Two Hawks Quarterly

Issue 2 - Number 1 - Summer 2008

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When I was the year of ides (fifteen-years old), my Grandma was nearing Death’s door. Mom and Dad made the tough decision to leave behind the comforts and wealth of Boston, Mass. to go to Albemarle, North Carolina to be with her. We rode on the road for about a full day until we stopped at our new house in Albemarle.

I automatically felt homesick over missing my old home. For days I cried and threw temper-tantrums all over the house, yelling and fighting. When Grandma passed away, I threw the biggest fit in all of America. Just as I was about to run away from home, I was invited over to a barbeque at an aunt’s house.

When I arrived at the barbeque, my two Mulatto cousins dashed over toward me with welcome arms. There were Cousin Michael and Cousin T’yanna. T’yanna did a cartwheel for me as Michael gave me a cup of cola. I stopped being angry and gave my two cousins hugs and kisses. My Cousin T’yanna was pretty as a Daisy. And as a result, I called her ‘Daisy’. I realized that even in a small town there was always someone who loves you just the way you are.

Michael and I did things kids like us would do. We played video games and go to school. We even walked over to the movies to see the latest flick that was playing. With Daisy, she and I would watch cartoons and played with her baby sister, Madison. When Halloween came, Daisy was dressed up as a princess and Michael was dressed up as a vampire.

During Thanksgiving, Daisy, her parents, Madison and I watched television with our other cousins and family. When the food was ready, Michael was already in a seat at the table. Thanksgiving left and in its place was Christmas. My Cousin Daisy read the story of Jacob’s ladder and wanted a ladder of her own. Everyday she climbed up the trees, wanting to reach the sky. Everyday she would ask Santa or her parents to bring her a ladder so she could climb up to the heavens to chat with all of the angels.

Christmas came first to my Cousin Daisy. As she woke up that crispy, December morning, Daisy crawled out of her warm covers, got up from the couch, and went toward the Christmas tree to look for her ladder that she shined for. When she got to the Christmas tree, she looked away from all of the smiling dolls, the cute stuffed animals, the untouched books of boy wizards and princesses from days of old; she even looked under the boxes of European candies and enveloped Christmas cards stuffed with money. Daisy’s smile quickly turned into a pout; for the ladder that she hoped for was nowhere to be found beyond the shimmering, unwrapped boxes and enveloped holiday cards.

(If you think that was a sad day for Daisy, it was nothing compared to what my Cousin Michael went through.) Michael and his sister had a fight over a harmless video game. Though it all, Michael took the time to call up Daisy to wish her a ‘Merry Christmas.’ That made Daisy glow with happiness.
As the years went by, I watched them grow up along with me. I always thought I get to see them grow up into adults. I had hoped that they would live forever. One day Mom broke the news that Daisy had cancer. (No, she didn’t have a pet crab, but I wish that it was one.) I did what any cousin would do; I treated her like a princess and prayed for her. She lived for one year just to be a flower girl at her parents wedding. And Michael was telling Daisy that she looked pretty. He told her that when she was bald and when her hair grew back.

My brother had a dream that Michael was walking up the steps to a door. My brother was begging Michael not to go up those steps and was restrained him in his arms. Michael, as strong willed as a powerful bull, broke free from my brother’s hold. "Let me go, man," he told him, "I’ve got to go. You can’t go with me, I have to go alone. See you later!" My brother could only watch Cousin Michael go up the steps and open the door to the light.

Then Cousin Melissa (Daisy’s mom) had a dream about her daughter. She was in the kitchen having a snack for herself and her unborn child, when the phone rang. Melissa picked up the phone and asked who it was. It was her daughter, Daisy from the hospital. "Some people want me to come with them to their new home," she told her mom happily. "What people, Baby?" Melissa asked her.

"I can’t tell you. I have to behave for them before they come to the hospital to pick me up. I’ve got to go. I see you, Mattie, Daddy and Brother later. I love you, goodbye."

In place of her daughter’s child-like, angelic voice was a dial tone.

