride with my entire family in the old station wagon. That thing was a pile. The windows didn't work and the car was usually packed so I was a sardine in between my brother and my father. Of course it wouldn't be a day out if the temperature was below ninety degrees with scorching heat. Once in Bangor, my family and I went shopping for all the monthly household items. We would then go the Pizza Hut and get two GIANT SIZED pizzas. These pizzas would usually end up being one with a topping of pepperoni and one with a combination topping. Pizza is great. The classic pepperoni and combination pizzas are not similar at all.

Ingredients in a pepperoni pizza are: thin layered pizza dough, two helping of pepperoni, and an extra three cheese blend. Ingredients in a combination pizza vary. You can order a pizza with mushrooms, onions, green peppers, yellow peppers, pepperoni, sausage, Hamburg, olives, mixed cheeses, and different types of crust with different types of sauces. You can mix toppings to make a combination pizza. When I make a pizza, the first thing that I do is look for a good sized square pan to fit my masterpiece. I use dough that is in the package bought from the store and add water to it. If I desire, I put some of my own seasonings into it. I then knead the dough with my magic hands to get it perfect. I apply the dough to fit the pan and then add Prego sauce. Once I have covered the dough with sauce, next comes the cheese and the best ingredient of all, pepperoni slices. I like to cover the pizza with so much pepperoni that I can't see the cheese. After I am finished I shove the pizza in the oven at three-hundred-fifty degrees for about a half hour and wait for the wonderful tasting pizza to be throughly cooked so I can gobble it up.

Taste is something that I look forward to in a pizza. In a slice of pepperoni, I look for that smack of hotness to hit my lips when I take that first bite. I love to feel that tingly feeling that pepperoni gives me when it is laying flat on my tongue. The cheese is gooey and if I'm not careful, I can be burnt. The pizza sauce is spicy too. Eventually when I am half way through my slice of pepperoni pizza, my nose is running and I need a drink to cool off my sizzling tongue.
Combination pizza is not spicy or hot. It slaps my mouth with a hint of mushroom then goes on to be overpowered by the sausage that is crispy and tastes a bit overcooked. The crust is moist but then begins to taste dry towards the last couple of bites. Green peppers, mixed with the taste of mushroom and overcooked sausage makes me due for a huge gulp of soda to get rid of the taste that I have in my mouth. I find that the only ingredient to taste good in a combination pizza to be the melt-in-your-mouth cheese and extra tomatoey, sweet pizza sauce.

Appearance in the pizza that I purchase means a great deal to me. If by any means I receive a pizza that has anything foreign in or on it that I didn't order, I will refuse it. What I look for in the appearance of my pepperoni pizza is if there is enough cheese on it and if the cheese is gooey. I have to see the pizza steaming so that I know that it is hot. I look to see if the pepperoni is thoroughly cooked and it's the color it should be. I look at the crust to make sure that it isn't undercooked. Pepperoni pizza looks mouth watering. What I mean is to say that it looks like it does on television with it's steaming pepperoni and thick, greasy cheese blend. The crust is so moist that it crumbles in your mouth instantly. In a combination pizza, I look at the meat to see if it is burnt in any way, look at all the peppers to make sure that they are not soggy, make sure that the cheese is plentiful, make sure that the crust is moist, and make sure that all of the ingredient are distributed evenly so that one ingredient does not overpower the taste of the other. Combination pizza doesn't look very appetizing. The ingredients are usually distributed unevenly, the peppers are soggy, and the crust is dry. However, there is gooey, mouth watering cheese with sweet tasting pizza sauce and dough that is to die for.

It is astonishing that pizza can serve the same purpose but be so different. The name of a pizza cannot justify the taste of the pizza, only the person eating it can. In peoples minds pizza is a meal that is delicious and mouth watering. Eyes can be deceived. The taste of pizza can be disgusting. Some pizzas will always be better than others. Pizza will continue to serve it's purpose in fulfilling hunger and making peoples taste buds dance with excitement for years to come.

Reaction to contrast essay

2005-10-31T11:33:00.000-05:00

Contrast essays look as though they will be easier to write. The sample that I read seems a little too personal for someone to write.....About the father that is a mechanic and rips people off, who beats women, who only got a 9th grade education. The son and brother to the writer whom is in the army and is very smart, has a lot of friends. I see that the essay is well, content is personal and probably would offend some people.....I guess that that doesn't matter though. I hope that I can make this essay enjoyable to write.

Prompt Reaction # 8

2005-10-31T11:20:00.000-05:00

35. I think, therefore I am.
There are many coincidal things that happen in a person's life. To put myself forward and take the jump I am going to tell you this: I think things of which I'd wish that others do not think. I am mistaken to believe that I only think of these things. Happenings in which people commit themselves to seem to be what that particular person is. In my life, I was very influenced by my family to what my everyday life is now. I was taught what was wrong and what was right, how to behave myself as not to be a mean, nasty person like the ones that you run into on the street who are bums and smell like McDonalds garbage. People have principles, values, and thier own way of doing things. I like to feel satisfied at the end of the day. I cannot feel that way unless I know that I have done what I believe to be the better chioces in life and that they have been decided upon greatly where as I see uselessness in others. These specific others are those who think that life is one monstrous party, who waste their purse on stupid possessions instead of using it to accomplish greatness in life. An example of good would be funding college. I value knowledge and have a great thisrt to see where I can take myself with what I learn. I want to be known, I want to do great things that will be known. I crave it, I can feel it. I see myself there and want to be there. So I will. Ambition is one of the many qualities that I obtain. I push myself where others dare not to........in my mind. I am frightened as to what will happen if I take a chance..........where will I end up? I don't want to end up living in a seventies trailer full of bullet holes in a nasty neighborhood. That is why I am here. I don't know what I want to do with my life, either. I just know that I want to be happy with who I am. I am the decisions that I make, therefore I will take the time to evaluate what I dicide and make sure that it is right to my heart.

reaction to classification essay:writing it

2005-10-28T11:06:00.000-04:00

Writing the essay itself was not that bad. I don't like the fact that I "half assed it" according to Goldfine.

Freesyle # 8

2005-10-24T11:22:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, when I returned home in the evening, Sallon was not hooked on a chain outside. This was a first for quite a while. I got into the house without being pounced upon. I didn't know where he was. I was able to put my stuff away in my room. No Sallon still. Then I went downstairs and sat down in the chair in the living room. Then I see Sallon popping up out of the bedroom all gloomy like until he caught sight of me sitting in the chait. He perks his ears and immediatly starts wagging his curled tail. He rushes over to me and jumps into the chair then sits on top of me. He then starts sniffing me all over and nibbling me. After that he gets in my face and breathes all over me. I pet him and greeted him then he hopped off of me. I got up and he follows me immediately as I start to walk. Still, he leaves whenever he sees food. On Sunday I took Sallon for a walk. It was raining out so needless to say, I got muddy from the little twerp. He did his whole tug of war bit with me and jumped on me. I got him to walk properly for a little while but he kept pulling to hard. He wouldn't stop. I think that it is because he was sniffing around? I don't know.

Promt Reaction # 7

2005-10-21T11:26:00.000-04:00

30. To see a world in a grain of sand. and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour. -William Blake

It's been a while since I have been out to "see a world in a grain of sand." Throughout my childhood I have always been infactuated with nature. I love to go out and hear nothing but the sweet shrilly voices of those incredible birds. I love to hear the "nature of the beast" as so to speak.
I have hunted for a couple of years now. The feelings that are provoked inside of me are that of extreme intensity for what lies before my eyes. For instance, the smell of a cool, crisp October morning with it's frosty chills crawling up my toasty warm flesh and into my nostrils, cooling my lungs with every breath that I draw in.
I can see the beauty of a wildflower. I can even go in and notice all the details of that flower. I'd rather see details of all the beauty of nature around me. I can hear the rush of whisped air from a hawk's wings, and the hoofbeats of wild deer running through pine forests eluding the well known human being.
I usually lose track of time when I am out in the woods. I am usually caught up in nature for at least an hour with the smeels, sounds, and feelings that are invoked from both.

