Blog by Sofia Pinero

Everyone has high expectation when going on first date.   As a single women I have many experience in dating, I been in good dates and the worst dates possible. Ladies don’t have high expectation cause Brad Pitt is not goanna walk through that door.  Boys don’t think you will get your kiss goodnight.  There are rules of dating that you should follow. First thing first a movie is not a date.  The place should be a place you can socialize and get to know the person. When you find the perfect place to talk, remembers get to know each other’s interest but at the same time not a whole history. Don’t ever talk about your past relationship. If ask make it brief it just didn’t work out. Complement each other it makes good atmosphere. After dating a while don’t move things to fast do it when it feels right? Take your time things go in their own pace.  Boys don’t ever talk about other women. Women are very jealous so bringing up another woman is not a good idea. Is the same for guys they get jealous too. Dating is never easy, don’t get nervous. Always dress to impress and it always give a good expression. Above all be yourself.

Human Trafficking by Jasmine Osborne

Human trafficking is a big problem around the world.  This topic gets pushed aside a lot because people feel like there are other more important things to worry about.  This is so important because it’s not buying and selling goods, people are buying and selling human beings. I got started on this issue because of the lack of involvement of people. Human trafficking is so inhumane that women and young girls are sold as sex slaves. Not only does human trafficking involve women but it includes boys too. Human trafficking doesn’t just involve sex slaves but also forced labor. Most of the people who are victims of human trafficking are under the age of 18. The things the victims of human trafficking experience no human being shall experience it but millions do. About 30,000 sex trafficking victims die each year. Many victims contract sexually transmitted diseases and some even die from it. Many children are victims and they are forced into the industry very young. Once a child has experienced this inhumane act they are never the same. What should be done about human trafficking is there should be more research about it. Also, there should be more help centers for victims. The help centers should be confidential, because many of the victim’s dealers may threaten to kill the victim’s family. More should be done with the law about human trafficking. Around the world laws change and things get hectic, but there should be some kinds of international center for human trafficking were people could receive help for themselves and other people. People around the world need to be saved from this issue and they are asking for help, and we as people of the world have to help to end this inhumane act!

Juice Plus by Mylin Esguerra

When I make meals for my daughter I try to incoporate as many fruits and vegetables as I can. Whether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner I always had something healthy on their plates. Then I realized that I got to busy and sometimes I would get fast food or my daughters would be picky and not like the friut and vegetables that I gave them, but I came across this product called Juice Plus.

Juice plus is supplement that has concentrated fruits and vegetables for your daily percentage. That means if my kids do not get enough fruits and vegetables that day I would not have to worry because they got their daily servings of friuts and vegetables from Juice Plus! I know that my kids are picky and they go through stages when they are eating so much it's like I was starving them for days or they might eat a bite here and there and I feel like they are malnutrient. So after buying this I felt better if there were peas or a peice of kiwi left on the plate.

Juice plus can come in tablets for adults, chewables or gummies for children. I hate taking tablets so I get gummies for myself because it taste great and i don't have to worry about trying to shallow a pill. The only problem with the gummies is that it taste so good the kids will want more of it. My youngest daughter Michaela always points to the cabinet and says "gummies gummies!" I wish I had these when I was a kid because I know I was really picky when I was a kid, but now I like to try everything.

https://www.juiceplus.com/nsa/content/Welcome.soa

Safety First by C'ne Ross

One nice evening in August 2008, my husband and I decided to take a trip to Memphis, TN to attend a motorcycle rally they have every year.  We owned a Harley Davidson Road King Classic.  This would be a long drive for me, but my husband was able to also work and we still get to go to the rally was a good plan.  I thought the scariest part of the trip would be hauling the Harley, but this would be the least of my worries.

We safely made it to Memphis, TN, rested and enjoyed a day before the rally.  The time came for us to make it over to the rally with some friends we met up with at the hotel.  As we traveled to the rally, less than a mile from the gates our lives would change forever.  A van did not want to follow behind the bikers, decided to change lanes hitting us on the motorcycle.  I remember turning back and seeing the headlights, then within seconds hearing a loud boom.  We were thrown from the bike.  My head hit the pavement, so I begin to pray asking God, if I’m alive, please take care of us. 

