Blog #1- Childhood Memory

It is challenging to think of just one childhood memory to write about. I can vividly recall a gallimaufry of parties, family vacations, sporting events or even just small, random things that have happened. A significant amount of these memories involve my brother and other family members but since Jasper (jazpaah.blogspot.com) is sitting right next to me, I’m going to  do this blog about one memory that wasn’t all the crucial in my life that was a fun experience. Back in the days of Elementary School, Jasper would come over to my house about 3 days a week so that my mom could watch him and his sister while their parents were working. On these days, Jasper and I were never bored. Spending most of our time outside, running around with sticks and using our insane imaginations to play a certain game. I don’t really remember what we did but I remember building little forts out of sticks, leaves, rocks and whatever else we could and run around with our sticks. We spent countless hours doing this but one day we decided to not play the game and build a tee-pee in the woods. The base of the tee-pee was a thin, leaning tree that was thin but sturdy. We leaned a bunch of other fallen branches and sticks against the tree forming our own little shelter. We were so proud of what we had built. The tee-pee remained standing up until a few years ago when the hurricane came and knocked it down for the most part. Although some of it still remained, I was still a little disappointed that it was gone. Even though I never went inside it anymore ,it was always something I could look out the window and see this cool thing that Jasper and I made back in about 4^th grade.

(The picture is not the one we made, but it is very similar)

Blog #3- Free Write

I have only done 2 out of the 5 blogs I’m supposed to do so I need to write this free-write blog but I’m sitting here on the computer, eating fruit snacks trying to think of something to write.Ms. Tozzi is distracting me by playing rap videos and I’m procrastinating by playing this game http://patorjk.com/games/snake/ , good game, I highly recommend it. This game shows irony and Tozzi is probably really proud of me for seeing this. The goal is for the “snake” to eat the blocks and get longer but as he gets longer it is harder to control him and this will end up killing him. He needs to get the blocks to be successful but he will end up losing control because he is too long; he needs the blocks but evidently they will kill him. His chance of survival decreases as he meets his goals and gets longer. Should the goal actually be to just remain as one block, instead of trying to get bigger? You decide! Did the makers of the game, make the game wrong???

This is a free write and I need more words so im going to talk about a man. Not any ordinary man but Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop. This man changed his name to Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop a few years back and has a special meaning for each part of his name, seen in the link below. Beezow has been arrested four times (twice for drug possession) and he is only 32 years old .

http://news.yahoo.com/beezow-doo-doo-zopittybop-bop-bop-drug-charges-131606999.html

Blog #4- Failure

Like many others, I have failed a great deal. Whether it’s on a test at school, in sports or saying something I probably should never had said. It is very challenging to choose one but this is one that I remember vividly and occurred during baseball. It was about 3 years ago, going into the last inning, winning by 3 runs. My coach leaned on me to close out the game and get the win for our team. That whole inning was a blur and a struggle; I blew it. I remember seeing the opponents continuously circling the bases, in what seemed like an endless inning. Now down by 3 or 4 runs, we were the home team and had our chance to make our own comeback but I was not thinking about that. I trudged into the dugout, feeling awful. It was the worst feeling I’ve ever had at a baseball game, almost sick to my stomach. I had let my team down. Normally, especially in baseball, I am not a guy who will mope around and get down on myself, but I had blown the game. I never give up, in anything I do but this time I wasn’t worried about a potential come back. My mood started to change drastically once we started to get people on base and 1 run scored, then 2 runs and we were making a comeback. Then I realized, I was up soon and after doing some math in my head, realized I would have a chance to redeem myself and win the game for the team, I was suddenly rejuvenated. A few batters later, it became my turn, with 2 outs and runners on 1^st and 2^nd , down by a run. The pitcher was rattled and was losing control, and the first pitch was in the dirt and trickled past the catcher, allowing each runner to move up a base. Then after the opposing coach took a trip out to the mound to calm down his pitcher and a little chat I had with my coach, It was just the pitcher and I with the game on the line. With the tying run on third and the winning run on second, I saw a few more pitches, before I got the perfect pitch to hit. I swung and pulled it just foul down the line, I had just missed winning the game. The next pitch was almost the exact same pitch, but this one I was able to hit right in between the center fielder and right fielder. As I was rounding first, I took a glance towards home plate, to see my teammate score, ending the game. I still recall this game and view it as both a failure for me and also as one of the reasons I never give up.

Example of failure:

jazpaah.blogspot.com

Blog #2- Significant Place

Every summer for the last 50+ years, my family has gone to Ocean City, NJ for at least a week, and it has turned into a place I feel comfortable. As a child this was always something to look forward to, being able to go to the beach, play mini golf and enjoy the amusement park rides with my family; grandparents, aunt, uncles and cousins included. The night before, it was always hard to sleep, as we were filled with excitement and high expectations for the week ahead. We would wake up early, when it was still dark out, just so we could go to a certain diner for breakfast and beat the traffic. Up until about 2010 we rented out a house from friends of my grandparents, the same house every year which made it feel even the more comfortable. The house has since been knocked down, so we now have had to change places each year. The trip has drastically changed since we were young with the house having been knocked down, after my grandfather died in 2009, one of my uncles, a Major General in the Army, too busy to stay the whole time, and we have also become older and don’t go for the same reasons. Our time there has become much more relaxed and more about just spending time with each other. This trip is still something to look forward too each year even though the meaning has changed. Running around carelessly on the beach and racing to each and every ride just doesn’t happen anymore, but some very competitive mini-golf games still go on between my brother, two oldest cousins and I. These mini-golf games so close and fierce; just 2 or 3 years back, the four of us were all within 2 shots of each other, the others entrusted me to add up the scores to see who won. When I added it up, I announced the winner, but then later that night, I recounted the scores and realized I had counted wrong. Once I eventually told the others of how I screwed up, they all wanted to rip my head off. Despite these very intense games of mini-golf and beach soccer and football, our vacation is a great way to lay back and unwind. With an occasional fishing trip on the beach or at the bay, rather early in the morning, and spending most of the rest of the time relaxing on the beach, our time here is laid back and very relaxing. Simply the fact that I am so relaxed and around my family make this a place I feel comfortable. The summer would just not be the same without that one week. (This is not my video, Its just a random one from YouTube)