Cherry Street Park

Clip-art by Microsoft Office

       Cherry Street Park

                      By R.Andrew 

     Daily, a man sat on a park bench, waiting for his love to come along. And though he could not see her, he’d never even met her, his heart told him that she would soon be near. So, day by day he waited, from dawn till dusk he stayed there, on the bench in the park on Cherry Street.

     But as time grew longer, and his face grew thin and older, he feared that his love would never appear. And with his heart he made a choice, a vow so deeply grave. He’d wait for her tomorrow, but after that, he could no longer stay. Therefore, the next day he sat and waited with the only anticipation of the moment when the sun would rest again.

     Each moment felt like an eternity as he sat there watching the wind blow against the trees. His heart kept beating rapidly as though it was following a fast melody. His breathing was short with every intake, to hear the noises surrounding the lake. He waited.

     He waited as the sun began to shine its closing appearance—its final goodbye. He waited. Salty drops of water slid across his deeply lined face. He rose and took the deepest sigh that someone has ever made. He looked around one final time, hoping that something might change his mind.

     Forever he would wait for his love, but the pain from the waiting hurt too much. The decision was made, he would fulfill his vow, so the only solution was to leave this town. But before he left, he closed his eyes and whispered to himself, “I love you, but now I must go.”

Art I Created This Year

My art, titled "The Escape."

     It's a picture I drew for my Creative Expressions class. It is titled "The Escape."

     I was inspired to create this picture by actually viewing a life-size painting of the artist Irving Kriesberg's work, "Up and Down" in an art museum last week. His painting was beautiful, and it has become my ambition to have one of his paintings in my home someday.  Google him and his painting(s) to know what I mean.

The Reading Corner: Suggesting Books I've Read and Enjoyed

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

      It's a story about a young boy, Reuben Land, who witnesses miracles through his father during a time of searching for his brother, Davy, who has recently gone on the run after committing murder. This novel covers the topic of faith, miracles, and family strength during moments of hardship and struggle. This novel is well-written and definitely a great novel that demonstrates the message of real miracles and the eternal love of a father. 

The Brother's Keeper by Tracy Groot

      It's a story about James, the half-brother of Jesus, and his siblings having to deal with the changes that Jesus' mission has brought on their lives. They care about Jesus, but they don't know whether they should accept that He is the Promised One from God, or some radical. It's a beautiful story that really brings out the personality and emotions from each individual person in the story (especially James). It's dramatic in certain parts, but there is also comical moments that brings a smile out. I love this book. I don't think I've ever read a fictional book as detailed as this author has done for this story.

Harry Potter Lego Game Trailer

Ah, brings back great memories of enjoying this series for the first time.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 at IGN.com

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 at IGN.com

Christmas Comes But Once A Year

This is one of my most favorite Christmas cartoons of all time! It brings back a lot of memories of Christmas, whenever I see this cartoon. Therefore, it makes a fitting conclusion to Christmas videos I found and felt like sharing.

Source: Youtube's Scottdavid4321 channel.

Special Christmas Clip

Here's a Christmas goody to share for Christmas, and sets off the mood for it.

A Charlie Brown Christmas: What Christmas is About

Source: Youtube's wteach channel.

A Christmas Story: Santa's Amnesia (Revised)

Clip-art by Microsoft Office

-->Santa’s Amnesia 

By R.Andrew
December 23, 2009

Brisk was old Santa as he set out to deliver his gifts to all the good little children who believed in him. The trip was rather difficult this year; he battled his way through wet stormy skies and thick snowy blizzards, flying in caution for fear of lightening strikes and frostbite. “Santa,” cried one of his accompanying elves, “let’s abandon the mission and try again next year!”

Santa turned to shout “NO! What will the children think once they awake to find no gifts wrapped under their tree?” Suddenly, a forceful gust of wind came from the west and detached the reigns of his eight tiny reindeer. Santa called out to them, “Dasher! Dancer! Prancer! Vixen! Comet! Cupid! Donner! Blitzen,” but the wind was so strong that none voluntarily came back. Down the sleigh fell from the dark windy sky as the elves worked nonstop to keep staying up high. Their attention was focused on staying airborne that they did not see Santa bump his forehead. Grasping for something to hold on tight, Santa made a mistake and fell out into the night.  Landing with a bump onto Perchwood Lane, Santa opened his eyes to discover a new scene. There, before him, stood the neighborhood cathedral, full of its members all gathered together.

Santa, bewildered, grabbed his sore head, and said, “I do not know why I am dressed completely in red.” Santa did not know what to do, so he opened the church door and listened to the carols sung, and to the priest’s solemn benediction too. As dear Santa sat, he wondered, “This Christ, how exceptional is he? Why, His gift of life is greater than any gift the eye can see!” As he left the church, still rubbing his head, he staggered into the street with dread. All of a sudden, there crashed his shiny sleigh, including his elves, followed by his reindeer.

“Santa,” the elves bellowed, “we’re going to be late!”

“Santa?” he said, all confused and forlorn. In that moment, snowflakes began to fall from the sky. One happened to land on old Santa’s nose, and as soon as it hit him he said, “Ho, ho, ho.” The memories returned, he remembered everything! Most of all, he remembered his new epiphany. He returned to the sleigh as the elves whistled for the reindeer, and he glimpsed once more at the tall, ancient cathedral and said, “Elves, let’s go home. There is no need to continue with the gifts tonight. Above all the gifts I have given, not even the gifts I still have in my bag, can ever amount to the gift that was given by a man who resides up in Heaven.”

Mickey's Christmas Carol

Words cannot express how much I love this version of Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol" story. I have it recorded on VHS and it has somewhat became an annual tradition to watch this short film around Christmas. It truly is a classic, and more cartoon Christmas specials should be to the same degree of dedication as this one.


Mickey's Christmas Carol
Source: Youtube's Obadiah332channel.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

I adore this 1948 cartoon story of the red-nosed reindeer we commonly know as Rudolph. The cartoon stays true to the original storyline of the 1939 story that was written by Robert L. May.


Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer (1948)
Source: Youtube's LuckyStrike502 channel.

Fall Through Winter Is a Huge Feast

Clip-arts by Microsoft Office

Fall Through Winter Is a Huge Feast

By R.Andrew
November 1, 2009
(Image Source: Microsoft Word 2003)

It occurred to me, as I was eating some leftover candy, that in between fall and winter there is a glorious feast under the masquerade of four main holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. Imagine October’s Halloween as the appetizer, the warm-up to the feast. We fill ourselves with candy and other treats, but we linger at the table for a better course. November’s Thanksgiving is the salad portion of the meal. It is good, slightly filling, but we want something even yummier in our bellies. That is why December’s Christmas is our main course, the meatiest meal of all! We burst ourselves to the seam eating until our bodies say “Enough.” Yet, who can deny the final course? January’s New Year is the dessert that complements the entire feast, and fills us up until we hunger again (metaphorically speaking). So while this huge feast masquerades as innocent holidays of fun, let us not forget that from fall through winter we are eating a four-course meal, one that quietly increases our waistline.

Beautiful Pumpkins!

These are two pumpkins my sister and I carved into jack-o-lanterns for Halloween 2009. Her's was more professional (which is a shame since I'm way older than her), but mine's more decorative. Here they are in various poses (yes, our pumpkins can pose). Happy Halloween!