Stephanie, Mentor, and Adventurer Extraordinaire

          So, I met her 2 years ago in school. Well technically 1 year 5 months and 13 days ago because I only saw her in the halls but you get the point. Her name is Stephanie and she doesn't like wearing shoes, well that's what I noticed the day I finally talked to her. "Hey, why aren't you wearing shoes? aren't your feet cold? its October after all." "So?" she replied. She was surprised I had asked as if she had come from some weird auburn hair, freckle faced, ugly but stylish sweater wearing, shoe less tribe on some far away island that I didn't learn about in my geography class that I was already late to. She smiled and threw her books into her perfectly organized locker. "C'mon, we're late!" Oh yea, I had almost forgot she was in my next hour class. probably because she sits in the very front and I always try and sit near the back so I can check pointless e-mails on my I-phone. we get to class and she decides to sit next to me in the back. I notice she is wearing flip flops she probably pulled out of her backpack so she wouldn't get in trouble with our teacher Mr. Sterling. "Alright class, we have a group project on the differences between....." blah blah blah. I zone out and Stephanie pushes my shoulder. "Hey, do you want to be my partner?" I was going to be with Jeffery my old childhood friend but it looks like he's already partnered up with Brianna Shaffer, the blond and stupid. "HA!" I laugh at Jeff for being used by her incredibly good looks and blue eye'd stair. Oh well, I don't know anyone who could say no to her, especially because Jeff is one of those 4.0 kids and doesn't get out much. Stephanie and I are given a map that we need to draw landmark stuff on, woopee. She starts drawing but gets side tracked. "Hey, I want to go there." "Well where is that?" "It's Malta! I want to go cliff jumping there someday." I think to myself how risky cliff jumping is, and how you could hit a rock or something if you miss. Like Piggy from Lord of the Flies. "Will you take me there?" "What?" "Will you take me there?" pushing the map in my face and pointing directly at the little island off the coast of Italy. Maybe that's the island with the auburn hair people. But then she would have already been there before. Maybe she's adopted. "No" I reply. I can't take you there. she looks at me like she expected that answer. "Well looks like you need to go on more adventures!" "Adventures? what adventures are there in the middle of our little suburban bubble?" She pulls my I-phone out of my hands and punches in her number. "Here, call me tonight because I don't have texting and I'll show you." That night I called her 4 or 5 times and waited for her to call back. It only took 3 hours and by then It was 11:00. She drove up to my house in a dark blue mini van like a soccer mom would have. After stepping into the car I ask where we are headed off to. She doesn't tell me and I figure it's for the best that I don't ask. After a long drive we get to a large white house. Kinda looks like a house from the east coast, Virginia maybe Maine. "Do you live here?" "nope." "oh, okay." We get out of the car and begin walking down the dirt road we parked on. The road is cut off by a waist height barb wire fence with a foot space in between the two tightly pulled metal rose stems. Stephanie steps though the gap with one leg and pulls her hair to the side then pivots and lifts her other leg easily putting her on the other side of the fence. She must have done this many times before because it took me twice as long and a ripped shirt sleeve to get through. we begin walking on an uneven field. "It's bumpy because of the horses that walk along here" she told me with a curious grin on her face. We reach a large tin roof building with many horse jockeys that look like they should be Polo models. I wish I was a Polo model, then I wouldn't need to deal with the rip in my sleeve or the mud on my shoes. I notice a large "Keep out! Private Property! Violators Will Be Prosecuted" sign looming next to the entrance. But as of now, I feel like I can do anything with Stephanie and her large amount of confidence. I lose sight of her and find her already way ahead of me talking to a six foot tall horse jockey in uniform. The confidence soon leaks from my body realizing we don't belong here. We are bound to get caught I just know it! I walk up beside her and she introduces me to the man. blonde hair blue eyes, like a Polo model. "His name is Bruce, and he says the practice area is through that gate to our left." "But it's getting late Stephanie, we really should go." "Oh c'mon, it'll only be a minute." I have no choice but to follow. Besides she's already on her way and she has the keys to the car. I follow her into the large open room with a few horses galloping proudly around their owners. We sit down on the stands and watch the horses and their owners practice jumps. Their muscles large and intimidating. The riders tuned into their horses thoughts, eyes dark and covered by helmets. We watch for a good amount of time but it never got old for us. By midnight most of the owners and horses had left yet, no one asked us who we are or what our business was. We were invisible, maybe because the jockeys were so tall on their horses they couldn't see us way down to Earth. We leave the way we came and I still had trouble on the barb wire fence. But I did better that before. She drives me home and asks me why I came with her. "Why did you come with me even though we broke the law?" I couldn't answer until I carefully snuck inside my house and asked myself again. Why did I go? Maybe I needed a change of pace, maybe I'm more afraid than I think I am. Maybe Stephanie, this mysterious mentor and adventurer extraordinaire was my way to change. As for now, my legs are sore. So it's off to bed for me waiting for our next encounter and my next lesson.

