Short Story

Okay so I never ever let anyone read my short stories and, hey, no one really ever comments on my blog so I figured, what a great place to post a part of a story I'm working on! Any feedback would be much appreciated. I'm not sure where this story came from or where it will end up and, as of yet, it doesn't have a title but this is what I have so far. And please, if you do have feedback, be gentle. Also, be aware that there is some coarse language:



Jack Baker, 32 years of age, took the warm, Pyrex casserole dish from his aunt Myra’s shaky, fragile old hands. His dark, red-rimmed brown eyes met her sad gray ones and she let her small fingers graze his hands as he accepted her condolence gift of green bean casserole.
“Kamron was so beautiful, Jack. She was an absolute doll,” Myra said softly. Jack nodded patiently.
“Yes, she was an incredible woman,” he replied quietly. She had been his best friend. The mother of his only daughter and his soul mate, if there was such a thing. She had been 30 years old the night she was hit, head on, by a truck diver who had fallen asleep at the wheel, his truck veering quickly through three lanes of traffic. She had died instantly. Probably felt no pain, according to the officer who delivered the news to Jack. Deputy Wilkins. Jack had wondered if he had had to deliver news like that before. If this Deputy Wilkins had ever had to crush a man’s dreams for his future on his front stoop.
Jack spent most of the next week in a daze. He wondered how he would take care of their precious daughter alone. He wondered how he would take care of himself alone. Now that Kamron was in the ground he knew it would be a whirlwind of sympathy cards and condolence casseroles that would probably go uneaten. But a casserole could not raise a little girl. A little girl with the biggest blue eyes Jack had ever seen. A little girl who had just lost her first tooth. A little girl who had just lost her mother.
“She’s up in heaven now, looking down on you and Jane,” Myra explained to Jack as she dabbed the corners of her eyes with a ratty piece of tissue. Jack smiled weakly but could not reply. Over the past few days he couldn’t count the number of times that people had told him Kamron was in heaven and that this was “God’s plan.” Some fucking plan. Jack now had to learn how to put a little girl’s hair in pigtails. How to coordinate her outfits for school and how to navigate the treacherous waters of raising a teenage daughter without his wife, his best friend.
Jack excused himself and went looking for Jane. He found her in his brother, Peter’s lap, she was giggling at something. He stood a few feet away, watching his younger brother hold his daughter tenderly. A lump formed in his throat. His eyes stung with tears. Kamron was gone and every day Jack would have a tiny version of her to look after. He was scared for Jane. Scared for himself. Peter looked up and noticed Jack, pointed to him and whispered something in Jane’s ear. She jumped off of his lap and ran towards Jack, hugging his legs.
“You doing okay, Daddy?” she asked softly, pressing her face into his side. He smiled down at her.
“Doing good, sweetheart. How you doing?” he asked her, kneeling down to look into her huge, clear blue eyes. She smiled at him, revealing her missing tooth. Her bottom front tooth. Kamron had been so excited when she lost it. Leaving her not only a dollar under her pillow but a small note made out of pink construction paper. “Your mommy and daddy are so proud of you!” it had said. Jack’s heart ached thinking of that small, pink note tacked up on Jane’s wall, written in Kamron’s handwriting. Just one of several small pieces of her all over the house they had shared.
“Good. Uncle Pete tells good jokes,” she answered, smiling over at her uncle. Jack nodded.
“He always has. He’s always been a better joke teller than me.”
“Daddy, you don’t tell jokes.” Jack pulled Jane close to him and smelled her citrus shampoo as he held her tightly. She squeezed him back, hard as she could. She knew her daddy would need lots of hugs from her. She knew she’d need some from him too.
“Hey Janey, why don’t you go see if Aunt Myra brought any cookies. She makes the best cookie you’ll ever eat!” came Peter’s voice from above them. Jack stood up and watched as his small, dark haired daughter ran towards his frail, old aunt Myra in search of cookies. He looked at his brother. Four years younger and taller than him by at least two inches. Pete’s hair was shoulder length, straight and light brown. Jack found it very odd seeing his free-spirited, longhaired brother in a black suit. With Jane out of earshot, Pete asked his brother how he was feeling, honestly. Jack shrugged.
“I think I’ll throw up on the next person to tell me that Karmon is in heaven, looking down on me and Janey,” he replied wearily. Pete chuckled.
“But Jack, this is God’s plan,” Pete said sarcastically, placing a hand on Jack’s shoulder. Both brothers were tall and thin. Both had the same thick bottom lip and lopsided smile that their father, Marvin, had had. Jack, though, had always been the more stoic brother. He had been the star student. The shy one. Peter had been the outgoing one. The one who had all the friends and the girls chasing after him. Although they were both very different, they had always been good friends and Jack knew he’d be leaning heavily on Peter during this time of mourning. During this time of being so god damn alone.
Jack absent-mindedly ran a hand through his straight, shaggy dark hair. He suddenly felt panicky. He wanted all these people out of his house. He was tired of them milling about, picking at the condolence casseroles that were laid out, buffet style on a long table set up by one of Kamron’s cousins.
“I think I need some air. Could you keep on eye on Janey? Make sure Myra doesn’t try to save her soul or anything.”
“Sure thing, brother. Take your time. It’s fucking depressing in here,” Pete replied, smiling sadly at Jack.



