No Return
In the last voluntary movement of his life,
He meanders.
The promise of a Saturday liquid with sunshine
Intrigues him.
There were circular tins glinting with silver
Fragments of glass.
Narrow trees adrift with yellow leaves
Edge nervously along the back and past the front.
His children gathered
And quickly an uncertain guilt creeps in.
Their heads seem empty, their smiles nonexistent
Lighting the windows
Following the car with their unblinking eyes
His wife, he realizes, will not have returned
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Letter of Concern
Mr. Kleats
Central High School
123 Main Street
Sportstown, British Columbia
V2A 1W3
Taylor Charley
124 Main Street
Penticton, British Columbia
V2A 3W1
April 7, 2012
Dear Mr. Kleats:
Hello, my name is Taylor Charley, and I am the mother of Robby Charley. My son is a member of your soccer team, the Penticton Panthers. I would like to thank you for your efforts to spend your time coaching my son alongside the rest of the team. However, I have written to explain some personal concerns that have risen throughout the course of the season. As a concerned mother, I would like to work with you in fixing these minor issues, and suggest ways in which the Panthers organization can be improved for everyone.
Throughout the last several weeks, I have noticed that your tardiness has been less than average, in regards to your arrival to practices. I understand your busy schedule, in which you manage to juggle between your roles as a father, worker, and coach. However, more often than not, you arrive to practice late, forcing the kids to practice in unproductive ways. In the instances when you show up in a timely manner, the practices have been disorganized, including little to no drills. Nevertheless, I would like to gently remind you that when you accepted your position as coach of the Penticton Panthers, you agreed to foster the player's skills of effort, teamwork and responsibility. If you were to show these qualities in your coaching, the children will be much more receptive to what you have to say, both during games and practices.
A few of your game-time decisions have also left me, alongside Robby, slightly concerned. For example, last Saturday I watched our team's game against the Summerland Snipers. I understand the pressure of competing against our largest division rivals, however I was taken back by your actions. Although there was no score, you ignored the team's usual substitution policy, opting instead on keeping our more gifted players playing for the majority of the game. This left Robby off of the field for the remainder of the afternoon. Furthermore, I overheard your elevated voice at half-time, stressing above all else the importance of winning that game. I applaud your passionate coaching style, but in U-10 soccer, the extra emphasis placed on winning can be considered pointless.
After airing these grievances, I would be delighted to make suggestions for the betterment of the team as a group. At the moment, your attendance record implies that coaching the Penticton Panthers alone has become too time-consuming for your lifestyle. As a stay-at-home mother, I would be able to lend my afternoons and perhaps adopt the role as assistant coach for the Panthers. With a two coach system, your role as head coach will no be taken away in any such way. I would organize practices, run some drills, and encourage the players at half-time. With us at the side of the Panthers, I foresee the remainder of the season being fun, rewarding and a great learning experience. Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns and solutions. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Taylor Charley
Central High School
123 Main Street
Sportstown, British Columbia
V2A 1W3
Taylor Charley
124 Main Street
Penticton, British Columbia
V2A 3W1
April 7, 2012
Dear Mr. Kleats:
Hello, my name is Taylor Charley, and I am the mother of Robby Charley. My son is a member of your soccer team, the Penticton Panthers. I would like to thank you for your efforts to spend your time coaching my son alongside the rest of the team. However, I have written to explain some personal concerns that have risen throughout the course of the season. As a concerned mother, I would like to work with you in fixing these minor issues, and suggest ways in which the Panthers organization can be improved for everyone.
Throughout the last several weeks, I have noticed that your tardiness has been less than average, in regards to your arrival to practices. I understand your busy schedule, in which you manage to juggle between your roles as a father, worker, and coach. However, more often than not, you arrive to practice late, forcing the kids to practice in unproductive ways. In the instances when you show up in a timely manner, the practices have been disorganized, including little to no drills. Nevertheless, I would like to gently remind you that when you accepted your position as coach of the Penticton Panthers, you agreed to foster the player's skills of effort, teamwork and responsibility. If you were to show these qualities in your coaching, the children will be much more receptive to what you have to say, both during games and practices.