Playlist Story

I Need Something----Newton Faulkner

On The Run---- K-OS Ft. Saukratez

Come Fly With Me ----Frank Sinatra

Lose Yourself---- Eminem

Lions Mouth---- Young Rebel Set

Gravity---- John Mayer

Sky Is Falling---- Blackalicious

Escaping Arkham ---- Common Market

The Island ---- Nujabes

Wade In Your Water ---- Common Kings

Lead Sails Paper Anchors ---- Atreyu

It's Cold---- Saigon

It's Too Late For Us---- Little Brother

Something In The Water---- Brooke Foster

Other Side (Remix) ---- Macklemore

Swing Life Away---- Rise Against

Dear God ---- Logic

the Prayer ---- Kid Cudi

Save Yourself---- Jedi Mind Tricks

Flash Light ---- Parliment

Further Up---- Caspian

Rebirthing---- Skillet

Found me ---- The Fray

Say---- Method Man ft. Wu-Tang Clan

The Lining Is Silver---- Relient K

Paradise---- Coldplay

Somewhere Over The Rainbow ---- IZ

Im Free---- Soul Position
Welcome Home---- Radical Face

Another Day---- Living Legends

The Show Goes On ---- Lupe Fiasco

The End---- Macklemore

 

Astronaut

Astronaut

Back in elementary school I had this obsession with astronauts, my friend Sam and I watched shuttles launch on TV wondering how far away a man could fly from this pale blue dot we call home. A few years later Sam and I were playing basket ball and we were trying to touch the rim of the hoop so when we grew even taller we could dunk like our favorite athletes. This curiosity consistently grew as we watched legs bend and snap up, tendons tighten and pressure is released on the balls of the feet. But see I don’t think it was the game I was actually paying attention to. I began to jump, everywhere I went. I would jump through the halls and between the cracks in the pavement and on top of benches and through trees and in the grocery store or just at home. I didn’t know why at the time, but I became obsessed. An addiction of sorts. And speaking of addiction a few years later Sam and I grew distant from each other and I heard from a few people he had been making stupid decisions. From DUI to MIP, you see Sam enjoyed partying; he would drink shot after shot to burn his throat. He couldn’t hold his cup still, but somehow it would just continue to refill. Spill that drink on the floor. Dizziness dissolved brain cells, trying to break free from those metal bar stools stood on wobbly tables and his designated driver snapped, only to let him fall… Designated 6 feet deep. Poetry in motion, a dead poet’s society. Carpe Diem shouldn’t involve a twisted heap of metal and crying mothers. Seize the day they say, seizing on the cold red pavement where he lay, that’s where Sam’s last breath would be made. The other day I was offered to go to a party where alcohol would be served. But I politely declined the offer see; I closed that door of opportunity because I was afraid Sam’s skeleton would be waiting for me. He just wanted a way out and no one would hold the door for him, and he couldn’t open it himself because the weight of the world was in his arms. The force unbearable. He collapsed spilling the vial content onto the floor. And if we didn’t clean it up it would burn holes in the ground. Maybe… I jumped so much because if you added up all the little bits of hang time, every jump between cracks or in the grocery store or through the trees they would hopefully be enough to jump me all the way to the moon where our child hood dream stood with an American flag in hand. Huston we solved the problem you see gravity is 5/6 less on the moon than on earth making all that weight we all carry every day light as a feather, we can all flock together. I jump because it’s the closest thing I can do to get closer to Sam, and leave this earth and visit him, only for a second. Don’t second guess this plan, I’ll find myself with Sam, and I find myself glad it’s not a race. For his sake, I haven’t, nor will I ever, so don’t offer, you’ll know my answer. But whenever I watch basket ball or find myself looking up to the moon where my dream waits for me. I can assure you my glass will rise, half full in salute to Sam, the greatest astronaut that ever lived.

Thank you.