So that's what I've got so far. I'm not sure where to take it next, but I have some ideas. If you're interested, let me know and I'll keep you posted.

Breasts: for more than just ogling.

On April 23rd, 2010, my brother Michael and his wife Melissa welcomed their baby girl, Sophia, to the world. At seven pounds five ounces, she was healthy and sporting a shock of reddish blonde hair. Words cannot express how excited our whole family is about this newest, tiny addition. With a new baby comes many new responsibilities and lessons in life that one cannot be prepared for until the baby is actually here. While I myself have never had children, I have had quite a bit of experience taking care of babies and young children and I've known, and been close with, many parents. The main concern of most of the parents? The health of their children. In this week's blog, I would like to discuss one way in which a parent, namely a mother, can greatly benefit her baby's health now and in the future.

Breastfeeding has, in the past, been something that is taboo in our culture. We never really talk about it and certain celebrities have even been scolded for breastfeeding in public. This is sad, in my opinion. Breastfeeding is a natural act that benefits both mother and child and should be viewed as such. It is not a "peep show" or "gross" or "weird" and I have heard it described as all of the above. Quite the contrary, you may be surprised to learn about all of the benefits of breastfeeding.

For one, breastfeeding does not only benefit the baby, breastfeeding also benefits the mother. According to this womenshealth.gov literature, breastfeeding can lower the risk of Postpartum depression and even certain cancers such as ovarian and breast cancer. Not only that, but breastfeeding allows a mother to take some quiet time with her newborn baby to bond and to relax together. Breastfeeding can also increase confidence in a woman and it can save up to $3000 dollars a year, depending on your formula brand!

There are also numerous benefits for babies who are breastfed. These facts state that breast milk provides the perfect amount of proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins that newborns must have to be healthy. Not only that, but information found here states that premature infants who received breast milk has greater mental development than those who were not. Also, infants who are fed breast milk are less likely to be re-hospitalized after discharge than those who are not. This is because breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight diseases and viruses. Breast milk is also the easiest food for a new born baby to digest, which is important for a baby's sensitive stomach.

Not only is breastfeeding good for mother and child, but also for our environment. With breastfeeding, there is little need for plastic waste from bottles and formula containers. Another benefit? Because breastfed babies are sick less, the mothers of these babies can miss less work. Also, because of breast pumps, a mother can store her breast milk to be fed to the baby later, so that even if the mother can't be around to breastfeed, her baby can still enjoy the healthy benefits of her breast milk. This also helps dads and partners get in on the act of feeding the baby, too.

In conclusion, the benefits of breastfeeding are numerous for mothers, babies, families and the environment. Breastfeeding is a natural, wonderful thing for a mother and her new baby to share and should be encouraged by all.

Top 5 Books

Admittedly, I have struggled with what to write my second blog post about for this week. I thought maybe I could do another one about Jamie Oliver, and how much I just absolutely adore him, and how tonight is the season finale of "Food Revolution" and how, if you haven't done so yet, you should sign this petition for better lunches in elementary schools. Then I thought, since I've already done one blog post over Jamie and his revolutionary vision for the food future of America, I could probably find a better, more creative topic.

