Friday, October 28, 2011

Graf 19

I have a hard enough time coming up with ideas for an essay when given enough time to think about it; never mind having an hour or so to come up with an idea and bringing it to life.  For some reason, I am having an extremely hard time coming up with ideas that someone would actually care to read about.  I was able to just allow my fingers to do the work, without having to put much thought into it for a little while; not recently though.  I do not mind having to write about something if there is an assigned topic; that I can get creative with.  I feel that I just have way too much going on in my life right now and find it hard to concentrate.  This may be a horrible excuse but, I am sticking to it!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Exam Essay

                We never really expected to find her that day; we really only planned on getting a few odds and ends from the store.  Who could just walk by and not look at the piles of fur in the little cages anyway?  All rescued and in need of a good home; all with some story to tell on how and where they were found.  She was found in an abandoned house with her mother and siblings, only a few weeks old at the time.  As she lay there in the temporary cage that was set up by the rescue agency, she looks so pathetic.  Her big brown eyes could melt even the coldest of hearts; we knew right then that she was the one.  We ended up getting more than some bread that day; we ended up getting a new member of our family.  We are not sure as to what breed of dog Zoey is but, we do know that she has added so much to our family in character, entertainment and love.
                Zoey has added a new sort of character to our home.  We ensure that she goes with us wherever we go if possible.  Family and friends always are inquiring on how she is doing.  I can always count on Zoey meeting me at the door when I get home; her tail wagging and her body in a tremor of excitement.  I know that she will always fall asleep next to my side of the bed and will eventually decide to move into her bed when she is sure that Mom and Dad are safe and asleep.  On a hot summer day, I know that I can always find her either sunbathing in the yard or stretched out on the kitchen floor, enjoying the cold tiles on her stomach.  She is more than a dog; she is a member of our family.
                At five years old, Zoey still has the energy of a puppy.  Hours can be spent walking her in the yard or throwing a ball for her to fetch.  Good luck getting away from her if she brings you the tug rope.  I can always expect her to talk to me, using random noises that make sense only to her when she is excited and happy. She is the type of dog that always keeps you wondering on what she is going to do next.  I enjoy time spent with her; she is a true example of an animal being man’s best friend.  I have never owned a dog with such an entertaining personality.  Her antics are crazy, she is always great fun and she is more than just a dog; she is a member of our family.
                I am constantly amazed that the love and genuine concern that she always shows to us.  If you are sick, she will refuse to leave your side; your every move is carefully monitored by her watchful eye to ensure that you are doing well.  A bad day never seems so bad when she always seems to know that a hug is in order.  A head placed gently on your knee and a stare from her dark brown eyes can always brighten your day.  I was concerned about Zoey being jealous of Collin when we brought him home but she has been surprisingly attentive to the new addition to our family.  He cries and she is the first one to his side; she can often be seen taking a peek at him, just to make sure that he is doing well.  The love that she shows to me, even after she has received a scolding only proves that she is more than just a dog; she is family.
                I can understand why people say that dog owners tend to live a longer life.  Zoey has been an amazing friend to both me and my wife.  My wife often tells me that Zoey is what kept her sane while I was in Iraq.  I am not sure what would have happened if we had not decided to go to the store that day.  I do believe that she was meant to be our dog, that we needed her as much as she needed us.  There is no doubt in my mind that an animal can love, that they can change the lives of those that own them.  I am thankful that we were able to rescue her that day five years ago. I encourage anyone that is looking for a pet, to visit the local pounds and rescue agencies; these animals will truly show their gratitude to you for helping them.   I truly love that dog because of the fact that she is more than a dog; she is family