The next day after the uncanny dreams, Michael was gunned down. The sister that he sometimes cared about and fought with slipped away in her arms. Two days later, Daisy fell asleep in her hospital bed after watching a children’s program and never woke up. They were finally reunited together in Heaven.

The resent years have been bittersweet for my family and me. Melissa had her son, and Michael’s sister graduated from high school. I would like to add more good news to my paper; if I did, it’ll become a memoir.

I didn’t type this paper to make anyone wept at the untimely deaths of two young children, instead I want anyone who reads my story to understand that the death of a loved one doesn’t mean that their life is over; but their memory will live on forever. Think of the good times that you shared with them and know that love is much stronger than death.

I know that both my cousins aren’t coming back anymore, but my memories of them will live on forever in my heart.

Posted at 10:57 pm by shahril
Comment (1) Permalink

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Entry di atas nih aku copy dari blog sahabatku ketika di alam Matrikulasi..

http://shahril.blogdrive.com/

Sebenarnya sajak ni aku buat n aku bagi kat dia sebab dia antara sahabat yang baek di sana..

Dia juga ada bagi aku sajak..

Tapi aku kena cari la dulu..

Sebab aku dah simpan kat dalam fail2..

Sahabat yang gemar menulis sajak..

Aku dah quit dari kerja mengarang puisi nih..

hehe..

Agak2 korang pecaya ker sajak tu aku yang buat?

erm..macam x cayer jer..tapi itu la aku dulu..

Sekarang dah kurang reti..

This new obsession got me to thinking that I should lay off of the meme thing for a while. But, I have noticed that the process has activated some of my creative brain cells that have been napping for too long. My Obama obsession was causing my fun loving dendrites to shrivel up and drop off. Thanks to a gal named Selena my quirkier neurons have awakened. Today I am so spent from the draining week the Lord laid out for me that I need a little quirk inspired dendrite activity. By putting my dendrites through a hearty workout of a whimsical nature I can increase my supply of quirky neurons through a process called "use-dependent neural development" aka. "activity-dependent neural development".

Activity dependent nuero develpment and mice:

Molecular genetic analysis of synaptic plasticity, activity-dependent neural development, learning, and memory in the mammalian brain.

(whoa, that's a lot of big words, maybe I will grow some smart neurons now)

From the National Library of Medicine website,

Chen C, Tonegawa S.

Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.

Recently, dozens of mutant mice generated with gene targeting or transgenic technologies have been shown to exhibit a distinct set of impairments in the brain and behavior. In this review, we discuss how studies of mutant mice have helped elucidate the mechanisms that underlie synaptic plasticity and the relationship of these synaptic mechanisms to the activity-dependent phase of neural development and learning and memory. We focus on the recent progress in the analysis of whisker-related pattern formation, elimination of climbing fibers, long-term potentiation, long-term depression, and various learning and memory tasks in mutant mice.

Use-dependent neuro development and the Bible:

If you take this concept and apply it to the Bible then we can justify taking in the word daily with constancy and diligence. For if we are stimulating our spiritual dendrites and thereby increasing the neurons that house our inner soul thought process then we train our brain to follow righteous thinking. I know this may be some deep thought and somewhat hard to grasp but I believe it is supported in the Bible.

Finally, brothers,

whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things.

(Phillipians 4:8, NIV)

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead,

bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

(Ephesians 6:4, NIV)

If we fill ourselves with God's word daily and diligently we will increase our God given neurons that keep us focussed on Him. If we think admirable and praiseworthy thoughts we will become more Christlike.

The meme thing will have to wait, I feel a need to take in the word and grow my Bible dendrites.

God Bless

]]> http://aulapress.wordpress.com/?p=398 Thu, 22 May 2008 02:30:50 +0000 AULA Editor http://aulapress.wordpress.com/?p=398 Two Hawks Quarterly

Issue 1 - Number 4 - Spring 2008

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But I have decided to play along. I think it is time for me to play a little. I am in the counseling field and I usually end up somewhere along the line telling my clients to play more.

So now I am taking my own pill.

