Tuesday, July 20, 2010
I Finished it
I did it! I have finally finished my final project for my cake decorating class. I have spent the last two and a half weeks working on it. With this done I am official on the downhill run with school for this semester. I promised my sister pictures, so your suffering is because of her.
The Race
I heard this poem in class the other day and really liked it, so I thought I should share it.
The Race
By: Dr. D.H. "Dee" Groberg
Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face,
my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well,
excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race
or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son,
and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire,
to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire.
One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd,
was running in the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.”
But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip,
the little boy who thought he’d win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace,
and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.
As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn’t win it now.
Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.
But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all,
and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
his mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace.
“I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”
But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face
with a steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!”
So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last.
“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!”
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten...
but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye.
“There’s no sense running anymore! Three strikes I’m out! Why try?
I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.
“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “you haven’t lost at all,
for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
Get up!” the echo urged him on, “Get up and take your place!
You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race!”
So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit,
and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been,
still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win.
Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place,
head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place,
the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud,
you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
“To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”
And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face,
the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face,
another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race!”
The Race
By: Dr. D.H. "Dee" Groberg
Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face,
my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well,
excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race
or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son,
and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire,
to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire.
One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd,
was running in the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.”
But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip,
the little boy who thought he’d win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace,
and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.
As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn’t win it now.
Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.
But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all,
and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
his mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace.
“I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”
But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face
with a steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!”
So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last.
“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!”
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten...
but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye.
“There’s no sense running anymore! Three strikes I’m out! Why try?
I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.
“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “you haven’t lost at all,
for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
Get up!” the echo urged him on, “Get up and take your place!
You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race!”
So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit,
and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been,
still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win.
Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place,
head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place,
the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud,
you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
“To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”
And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face,
the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face,
another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race!”
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Midterm
Okay are you ready for our midterm? Midterm? What midterm you ask. You know the midterm you have been helping me study for? Okay okay, I know I have been slacking on the flowers but not tonight, I have my midterm tomorrow. It can be any of sixty of the ninety plants I have learn so far. Can you say "study overload" with me now? Okay enough procrastination here is today's lovely gems:
Daylily
Scientific Name: Hermerocallis spp.
Common Name: Daylily
It is a perennial that grows in zones 3-9
Height: 1-4'
Blooms: Summer to frost
Flower: Tubular/bell shaped
Leaf: long, linear 1-2'
Culture: full-part sun
Uses: borders, background, and cut flowers
The older varieties used to have each flower bloom for only one day, hence the name:)
Spiderwort
Scientific Name: Tradescantia x andersoniana
Common Name: Spiderwort
It is a perennial that grows in zones 3-9
Height: 1-2'
Blooms: Spring-Summer
Flower: Terminal umbels, pinks,purple, and whites
Leaf: alternate, 15"
Culture: full-part sun, moist
Uses: borders, background, naturalize
Okay last one:
Balloon Flower
Scientific Name: Platycodon grandiflorus
Common Name: Balloon Flower
It is a perennial that grows in zones 3-8
Height: 2-3'
Blooms: Summer
Flower: balloon-like
Leaf: ovate, 1-3" alternate
Culture: full-part sun
Uses: cut, rock garden, background
Daylily
Scientific Name: Hermerocallis spp.
Common Name: Daylily
It is a perennial that grows in zones 3-9
Height: 1-4'
Blooms: Summer to frost
Flower: Tubular/bell shaped
Leaf: long, linear 1-2'
Culture: full-part sun
Uses: borders, background, and cut flowers
The older varieties used to have each flower bloom for only one day, hence the name:)
Spiderwort
Scientific Name: Tradescantia x andersoniana
Common Name: Spiderwort
It is a perennial that grows in zones 3-9
Height: 1-2'
Blooms: Spring-Summer
Flower: Terminal umbels, pinks,purple, and whites
Leaf: alternate, 15"
Culture: full-part sun, moist
Uses: borders, background, naturalize
Okay last one:
Balloon Flower
Scientific Name: Platycodon grandiflorus
Common Name: Balloon Flower
It is a perennial that grows in zones 3-8
Height: 2-3'
Blooms: Summer
Flower: balloon-like
Leaf: ovate, 1-3" alternate
Culture: full-part sun
Uses: cut, rock garden, background
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Lump In My throat
When I was little I was extremely shy. Unless it was family or someone I really knew, my lips were sealed. I use to not even be able to order dinner whenever my family went out to eat.
I am happy to say that I am no longer that shy. I can order my own food and even ask a stranger for direction at a bus station or the airport. However one thing still lingers from my shyness as a youth and that is public speaking. I hate it!! I don't think it is so much the crowd that scares me but more my occasion lisp that creeps in when I get nervous or am in a hurry.