Thursday, October 20, 2011

Constrast Essay

                We were inseparable since we met in the eighth grade; we were the best of friends, even having the same first name.  Teachers always expected us to work on class projects together in middle school and even often referred to our duo as “Nick2.”  I suppose that was their way of being humorous at the time.  Our mutual friends always expected us to be hanging out together and simply called us by our last names in an attempt to avoid confusion over who they were speaking to.  By all standards, you would think that we were in a lot of ways, alike.  Most would assume this fact since we were such good friends.  In contrast however, we were two completely different people with completely opposite personalities, appearances and initiative for work and school.  I guess that the old saying “opposites attract” held true in this friendship.
                You would stand Nick and me next to each other and probably think that there would be no possible way that we could be best friends, based on presentation and appearance alone.  I was the jock who enjoyed the rush of Friday night lights and he was the skater that enjoyed the rush of getting drunk in the patch of woods behind the football field during the game.  Nick fit the stereotype of a skater with oversized, baggy pants, an extra large Adidas T-shirt, long hair that was tucked into a backward sitting baseball cap.  In contrast, I would enjoy a pair of jeans and shirt that actually fit; the standard stereotype of a jock.  Nick never cared about his outward appearance to everyone else, where I felt (and still do feel) that people actually do judge a book by its cover.  By the way we dressed and presented ourselves to the public was actually the least of our differences though.
                We contrasted even more in our ideas about work and school.  In high school, I waited tables in order to put gas in my car and go out on the weekend.  Nick on the other hand, decided that it was easier to work for his father when he felt like it and just steal money from them when he didn’t.  I had the desire to graduate high school; Nick had the desire to skip school whenever possible and see if he could beat his record from the previous school years record on how fast he could get expelled.  I soon came to the realization that I needed to do something more with my life and joined the Marine Corps; Nick decided that he needed to stay the way he was and ended up as a guest of the state in prison. 
                Nicks personality was one that many did not understand.  He was abrasive and crazy, never caring for many other people besides himself.  I wanted to be friends with everyone I met and was always looking for a way to help others.    I often wondered if I was his friend or babysitter since I would often have to be the voice of reason, his” Jimmity Cricket” to keep him out of trouble.  I would always be the one who had to think about the consequences of our actions and about how they would affect my future.  Nick was an instant gratification type if guy, living for the minute and not caring about what the future may or may not hold.  We were opposites but also best friends.
                I haven’t seen Nick in quite some time.  He could never understand why I did not want to hang out with him when I was a Recruiter for the Marine Corps.  He didn’t understand that it was because of the fact that I had grown up, where he never did.    I ended up joining the Marine Corps and he ended up in prison.  I ended up getting married and starting my own family, he still lives in his parent’s basement at thirty years old.  I think about our childhood friendship often; about how much we had been through growing up and feel bad about not keeping in touch. I guess that even though we were best friends growing up, the differences in our personalities, appearance and initiative ended being too much.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

ISearch Progress Report

               I have been thinking about my Isearch paper a lot lately.  I know that I have passed in the first three assignments about what it is, how much I know and what my plan of attack is.  It has been interesting in writing this paper.  I have in a way recorded Collins first two weeks of life in a sort of journal form but, am not sure how to incorporate it into my paper.  I have addressed the topics of about how I have dealt with sleep deprivation, diaper changes, feeding and doctors appointments.  I feel that I am keeping with my topic to an extent but, am not sure if I am heading in the ISearch direction again.  As of now, it seems that most of what I have is through real life, research and living my topic. I should be able to find a way to pull everything together but, still have to find written topics to use as sources. 

Contrast Intro 2

                We were best friends since middle school and spent a majority of our time together, we were inseparable.  We did everything together from taking the same classes in school to hanging out at each other’s house on the weekends; we even shared the same first name.  Our friends often expected us to be seen together and often thought that it was weird if one or the other was not around.  Even though Nick and I were best friends, we were the exact opposite in many ways.  Some people actually found it strange that two people that were so opposite could be such good friends.  How could two different people with such contrasting personalities, ambition and appearance be best friends?  Can people who are so different stay friends in the long run?