Classification Essay

2005-10-19T13:44:00.000-04:00

Bright green leaves and various tree branches slap me in the face and arms as I run through the woods. My heart is pumping quickly and I have sweat beading from my forehead. That damn dog got loose again. Stupid jerk bolted right out the door when it was only open a few inches. I can see a white tipped curly Sallon tail now. I'm getting closer. I'm running out of breath. Twigs snap and crackle underneath my shoes. Wind is rushing in my ears and I hear a splash. Oh, great. He's jumped into the mud puddles that have been collecting from all the rain. Now he needs a bath!I wish that he would mind me. I eventually catch him and he is all mud from head to toe. I walk in the house and we are both panting heavily from the run. I hook him on the leash and take him down to the brook. In the time that I am walking him he is pulling me and I am calling him names. I get him there and I clean him. Now I have the pleasure of getting leeches on my feet. How wonderful! I get back home only to curse Sallon some more and have him smear his wet self all over the house. My mother yells at him. I believe that there are three types of different dogs. All dogs are disobedient at some point in time. These dogs only obey when the owner is with them. Then there are the dogs that are sneakes. These dogs only obey when the owner isn't around. Then there are the hell-raisers. These dogs are completely wild. They eat everything, always make a mess, bark when you don't want them to, disobey everything that you command them to do, hop all around the house, and steal food from the table top or the counter top.

Dogs are slick. They think that they are cool. They're like"yeah, I'm cool because I behave while your around. You'll always love me." Well, obedient dogs do not fool me! They may be well behaved while your around, but when your gone, it's a different story. As soon as the owner says, "I'll see you when I get back, Sparky", and they close that door, Sparky is off like a firecracker wanting you to walk back into the house and be with him forever. In reality, it is all about Sparky being afraid because he doesn't like to fill his time gap with "boring stuff." When he is alone with nothing to occupy himself, such as chew toys and tennis balls, he loves to destroy the owner's belongings. Yes, there can be an array of problems that concur from this. It is very costly. Needless to say, when the owner returns home, he has one happy dog and one empty wallet at the same time. With dogs, you have to train, train, train. Maybe then they would have some sense not to destroy. With my own experience with Sallon, my super dog, I found that he loves to shred clothing which just happens to belong to my mother. Most of the time he loves to eat whatever is in in front of him. Even if there is something that is made of metal, he will try to chew on it. So I end up taking everything that you could possibly imagine away from him, leaving him his old, yellow, scraped dog bone. If he loses that dog bone or it is stolen from him, I am in trouble.

Sneak dogs do not behave at all when the owner is with them. They are ill-minded when it comes to obeying commands and think that all you want to do is play all the time. When the owner isn't around, however, they do behave because they know that they cannot get away with what they normally do. Or they are just bored so they lay down and take a nap until the return of thier master. This is from lack of attention. When I am not around, Sallon enjoys to prance around the house using his sniffer to get him and myself into trouble. What happens usually is that he finds food on the table. He then takes advantage of being a big dog and jumps up onto the table with his front, muscular legs and proceeds to sniff with his ears perked back as if he definately knows that what he is doing is wrong. He then sticks his pink, slimy toungue out to lick the tabletop at first. He goes for the kill and grabs the entirety of what was on the table for food. Later during the day however, Sallon usually lounges around the house hanging out with anyone who is with him.

The hell-raisers are the worst kind of dog. They are totally out of thier minds. They eat, chew, disobey, jump, bite, nibble, get too excited, dig holes, excrete, run away, and destroy. When the owner tries to eat, they cannot have that dog around or he will steal food off thier plate. When walking the dog, the owner is pulled. If by chance the dog gets lose, he will run away and not come back for at least five to ten hours. When the owner tries to give a command, the dog just gives him a look as if to say "I'm not doing anything, You do the trick!" When gone, the dog will destroy everything that they lay thier eyes upon. Somehow the dog will find a purpose for things that the owner has laying around the house. A lot of the time the toiletries become the chew toys, the stuffed animals that belong to the children become dinner, and the trash becomes the doggy deoderant. The dog will dig holes if outdoors, holes that make the owner's beautiful, luscious, green lawn look like a gravel pit. The owner will find that most of the problems created by this type of dog is from lack of attention and training. When I try to eat, Sallon thinks that he can get food by setting his head on my lap and doing this thing with his eyes that makes him look as though he is about to cry if you don't give him something. When walking him, he jumps around. As a result, I get covered with mud. When he gets too excited, he is all over the place knocking things over in the house such as the desk lamp. He steals and chews on things he isn't supposed to have. When caged, he digs holes to try and escape. Sallon has destroyed clothing, (in particular socks) shoes, pencils, furniture, and routine.

I'm not saying that all dogs are like the ones that are described above. I think that dogs that fit into these categories could easily be changed to be an all around good dog. It will take some time to train, but the result would overall make the owner/dog relationship better. I have my own dog that needs to be trained and I know that my relationship with him will be better when he is done being trained. I am now trying to get my dog to behave a little better. From my own experience I can see him slowly changing to be more comfortable around his surroundings. My advice to people who have dogs like the ones described above is to take some time to love your dog and train them to be better. You will have a relationship like no other.

Intro to Class Essay

2005-10-19T11:22:00.000-04:00

I pull into the driveway with my car.The gravel underneath the tires is being heard as it is strewn. I park and open the sqeaking door as I step out into the damp gravel driveway. I hear my dog barking to let me know that he is happy. I then walk over to him and he jumps on me, immediatly wanting me to hug him and give him kisses. I let him off his chain and into the house where he then runs into the kitchen, bach into the living room, into my parents bedroom, and back into the living room. I find a mess in the kitchen......paper plates shredded into oblivion, milk containers chewed to hell, and more shredded paper material. There are three types of different dogs. There are the obedient dogs. These dogs only obey when the owner is with them. Then there are the disobedient dogs. These dogs only obey when the owner isn't around. Then there are the hell-raisers. These dogs are completely wild. They eat everything, always make a mess, bark when you don't want them to, disobey everything that you command them to do, Hop all around the house, and steal food from the table top or the counter top.

Graf 13

2005-10-19T11:20:00.000-04:00

I do not find anything to be hard on this yet.....I am a little nervous about research and training.

Freestyle #7

2005-10-18T10:54:00.000-04:00

Last night when I got home Sallon was hooked outside to the porch. As I approached the door, I could hear him barking with joy to see me. Immediatly after I was within reach, he jumped on me and started to nibble on my arms. I got him off of me and he tried doing it again. I unhooked him and let him in the house. Once inside, he jumped on me again and followed me all over the house with his tongue hanging out and nibbling me. I ignored him and walked around a little. He then calmed down a little and became a little more sensible. I them pet him and gave him a hug. This morning he beggeg and begged. I didn't give him any of my breakfast......he stole my little brother's right off the tabletop! What a little thief! Last night I made a sandwhich and he jumped up on the counter with his two front paws and licked the mayonaise off of that. I tried walking him but he tried to play tug of war with me. So what I did was make sure that I had a grip and just stood there not moving. He sat there and tried getting the leash from me but I ignored him. After a while he would stop but when I took one step he was back at it again with tug of war. I did this for about fifteen to twenty minutes and I only got as far as around the lawn. I worked a little but I have to keep doing this to get an effect.
I should have gotton to bed earlier last night than when I did because I am tired now. I had to stay up and record Smallville for Kasey. So now I'm tired. I'm hungry too.

Prompt Reaction # 6

2005-10-17T11:59:00.000-04:00

You haven't been there since you were little. Now you go back....

