Famous First and Last Lines

"You better not never tell nobody but God."

"This line opens the novel The Color Purple, published in 1982 by author Alice Walker, who was born in Georgia on 9 February 1944. Through letters written back and forth to one another, the novel traces the story of two poor, African-American sisters who are separated, one married off to an older, misogynistic neighbor and the other called to serve as a missionary in Africa. The main character Celie also writes letters to God because she has no one else to share her shameful secrets and her deepest feelings with. " - Mrs. Frayser

The Color Purple was written by Alice Walker. Walker has multiple "best-sellers" and her work has been translated into over a dozen languages.

I've never actually read The Color Purple, but I have seen the movie multiple times in my life. Actually, I watched it not too long ago at my sisters house. I don't have much to say about the film other than it's a good film. It tells a good story, and was acted out very well. I might read the book and try to compare it to the movie.


"Maybe I will go to Paris. Who knows? But I'll sure as hell never go back to Texas again."

This is the ending line to The Final Country, published in 2001 by author James Crumley. Milo Milodragovitch owns a bar and does some private investigating to help a lady named Molly get justice for her sister who was raped and murdered. 

This is also a book I've never read, but now that I've read the synopsis, I actually want to read this. It seems like it would be a page turner for me, and I don't think a lot of books are.

"Don't quote me on that.."

"My greatest pain in life is knowing that I will never be able to see myself perform live."
"George Bush doesn't care about black people."
"Nobody can tell me where I can and can't go."
"Creative output, you know, is just pain. I'm going to be cliche for a minute and say that great art comes from pain."
-Kanye West

"People don't realize what's really going on in this country. There are a lot things that are going on that are unjust. People aren't being held accountable for. And that's something that needs to change. That's something that this country stands for freedom, liberty and justice for all. And it's not happening for all right now." - Colin Kaepernick 

"You gotta risk it to get the biscuit." - Jimmy Butler

"Writers As Readers"

1. When I read, I like it to be quite. I don't have to be by myself I just can't be around to much noise because I get distracted very easily. I also like to listen to classical music while I read. Something about it helps me focus on my book.

4. Going to my local library, to check out books, movies, and albums with my father back when I was in middle school.

5. There have been a couple books I've read recently that I can recall that I couldn't stop reading, and that was Trafficked written by Kim Purcell, If I Grow Up and Boot Camp written by Todd Strasser, and We Were Here by Matt De La Pena.

13. When I was a little kid I would love to try to write short stories about this superhero named Michael Andrew or Andrew Michaels, can't remember which one. So I wouldn't doubt the possibility of me attempting to write a book later on in life. I've been through a lot, so I'd probably try to write a realistic fiction about some kid who has been through some things I've been through, and some of the things I've seen others go through.

Caged Bird

I don't know why the world is the way that it is.
I wish I could change it all
Only for the better
I feel as if I'm a caged bird
Singing for freedom
Only to give it to others
Others that need it
Need it to survive

"You May Say I'm A Dreamer"

Dreams for my Future -

Over my life I've a lot of different dreams I tried to pursue like being a lawyer, a guitarist, fashion designer, multiple things. My mom always said its better to be the "Jack-of-all-Trades" than to be really good at one thing, she said I was "opening doors" for myself. Which I think is true, but being seventeen years old I realized that I need to find something to try to focus on and I need to find it soon. I think I've found it, or them. I either want to own my own auto and body shop, or become a photographer. It'd be nice to do both. I really just want to have a career that involves art. Anything really, I usually just go with the flow, but I've really been pushing the flow to go towards art because art has been a big part of my life since I was born. Everyone in my family is artistic, usually in a more musical fashion. That's never been my thing though, I couldn't really find an instrument that I could sit down and learn, but drawing and painting is not something you need to "learn." You can draw something that may look like trash to someone else, but if you like it, then its good. Drawing/painting can't be determined by someone else, only you. Same for photography, you can take a picture and it may come out terrible to others but if you like it, well it's the same as before, it's good.