I would quickly learn my husband’s injuries were not as bad, so he was immediately there we me, as well as trying to contain his anger toward the driver of the van.  The other bikers stopped and stayed with us until police and ambulance arrived.  I would later learn the driver of the van, tried to get away and the bikers surrounded until the police got there.  Wearing the correct protective gear could have made big differences to some of my injuries.  My husband and I had never worn casual clothes when riding the bike in the past.  On that night I had on my helmet, with capris and sandals, and no gloves.  These are not the correct items you want to wear, when riding a motorcycle.

Some of my injuries could have been prevented if I had on my gloves and boots for the injuries I sustained to my fingers, heel, and toes.  They had to scrap the glass and dirt from my fingers and toes without sedating me.  Talk about scrubbing flesh, this was horrible.  When I landed on the ground my heel was upright, so this affected my walk on top of a messed up knee.  X-rays were never painful, however, it called for me to lay flat and feet upright.  My tailbone was fractured, so it was not easy getting x-rays done.

We learned cutting corners and doing your own thing can sometime cause long term damages.  My husband and I were very blessed to have survived and tell our survival story.  All it takes is one mistake to make a life changing events.  I know without a doubt, God was looking after us, even when we chose to dress inappropriate.  Wearing the proper protective gear can save your life and minimize the injuries you receive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_personal_protective_equipment

Gruene, TX by Lisa Neal

My husband and I, and 10 of our closest friends, just returned from our annual “River Trip” in New Braunfels, TX. There are so many things about this yearly trip that I look forward to: the crowded Comal and Guadalupe rivers, the relaxation, the food and the historic town of Gruene, TX. No matter what we do, we always make a trip to Gruene. Gruene Hall, which is located in the heart of Gruene, is Texas’ oldest dance hall. It is an old building with a somewhat west Texas country feel to it. It is occupied by a variety of musicians on any given night, and was the starting venue for some big names such as George Strait, Lyle Lovett and Charlie Robison. Gruene also has some of the best Maw and Paw shops that I have ever been to. You can find current souvenirs or hit up one of the local antiques shops. My favorite part of Gruene is the Gristmill Grill.  The Gristmill is a fantastic restaurant, a little on the pricey side, but definitely worth every cent! The Gristmill sits along the Guadalupe River and was built in the late 1800’s as a cotton gin. You can feel the history behind this structure just by sitting there and breathing in the air. It’s such a peaceful feeling. Not only is the setting magnificent, but the food is to die for! Steaks, chicken, salads and some of the biggest onion rings I have ever seen!

You can always dance off your dinner at Gruene Hall or by all the walking through the historic shops.

Gruene is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!

http://www.gruenetexas.com/

The Single Mother-Hood by Simona Muttilib

As a single mom, like me, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed at times. I mean raising a child is no easy task, and to compile that with having multiple kids and an absent parent, it can be very difficult at times. Not to worry, this is all a part of parent-hood. Just think about it, you are now in the position of handling issues that would have normally been handled by both parents.  I have compiled a few tips and tricks that I have learned over the years that will help you on your way to becoming an effective single parent by first taking care of yourself.

Never be afraid to ask for help

There are many organizations set in place to help with single parent resources. And studies have shown that it is far more available to single parent homes, than homes with both parents intact. Also, have a support system in place. This can be family, friends, or even help from your church.

Take care of yourself first

 I believe the true and effective way to do so would be for you to know your limits. If you feel yourself getting too overwhelmed by taking on so many tasks, slow down and find a quiet place. This can be taking a long short walk, a soothing bath, or even meditation if you choose. The key is to relax. Another thing is to find a hobby that you enjoy. You may decide to read a book, writing, or even crocheting for example. Whatever your hobby is, make sure that it is one that brings you an abundance of calm. And lastly, remember to treat yourself. Motherhood can be tense, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be. Whether it’s getting a massage or a manicure and or pedicure, make sure that you make the focus for that hour on YOU. Your kids will only benefit from this.

