jenniferparkerart

April 15, 2016

Baby Animal Activities and Poems

Baby Animals

Oh, baby, baby, so young and so tame,

Oh, baby, baby, so what is your name?

 

Baby cow is a calf,

Baby deer is a fawn,

Baby goat is a kid eating grass on the lawn.

 

Baby bear is a cub,

Baby hen is a chick,

Baby swan is a cygnet so graceful and quick.

 

Baby goose is a gosling,

Baby seal is a pup,

Baby cat is a kitten drinking milk from a cup.

 

Baby sheep is a lamb,

Baby turkey’s a poult,

baby horse is a foal, or a filly, or a colt.

 

Oh, baby, baby, so young and so tame,

Oh, baby, baby, be proud of your name!

-Meish Goldfish

: Make a poster of baby animal names. Have children paste photos and drawings of the animals beside each name. Older children may want to investigate why some of the animals have the baby names they have. For example, in Gail Gibbon’s book Whales, she discusses the reason why a baby whale is called a calf. (Because whales evolved from an animal like a cow).

The class could explore animal group names such as a pod of whales, by using Ruth Heller’s book A Cache of Jewels and other Collective Nouns (Putnam, 1989) Baby Animals by Margaret Wise brown, illustrated by Susan Jeffers (Random house, 1989) is a wonderful resource to have on hand.

What the Animals Said

It’s still dark, Said the lark.

What’s that? Said the cat.bulldog steves pic

I want to sleep, Said the sheep.

A bad habit, Said the Rabbit.

Of course, Said the Horse.

Let’s have a spree, Said the bee.

But where? Said the hare.

In the barrow, said the sparrow.

I’m too big, said the pig.

In the house, said the mouse.

But the dog said — Bow-wow,

It’s too late now!

-Old German Nursery Rhyme

Activity: Children might enjoy playing the roles of the different animals and calling out their lines. Simple puppets can be made from small paper bags as the various animals. Encourage imaginative play by using different voices for animals.

Animals from A to Z

A is Ape, B is Bee,

Cis Clownfish in the sea!

D is Deer. E is  Eel,

F is Fox who wants a meal.

G is Goose, H is Hog,

I’s an inchworm on a log.

Jay is J, Koala’s K,

L’s a Lion, far away.

M is Mule, N is Newt,

O’s an Ostrich, tall and cute.

P is Pig, Q is Quail,

R’s a Rat with curly tail.

Snake is S, Turkey’s T,

U’s the Umbrella bird flying free.

V is Viper, Worm is W,

Bird’s “X” are hatching. Does that joke trouble you?

Yak is Y, Zebra’s Z,

Alphabet animals for you and me!

-Meish Goldfish

Booklinks

Miss Bindrgaren Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate, illustrated by Ashley Wolff (Dutton, 1996)

Amazon Alphabet by Tanis Jordan, illustrate by Marin Jordan (Kingfisher, 1996)

 

 

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April 13, 2016

Best Humpday Headway so far!

windows

LOOK at all this progress!!!!

nowindows

All because Husband went and got me a couple windows! This is how it feels when a spouse validates your dreams. Shazam!

As I started to bring things into the shed I looked at Husband and said, “I forsee a problem in the next few days as you see just how big my hoard is.” He thinks I’m joking when I say I own half of Hobby Lobby and JoAnn Fabrics.

Firstposter

Of course he wasn’t sure on my first bit of wall décor but this is MY space after all.

Official  Announcement

Last Friday was my last day babysitting on a full time basis. It means I now have no gas money or extra but it means I get to pursue my artwork full time! So look forward to seeing better writing and more updates from me. I plan on Humpday Headway, a day I just update you on things I’m building, painting, or repurposing. It will be all about the Art Shed. Friday is Teacher Tidbits, a day I post little ideas that can be used in the classroom or even at home to help your students/children succeed. Monday I am dedicating to getting to know my fellow writers. I have missed so many great blogs over the last few months! Tuesday and Thursday will be all about big pieces I’m working on as far as writing. This means if I do post on one of these days it was most likely something I spent some time preparing for you, dear reader!

