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​One day I was over zach's house playing video games. The game in particular was Fable 3 and I was playing as an evil ruler. My characters name was The Evil Blue Chicken King because I went around in a chicken suit that was dyed blue. I killed almost all of the villagers with my gun. It just so happened to be named the OrphanMaker9000. It was named that because kids can't die in this just their parents. To combat this I decided to build factories and repeal the child labor law so they all have to work there. I also turned the orphanage into a brothel to prevent further kids. Anyways after that I wanted to go to sleep and when I am over I use an air mattress, but the problem was that the batteries died in the pump. Keep in mind its like 4 in the morning and I am already delirious but I decide to try blowing it up myself and 1 and a half hours in and the bed isn't even 1/15 of the way there. Now I'm light-headed and angry and refuse to believe the batteries are messed it. 
"It must have been a tech issue" I said
So I called Evett and she didn't take the call too well.
"TEEEEEEEEEEECCCCCHHHHHH SSUUUPPPPOOOORRRRTTTT" I yelled in a zombie like groan.
"Anthony what the hell do you want its 4 in the morning"
"Evett the air mattress pump is broken I need tech support"
At that moment Evett hung up and Zach was angry that I had called someone but I wasn't satisfied I need support.....Badly. So I called my friend Cornelia and got the same greeting. At that point Zach took my phone from me and I passed out on the floor. Great night.

This is an original song I wrote:

I’m so lost in this place, caught in between what’s real and what’s fake. Can’t face reality it’s killing me inside, nothing left for me to do but say I tried. Oh why, can’t I?

 

I sit and wonder what to do when all I think about is you, I think you’ve got my mind made up.

I wish you’d show me something new after what you’ve put me through, I never knew this would be so tough.

 

Here’s where the block sets in, my stomach drops, my head is spinning, and you’re nowhere to be found.  

I’m getting dizzy, tired of thinking, sick of looking up and down, you got me runnin’ round and round.

 

And it’s so frustrating how you keep me waitin’ I don’t know what else to say, the same old shit just another day and it’s so confusing how you keep on using me, I’m waisting away.

 

I sit and wonder what to do when all I think about is you, I think you’ve got my mind made up.

I wish you’d show me something new after what you’ve put me through, I never knew this would be so tough.

 

So this past weekend I was out shopping with my mom and my sister. We went to Bed Bath & Beyond and ended up spending I dont even know how much on the most random stuff. I was kind of worried about the money so my mom was trying to make me feel better as we walked through the parking lot to our car. "It's okay Beth, we don't go shopping very often and we really didn't spend that much. Anyway, we got stuff we needed and some people spend twice as much money on stupid stuff like ugg boots that are UGGly." I smiled, humoring her and looked up to see that right in front of us was this lady walking with her boyfriend. She was wearing uggs. We all started busting up laughing at my mom. When we reached the car, we looked up and saw the lady had come back around and was yelling across the parking lot, cursing my mom out and waving her hands around like she'd never been so mad in her life. My mom just got in the car and we left but she was paranoid the whole day, thinking the lady was gonna stalk her in her car or something. Ah, the things you can laugh at your parents for.

​Sometimes senior year changes things. In the beginning of the year I spent my time after school with the same people everyday. Things happen, schoolwork becomes overwhelming, and my after school crowd changes. By the middle of the school year, my spreadsheet looks completely different. This is the tracking that I record every week for my statistics class. I record how long I stay after school, why I stay after school, who I hang out with, and who I leave with. It's the "Hang out" category that suffers such a tremendous change.  

Last year, I had the opportunity to travel to the Grand Canyon. I got to connect with some kids from my school and I also got to meet new people. At night we would sleep under the stars, camped out on the bank of the Colorado River; and during the day we would white water raft, taking occasional breaks to play a game of ninja.  It was a great trip; however, one day the rapids were unusually violent – tossing our paddle boats at will. My boat had the most experienced rowers, so we were able to maintain control, albeit while narrowly avoiding a large jagged rock in the middle of the river. However, the others weren’t so lucky. We looked up to see several of our classmates floating down the river. Luckily, we didn’t panic and we were able to get our classmates to safety, while rescuing the majority of our equipment that had gotten lost in the struggle.

