I Love You All! (Junkyard Quote and partial Random Impulse)

I know I don't have to post anymore quotes, but this song's message is the business (awesome!).  I've also enjoyed all of my time in our creative writing class, and even though I do not personally know everyone, you all seem like wonderful people.  Good luck with all your future endeavours!


"Today's a new day, and there is no sunshine.
Nothing but clouds, and it's dark in my heart
and it feels like a cold night.
Today's a new day, where are my blue skies,
where is the love and the joy that you promised me
you tell me it's alright.

(I'll be honest with you)
I almost gave up, but a power that I can't explain,
fell from heaven like a shower.

(When I think how much better I'm gonna be when this is over)
I smile, even though I'm hurt see I smile,
I know God is working so I smile,
Even though I've been here for a hile
I smile, smile..
it's so hard to look up when you look down.
Sure would hate to see it when you give up now
You look so much better when you smile, so smile.

Today's a new day, but there is no sunshine.
Nothing but clouds, and it's dark in my heart,
and it feels like a cold night.
Today's a new day, tell me where are my blue skies,
where is the love and the joy that you promised me
you tell me it's alright.

(the truth is)
I almost gave up, but a power that I can't explain
fell from heaven like a shower.

I smile, even though I'm hurt see I smile,
I know God is working so I smile,
Even though I've been here for a while
I smile, smile..
it's so hard to look up when you look down.
Sure would hate to see it when you give up now
You look so much better when you smile.

Smile.. for me
Can you just smile... for me.
Smile.. for me
Can you just smile... for me.

ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
(and while your waiting)
ohohoh you look so much better when you
(and while your praying)
ohohoh you look so much better when you
(look in the mirror)
ohohoh you look so much better when you
(always remember)
You look so much better when you smile

I almost gave up, but a power that I can't explain
fell from heaven like a shower.

I smile, even though I'm hurt see I smile,
I know God is working so I smile,
Even though I've been here for a while
I smile, smile..
it's so hard to look up when you look down.
Sure would hate to see it when you give up now.
You look so much better when you smile.
so smile.

ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
smile...

I just want you to be happy..
I want you to have joy 'cause can't nobody
take that away from you.
I see you.. SMILE!!"
-Kirk Franklin, "I Smile."

Joshua West's "Random Impulse- Break Up mostly finished?" (Classmate Response)

http://westpsy.blogspot.com/2011/04/random-impulse-break-up-mostly-finished.html?zx=861263990edff21a


Even though I was slightly confused at some parts (this may just be a personal problem), I enjoyed all the suspense and gruesome-ness this story has to offer.  I noticed at least once that the past and present tense were mixed together, like in the line "I told her I loved her and she responds by grinning."  I thought maybe the guy told the girl something earlier, and at this very moment she responds; but the next lines refer to her actions being in the past tense.  I would make sure all verbs are in the tense they're supposed to be in.  Also, people like me who know nothing of pot, cigarettes, or guns may not get some of your references, like a "Zippo," or "Natties."  From what was written after the mention of "Zippo," I'm guessing it might be a lighter or something, but I'm not sure.  You could add some more description to make these references clear to everyone, if you want to.  Then again, anyone who doesn't know what that stuff is can just google it, right?  I don't get why the girl's "cartridge and bone crunch in her skull."  Is he shooting her here?  I googled cartridge and it said something about bullets, but I still can't get a complete mental picture of what's going on in this scene.  Did the guy end up burning the girl in her own house?  I would have liked to have read something that indicates that her body is in the house, and that the house is what is being burnt.  Lastly, is the last paragraph the conversation that he and his girlfriend have before the whole gagging and shooting event?  I think that can be indicated somehow.  Awesome, work!  I tried my best to think of a title.  Maybe these will give you ideas for something of your own. Or you can use one of these if you like, and I won't ask for any royalties.

Eskimo Kiss 
Your House, Not Mine
Need a Light?
Over? Oh, I'll tell you when it's over
Black Mamba
The Last Thing I'll Ever Light
Gagged and Lit

(Random Impulse)

This story is in no way, shape, or form finished. But, if anyone reads this (I never know if anyone actually reads this stuff), I would love to know what you predict will happen.  I want to make it as non-predictable as possible.
　
The Hard Way

      "You need to comb that nappy head of yours, big nose!" A wad of spit the size of a malt-ball splashed against the side of my face, and dripped down. In a rage of anger and embarrassment, I turned around and took off for home. My disgust of the slimy spit that was stuck to me, which I refused to touch, made the journey to my house seem twice as long as usual, even though it was just around the corner.
   
       My mother, hearing my stomps upon our wooden front porch steps, rushed out of the kitchen to the front door to see what all the noise was about. Before I could insert my key in the lock, the door swung open to reveal my mother with her hand on her hip and her eyebrows drooped into a puzzled frown. I attempted to run upstairs to avoid any interrogation about my appearance, but before I could reach the staircase, she grabbed me with one arm and forced my body to turn toward hers. I was face to face with the one who I had grown to know as the most beautiful woman in the world. As a self-proclaimed fashonista, her outfit, along with the rest of her style, looked as though she had walked straight out of the trendiest fashion magazine. On that day, her hair, which would range from a bone-straight bob to waist-length brunette, was shoulder-length, burgundy, and crimpy. Blood-red lipstick covered her lips, and blue eye-shadow surrounded her eyes. Her abnormally long lashes fluttered vigorously, as she asked me "what is the matter with you?"