April 1, 2016

Tonight I Take the Stage

So most of us have seen The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson or have at least heard the term to understand what it is. I have a journal in a dresser drawer that holds a few of my Bucket List wishes. The rest are in my mind for long car rides to and from children’s sporting events.
Bucket List Item: Audition for Community Theatre……….Check
Get called back (wasn’t even on the list)……………. Check
As I broke the good news of being cast as the eldest sister in Close Ties by Elizabeth Diggs, everyone was shocked but happy for me. Well, almost everyone. The Husband was not impressed but it is important to remember he tolerates my venture into the Art world only in hopes of it being something that will one day contribute to the monthly income. This is the burden he carries as head of the house, the bottom dollar. Everyone’s shock came from the fact that I am a busy Mom of a total of 8 children. I am starting a business from home for my Art work, mostly reborn dolls for now, and I have never been involved or even hinted to friends that I was interested in becoming involved.
Last night during our final dress rehearsal I was thinking about my husband and I, vocationally over the course of our relationship. He has had the same job, the steady one, the backbone of our income. He has had side job ideas like lawn care, rebuilding cars, and a bait shop. Then there is me. Not the reliable income by any means. I was in college when we married, then was a correctional officer (a “where did that come from?” move), then factory work before finally starting in my degree field of teaching kindergarten. Only a few months into that and the universe threw us a curveball. I’ve been home with little ones ever since. I have so many ideas that go through my mind that it surprised me that a man like my husband can follow. In my defense, he was warned. I only have one tattoo and its meaning is that I’m sweet and unpredictable.
I was most excited to call and tell my Grandmother who has always enjoyed live performances. She thought I was calling to tell her I was pregnant again. Uh, NO, six kids in the house is enough. That night I got the script and as we did our first read thru I found words like dildo, hell, and asshole. My character was to say that D word in the first scene! So I put out feelers to my Aunt and Dad to see if Grandma would pass out. Last Friday, a week before the show, she called to give me love and apologize that she wouldn’t come. I accepted gracefully, hung up the phone, and cried.
This is the first time in my adult life I am doing something just for me. It feels AMAZING! I have never done any acting aside from my back-up dancer during the High School musical Oklahoma. I have learned about theatre and myself over the last 6 weeks of preparing. I wish I could let go and really become Anna. There is a shyness within me that holds me back from going complete Chris Farley. We are a small cast which is nice because it means I only have about a dozen people giving me advice instead of 30! I love feedback, it’s what helps me fine tune. It has been entertaining watching the different personalities of our motley crew, a truly refreshing change from my normal stay-at home life with small children. Someone told me after the birth of my second child, everyone will give you advice on how to raise kids, just smile politely and file it away because you never know when that tip may work for you someday even if not today. I have held that tip in every aspect of my life whether it be working at a factory, raising kids, or now, being an actress. Did I just say that? Well, it IS what I’m doing.
I find it ironic that a good portion of my role is about sister relationships. This of course makes me think of and miss my own sister. Six years now that she wrote the letter saying her religion would dissolve our sisterhood; Years of babies being born, loved ones being buried, ups and downs of one week to the next. Now this, my theatrical debut will be without my sister’s presence. However, our brother will be there. The man I love most in this world just past Husband.
My Thank you’s
Theatre
To the Terre Haute Community Theatre, where adults go to play, thank you for this opportunity! I’m waiting until after the show to ask why me.
The Cast: Jack Ciancone, Kendall Murphy, Pam Virpilio, Linda Green, Matt Schludecker, Mick Mack, and Mikaela Fish have all been so supportive and understanding of my learning curve. Thank you!
Sonni Crawford and Doug Lunn as our Director team has been the bomb! I have learned so much from both of you!
At Home
Amber Parker has been my greatest supporter from the beginning. Being back-up Mom on my rehearsal nights has made my load so much easier. I would have been driving girls to Mom or Brooke every night and these last couple weeks would have been awful without you! I am so proud of you for the changes you have made in the last year, I love you!
Husband, thank you for not complaining too much about all the housework I have got behind on, and thank you for giving me a head cold the week we open. Haha