Then I thought "AHA! I know what I'll do my second topic over! The financial aid office and how friggin' irritating they can be!" Then I checked my mail and found a check in my mailbox from said financial aid office. My heart softened and I thought "ah well, I'll give the financial aid ladies a break for now."

I've already done topics of movies, television, songs and bands. Basically those are all my favorite things. Then I realized, books! I could do a blog post over my top 5 favorite books! So, here we go!

1. "Rats Saw God" by Rob Thomas- No not that Rob Thomas. The writer Rob Thomas. He probably doesn't have as good of a singing voice but his literary voice is wonderful. I read this book for the first time when I was in the 8th grade and have read it at least fifteen times since. To me, this book really captures what it's like to be a teenager; to feel love and subsequently heartache, for the first time, to struggle with your identity, and your parents. This book covers it all with depth and poignancy. Even now that I'm almost 22, I still read this book at least once a year. I love the journey on which it takes me.

2. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky- This is another one of those books I first read in high school and I absolutely fell in love with it. It is written through a series of letters to an anonymous recipient. The letters are written by a young boy entering high school named Charlie. Charlie talks of his struggles with life, family and friends. Honestly, the characters in this book feel like real people, people I would hang out with. While it is a bit of a downer, this book has a certain magical quality that I'm reminded of every time I read it.

3. "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck- Okay yeah, I had to put one stereotypical popular "Oprah's Book Club" book in here, but only because I really do love it. The comparisons to the Bible, specifically Cain and Able, and the struggles that the two brothers of the book (Adam and Charles) face are fascinating. Steinbeck is, of course, one of the most well known writers of our time and this book has convinced me that he isn't just overrated. Steinbeck really writes these characters with a sensitivity that shines through in the entire novel. It's interesting, dramatic, and hard to put down.

4. "Mississippi Sissy" by Kevin Sessums- Aside from fiction (which is probably my favorite genre) I love a good memoir and this is definitely that. Sessums talks of his struggles growing up as a young boy in Mississippi, the respective deaths of his parents, and his struggles with sexuality. He writes with poise and humor that's both charming and entrancing.

5. "I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb- Lamb is probably most famous for his popular book "She's Come Undone" and, while I have read "Undone", my favorite work by Lamb would have to be "I Know This Much is True." For one, this book is long, topping almost nine hundred pages. To some, that may seem intimidating, to me, it's a dream! I love settling in with a huge book, especially if it's as engaging as this one. Our protagonist, Dominick Birdsey, must deal with being the identical twin of a schizophrenic who cuts off his own hand, the death of his mother, and of his infant daughter, all the while trying to figure out who he is and who his biological father is. The end wraps up nicely, which I like, tying up all of the loose ends. Lamb really got it right with this book and if you enjoy reading a nice, long book, I certainly recommend this one.

So there you have it. My top 5 favorite books. These books all hold a very special place in my heart and, most of them, I've read multiple times. Reading an old favorite book is like slipping into a warm bath. It's comfortable and familiar. It's like seeing old friends that you haven't seen in a while, they haven't changed and they are just as welcoming as they always have been.

Home Cooking

About a year ago, the thought of cooking anything besides scrambled eggs would have sent me into a panic. I was so scared of cooking, no actually I was scared of screwing up or catching something on fire, that I never even attempted it. This turned out to have been a big mistake. These days I cook myself and my family a delicious dinner just about every night. And I absolutely love it! Cooking is as much of a creative outlet as writing or painting. Not to mention, there are several health benefits of eating meals that you yourself have cooked. So if you are afraid of cooking, like I once was, read on and find out just how beneficial it is.

This USA Today article says that, when people eat out, they consume 50% more fat, calories and sodium. Not to mention that when dining in a restaurant, people often end up with less vegetables and whole grains in their meal and, ultimately, their diet. Couple that information with the fact that a diet rich in red meats and lacking in vegetables can cause cancer and you've got some pretty jarring facts to chew on.

Another problem with restaurants? Portion control. The plates and the portions are larger at restaurants. According to this Smallstep article, people actually do consume more calories when they are served a larger portion. So you may think that you're eating healthy at a restaurant by ordering your favorite salad, but in reality you probably aren't simply because of portion alone. One way to control this is to order an appetizer instead of an entree.

