Since I was born, New York City has been my life, my blood, and bones; I have grown and lived with many different people with different backgrounds. My neighborhoods have shaped me into who I am today, I am flexible and open, like raw clay, enough to be changed and formed. Then there is the Bronx, a borough of New York, where you have to be strong, or you will not survive, a place where all races are together, and everyone is noisy. I live in a community where there are mostly Hispanics, and where there are always car passing by and honking, during the day it is the only sound you can here, and ear-piercing bird calls, but during the night there is always some kind of party, either that or just really loud music. I have grown to get use…
Colleagues, Gene Autry (and Aerosmith, for what it’s worth) famously sang, “I’m back in the saddle again.” Today, the Arizona Legislature got back in its saddle as the 53rd Legislature, First Regular Session gaveled in for the first time today at noon. The day’s activities had that “first day of school” feeling and was largely pomp and circumstance. Members were officially sworn-in, speeches were made, and family and friends were introduced.…
A Taste of Domesticity in Stokes State Forest Throughout my four years of high school, I had never had a friend come back from a post-prom weekend in Wildwood and describe to me what sounded like a “good time.” The stories they told always had the same synopsis that centered around drunken fun and even drunker stupidity. Hordes of juniors and seniors slept in small dirty motel rooms. They spent way too much money on alcohol, and they often got swindled into paying hundreds of dollars to stay in an otherwise dirt cheap motel because no decent place would allow teenagers to party like they did. They sat in their hotel rooms and drank the beautiful New Jersey beach days away, waiting for the sun to set so they could continue their drunken…
Reaching a goal and the work it takes to get there can be a long, trying process. My goal is to make it to Nationals on the Nursery Landscape FFA team. I have competed on the Nursery Landscape team since I was a freshman. As a team of three freshmen and one sophomore, our main goal was to place as high we could as individuals which would help our team score. At State Convention, I wanted to place in the top twenty as an individual.…
The town I grew up in was Charlotte, Vermont; it is located about 20 minutes away from Burlington, Vermont. Charlotte was tiny population sized compared to Burlington even though it was much bigger geographically. It was a small town, but it was an amazing place to grow up. Growing up…
Try being still long enough to find the right image you want to capture through the lens of a camera. Finding the right shot takes time, which each shot you want it to be precise and just right. You always want as a photographer to make the first shot the best one mostly so you want have to take the time to find another shot. Imagine how frustrating it is thinking you’re first shot is the best until you look at the blurry and unfocused picture. The first time you look at that picture you think to yourself that you can just retake that same picture and will look different the next time.…
I am the sole curator, operator and owner of The Outdoorsman's Corner. A self-appointed avid backwoodsman, I try to live every day as magnanimously as possible, through the serenity that permeates my life through deep roots in the canoe tripping capital of the world - Ontario, Canada. My passion lies in long, solitary days travelling by land and water; a passion driven by my need to live my life in accordance with the ingenuity, fortitude, curiosity and simplicity that are trademarks of the Canadian backcountry experience. I look toward living a simple life full of adventure and kindness, and I want to share all the goodness of the outdoors with whoever may listen. It is my hope that this growing community of tales, opinions and knowledge…
With the honor to serve my country, on August 6, 1942, I Fern Tegrootenhula, left Ft. Devens, Massachusetts, and headed to Camp Grant, Illinois, for my two months basic training. During the training, we completed a 5-day field exercise in which we marched to the maneuver areas, and set up field kitchens, sleeping in pup tents. In addition, we worked with simulated casualties of all types which, helped by providing experience in diagnosis, and, treatment, including the transportation of patients in the field as well as, ward management. Our training included camouflage, cover and concealment techniques, defense against air, and mechanized as well as, chemical and airborne attacks, and the proper use of gas masks, as well as, map reading.…
Today I was able to go back out to see my grandparents over the weekend. I thought it would be an opportunity to go back and return to the forest and see if something has changed or discover something new. I was unable to contact my friend Dana so I went in by myself this time, the weather today was cold. It wasn’t cold where you would have to wear a coat but maybe a sweatshirt, I still feel there is something wrong with the weather since a couple days ago it was hot. I arrive around noon I believe and the lavender tree still didn’t blossom…
Certain people love the outdoors. They would jump at the opportunity to do anything outdoors. In my case though, I would not be as excited to do anything outdoors especially camping. I’m not a very outdoorsy person.…
Throughout my life, I have been the victim of several burglaries. At the age of seven, someone, in broad daylight, broke into our house and shot my dad in the chin. I was displaced to my aunt's house for weeks and missed most of my 1st grade year. When I was seventeen, I walked in on my home being robbed by some local kids. They were upstairs when I came into the house and escaped through a window, but the idea that I could have come home earlier still haunts me.…
Through my high school, Multicultural Club, we have a partnership with Habitat for Humanity in helping them rebuilt neighborhoods. I have participated in my junior and senior year in high school to help Habitat for Humanity in joining hands building a home for a warming family. As well as, painting, cleaning, and organizing a welcome home moment for the Lor family—who was the family that we helped out with Habitat for Humanity. Additional, after graduating from high school, I still help out with the Multicultural Club in participating in building a neighborhood in hands with Habitat for Humanity, once more. I plan to help out more in the future, and is excited in joining hands with Habitat for Humanity.…
Involvement in agriculture has taught me many different things. Sone of these facts include that goats really do have wings (long, hairy appendages located at the base of the tail), some of the world’s earliest civilizations thrived on and invented many farming and propagation practices we utilize today, and that only a fraction of the estimated 215,000 species of plants known to man make up the millions that are propagated for food and foliage every year. Agriculture is Florida’s second largest industry, only second to tourism as a famous mouse and whale call Florida home in addition to the all of the other crops and animals, and it takes many people to keep the industry at the standard that is needed to feed our world today. My involvement has also shown me that agriculture is not only a terrific path to pursue as a college major and future career that not only has plenty of jobs that are both enjoyable and beneficial, but also many different opportunities to pursue. As a longtime member of 4-H and FFA in school, horticulture always captured my attention.…
“The first place winner in the Red Angus Lightweight Division winner is DJ!” Is this real, or is this a dream? Standing in the middle of Reliant Stadium speechless was me a 16-year-old kid whose dreams had just become a reality. My hard work throughout the year had finally paid off not only because of the prize that was awarded to me but also because of the fact that the year long debate with my Ag teacher about how bad raising a grass fed show animal could be was finally able to be put to rest. This was a major victory for me due to the significance of being able to raise a healthy show steer; without the use of any hormones, or supplements.…
Gardening was a ‘forced’ hobby for a good portion of my childhood. Since elementary school, I worked with my dad in our back yard; I would dig holes, carry bags of manure, and plant flowers and trees. I complained that it would be easier to go to the store and buy a bag of blackberries instead of toiling in the sun for hours to achieve the same thing. I never imagined that I’d end up gardening for fun. Every year, my brother and I would collect the fruits of our labor; every year, I’d appreciate my efforts more and more.…