My greatest influences are my parents and my brother. My brother suffered from Guillain- Barre Syndrome when he was eight. He lived in the hospital on an artificial ventilation for 97 days and later he had to continue physical therapy for at least ten years as he was completely paralyzed. My parents and my brother devoted their few years completely for his treatment. Today, my brother is a successful engineer working in the bay area. I learned that with dedication, determination and diligence we can achieve our dream in life…
The next section of the chapter discusses the killing of the LA River. There was a desire and need for flood control, and people also thought that this would create jobs during the depression era. The army corps of engineers was given the go-ahead to change the river into a series of sewers and flood control devices, and in the same period the Santa Monica Bay was nearly wiped out as well by dumping of sewage and irrigation. Next, “Battle of the Valley” discusses the creation of an alternate urbanism with medium density groups of bungalows and garden apartments. The Channel Heights Project was seen as the model democratic community that could be the answer to post war housing needs. San Fernando Valley was to be the first battlefield for old landscape versus new development. Government housing eventually destroyed the agricultural periphery.…
Vincennes Street was lined with historic old buildings, many with small plaques on the outside brick and stone walls, proudly displaying the high water marks of the 1922 flood that destroyed most of the town. Old man Burnbaum owned a flower shop directly across the street from my high school. He made a fortune from proms and school dances that were at the same location since World War II, and according to him no flood ain’t gonna run him off. He walked to his shop every day of his life from his tiny bungalow on Depauw Avenue, just a couple blocks away. He never owned a car.…
I have heard many people around me saying that you should go walk the Brooklyn Bridge at least once and I never have a chance to fulfill it. Through this opportunity, I called my friend up to accompany me to walk the Bridge for the first time. Based on the information from the history of the United States, the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883 and considered as an engineering marvel for that time. It remains as one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. During mid-1800s, the ferries connected Manhattan and Brooklyn. Ferries was a major convenience transportation for us, the people of that day were used to oars and sails to ride boats. These faster, more reliable ferries helped Brooklyn grow until the bridge was build. When…
Monday- I am ready to stat week 4!! I like being in the office but I prefer being in the back. It entirely too much drama going on in here today. The woman training me is really on her last strike and she just seems to be getting on everyone nerves (including mines). I look forward to a better tomorrow.…
July 8, 1982, I murdered my first victim. Her name was Wendy Lee Coffield. She was only 16, just a runaway, probably dropped out of school. I strangled it with it’s own clothes. I dumped the body in the Green River. Like my favored outdoor sexual spots, these were some of the locations I also dumped these objects, what I like to refer to these outcast women as. Also in the Green River was the body of Debra Lynn Bonner, 23, Marcia Faye Chapman, 31, Cynthia Jean Hinds, 17, Opal Charmaine Mills, 16, Tracy Winston, 19.…
Driving down the street we don’t always pay attention to signs, buildings, or street names. I do it every day. On my way to school and work there are dozens of businesses and signs that are just blurs in the corner of my eye. One business that I have always noticed was the furniture store, H3 Home + Decor, off of Harkrider Street. Every time I drive by I see the larger than life billboard on the side of the building. The billboard is a bright green living room set that attracts the eye of nearly everyone driving by.…
It all started when we left from the hotel around five o’clock, hoping to get to the CN Tower on time. We were on vacation in Toronto in mid July, we had just arrived here a day ago from Niagara Falls. When we left we would have never imagined that this would be one of the longest walks some of us have taken. Pleasantly, we left for the CN Tower, which we thought couldn’t be a great amount of distance from our hotel. We were wrong!…
My dad always told me that my imagination and ideas are wild. I never quite knew what he meant until a few years ago. Even though you may be terrified of certain things it is important to face them and widen your comfort zone and become fearless.…
“You should try cross country.” My mom said to me one day while I was in sixth grade. We had been talking about what I sports I should do during my seventh grade year of school.…
time for me to begin my 10 minute warming up. I move my head side to side, stretch my legs, and I begin to walk briskly. I drank my water because I need to stay hydrated. When I was ready I sprinted out like a rocket. My brother began to time me. It took me 12 minutes to finish my one mile. Once I felt that my heart was pounding, my stomach started to develop painful cramps, and my My throat was as dry as a bone. I stopped and took deep breaths in and out. I took a five minute break and finished my 3 miles by walking. Once I finished my three miles I felt proud of myself and motivated for the next days to…
I always keep this poem and picture in my wallet. I take it everywhere with me because it means quite a lot to me in two very different ways. One of those ways is because it holds sentimental value. When I was younger I learned to read very late in life and I was always so embarrassed of that. My father knew that I was struggling and bought me the book, Where the Sidewalk Ends. It is a book full of poems and little pictures written by Shel Silverstein. I remember opening the book to ta random page, and it was the page with this poem. I then remember my dad asking me to read it to him. I was so uncomfortable, even thought I was just going to be reading to my dad. He gave me some words of encouragement, and even thought I was not able to read…
I have faced many trials in my life: emotionally, mentally, and physically, etc. In my youth, my family and I moved every couple of years because my father serves in the Army. Each move introduced new challenges and adjustments. I have lived in five different states, but six different cities. I constantly had to learn how to readjust to my new environment. Moving taught me how to adapt socially , but always starting out as “the new girl” or an “outsider” was burdensome. Repeatedly leaving people I cared about hurt me emotionally, but I also knew that I couldn’t linger in my feelings or else I would miss out on other life opportunities. In order to overcome the feeling of being an outsider, I joined school clubs, participated in extracurricular activities such as soccer and track, and volunteer at church.…
I headed to my first class which just so happened to be my favorite subject, English. The hallways were very wide but when filled with students I felt like I had to shove my way through just to get to my locker. The lockers were a mixture between Gray and purple. The school colors were supposed to be purple and silver but there was no way that these lockers could be considered. I took a look at the little piece of paper that the lady in the office had given me and tried out the combination on my locker. It took me about five minutes to open it and after struggling for that long I was a little irritated so when it did open, it flew open and slammed into the locker next to mine. I held my breath and hoped that nobody had noticed. I took a long deep breath and slowly opened my eyes again. Luckily I was still standing alone and nobody around was looking at me. I put my extra books and notebooks into the locker and and closed it as quietly as I could.…
Slide the City is a family friendly event that takes place the last three weekends in August, 7 am-1pm, near Foley Square in Lower Manhattan. Tickets are available at http:/ www.slidethecity.com, the slide is free of charge. Because we care about the safety of you and your family, there will be lifeguards to ensure a safe, enjoyable day. Jenn Shaeffer, an event participant stated, “This isn’t just a slide. It’s an experience, and I loved every moment. Next year I will be bringing all my friends to be a part of it”. Everyone is welcome to be a part of this memorable, family…