The major problem that I, personally, have with eating out? The ingredients. In America, we already have a problem with consuming processed foods and paying no attention whatsoever to the ingredients in these "foods." When you are eating something that a restaurant has provided, you have no idea what you are consuming. There is no way of knowing how much butter, salt or other ingredients are used in the food you are eating and it's definitely important to be aware of this.

Another benefit to home cooking? It's cheaper and, in this recession, saving money is what really counts. This NY Times article confirms that nearly half of the average family budgets goes toward eating food outside of the home. Imagine the savings of simply cooking a few more meals a week at home.

So we now know some of the many benefits of home cooking, but what about the time factor? Cooking at home can be time consuming, right? Well I've done some research for you and I have found some quick, easy recipes that can be prepared at home with little preparation and cook time. If you are so inclined, you can check these out here.

I cannot sing the praises of home cooking enough. Not only is it important for your personal health, but the health of your family as well. Cooking at home can be a fun task, especially if others, such as children, are involved. Not to mention, cooking at home with your children can teach them about health, food and how to cook for themselves which can be an important life skill that will serve them well down the road in life. So here are the facts: cooking at home can be cheaper, it's certainly healthier (depending on what you cook, of course), and it can create some much needed family time in our crazy society. So next time you're pondering what to have for dinner, put down that take out menu and pick up a recipe book. It could save your life.

Top 5 songs.

So because I have procrastinated and, inevitably, waited until the last minute to write my final blog post for the week, I've made a bit of a rushed decision and I've decided to write about my top 5 favorite songs. So, without further ado, these are the five best songs that I know as of this point in my life.

1. "Dear Prudence" The Beatles- This song reminds me of simpler times. I really fell in love with this song when I was in high school. The melodic guitar compliments John's haunting voice as he beckons Prudence. As Ringo joins in for the first chorus, the tempo picks up a bit, but John's voice stays just as mellow and cool. I love this song. Picking a favorite Beatles song is like picking your favorite child, but I think for me, it's got to be Prudence.

2. "Jolene" Cake- Cake has been one of my favorite bands for a long time and this song is definitely my favorite by them. The guitar in the beginning is addictive and the sound that the lead singer makes after singing "push my face into your hair" is, I think, the most human sound I've ever heard in an auto tuned song. Just that simple noise makes this song, to me, totally real.

3. "Hang Me Up to Dry" Cold War Kids- This song is totally catchy. The bass line is, for lack of a better word, wicked and the percussion is by far my favorite part of the song. The lead singer's voice is haunting as he bellows out "you rang me out too, too, too many times" and as he sings this, it's almost like you can physically feel his frustration.

4. "Coconut Skins" Damien Rice- Anyone who has ever been in love can relate to "Coconut Skins." To me, this song perfectly describes the way that first love feels. I love the way Damien's Irish accent subtly slips in during some lyrics and the way you can hear his fingers sliding up and down the chords of his guitar.

5. "Beautiful Way" Beck- Talk about another haunting vocalist. The guitar intro to this song is easily identifiable and it gets stuck in my head like no other. With eclectic lyrics and melodic singing mixed with the addictive instrumental makes this easily in my top five.

So there you have it. My top five favorite songs, as of right this second. This is subject to change from day to day, but as of today, this are the ones.

Video Games and Violence.

Video games are hugely popular these days. With addictive games like World of Warcraft rising in popularity, and pop culture references, video games have probably become more popular than ever. In fact, according to this CNN article, roughly 90% of U.S. kids between the ages of 8 and 16 play video games for about 13 hours a week, and more with some boys. It only makes sense that exposure to violent video games will, over time, make a person numb to seeing that violence, it will normalize that much violence in one's life, leading quite possibly to a rise in aggressive behavior.

In one case, it's quite possible that repeated exposure to the violent video game, Grand Theft Auto, led to a murder. This CBS News article tells the story of an 18-year-old named Devin Moore, who was a big fan of the game. In fact, he played the game day and night for months. Then one summer morning in 2003, Moore was brought into the local police station on suspicion of stealing a car. Apparently, Moore was cooperative as he was being booked and then, suddenly his behavior took a turn for the worse. Moore tackled an officer, stole his gun and shot him twice. Then he shot two more police officers, killing them all. According to police, after he was captured Moore stated "Life is like a video game. Everybody's got to die sometime."