Keep up a great Attitude through it all

Between work, school, the children activities, and taking care of the home, you may be stretched a bit thinner that you would like to be. But the one of the healthiest ways to raise the kids under those circumstances is not to allow them to experience your frustrations or worries. Just remember to remain positive and follow the first two examples (ask for help, take care of yourself), and you will be fine.

They key to raising a healthy happy child begins with you. It may not be glamorous at times. But keep in mind that even though at times you may find it stressful, the reward is greater than the struggle. And contrary to popular belief, we as mothers are not “SUPERWOMEN”. But to do all we do at times is nothing short of being a super-hero in the eyes of our children. Please refer to the link below for additional resources and single parent outlets in your area.       http://www.singlemom.com/

How to make Chiles Rellenos - Queso Panela by Julie Villegas

Ingredients needed:

Poblano peppers / Queso Panela / flour /  eggs                                           

Step 1: 

Blacken the peppers directly in the flame of a burner if you have a gas stove or can be done on a grill. Make sure to continuously flip the peppers until all sides are blackened and blistered.

Step2: ( optional)

Once you finish this step put the peppers in a plastic container and close the lid on them for about five to ten minutes. This is to allow the peppers to sweat and make it easier to peel off the skin especially if first time making Chiles Rellenos. However this is optional step and does not have to be done. If you do not want to wait you can just start peeling after you are finished with step one.

Step 3:

Peel the peppers and make sure all the skin is off. Once the pepper is peeled, make an incision with a small but sharp knife starting from the top and go down a few inches only on one side of the pepper.

Step 4:

Once you have made the incision cut the seed pod out which is located right under the inside of the stem and be careful not to rip the pepper. Once you take the seed pod out rinse the pepper under cold water inside and out and make sure to get rid of any seeds or veins left in there.  Get a plate pour some flour on it and roll the peppers in the flour and set aside.

Step 5:

Take your Queso Panela and crumble it into pieces then place into a bowl. Set aside.

Step 6:

Prepare the batter. This step can be done while roasting the peppers if wanting to save some time. Place egg whites into a bowl. I recommend having an egg per pepper to make sure they are coated well.  Using a beater, beat the egg whites until they firm up. They are done when they look like whipped cream. Then add the egg yolks and mix again just enough to blend it into egg whites.

Step 7:

Now that you have your ingredients ready start by stuffing the pepper with the queso panela. Do not over-stuff because it can cause the pepper to rip. Next dip your pepper in the egg mix and coat evenly all over. Using a frying pan add about 1 to 2 inches of oil and turn burner on at about medium-high. Let it heat up while stuffing and coating peppers.

Step 8:

Place one or two peppers at a time in the hot oil. Slowly rotate the pepper until lightly brown, then remove. Repeat for the rest of the peppers.  Enjoy !

Best served with Mexican rice, frijoles charros, corn or flour tortillas.

http://lamichoacanameatmarket.com/  This is where I get all my ingredients from. Great place.

Chiari Malformation by Amanda Miles

My sister has always had headaches, bad headaches. We have always been told that they were just migraines, however the meds they gave her for migraines did not work.  Then a few years back my sister started having different symptoms, she began getting numbness in her hands and feet, and when she would wake up in the morning she could only see in black and white and her vision was blurred. After tons of testing she was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation.

What is Chiari Malformation?

                Chiari Malformations are structural defects in the bony space at the lower rear of the skull. It is a malformation of the brain. When this happens the cerebellum and brainstem can be pushed downward. This pressure can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. If you have a stage 3 malformation and it is not treated it can lead to paralysis.

Once someone has been diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and if their symptoms are severe enough the only real treatment is a decompression surgery.  The surgery  consist of removing the lower part of the skull at the back of the head along with one or two top vertebrae to relieve pressure and provide more space. Then a piece of muscle typically taken from the thigh is placed over the missing portion of the skull.  My sister had her surgery on November 16^th 2010. She has had an amazing recovery. She was in a lot of pain in the beginning and that was difficult to watch, but since her surgery she has rarely had any headaches, and her numbness is gone and her vision is completely normal.