A few of your game-time decisions have also left me, alongside Robby, slightly concerned. For example, last Saturday I watched our team's game against the Summerland Snipers. I understand the pressure of competing against our largest division rivals, however I was taken back by your actions. Although there was no score, you ignored the team's usual substitution policy, opting instead on keeping our more gifted players playing for the majority of the game. This left Robby off of the field for the remainder of the afternoon. Furthermore, I overheard your elevated voice at half-time, stressing above all else the importance of winning that game. I applaud your passionate coaching style, but in U-10 soccer, the extra emphasis placed on winning can be considered pointless.
After airing these grievances, I would be delighted to make suggestions for the betterment of the team as a group. At the moment, your attendance record implies that coaching the Penticton Panthers alone has become too time-consuming for your lifestyle. As a stay-at-home mother, I would be able to lend my afternoons and perhaps adopt the role as assistant coach for the Panthers. With a two coach system, your role as head coach will no be taken away in any such way. I would organize practices, run some drills, and encourage the players at half-time. With us at the side of the Panthers, I foresee the remainder of the season being fun, rewarding and a great learning experience. Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns and solutions. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Taylor Charley
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Creative Hour
For the past five years, I've worked at OK Falls Parks & Rec as a camp counsellor for the day camp there, as well as an events coordinator. Over the past years, I've had to experience some crying kids, and some very messy days, but some weird things seem to stand out in my mind. One of those weeks was when we had forty-five kids all at once come in, and only four counsellors. We were all running around trying to figure out what we would do with all them. Someone had to be with the older kids and two more had to be with the younger ones, but someone also had to be taking the attendance, and someone in the office. All I remember was running around constantly counting how many kids we had while answering the phone. Thankfully, our volunteers showed up thirty minutes later and we were saved. All the staff was beat, but we still had six more hours to go.
Another weird and funny day at work was the last day of our camp when one of the other counselors got a little taste of what karma was like. All week he had been teasing the laughing at the other workers and on the last day it came back at him. Ryan had just mopped the floor and put up a warning sign about the floor being slippery. Not a minute later, he came running in to jump at his sister, when he slipped and slid across the floor into the cupboards. Everyone could not stop laughing at him. Our boss ran in and had heard what happened and she as well started to laugh. Later that day, we went out for our annual staff pizza party and karma struck him again. Ryan being the obvious clumsy one, spilled a pitcher of ice tea all over himself. We could not stop laughing at him. Later when we handed out our funny awards for everyone, I gave him the Ozzy Osbourne impersonation award, but really he should have gotten the biggest cluts award.
Another weird and funny day at work was the last day of our camp when one of the other counselors got a little taste of what karma was like. All week he had been teasing the laughing at the other workers and on the last day it came back at him. Ryan had just mopped the floor and put up a warning sign about the floor being slippery. Not a minute later, he came running in to jump at his sister, when he slipped and slid across the floor into the cupboards. Everyone could not stop laughing at him. Our boss ran in and had heard what happened and she as well started to laugh. Later that day, we went out for our annual staff pizza party and karma struck him again. Ryan being the obvious clumsy one, spilled a pitcher of ice tea all over himself. We could not stop laughing at him. Later when we handed out our funny awards for everyone, I gave him the Ozzy Osbourne impersonation award, but really he should have gotten the biggest cluts award.
Awesome
Once i started thinking about the small awesome things in life, I thought about how when my dad is home, he always has coffee, tea or hot chocolate ready for me as I'm getting ready to run out the door. He is always sure to get up and ask me what I would like for my lunch and if I would like to bring a hot drink to school. When my dad has to go away for work, I realize that the little extra help in the morning, him having my travel mug ready to go, helps to put me in a good mood throughout the day just because I got a cup of tea for the ride to school. It's one of the little things I really appreciate!
Another little awesome thing I've noticed is whenever I come home from school or a friends house or any other place, the first person to always greet me is my dog, Jack. He runs up to me and wags his tail and starts to give me puppy kisses. Even if I'm gone for five minutes, its the same greeting I get every time he sees me. He is such a suck up that even if you get mad at him, you can't stay mad because he's just too darn good at using his powers of cute. It's just one of the great little things that I look forward too every day.