The game is meme? I am not even sure what that name is all about, but I am going to be a good sport and play with the other blogerists. We all need to play more as we have been so involved in this political race thing. Obama, Hillary, and McCain.....arg! I think God has combined the three candidates we have to teach us all a lesson on who our real true leader is, Jesus. Thank you Lord for the painful reminder.

Back to the Game, Here are the instructions....I think:

First, I was tagged by Selena who was tagged by somebody named Ric Booth. So I went to ric's blog and copied these instructions,

ric booth's blog here,

He wrote these instructions, Check out his blog for further details. Ok so I am joining in on this meme thing,

Here is what I know so far from ric booth,

On Monday I was TAGGED by lovewillbringustogether (a.ka. love).

The four requirements for this meme are:

1. Write the title to your memoir using 6 words
   Life was So Simple Before I Died
   Actually, I wrote this title long ago.
2. Post it on your blog
   check. Actually, I posted this long ago too.
3. Link to the person that tagged you
   check.
   
4. Tag five more blogs
   hmm… 75% is a C in my book.
   Ok…
   inProgress
   Samwrites2
   themostexcellentway
   Skunnydroppings
   SharpIron

Also, the title above does indeed contain 6 words. It also contains 5 words. Technically speaking. However, if you are confused, remember I doesn’t count. It may also be helpful to remember i do know how to write.

Here is Selen's version of the game,

The four requirements for this meme are:

1. Write the title to your memoir using 6 words
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person that tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs

Here is mine: Desires my Creator despite my flaws.
This is my life story. I truly love God despite myself.

Blogs I am tagging:
Mike, our crazy & fun pastor
NectarFizz, my silly blogger friend.
Peak9, loyal blog commentor & snowboarder dude.
Rigg, long winded blogger, that needs an idiot page.

I added Selen's version to my post to prove a piont. the point is that I can be lonnnnng winded.

That is probably why you haven't seen my meme yet, and I haven't sent out any tags...yet. Because I still feel a need to be really clear on my memoir and who I tag.

As I always need clarification I had to find out what a meme is so

Meme from Encyclopedia Dramatica,

Meme

From Encyclopedia Dramatica

The meme is the final stage in the life of a butterfly

The word meme (Pronounced: meme) is a term coined by Richard Dawkins in his book The Selfish Gene. Originally used to describe packets of cultural information, it was adopted by the internet to describe viral lulz or frunz. Its original meaning is no longer used except by sociology majors.

Meme is commonly used by people who aren't retarded because it is in fact shorter to write the word "meme" than to write out "internet phenomena" or "something that will wind up on G4 tomorrow for all of the nerds to fap all over". It is well known that the only people that care about internet memes are sad fucks with no life.

Sometimes bloggers refer to memes as a word game or short quiz taken and posted as comment bait. The more comments a user receives about their results the higher the chances are of that thing spreading. Then most often Memes are taken by fucking Idiots and totally fucked up and or overused which eventually leads to the death of a meme, but here is a example of the lifespan of a meme.

So let's look at the word Memoir from Webster,

— mem·oir·ist \-ist\ noun

The wind blows fairly regularly and steadily in Yakima; in fact, Jack and I built a privacy fence and wind break along our back deck where we installed a hot tub.  THen we could enjoy the sun without getting blown away. Traveling between Yakima and Spokane on I-90, we'd  see wind machines near Ellensburg. The constant turning is mesmerizing and brougt me a feeling of hope. Any region close to the ocean or mountains has an abundance of wind that can be harnessed. So much energy in the weather, why not use it? Here is an informative site that will give you links and let you know what is happening with this fuel rich technology: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/ 

In Yakima, we didn't harness the wind, but we considered solar power.  We'd read some books on lining the roof with black hoses, running water through them for out door showers, or indoor if the plumbing were set up correctly.  Jack was handy, he could have done something like that.  He did rig up pipes to fire up the hottub with wood.  It worked okay, but used too much wood.  We switched to propane, which was cheap back then.  Now the wind is a good posibility for cheap fuel.

Right now I'm considering an electric car.  That's not what they're called, exactly, but my friend has a Prius and she likes it a lot.  I live in a community now where I can walk everywhere.  My Yakima house was in the country.  There was a tiny store within walking distance, but nothing that we'd use for anything other than, oh, I forgot the onion or tomato paste for the dinner meal.  Or maybe icecream after dinner.