My Bio!!
Jennifer Parker is debuting as Anna in CT’s Close Ties. A wife and mother of 8 she feels blessed to have a husband who provides for their large, blended family so she can pursue her love of being an Artist. She operates Jennifer Parker’s Art Shed from her home where she creates an eclectic array of original pieces. Jennifer also writes an online blog under the same name. The late David Bowie was quoted as saying he never saw himself as a Singer but as an Artist. Jennifer feels the same way; she auditioned for CT to open the door to performing as a way of expressing her inner creativity. It has proven to be a wonderful experience!
I dedicate the show too…..
John R Parker
There have been so many nights I drove home thinking of you and how you won’t be in the audience.
I am taking care of the boys as best I can, like I promised.
They miss you everyday.
And so do I.
Words for you, Dear Reader
Make a list of wild things, from when you were 9 years old that you daydreamed about: being an actress, a roller derby girl, a singer, an artist, whatever. Then look at your life and carve out time just for that daydream. I’m 37 and I just got started on my impossible dreams.
and

December 30, 2015

Humpday Headway – Good Riddance 2015!

It’s been a good week considering it was our first Christmas without my father-in-law. My grief surprisingly stepped completely aside compared to Thanksgiving. Then I found myself feeling guilty because I was not in the throws of tears every five minutes.

I am not a funeral or wedding attender, nor wedding or baby shower goer. It’s just not my thing. I am more a sit and have a cup of tea or coffee with a handful of people. However, this year I went to a record four funerals, and missed two of friends who died too young! Yuck!

On a brighter note my Great niece was born and I am so in love with her!

So, in the mess of holidays, children being home, Husband being off work, and sugar crashes the Shed hasn’t received much attention but I did get a couple projects done which were pure learning experiences.

Here is a blanket I made my G. He is one I babysit. I am his Maymi/ Mimi.

This came about when I found the camo fleece in a remnant ben. It was an odd size so I cut it in half width wise. As you can tell I am an amateur seamstress. 20151216_122141.jpg

I also tend to sew and do crafts the same way I cook. I look at ingredients then make up as I go along. Maybe not the best approach when sewing. The brown material I think is like a jersey knit. It was very stretchy in every direction so every time I tried to sew it to the camo everything would move, thus the puckered look in several places.

So first I sewed a piece of the brown with some interfacing on it for structure, then pinned and sewed it to a larger piece of the brown. It got a few quilt-esk stitches then I folded and ironed the edges in before I stitched for a type of made-up binding.

What I learned

Stretchy fabric doesn’t make good quilting material for a novice.

My machine and I are lovers when we aren’t fighting. I am getting comfortable with my tension and stitches.

Ironing before stitching is priceless.

It may not be pretty but it has a great weight and is a wonderful addition to my G cuddles.

A Polymer First

My sixteen year old son looked at my attempt at Alice and said, “Uh, duh, hers wants a cookie.” No, she is not pretty and nothing I plan on selling to pay the rent! However, the Art Shed is a place to learn, create, and laugh.

What I Learned

Work faster, Polymer clay is a tough clay but if you hold it too long your hot thumb melts your work. (Her back on the second pic)

The clay can be baked more than once so I should have baked her apron on before trying to be a hair stylist.

She is about 3 inches tall, perhaps to gain experience it would be better to work on a bigger scale.

Keep the work surface clean! She ended up with lint looking stuff in a couple areas from my pajama pants. (I’m a classy worker)

Get Inspired

I love surfing though Instagram for photos of Art dolls and clay creatures. In doing this I found Sandra ArteagA. She has an Etsy shop at http://SandraArteagA.etsy.com

My Alice is sure not pretty but maybe one day I can have something as unique and pretty as Sandra makes. Or maybe I will own own of her originals. How cool would that be?!!

December 16, 2015

Humpday Headway #3

There she is Friends!!

Above (top, left) is a picture of the “art shed.” Very little has really been done with her yet. Like I said before there was a lot of clutter. The shed was a good place to throw things to get them out of the way in the garage. We have a pole barn but until about three weeks ago I couldn’t store much in there because it wasn’t finished. Since then Husband has finished the trim and door so no more bird poo on all our extra possessions. Now that we have hit winter months I am a bit less enthusiastic about being in the actual shed even though we are having unusually high temps for our region.

So…other areas of organizing. The Attic (bottom, left) has been the center of what Husband calls my hoard. He rarely goes up there and when he does I usually get gripped at for a few minutes. This week I spent some time up there organizing fabric and notions. I was thrilled to see I have several projects with all the items ready for crafting. The picture on the right is a couple filing cabinets I got at a yard sale for $7 each. One drawer is mostly pattern and another is mostly fabric. The other two drawers however are patterns with fabric and notions ready for me to put them together! Yaaayyy!!!