Another little awesome thing I've noticed is whenever I come home from school or a friends house or any other place, the first person to always greet me is my dog, Jack. He runs up to me and wags his tail and starts to give me puppy kisses. Even if I'm gone for five minutes, its the same greeting I get every time he sees me. He is such a suck up that even if you get mad at him, you can't stay mad because he's just too darn good at using his powers of cute. It's just one of the great little things that I look forward too every day.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Novel Journal Entry
'I told him I was studying hard because I wanted to become either a veterinarian or a geologist specializing in the Miocene period, when the mountains out west were formed. I was telling him how geodes were created from bubbles in lave when he interrupted me. "For the daughter of the town drunk, you sure got big plans," he said.
"Stop the truck," I said. "We can make it on our own from here."
For some reason, this quote in the book really struck me. Jeanette is a young twelve year old with big hopes and dreams to help get her family out of the same harsh cycle. In this quote, she obviously does realize that her fathers a drunk, but won't stick up for him or just agree with it. Jeanette is much more aware of her dads situation because she is much closer with her dad then any of the other kids in the family. It seems to me that Jeanette wants to believe in her dad and know he'll get better, but she still knows that it obviously won't happen. She tries to just cover it up and pretend like its nothing, but in reality, she is quite aware of what is happening, but just won't admit it.
"Stop the truck," I said. "We can make it on our own from here."
For some reason, this quote in the book really struck me. Jeanette is a young twelve year old with big hopes and dreams to help get her family out of the same harsh cycle. In this quote, she obviously does realize that her fathers a drunk, but won't stick up for him or just agree with it. Jeanette is much more aware of her dads situation because she is much closer with her dad then any of the other kids in the family. It seems to me that Jeanette wants to believe in her dad and know he'll get better, but she still knows that it obviously won't happen. She tries to just cover it up and pretend like its nothing, but in reality, she is quite aware of what is happening, but just won't admit it.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
5 Most Important Things
Although I have never been in this situation before, I have sometimes thought about the five most important things I would grab if my house was about to burn down. Each object has some sort of importance to me in some way.
1. My Pink Bunny
When I was really young, like so young I can't even remember when I got her, I had a stuffed pink bunny named Pink Bunny. Everywhere I went until I was about seven or six years old, I had my pink bunny for everything. Getting shots, first day of kinder garden, grade one, and all of the scary dreams. When I was younger we lived in Fort St. John and we decided to go visit my moms friends in Medicine Hat, and I forgot my pink bunny there. We drove two hours before we realised we left her at my moms friends house and I was very upset. My parents knowing how much I loved the stuffed toy, turned around and drove back another two hours, just so we could pick her up and head back home...again. Although she has been threw a lot with me, I still have her in my room.
2. Blanket
When I was younger, my Nanny (Grandma) made me a blanket called an Afghan. She knitted it and worked on it for months before she gave it to me for Christmas one year. Although the blanket is old and has holes, its still to this day my favorite blanket, and not just because its warm and fuzzy, but also because she made it especially for me and no one else in the world will ever have the same blanket as me, its one of the things I have left of her.
3. Box
Throughout the years, I've tried to keep a few keepsakes from, photos, medals, certificates, and school Id's. Just a couple of things that hopefully I can keep to look back on some of my accomplishments, and how I've changed over the years.
4. I Pod
I need something to do while I'm waiting for the fire department to hose down my house.
5. Cell Phone
I will need to call someone when the house is on fire. And I'm probably going to have to call for somewhere to stay.
1. My Pink Bunny
When I was really young, like so young I can't even remember when I got her, I had a stuffed pink bunny named Pink Bunny. Everywhere I went until I was about seven or six years old, I had my pink bunny for everything. Getting shots, first day of kinder garden, grade one, and all of the scary dreams. When I was younger we lived in Fort St. John and we decided to go visit my moms friends in Medicine Hat, and I forgot my pink bunny there. We drove two hours before we realised we left her at my moms friends house and I was very upset. My parents knowing how much I loved the stuffed toy, turned around and drove back another two hours, just so we could pick her up and head back home...again. Although she has been threw a lot with me, I still have her in my room.
2. Blanket
When I was younger, my Nanny (Grandma) made me a blanket called an Afghan. She knitted it and worked on it for months before she gave it to me for Christmas one year. Although the blanket is old and has holes, its still to this day my favorite blanket, and not just because its warm and fuzzy, but also because she made it especially for me and no one else in the world will ever have the same blanket as me, its one of the things I have left of her.
