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My dad told me a story this weekend about an experience he had with his father and a cat in Puerto Rico. He goes, " I was about nine years old when this happened, and let me tell you it was one of the scariest and funniest experiences I ever had. 

My dad had a room filled with fibers (to fill pillows and make blankets.) And non of us ( him and his three brothers and one sister) were allowed to go in there. And my dad bought us a cat, and each of us had the responsibility to take care of her per week.  So it was my week to watch her and after about two days I got tiered of doing it. I decided to just put her in the fiber room so I could go out and play with my friends. Before I knew it a few hours turned into a couple of days and we all figured the cat had ran away. I forgot all about her. The twist was one day my dad woke up because we kept hearing crazy screeching noises from the fiber room. My dad woke us up at like one in the morning  and went down to the street to the church, and I remember this so clearly because the pastor was walking up the street with a gun! (LOL) My dad lead him into the house and towards the fiber room and at the moment I remembered the cat was in there! The pastor opened the door; gun pointed inside the room and before he could do anything the cat jumped on his and started scratching and going crazy! We were all laughing so hard, I will never forget that."

Today I peed
Yesterday I skiid
Today I worked
Yesterday I ate pork
Today I wore black
Yesterday I took a nap
Today I felt sore
Yesterday I wanted to be at the shore
Today was alright
And right now it's night

Mom: Wanna come in the store to get a snack?
Me: Sure, I'm kind of hungry.
Mom: You got a dollar *mom look*
Walks into store
Me: I really want some plain lays chips. Picks up chips 50 cents. ARE YOU SERIOUS? This is ridiculous.
Mom: Yup.
Me: I remember I could get 4 bags for a dollar, times are really changing.

Even though I am only about to hit 18, it really feel as though things are changing around me. Or maybe I am just starting to notice them now. I guess this is the time when we all start realizing we are actually adults...who would have thought a bag of Lays could show me so much?

Which school should I choose. I've always wanted to go to Penn State but after thinking I wouldn't be accepted because of my SAT's scores, I thought that Hampton was where I wanted to be. Surprisingly though, I received my first college acceptance letter from Penn State. That acceptance letter slowly changed my mindset back into "Penn State Mode." Hampton is still an option but everyday it's looking like I will choose Penn State. Time is ticking. 

would you rap on my video if i made one?

of course!

and dance? (not that kinda dance. Like diddy dance.)

naw I wont diddy dance for nothing 

lol no? 

like mo money mo problems. harmless stuff!

nope. I just sit in a chair and rap

a queen chair? a throne?

nope just a regular old chair. maybe I'll even sit on the step.

oh you cant be in my video no more. you too cool...

I spent most of my saturday with a friend. A good friend that I have come to know better and better throughout these last couple weeks. We chilled for most of the day before I decided that I wanted to leave and get my night started. All week I told some friends from school that I would not be attending their hotel party. Knowing that I would surprise them, I decided to show up and party later on that night when I was done spending the day with my friend. It took me forever to get to the hotel because SEPTA runs super slow on the weekends. I was so cold waiting for the bus to come that I thought I might end up going back in the house. Fortunately as I was just ready to walk back to my house, the bus came around the corner. When I got off the bus, i got on the worst train ride I've ever taken. I smelled poop on the train, and sadly it was a homeless man that carried the smell with him because when he exited the train two stops before mines, the smell exited with him. I was relieved to finally not have to hold my breathe for minutes at a time. When my train ride was over, i walked from 15th street at City Hall to 11th and arch. It was so cold outside that I was shivering from head to toe. When I finally reached 11th and arch, I stood in front of the Hilton Garden Inn. I walked in, took the elevator to the 7th floor and walked to room 701. Already with my jacket and hoodie off, I heard Mckelly's loud mouth through the door. I was laughing as I knocked on the door. "Who is it?" asked Amira. "It me, Tajh," I replied. The door opened, "Brooooooo," screamed Amira with a smile on her face. I was ready for an exciting night. 

I know a place where the grass is really greener,
There are no clouds to block the shining of the sun,
And no city buildings to block the lights of millions of stars;
It's in your arms; It's home.

For a while I moved through life seemingly happy
With fits of laughter, possibly hinting at hysteria.
I watch you walk by, your soul shining, with anger in my eyes
And a flirtatious giggle aimed at the
Insignificant creatures surrounding me.

You see this and I must be the perfect little actress
Because I fooled you into thinking I was euphoric
When in reality I was barely okay,
I even fooled myself into thinking I was over you.

But you're the true actor.
Your performance is flawless.
Where my act was given away by pain in my eyes
Yours remained empty, like your voice and heart.
If not for your indirect messages of maybe love and regret
I'd believe every sign of hate you throw my way.

Tell me the truth.
If you show no one else your true colors, show them to me.
Maybe we can both live where the grass is greener,
The sun shines without clouds,
The stars shine in the depths of both our eyes,
And we'll finally be home.​

I don't remember where I was walking that day as I left out of the school's doors. Was I going to 30th street? Maybe Liberty Place...not sure which, but it was one of those two. It wasn't cold I know that for I can picture myself being bundled up in one of my many jackets but being a bit warm. Not sure if there was wind but there was a chill. I remember clearly though walking beside my best friend Evett chatting about something that seemed to be of the most importance. We walked together chatting passing the parking lot then heading under the first bridge. It had either snowed or rained before for there where icicles hanging down varying in sizes. Some were breaking, some dripping but I payed them no mind.