Since my sister and I are identical twins, and I do get severe headaches located at the back of my head and neck, and since there is not the much research on Chiari Malformation, her neurosurgeon, wants me to get a cat scan to see if I could also have this condition.  Simply put he wants to see if this condition has something to do with genetics, he believes that it does, but there really has not been that much research on it especially in cases with identical twins. I have mixed feelings on it, as it stands right now, even though I get severe and frequent  headaches  I have come to learn to deal and function with the pain. I guess it boils down to this, I saw the pain my sister went through right after the surgery and her recovery, and that is not something I am sure I want to endure.  If my symptoms worsen obviously I wont have a choice but at this moment in time I am not sure if I want to be used strictly for medical research.

www.asap.org/index.php/disorders/chiari-​malformation

Blog by Brian Lesmeister

I have always been a baseball guy. My dad got me started with YMCA baseball almost fifteen years ago, and ever since then I have been addicted to the game. Now that I look back on the days when I actually played baseball, I find it amazing how my life revolved around the game. I no longer had to plan my day around baseball games and baseball practices. Although I played baseball as a way to pass the time, I met some of my closest friends while playing, and that is what I missed most. I wanted to find a way back into the game.

After high school baseball, I chose academics over sports, and I have no regrets over my decision. I had a few offers to play, but I wanted to play somewhere where I could major in something that I wanted to study, and the right offer never came along.

I played baseball for the Houston Power Baseball organization for about five years. That is where I officially ended my baseball career. However, this is where I officially re-began my baseball career. I was offered an assistant coaching position on a 16 and under baseball team. At first, I was unsure about how the kids would treat me. I wondered if they would respect and listen to me. I am only 18 years old, and I could potentially pass as a 16 year old player. Fortunately for me, I had the credentials necessary to garner their respect. I have varsity high school baseball experience, and many of the players on the team have yet to reach that point in their careers. Now, I have made new friends and I don’t have to worry about if they will call me “coach” anymore.

Link to Houston Power Baseball site:

http://www.houstonpowerbaseball.com/

Blog by Ingrid Miranda

Being a lifeguard is definitely one of the easiest jobs. I get paid to sit out in the sun and tan. And of course, make sure no one drowns or any major accidents occur. That, being any lifeguard's number one priority. Luckily, the only people who attend this community pool are adults with their children, and not any hot guys around my age, so I'm distraction free. You truly get to people watch by sitting up in those stands.

However, some of the things I have witnessed, had to call out, or blow my whistle at while on duty have completely befuddled me. For instance, along with ensuring patron safety I have to make certain that the premises stay clean. To keep up with the cleanliness, the other lifeguards and myself check the bathrooms hourly. Usually, all that is necessary to maintain a clean environment is to clean up napkins from the floor and make sure there is toilet paper in every stall.

I was making my bathroom rounds one day when I made my way into the boy's bathroom (I made sure no one was in there first). I checked the urinals, and they looked fantastic! The bathroom itself didn't even smell bad! I was proud of these boys keeping the bathroom so clean. I popped my head into the first stall and it looked just as dandy as well. I walked into the second, much bigger stall. Everything looked fine. There was plenty of toilet paper in there and nothing was on the floor. The seat cover was down though. I walked over just to make sure that nothing was in the toilet that should have been flushed. I lifted the seat cover to be overwhelmed with a sickening smell. The smell of poop. I assumed whoever went number two clogged the toilet and was ashamed to let a lifeguard know. I held my nose and attempted to flush the toilet before I got one of the guys to come plunge the toilet. To my disbelief, it went down fine. I was disgusted as to what sick individual would leave their feces in toilet for another person to find.

I washed my hands while the same puzzling questions went through my head: "Why are people so gross? Are they this gross at home too? Or are they doing it to torment us?"

I shared my horrible experience with the other lifeguards to only find out that the day before someone tinkled in the sink and that prior to that a little girl decided it was okay to pee on the deck.

I was appalled. I didn't understand. Do people think it’s not necessary to be hygienic out in public?