I remember it like it was yesterday. Blue Hill was one of the places that my family would go to get away from all of the worries back home. These trips to Blue Hill were not small trips. At least that is what I thought. We went to the coast usually once a year so it was something that I always appreciated. I always got excited when the family wagon was packed right to the max with necessities and leisurly items. These items were usually the big cooler stuffed with barbeque goods such as barbeque sauce, cheese, hamburg, onions, mustard, ketchup, butter, hot dogs, steak, chicken, Kool Aid, fresh water, ice packs, and silverware such as butterknives, a spatula (at least one) forks, (at least six) cutlery knives, (at least one) and a frying pan. The frying pan was one of those iron camping frying pans that can tough out anything. My father had a forest green portable Coleman Cook stove . It ran off a propane cylinder that was attached to the front of the stove. To start it up we had to pump the propane's pressure up with a pushrod that was built in the bright red cylinder. Once the pressure was built up we then could light her up and hope that it wouldn't blow up in our faces.
We didn't get the potato chips until we hit the Bucksport supermarket. Once there, everyone would hustle out of the car to get thier legs stretched from the long ride and to catch some sea air that usually smelt like the mudflats because the tide would be low. I could hear seagulls bustling around our heads up above and feel the cool breeze coming off of the mudflats. Ahhhhhh, and the seaweed! I could certainly take in the smell of seaweed. The sun would be shining brightly with no clouds to interfere with it's golden rays splaying warmth upon my skin. When walking into the store, I always noticed the people who were coming and going. What they wore, if they were smelly, facial features, things of that sort. Iv'e seen some strange people. After entering the store, I followed my mother around and waited for her to go to the fruit. We all walked casually over to the fruit and picked out peaches and nectarines. Peaches and nectarines look appetizing to me because they have that shiny yellowish look with reddish orangish swilrls incorporated into it. The smell of this fruit empowers my nostrils so I can slightly catch that sweet sugary essence. This is when my mouth starts to water. Peaches and nectarines are some of my mother's favorite fruits. I always thought that they were messy. At first I would drool, then salivate and eat every last bit of it leaving only the pit. I hated it when they were sour and hard for me to chew. There is a way to pick out these types of fruit. You have to pick it up and feel it, sqeeze it in your hands gently for some softness. At the same time you want it to be semi hard. I believe that is when you know that the fruit is just right to buy.
I really appreciated goint to the coast on those hot days when the humidity is about eighty five. The reason being is that it is much cooler down there and I got to go swimming in the green apple sea.
From the store, we would keep going south towards Surry, and that is where we went. Headed there, we ate peaches , nectarines, and potato chips. We always threw the hard, brown, prune looking pits out the window while cruising down the main road at fifty to sixty miles per hour. When we were nearing our destination, I could tell that we were getting closer by seeing glimpses of the sea, I could smell the air, hear the rushing water, and see sailboats and lobster boats all along the roads. I swear that even the dirt and sand are different colors down that way. I am not used to seeing that and I like that it is different.
Sometimes the traffic would be busy and other times the traffic would be scarce. At times we had people passing us in thier vehicles because the wagon was an ol' mule trying to work her way down the road. She was nothing to beat. So my father treasured that car and made it last several years.
Once the car was stopped and we were where we wanted to be, meaning our destination mark, the whole family raced each other to get out of the roasting wagon. Once out, I usually ran down to the beach and sat on the large and protruding grey ledges. I would then take in the beautiful scene that was before me........large vastness of blue and green, white caps on the water, lobster and sailboats anchored down to the sandy and occasionally rocky sea bottom. Trees outlines the cove that we were nestled in, those of white pine, birch, and cedar. I could see a variety of different sized drift wood that washed up ashore from afar. The light brown wood would be full of holes from sand bugs and termites, it would be laying there with black, dry, salt smelling seaweed entangled and embedded into it as if it were a creatures' hand wrapped around it saying, "Its mine, Josh, you can't have it!" I saw shells that the seagulls and other birds left astray from when they ate. I would see what is called sea glass, in different colours, shapes, and wear. I could see the bright baby blue sky and fluffy white clouds that invited me to gaze upon them with amazement. Yeah, I really enjoyed being here.
After taking in all of this, I helped carry everything that was in the car out of the car and onto the beach. Doing this took only so long. It all depended on how many people helped. Usually my mother didn't help, Monica, my sister, she didn't help. So it was my brother Larry, My father, and I. Sometimes I didn't help.
After the car was unloaded and we were set for the day, we all sat on the beach on a blanket and munched on snacks. I went for walks on the beach with my mother and collected shells or whatever fancied my eyes. We did not go bare foot because we didn't want to cut our feet on the sharp shells and barnacle covered rocks. Usually throughout the day I got into a couple of "arguments" with my siblings. We all usually got into trouble for it and were threatened that if we didn't stop whatever we were doing then we wouldn't be able to go swimming for a certain amount of time. It really hurt when when I was put on time out.
After lounging on the beach all day and feeling the coolness of the water along with the inviting taste os sea salt, we packed the car up and headed for Blue Hill. At this time when riding in the car I felt like I had been shrunk. This would be because of the salt. My hair felt really greasy too. I was also tired from all the happening events that went on all day. We went to the park in Blue Hill. It was all old school then. There were those metal slides, a merry go round, and swings. Assorted trees surrounded the park. There was bright green grass all over the place. The merry go round was a little warped and didn't like to go around that well. It had these large wooden planks on it to stand on. Over the years they were destroyed by what I think to be stupid teenagers out to vandalize stuff. For a bathroom, there was an old green wooden outhouse that was really abused by gross people. When I opened the door, there would be feces smeared all over the place and it reaked worse than a dead skunk that has been laying in the road for a month and has been baked by the sun and not been removed. There used to be a diving board on this massive rock that wasn't far from the shore that people used to dive off from when the tide was high.
A lot has changed since I was little. Now that I am older, when I go back to these places I see what has changed phsysically but most of all I see how I changed to feel differently about these places. When I return now I see houses that have been developed and are being developed in the past couple of years. I see that the beach now has assorted parking areas and time limits. I see that the park I went to now has new slides, swings, merry go rounds, and proper bathrooms. I see that there is more added to the playground such as wood chips, planted trees, monkey bars, and new games for the kids to play. The trees were selectively cut so that it wasn't totally concealed from anyone seeing the park and the kids. The diving board has been removed due to the fact that somebody hurt themselves years ago when they dove off from it.
Even though all of what I remember has changed, I still have all my memories from when I was growing up inside my heart where I can cherish them forever.

Graf # 12

2005-10-17T11:49:00.000-04:00

I think that these classification essays are a great way to use imagination in our writing techniques.

What I know (Isearch)

2005-10-14T11:08:00.000-04:00

What I do know about my questions is that I will have to work with my dog on a costant basis, which means continuosly, to get an outcome from training him. I think that I will have to go at a pace that is his and mine to be effective in changing his behavior for the bettter.
I know that their are different techniques out there to teach a dog one command, I just don't know how many or what they are. I don't neccessarily know when to give a dog a treat, only when the dog does a trick is when I give them a treat. I do know what type of treats I should give him. I don't know how to establish dominance with a dog. The only way that I know how to get a dog from jumping is to give them the knee to the chest and tell them "no". The method that I know to get a dog to stop biting is to chain them outdoors and use a tonwe of voice that they know to be as bad. I also know to hold a dog's mouth down to the floor and tell them"no". I don't know how to get my dog to stop his nonsense when I walk him so I can relax. I don't know how to train my dog while he is around doga that are not trained all the time. I am guessing that a person would have to isolate themselves and the dog to do what you want and make the dog pay attention so they can learn. I don't know what I need to train a dog effectively. I don't know how to get a dog to sit and stay. I do not know how to get a dog to be defensive for you when you need them to when they are considered a "wimp" dog. The only way that I know how to keep dogs out of the trash is to keep the trash where the dog can't get to it.