 We fished walking from under the one bride then were under the next. Across the street we heard one fall and looked over. It was quiet loud but we brushed it off and kept talking. One of us cracked a joke about something and began laughing. We were almost out from under the bridge. What happened next I remembered clearly. I suddenly felt strength tugging me backwards. My eyes were opened wide in shock then I looked over my shoulder as Zach cheerily said hi. Before I got any words out I heard a loud close by crack. I looked back to the spot where I was about to step before Zach stopped me. A giant icicle (and by giant I mean it had be be almost a 4th my size or so) snapped and quickly fell with force into the spot where I would have been. It was like time slowed a bit as I watched it break, the pieces of ice spraying out. In my head I thought of how scary it was that fell, how hurt I would have been if it hit me and how glad I was Zach did something really goofy.

Pull in case of fire not in case of boredom.

Laying in the hotel my room I took a look at my phone noticed 8 o'clock was quickly approaching. I yelled to my friend "Is everything done?"
She quickly responded with "Yup"
I asked "Who is coming because this room is small?"
Shortly after  while waiting for a response there was a knock at door. I rubbed my hands together anxiously and said "we got room service" in a jokingly manner.
 I got up and looked through the peep hole to my surprise and uninvited guy was at our door who watched us walk to the room from the pool. We could clearly see he was under the influence while he struggled to get out the words " Ya'll having a party?"
We said "no" and slammed the door.
While walking back to my bed my friend said "he obviously isn't coming."

So basically my weekend was full of wonderfulness. I cleaned on Friday ( well attempted to), and relaxed with my mom. Saturday was all about Justin Bieber. My favorite cousin asked me to go and see his movie with her and all I could think was, I better not say no. This thought came to mind because I knew that this was all about quality time and I knew she wanted me to go. Now, I never was a big fan of him but sitting there listening to him sing changed my mind. I was nodding my head and jamming to his music. It was nice because it was in 3D and I was laughing so hard because my cousin knew every single song that he was singing. The song that I like the most is this one below

This was a hand drawing.

Self Portrait

A brief timeline about the creation and the operation of the Tennessee Valley Authority, or TVA, created by Michael D. and Uyen N.

We hope you enjoy!

Dear Duane,

Sorry I sounded weird last night, but the parental units were right there. Dad was in his chair and Mom was on the sofa—both sitting as far from each other as they could while still being in the same room. They’re doing the not-talking thing again. It keeps me busy.

Dad: Justin, would you please tell your mother she’s being paranoid?

Me: Dad says lighten up Mom.

Mom: Justin, please inform your father he’s a liar.

Me: This is so lame, would you guys just talk to each other?

Remember those conversations that you were in the middle of? Now all you have to do is march around and shoot guns. Want to trade? I better go; Mrs. Perez is giving me the eye like she suspects I’m not doing algebra.

Adios and hasty banana.

                                                                       Your suffering brother,

                                                                       Justin

P.S. The units are both off work. Mom said she needed a mental health day but I bet it’s backfiring. All that will be left are two pairs of empty shoes with smoke coming out of them by the time I get home.

Self Portrait with Chalk


Hand Drawing with Pencil


Self Portrait with Pencil

Wednesday was no ordinary school day. Several weeks ago my partner and I won the city-wide public forum debate league, this day was designed on our behalf - to honor our achievements. We began the day by meeting Seth Williams, the District Attorney of Philadelphia. We shadowed his assistant around city hall, witnessing several interesting trials - and also several more medial trials involving the use of marijuana and several other misdemeanors. The way people act when they're on defense was unbelievable - with their hood over their head, cursing in the presence of the judge, and a gangster lean that embodied the belief that he was too cool for this court room. 

After that was over, we headed over to the school district to be honored by the Super Intendant of the School District of Philadelphia, Arlene Ackerman and several of her colleagues. 

He sits at the table, celebrating his friend's birthday.  They eat cookies and pile on the ice cream, syrup and whipped cream. Their laughter fills the room as they devour the sugar overload in front of them.  She brings out the milk, offering each boy a glass.  Each one gratefully accepts, inhaling a refreshing sip, until she reaches the last boy.

"I don't want any; milk doesn't agree with me."

"Then tonight's going to be a great night," she laughs to herself, as she returns the milk to the fridge.   

Woke Up at a good time
Actually ate break fast

Drove to King a Prussia
Saw the most amazing store ever
Found my Prom Dress

Took a nap
Went out with my boyfriend
Had the best dinner EVER!

Came home
Watched movies till 11
Stay up all night & reminisce about the day...

The Best Day Ever ♥

Today, I attended the wedding between my boyfriend's brother, Michael, and his longtime girlfriend, Janet.  Although I have only known them for merely a year, they have become very close family. After about ten long years of a serious relationship, Michael and Janet finally decided to tie the knot in a very small and semi-traditional way.  The ceremony was very short and took place at a tiny alter in West Philadelphia. Although the actual service was only about ten minutes long, it was very emotional time for the few of us that attended.  My boyfriend, Eric, was the best man.  As he was standing on stage next to the his brother (the groom), I couldn't help but tear up listening to the exchanging of the vows while staring into Eric's eyes.  It was at that point that I realized that not too far from now, Eric and I would be the ones standing before an audience being bonded together in "holy matrimony".  <3

Sunday was the day of the super bowl. The Steelers were up against the Packers. All my friends were rooting for "black & yellow" including myself. I personally think that football is fixed so I didn't believe that the Steelers were going to win and I was right. They lost and the Pakers won.
During the game I had fun relaxing with old and new friends. The dorito commercials were hilarious. The food was also delicious. I can't wait until the next super bowl party.