The World Sucks Syndrome (Random Impulse)

Image by therealtimer.com

　
I constantly hear (and read) people's pessimistic thoughts on the state of the world. Folks love to mention how horrible the economy is, and how everyone is poor, depressed and likely to slaughter their family then off themselves if they lose their job. Those who are frequent church-goers have probably heard someone say that the tsunamis and hurricanes that nature's been serving us, along with world wars and blah blah blah are signs of the end of days. Even commercials feel the need to remind us of the "troubling times" we supposedly live in. I agree that sometimes, in some places, things are bad. Monumentally bad. Certain people have it so bad that it makes me thankful everyday that I happened to be born into the family i'm in and into this country. But when I hear about all the unfortunate events of today, I can't help but see all the blessings that many people are receiving. In 2010, 552,600 business were started. In the same year, Bill Gates' net worth was 53 billion dollars, and as of today, Oprah Winfrey makes about $2,000 per minute. People are thriving in this so-called "bad economy." Not everyone is, but when has a whole country ever been financially well-off? It's all about what you make of the situation, isn't it? And regarding tsunamis, hurricanes, and other natural disasters: hasn't this stuff been occurring for centuries? According to nctr.pmel.noaa.gov, natural disasters have been happening for a long while:

There is geological evidence that large tsunamis have occurred thousands of years ago.  In terms of the earliest tsunami in the historical record, a volcano erupted on Santorini Island, Greece and created a large tsunami. The years...for this event are 1628 BC and 1410 BC. This tsunami is thought to have been so large that it destroyed an entire civilization. The Chinese and Japanese [also] have a long history of recording tsunamis.
　
I wonder if the Greeks or the Chinese saw those natural occurrences as signs of the apocalypse. Often times, I think about African slaves. They were brutally taken from their continent, separated from their families, forced to work for free, and beaten. I wonder if they were walking around saying "lord, we're living in our last days." If there was any time in history that i'm aware of when folks should have been questioning the future of humanity, I think it should have been then.  And as for wars, any history class will show that the slaughtering of humans in battle has been going on for ages.
       
Today, we have technology that allows us to communicate with anyone in the world, transportation that enables us to visit anywhere in the shortest amount of time than ever before, and microwaves that can cook dinner within minutes.  On top of that, the sun still rises every morning, and we are still provided with plenty of oxygen to breath.  Is life really that bad? How about we do ourselves and the world a favor and learn to focus on the good things?

I don't feel like citing this stuff correctly :)

Business info: www.sba.gov/advo/stats/sbfaq.pdf
Bill Grates info: www.fastonlinemoneycoach.com/how-much-money-does-bill-gates-make- give-to-charity/
Oprah info: http://www.salary-money.com/oprah--salary-223000000.php
Tsunami info: nctr.pmel.noaa.gov

Closer (Junkyard Quote)

"Closer to my dreams
It's coming over me

I'm gettin' higher
Closer to my dreams
I'm getting higher and higher
Feel it in my sleep

Some times it feels like I'll never go pass here
Some times it feels like I'm stuck forever and ever

But, I'm going higher
Closer to my dreams
I'm goin' higher and higher
I can almost reach



Some times you just have to let it go (Let it go, let it go)
Leaving all my fears to burn down
Push them all away so I can move on
Closer to my dreams
Feel it all over my being
Close your eyes and see what you believe

I'm happy as long as we're apart
Then I'm moving on to my dreams



I'll be moving higher (Moving higher)
Closer to my dreams
And higher and higher, higher
Feel it in my being (I can feel it flow around me)
I know that I could not go alone (No, no)

I'm moving higher (Higher), oh...
I'm going higher and higher and higher (Higher and
Higher)
Closer to my dreams (Higher and higher, oh...oh...)
I'm moving upward and onward and beyond all I can see
(Stretching out my arms so I can reach)

Feels so close it's like i can just reach
I can feel my dreams (Closer to my dreams)
I'm moving closer to my dreams
I'm moving (Higher and higher) higher and higher
(Higher and higher)
Moving higher, oh...

Some times it feels like you never gon'change (Never gon'change)
But you never choose to walk away"
-Goapele, "Closer"


Listen to this song.  It's so relaxing and equally inspirational.

(Junkyard Quote)

"If it wasn't for my hypnotist, I would have never gotten over my fear of sandwiches."
-Chris, from the episode of Kenan and Kel called "Who Loves Orange Soda?"



Growing up in a household without cable, I would cherish every visit to a friend's house who was fortunate enough to have stations like Nickelodeon and BET.  It was like going to Disney World.  It was a relief from watching Seinfeld all the time.  Needless to say, I only ever saw a few episodes of Kenan and Kel.  Recently, I found an episode of the classic teenage sitcom that was absolutely hilarious.  If this show was on the air these days, it would probably be one of my favorites.

(Junkyard Quote)

"I don't wanna be "just friends." 
Not now, not ever. 
Those two words are bullets in my chest."
-Jason Reeves, from his song "Just Friends".


If you've never heard of Jason Reeves, check him out.  He's superb :)