Why I'm Writing (Isearch)

2005-10-13T09:28:00.000-04:00

I want to write about dog training because I own a dog of my own that needs to learn manners. Just the other day he shoved his face into mine when he was after a squeeky toy and and made my lip bleed. It hurt a lot. He also begs all the time. That is just two of the many issues that he has. I want my dog Sallon to behave. I don't want him to pull and tug on the leash everytime I take him out for a walk. He does this no matter what. He pulls and I cannot relax with him around because he's draining my energy and making me worry about him all the time. He steals food. This gets me angry. My motivation to write about dog training is Sallon and his bad behavior. I will use the knowledge that I obtain from writing the I-search to train Sallon and make both of our lives better. I will be able to relax.
What I want to learn is why you can't be mean to show the dog the difference between what is wrong and right. Some questions that I have are: How do I turn Sallon's behavior around from beginning to end? How long will it take for him to understand what is acceptable and unacceptable for behavior? How many different techniques are thier to train one command? How can I train him with other dogs around that need to be trained themselves? When do I give him a dog treat? How do I establish dominance and calm him down? How do I get him to stop jumping? How do I get him to stop biting? How do I get him to stop eating the furniture? How do I get him to behave himself when I need him to? How do I get him to mind me when I am walking him so we can both relax? What do I need to train my dog effectively? How do I get him to sit and stay? How do I get him to be a guard dog when I need him to be? How do I get him to stop eating out of the trash?
These are the questions that I have about my topic. Hopefully Sallon and I will live a better life together when I try training him.

Freestyle #6

2005-10-12T18:52:00.000-04:00

Here I am sitting in the library at 6:52 pm. Well, I looking at this screen and I see that the computer is one of the best that I have ever used. That was dull and boring. Ok, uhhhhh, I don't know what to write. I am getting weary of my getting tired. But I'm sitting on my can typing this because Goldfine requires it. Oh, well. I am glad that my car has not broken down yet. It's still reliable, the ol' girl.
Fall is one of the greatest seasons of the year. I actuallt think that all of the seasons of the year are the greatest in thier own way. What I love about fall is the foliage and the smell in the air.......woodsmoke. It sure beats smelling Bangor's air all the time. In the winter the air always seems clearer and smells crispier. It's just like a cracker! No, it isnt.
I have a Bush song stuck in my head from when I was driving home from school the other day.
What I don't like about fall is those stupid tourists who think that Maine is the greatest thing that happened to them since they left thier dump of a home. They think that they can go twenty five miles an hour instead of doing the speed limit because it is fall, the season to score foliage shots with thier friggin cameras! Well, I have news for them............people have to get to work, dammit! I'ts like they have never seen a tree before in thier entire lives until they come up here. Then you see thier bumper stickers that say "Chicago's the best" or "Nothing's Better Than Florida Oranges." What's up with that? Yeah, they wear those funky looking hats too. Who came up with that idea, anyway? Maybe it was all a conspiracy so someone from Maine could tell who the tourists were. Then you have the bank robbers and drug dealers who think that Maine is hickville U.S.A and that nobody will know what they're doing because it's all woods up here. What I want to know is why people who have established a residence here still keep thier cars licensed, registered, and insured by the state that they moved from. I mean, they live here! Why on earth would they want to keep driving to that other state just to do thier duties to thier cars?

Graf# 11

2005-10-12T11:34:00.000-04:00

My own reaction to writing this certain essay (effect essay) would have to be..........it isn't the best thing to do in the writing world but it prepared me to write better for my own personal amusement. I think that I gained a little more knowledge on writing essays......I learned that I didn't have to have my outro as a summary of a bunch of stuff that was already written and overwith in the beginning. That was more fun than doing what I would be boring.

Graf reaction #9

2005-10-12T11:31:00.000-04:00

The cause essays that I have read seem to be a lot better than What I have written, which is an effect essay. I can see where writing about one certain thing can make things easier in the essay writing of this topic.

Prompt Reaction # 5

2005-10-10T11:39:00.000-04:00

Youv'e lost it! Where is it?

Yeah. Here I am, sitting on the broken couch wondering what mystifying thing will happen next on the twenty seven inch television screen. Boring. I don't know what to do. My mind is on off mode and I can't seem to function as I want to. I sit silently in the living room, nobody speaking to me, and I speaking to no one. So I sit. Nothing is said. What can be heard is the arguing of little brothers and parents yelling at them to straigten out. I seem quiet but my mind is racing with old memories of exchanged words. I feel hopeless, like I need to be somewhere else, I need to go somwhere else, need to feel something else. I dress with an old pair of jeans and a ratty t-shirt with oil and grease stains. Blood red shirt. Hmmm. Jeans are are faded with miniscule holes in them from being battered by my moving around everywhere in and out of cars when working on them all day. The guilt arises inside of me as if I'd done something wrong and I can't seem to find what I committed myself to being wrong. So the seconds pass, the lights fade to a darkness that I cannot drag myself out of. I hope that some sort of comfort will come to me. There is none. My neck starts to throb and I can feel my stomache start to wrench and twist itself until all I know is pain. My emotions boil to the point of tears but then there are no tears to be spilt. I cannot breathe only but as what is known as being mechanical. I feel a tingling sensation all over my soft, golden skin. I slip further into myself until the pain reaches up and grabs my wrist only to throw me down until it engulfs me as if it were flames licking at meat. Tears start their way to find my cheeks as I realize I've lost my mind.

I Search History

2005-10-07T11:17:00.000-04:00

When growing up, I always had a pet. When I was about four, I used to pick on my mother's cats. They always ran from me when they saw me coming. I disiked them right from the beginning. I always got clawed by them. One cat in particular bothered me the most. Her name was Tiffany. That cat, I swear, was the meanest cat. She was white with black and brown spots on her. She used to growl at me from ten feet away just as I entered any room. My mother used to yell at me for poking her and pushing her off the table. Even when I said something about her my mother told me to be nice to that cat. Since then I always liked cats less up until a couple of years ago when I got my own cat. He is much nicer than Tiffany was and I actually enjoy him.
I was also around dogs when I was younger. I remember my father's dog, named Sandy. He was a Golden Retriever. My father had him since long before I was born. He loved that dog. Sandy went all over the place with us, even in the car. He was somewhat trained but wasn't. I am sure that not being neutered had something to do with him running away all the time. Throughout the years we always had dogs. I wasn't close to any of them like I am with my dog Sallon. I learned about responsibility at a young age because of owning so many pets. My family didn't just own dogs.
Rabbits were the second animals in the picture at our home. The family went to Blue Hill one summer when I was about five or six years old and my parents got my sister a rabbit. Of course when you have siblings they feel left out so my brother got one too. My mother didn't want to leave me out either so all three of us kids got our own rabbit. My sister was the one who took care of them the most. These rabbits got fat.......they were meat rabbits. I never really cuddled up to the rabbits either. I didn't like it when they squirmed in my lap, scratched me, or urinated all over me. So you can see how I wasn't enthused by them.
Then their were guinea pigs. My brother somehow got into them and my mother got some. Unfortunately later on during one summer when the guinea pigs were outside to enjoy the weather Larry left them out in the sun and they died of heat exhaustion. Since then we have obtained more guinea pigs and have had them for atleast for a couple of years before they died of old age. They live up to five years. Larry never left any of the guinea pigs out in the sun again.
My mother got into hamsters at about the same time we had guinea pigs so she got some of those. Next thing I know we got gerbils. Then the hamsters "met" and we had a whole litter of them.
Soon after the hamsters and gerbils died, my mother decided that she was going to get a bird. She always liked birds. So she got a Cockatiel that was given to her because it was mean. She named it Jerry. He was a mean little monster. When I tried to pet him he used to hiss at me and try to bite me. My mother worked with him to get him to stop. She got bit to blood on more than one occasion. Soon my mother felt that Jerry needed a companion so we got another bird. Soon after that we got another and another until we had five Cockatiels.
Currently as of now, the family has seven dogs, one cat, two rabbits, seven birds, and two guinea pigs. I learned how and what to feed all these different types of pets by owning them.
Sallon, my dog, has behavioral issues. He's wild! I want to learn in what ways I can train him to be more calm and lovable. Last night when I got home Sallon was hooked outside to the porch. As I approached the door, I could hear him barking with joy to see me. Immediatly after I was within reach, he jumped on me and started to nibble on my arms. I got him off of me and he tried doing it again. I unhooked him and let him in the house. Once inside, he jumped on me again and followed me all over the house with his tongue hanging out and nibbling me. I ignored him and walked around a little. He then calmed down a little and became a little more sensible. I them pet him and gave him a hug. This morning he beggeg and begged. I didn't give him any of my breakfast......he stole my little brother's right off the tabletop! What a little thief! Last night I made a sandwhich and he jumped up on the counter with his two front paws and licked the mayonaise off of that. I tried walking him but he tried to play tug of war with me. So what I did was make sure that I had a grip and just stood there not moving. He sat there and tried getting the leash from me but I ignored him. After a while he would stop but when I took one step he was back at it again with tug of war. I did this for about fifteen to twenty minutes and I only got as far as around the lawn. I worked a little but I have to keep doing this to get an effect. I hope that I can train him to be a good dog.

