Lucas Newby

Ms. Kelly Anthony

SU15-ENG101-W03

25 July 2015

Discussion Board Reflection

The Discussion Boards, both the weekly and the group discussions, were one of my favorite assignments. I actually looked forward to getting online every chance I could to see what my other classmates posted. It was a place I could express my thoughts and opinions on the materials we had covered each week. It gave opportunity to see how my thoughts compared to some of the other classmates, areas where many of us took from the reading much of the same, and other parts of the readings which some found something different impacting their thoughts, as each individual takes away something different. Whether writing my own original post, or as a response to one of my classmates, or a response they made to mine, the discussions would always bring out something another had liked, didn't like, possibly overlooked or hadn't put as much thought into in a particular part of the reading, and often opening new ideas for me to ponder. But two questions arise from this reflection: “Did these discussion assignments help in my learning?”, and “Did I do well enough?”

In assessing myself according to the Rubric I think I did pretty good, however before I break it down and go into a more detail evaluation, the one thing I must comment on is the criteria breakdown on what qualifies for A/B/C grade. I feel that the criteria for A/B graded should be split into separate criteria, B having a criteria not as stringent as A, but yet more stringent than C. This would make it much easier to honestly, adequately, and fairly evaluate the student.

Using myself as an example, under the criteria for Quality and frequency of writing:

A/B Responses are free of

grammatical, spelling or

punctuation errors.

The style of writing facilitates communication.

More than the minimum required responses have

occurred through the natural process of discussion.

C Responses are largely free of

grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.

The style of writing generally facilitates

communication.

The minimum number of

responses have been posted

or more than the minimum

number of responses have

been posted but these

responses are clearly written

to meet the quantity required and

do not add to valuable discussion

In reviewing my posts, both weekly and in the group, I saw a couple of typos which I had overlooked, but nothing major, and usually not more than two. This happens to everyone, including professionals and teachers. (As a matter of fact, I was docked three points for typos in an email on July 10, which I have no problem admitting, I deserved; however, jokingly, I thought about calling Ms. A on a typo in one of the emails which was sent to me in response, as well as on a couple of lesson assignments and burning question replies where she had made errors and had not proofread before posting. Smiles. But, it is not my job to correct the instructor, even jokingly, whereas it is her job to correct me. My point is though, does that make her less professional?...in my opinion, no, it makes her human just like the rest of us, and mistakes will be made on occasion. Yet, and it does not eliminate the fact each need to proofread more closely. Regardless of the error, I still understood the sentence and what she was getting across. I wouldn't give hera C for the class because she made a couple of typos...there was too much other good stuff that outweighs that.)

I put a lot of thought and effort into my original posts. I think my grammar and punctuation greatly improved and was above average to good, though I'm still more than thankful for Spell Check. I met the quantity required, and though not on all discussions, I made more than required on a few, even if just a comment on how well written I thought it was, or how I related to their thoughts. I sincerely wish I had had more time to respond to more of them. I believe I have shown my understanding of materials and my responses were adequate, all using appropriate citations to substantiate my writing. Did I fulfill all the criteria of response by asking questions to stimulate more thought, or show a different opinion?... probably not as well as I could or should have, but I did give substantial feed back adding to the discussion, and also added personal experiences into some of my posts and responses. In the group discussion, I feel I offered valuable feed back and critique. However, according to the Rubric, because I didn't have everything exactly down pat for an A/B grade, then technically I would be required to have to accept a C grade, which I feel I did much better than that. NO, I did not master it, but still I did much better than mediocre(proficiency). Therefore, if the Rubric were set up differently, I would have given myself a B in that category.

As for self-evaluation, I will be breaking down by category as follows:

Demonstrates an understanding of the discussion question(s): A

Expands discussion concepts: B

Connections to personal understanding or professional practice B

Quality and frequency of writing C (B)

When evaluating for proficiency criteria pertaining to “What is a Good Response”, again, to me, it seems there in no in between the highest and mediocre. I know that I am not at the highest level, however, I am at a level more than mediocre, which the Rubric does not recognize. All responses were carefully thought out, citations were used, personal experience and opinion was added, and respectable critique when needed was all there.Here I would also give myself a B.

In conclusion to the question asked of myself, “Did I do well enough?”, my answer according to the Rubric is no. I would have to give myself a C. The answer according to me, would be not as well as I could have, but given the circumstances from which I entered into this class this summer, this being only my second semester, having only my GED and not having the high school English foundation to help support me, and never having taken an online course, I think I have done quite well, and that I am above average giving myself an overall grade of  B.