Now …… Drumroll…….

This week’s completed project!!

A customer messaged me through my Etsy store. http://jenniferparkerart.etsy.com  She was asking if I could make a bulldog to look like her Mum’s dog for Christmas. She sent me photos of the dog and I made this little girl up. Once she saw the photos she was thrilled and went ahead and bought her. So she is now in route to a new home.

A few notes of the How-to kind

This kit was bought from http://bountifulbaby.com It is a Denise Pratt Princess Pug kit. I use Genesis Heat Set Paints and Costal Scents Powders. I layer Sienna Brown, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, and Mars Black to get her color where I want it. The paints have to be baked in the oven. I do 7 minutes at 265 degrees. Finished off with a matte sealer so the powders stay put.

November 24, 2015

Our First Holiday without John

Should I write this?

Can I write this?

I’m sitting here in the dark as my husband and children sleep, staring down into the keyboard visualizing shards of my broken heart bouncing around on the keyboard before they eventually lose energy and disappear under the keys.

 Hello there Grief, yes I have been busy, and yet here you are!

Maybe before I start I should get a drink. Hmm wine or hot tea? How far we gonna go with this?

First you need to know who John was:

John was my father-in-law, friend, fill-in Dad, mentor, teacher….. In August, just after celebrating his 66th birthday, he past away after a fairly short fight with Liver Cancer.

His obituary read like this:

CLINTON — John Rollie Parker, 66, of Clinton, Ind., went to be with the Lord Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. He retired as a coal miner after 20 years of service, beginning with Zigler Coal Mine in Murcock, Ill. He also spent many years as a truck driver, most recently with Dump Trucks Unlimited in Clinton. He was known by his fellow truck drivers as “Nickel.”

He was born Aug. 2, 1949, in West Terre Haute, Ind., to John Arnold and Anna Pauline VanPatten Parker. Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Sarah P. Stout Parker; two sons, Steven Rollie Parker and wife, Jennifer, and John P. Parker and companion, Amy Creasey; two stepdaughters, Anna Pine and husband, Dale, and Debbie Thomas; his mother, Pauline Parker; two brothers, Duane Parker and Dennis Parker and wife, Darlene; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, John Arnold Parker; and a stepson, Howard Lee Thomas.

John was a member of the Cross Roads Baptist Church. He was a man of God and had a strong faith. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed coonhunting, fishing and loved his dogs. He also enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson Motorcycle. John was a loving, compassionate man. He had a wonderful, dry sense of humor and was very witty. He loved his family and truly loved being a grandpa.

Wise words from an old guy

In dealing with the grief I read through different articles I found online and went back through some of my old psychology notes from college. Of course Pintrest was in that too.. https://www.pinterest.com/nonnyjenn/the-end-but-he-wasnt-done-writing/

Below is something I printed off from Facebook and it has brought me the most comfort.

boatsh.jpghttp://www.thatericalper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/boatsh.jpg

Since August the waves have come in the form of new activities the kids are involved in, when the stone was set at the cemetery, driving the ’41 Chevy, moving a daughter, and once because it was Sunday.

As Thanksgiving approaches and the kids are happy to be out of school, but Steven and I have little to say. We both know that there will be a point on Thursday when John won’t walk through the door at my Mom’s house to play cards. We know his witty, one liners won’t be made to have us all laughing. We know we loved deep, we are scarred deep, but that we have each other as part of the wreck to hold on to.

Oh, and as far as wine or tea? I went with Hot Chocolate. I don’t numb pain. To feel pain is to feel that I am still alive.

November 13, 2015

Find your Friendly in the Blogging Community

How easy it is to sit down and be clickety-clacking about on the keyboard, lost in our own world! Especially on those days when our Muse has allowed us to sleep and we wake refreshed ready to let out our inner ideals to the world through our blog. Yet we shouldn’t forget the backbone of blogging, other bloggers! If you find yourself in a rut then branch out and check some tags and categories of those who you normally wouldn’t. I decided to figure out what this freshly pressed tab was all about under Reader. I found myself in four completely unrelated areas but found each one interesting. I commented, liked and started following blogs I normally may miss. Thus getting my friendly on!