Now maybe blaming Grand Theft Auto for this violent behavior is grasping for straws. I mean, it was noted that Devin Moore had a troubled past and spent some time in foster homes. Of course that played a factor in this case. But it could also be true that, due to repeated rehearsing of violent situations via video game, Moore resorted to violent behavior when he felt panicked.

There is still the other side to the coin. The argument for this is that, most kids who play violent video games do not actually ever commit violent acts. According to this article by MIT professor, Henry Jenkins, the studies linking violent video games to aggressive behaviors are not completely reliable because the environment where the subjects are playing the games are very different from the environment in which they'd be normally playing, at home.

There's also the possibility that people who are already naturally aggressive are drawn to violent video games. Thus making them susceptible to violent behavior anyway, because of their aggression. So whichever side of the fence you fall on, it must be noted that video games these days are increasingly violent, and it certainly seems easy for kids to get their hands on them. Although there is no concrete, long term evidence that shows kids are prone to more aggression due to violent video games, there are the short term studies that have proven this to be true. There's also the case of Devin Moore, which could or could not have been linked to his habitual playing of Grand Theft Auto, a notoriously violent game. I'm not making a call to arms, I just think we should start paying more attention to how jaded our society is becoming towards extreme violence. What, exactly, could this lead to in our future?

T.V.

Television these days sucks. We're bombarded with shows like "Dancing with the Stars", "So You Think You Can Dance", "Tool Academy", "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" etc. It seems that these days, quality television just doesn't exist. Unless, that is, you know where to look. If I may, I'd like to talk in this blog about some of my all time favorite television shows.

1. Weeds- The thing about Weeds is this, it's heartwarming, it's funny and it's so real. I mean sure, the premise is a bit out there; a widowed woman selling marijuana to keep her family afloat, but honestly the characters feel so real. Nancy Botwin, our protagonist played by Mary-Louise Parker, seems like a woman that you know. She struggles to raise her two boys, Silas and Shane, right while still being a drug dealer. Uncle Andy played by the brilliantly talented Justin Kirk provides us with some great comic relief. As the seasons have progressed some of the plot lines have been a bit "out there" but I still keep coming back for more. I absolutely love Weeds.

2. Arrested Development- This was a show that came out way before its time, hence why it only lasted three seasons. I absolutely love this show. The lovable, dysfunctional Bluth family is full of characters that you really root for. Despite some of this shows more outlandish premises, it's really quite heartwarming sometimes too. My favorite character would have to be Gob, played by comedic genius Will Arnett. The other thing I love about this show? It's narrated by Ron Howard. What's not to love about that?

3. Mystery Science Theatre 3000- You may have never heard of this show. Most of the people I encounter, in fact, have not. It may not even be your taste, but I absolutely love this show. The premise is that a guy and a couple of robots live in a space station and are forced to watch awful B movies from the 40s, 50s, 60s. The robot puppets accompany our guy, Joel, while he watches these movies and they provide a hilarious commentary. It is pretty damn funny and actually makes these atrocious movies watchable.

4. Nip/Tuck- This show got pretty outlandish in the last few seasons, but man season one of this show was probably one of the best seasons of any show that I've seen. It's definitely a guilty pleasure and if you have a weak stomach, you probably want to fast forward through the plastic surgery scenes. All in all, a great show.

5. Dexter- Dexter is brilliant. The dialogue, the characters, and the story lines are all so smart. This show is funny, it's incredibly dark and it actually, somehow manages to make you root for a serial killer. I highly recommend it.

Food Revolution

So, over the course of this English class I have written many blogs about food. Namely about my opinion about certain foods. I've written blogs over High Fructose Corn Syrup, the nutritional value (or lack thereof) of public school lunches, organic food, and diets. I think it's safe to say that food is something that I am passionate about. For a while now, I've known that I'm not the only one passionate about the food I eat, and the food others eat. Yet now, I have concrete evidence and I think that I have found my soul mate. I found said soul mate in the form of an adorable Brit named Jamie Oliver. Perhaps you've heard of him? He's had quite a bit of success on television with shows such as The Naked Chef and now, his new show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. In The Naked Chef, Jamie shows us that food can be enjoyed in it's rawest state, without adding tons of flavoring or preservatives. In Food Revolution, Jamie is really changing the game.