Today I am speaking in Church. Oh lucky me. It has been almost 3 years since I have had to speak in church and I am really not looking forward to it. Again mainly because of my lisp but also the tears. If you know my family even a little you know we are not afraid to cry. I cry when I am happy, when I am sad, when I am angry or pissed, and occasionally after getting hurt. So when it comes to speaking in front of other and bearing my testimony I tend to cry. My voice shakes, my lisp is magnified and I then I get embarrassed. All week I have had this lump in the back of my throat and I know it isn't from getting sick but more the fact that I have to speak. Oh dear, what a week.
I am happy to say that I am no longer that shy. I can order my own food and even ask a stranger for direction at a bus station or the airport. However one thing still lingers from my shyness as a youth and that is public speaking. I hate it!! I don't think it is so much the crowd that scares me but more my occasion lisp that creeps in when I get nervous or am in a hurry.
Today I am speaking in Church. Oh lucky me. It has been almost 3 years since I have had to speak in church and I am really not looking forward to it. Again mainly because of my lisp but also the tears. If you know my family even a little you know we are not afraid to cry. I cry when I am happy, when I am sad, when I am angry or pissed, and occasionally after getting hurt. So when it comes to speaking in front of other and bearing my testimony I tend to cry. My voice shakes, my lisp is magnified and I then I get embarrassed. All week I have had this lump in the back of my throat and I know it isn't from getting sick but more the fact that I have to speak. Oh dear, what a week.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
What to Do
When you have one of those day when your face is red and your heart is blue, what can you do? You take the two and make purple. After thinking for a little while about if there is anything that is purple that doesn't bring a smile to your face, I couldn't come up with anything. Purple is happy. I think that is why I love color so much, it has the power to influence the mood of our surroundings and today I could do with a little less red and a lot less blue and a lot more purple.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Movie Review
Movies!!! I love movies. I always have and probably always will. I was one of those kids who could watch the same movie over and over again. I think I wore out our version of 101 Dogamatian when I was little(I know it is Dalmatians but I called it Dogamatian when I was small). I like all kinds of movies: live action, animated, Disney, romance, westerns, I think you get the point. Anyways back to the point of this post, Today I saw the third installment of Toy Story. This is an instant classic. I loved it. I laugh, I cried, and then I laughed again. It truly lived up to the Pixar/Disney reputation. As I walked out of the theater I looked around to gauge every one's reaction, lots and lots of smiles. A whole new generation of Toys Story lovers has been created. Most of the little ones weren't even born when Toy Story 2 came out in 2000 let alone the first Toys Story in 1995, I was six then. Fifteen years later I walked out of the theater feeling like a little kid again. Two thumbs way way up.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Flower(S) of the Day
Asiatic Lily
Scientific Name: Lilium hybrid
Common Name: Asiatic Lily
It is a perennial that grows in zones 4-9
Height: 2-6'
Blooms: Summer for about two weeks (thank heavens for greenhouses)
Flower: Trumpet shaped and come in a variety of colors.
Leaf: Narrow and curled
Culture: full-part sun, well drained soil.
Uses: borders, mass collection, and cut flowers
I think this one is rather pretty.
Bleeding Heart
Scientific Name: Dicentra spectabilis
Common Name: Bleeding Heart
It is a perennial that grows in zones 2-9
Height: 2-4'
Spread: It doesn't really spread but it does arch over
Blooms: Early Summer
Flower: heart shaped and come in red, pink, white.
Leaf: fern-like and serrated
Culture: full-part sun, moist soil.
Uses:background
This one I think is kinda cool but also kinda weird. This is a good picture. Some bleeding hearts look a little creepy.
I was told that by saying I was going to be teaching everyone about flowers that it meant more then one. I wasn't so sure that anyone really wanted to read a blog about flowers characteristics. So let me know, do I keep them coming?
Scientific Name: Lilium hybrid
Common Name: Asiatic Lily
It is a perennial that grows in zones 4-9
Height: 2-6'
Blooms: Summer for about two weeks (thank heavens for greenhouses)
Flower: Trumpet shaped and come in a variety of colors.
Leaf: Narrow and curled
Culture: full-part sun, well drained soil.
Uses: borders, mass collection, and cut flowers
I think this one is rather pretty.
Bleeding Heart
Scientific Name: Dicentra spectabilis
Common Name: Bleeding Heart
It is a perennial that grows in zones 2-9
Height: 2-4'
Spread: It doesn't really spread but it does arch over
Blooms: Early Summer
Flower: heart shaped and come in red, pink, white.
Leaf: fern-like and serrated
Culture: full-part sun, moist soil.
Uses:background
This one I think is kinda cool but also kinda weird. This is a good picture. Some bleeding hearts look a little creepy.
I was told that by saying I was going to be teaching everyone about flowers that it meant more then one. I wasn't so sure that anyone really wanted to read a blog about flowers characteristics. So let me know, do I keep them coming?
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