Effect Essay

2005-10-05T11:20:00.000-04:00

Getting up out of bed was a difficult thing for me to do when I was in high school. The alarm went off at 6:00 am. Instantly, like a programmed robot, I was out of bed and in the shower. Upstairs I went to my beloved room. My stereo came on and I heard this music that I never had heard before. It was in a different style too. It was no other than Kurt Cobain in the notorious band Nirvana. After hearing this new sound, I grew fond of others like it. I got into Bush, Smashing Pumpkins, Candlebox, and other such bands. I got my first guitar on Christmas. It was an acoustic guitar that was all beat up. I still have it to this day. The first thing that I tried to play on it was Nirvana. Grunge rock is what I love. When grunge rock developed, listeners gained a new and stylistic way to show their personality, it made other musicians turn thier heads and recognize the new sound along with the growing number of fans, and last but not least, it changed the lives of everyone forever.

I, as a listener, recognized grunge to be a new form of music. I never followed the bands like many people did, but I tried to keep up on where they were and what they were doing. I became a fan of the lyrics. My personality is shown through this type of music by the mix of feelings that are sent through the songs to me. I have felt certain things that are explained all in the mood and lyrics of the songs. I saw that people who got into this music changed the way they looked to fit what they felt. I never changed the way I looked. I always layed on my bed after I got out of school almost every night and listened to the metallic sounds and the notes of grunge. Migraines every day made me emotionally a wreck at certain points and this music kept me pushing to the next day. As I layed there I felt the sounds of blur. It smashed down on me and I realized that I felt a lot better. This was because my world became music, my escape away from the daily troubles that I had. That is what is so great about grunge.

I was one of the people that was added to the growing number of fans who were into grunge. I bought the music, I watched the videos, and I publicized it. I even tried to play it. I noticed that television was being overcome with the new style and saw later on musicians were starting to talk about it. I could not get enough of grunge. It messed with my head and made my brain do frontflips. I was constantly looking for websites and researching different types of bands that were grunge. When I watched the music videos I saw myself in them. Sometimes I ached to be what was on the screen in the videos so bad that I cried at night in my bed against my pillow, hiding from the cruel world my salty tears that trickled down my cheeks. This occasionally happened and still happens, only it is with the music itself. I wanted to start a band so bad but it never happened up to this point because I am shy for one, my skills aren't that great, and I was and am afraid. The 0nly way that I really publicized this type of music was by telling all of my friends about it.

Grunge rock changed my life because I learned a lot about music and about the musicians themselves. My girlfriend had a book on Kurt Cobain that she let me borrow. It was a compilation of all of Kurt's diaries. To me it was much more. It was the first person point of view of one of the single most admired musicians of the world. I hungrily married myself to the book until I had finished reading it and came to the conclusion that I feel in the same capacity that Kurt had done. I feel as though that I can connect to his life in some way and hold on to that to drive me to do what is real to my heart, to do something for the rest of my life that I love to do. I found that not everyone who has made it big as a musician is living the perfect life. I look at the struggles in mine, and I can see where most famous people are screwed up because of media, television, glamour, and money. Not to mention the crazy fans. In fact, I think that not being a famous person has it's advantages because I don't have that craziness going on all aroud me to get me flustered all the time. I found that musicians work hard for thier way of life and I admire them more for it than before. I found that when I am writing music, it is a lot harder than everybody thinks it is. I basically would have to play a song over atleast one hundred times to be able to play like the professionals do, not to mention sing at the same time as playing. I then would have to worry about the right notes to hit and when to sing.

In the present time, there is more and everchanging music. Styles are always changing, bands are changing, and the sounds of bands are changing. I'll always love grunge rock and most of the nineties sound, but the future holds more in the musical world. I'll continue making memories to new music being released, even as I write this now. Some memories will consist of going to the coast with my girlfriend in my car with the tunes cranked and the windows down so that the wind can blow in our faces, some will consist of doing homework with the radio on, and others listening to music while I sleep. I'll keep paying attention to music and it's changes, who's hot and who's not, and define myself through what I find that musically blows my mind.

freestyle # 5

2005-10-04T11:14:00.000-04:00

Hello. I am writing to myself. So real. That is what I think. Sometimes boring. What can I write about today? Maybe about how hungry I am. Starving actually. I just changed the oil in my girlfriends car. yup, it needed it pretty bad. I am a little agitated that the last computer I tried to log onto didn't respond and was being stupid when it did. It's an old dinosaur too. That is why. Piece of junk.
Anyway, I don't know what I am going to do after my next class. My pants are dirty and I don't think that they would look good going out. I don't even know what the hell I am talking about. I don't care what people think. As I was relocating my girlfriends car I started to smell oil burning. Soooooo, I checked it out and there was my problem. Actually there was no problem beside the fact that oil that had run down the motor was burning from the heat of the block. Doesn't bother me but I know that she will say something about it. I just hope that she isn't mad about it.
In the moonlight of one of the days last week I saw a guy, he was smoking his cigarette at midnight. He wore a hat, a baseball cap in fact, but I couldn't see what it represented for the life of me. It was because of the darkness. He sniffled a little because the coolness of the embracing night had caught his nostrils. Unless it was because of the cigarette. I didn't stand there long (I hate smoking) but it was from a distance that I was standing that I watched him consciously for only so long. My mind was wandering elsewhere unto great vast oceans of common knowledge and love. Yes, I said love. I didn't end up leaving this particular night until 2:00 am. The night air turned to morning moistness, which in turn changed the smell of the night to dew and grass. When I finally did leave, I briskly walked to my car, abruptly opened the door, and climbed into my machine. I drove home, which took me an hour or a little over, watching for deer or other critters that might decide to chance a race of time before my car smacked them. The night was clear luckily and I made it home safe. So I'm here.

Outro Effect Essay

2005-10-03T11:29:00.000-04:00

In the present time, there is more and everchanging music. Styles are always changing, bands are changing, and the sounds of bands are changing. I'll always love grunge rock and most of the nineties sound, but the future holds more in the musical world. I'll continue making memories to new music being released, even as I write this now. Some memories will consist of going to the coast with my girlfriend in my car with the tunes cranked and the widows down so that the wind can blow in our faces, some will consist of doing homework with the radio on, and others listening to music while I sleep. I'll keep paying attention to music and it's changes, who's hot and who's not, and define myself through what I find that musically blows my mind.

Graf #10 reaction

2005-10-03T11:24:00.000-04:00

These I-searches look to be time consuming and important. I think that they will be somewhat of a challenge to write. I am glad that we can write something that is of our own interest or I probably wouldn't do that great writing it. -It will have sructure, won't it?