Due to this incident, when I check the bathrooms and the seat covers are down I hold my breath only anticipating another mound of poop to be starting back at me.

http://www.a-to-z-of-manners-and-etiquette.com/toilet-etiquette.html

Trip to Austin, Texas by Carol Bolen

Dan and I took a trip to Austin/Dripping Springs, Texas to visit my sister, Miranda and her husband, Blake. Well on our way there we took kind of a detour. Not really, it was on the way towards our destination. All the way down 71 are theses huge billboards for this place called Joel’s BBQ. Daniel has been there before and said that we should stop there for a bite to eat and to rest a bit. We get there and it looks like this.

It’s practically a barn but on the inside it looks more like a cabin and the people that work there are really country, they wore whatever they wanted from camo shorts, cowboy hats, and overalls with a wife beater. I guess they owned the place but they put off a really creepy vibe, think of a rural town like something out of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. We got our beef jerky and got out of there fast, Daniel swore they had the best beef jerky and I admit it, it is pretty tasty.         

Two hours later we arrive to my sisters’ house in Dripping Springs. They had bought all of us tickets to go see a movie at the Drafthouse on 6th street. The Drafthouse is a theatre that serves food and drinks and sometimes has special guests such as directors, actors or actresses. We drop our stuff off at the house and get back on the road; I let my brother-in-law drive my car.  We are on the outskirts of Downtown Austin on some highway and we hear this popping noise and we all just think it’s the road. I get this really weird feeling and I make Blake pull my car over on an overpass. We all get out and my front passenger tire is blown out.  Never in my life have I ever had a flat and I’m so happy it wasn’t just with me in the car because I have no idea what to do. Luckily a cop sees that we are changing out a tire and he puts his lights on and lays cones around the shoulder. Getting a flat didn’t deter us from seeing a movie so now we're looking like scrubs rolling on 6th street to get to the Drafthouse. Just as we get to the theatre and walk into the auditorium and there was nowhere to sit. It was so packed; the only seats available were the very front row and we decided it wasn’t worth it so we headed to Pinballz.

Pinballz is an arcade with tons of novelty pinball machine and arcade games like driving, classic and new, shooting, also redemption ticket games like skeeball, darts, hoop fever, air hockey, and foosball tables. It’s great fun because there really aren’t too many people or kids that go there, it’s fairly new. You can bring your own alcohol, hang out and play as many games as you like. Unfortunately we all have short attention spans and decided we were going to go to a skating rink down the road. I haven’t skated since I was 7 or 8 years old and knowing that I would be a newbie at skating, I decided I’d try out the four wheel skates. The hardest physical workout I have had in my entire life, I was the only one out of us four that could not turn the corners. It was so embarrassing; there were toddlers who could skate better than I could.  After skating we headed back to the house and went to bed.

The next morning we got up early and traveled down to Lake Travis, the prettiest lake ever. We rented a pontoon boat and found a nice spot to settle. We swam, had some lunch, and hung out on the lake for the majority of the day. It started getting late in the afternoon and we headed back to the house to shower and have dinner. I couldn’t really relax on the lake because I was really concerned about how my car would do on the drive home with the donut replacing my passenger tire. I went ahead and just bought two new front tires, not too happy about that and Daniel and I headed back to Houston. I like going up to visit Miranda and Blake because they always find something new and fun to do and most of the time it’s pretty cheap.

http://www.pinballzarcade.com/

Your Personal Guide to Rewarding Pimple-Popping Sessions by Berschelle Hughes

Rate your pimple:

• It’s got to be big.  No dull blackheads.  (Although during a popping crave, they will suffice in the absence of a good pimple)
• Best results come from the bumps with white-ish, tightly stretched skin- they produce a satisfying pop sound similar to squishing bubble wrap.
• High content gunk is more likely in a pimple found on the nose, chin or forehead.
• It has to be sore.  A loud “Awwwuugh” adds to the satisfaction of getting rid of it.

Equipment needed:

• For high tech poppers, there’s a tool called a blackhead remover- good for the smaller ones on the side of the nose.
• Q-tips to wipe the first secretions away so you can see what’s left.  This allows you to continue the popping process.
• Strong fingernails- very necessary for stubborn pimples that are not quite ready, but you can’t wait for maximum gunk fill-up.
• Kleenex for the final clean up.
• Soap and warm water- prevents tell-tale signs of a pimple popping spree.

