Part 1 2 3

Part 1

My family has this camp on Flanders pond. To me it’s a beautiful place. My parents and I tore down an old building back in like 1987 to build this camp. I remember working very hard. Going home and taking a shower because I was so itchy from the insulation that I had pulled off all the walls.

Once we had all of our supplies we started building. It took all summer to get it done. Every day off my dad had we would head right over to get it done. I always had a hammer in my hand and it seemed like I built half the camp. I am sure this really wasn’t the case as I was only 11 years old. I think my parents just gave me things to do to keep me busy and make me feel like I was doing a lot.

The camp was small and made of 2x4’s and chip board. It had an open kitchen and living room. There were two small bedrooms on the back side. They had no doors only curtains. There was an upstairs loft that never got finished and my dad always dreamed of the inside being knotty pine.

The kitchen had an old stove and fridge. It had cupboards and a sink that didn’t work. We had electricity but no running water. There was an outhouse out back, but to us it was great.

Once we got it done we all spent the night there. My parents made my sisters take time off from their summer jobs. We always had fun. We would have bacon and eggs for breakfast, which always tasted so much better at camp. We would all cram into the canoe for an early morning fishing trip, we rarely ever caught anything. Then back for lunch. After lunch we swam the rest of the day. After dinner we would all stay back at camp and go to bed early, as soon as it was dark.

I still try to go to camp a few times a year. It’s different over there now. It’s built up around us and the camp is falling down, but it still holds a special place in my heart, and I am still proud that I helped build it!

Part 2

My family has this camp on Flanders pond. To me it’s a beautiful place. My parents and I tore down an old building back in like 1987 to build this camp. I remember working very hard. Going home and taking a shower because I was so itchy from the insulation that I had pulled off all the walls. It was a rewarding exsperience and I gained a lot of self pride in doing this project.

Once we had all of our supplies we started building. It took all summer to get it done. Every day off my dad had we would head right over to get it done. I always had a hammer in my hand and it seemed like I built half the camp. I am sure this really wasn’t the case as I was only 11 years old. I think my parents just gave me things to do to keep me busy and make me feel like I was doing a lot. This is great parenting skills in my opinion, though I may not have thought so then.

The camp was small put home like. It had an open kitchen and living room. There were two small bedrooms on the back side. There was an upstairs loft that got finished over time. It turned it to a nice large bedroom for my parents to have some privacy.

The kitchen had an old stove and fridge. It had cupboards and a sink that was hooked up to the pond to use only for dishes and cooking if we boiled it. We had electricity and a small bathroom with only a sink and a toilet.

Once we got it done we all spent a week there. My parents made my sisters take time off from their summer jobs. We always had fun. We would have bacon and eggs for breakfast one day and pancake or French toast another, which always tasted so much better at camp. We rarely had cereal which was what we always had at home. We would all gather in the aluminum boat for an early morning fishing trip. One day I caught a 15 inch bass and I was very excited. Then back for lunch. After lunch we swam the rest of the day. We had lots of floats and water toys to share and fight ver. After dinner we would all stay back at camp and go to bed early, as soon as it was dark.

I still try to go to camp a few times a year. It’s different over there now. It’s built up around us and the camp needs a lot of work, but it still holds a special place in my heart, and I am still proud that I helped build it!

Part 3

My family has this summer home on the ocean in Maine. My parents had it built by this up and coming company who had specials on camps to get more business. It came out beautiful.

Everyday my parents and I would pack a picnic and go and watch the crew. My dad would help out where ever he could. My father was a very hardworking man who couldn’t sit still.

The camp was nice and made of knotty pine inside. It had an open kitchen and living room. There were two small bedrooms on the back side. There was an upstairs loft that had a beautiful bedroom for my parents. They even had their own bathroom and little deck.

The kitchen was quant and pretty. It had an old fashion cooking/ wood stove and fridge. It had white cupboards and a sink that had the best tasting well water I had ever drunk. We had electricity with dim romantic lighting throughout the camp. I always thought it was to save money but later I found that it was to give the camp a warm feeling. The bathroom had an old fashion deep tub that I loved to play in on rainy days that we couldn’t go swimming.

Once they got it done, we all spent every summer there. My parents made my sisters take time off from their jobs. We always had fun. We would have bacon and eggs for breakfast, which always tasted so much better at camp. My mom would stand there for what seemed like an hour squeezing oranges to give us the best orange juice in the world.