Monday, October 17, 2011

Classification Essay

                I think about the last time that I had to make that decision; how long did it take?   A decision made even harder since I was at a place that you have never been.  I take that first sip and feel the frosty adult beverage of choice slide down the back of my throat; I grin and let out the familiar “Ahhhh” of approval.  This had to have been one of the hardest decisions that I have made in a very long time with what seemed liked hours spent staring at the menu, tap levers and bottles lined neatly up and displayed on the bar wall.  The choices seem endless when I think back on it; regular, light or a dark micro-brewed.  To some, the choice is relatively simple because they know what they want and like.  However, I was stuck in a rut of ordering the same old beverage and not daring to go out on the edge, roll the dice and live a little in my selection. I have unselfishly researched and sampled many different beverages of the adult type in my years in the Marines; all to help get a better understanding of the options available.  The samples were painstakingly sampled in many different states and even countries as far away as Spain, Japan and Aruba, only to name a few.  Even though many of your opinions and particular tastes may vary, this is what I have found that I like for beer.
                I originally did not like the taste of beer when I started to “experiment” with alcohol in high school.  The taste just seemed to turn my stomach and leave the most unpleasant aftertaste in the back of my throat.  Besides, it seemed like it took a million and one of those urine colored drinks with bubbles to allow me to reach my goal; to get as messed up as I could, on the least amount of cash.  I started to drink the light beers after I discovered Natural Light.  Yup, it tasted like skunk piss smelled but for around what I could scrape up in change, I was able to get a case.  That case, if cold could be chugged, shot gunned and forced down my throat at any given party.  This was my period of unrefined taste.  Not only does light beer taste completely watered down or tend to have no taste, it also causes me to wake up the next morning with the feeling that a bear had taken a number two in my mouth the evening before.  In short; light beer either has no taste or tastes like crap, it leaves a horrible aftertaste and leaves you with a headache the next morning.  This tends to hold true of all the light beer that I have sampled throughout the world.  My thoughts are that the lighter the beer is, the nastier.  What self respecting man cares how many calories their beer has anyway?
                A small step up from light beer is well, regular beer.  We all are probably the most familiar with this category.  What teenager did not snag a Budweiser from their old mans refrigerator in the garage?  I have found that this particular category does actually have some decent samples though.  One of the best that I have tasted was discovered on my honeymoon in Aruba.  Balashi is a regular beer that has won numerous gold medals in worldwide beer competitions.  It is made from desalinated sea water and holds a similar taste of Heineken (decent in itself) but, without the aftertaste in the back of your throat.  Regular beer can be dry (like most Japanese beers) or hold the standard of most of the beers that can be purchased at any gas station here in the good old United States.  I feel that this category has been overdone and over carbonated; leaving the consumer with gas and an unfortunate trip to the porcelain throne in the early hours with an aggravating hangover.  Sadly, this is the category that most people find to be the best.  This type of beer is a little more expensive than the light but, also has a slight advantage in taste.
                Now the third category of beers is by far my favorite category.  From the many tastes that can be enjoyed in our local brewery here in Bangor, Maine to a warm and inviting Guinness in Shannon, Ireland after a long tour in Iraq; micro-brewed, dark beers are by far the best out there.  The options are really limitless and my only boundaries end up being my own taste preferences for the night.  There are Micro-Brews, Lagers and stouts; all separate categories within a category itself.  All tastes of their own and unique to the locations they are brewed.  Dark beers have a certain taste that will hit you when you take that first sip.  It is a taste that says “I am not like any other brew!”  To me, this type of beer shows to the world the fact that you are in yourself, bold; you are dignified and have unique tastes.  There is even a set of rules for some micro-brews as to how they should be served. These beverages cannot even be considered a beer since they are in a class of their own.  I find that I will pay more for such a beverage but, I will gain the world in taste and satisfaction.  No headaches, hangovers, gas or nights spend hugging the throne with a micro-brewed dark beer.  
                When the day is done and you scoot up to the bar, it is really up to you on what you will ask the barkeep to pour.  Will it be the same old mundane beer that you have been drinking since snagging it from your parents as a teen or will you live out on the edge.  Remember my cautions when you stop at the local 7-Eleven on your way home and  consider a six back of suds; will it be the same old skunk brew or perhaps be something new?  Light beers leave me unsatisfied in the end, regular beers are OK but don’t hold a candle to the Micro-Brew. 

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Contrast Intro 1

            We were inseparable since we met in the eighth grade; we were the best of friends, even having the same first name.  Teachers always expected us to work on class projects together in middle school and even often referred to our duo as “Nick2.”  I suppose that was their way of being humorous at the time.  Our mutual friends always expected us to be hanging out together and simply called us by our last names in an attempt to avoid confusion over who they were speaking to.  By all standards, you would think that we were in a lot of ways, alike.  Most would assume this fact since we were such good friends.  In contrast however, we were two completely different people with completely opposite personalities.  I guess that the old saying “opposites attract” held true in this friendship.

Alt. Classification Intro (revised)

I am hoping that this is more of the direction that I am supposed to go in!

