final blog post

1.) I've done more writing in this class than in any other class in my life, but it honestly doesn't feel like it. This class has been so fun! I know I've done a lot of work, and I feel accomplished, but it's been so fun that while I'm actually doing it, it doesn't even feel like work. My favorite of all the pieces we've done has been the window poem. I liked being able to paint and draw and tell my story about a something that's important to me. I also enjoyed the photo hunt assignment and taking pictures and writing about them. All the assignments in this class are fun because Mrs. Fraser is a teacher who cares about more than meeting the curriculum. She is hands down one of the best teachers at Kickapoo.
2.) I've enjoyed being able to read my fellow classmates blogs over the past semester. I've really enjoyed Matt's and Karlee's! They are both great writers and always have something interesting to say!
3.) Creating a blog has been a really neat experience! I have a tumblr, but I mostly use it for photos, so this has been a lot different than that! I am pretty simple, so I kept the name of my blog short and sweet, and to the point. I hope my peers have enjoyed my blog as much as I have enjoyed theirs! I hope that my mom will read it someday! I hope I continue to post! It's been a lot of fun! I might write about my experiences of senior year, and graduation, and possibly the trips and adventures I go on!
4.) Journaling has been great! I can write about anything and everything, I can draw, I can put quotes in it! I don't know if anyone would really want to read my journal, because it has a lot of rough drafts in it. emphasis on the word rough... If i continue to write in my journal it will be pre-blog posts.
5.)  Baseball is a very important game to me. I started going to Ducks games when I was 1, and have loved the game ever since. I actually always have a baseball with me, so thats why it's important to me. I started playing softball the summer after 5th grade, but then I quit. I started playing again in 10th grade, and now it takes up most of my time. The game has taught me a lot.
6.) To my wonderful, loving, thoughtful, and selfless mother;

God made you my mom to show me a kind of unconditional love that only a mother can give. When I look back on my childhood, I can see that you gave it your all. You've gone above and beyond to give me the best life you could provide. Along the way, you worried a lot, and didn't always get things right on the first try, but you taught me about kindness, love, compassion, and honesty. I sometimes forget to say thank you, and take the special little things you do for granted. I just want you to know, I love you for the way you always listen, and for your kind support throughout the years, for teaching me the meaning of compassion, and sharing in my triumphs and my tears. If I ever seem ungrateful, just know that I hope you see that nothing you have done for me goes unnoticed or forgotten, and day by day you mean more and more to me.

Thank you for being my rock. You make the bad times better and the good times great. Thank you for believing in me even when I, coaches, or friends don't. You see potential in me that no one else does and you push me to do my best and always give 100%. I am so blessed that God gifted me to a mom like you

Love always,
Kammy

7.) I hope to continue writing. It's helped me learn a lot about myself. This writing isn't graded which makes it more genuine. I'm not afraid to add in my opinions and thoughts and feeling. There's no fear of rejection in creative writing.

8.) If there's a Goliath in front of you, that means there's a David inside of you - Carlos A. Rodrigues

A person who feels appriciated will always do more than what is expected.

Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like and celebrating it for everything that it is. - Mandy Hale

Writing as a Gift

To my wonderful, loving, thoughtful, and selfless mother;

God made you my mom to show me a kind of unconditional love that only a mother can give. When I look back on my childhood, I can see that you gave it your all. You've gone above and beyond to give me the best life you could provide. Along the way, you worried a lot, and didn't always get things right on the first try, but you taught me about kindness, love, compassion, and honesty. I sometimes forget to say thank you, and take the special little things you do for granted. I just want you to know, I love you for the way you always listen, and for your kind support throughout the years, for teaching me the meaning of compassion, and sharing in my triumphs and my tears. If I ever seem ungrateful, just know that I hope you see that nothing you have done for me goes unnoticed or forgotten, and day by day you mean more and more to me.