After breakfast was all cleaned up we would all jump in the motor boat for an early morning fishing trip. We wouldn’t come in until we had caught some thing for lunch. After lunch we swam the rest of the day. After dinner we would all stay back at camp, play cards and board games and go to bed early, as soon as it was dark.

I still try to go to camp a few times a year. It’s different over there now. It’s built up around us and the camp needs a new coat of paint, but it still holds a special place in my heart, and I enjoy taking my kids there as well.

Final Journal

Not good at keeping a journal helps me figure out this last entry.

As a Wife, Mom of 2 young children, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 fish. I am also the owner of an up and coming photography business and a full time student. I am having a real hard time balancing everything. To play with the kids when I can the laundry gets piled up. To get my homework done the kitchen sink is full of dirty dishes. To make sure that the kids have food and heat and everything that they need my socks and underwear are full of holes. I know people do this all the time, but I seem to have a harder time then most to get it all done. I guess its still a learning game, or a puzzle where you have to make sure that all the pieces are there and that they fit together the right way. I am still a work in process which I guess i will have to live with because if I don't I think I might explode!

Journal

Wow I am really not good at writting in a journal. I tried and tried to keep one growing up. I would do it for a while but then I would forget. I have forgotten all about this one until right now. Boy I sure hope this isnt a big part of out grade.!

Week 3

You see a living room that is lived in. Toys are scattered from one side of the room to the other. There are normal items that would be found in any living room. There is a TV, couch, coffee table and a recliner. The toys have taken over. There are blocks her and there and matchbox’s. Barbie’s and stuffed animals peaking out for everywhere.

“MINE!!!” Anna said to her brother

“NO, it’s MINE” Andy said back to her

“NO NO MINE” Anna continued her fight

“MOOOOOOOOOOOM, Anna is taking my toys” whining that fake whine Andy yelled to me

“Adrianna may are you taking brothers toys” I asked nicely

“Ya Ya Ya” she said shaking her head faster than the words were coming out

“Andy, when she tries to take your toy, tell her that you are playing with it right now, then try passing her something else, watch.”

“Anna, Andy is using that right now, how about you play with this”

“NO!” Anna said

Just then the Strawberry shortcake doll flew through the air and bonked me right in the head!

“OH no no no Anna that’s not nice, we don’t throw toys.” I said

Andy laughed

Just then she picked up a big blue plastic block held it up over her head like she was going to throw it at me.

“Anna let’s play with them not throw them” I said as I sat down to gather more blocks to build a colorful tower.

“NO mine” she said and calmly sat down and began to build.

I guess a lesson was learned. She found something to do instead of taking toys from her brother. Not the exact lesson that I was going for, but still one none the less!

Week 2 theme

After the kids go to bed I finally have a minute to myself. I sit down in the recliner with the remote in my hand. I turn on the TV and watch the news that I had taped with the DVR. What happen today I wondered?


When it comes to watching the news a lot of the stuff they talk about does not interest me. It either scares me or is way over my head. What get my attention are the medical debates on healthcare. I can’t help but wonder if the economy had been this bad six years ago would I have got the medical help that I had needed?

I was born into this world a big girl. Almost 9 lbs and tall as can be. When I started kindergarten I towered over the other kids and was almost as big at the teacher. Life as an obese child was hard, but I had a good attitude and didn’t take crap from anyone.

Middle School was ok I was encouraged to play basketball because I was so tall so I tried out and made the team. I was excited as both my sisters had played and I was a starting center. Practice was hard. The amount of running we had to do I was unable to keep up.

High School was ok but I gained more weight. I couldn’t wear jeans. I had to wear stretchy pants all the time. I had tons of friends. I also had a boyfriend for over a year, until he moved away. I went to the senior prom and had a great time.

After graduating I went on to college. I dropped out at the end of the first semester. I wasn’t doing god with my grades. My now husband was home begging me to come visit every chance I got.

When I returned home over a period of 9 years I gained about 200lbs. All on the news were people taking about weight loss surgery. This sparked my interest. This was something that I wanted to listen to on the news.

I talked with my doctor and began the long process required by the insurance company. Six months later I lay in the hospital bed after surgery. I had made it through. It’s a very risky surgery.

So as I sit here watching the news and listening to the debates on healthcare. I am glad I got the chance to be helped before they make any more cuts. Down 250lbs and two kids later after I had been told I could have children because of my weight I am much happier.