      I think about the last time that I had to make that decision; how long did it take?   A decision made even harder since I was at a place that you have never been.  I take that first sip and feel the frosty adult beverage of choice slide down the back of my throat; I grin and let out the familiar “Ahhhh” of approval.  This had to have been one of the hardest decisions that I have made in a very long time with what seemed liked hours spent staring at the menu, tap levers and bottles lined neatly up and displayed on the bar wall.  The choices seem endless when I think back on it; regular, light or a dark micro-brewed.  To some, the choice is relatively simple because they know what they want and like.  However, I was stuck in a rut of ordering the same old beverage and not daring to go out on the edge, roll the dice and live a little in my selection. I have unselfishly researched and sampled many different beverages of the adult type in my years in the Marines; all to help get a better understanding of the options available.  The samples were painstakingly sampled in many different states and even countries as far away as Spain, Japan and Aruba, only to name a few.  Even though many of your opinions and particular tastes may vary, this is what I have found that I like for beer.

Classification Essay alternate Intro 1

               Think about the last time that you had to make that decision; how long did it take?   A decision made even harder if you were at a place that you have never been.  As you take that first sip and that frosty adult beverage of choice slides down the back of your throat, you grin and let out the familiar “Ahhhh” of approval.  This had to have been one of the hardest decisions that you have made in a very long time with what seemed liked hours spent staring at the menu, tap levers or bottles lined neatly up and displayed on the bar wall.  The choices seem endless when you think about it; regular, light or a dark micro-brewed.  To some of us, the choice is relatively simple because we know what we want and like.  However, there are those stuck in a rut of ordering the same old beverage and not daring to go out on the edge, roll the dice and live a little in their selection.  As long as you are of legal drinking age, your options are limitless.  I have unselfishly researched and sampled many different beverages of the adult type beverages in my years in the Marines; all to help you better understand the options available.  The samples were painstakingly sampled in many different states and even countries as far away as Spain, Japan and Aruba, only to name a few.  Sit back, relax and enjoy since I have come up with an abbreviated guide to help you make an informed decision the next time you must make that mind bending decision on what to drink.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Classification Outro

                   So in the end, it is really up to the individual on what is comfortable and practical for them.  There are ones that hold you tight, some that let you go and some that fall somewhere in between the other two.    How will you know when you found the one?  Well, you will just know when you have found your match.  I must give you a fair warning though; there will be some that chafe, some that ride and some that even seem to cut off all circulation.  These are the risks that must be risked, the trials that must be tried in order to find the one; the perfect undergarment for men.  Happy hunting guys!

Classification Essay intro 2

                Briefs, Boxers or Boxer Briefs of my!  What is with all the different choices out there for men’s undergarments?  Underwear is underwear, right?  These are three completely different types of men’s undergarments that we all have to make a decision on at some point.  We even may find ourselves changing from one to another for different activities or events.  What’s the deal?  What’s the difference?  From the first fig leaf to the latest product supported by a group of man sized, talking fruit; this concept has changed throughout the ages.  Let us step into the world of men’s comfort and maybe even fashion to figure out the big mystery of which one is better.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Classification Essay Intro 1

               Every guy has had the experience of standing in their favorite department stores men’s department and staring at a shelf lined with different types of men’s underwear.  What is the benefit of wearing one type over the other?  Is one more comfortable than the other?  There is the regular type of underwear, boxers and boxer briefs; not to mention a zillion different brands.  I guess that we should be thankful to be men though; have you ever seen the feminine hygiene aisle in the local supermarket?  So, is one type really better for than others in certain situations?  The world may really never know but, I will go over the three types and try to answer an age old question that dates back to the times of our great ancestors; Tighty Whities, Boxers or Boxer Briefs?

Classification Essays

                Classification essays seem simple enough to write; the hard part for me lately is thinking about what I want to write about.  Take a subject and break it into sub categories that are considered classifications of that subject or product, right?  As I write this reaction, I am attempting to brainstorm ideas in my head.  I am contemplating a classification essay on the different brands of diapers since it is a new and confusing subject to me right now.  The hard part is deciding how I want to classify them.  Do I classify them according to price, comfort for baby or how well each one absorbs?  Now, I would have no ways of researching each brand or type without having them here!  We will see what I can come up with!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Cause Essay