Thank you for being my rock. You make the bad times better and the good times great. Thank you for believing in me even when I, coaches, or friends don't. You see potential in me that no one else does and you push me to do my best and always give 100%. I am so blessed that God gifted me to a mom like you

Love always,
Kammy

FOOD for Thought

Thanksgiving

When I was younger, I would switch between my moms and dads every year for thanksgiving. Now I usually just stay with my mom. My mom and her sister switch between hosting thanksgiving and Christmas every year. This past thanksgiving was my aunts turn to host, so my family traveled up to Festus to celebrate. My cousins and I had a great time as always, and we started a new tradition of "after meal hammocking". I've been an avid hammocker for the past 2 years and it's something I really have a passion for so I thought it would be perfect to incorporate something I love so dearly into a holiday that's all about giving thanks for everything. My cousins both have hammocks too, so it was the perfect after meal activity for us.

Thanksgiving has been a little different for me the past two years, because I am Gluten free. I can still eat most of the food, aside from the bread and stuffing and basically everything thats delicious. Its really not that bad though. My mom got me a gluten free peice of pumpkin pie so I wouldn't feel left out. My family also has this tradition of drinking the first glass of eggnog the night after thanksgiving dinner. My mom and her sister have been doing that for as long as I can remember.

Children's Story Draft

Front cover: Cam/s Big Game
1: Cam is getting ready for the biggest game of the season...
2: The state championship!
3: image
4: Cam is going to be pitching!
5: He has been practicing everyday!
6:This is his time to shine!
7: Cam takes the mound...
8: He is nervous but excited!
9: Cam takes a deep breath and throws the first pitch
10: then the 2nd and the 3rd...
11: Cam's team is up by 1 as they enter the bottom of the 9th
12: 3 outs stand between cam and the State Championship
13: the first batter steps up to the plate
14: strike 3! only 2 more outs...
15: now only 1 batter stands between Cam and the Championship
16: with a 3-2 count, Cam throws the most important pitch of his life.
Inside back cover: Cam wins!!! (back K)

Computer images and drawings.

About the Author

Kamryn Richardson

Kamryn, better known as Kam, grew up in The Ozarks. She spends most of her time enjoying the outdoors, playing softball, hiking, and hammocking. She lives with her mother, Stepfather, two half sisters, and her pet bunny, Moo

.

Books for Kids

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
No bio.
Main character is leaning over a plate of green eggs and ham against an orange background.
62 Pages
Sam-I-Am and The character that does not like green eggs and ham.
The setting is a Dr. Seuss style world. (On a train, on a boat, in a box, here or there, anywhere, ect.)
Sam-I-Am gets the other character to eventually try the green eggs and ham after a lot of convinving. The character does not like Sam-I-Am and does not like green eggs and ham but in the end, he tries the green eggs and ham and becomes friends with Sam-I-Am.
"Creatures" are the characters
yes it rhymes
yes it teaches a lesson
yes it has monsters or creatures
no kids are not the characters
no adults are not characters
yes it uses humor
yes it has illustrations
yes it uses color
no it does not have actual photos
no it does not have a more sentimental/lovey tone
yes it has lots of words per page
yes one phrase is repeated throughout
"I do not like them, Sam-I-Am. I do not like green eggs and ham."
3-7y/o because this story teaches you to try new things and I think thats an important lesson to learn at a young age.
Yes, because I don't like eggs, but this book made me try them anyways.

Child's Play

4.) In middle school, I met this girl and we instantly became friends. At then end of eighth grade, we had been through all the trials and changes of middle school. We had both become extremly different people from when we first met. She was moving on to more mature, older friends. She had her first tattoo by the time we hit 10th grade. The crowd she got into wasn't really my style at the time. We actually didn't talk much at all aside from the occasional hello. She ended up graduating a year early. We actually still keep in touch through social media though. Our paths are back on similar tracks.
10.) The party I remember most is my 6th birthday. I have a summer birthday, so I was one of the last of my friends to turn 6. I had a pool party because I loved being in the sun. My mom made dirt cake, my favorite at the time, and I had all my best friends over. We splashed around for a couple hours and then opened presents and ate cake. It was a great day. I would love to relive that.
12.) I have a level 4 heart murrmor that has developed over the past decade, but other than that I'm a very healthy child. I did struggle with my ears a lot when I was younger though. I would get ear infections all the time and was in a lot of pain. I had my tonsils taken out when I was 2 and I also got tubes. I eventually grew out of my ear infections. I didn't break any bones until middle school, thankfully. I did loose a tooth in a nasty bike wreck when I was about 7. My sister pushed me off the sidewalk onto the grass while I was biking with her and I flipped over an electric box. I busted my face up pretty bad. I lost one of my teeth and loosend a couple others. This was also right before I got my first set of braces.