Here was my favorite of the four: Make a new word to further your fiction. Whereas being born in 1978 I grew up with Luke as my boyfriend and snuggled my Ewok at night, I have to admit I am just an ordinary Muggle. I needed this article in my life! I’ve had an idea for a story but thought ugh, its so been done. What better way of making it unique than using his suggestions? He put time in this one so enjoy!

Another was something every new Mom needs to read because guess what? We don’t have to love every minute of a crying, snotting baby! Laud have mercy! I love the way she candidly puts it out there. The thoughts many of us have but feel if we share everyone will think we have Post-partum depression and not leave us alone with the baby. (No offense meant to Moms who go thru it, after my brood I know the feelings!)

So you have toddlers too? Did you know Sesame Street has a character with Autism? I didn’t and not only that but I never would have thought of how someone with Autism may view this character either! This writer gives us an open letter to Sesame Street to shed some light on the Oops made by our favorite educational show.

Finally I happened upon a new word: Pantser. Boy do I know this word! Someone who flies by the seat of their pants. Like a few of us have done, or do on a regular I read along as this writer struggles with a novel where characters and plots are not fully developed. Writing as a Pantser. Have a look and send some love! We have all been there!

Until next time!

Howdy Friends!

Peace, Love and Puppies!

November 10, 2015

Not Doing Housework…OCD Much?

“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well”

– Mark Twain

I can’t sweep the floor until I clean the top of the counter.

I can’t clean the top of the counter until I wipe down the stove.

I can’t wipe down the stove until I load the dishwasher.

I can’t load the dishwasher until I scrub out the bottom of the fridge.

Why?!

It goes in an order. An order in which I must go through or it isn’t done correctly. However, going in an order means sometimes the thing that needs the most attention isn’t getting done at all.

Illustration: I had a mess in my garage for 2 weeks because of a blender that once I plugged it in I found out it didn’t work! The blender was sitting on the floor closest to the door. One must start the mess closest to the door and work toward the Freezer. This is obvious to anyone who would have looked in my garage. So my brain tells me. I couldn’t tell you if I am a master procrastinator, I have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) or I am a perfectionist who must have things done a certain way. Ultimately, I am going to revert back to my own diagnosis of I am mentally merged with the Mad Hatter.

Avoidance

There are definitely times I can recognize my behavior is simply avoiding doing something I don’t like to do. If I put it in my head that I am going to clean off my desk and file paperwork, I will miraculously have time and energy to rearrange the living room, clean the kitchen and mow the yard. Since this is a chore I despise, I take it in small doses. I do all my blogging and computer work in the morning. I have a hotspot for internet which means if it is overcast or satellites are in odd positions I have to wait a while for things to load. While waiting I will organize the desk around me. Ope, page loaded, Yay I can stop paperwork. Sounds anti-productive but it works!

I'll get there, it just takes me a little longer than the rest.

I’ll get there, it just takes me a little longer than the rest.

Perfectionist

The Picky Sister syndrome or The She got it from our Momma Effect

If you get around to seeing the dolls I make on my website, know that they almost never happened. When I first learned what Reborning dolls was I fell in love! I immediately ordered kits, paints, fabric, and tools. I took everything out of the boxes but was stopped in my tracks. I had spend $300 of which I couldn’t rightly afford on dolls I wasn’t sure I could make. I wanted my first doll to look as good as the artist who were established in their craft. I would look at my supplies and think, “Do it! Just start! Life will not end if you mess up!”  Of course, I did eventually jump in. I remember the day very well and the best part of the day was how good it felt to finally begin. My first doll did not turn out like the pros, nor my second, or third. However, my dolls are my creation, not theirs. My dolls hold a beauty and creativity that comes from ME. I always get compliments on my creations, even if it is just my Mom.

So where does this brain block come from? I have a sister who is eight years older than me so she helped influence who I became. Her house was always spotless. She always had things on her to-do list accomplished before bed. If she lent someone a CD, they got their name written in the big book of belongings. In school she had to have designer jeans, which back in the day were Jordache. Everything was just so, all the time! This was her personality. My personality was more laid back. I could’ve cared less about where my jeans came from. My house has been a mess since my second child was born, he is 16.