On 4/8/2008 1:58:53 PM

Sorry, it took a while to get this up and posted. My interviewees had to take their time, going down memory lane.

1. Interview

Dad-

1. When I was a child, you thought I had speech problems?... please explain. ....
On Mother's Day 1988, you said your first word, "Mama." But soon after that you stopped talking. It was around the time of mom's huge brain tumor surgery, so we thought it might be just an emotional reaction to that situation. Over time you began to talk but unintelligibly. We joked that you had learned Gaelic from your Irish babysitter, but after a while took you to the doctor and got a referral for speech therapy. You went to speech therapy at High Point every week as a preschooler, while spending the rest of your days at Peachtree. Mom greatly enjoyed working with you on your speech therapy homework every night. Finally, in first grade they were drumming you out of speech therapy because you no longer needed it, and I asked if your hearing was OK because sometimes our phone conversations were "cross questions and crooked answers," leading me to wonder.

2. How did you feel when you found out I was deaf in one ear? and about the NF2?

Crushed, devastated, bewildered, very emotional.

3. Growing up, did you view me any differently, because of that?

Not really, except when particular issues arose. Of course, the ripple effect from coming back to High Point for third grade with weight gain and the side of your head shaved was far reaching.

4. When the doctor told me in 2005 that I might become deaf later in my life, how did you feel? and how did I react? and what did you think?

I remained hopeful that it would be far in the future, and that medicine would advance enough to prevent that outcome before it happened. I was worried, but remained guardedly optimistic. Your reaction was total denial: "Yeah, maybe when I'm 80!" I didn't believe we had until your 80th birthday, but I still thought we might be able to hold it off 10-20 years, allowing time for stem cell treatment or whatever to advance.

4b. Did you ever think that would happen before then?? I think it was a total shock to me.

We always knew you were at risk, but really thought it would not be at such a young age. See above.

5. After that happened, how did you feel, or what did you think about me?

Love, concern, grief, need to everything possible to help you. I was amazed at your strength and cheerfulness in facing a huge challenge.

did you think I w.as less-capable?

Generally, no. In terms of adjusting to a new reality, obviously we all had a lot to learn and I felt the need to protect you.

How did you feel about learning new ways to communicate??

It's hard. I've been willing, but honestly when I don't deal with it every day, I don't practice every day.

5b....HOw did you feel when you first saw me after each of my surgeries?

Mushy.

6. What was your opinion when I said I wanted to transfer to school at RIT/NTID. Were you scared? happy? Tell me.

I was proud of your independence in searching out what was right for you. I still am. Almost every day some friend asks me how you're doing. I tell them, "she's thriving.... I don't know where she got her stubborn streak, but thank God she has it."

7. What was your opinion about me having a auditory brainstem implant?

I knew it was what had to be done. I had researched the options, including a new auditory midbrain implant they were experimenting with in Germany and Italy, and read everything I could find on research about regenerating nerves from stem cells. It came down to the reality that the ABI was the best thing available at the time, and delay would increase danger of facial paralysis. Once I know what has to be done, I always have a bias for action. Maybe it goes back to a poem your grandmother required me to memorize when I was about 10, which includes the line, "if you've got a job to do, get it done."

What about the time between surgery and getting my ABI activated?? Explain.

I knew that there would be a delay of 6 to 8 weeks between getting the implant and turning it on. That's just standard operating procedure. The clarity of your speech declined during that period, as we pretty well knew to expect, but it came right back to normal as soon as it was activated.

After I got ABI activated, what did or do you expect, think differently, or how do you perceive me??

It was pretty much what I expected. I perceived you as my loving daughter, with tremendous perseverance and determination, carrying on with spunk and optimism. I had heard so many stories of young people who lost their hearing and basically crawled into a shell for the first couple of years, but it seemed like you never slowed down.

8. Growing up, you told me that I can do anything, any job, any future that I desire, if I work hard enough to do that. Do you still think the same, despite my hearing loss. Please honest in all answers.