Keeping it Real (like Dan)

2.) Always have patients. We are doing our best and when you yell it makes things 300% worse. Just take a breath and remember that you were a teenager at one point too. Sometimes we need to be put in check, but if you can see that we are trying and you continue to yell at us, it just makes the situation worse.
5.) I think you should date whenever you feel ready, but that's coming from a person who is 17 and still doesn't feel ready. I think a lot of people feel that relationships are just super easy and all fun and happiness, but I'm terrified of them because I see the responsibility that they come with, and I'm just not ready for that. But hey, if you feel like you can handle it, then go for it.
Also, I think if you re old enough to go purchase your own underwear and do your own laundry, then you can wear whatever you want. Just do what you think is comfortable.
Falling in love doesn't magically happen when you turn a certain age. I'm not sure how it works, but hopefully it happens to everyone.
7.) There isn't a specific timeline to knowing. It could take three minutes, three days, or three years. But I feel like once you know, then you know and there is no doubt. Your soul mate could be someone you've known for years, or someone you just met. It's all in God's timing.
14.) Everyone has one person that is made for them, but we as humans make a lot of errors. So, if you're lucky, you might be one of the lucky ones who ends up with their "person." I think it would be neat if everyone automatically was paired with their soul mate, but that's just not how it works.
26.) I think Marty was right when he said "Love isn't a feeling, it's an ability". We choose to open up to people, and we choose to let them in and "love" them. I think some people are more open and able to love than others. You can choose to not love someone though.

"Reel" Life

My favorite film is Step Brothers. The first time I watched it, I fell in love. It is the funniest movie I have ever seen. I have re watched it so many times and it never gets old. I quote it on the daily, and my car is even named after one of the characters. It is the GOAT of movies.


I'm not really into "chick flicks." I hate feel good and sappy movies. Anything emotional is not for me.


I watch movies at night in my bed a lot. I use Netflix and Hulu and I also download movies. I also watch them when I have friends over.

I can watch a movie in any environment. My favorite would probably be in the car. I get really bored when I can't move for long periods of time, so watching a movie helps distract me from that. I also like watching movies in bed. The only thing I don't really like is watching a movie with my family. I don't enjoy their unnecessary commenting.
If my life were a movie, Jennifer Lawrence would play me. There would be lots of dogs in the movie too, but it would still be pretty boring. My parents immediate divorce after my birth would be featured. Also, the 2011 World Series would be a big part of the plot. I'm not sure what the ending would be though, hopefully it would be happy.
YOUR PERSONALITY
Take a look at how you scored on the Big Five personality dimensions below.
Your scores, compared with the responses of other people, suggest that you may be described as follows:

YOU ARE 67% EXTROVERTED.
You are moderate in activity and enthusiasm. You enjoy the company of others but you also value your privacy.

YOU ARE 0% AGREEABLE.
You are hard-headed, skeptical, proud and competitive. You tend to express your anger directly.

YOU ARE 83% CONSCIENTIOUS.
You are dependable and moderately well-organized. You generally have clear goals and are able to set goals aside.

YOU ARE 83% EMOTIONALLY STABLE.
You are generally calm and able to deal with stress, but you sometimes experience feelings of guilt, anger and sadness.

YOU ARE 50% OPEN TO NEW EXPERIENCES.
You are down-to-earth, practical, traditional, and pretty much set in your ways. 

"Reely" Good Quotes

"Why are you so sweaty?