            I stare at my laptop screen as the cursor blinks in almost excited anticipation to do its job; nothing happens. My mind wanders off in a million different directions, unable to concentrate on the task at hand. How did I allow myself to get into this situation? I feel a bit of nausea building in my stomach and my heart begins to pump faster. I am so far behind in my English 101 work that it is making me sick from stress. I think about it more and understand why I am where I am!
I can remember her telling me that she was pregnant; many things flashed through my head at the time.  I just figured that I have plenty of time to do what needs to be done.  At first, that was really the case; it changed has the time for her to deliver our son grew near though.  Soon, my time was spent on preparing his nursery, folding small clothes and allowing my mind to drift off in daydreams about what he would be like and school work just seemed to not happen.  This daydreaming and lack of concentration quickly pushed me into an ever growing pile of backed up English 101 work.  How was I ever going to catch up? 
I can still hear her warning me when I accepted the positions.  “I am worried that having too many jobs will interfere with your school work” she said.  With a quick roll of my eyes I replied with a simple “Don’t worry about me, I’ve got this!”  I was already working as the Assistant Manager at our wonderful campus bookstore when I was offered the other jobs; it wasn’t like I needed to accept them.  I had actually applied to both jobs around the same time; well before I was offered my current position.  These were the jobs that I really wanted to do and I would be crazy if I declined the offers.  Emergency medicine is what I dream of and I suddenly had offers to work for two ambulance companies.  To say the least, I was excited!  I started to work per diem shifts on weekends for one service and was hired as an on-call EMT for the other.  All that I needed was enough calls to be “cleared” off the preceptor program and hired as a full time employee so that I could ditch the store gig.  I started in with all three jobs, fully intending to keep strong in school also; I am wondering if my wife may have been right.  I take my laptop to work on the weekend with full intent of getting caught up, only to spend the whole day on calls.  I take my laptop out at home, only to hear my pager go off for an emergency somewhere in town.  Keep in mind; I am attempting to do this after I have worked a full day already or a full week.  How am I ever going to catch up?
To keep up with a theme, I will go back to my wife warning me not to do something; and me not listening!  She had told me that it would be a very hard fall semester if I took too many classes.  She had reminded me that our son would soon be born and that I already worked three separate jobs.  “I am worried that your grades will slip; maybe only a few classes this semester” she had warned.  Again, I rolled my eyes and responded with a simple, “Don’t worry, I can do this!”  When will I learn that wives can sometimes be right?  I decided to take as many courses that my free time would possibly allow.  Besides, it would take me a million years to graduate if I only took one or two courses per semester.  This was simple enough reasoning for me to an almost full-time course load.  What is an extra on-line English class anyway?  If I had only known what I was getting myself into by signing up for that extra course, things may not be at the point that they are today.  I already had way too many things going on in my life and probably could have held off on signing up for that last minute English 101 class.  How am I ever going to catch up?
           In a nutshell; I am a nutshell right now! I guess that I should have listened to my wife when she tried to warn me that I was taking on too much at once. I have a million and one things happening in my life that I am having a hard time concentrating on school work.  I am told that all hard work will eventually pay off in the long run; I sure hope so. Three jobs, an almost full course load and a newborn about to bless my home have kept me busier than I would like.  There are not enough hours in the day or enough of me to go around. It helps to take a minute to step back and re-evaluate what is going on. It doesn’t really help to realize that things will only get harder before they get easier though. My son is almost here and it appears that I will never get any sleep, I have way too many jobs and there are not enough hours in the day to do what needs to be done. My life is hectic and crazy as can be. However, this is my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Monday, October 10, 2011

What do I already know?

               What do I already know about being a father, surviving the first few months and the tricks of ensuring that I am getting plenty of rest, without ignoring the rest of my life?  That is a darn good question!  Many have told me to ensure that Mom and Dad are resting when baby is resting.  Great advice until you find out that baby sleeps all day; when you have to answer to your daily life.  There have been many tips from those who have joined the wonderful world of parenthood before me; all will be taken at face value at first.  I mean, what is good for the goose is not necessarily always good for the gander.  I am a new Dad and will need to take this whole thing day by day and night by night.  I don’t know a whole lot about being a parent and am hoping that “instinct” will take over.  Is there even such thing has fathers intuition?  We will find out!  This paper is dedicated to my son, Collin.  He is the complete motivation for this research because; I truly do not feel like I know a single thing!

CORRECT Cause 3

       To keep up with a theme, I will go back to my wife warning me not to do something; and me not listening!  She had told me that it would be a very hard fall semester if I took too many classes.  She had reminded me that our son would soon be born and that I already worked three separate jobs.  “I am worried that your grades will slip; maybe only a few classes this semester” she had warned.  Again, I rolled my eyes and responded with a simple, “Don’t worry, I can do this!”  When will I learn that wives can sometimes be right?  I decided to take as many courses that my free time would possibly allow.  Besides, it would take me a million years to graduate if I only took one or two courses per semester.  This was simple enough reasoning for me to an almost full-time course load.  What is an extra on-line English class anyway?  If I had only known what I was getting myself into by signing up for that extra course, things may not be at the point that they are today.  I already had way too many things going on in my life and probably could have held off on signing up for that last minute English 101 class.  How am I ever going to catch up?