With your spirit and determination, I am confident that you will get over, under, around or through any barriers that are put in your way. That's not to say that hearing loss may not make that harder, or might not somewhat affect the choices you make about careers, etc. But I really expect you to achieve pretty much the same types of goals that you would have achieved anyway, though you will have to work around the hearing issue.

9. Please add any other information that would be good to include!!!!

I have a mediation tomorrow for which I have to prepare, so I'm sending mom a copy of this to see what she wants to add. When is your deadline?

10. do you have any letters, photographs, observation, or information, that could be helpful in writing my memior. I need back information, as well as opinions, events, situation, and the story.

Love you!

In a separate email:
Anne,

Responding to your interview questions was an emotional trip down memory
lane. It brought back memories of a lot of tears and a lot of pride.
You are a remarkable young woman.

--------------------------------------------------

From: Anne
To: Emily

Me-

Hello, I am writing memoir about growing up hearing, and becoming deaf. Yes, I already wrote something similar, but I am extending it much farther, there for need MORE INFORMATION! (see assignment below) here are some specific questions that I made for you.... Please reply after answering, as soon as you can. thanks!!!! Thanks for being such a good friend, through all of these years! I know we don't see each other much now, but we have always been friends, ever since High Point and Brownies.

1. When you first met me, did you think that I had
speech problems? or hearing problems, for that matter? Did you think that would stop us from being friends?... please explain. ....
2. How did you feel when you found out I was deaf in one ear? and about the NF2? ....Growing up, did you view me any differently, because of that?
3. When I told you that the doctor told me in 2005 that I might become deaf later in my life, how did you feel? and how did I react? (I think I told you months later, and said that it was BS, or not true, but then it happened so soon....) What did you think?
4. Many of my friends I did not tell them that i was deaf in one ear, since I didnt want them to think I was different. But I know that you knew. Do you think people viewed me differently? .... I remember many long hours of talking on the phone to you, and whispering secrets about boys in the dark, when we had sleep overs. We grew up, i became deaf, and didnt answer the phone calls, communication became more
difficult..... How did you feel?
5. After that happened, how did you feel, or what did you think about me? did you think I was less-capable? How did you feel about learning new ways to communicate??
6. What did you think when I said I wanted to transfer to school at RIT/NTID, in New York. Tell me.
7. What was your opinion about me having a auditory brainstem implant? Do you view me differently now, than before?? if so, please explain. 8. do you have any letters, photographs, observation, or

Emily -
1. When I first met you I did not know that you had hearing or speech problems because I think that we were so young, but even if I had noticed it would not have mattered to me, we are friends either way.

2. When I found out that you were deaf in one ear, it did not change anything except the fact that I had to sit on the left side of the car when we went places haha!

3. When you told me that you may become deaf later in life, it shocked me and I think that you too bc it was so surreal! You had known that that was a possibility but when it happened so quick senior year I think it hit you like a speeding bullet. But you adjusted, you have done everything and more to accomodate, even transfering schools! I think that you are so happy at rit and you have made so many new friends and have learned so much and you have been so independent and have had the support of so many, and if people have not supported you or have not tried to understand, then those are not the people that you want or need to have around you. I also think your faith in the lord has helped you to be so strong also.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
----------------------------------

....I sent the same questions to my mom, but she has not replied, so I went ahead and posted this.
-------------------------------

2. Online Research- (world events, additional information, etc.)

1996 - Atlanta Olympics
2001- 9/11
2004 - Katrina
2005 -
2006 - 2007 - I'm not sure what big stuff has been going on, other than news like about the war and presidential race, which is interesting. I guess I sorta became deaf and felt like crawling into a shell, but somehow, maybe through my running which helps with stress, my friends, my family, and my faith.... I ran, and ran, put on a happy face like a mask, ....when my heart was still aching on the inside, still feeling lost. Then i found out about RIT/NTID.... I never really knew deaf people before I came here.... Some welcomed me with open arms; some seemed to shove me out like telling me that I was NOT Deaf..... but I kept running this silent marathon (that describes life, as well as the running factor), I believe in myself, although I'm not sure how, and I wake up each and every day, ready for another step in my life.
----------------------------
3. Photographs -