The Sailor

Charlie Bolton

The Sailor “A Conviction Poem”

At first touch it may certainly seem to be possibly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. It was hot in that coffee shop, and the breeze from the fan through golden waves pushed red roots up and over the frame of your delicate light bouncing from propane paint brushes wanting to play hide and seek with your cheek bones, dimples, and eye lashes. The night was clear as a bell but I can’t see through the fog of past lovers and stories I’d hate to tell. I’d say I felt alone in a crowded room but there was plenty of space including the table between you and I. At Stella's we were packed like anchovies and you didn’t know me to well enough to understand when I accidentally bumped into you "OPPS SORRY" I wanted to introduce my hand to yours. But first impressions with my finger tips always make me a nervous wreck, it seemed to be like torpedoes glide burst in my stomach, if I go overboard I’d hate to see my food again, hands clammy. Don't say anything fishy. What if I say the wrong thing? After all, loose lips sink ships. The night needed its mother’s hands to help it balance upright, and at the other end of the room at the corner table be its father. Farther and farther drifted away an opportunity for you and I to become the U and S. S.S Savior off the coast of my lonely dessert island. You waved and smiled at me, picture perfect like your vintage camera collection. You were the flag on a distant ship. But I was stranded without a paddle. Oh the pains of no progress like a broken arm, I wanted to put this cast away for good that's all, the Tom Hanks to my Volley Ball.  But you dropped anchor and anger at myself suddenly settled, but silent screams inside seem stupid, so surreal… My heart swooned at the sound of your melodic voice, and this coffee shop, oh it spun like a top, top heavy, shoulders slouch, mouth and lips quiver, sweat beads tumble and shiver, careless steps, last breath,

JUST DO IT!
My usual approach 

As smooth as a new package of sand paper. But your smile followed, and the chair I had pulled up for you had not a single splinter,you were the center of attention from gazing eyes, stories of photography, but the details were far from black and white. places we want to go and people we want to know and affection I want to show. you were wearing my jacket. finger tips trace upon hand upon hip. You had this personality, this pep, see? I could see you had. **SING** “The body like a coke bottle” we came face to face, must keep this moment, your lips meet… mine. The night now wanted to move out because it was getting tired of it’s mom saying to be home by 12:00. OKAY MOM I WILL. Gah... It's bad when both of us are bad at goodbyes. I got home and I couldn't sleep, nor did I want to, all I could think, was of you. The careless arrival of butterflies in my torpedo shrapnel scared stomach spread down like sunburns. Watch the sun rise over red melting glaciers like the hair that flowed over your face framing those dimples cheek bones and eye lashes in a mental photo. That night I was far from finesse, but I caress these moments in scrap books and photo albums.

                                                                         thank you.

Character Conflict "Car Accident With Peter Maxis"

             Peter Maxis from my earlier character sketch was recently in a car accident while driving home from a party a week ago. His "friends" wanted him to party that night and join a drinking game they had invented. Unfortunately Peter is the kind of person to give into pier pressure easily and didn't think twice before joining. he continued to drink until he passed out on the floor. He woke up around 2 in the morning and decided it would be a good idea to drive home in his friends car. he turned onto a busy street to slowly and an oncoming car that didn't see him because his head lights weren't on. he was hit from behind and he slammed his head into the steering wheel. he was rushed to the ER where doctors confirmed he may be paralyzed if immediate action isn't taken.   

Character Sketch

Charlie Bolton

Character Sketch

               Peter Maxis is a 19 year old high school drop out now works at his local rec center. He loves visiting his family and friends in Portland Oregon. He goes and visits the beach where he grew up and makes shapes in the sand and listens to the wind. He always ate sea food growing up on the west coast and misses it whenever he is Nevada where he lives because he is land locked. He watches Tom and Jerry and hangs out with his girlfriend he's been dating for a few years now, but can't afford to get married at the moment. He used to believe in God until his dad died when he was 17 and he feels betrayed and still can't find a positive reason on why his dad died, yet he still believes everything happens for a reason. He has dark brown nappy hair and an unkept short beard. he has a tattoo of the Mayan calendar on his chest just because it looks cool. and different shapes and patterns on his arms, he hasn't told anyone the meaning behind them yet though because he doesn't want to let anyone into his life too deep because he is afraid of being hurt. He is confident though that after he can marry his girlfriend he will lighten up. He gets nervous in crowds of people because he doesn't like being alone. This was because when he was a child his parents would go out and leave a baby sitter who he never liked, and once the she took him to the zoo but he got lost for 3 hours before she found him again. He believes in a simple life style with simple things to keep him happy. Family get togethers, tea, the beach, his dog Ruby who's a Beagle and very loud. which kind of balances out Peters quiet side. And because he is simple things like good music or a change in the weather can make him feel like crying from joy. He always dreamed of being a doctor, but is unmotivated and doesn't want to go to school to do it. But he is still hoping something might come up and push him to do it before it's to late.

Dennis, An Original Masterpiece

"Dennis an Original Masterpiece" is a skit by "The Skit Guys" about a boy in school that is disabled, please watch the video before reading the rest of my blog. This is a great story for telling the truth behind somthing call judgment and what it truly is. In the video Dennis tells His story behind how his heart changes from looking at his outside to his inside. In the heart and soul because thats what matters most.