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Meta Graf

                I sit here awake for the third night in a row, my four day old son asleep next to me; sure to wake up for some comfort at any minute.  I have told Mommy that I have it covered, Collin is content and I really need to get caught up on some English 101 work.  I ponder over what I really need to do and remember that I am still at the point of needing to get caught up on my cause essay.  I remember that I had done some work on it the night that Angie had gone into labor but, had neglected to post them on my blog.  “F@$%!“ I mumbled under my breath, I was already behind to begin with…F@$%!  I feel a little comfort as I remember that I have the next week off to get caught up; I laugh as my son grunts and what seems like a large amount of built up air escapes from one side or the other of his seven pound body.  I make some last minute changes and stare at the screen, not sure if I am even happy with what I see before me.  I do a quick spell check and then paste my work into my English 101 blog just in time to catch a slight odor in the air and hear the slowly building cry of Collin.  Can you guess what side of him the air escaped from?

Cause 3

         I can still hear her warning me when I accepted the positions.  “I am worried that having too many jobs will interfere with your school work” she said.  With a quick roll of my eyes I replied with a simple “Don’t worry about me, I’ve got this!”  I was already working as the Assistant Manager at our wonderful campus bookstore when I was offered the other jobs; it wasn’t like I needed to accept them.  I had actually applied to both jobs around the same time; well before I was offered my current position.  These were the jobs that I really wanted to do and I would be crazy if I declined the offers.  Emergency medicine is what I dream of and I suddenly had offers to work for two ambulance companies.  To say the least, I was excited!  I started to work per diem shifts on weekends for one service and was hired as an on-call EMT for the other.  All that I needed was enough calls to be “cleared” off the preceptor program and hired as a full time employee so that I could ditch the store gig.  I started in with all three jobs, fully intending to keep strong in school also; I am wondering if my wife may have been right.  I take my laptop to work on the weekend with full intent of getting caught up, only to spend the whole day on calls.  I take my laptop out at home, only to hear my pager go off for an emergency somewhere in town.  Keep in mind; I am attempting to do this after I have worked a full day already or a full week.  How am I ever going to catch up?

Cause 2

       I can still hear her warning me when I accepted the positions.  “I am worried that having too many jobs will interfere with your school work” she said.  With a quick roll of my eyes I replied with a simple “Don’t worry about me, I’ve got this!”  I was already working as the Assistant Manager at our wonderful campus bookstore when I was offered the other jobs; it wasn’t like I needed to accept them.  I had actually applied to both jobs around the same time; well before I was offered my current position.  These were the jobs that I really wanted to do and I would be crazy if I declined the offers.  Emergency medicine is what I dream of and I suddenly had offers to work for two ambulance companies.  To say the least, I was excited!  I started to work per diem shifts on weekends for one service and was hired as an on-call EMT for the other.  All that I needed was enough calls to be “cleared” off the preceptor program and hired as a full time employee so that I could ditch the store gig.  I started in with all three jobs, fully intending to keep strong in school also; I am wondering if my wife may have been right.  I take my laptop to work on the weekend with full intent of getting caught up, only to spend the whole day on calls.  I take my laptop out at home, only to hear my pager go off for an emergency somewhere in town.  Keep in mind; I am attempting to do this after I have worked a full day already or a full week.  How am I ever going to catch up?

Cause 1

         I can remember her telling me that she was pregnant; many things flashed through my head at the time.  I just figured that I have plenty of time to do what needs to be done.  At first, that was really the case; it changed has the time for her to deliver our son grew near though.  Soon, my time was spent on preparing his nursery, folding small clothes and allowing my mind to drift off in daydreams about what he would be like and school work just seemed to not happen.  This daydreaming and lack of concentration quickly pushed me into an ever growing pile of backed up English 101 work.  How was I ever going to catch up? 