Maya Angelou Questions

2. “The Universal Human Power To Triumph Over Adversity” -

I know 100% without a doubt that I have that ability. I recently had to show it, over these last two years I thought I had no way out. I didn’t have any of the opportunities I have now, but I made a way. I’ve been under the microscope of certain people for a long time, and I’m just now escaping from under it. I had to keep my head on straight and focus on what’s important, and that was getting out from under their microscope. I started getting into more positive things like sports, art, and reading. That made the time fly by, and it made it easier for me to stay out of trouble.

3. “Giving bad dreams too much power” -

I don’t think talking about your bad dreams give them any power at all, unless you give it

to them. I think in all honestly that talking about bad dreams takes away more power than it’ll ever give to them. Letting the memory of that dream stay inside you, could do more damage to you than speaking out about it. Speaking out releases the power things (in this case bad dreams) have over you.

4. “Dreams tell the truth about us” -

I think dreams tell us more about ourselves more than other people, it’s just that most people just try to brush dreams off, because they’re dreams. I feel that dreams come from the subconscious and that our mind might be trying to tell us something bigger. Even if the dream doesn’t make that much sense on the base of it, if you look a little deeper you might find out something about yourself that you’d never thought about.

5. “Living Silent Like Angelou” -

There is no way I could live like this, I have to speak my mind. I hate holding my tongue, and doing it for almost five years? I couldn’t do it. On the other hand, sometimes I wish I could live like that. I think by listening more than talking, you’ll learn a lot more about the world around you, or the world period. If you speak more and talk less, you’ll learn more about yourself. So I think it better to have a mix, because you don’t want to know all about the world without knowing yourself, but you don’t want to know yourself and nothing else.

7. “Remembering the Past” -

I can remember a few things in my life, but I just try not to think about them. Not because the memories are bad, I do have some bad ones, but it’s because I try to live in the “now”. The past is gone, and the future doesn’t exist. People waste too much time, regretting things or trying to plan too far ahead, and by the time they know it, it’s their time to go. I don’t wanna go out regretting anything, like thinking I didn’t live life to the fullest because I was too worried about the past of the future. Only thing that is important is what’s happening now.

Kids From The Breakout (Dream Thread)

The faint sound of people bustling inside the strange house attracted my attention instantly. I didn't know what was going on, but I was too interested to not go and look. I peered through the window and seen nothing at all. The sounds didn't stop. With the new "breakout" going around, I knew better than to go into any house unprepared. I'm always prepared. I went in ready for anything, but what I found threw my off guard. Two young children, sitting, waiting actually. They told me their story of how they have to stay here and fight for what they have. They asked to come with me, even though I didn't have a lot, I didn't care. I had enough to help the people nobody wants to help or be around. And together we'll survive.

Superman (Color Collage)

It was so tall, unlike I, who was so short.
My heart was racing, I was nervous all the way through the line
I wanted to quit, but my eldest brother wouldn't let me live it down
So I stuck with it, and there I was
Looking up at this ride that touched the clouds
Was it really to late to quit

I stuck with it
Couldn't let my brother down
We strapped in and we were ready to take off.
Why did I agree to that
I could hear the screams of others from a mile away
It was too late

We started moving towards the clouds
I thought I could see over the mountains
It really was the end
I regretted doing this
Who makes something go this high
Why me
We dropped

My brothers, including the eldest, screamed along side of me
Brothers till the end
Then we stopped
I wasn't dead
I wasn't scared
I wanted to do it again
So I did
Over and over

The Light (Color Story)

I couldn't see a thing, not even my own hand, right there in my face. The world, or the room, or cell, whatever I was in was completely black. Not a pinch of light could be seen. I tried to find a door, but there wasn't one, either the room was too large, or I wasn't in a room period. I felt like I was losing my mind. Then, a bright white light, lit up the entire room. I was home, but something was off.

My room was filled with people. Sick people. How come I didn't notice them before? These people were at the bottom of bottoms, all looked pale, yellow, purple because of how sick they were. Constant moaning and groaning. I wish the lights were back off. I think I'm going to be sick. In a flash, they're gone. Now I was really thrown off, this had to be a dream or something.