Ok I feel like a lot of my stories will involve the escapades of my youngest brother, Dalton, and I. He's eight years old, in third grade, the spawn of Satan and Spiderman and my best friend. 

I work at the Mütter Museum, and most weekends I'm there giving tours. Well, last weekend, Dalton decided he wanted to come with me because he loves the museum. This particular time I was giving a tour to a group of adult students. Dalton tagged along for the actual tour rather than wandering the place himself, and he had much of the tour memorized, well, as memorized as his eight year old mind could understand. 

We got to one of his favorite exhibits, the "Megacolon", which is a ridiculously huge distended colon taken from a man who suffered from a condition called Congenital Aganglionic Megacolon, or Hirschsprung's Disease. This is basically a section of colon that has no working nerve endings, causing chronic constipation and an accumulation of waste that cannot be naturally excreted by the body.

 Anyway, I mentioned that the specimen we had on display was a "biological specimen", and that it was the original colon casing and was now stuffed with straw. Dalton had been politely quiet until this point, where he cut in and turned to address the crowd of adults surrounding him. He said, with a perfectly straight face "Yes, it is now full of straw, however, originally, it was full of poo." 

How he managed to say this in such a serious tone with a straight face and not dissolve into laughter, (he is eight after all) is beyond me, but it's just one of many reasons why he's great, and I think he might have to come to more of my tours to add in his own anecdotes. 

Ryan Shaw

He looks so familiar.


I feel like I knew him a long time ago
But it can’t be him…
Just smile.
“How can I help you sir?”

“I’ll have a cup of coffee baby,
Make it black for me.”

“Sure thing.”

“You know doll,
you look real familiar.
You wouldn’t happen to be
Casey’s daughter, would you?"

Oh shit, oh fuck.
It is him.
“Um I think…
You have the wrong person.” 

“No it is you. Amelia right?
And that’s your uncle that just left?
This is his store.”

Shit, what do I do…
“Oh um yea.”
Really, you couldn’t think of
Anything other than “oh um yea?”

“How’s your mom?
It’s been a long time.
And you. You’ve grown well.
Very well. You remember me?
Don’t you Amy?
Nick, your mom’s ex."

“Oh, um yea.”
Again really.
Wide vocab you got there! 

“Ha, so how much I owe you?”

Hmm. 
A new childhood would be nice.
One where you weren't there.
One that didn't hurt so much.
Mentally.
Physically.
“Don’t worry about it,
On the house.”

“Hey thanks sweetie,”
He walked out,
He turned and winked,
“And do me a favor,
Don’t tell mommy.”

Those three words,
"Don't tell mommy"
I heard them all to often
When i was all to young.
Those three words...

I absolutely hate Tuesdays. I can never get enough sleep on a Monday night so I am always exhausted the next day.

I woke up this morning to the screech of my alarm clock and my mom yelling at me to wake up.  I wanted to stay home so bad but I knew that she would not allow it.

I began my daily trek to school by falling asleep on the bus ride there.  When I finally arrived at SLA, I could barely keep my eyes open throughout first period.  It is dreadful knowing that after lunch, I still have three straight periods before dismissal.  On top of that, I have work from 5pm-9pm.  I never get home before 9:30.

The only good thing about Tuesday is the fact that Wednesday is following.  Wednesdays are always a half-day for me.  I know as soon as I get home from such a long Tuesday, I have time to relax and recharge for a low-key Wednesday.

Boy: Excuse me

Me: (Keeps walking)

Boy: Excuse me can I ask you a question

Me: Yes

Boy: Do you know what horses eat?