Sunday, October 2, 2011

My research plan

                My plan for researching this paper will be very proactive over the next few months.  I will be living my research as I write this paper and be answering questions based on experience as well as research.  I have numerous relatives and friends that have had children, all of which had their own unique experiences when dealing with issues of parenthood; these people will be a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.  Luckily for me, there are also many books that have been written by so called “experts” in parenting.  This information should be of great use; after all, these are experts.  I will be talking to my pediatrician about many issues that range from immunizations and feeding schedules to colds and colic.  Everyone who has had a child of their own is a potential source for this paper and there are many magazines that are directed towards new fathers such as me.  This will be a great experience and opportunity to ensure that I am doing all I can to be a great father and husband.

Background

            Picture it…Bath, Maine…August 3rd, 1979; a baby is heard crying throughout the maternity ward.  I enter this world at 4:30 pm at eight pounds and twenty-two inches long; my mother weeps in joy as I am placed on her chest and fall contently back to sleep.  Yup, my first experience with child birth was my own; what a long day that was!  Since then, I have seen friends and relatives bring bundles of pooping and peeing joy into this world; Every kid with a personality of his/her own and every kid with a different story to tell.  I would like to say that I am real good with children.  I hold them, they poop and I give them back to their parents!  I hold them, they cry and I give them back to their parents!  They come to visit, I get a headache and they go back to their parents!  I “thought” that I had this kid care thing all figured out.  Nine months ago that all changed.  I can no longer give the screaming, pooping child back to his parents; I am the parent.  I am told that I was an evenly tempered baby; I didn’t cry a whole lot and slept through the night earlier than my brother did.  Can I get that lucky?  I don’t have the experience with children that some have when becoming parents.  I am thankful that my wife had watched her young cousins for most of their infant lives.  I am so glad that she knows what to do.  Everyone tries to pass on their own nuggets of wisdom as to what it takes to be a father; everyone tells you exactly what to expect.  I wish it was that simple!  My background is that I was a baby and have known some babies in my life.  I am a novice parent, a beginner to say the least.  My wife and I will find for ourselves what it takes to be parents.  I will find for myself what works to combat sleep deprivation, colic and the other challenges of parenthood.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

New ISearch Motivation

            It has almost been nine months since my dog walked up to me with a something hanging off her tag.  “Mommy is having a baby” was written on a sticky note hanging off her tag; mommy peaking around the corner with a smile on her face.  I don’t think that I could have been any happier; I am going to be a “Dad!”  Wow, has my life already changed and it has been a journey already.  What do I need to do to get ready?  This has been a question that has haunted me for months now.  I have scraped, painted and put together baby furniture; I feel like I have literally lost my mind at points.  My motivation for this paper is my son.  I am determined to figure out what I need to do in order t0 be a good father to Collin.  I imagine that there are questions that I will not be able to answer with research, only experience.  I will give it my all though; I will not fail my son.  I want to know the following:

1)     What should I expect in the first few months?

2)    Is there any important things that need to be done to get ready for him?

3)    What can I do to help stimulate brain development and growth?

4)    What are some tips to survive the sleep deprivation?

NEW ISEARCH SHEET (TOPIC CHANGE)

What do you want to write about?
  Newborn Baby: Surviving the first months.

What do you want to find out about your topic?
What to expect and tips on how to not go insane in the first months

What are your questions about the topic?
1. What can I expect?
2. What are some ways to still live your life while living for another?
3. Ways to beat the sleep deprivation?

How does it connect to your life?
I have a son due SOON!

Give three reasons you like the topic
1. It is real personal subject to me.
2. I have been attempting to deal with the unknowns and excitement already.
3. It may give another expectant father some advice so that the don’t go insane like I have.

Give three ways your life might change if you answer your questions
1. I will be able to better manage my personal life while dealing with my sons needs.
2. It will make me a better father and husband
3. My son will think I rock!



Cause Outro

        In a nutshell; I am a nutshell right now!  I have a million and one things happening in my life that I am having a hard time concentrating on school work.  It helps to take a minute to step back and re-evaluate what is going on.  It doesn’t really help to realize that things will only get harder before they get easier though.  My son is almost here and it appears that I will never get any sleep, I have way too many jobs and there are not enough hours in the day to do what needs to be done.  My life is hectic and crazy as can be.  However, this is my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Cause 2a

                I stare at my laptop screen as the cursor blinks in almost excited anticipation to do its job; nothing happens.  My mind wanders off in a million different directions, unable to concentrate on the task at hand.  How did I allow myself to get into this situation?  I feel a bit of nausea building in my stomach and my heart begins to pump faster.   I am so far behind in my English 101 work that it is making me sick from stress.  I think about it more and understand why I am where I am!