I tried to stand, but I couldn't move. I looked down to see my tan carpet swallowing me whole, I started to panic. I let out a huge scream, and next thing I know my older brother is waking me up. I looked around, everything was normal. No sick people, no hungry carpets, just me and my brother.

I started explaining the nightmare to him, but he kept shaking me, telling me to get up. It was like he couldn't hear me. When I stood up, I felt light. As if I was empty. I turned around and went it to shock. I was looking my brother, continuously shake me trying to wake me up. I didn't understand. I went to the bathroom to look at myself, and everything looked like it should've except my eyes. Instead of being the light brown they usually were. My eyes were a deep wine red. My heart was beating faster than ever, even though I wasn't hyperventilating. I tried to walk out, the white light was back, I tried to run through it but I ended up somewhere else. Somewhere that felt like home. It was home. I am home.

Paint Chip Poetry

Haiku:

I really hate this

I want to flutter bye

I really hate this

Haiku 2:

Irresistible

Kiss On A Gloomy Tuesday

I want to go home

Purple Midnight:

In the darkness of the purple midnight

I saw her

Though she was dressed in rococco violet

I saw her so clearly

Purple thrush

A very good rush

Every thing is purple

Every thing but her

She is bright

Unlike the purple midnight

Missing:

(S)o far gone

(E)ven when we're right here

(A)lways too early or too late

(S)o far gone

(R)arely in the picture when I should be

(A)lways too out of it

(Y)eezus is in the building

GHOST:

It creeps around in the dark night

Waiting to strike

You can't prepare for the attack

No matter how hard you try

This demon always wins

It's name is one we all no.

Depression

The Ghost

"Ode To Microsoft"

Rah Rah Calloway

Mrs. Frayser

Creative Writing

30 August 2016

Ode to Microsoft

Thanks Microsoft for all the memories you have created for me. They’re memories that will live with me forever. Because of you all, I had an amazing childhood, filled with excitement and heartfelt moments. Thanks Microsoft for making the Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One. Your company is one of the living memories I have of my father. The man who bought me my first Xbox.

We actually owned our Xbox before I can even remember. We were a competitive bunch, my father would face-off against my older brothers Michael and Reggie Jr. in Madden. The old Madden’s of course. Since I was only in early elementary School I couldn’t keep up with them, so many time when I challenged on of them, they lower the quarter to 2 minutes, and destroy me. My sister would tell me how if I didn’t really understand or wasn’t the best in a game, she’d find me up at night playing the game, trying to master it. This was over ten years ago!

My love for Xbox and the memories it brought to me doesn’t stop there. All through elementary school I played games like, Ultimate Alliance 1 & 2, Spiderman, Guitar Hero 1, 2, & Legends of Rock. Everyday after school I was in it to win it. Never did I ever beat my dad in Madden though. He asked me not to long before he passed what I wanted to do when he got out of the hospital, and I told him that I wanted to play him in a single game of Madden. He said that we could, too bad it never happened. I always call it ‘The Forgotten Game.’ It hurts to think about still but it honestly one of the most vivid memories I have of my father. He always connected with me through video games. Racing games, fighting games, RPG’s (Role Playing Games), everything that wasn’t to gory. I remember one day when my dad picked me and my little brother Kobe up from school. When we went outside he told us to look in the trunk. I was pretty confused, but when the trunk came open, it all made sense. My father had bought me new guitars for Guitar Hero, new Xbox controllers, new games, everything. I was so happy, we got to go home and play games for the rest of the day. All in all, I feel that video games helped my dad bond with my brothers and I more than anything else. My dad worked a lot but that didn’t stop him from playing with us sometimes. Really, I’d catch him playing by himself sometimes. My dad was a beast at Madden 08 (That sounds so old now that made 18 is going to come out next year). I have to Thank you Microsoft (and EA sports) for all the memories you brought to me and my family, because of you I have good memories about my father and my brothers.