His major task in this show is to take on Huntington, West Virginia which, based on government statistics, is the unhealthiest city in America. Basically, Huntington is the worst of the worst. Jamie has a huge task ahead of him, literally. He takes on local elementary school lunch programs first after seeing the atrocious foods these children are served. Pizza for breakfast? Chicken nuggets for lunch? French fries count as a vegetable? And yet, these kids don't even know where French fries come from. Or even what a potato looks like! To me, this is pretty damn sad. It also says a lot about our eating habits in America. If it's processed, pre-cooked and full of ingredients we can't pronounce, bring it on! It's not enough that we're eating these foods at home, but now our schools are serving them too. Honestly, it's time someone stepped in and gave us a wake up call. Jamie is just the guy.

With his lovable nature and surprising sensitivity Jamie is boldly going where no chef has gone before. He's not just telling us we need to change our habits, he's showing us how to do so. The brilliant part is that Jamie is not just educating adults about the awful choices we're making, he's focusing on the kids too. He takes under his swing several high school students, giving them the confidence to prepare a meal for several "higher ups" in hopes of receiving funding for his revolutionary program. He teaches a young, morbidly obese boy named Justin how to prepare healthy meals for himself and his family.

I think what Jamie is doing is absolutely brilliant, and he's not a moment too late what with diabetes, heart disease and other complications with obesity running rampant in the United States. If you're interested in watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, you can watch it on Friday nights at 8pm (Central Standard Time) on ABC. More importantly, if you want to sign Jamie's petition for better school lunches in the united states, you can do so here. I greatly urge you to do this. Even if you're not a parent of a school child. It's important that we start teaching healthier eating habits to our future. It's simple, takes only a minute and every signature counts. I say we rally behind Jamie and show him that yes, America is ready for a revolution of the food variety!

Spring sprang.

Spring has finally friggin' sprung! I was beginning to worry that Spring had lost its way. After a brief trip to the East Coast, I was convinced that cold weather would reign supreme for another...oh who knows how long! My fears, though, have been assuaged with the return of Spring's pleasant warmth.

What I love about Spring is that it's not too hot. Man nothing is worse than being all sweaty in the summer. That sweat that gathers at the back of your knees and the small of your back. Sticking to a leather car seat. Waking up in the morning, sun stabbing your retinas, covered in a thin film of sweat. Ugh. With Spring, though, the warmth never seems unpleasant. Sometimes you can even bust out a light jacket! Not only that but every thing comes back to life. Flowers are blooming and deciduous trees are looking less halloween-ish with the return of their leaves. It feels like after a several month long hiatus, life has picked back up where we left off.

Another great thing about Spring? The storms. I love nothing more than to be inside a house listening to the elements go crazy outside. The sound of falling rain works better than Ambien for me! Okay maybe not better than Ambien but it's certainly more natural. I love watching those sometimes menacing clouds roll in and preparing for a huge storm of apocalyptic proportions.

Something about the sights, sounds and smells of Spring just transfer me to a simpler time and place. Spring reminds me of being a kid and of playing outside until dark, having no worries aside from who's "it" during a game of tag. Spring reminds me that Summer is just around the corner and that a much needed vacation from school isn't far behind. Spring reminds that even though Winter sucks, it will always eventually come to an end. Most of all, I think, Spring reminds me to stop and look around. It reminds me to appreciate the beauty of the world in which I live. It's a pretty cushy world, despite my petty complaints. I have a lot to be thankful for and happy about and Spring seems to reiterate this point for me.

Winter ushers in a period of indoor activities, of slushy shoes, and of heaping piles of blackened snow in the corners of parking lots. Spring ushers in a period of rebirth, the return of the attic fan, and open windows. Spring is the upbeat Paul McCartney chorus to a moody Winter John Lennon verse. While Paul is my least favorite Beatle (although Ringo is a close second) I must appreciate Spring for the happy feelings it brings.