Prompt Reaction, week 4

2005-10-03T09:28:00.000-04:00

Who's the first person you remember?
The first person that I remember would have to be my girlfriend. I think about her all the time, with her light brown and speckled black eyes, with her shoulder length, freshly dyed red hair, and her white, mezmerizing smile. I remember her because she makes me laugh when I don't want to and because she makes me cry when I don't want to. I remember her because she likes to only eat a sandwich when I make it for her, because she teases me with her eyes across the room, expecting a reaction. She definitly recieves one. I remember her because she loves to spoil me with her affection and love, because we share the same love for music, because we both share the same musical interests. I remember her because she loves my dog, because we both love animals. I remember her because she wears make-up, because she likes to go out with me to have fun. I remember her because we can do nothing together and have a blast, because she loves cats, because she wants a ferret. I remember her because she doesn't like to smother her eggs, toast, and bacon in maple syrup. I remember her because she gets grouchy in the morning if she doesn't get enough sleep, because she likes to be tickled silly and won't admit to it. I remember her because she loves the twinkling stars, because she loves to be outside. I remember her because her name is spelt with a K instead of a C, because she is a "summer baby." I remember her because she pretends to be asleep when she is really being sneaky and watches me when I'm not looking. I remember her because she loves to be around me, because she worries about me when I drive home at 2:oo am in the morning, because she loves pumpkin bread. I remember her because she wears flip flops in the fall, because she got her nosed pierced out of nowhere one day when we were strolling through Newport in my car. I remember her because she loves to sing, because she loves when I sing to her, because she loves to fall asleep with me. I remember her because she flares her nostrils and makes a face like Mogley from The Jungle Book when she is wondering who's doing what and the reason why it is being done.
I could keep going all day on what I remember about her, but I'll leave you with this note.
What I remember most about my girlfriend is that she changed my life forever, impacting it more than floods impacting peoples destroyed lives. I remember her because I love her with my whole being.

Freestyle

2005-09-30T11:26:00.000-04:00

It sucks that I can't write poetry. I had a test earlier. I think that I did ok. The girlfriend is in bed and I am eager not to wake her up. The last time I did I was playing guitar and she got right up out of bed, gave me a harsh attitude, and left. Wow! Now I'm not doing that. I'll try to avoid that. On this upcoming Tuesday I have a quiz in Sociology. Yeah, I finished my intro to this ongoing essay (the second one) and I hope that it is somewhat good. This weekend I plan on doing homework and training Sallon a little more. Molly, I think, should have the training. I don't like her that much, that little black mop. She bounces all over the place and tries to get in a scrap with Sallon all the time. She looks like she can fly because she jumps so high. I spoke with my mother and she says that she would like to train her. I wonder if she will. I have a few more minutes here, I guess that is good if I want to stay here. There is not many people in class today at all. I wonder where they all are. Yesterday on my way home in my car it was raining so hard that I had to slow down to 40 miles an hour. Those windshield wipers on gm model cars should be three speed but they aren't. They are only two-speeds. It really is a problem because it makes it harder for me to see. Well, I'm going now.

Intro Effect Essay #2

2005-09-30T11:05:00.000-04:00

Prompt Reaction

2005-09-29T09:50:00.000-04:00

Ok, what do I feel like writing today.
Probably end up writing something stupid, won't you Josh?
Don't call me stupid, you weirdo!
Well, I forgot to get my pumpkin bread this morning. I'm so forgetful.
What do you mean forgetful? Your just lazy.
Oh, shut up!
Well, your the one who always has to be in a rush.
What do I think of president Bush? I think he should go to hell!
You shouldn't talk that way about people you really don't know.
Well, too bad. Sometimes I just want to tell everyone to go to hell. Why don't you?
I have morals. What the hell are you talking about? Morals? Morals? Your full of shit, Josh! Have a little fun!
You mean dasmage some peoples lives!
No, that's not what it is. Don't you remember when you were younger and everyone you knew made fun of you because you had long hair?
Yes, I remember. It hurt my feelings but I didn't say a word or take it out on anybody else.
You should have punched that kid right in the kisser that called you a faggot.
I didn't want to get in trouble.
What about that kid that always beat on you, using you as a punching bag?
It was only a fifteen minute bus ride every day to and from school. It wasn't that bad.
What? That's bullshit! If I could have done it, he would have had a bloody nose!
I'm not like that.
Not like what?
I don't like to cause trouble!
Sometimes you have to protect yourself, Josh. Why do you have a tire iron next to the seat in your car if you don't intend to use it?
I only have that just in case somebody wants to try to kill me. That is protection.
What about the guy who has a gun under his seat? Your tire iron isn't going to stop bullets!
What do you suggest I do? Buy a bigger gun than what the "other" guy has in his car?
Yeah, that would be great Josh, get a bigger gun!
No, I won't do that. Guns are too dangerous for me to hande in a car. I don't think about using them on other people. I think that people who have guns in thier car for the sole purpose of protection are really not thinking of what harm they could cause.
I agree with you on that one.
So that is why I only have that tire iron.
Well, you have a class at one. Are you going to be late?
It's hard to say with what will happen. I can't predict the future.
I can't either. So, I guess that I'm done writing here.
Have a good day Josh.
You too! See ya!

Intro Effect Essay

2005-09-28T11:23:00.000-04:00

During my teenage years, I was introduced to varieties of different music. There was one type of music that I fell in love with right away, and that was grunge rock. I love a lot of unique music, but there something about the whole Seattle scene that makes me feel as though I am on top of the world. The fondest memories that I possess would have to be riding in the family wagon with Nirvana playing on the radio. I loved it. Then there were the times when I sat in my room with my guitar and read guitar tablature on Nirvana and actually played a few riffs. This satisfied me greatly. Now that I'm older, I still love Nirvana and other bands that are out there that have that grunge sound. Grunge rock changed music foever. When grunge rock developed, listeners gained a new and stylistic way to show thier personality, it made other musicians turn their heads and recognize the new sound along with the growing number of fans, and last but not least, it changed the lives of everyone forever.

freestyle

2005-09-26T11:39:00.000-04:00

Today after I get home, after I open my car door and step out, after I walk up my porch steps, after I open my door, I will ignore my dog. Yes, I will attempt to train Sallon the Super Dog, who thinks that he is the big kahuna and can walk all over me. I love him to death, yes, but he needs to calm the hell down. I have this math exam on Friday. I wonder how I will do on it. I'm studying so I hope that I do great. Math has always given me problems, anyway. Ofcourse it has been a couple of years since I have been in a math course.
It's raining outside now and it's a cold, shivery rain. I guess that is because the seasons have changed. It seems to me that they have changed pretty fast. No sun peeking through the clouds either. It's only clouds showing no mercy. I guess that I am fine with that. Class is almost ended. I'll get going because I have a date with my girlfriend in the cafeteria. Until later, Good aternoon, good evening, and good night.

Essay Reaction

2005-09-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

Hmmmm, those essays are written pretty well. I think that this particular essay that we get to write will be fun to play with. What I mean is that it will be interesting to write, to read afterword, and to see what people's reactions are after reading them. I like this idea.

Freestyle

2005-09-23T11:03:00.000-04:00

Well, here I am, writing a freestyle writing thingy. Oh, well. Today, I have to make a speech it a Human Communications course. Odd. Well, it's easy if your not nervous about getting your ass up in front of about 20 people to speak about your personal life. Personally I don't mind doing it but a lot of people do. Goldfine is about to breathe down my neck about an Isearch topic. Qwik Josh, think of something grand that will astonish him! He's next to me now, making me nervous with his booming authoritive voice. Maybe I'm overdoing it. I dunno. Panda Bears!!!!That's what I'll do my I-Search on!!!............20 minutes later............No, I got the speech and bam! There was my topic, displayed before my very eyes. Dog Training! I can train my dog Sallon. That'll be great! Heading to other things.....I think that I have to shave. My girlfriend doesn't like my facial hair that much. I guess tonight that I could shave. Earlier today I had math. Great, my favorite subject! I'm being sarcastic with that last remark. Well, I wonder what other people think about New Orleans and the disaster. Stupid Hurricane Katrina. Then we have the president out there doing relief. It seems like the president waits until a natural disaster strikes an area before he aids people. I mean, there were people before and still needing aid. I wonder how many McDonalds stores are profiting in Texas because of the populatiuon rise from people moving. Not just Texas, but the surrounding states. I'm tired. I went to bed early too. Well, I tossed and turned a little last night. That was because of that big oaf named Sallon. He was pushing me out of the bed.
I have to go now.