3. Box
Throughout the years, I've tried to keep a few keepsakes from, photos, medals, certificates, and school Id's. Just a couple of things that hopefully I can keep to look back on some of my accomplishments, and how I've changed over the years.
4. I Pod
I need something to do while I'm waiting for the fire department to hose down my house.
5. Cell Phone
I will need to call someone when the house is on fire. And I'm probably going to have to call for somewhere to stay.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Top 5 Favorite Books I've Read
In the past few years I've really gotten into read more books and having a variety to the different types of books. I'm sure there are a lot of great books out there but for me these are my top five favorite books I've read so far.
1. The Mediator by Meg Cabot
I'm currently reading the serious of this book and really enjoying it. The book is about a teenage girl who moves to California with her mom after she remarries Andy, her new step dad, but she has a secret that only her dead dad knows. She has the ability to talk to the dead. After meeting another mediator, she realises what her destiny in life is to do, help the ghost get from earth to heaven. But she is put to the test when she falls in love with a ghost who's been living in her new house for 150 years. This book is also somewhat easy for teenagers to relate to. Trying to fit in, relationships, and teaches you the best ways to sneak out of the house.
2. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
This book I read the first time in grade eight, but highly suggest it to anyone who wants something real. This book is based on a diary of a young girl who's gets caught up in drugs and disobeying the people who love her. It all starts out harmlessly but quickly goes down hill. It shows what really can happen if you let peer pressure and drugs take over your life. Just as you think everything is gonna work out, its amazing how something from you past can come back and destroy your life. Recommended for anyone.
3. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series
This book was one of my favorite books that I read in elementary school and after I was finished, I read the other three continuing books. The book has a lot to do with friendship, growing up issues, and how people can be different, but have so much in common. In some way I was able to relate to the problems they had to over come. It's a great book for any young teen to read.
4. Sweet Sixteen
Every girl dreams about having an absolutely perfect Sweet Sixteen party, and for this girl, she did, or at least she thought. After seeing what her family, friends, and strangers on the street really thought of her, she is able to forget about just herself and help the people around her. Its a perfect bad girl gone good, and its amazing to read about what she worried about in her own world, compared to what she was missing in the real world. Defiantly something to read and then make you think about.
5. Twilight
OK now before you jump to conclusions, I was into the whole Twilight thing before the big movies and posters and all the glitzy stuff. I first read it in grade six and immediately loved it. It has romance, suspense, and a vampire. Although it is a big production now a days, it is defiantly a great book to read.
1. The Mediator by Meg Cabot
I'm currently reading the serious of this book and really enjoying it. The book is about a teenage girl who moves to California with her mom after she remarries Andy, her new step dad, but she has a secret that only her dead dad knows. She has the ability to talk to the dead. After meeting another mediator, she realises what her destiny in life is to do, help the ghost get from earth to heaven. But she is put to the test when she falls in love with a ghost who's been living in her new house for 150 years. This book is also somewhat easy for teenagers to relate to. Trying to fit in, relationships, and teaches you the best ways to sneak out of the house.
2. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
This book I read the first time in grade eight, but highly suggest it to anyone who wants something real. This book is based on a diary of a young girl who's gets caught up in drugs and disobeying the people who love her. It all starts out harmlessly but quickly goes down hill. It shows what really can happen if you let peer pressure and drugs take over your life. Just as you think everything is gonna work out, its amazing how something from you past can come back and destroy your life. Recommended for anyone.
3. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series
This book was one of my favorite books that I read in elementary school and after I was finished, I read the other three continuing books. The book has a lot to do with friendship, growing up issues, and how people can be different, but have so much in common. In some way I was able to relate to the problems they had to over come. It's a great book for any young teen to read.
4. Sweet Sixteen
Every girl dreams about having an absolutely perfect Sweet Sixteen party, and for this girl, she did, or at least she thought. After seeing what her family, friends, and strangers on the street really thought of her, she is able to forget about just herself and help the people around her. Its a perfect bad girl gone good, and its amazing to read about what she worried about in her own world, compared to what she was missing in the real world. Defiantly something to read and then make you think about.
5. Twilight
OK now before you jump to conclusions, I was into the whole Twilight thing before the big movies and posters and all the glitzy stuff. I first read it in grade six and immediately loved it. It has romance, suspense, and a vampire. Although it is a big production now a days, it is defiantly a great book to read.
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