Complete Remodel

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This always happens.  Every time I think of something cool that could spice up my blog, I end up biting off far more than I can chew.  It doesn’t matter.  It will be well worth the effort.  I am redoing the site by time rather than by type of writing.  It seems to be a better way to present myself and my writing   This way, when you read poetry from my teenage years, you’ll better understand why it is angsty.  It’s also the best way i can think of that shows how my craft has improved over time.

If you are looking to read any of my work, I would recommend looking through blog updates for now.  The navigation bar is going to be pretty much useless until I finish my work–which will likely take at least a week.  As I prepare the new website, I will be updating once or twice a day with old poems and stories.  Here is one of the oldest poems I wrote.  I was 14 at the time–just finishing up my first semester as a freshmen in my small high school.

And Then

Well Rested

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I know I told you guys that I would be updating old poems last night.  I intended to make good on that promise…then I passed out at 8:00 pm.  I’ve had a couple of exhausting days in an elementary school special education classroom.  It was so bad that my eyes started to grow tired as I tried to finish the book I am reading– 11/22/63 by Stephen King.  By the way, this is not one of King’s better books.

I will update a couple of poems over the next hour (and work on the redesign).  Until then, I want to direct you to a poem I think many of you will enjoy.  I wrote it last semester while substitute teaching in a elementary art classroom.  Eavesdropping on my students is one of my favorite past-times.  Enjoy.

Young Darling

 

Back to Writing

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For the first time in quite awhile, I am writing again with a great level of consistency.  Along with this comes the concern of disclosing what I am writing.  It’s difficult to talk about what you are writing about without losing the excitement.  So, in the meantime, I think I am going to work on re-organizing the website so that it can include older works.

I started writing 9 years ago–at the age of 14.  It started with romantic poetry.  It developed into flash fiction.  That quickly turned into short stories.  By the time I was 20, I had written my first novel.  The thing is, I don’t have many of my older writings here.  They may not be as good, but I love the idea of presenting them as a way of seeing my progress.  I will likely start updating them this evening.

It will take awhile.  In the meantime, check out an old Sci-Fi Short story.  A recent discussion with a lovely girl reminded me of it.  I think you will love it.

The Prototype 

50 Days Out

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I got back from Washington about 14 hours before Thanksgiving Dinner.  Now, as the Holiday Weekend comes to a close, I find myself with a score of decisions and realizations.  With 50 days left before I am scheduled to leave for Morocco with the Peace Corps, there is plenty to figure out in a short amount of time.  For the first time in my life, I am coming to a crossroads where straight is no longer an option.  I must make a hard decision.

Although I do have more pressing matters to think and write about, the one I spent today on seemed appropriate.  I have been mulling over the idea of home for more than a month now.  I finally found the words to articulate the feeling that has been grown inside of me.  I hope you enjoy it.

on Home

 

A Month in Tacoma

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As of right now, I am 55 days out from my 27 month Peace Corps commitment in Morocco.  All that is on my mind, however, is how I just spent the last 30 days…With 55 days left to my own devices, I can think of no better way of using my time than writing.  These final two months will be spent with friends and movies, yes.

But, in the end, these 55 days will be used to write about the last 30 days…

 

Crossroads #42

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After more than three weeks in Washington State, I am finding myself at yet another crossroads.  This one is rather large.  I know I have choices.  Big ones.  I know that I’ve find someone.  I know I want to stay.  I know I want the Peace Corps.  I know I want the career that the Peace Corps provides.  I know I can’t have both…at least not now.

Meanwhile, my dog died.  I grew up with Cassidy from my preteen years on.  It was a great loss…and very difficult to experience from so far away.  I’m having a hard time focusing right now.  So here is the poem I have prepared.

Cassidy

Election Day 2012 Wishlist

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The day is finally here.  I will be in front of my computer and a TV screen most the day.  Here is my hopeful list.  I know all of them won’t happen, but I sure hope a majority of them do.

  1. Amendment 64 in Colorado passes—Legalizing Marijuana.
  2. 3A passes in Greeley—allowing for a new middle school in my hometown.
  3. Obama wins the Presidency.
  4. Obama carries Colorado–I like seeing my state sway progressive.
  5. Marriage equality comes out strong in state amendments.
    1. Minnesota doesn’t define marriage as one man one woman.
    2. Washington legalizes gay marriage.
    3. Maine legalizes gay marriage.
    4. Maryland legalizes gay marriage.
  6. California bans the Death Penalty.
  7. Massachusetts becomes the next state to allow Assisted Suicide.

I also uploaded a piece on the Electoral College yesterday.  If you missed it, here is the link: Repeal the Electoral College

on the Electoral College & the Presidential Election

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With 25 hours or so until the first polling stations close on the East Coast, we are nearing the start of the 2016 Presidential Kickoff (Just Kidding…actually, maybe not).  Anyway, this has been a long and obnoxious election.  In the end, I became a part of the annoying group that talked too much about the election.  Sorry about that.

Tomorrow I will upload my Election Day Wish List–just something I put together every election day.  But, for today, I want to spend my time with you talking about the Electoral College.  I consider myself one of the fiercest opponents of this disgusting piece of law.  I cringe with anger at the mere mention of its name.  If you want to see the extent of my anger or just want to know more about the Electoral College, please read on:

Repeal the Electoral College

on Marijuana & Genocide

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With about 50 hours left until the Presidential Election, I can’t help but be one of the people to weigh in.  On Twitter and and Facebook, my focus has been on Amendment 64 here in Colorado–The amendment that will legalize and regulate Marijuana like Alcohol.  Although I would like to weigh in on the Romney versus Obama fight, it seems almost irrelevant.  At this point it’s like trying to debate gun rights or abortion–you’re not going to convince anyone.  But, with Amendment 64, I think we can educate the public on the truth about Cannabis:

1. Marijuana accounts for zero death per year.  Period.
2. Cannabis–the plant that bears THC–was originally made illegal because the timber industry saw it as a threat.
3. In countries where Marijuana has been legalized, the use of the drug by children has not increased.
4. Legalizing marijuana will be a massive blow to the drug cartels in Mexico–who currently are leading a disgusting war for control that is crippling the country.
5.  This is my personal opinion: The government’s main job is to protect us from each other…not to protect us from ourselves.

That being said, I am uploading an old paper I wrote for my Master’s Program in History.  This paper deals with the Armenian Genocide and how Turkey has covered it up in the century that has followed.  I’m mainly uploading this for a friend to read, but it is well worth the time.  If you do not know about the Armenian Genocide, give this a look.

The Armenian Genocide and Turkish Denial