I have a photo somewhere of me in California. There is one of me in ICU in 1996, and another a few days later after I had moved to hospital room. I sit with my american girl doll. both of us wearing hospital gowns and head bandages. haha.
I have others of me growing up, with friends and family. there is a picture of me at Santa Monica Pier the night before surgery in 2005. There were not many pictures taken of me at that time, that i remember. I think i shoved dad with the camera away, saying "I don't look good. Don't take that picture." if there are any, i've not seen them.
--------------------------------
4. Letters -

I have a box under my bed at home that is full of Get Well Cards! People wrote some nice, and some strange things. Some said they hope my disease would go away, or they hope my hearing would come back like before. Perhaps I should have kept more of the notes and letters from my own family. They have written an enormous number of notes to me since I lost my hearing. some were kind, like "I love you. I'm proud of you. You are my hero!", while some were full page long notes about chores my mom wants me to do. I realized that I cannot hold onto all of my past, in paper form.... some of the notes brought forth tears, so i pushed them away, because I wanted to move on, get a life, not dwell on the lose. wow, this is pretty emotional to write about. Taking me down memory lane.
-----------------------------
5. Facts-

working on context for this part
----------------------------
6. Observations

I just found a journal of things that I wrote, mostly while being consular at church camp and then off to summer school ASL classes at Gally for a month, last year, so I will read through it,and may add some things from there.

I won't spoil the image for you but to say that Andrews' early years were more than difficult.  With that in mind, it is amazing to note how far she came as an actress and singer to star in as many Broadway and silver screen classics when you take her childhood into account.

If you would like to read USA Today's article on the release, here is the link:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-03-31-julie-andrews-memoir_N.htm

Also included in the link is a selection of pictures taken during Andrews' childhood. 

I mention this because autobiographies are becoming more and more scarce - while at the same time becoming more and more important. 

My grandfather was lucky enough to live to the ripe age of 84 before he passed away in December of last year.  But in 1992 when he was 68, he sat down at a word processor and wrote his own memiors which he self published in a 102-page retrospective (eseentially 26 pieces of 8.5x11 paper folded in half with four pages on each leaf).  He had it bound inexpensively by a local college's print shop and made 50 copies for family and friends.  Now that he is gone, his autobiography is something that I read every now and then - especially the latter chapters which relate to how I knew him the most. 

There are two big benefits for autobiographies.  One is obvious: to read the words of a relative or friend after they are gone makes their spirit feel so much nearer.  The second is that the manuscript (which was saved on computer) can be read by my grandchildren without any fear of it being lost.  The book that my grandfather signed for me will fade and someday come into disrepair.  The words however, they will live on so long as there is a digital copy of the book.

I do believe that it is important to write things down and to keep an account of our lives, but I think that it is even more important that when we can, we must take advantage of opportunities to teach younger generations - and the autobiography is one of them.  Even if you are not a great writer, you can do the same thing with a microphone and a tape player and even a video recorder.  If you'd like help, please contact us and we will try to answer all of your questions, or we can do it for you if you'd like.

But it was spring that impressed me.  Chilly mornings with smudge pots smudging up the sky.  Or irrigation watering the orchards, or wind machines.  Anything to warm the trees enough to keep the blossoms on.  Jack and I would stay in bed long.  It was the way it was then, sex, sex, and more sex.  He was delivered to god through sex. That's an interesting way to put it, but I understand now that it was his way to feel the presence.  Sometimes on those early spring mornings we'd sit in the hot tub and watch the sun rise through the mist of oil burning in smudge pots.  Sounds weirdly polluted, but there was a good feeling about it all.  A life affirming feeling--fruit will stay on the trees.

I have never loaned a book that I ever got back. 

Handing one over is basically writing a check to the other person for the amount of the book.

Why?