I was watching cops." - Step Brothers

"I don't have a skull... or bones." - Frozen

"Dad, what are you doing? It's Shark Week!" - Step Brothers

"Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac...It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!" - Caddyshack

Scare/Share

A True American Horror Story:
This Election.
Honestly, this is terrifying. The candidates aren't even the biggest problem in my opinion. The fact that every election ages 18-24 could decide the outcome of the election and choose not to is terrifying. I am appalled that people choose to give up their right to vote. It is our duty as American Citizens to participate in the democracy that we have been blessed with. Whether you vote for a main party, or a third party, as long as you vote that's all that matters. Honestly the most disrespectful thing you can do is not vote. In 1776 we were a nation founded by the people for the people. I don't care if you vote for someone I don't agree with, as long as you vote. So many people would do anything to live in a country where they can choose their leader. Giving up that right is a mistake.
Make America Great Again by Voting!

Photos of the Millennium (so far)

This photo is from 2004, and it's the very first time I had ever been to New York. This was a few years after the devestating event of 9/11/01. I was four years old when this was taken, and I honestly don't remember much about the trip, but one thing that has stayed fresh in my mind is where the twin towers stood. At this point in history, the construction was just starting and all the areas around where the towers stood were blocked off. My family went on a walk around the entire site and even though I didn't fully understand what had happened, I knew that it was somthing important. That Fall, I started Kindergarten and come September we started learing about the events of the terrorist attacks. I put the peices together and even as a five year old, I understood.
One thing that really gets under my skin is how today, in schools we don't regognize 9/11 anymore. It's just a distant tragedy now. No matter how much time has passed, we shouldn't forget about it. I was blessed to be able to return this past spring and visit the new memorial sights and Freedom Tower. Returning as a 16 year old who has more background knowledge of the attack made the trip that much more meaningful. I have fallen in love with New York and America.

Flea Market Photos

The Short Story of John Michael
On January 11, 1940, a new life was brought into the world. The fourth of five children, and the only boy. John Michael Bazob was the son of Mary Ann and Lee Bazob. Being born in the middle of a war can be a little odd. Coming straight from the Great Depression and having the war pull the economy out of the rut is quite a thing to be born into. Right after the youngest of the five siblings was conceived, John Michael's dad was recruited into the U.S. Army. At the time, he was only 2, and didn't have much time to get to know his father. On January 14, 1945, just days after John Michael's birthday, his family got the dreadful call that no mother, wife, or child ever wanted to receive. His father had become yet another casualty of the war. From that moment on, even as a young child who didn't really understand war, John Michael became adamant to be a war hero to honor his father.
John Michael was later accepted into West Point and graduated at the top of his class. He would later go on to be a General in the Vietnam War where he recieved the congressional medal of honor and fufilled his dream of being a war hero to continue his fathers legacy.

Photo Hunt+Captions+Hashtags+Quote

This is my friend, Keaton. He makes me laugh and smile every day. I'm really glad that we have this class together. It reminds me of when we were friends in middle school. #GoodOldDays
This is my best friend, Mal. She has taught me a lot in the past 4 years of friendship. I wouldn't trade her for the world. #Thick&Thin
I found this square table in the library. I hadn't seen these before. They must be new, or maybe I just need to go in the library more often... #IHateReading
This round table was in the library as well. These have been in there for as long as I've been at Kickapoo, but I don't think I've ever actually used them. #HaveASeat
This is a leaf that got swept into the school. It reminds me of this weekend when my mom yelled at me for bringing in mud and leaves from my shoes because I didn't take them off when I got home from hammocking. #nature #nofilter #beauty
This is a microscope that looks like a face. It kind of reminds me of Wall-E. I remember seeing that movie in theatres when it first came out. #WhenYouSeeIt
I think a little kid would find these dolls interesting. They are someones project, but as a kid you would just see a set of play dolls. #JuryDuty
This reminds me of the America themed football game a few Friday's ago. That was such a fun night. I love America, so its my favorite game to dress up for. I also rode in Mal's car hanging out the window with an American flag chanting "USA." #merica
School ID's are my actual worst enemy. I loathe them. I hate wearing them and will boycott them until the day I graduate. I absolutely despise them. #youknowwhoIam
Every time I see a chief I will think about Kickapoo. It will remind me of the past four years that I've spent repping our mascot. #OnceAChiefAlwaysAChief

I understand now that I'm not a mess but a deeply feeling person in a messy world. I explain that now, when someone asks me why I cry so often, I say, "For the same reason I laugh so often - because I'm paying attention." - Glennon Doyle Melton