Suggestions for further research:

• Back pimples are for advanced poppers only, as pimples in this area can also produce gunky cysts that may require an actual incision.
• Scalp pimples, otherwise known as “sweat pimples.”  Very sad to have if you are bald.
• And- the pimple found on the dorsal side of the body in the gluteus region. These require a specially trained popper, since those pimples occur on spongy, unstable tissue, making it difficult to maintain an adequate popping surface. 

If this blog was helpful to you, please let us know!  If you have any tips or tricks to share, don’t be shy!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM02434

My Choice by Therese Shaath

I know that this topic might be on a bit of a somber note but, it is one I feel should be discussed. On March 2 of this year my husband and I were watching a program on PBS about assisted suicide, which sparked a heated debate between us. The question debated was, should I have the right to end my life with dignity if faced with a terminal debilitating disease like ALS, or better known as Lou Gehrigs disease? I am a firm believer in having complete and total control over things that affect the quality of my life. If I were diagnosed with one of these terrible diseases, that will surely take my life, I would want to be able to end it before my family and I suffered unnecessarily. Most of these diseases require extensive medical attention and life support to maintain bodily functioning, so the moral debate of playing God is no longer an issue for me. Isn’t medicine “playing God” when extraordinary measures are used in prolonging the life of the incurable?  Now don’t get me wrong I think the medical advances we have made are wonderful but I want the choice to use them or not.

Due to the disagreement between my husband and I, I made it a priority to put into effect a living will, letting known my wants and desires should something happen to me, rendering me incapable of making decisions for myself. I would never want my family to have to make that decision.

Before you make a judgment please take the time to follow the link provided and view the Suicide Tourist. Even if your beliefs do not allow you to do as Craig Ewert did maybe it will give insight into the souls of those who choose this path.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/suicidetourist/

The Move by Kiet-Calvin Nguyen

I was born in Long Beach, California on July 1st, 1992. I lived there for a little bit, and then moved to San Diego where most of my relatives resided. I started playing soccer when I was 8, and it came like a second nature. It turned out that I was really good at it, and I was the top player in the league. The whole league was almost full of people that went to my school. Because of that, I was well-known at school. School was like my second home. I had a lot of friends, and I actually liked doing the work. Every morning, I was eager to get dressed up and head to school. Teachers and students, knew who I was. At that time, life was great. I had a lot of friends, was with the people I loved; felt like I had everything I ever needed.

        A couple days before my 13th birthday, I was given some news that would change my life forever. I was told that we were going to move to Texas. There was many times before this, where my parents had told me that we were moving but it never happened so when they told me this, I didn't believe them. It turned out that we indeed were planning to move. On my 13th birthday, we had a birthday party/going away party with family and close friends. With family and close friends surrounding me, I never soaked in what was really going on. It finally hit me that this was going to happen. The day I was dreading for finally arrived. That morning, we said our good-byes and were off. 23 hours later, we reached Houston, Texas. We pulled up to our new house, and proceeded to unpack. Everything was so new to me. New home, and new surroundings. From this moment on, I knew my life would drastically change.

        It's been 6 years, and I'm still living in Houston, Texas. Moving here, I had to adapt to everything. Everything about me changed. The way I feel about people, my attitude, and how I am not open to anything anymore. I was told that I have changed a lot by many people, but there's nothing I can do. Hate it or love it, that is just how I am now.

Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czb2E1q7xtc

(I had this song on repeat just to remind myself of some good times I had in California. Listening to this song helps soothe me down, when I'm feeling down or mad.)