Prompt Reaction #2

2005-09-22T11:51:00.000-04:00

If trees could talk they would say: "Pssssst! Hey, you! Don't you want some lovely shade? Ya know, it is kinda hot out here. Come on! I know that my leaves on my giant limbs would shade you enough. Oh, now you decide to come over and hug me? What are you, some type of weirdo? Well, it's not that often when someone hugs my massive trunk. Hey! Don't pick at my bark! How would you like it if one of my limbs broke off me and put you in a bad scrape? Gee, I bleed too! Get your feet off of me, I'm not your personal foot stool! What do you think your doing with all those pieces of two by fours? No way! I'm not gonna let you put those nasty metal spikes in me! How would you like it if I built a treehouse on top of you?!!! Don't climb all over me! Get away from me with that chainsaw before I throw my acorns at you! Be careful with that leaf blower, your being too loud!!! Hey, aren't you going to water me once in a while? This drought has been going on for quite some time now and I am beginning to get thirsty. Don't build a burn pile right under me, you dope! You'll singe my bark and burn my branches and leaves! Watch out where you park, you idiot! You almost drove right into me! You know that I've seen more than fifty years of history and they are all about to be gone because of you? Hey, Where did he go? Oh, well. I'll have to speak with him when he needs to be cooled off."

Graf #8

2005-09-21T11:32:00.000-04:00

Bill Nancy is the worst neighbor that I have. He is a deadbeat drunk that never does anything useful. He lives across the street from me and is an annoying guy. He throws these parties where drunks from everywhere come to his place and then they all get smashed out of their minds. There are usually so many people that there are cars and trucks parked about a half a mile up and down the road. The first thing that usually comes is the loud screaming from these booze sucking rodents. When his party is just getting warmed up, people start to take thier vehicles and burn the tires off of them, leaving bellowing, blue clouds of smoke to rise and waft over to our yard. At the "peak" of his parties Bill blows off his canon, and this is usually done at around midnight to around 2:00 am in the morning. This accompanied by the loudest music Iv'e have ever heard keeps me up until his party dies down. That isn't usually until 4:00 am in the morning. The next morning you can watch the drunks stagger here and there wondering where the hell they left their car. Bill is certainly disgusting, walking around with no shirt on with his white haired beer belly sticking out. He likes to play horse shoes along with poeple just as bad as him. One time I rode by his trailer and saw him smoking weed at his kitchen table! He doesn't even try to hide it. I'm sure that even as Bill is getting older, he is still smoking his gracious pot at his kitchen table and feeding booze to everyone at his parties. I know he is off somewhere right now probably sitting his lazy ass in front of the television with no shirt on and drinking all different types of liqour to get himself shitfaced.

Graf # 7

2005-09-19T11:15:00.000-04:00

My car is a 1992 Oldsmobile Regency Ninety-Eight. When people look at my car, they think of it as just being a car. I see my car as being my way of life. When I first found my car, it had been sitting on a cement slab for three years. It is what I like to call a ghost grey but in reality it is metallic. The radio sounded great in it and all other electronics in it worked, including the electric windows. It had shot brakes, bad brake pads, not-so-good tires, and a bad computer that I didn't know was bad at the time. I had to have it hauled with a haul behind trailer attached to a truck. I bought my car with the money that I earned working on a vegetable farm. I worked hard so when I saw that money go from my hands to the other guy's, it really meant something to me.
Later on when I finally put my car on the road, I rebuilt it myself. My blood, sweat, money, and time was and still is put into my car. The first task that I committed myself to was fixing the brakes. I put a new brakeline in it, bled the brakes, put new brake pads on it and turned the rotors. I put new brake shoes in it and had the drums turned. I then later changed the tires. I put a new Die-Hard Gold battery in my car. I put new spark plugs in it. I changed the oil, filter, transmission filter and fluid. I recently bought a new stereo and installed it because the other one went to hell. I put in a few new sensors that I thought might fix the shifting problem that it had, but they didn't fix it. The subframe had a gaping whole in it so I went out and bought a new-used one and installed that myself. This process was a big thing to me because it is my car. I can happily inform that my car is running fine now and I am not worried about my motor falling to the ground while I am driving down the road.
The shifting problem that I had was related to my computer. The computer was telling my car to stay in second gear all the time instead of shifting to first like it shoud have been doing all along. I put in a new computer. That problem is fixed.
I alighned the headlights because apparantly the car had hit a deer before I owned it. This is true. Fortunatly for me, I got a free new fender and the car had already been fixed before I bought it. A new grill was put in it along with a new headlight unit. I installed the fender myself.
After fixing my car car, I personalized it. The first thing to go in it was new seat covers. These are cool seat covers. They have steel flames on them. I also bought a new steering wheel cover. Now that Iv'e had my car for a while the seat covers have a couple of holes in them and they are stained from car grease, which I put there myself by working on my car then getting into it. When I graduated from high school, my tassle was put on my review mirror. Later on I put a portable CD player in my car to listen to CD's. I broke my cup holders over time. I have my articles of clothing in my car, deoderant, tools, and bungee cords just in case I get something that I have to let hang out of my car.
I see my car as a mystical being. It takes me places that I need to be at, it's fun to ride in and drive, and if I treat it right it will be good to me by not breaking down. I have bonded with my car by making many memories with it. I remember when I was riding with my girlfriend in it all summer long and I remember those hot days where I didn't have air conditioning. I remember the times where my car has kept me out of accidents. I remember how smooth the ride is every time I hop in it and start rolling down the road, how great the stereo sounds, and most of all, what great condition it is in.
My car is where I am most of the time. It is important to me because it is a neccesity and a desire to operate. My car explains who I am in a variety of different ways and I will always remember it for as long as I live.

Prompt Reaction #1

2005-09-19T09:01:00.000-04:00

Alone in a quiet room. What do I hear? I hear the crashing of thunder ring through the vast green hardwoods where I lay, sheltering my soul from the devil. I hear the faint whispers of cries from the heavens as they shout down on me, telling my that the gods are furious. I hear the slight pitter patter of emotion-barren tears striking the eyelids of the innocent child-like beings of this world. I listen to the thumping of raindrops pounding innocence into me.
I lay and I lay.
I hear brass coated steel guitar strings being strangled by Kurt Cobain in a fury of inquisitive passion. I hear rushing gusts of wind as they try to beat down my door, looking to engulf me into thier coolness. I hear a herd of various mustangs nay as they crush thier hooves into the dark, firm earth at rapid rates, screaming that they are free, wild, and untamed. I hear the rampaging of the shaggy buffalo as they trample thier spirits into this world.
I lay and I lay.
I hear the sound of oats as they are crushed underneath a stone grinding wheel. I hear the deep, bellowing howls of packs of grey wolves as they venture off into the blackened unknown in search of a blood meal. I hear the white encrusted snowflakes as they stomp on the frozen surface, turning me white. I hear the clear, frozen icicles with snow mounted on them split from the high mountain bluff, speed, (as if racing) and shatter themselves into oblivion down below onto immense broken up boulders.
Alone in a quiet room. What do I hear? I hear the world, so full of passion, integrity, and life.

Graf 6

2005-09-16T11:16:00.000-04:00

"Unique"
I am a guy that has a tattoo, who owns a dog, who still wears my high school ring, (among others) who has long dirty blonde hair half way down my back, who wears silver framed glasses, and have gaps in between my teeth. I am a guy who likes to go biking, go for long walks, wear brand name clothes, carry a knife, drive three wheelers and four wheelers, go fishing, drive my car, go go-carting, go shopping, play music, and listen to grunge rock, piano rock, and old country. I don't like to shave, I have a goat-tee, I wear a hemp necklace. I have scars on my hands that are not the same as others. My favorite color is blue. I like to own watches that you hook to your pants instead of wearing a wristwatch. I like to work on cars, eat out at restaurants, and go snowmobiling. I love to watch comedies and to write. I love going to the coast with my girlfriend, swimming in the green apple sea, to feel a cool breeze when it is hot out. My favorite tv show is The Dukes of Hazzard and I love to check out muscle cars. I am left handed. I own a white and orange cat named Simba. I like to play with my dog, to look at and buy new tools, to work out, and to smell really appetizing food.
I am a guy that has a tattoo.