All of these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 28:2

Inspired by Hopper

As the car sputters to a stop, all I can do is sigh. I knew I should have stopped at the gas station that was 40 miles back. That was the last sign of civilization I had seen. I'm officially stranded. I've seen too many horror movies to come out of this alive. I check my phone. There is no signal, in typical horror movie fashion. At this point, I can either wait for a car to drive by and hope it's someone with the least bit of sanity, or I can get out of my warm, relatively safe car, and walk until I find a gas station or signal. My mind says stay in the car, but my gut says... nope, my gut says stay in the car too.
I check my clock. It's just now hitting midnight. I wish I could call to let them know I'm okay. They'll probably start to worry if I don't show or check in. Maybe I should start walking. The next town couldn't be much further. I grab the baseball bat, screw driver, and flashlight out of my trunk. I'm not paranoid, just cautious. It's a pretty brisk fall night. Maybe all the scary people won't be out because it's too cold.
I can see a light in the distance after about three miles of walking. I can make out what I think is a gas station... but it looks old. It's my only hope at this point. As I get closer, I can make out a faint figure at one of the pumps. I attempt to say hello, but that was a mistake.
This is the last person to see me alive.

Windows

Straight ahead there is a field with a small farmhouse in the distance. To my left, the field continues into the horizon. Today the cows have come out. Sometimes the cows come to the fence to play with my puppies, but not always. The ground is a golden brown and the purple and orange sunset reflects off it. Past the farmhouse, if you squint, you'll notice a tattered old swing set that hasn't been touched in years. Maybe someday I'll learn the story behind it.

A blog reader Comments

Very creative! I like how descriptive you were about the 6'3 man!

I really enjoyed your Levi's piece! It was not what I was expecting to read when I looked at the title. It was like an advertisment poem!

I can picture M'Kenna being the "mom" sister. It would be scary to have your parents taken away. It'd be interesting to see how your siblings would react in that situation.
Cold pillows are the best! One of my favorite feelings is coming home after a long day and being able to relax and contemplate life while in the comfort of my own bed.
This is really true. I think the people we love the most hurt us because we open up to them. That's just one of the risks of loving others. I know that when I hurt someone I care about it can haunt me for quite awhile.
I can feel your frustration. I know what it's like to be part of a group where people are only there to promote themselves. Teamwork is very important, and some people just dont understand that. I don't think I'd be good at improv, but I know you're great at acting! Great story!
I also laughed because of these! You seem to have a great sense of humor!

Art Walk

Late in the Fall, when the trees are looking more brown than red and orange, on a partly cloudy day, where the sky can't decide what shade of blue it wants to be. The crisp breeze allows warm leggings, hot coffee, and a blanket to bundle up in.Swaying in the hammock is the most splendid feeling.  Not a care in the world.
Fall is the best time of year. Everything about nature gets beautiful in Autumn. The leaves are absolutely gorgeous. The woods start to come alive starting in late August, and usually stays that way until late November. This is the best time of year to go outside and adventure. Hiking new trails, climbing new peaks. Fall is the perfect time to step outside of your comfort zone.


Wind blowing softly.
Leaves changing from orange to brown.
Autumn is gorgeous.

Artist Profile: Umberto Boccioni

Umberto Boccioni was born on October 19, 1882, in Reggio Calabria, Italy. He was born to a minor government employee and his wife. He also had a sister named, Amelia. He grew up mostly in Forli, Genoa, and Padua. He was educated at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma. During his short 33 year lifetime, the battle of Wounded Knee too place, the Wright brothers flew the first plane, NAACP was founded, the model T was introduced by Ford, and World War I had begun. Boccioni began his career with drawings, then moved to painting, which were his most famous, and then finally worked on sculptures. In his early art, he studied pointillism and impressionism, but later moved on to futurism, which is what he is famous for. In his art, he struggled with representing movement and the inter-penetration on objects. His most notable pieces are, Unique forms of Continuity in Space, The City Rises, and The Street Enters the House. He passed away on August 17, 1916. Most people don't know that Boccioni was responsible for producing the seminal texts on futuristic art. My favorite pieces of his are, Portrait of Armida Brucky, and Visioni Simultanee.