The Pet Door by Nancy Ringo

Today I woke up to my dogs barking like crazy in the kitchen. I went to see what was happening and much to my dismay they had cornered a squirrrel in the corner of the laundry room, and were trying to play with it. I had to get a broom and sweep it or kind of push it out the pet door and hold my dogs back as it ran away. What can I say about the pet door? It is convienant because my dogs can go in and out as they please and I don't have to always be getting up and letting them out when they scratch on the door. I don't have to worry ever about accidents in the house because they can just go and relieve themselves as needed. Sometimes I walk them and they refuse to go to the bathroom and I really think its because they want the privacy of the backyard. Having the pet door helps with that situation. So the pet door would seem like it would be the perfect solution to that kind of problem doesn't it? And it seems as if the dogs would be happier. It allows alot of flexibility as to when I can walk them. All seems to be great with it right? Well it does come with additional problems.
The main problem is that it doesn't limit any other things that might like to come on in and enjoy my home. First there was the bird. I don't know how he got in. He must have been brought in by the dogs. A bird does not usually fly low on the ground where the pet door is. He was on my kitchen floor when I found him and he was dead. I don't have a clue how he died. The dogs were uninterested in him. He didn't have any marks on him like they had killed him. I think he must have been injured and just hobbled into the pet door looking for a place to die. But I was not happy that I had to figure out how to dispose of him properly and I felt sorry for the little guy.

Then was the squirrel. One of many maybe but I am not sure. I have a huge beautiful Oak tree in my backyard and the squirrels just love it. You can never look out there and see the tree without several squirrels running up and down the branches. So many people think they are cute. I don't think this to be the case at all. They are just rats with bushy tails. They scavenge for food anywhere they can. I could not believe one actually had the nerve to come into my house. This one was not even one bit scared of my dogs. It looked like it had tried to get my bread off the kitchen counter and run with it. I don't think this would have been the first time as I have often wondered where the bread went or who was eating so many sandwiches. And I blamed my dog for bringing an empty bread package and leaving it in the back yard. This squirrel knew exactly what it was doing! And he was not a welcomed guest.

Lastly was the day of the duck. It was this past fall when the geese were flying south for the winter that one became ill or injured and fell and landed in my backyard. My dogs decided this poor duck was a fun toy to play with. They didn't try to hurt him but they spent hours and hours chasing him around the backyard before I realized what they were doing. I guess when it got brave it ran straight through my pet door and through my kitchen and ended up on the front door hallway refusing to move. Did I mention that I have a severe fear of ducks and geese? I can't tell you why or where it came from but I am more scared of them than I ever would be of snakes! I was way too scared to pick up the duck and he also seemed to have a hurt wing so I didn't want to hurt him even more. So I called animal control to come and get him. Because I was so scared of him being in my house I spent a good 3 hours just frozen in fear until someone came to pick him up.

So this brings me to the point of the pet door being benificial. After all these incidents and there were many more. I just chose the ones that were the most impact on me, I have still decided that the pet door works for my home and my dogs. I just tend to keep it closed a little more often than I used to. Especially in the winter because I can surely do without the ducks.

English 1301 Blog Entry Assignment

One assignment for this course is for each student to complete one entry for the class blog. You can choose any topic, provided it is not obviously offensive or inappropriate to the college classroom climate. The requirements are as follows:

·        Clearly use a specific writing genre, such as personal narrative, descriptive writing, comparison / contrast, how-to, analysis (of film, literature, music, etc), persuasive.

·        Do not use the same topic or materials you are using for the major essay you are writing for class.

·        Write in blog style (see accompanying materials and websites).

·        Entries should be short, about 250-300 words.

·        Include at least one picture.

·        Include at least one link.

·        Edit your grammar and mechanics.

·        Email your completed entry to me in the course and submit it to the course drop box and turnitin.com link by the due date you have chosen when you signed up. I will then post your blog for the class.

Besides writing your blog entry, you must read the entries of your classmates and comment on them in a meaningful, adult, intelligent way. We have all had the misfortune of reading the other kind of comments online, and we will not accept such behavior here. I hope that you develop the same disdain for unpleasant commenting and discourage it among your acquaintances. The requirement for commenting is that each student must comment once on each entry, including his/her own. Your comment on your own entry should respond to a classmate's comment. After all, the ability to converse online is one of the reasons blogs are so popular. Comments will count for 50% of the blog grade and are due within one week of each posting.

*Important note re: comments - Be sure to sign your name at the end of your comment to receive credit!  I cannot give credit for Anonymous posts unless they are signed within the comment.