Graf 5

2005-09-14T11:24:00.000-04:00

It looks as though the person with this inventory does a lot of traveling in his car. He goes a lot of places and does some automotive work at some point in time on certain things. I'm thinking that he works on his car. It seems that he uses everything in his car yet he has too much unnecesary junk in there. It's his car! Why does he have all of those clothes and tools in there? Don't other people ride in there? His tools should be in the trunk. The clothes and hair dryer should be at home. What about that brake line? A car is no ploace to keep such superfluous items. He is a total packrat. If this is only what is on the foorboard of his, then what do his seats look like? Whoever knows this person must be tolerabe because many people don't put up with that sort of rediculousness.

Graf 4

2005-09-12T14:51:00.000-04:00

There are many things in my car. On the floor, there is:
1) 1 blue Inzone Bubba Keg from Wal-Mart.
2) 1 bright orange and 1 lime green paper folder.
3) 1 Understanding Human Communication book.
4) 1 green and black Industrial Rayovac flashlight.
5) 1 stray piece of college composition notebook paper with blue lines.
6) 1 crinkly CarQuest Auto Parts receipt for rear brake shoes for one 1992 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency.
7) 1 Shop and Save clear vegetable bag containing 10 Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Kisses.
8) 1 Maxell Head Cleaner and Demagnetizer cassette tape.
9) 1 pair of black sunglasses tinted yellow.
10) 1 pair of black mini Bushnell Binoculars.
11) 4 grey and dirty floor mats.
12) 5 empty soda cans and bottles.
13) 2 full Car Quest dot 3 brake fluid containers.
14) 1 white mini Con Air hair dryer.
15) 1 half full, red can of Snap starting fluid.
16) 1 ¾ full yellow and white can of PB Blaster.
17) 1 blue Wal-Mart bag containing 1 long-sleeved orange shirt, 1 pair of stone blue denim jeans, 2 pair boxer briefs, (1 blue and one 1 grey) 1 white tank top, 1 pair white socks, 1 can Axe deodorant spray.
18) 2 cans Axe deodorant spray.
19) 1 green tennis ball.
20) 1 pair adjustable wrench.-no brand name
21) 1 pair LL Bean work boots.
22) 1 pair no brand vice grips.
23) 1 half full spray bottle blue Windex.
24) 1 20 CD booklet case.
25) 1 college course guide.
26) 1 blue portable GPX CD player.
27) 1 bottle Stetson Untamed cologne.
28) 1 red pair no brand wire strippers.
29) 1 20 ft puppy chain.
30) 1 high quality bicycle tube.
31) 1 ft blue Maglite flashlight.
32) 1 pair brown shorts.
33) 1 stick Axe deodorant.
34) 1 portable de-icer ice scraper
35) 1 empty grey bottle Physique hotel shampoo.
36) 1 green Goody hair brush with no hair in it.
37) 1 five foot steel brake line.

freestyle

2005-09-12T11:22:00.000-04:00

I'm tired. Yesterday was Sunday. Yay. I stayed up late last night watching a movie. Well, I need to write something. Earlier I was playing guitar. I printed off a bunch of tablature so I could learn a few songs. Anyway, I had my girlfriend mad at me because I was playing guitar and she wanted to sleep. I'm not really hungry right now. Fall is here and people are starting to get their snowmobiles out. Winterizing them. Personally I like Arctic Cat and Yamaha.
I remember when I went ice skating when I was younger. I was woth my older brother Larry. My parents house is on top of a hill.

Graf 3

2005-09-09T14:31:00.000-04:00

I think that all of these blogs that are out there are for many people to communicate and educate eachother about unknown subjects and material.-learning experience

Graf 1

2005-09-09T14:01:00.000-04:00

All hands tell a story. If a person were to look at my hands they would be able to tell that I use them for many specific purposes. If I look at my hands I can point out exactly what the story behind each scar. A variety of scars are littered across my hands, front and back. On my knuckles, I have at least two scars. These scars are about the same size as the other. If you're wondering what size these scars are, they are about the size of bread crumbs. I would like to describe my hands as working hands. I was an automotive mechanic for a short few months and a lot of the that I do have came from working during that period of time.
A characteristic that usually everyone sees right away when they look at my hands is the size of my pinkies. Since I can remember, my pinkies have always been ridiculed or laughed at because they are smaller than what people expect to see.I believe that my pinkies are smaller than normal because of my genetic makeup. My grandfather on my mother's side of the family withheld the "small pinky" trait. My mother told me this when I was around the age of seven or eight. Nobody else in the family contains this trait. I am the only one who inherited it.

Graf 2

2005-09-09T11:32:00.000-04:00

Hmmmmm, I remember a lot about grade school. The most vivid memories that I have involve classmates and teachers. One of my classmates, (whose name I will not mention) lived on a farm. I was young and ofcourse a mean litttle monster in those times. So, being what I was, I lit right into him about how he smelt like the cows that roamed on the pasture. I was not the only bully. There were a couple of my friends that did the same as I had done. I will describe this classmate as being tall, not so thin but not too chunky, and looking like he had gotton into a fight with the cows that he tended to. I imagine it was hard for him to work before school and then go to school, but I just don't see where he couldn't find the time to shower or take a bath. This kid did not wear newer clothes, so he looked out of date with his faded smelly denim overalls, his sweat stained purple and green striped t-shirt, and light colored, cow-crap covered boots. He had a red mop of hair on top of his head, which was uncool in those days. Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked. I'm not here to tell you, the reader, about smelly classmates, (which, by the way, this one had snot running out of his nose) but I am here to tell you about the most dreaded teacher that I had. Her name was Mrs. Veazie. Scary all in the name itself. She was scary to me, wearing those grey sweatpants and her Dexter school logo t-shirt. Her hair was dirty blond and cut to allow no hair to get in the way of her face. It was curly. It wasn't the type of curls that any of you probably are thinking about, but the curls that are natural and are half-whisps. Her skin was leathery looking. She stood about what looked to be seven feet to me, but I was only around six so I didn't know what her true height was, which I now know to be about five foot five inches. She is a big-boned woman with larger than average breasts that I do not care to speak about. The one thing that digusted and scared me the most was that small protruding moustache above her upper lip. That was a scary sight. Those black, twitching hairs seemed like they were going to poke my eyes out. She had a stomache that stuck out slightly, which was unpleasent to look upon, especially when her shirts looked as though they were velcroed to her. Sometimes I would stare at that because it seemed like it was there, looking at me. She had small feet and stubby legs. Legs that looked like drumsticks from a chicken. She wore these sneakers or running shoes that looked funny on her because of her weight and her legs. Her nose was awkward looking to. She had a long looking but round face with a double-chin. Thank goodness that she didn't smell. What more could I possibly want from her? She had qualities that scared me enough as it was. I thought that she would be nice, as in the traditional student/teacher relationship but I was decieved. She turned out to be the meanest gym teacher that I ever had. I was yelled at most of the time, having to listen to a mannish, shrilly, screachy voice calling my name to go sit on the bench for the rest of the class period. I'm just glad that I was never close enough to smell her breath, which I imagine was not pleasent at all. She didn't have the best teeth, but she didn't have the worst either. By what I mean, her teeth were yellow. Luckily she had no teeth missing. It would not have been ironic because she lives on a cow farm herself. I remember playing basketball one bright morning in the cafeteria. When I tried to play, Mrs. Veazie would take the ball from me and wouln't let me learn on my own. I didn't like it at all. She accompanied taking the ball from me with her screeching at me with deep grunts and huffs. She eventually made me sit against the wall and I never got to play basketball the rest of the gym period. I remember that her arms were flabby and that they swung back and forth as she flailed her arms at me. This experience still haunts me to this day. That is the story of the worst techer I had.

Nirvana

2005-09-08T15:15:00.000-04:00

I HATE computers but I guess that I have to live with them, don't I? All of you out there who want to share what you think of the band Nirvana, please comment to me. I f it is bad I do not want to speak with you. Phsycologically, where do you think the band was going during the end of it's time? Think about it. For those of you who do not know who Nirvana was, do some research. Find out what grunge was all about.........Have a wonderful day ya'll!!!!!!