My sister got it honest though. She got it from our Momma! Mom and Sister have always ran households where everything has a place and there is a place for everything. They seem to be able to move into a new house and within a week have it clean and organized. I’ve had some moves where when I went to move out two years later there was still a pile of unpacked items in the corner. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, it was that my brain needed to do it in an order. I needed to hang a shelf before I could unpack the one on top. I needed to buy shelf anchors before I could hang the shelf. This was the order I needed to do instead of just putting the items somewhere else.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions). It’s also possible to have only obsessions or only compulsions and still have OCD.

With OCD, you may or may not realize that your obsessions aren’t reasonable, and you may try to ignore them or stop them. But that only increases your distress and anxiety. Ultimately, you feel driven to perform compulsive acts in an effort to ease your stressful feelings.

As defined by the Mayo Clinic

My initial example of doing things in an order I don’t really feel fits in the category of OCD as defined above. As an example, here is a picture:

They couldn't have rotated that circle just a click?

They couldn’t have rotated that circle just a click?

For me this is annoying. It causes a tickle just under my breast bone and my hands feel twitchy, like I need to fix that circle. However, if I walked by this on the sidewalk, yes it would annoy me but once I walked past it I wouldn’t think about it again. Someone with true OCD may think about it several times or even have the need to fix it before continuing on.

I think for me putting things off is first I want it done just right. Thanks Mom. Secondly, I avoid chores I don’t like until they overwhelm me, as if raising six kids isn’t enough! So if you’ve been reading along thinking OMG! That is so me! or Wow! They let this lady have a driver’s license?! I hope you enjoyed our time together. Now, I’m going to make cookies since I don’t want to mop the floor. Until next time!

November 8, 2015

Happy List for Cloudy days

When your Sad     and lonely    and need a helping hand

You can call me       I’ll be there   …….  except I have to get the kids at 3

It seems this is about how it is anymore. We all have friends we know we can rely on but everyone either works full time, is a caregiver, or volunteering to save the world. Meanwhile you just woke up and it feels like someone put concrete in your slippers, the coffee isn’t working, and all you really want to do is go back to bed. But, alas, who shall clean thy King’s socks? Or braid the Princess’s hair? Or prepare the feast?

So sometimes when we get up we are thinking more of shoving the King’s socks down his snoring throat. And sometimes we wake up with a true hatred for Walt Disney and Pixar because thanks to them we have to learn how to do the Elsa braid in under five minutes on two different girls or the bus driver is going to leave without them.  And sometimes, yes sometimes, we just want everyone to figure out for the love of all that is true in the kingdom to be able to pour their own cereal! To accept frozen pizza can be a meal once in a while, and it isn’t necessary to make five course meals everyday!

We could pretend we are the dog, and just sleep all day!

We could pretend we are the dog, and just sleep all day!

A List of my Happy places

  1. Sitting by a crackling fire with the smell of Apple Cinnamon in the air, sipping a cup of hot tea.
  2. Marking things off a To-Do list, sometimes I even write down things I’ve already done so I have something to mark off!
  3. The woods in the Spring and in the Fall, I’m a fair-weather friend to woodland creatures.
  4. Johnny Depp’s arms, sshh, let me have it
  5. Watching a movie with my husband or best friend
  6. Music that makes me dream, cry, dance, or sing loud
  7. Receiving packages in the mail even though I knew they were coming and know what is in them
  8. Walking thru cemeteries alone and thinking about what stories the dead had when alive
  9. The smell of books at the Library
  10. Walking into the craft store

November 4, 2015

What if the Mad Hatter Used the Writing Desk Instead of Making Tea?

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

I am convinced most days that I am in fact Alice, living in a wonderland, and trying to find my way home. To my real home.

In order to funnel my creative art ideas, my parenting theories, my spiritual philosophies, and of course my humor so that I don’t feel myself going stark raving mad I am entering the writing world. As quoted by Gloria E. Anzaldúa, “To discover myself, to preserve myself, to make myself, to achieve self-autonomy. To dispell the myths that I am a mad prophet or a poor suffering soul. To convince myself that I am worthy and that what I have to say is not a pile of shit . . . Finally I write because I’m scared of writing, but I’m more scared of not writing.”