In the News {Papers}

'Forced fondlings' reported on campus'

One of the most difficult things you will learn from being a girl, is to grieve the loss of your innocence. It's like losing air. Painful and slow. There's nothing you can do about it. You just watch it dissapear.

'A cloudy texture'

How a person looks at the sky says a lot about them. When they see the stars glistening on the black backdrop of the night, so they admire the unfathomable science? When the sun is waking up from it's slumber, do they admire the morning glow of pink and orange? As the sun settles against the horizon, do they admire the deep purples that take over the sky? Or are they admiring you? Taking in every second with you like it's their last. Are they so taken with their love for you that you are their sky, and everything else is just the weather?

First Amendment of the Consititution
make no religion, abridging freedom to assemble Government

Aetna's exit deals a blow to Obamacare
Health is dropping and the participants will be forced to purchase Obamacare.

At least swimmers admitted their lies
Sad, young men won love. Sadly, they lied. they got caught. they lost our love. Some will regret being liars. others who lied pay nothing. These did not have the integrity to admit they lied.

Picture
Psithurism.
listen. just listen. the soft howl of the wind takes over the silence you thought you were hearing.
close your eyes.
feel the warmth of the sun as it peeks through the trees.
smell the fresh pine needles.
enjoy the calm of everthing around you.
Psithurism.

6 Word Memoirs

Need to be successful. I'm expensive.

Loving you asleep. Waking up alone.

Nothing bothers me like my mind.

It was worth the broken heart.

Climb the mountains, don't carry them.

Very big heart. Even bigger mouth.

Be the Leslie Knope of everything.

Make Them Yours

For a long time, I went to bed early. It was easier that way. Sleep was my safe haven. My dreams blocked out the yelling and violence of Mom’s boyfriends as they came and went. Lately it’s been a greasy man in his late 30's names James. James and I don’t get along, but Mom says he is different than the others, so I’m trying to get along with him for her sake.

Mom has been having a rough time since the divorce. At first she was just tired and sad, but now she fills the void with abusive lovers and excessive alcohol. I’m still not sure why Dad left. Mom is still as striking as the day they got married. It’s just now, she doesn’t have the same radiance like she used to. When he left, he robbed her of being joyful.

James is home.

He works at the local video store. That’s where Mom met him.

            She could do so much better.

He’s already been drinking. I can smell the alcohol on him before he can manage to stumble past the screen door.

This isn’t good. I rush to my room and close the door as quietly as I can.

The yelling starts.

            Mom cries.

I attempt to block out the sounds of the drunken rampage, but it never works, and this time is no exception.

She doesn’t deserve this.

She yelps again. He’s hitting her.

I know she will forgive him. I’ve lost track of the, I’m sorry’s and I love you’s. I can’t take it anymore. I slowly open my bedroom door and creep to the end of the hall. The shouting gets louder. He sees me. I freeze in terror. His angry words are nothing but a drunken slur. Mom tries to stop him. I can feel the blood pouring from my nose and the sting of fire overcomes my face as I stumble back in shock. Mom is crying. She doesn’t mean for me to get hurt. He takes another hack at my face. I fall. The world is a blur. Suddenly, I am being picked up by men in white. I see the lights, red and blue, flashing through the window. The neighbors are standing outside with big, worries eyes and folded hands.

Noise complaint.

James is going to jail.

He’ll be charged with domestic violence and child abuse.

I can imagine him hearing the ring of steel against steel as the jail cell clangs shut.

Famous Last Line

"He heard the ring of steel against steel as a far door clanged shut."
Richard Wright (1908-1960)
American author of sometimes controversial novels, short stories, poems, and non-fiction.
Publication Date March 1, 1940
The fear, hatred, and anger that racism has impressed upon Bigger Thomas ravages his individuality so severely that his only means of self-expression is violence. After killing Mary Dalton, Bigger must contend with the law, the hatred of society, and his own destructive inner feelings.
I think this book could be interesting, especially with the racial tension that is consuming today's news media.