Me: No I don’t

Boy: Heyyyyyyyyyyy

Me: wow how lame (smiled)

Boy: You finally smiled

Me: That’s cause your lame

Boy: But it made you smile

Me: (shake my head)

….66 Bus to City Line Ave

Boy: Can I sit next to you?

Me: its septa

Boy: What’s your name?

Me: (start to put my earphones in my ear)

Boy: You’re not going to tell me your name?

Me: My name is Janice

Boy: That’s a nice name

Me: (Texted Rumman, did you get on your bus yet?

Rumman: Yes

Me: you believe how this lame a** boy is trying to talk to me lol

Rumman: haha

Me: it’s not funny

Rumman: wat he say

Me: (told what he said)

Rumman: lmbo is he cute?

Me: Yes

Rumman: haha is he still sitting next to you?

Me: yes

Rumman: that’s funny

….Cottman Ave

Boy: Bye see you next time

Me: Rumman he jus got off thank god

Rumman: lol

Me: did you get off da bus yet?

Rumman: yea

Rumman: did

Me: I have 1 more stop

Rumman: ttyl

Me: ok see u 2mrw

Christine: Hello friend. I had a terrible dream in everyone canceled and you spent the evening verbally abusing me. I share this with you in hopes that you may offer good news to assuade my fears. Have they all chosen alternative plans? are you in a violent mental state?

Me: Oh goodness what a terrible dream! I would never do such a thing! You know me I never become violent. Meet us in an hour at 2nd and Market.

Christine: I am close by....but a few moments away.

Me: Okay dokes!

These drawing were different to what I'm used to drawing. I know that drawing realistically gives you a good foundation if you ever take up drawing. I'm used to drawing on the spot, I never have the patience to sit there and practice. My favorite out of all of these is my small self-portrait. It was the one that turned out the best in my opinion. I really love drawing, and it's usually something that I don't spend too much time on. I bet if I practiced, I'd be really good at it. Unfortunately, I don't spend too much time on it, and have my favorite art book and my drawing tools just gathering dust. Having to do a drawing a week made me feel rushed. I liked that we had to do these but I never really had the time to finish these at home. I think we had enough time to do them all. Something I would've done is fix the mistakes while I was drawing instead of going along with them.


Hand Drawing
Self portrait
Large Self Portrait
Clear Bottle Small
Clear Bottle Large
Still Life Large

​That night I was awaken by a deafening crash. I sat up in my twin bed attempting to assure myself that it was nothing more than the illusion of the dream I’d awaken from. But then the booming crash was followed by another crash, only this time it didn’t leave a faint echo in my mind. I took a look at the clock on the front of my cable box, which read “2:33”. After falling asleep while watching a marathon of “I Survived” (which is a documentary show that interviews people who survived life threatening events) several hours prior, I was prepared for the worst. I slowly slid myself off the side of my bed, trying to avoid the humming of my springs which may alarm whosever in the house. As I stood beside my bed I became aware that I was on the third floor of my home, which was the highest floor. By the time I would reach the first floor, who knows what I’ll come face to face with. I tiptoed from my room to the top of the stairs where I knew one false move on any step could create a loud creaking sound alerting who or what ever entered my home. I tread along the edge of my steps with the tip of my toes trying not to make a sound. When I reached the bottom of my stairs, I stared at my mom’s door thinking. What if he’s already in here just waiting for me to walk by? Is he standing on the opposite side of the door sensing my fear? The more I thought, the faster my heart began to beat, so with hesitation, I twisted the knob on my mom’s door, slightly ajar enough to peek my head through. To my amazement, she was sound asleep with my younger brother and sister on each side. I wondered if she heard the same distinct crash I had minutes earlier. Was it only my imagination? I was hoping so, but I didn’t want to take any chances of falling asleep and waking up to a masked figure standing over me on the side my bed. I had to check downstairs as well to be sure. My mom had the habit of leaving her television on while she was asleep, and tonight wasn’t any different. As I began to close her door, I looked at her screen and noticed that she was watching the marathon of “I Survived” as well. My heart began to beat twice as fast, I couldn’t help but become paranoid at the fact that a stranger could still be in my home hiding behind any door within any shadow. I walked down my second floor hallway aware to walk on the right hand side because the floor wouldn’t creak.