#3

Dear Journal,

UGH! That about sums up the last few days of my life. Saturday afternoon, my four year old son decided that he wanted to ride his dirt bike. He has been riding for a year and a half now. He got stuck and was trying to move his little 50cc bike. He gave it the gas and it tripped him up landing his belly on the Exhaust. We rushed him to the hospital. He has a 2nd degree burn  about two inches tall and 4 inches long. I looked awful and he was in pain. Holding a boy down to get an IV was not fun. However he felt much better after he had morphine. Hours later we were able to take him home, but had to return early in the morning. He is doing good Thank GOD!!! We have to go back again tomorrow to see how to treat it next. If ever a person feels numb to their emotions, they get a huge wake up call when something happens to their child. I swear i could feel his pain. I cried as many tears as he did. Seeing him go through this tore me apart, but also reminded me of how very much I love my children, they are my heart and soul!

Writer's Autobiography

My name is Stacey and when it comes to writing, poetry is my passion. I have been writing poems since I was in eighth grade. I have had two of my pieces published in an anthology. My dream is to someday get my book published. I have it all ready edited a million times and check through. I guess I just don’t know where to go from here. I do, however fantasize about having a book signing at a local book store. I always thought that would be a great accomplishment.


When it comes to writing no matter what kind it may be. I lack in spelling. My best friend always tells me it is because I was pulled from spelling class 3 times a week for violin lessons, she may be right. My grammar seems to be somewhat off at times, but I think most people are anyway!

My expectations of this course are to learn to write creatively other than poetry. I have no problems being creative that way but as for writing just stories and stuff I seem to get stuck. Hopefully I will learn to relax a little when it comes to writing about given topics or prompts. I am one of those people that want to know, how many words, what exactly is expected of me, and I think this writing class will be different.



When it comes to writing, poetry is your passion. You have been writing poems since you were in eighth grade. You have had two of your pieces published in an anthology. Your dream is to someday get your book published. You have it all ready and edited it a million times. You check through it over and over. You just don’t know where to go from here. You do, however fantasize about having a book signing at a local book store. You always thought that would be a great accomplishment.

When it comes to writing no matter what kind it may be, you lack in spelling. Your best friend always tells you it is because you were pulled from spelling class 3 times a week for violin lessons, she may be right. Your grammar seems to be somewhat off at times, but you think most people are anyway!

Your expectations of this course are to learn to write creatively, other than poetry. You have no problems being creative that way but as for writing just stories and stuff you seem to get stuck. Hopefully you will learn to relax a little when it comes to writing about given topics or prompts. You are one of those people that want to know, how many words, what exactly is expected of you, and you think this writing class will have a different approach.


Her name is Stacey and when it comes to writing, poetry is her passion. She has been writing poems since she was in eighth grade. She has had two of her pieces published in an anthology. Her dream is to someday get her book published. She has already edited it a million times and check through it. She just doesn’t know where to go from here. She does, however fantasize about having a book signing at a local book store. She always thought that would be a great accomplishment.

When it comes to writing, no matter what kind it may be, she lacks in spelling. Her best friend always tells her it is because she was pulled from spelling class 3 times a week for violin lessons, her friend may be right. Her grammar seems to be somewhat off at times.

She expects this course will help her learn to write creatively. She has no problems being creative when writing poetry but as for writing just stories and stuff she seems to get stuck. Hopefully she will learn to relax a little when it comes to writing about given topics or prompts. She is one of those people that want to know how many words and what exactly is expected of her. She hopes this writing class will be different.

#2

What a great day today. I got to spend some much needed time with my family. We went to a beech for a few hours. It was so fun watching how much they have changed. Andy can swill all by himself now and enjoys this place we go swimming. It doesn't get very deep for a long long time so he loves walking way out! Anna wears a life jacket and thinks it is so funny to run in and fall down. I bet that she did that fifty times. She also enjoyed putting sand on our backs. Toby and I worked well together, which is great! Anna is already sleeping and Andy will be soon. That means that this mama can go there too... I love bed time. Isn't it funny how when you are little you hate to go to bed? Now that I am 33 I cant wait, I even get excited!

Journal Entry 1

Wow it has been HOT!! When you step out of the shower, dry off and you are still wet, YUCK! I am pretty grouchy when the weather is like this. I haven't slept in two days. I hope that tonight it is cooler out! I think I will try to get for a swim later on when the sun goes down, but as for now I sit in front of the fan hoping that is dries off at least half of my sweat.