Does this happen to everyone, or do I just happen to have one-way book karma?

by Kurt Vonnegut

As close as Vonnegut will ever get to a memior

145 pages

Beginning:

"As a kid I was the youngest member of my family, and the youngest child in any family is always a jokemaker, because a joke is the only way he can enter into an adult conversation," (1)

Somewhere in the middle:

"I really don't know what I'm going to become from now on. I'm simply along for the ride to see what happens to this body and this brain of mine. I'm startled that I became a writer. I don't think I can control my life or my writing. Every other writer I know feels he is steering himself, and I don't have that feeling. I don't have that sort of control. I'm simply becoming.

All I really wanted to do was give people the relief of laughing. Humor can be a relief, like an aspirin tablet. If a hundred years from now people are still laughing, I'd certainly be pleased," (130).

End:

"Okay?" (145).

I was tagged by Selena, a Charming Christian Mom who loves her family.

I am tagging the following blogs,

huntingdonpost, a man who politely disagrees with me (all) most of the time.

Savage Politics, a rather large blog following, yet is personal.

That's Right Nate, I like Nate He agrees with me most of the time.

Rebecca's Blog, A LDS Girl With Lots O' Spunk and Sconces for Selena.

A Word On The Word, A Good Intelligent Christian Blog

My memoir is a testamony to my ability to always be behind the times. I moved out of L.A. and sold a house just before the prices started skyrocketing. I lived in the woods like a hillbilly for ten years while everyone else was making bank on stocks, technology, and just plan working. I started a 401 k after the interest rates died. I voted for 6 Presidents who lost. I Bought Microsoft this year. The list could go on and on, yet the Lord has consistently supplied for the needs of me and my family.

Meme Instructions for those who have been tagged:

The four requirements for this meme are:

The four requirements for this meme thing are:

1. Write the title to your memoir using 6 words (can be confusing jump over to meme thing)
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person that tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs

If you have any questions ask them in the comments, we have many helpful bloggers who might be able to clear them up.

Just six? Can't I have seven?

Officially, I tag Bikkuri, Ann at Tragic Optimist, Mindi at The Queen Mum, Jocelyn, and Karrie at Mom Voyage. Unofficially, if you want to tag yourself, please do.

1. Write your own six word memoir

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere

4 .Tag five more blogs with links

5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

. . .

1. Write your own six word memoir

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you'd like

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere

4 .Tag five more blogs with links

5. And don't forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

It was actually a lot more difficult that I thought it would be, but here's mine...

This too shall pass, I hope.

I tag Melynn at Breathing Easy, Sandy at My Inner Edge, Lisa at Books on the Brain, Janie at Ragamuffins, and Fighting Windmills.

If you haven't been tagged but would like to participate go ahead and copy and paste this post to initiate your own string of the game, or post a comment with your 6 word memoir and I'll post them later:)

**Blonde Momentos added a link to Smith Magazine on her memoir post where you can go and leave your memoir, they are collecting them for book #2!

• Fiction
• Creative Non-Fiction
• Poetry
• Memoir
• Cross Genre
• Digital Images/Art/Photography
• Spoken Word
• Short (5-10 minute)Film

• Do not send file attachments. Instead, send your story in the body of your e-mail.

• Send all submissions to:
  • submissions@aulapress.com

• In the subject line of your e-mail, include the genre to which you are submitting.
  • Example: Attention Editor: Fiction Submission

It is important to thoroughly review our Submission Guidelines prior to sending in your work.

Submissions are ongoing.

***UPDATE***

Submissions for the Fall 2007 issue are closed. Fear not. Submissions are ongoing and our Winter 2008 issue is on the horizon. Look for our Fall issue in mid-November.

Currently we are accepting submissions for the Fall 2007 issue. We are looking for well written and compelling works in the following genres.

• Fiction
• Creative Non-Fiction
• Poetry
• Memoir
• Cross Genre

E-mail submissions as follows:

• Do not send file attachments. Instead, send your story in the body of your e-mail.

• Send all submissions to:
  • submissionstwohawks@yahoo.com

• In the subject line of your e-mail, include the genre to which you are submitting.
  • Example: Attention Editor: Fiction Submission

It is important to thoroughly review our Submission Guidelines prior to sending in your work.

Submissions are ongoing.