As I stood at the top of the last flight of stairs, I stared into the darkness below me. The only light I could see was the moonlights’ reflection from my doors’ windowpane. I closed my eyes and slowly walked down every step until I reached the bottom. I began to open my eyes prepared for anything to come my way, but nothing was there. While I walked past the front door on my way to the kitchen, I felt a sharp chill come across my chest and arms. The cool air moved to the bottom of my bare feet, and then I knew it … the front door was recently opened. While walking I noticed the faint smell of marijuana the closer I came to the kitchen door, I knew someone was in the house now. I walked quietly in front of the kitchen door and noticed that it was slightly opened and the light was on. This was the moment I was waiting for; this was the moment of truth. The instant I pulled the handle to open the door, the light turned off. I took approximately three steps back to find the nearest lamp and when I did, I immediately twisted the handle. As soon as the light turned on I saw him, a black masked figure standing in the kitchen door way. He stared at me, I stared at him, as I looked down I noticed one of the several kitchen knives we owned in his left hand. The only part of his body I could see was his eyes, and the only expression I saw on in his eyes was genuine evil.  As he walked towards me I took steps back and the only thought that carried through my mind was that I may be telling the story tonight’s events on an episode of “I Survived”.

For some people conversations just never  end. 

D: Okay. Enjoy yourself. 

K: I'll try to. 

D: Good. :). Bye. 

K: Don't say Bye.

D: Why? 

K: It's final. 

D: I'm sorry. Didn't mean for it to be final in any way. Talk to you later?

K: Yes, later. 

I guess you can say, we are two of those people. 

According to Web MD Insomnia is: a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. Which basically mean you can't sleep at night. It's especially terrible when you are expected to wake up before the sun and stay awake for the next 6 hours. The thing is though you are tired, VERY tired, but for some reason you just can't sleep. Rolling around, watching terrible late night comics, and scrolling through weird blogs doesn't make the disorder any more bearable. Looking at the clock, the time moves so fast! 1 a.m., 2a.m., 3 a.m., 4a.m. OH My God! I only get 2 hours of sleep. Insomnia basically sucks. I know you're probably wondering why I know so much about this lovely blessing...well because it's 1 a.m. and sleep seems to be no where in site for me. I don't even remember how this all started, I just remember not sleeping. Most of the time I sit up mad because I know how tired I'll be in class, and how I hope that all my classes consist of me being talked at so that I can catch up on a few minutes to hold me over till math. My boyfriend calls me weird, and even compared me to a zombie tonight, but he doesn't understand and many people don't. Sleep is like a privilege and if I get it I am HAPPY!

One night, though, I got completely fed up! "That's it! I'm going to sleep, whether I like it or not?" (question mark because that even confused me). So I shut everything down. No T.V., no computer, no phone, nothing! I was ready to fall asleep. So I laid there. My attempt started at around 11, and I was very optimistic, "I'm about to be OUT!" As I laid in the darkness, and the time past, I got nothing. I stared at the ceiling for 36 minutes, and thought "I gotta clean my fan." I stared at my hand and realized that they were shaped weird.This went on for the next 3 hours and 15 minutes. Not even boring observations could put me to sleep. Then before I knew it, the sun started rising and my alarm went off. Not only had I not gotten any sleep but I was bored, I guess I was better off with terrible comics, and weird blogs after all.

​​Peer Editors:
- Dejah Harley
- Matthew Hamilton
- Anthony Buchanico
- Tamatha Lancaster
- Tyler Creighton