I gained a lot from the discussions on the Heart and Fist, “Workbench”, and our group discussion on the “This I believe” essay. I feel much more confident as I press onward on my journey, knowing which what I have learned, and with continued practice, I can and will continue to grow, eventually reaching the highest level of professionalism in my communications and writing. I am very grateful to have had this learning opportunity.

Lucas Newby

Ms. Kelly Anthony

SU15-ENG101-W03

21 July 2015

Final Essay

Where there are simple actions of building friends and allies, wars are won.

Nobel Peace Prize recipient and architect of the Marshall Plan, George C Marshall's had three simple rules for going to war: “Never fight unless you have to; never fight alone; never fight for long”(Greitens, p. 269) With this I agree.

Wars have been fought as far back as Biblical times. Many have been lost because of inadequate and stubborn mindset and the refusal to adapt to change and develop new strategies. And these same inadequate mindsets and strategies still exist in our U.S. Department of Defense. Unfortunately, in this new age of war, something needs to change.

My question is: Given the results in both Iraq and Afghanistan, that “old-school surges” of ground troops do not offer enduring solutions to new-style conflicts with networked adversaries, would our Department of Defense benefit greater by adapting a change in their strategies?

I believe that Greitens' theory of “Real valuable intelligence only came from real people” (p. 267) and building good relationships is a very good start. Different types of human subjects will share information voluntarily or involuntarily. The interrogator builds a relationship with the subject, a relationship that can be based on trust, fear, friendship, or any of a range of human emotions. Different types of human subjects will share information voluntarily or involuntarily. But as my mom always said, “You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar”, and “With trust you have everything, once you loose that trust, you have nothing” (Newby)

“In the name of 'force protection' the military often rolls up windows builds walls, and points rifles at the outside world. The best force protection, however is to be surrounded by friends and allies. If we'd had permission to buy local food, we could have fed ourselves at on-tenth or even one-twentieth of what is costs American taxpayers to provide us with food. We'd have had better food, and we might have built valuable friendships” (Greitens p. 268)

To further my point, in an article, “The New Rules of War”, dated February 11, 2010, author John Arquilla talks about how the U.S. military spends billions of dollars on big ships, big guns and big battalions, which are not needed, but are the wrong approach to waging war. America’s armed forces have failed, given the high stakes and dangers they routinely face, the military forces are inevitably reluctant to change or to adapt sufficiently to changed condition. Arquilla further states later in this same article:

“United States is spending huge amounts of money in ways that are actually making Americans less secure, not only against irregular insurgents, but also against smart countries building different sorts of militia. And the problem goes well beyond weapons and other high-tech items. What’s missing most of all from the U.S. military’s arsenal is a deep understanding of networking, the loose but lively interconnection between people that creates and brings a new kind of collective intelligence, power, and purpose to bear — for good and ill”.

“Civil society movements around the world have taken to networking in ways that have done far more to advance the cause of freedom than the U.S. military’s problematic efforts to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan at gunpoint.”

“U.S. military leaders have not sufficiently grasped changing their concept from “few and large” to “many and small”, because the traditional, hierarchical military mindset, which holds that more is always better, that even quite small units — like a platoon of 50 or so soldiers — can wield great power when connected to others, especially friendly indigenous forces, and when networking closely with even a handful of attack aircraft”.

Yet the evidence is there. For example, beginning in late 2006 in Iraq, the U.S. command shifted little more than 5 percent of its 130,000 troops from about three dozen major (i.e., down-sized) operating bases to more than a hundred small outposts, each manned by about 50 soldiers. This was a dramatic shift from few-large to many-small, and it soon worked wonders in reducing violence, beginning well before the “surge” troops arrived. In part this happened because the physical network of platoon-sized outposts facilitated social networking with the large numbers of small tribal groups who chose to join the cause, forming the core of the “Awakening” movement”. (Arquilla)¹

Greitens had learned from his experiences from the refugee camps and many travels in other countries the need for trust. He had learned that learning the customs and traditions gained their friendship and trust. That same kind of trust played a big roll in the development of relations of counterinsurgency.

This same question, “If U.S. military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan were trusted more by the locals, would they be safer?” was asked of Dr. Sarai Blincoe, a Longwood University psychology professor., in an article entitled, “Longwood psychology professor studies building trust in the Middle East” written February 11, 2013.

"The military is starting to think more about this because the type of war we’re fighting has changed from conventional—my tanks versus your tanks— to insurgencies, so we need a different approach. The enemy is not on a battlefield—they’re in the town, among the people, blending in. The military is realizing it has to learn about the local people and get them on their side. There are other models of trust in the social sciences, but we are tailoring this to the unique counterinsurgency environment."

An example of taking risks in the name of building trust can be found in the military’s decision to move its forward-operating bases in Iraq and Afghanistan closer to the local community, Blincoe said, "Troops used to march out in the morning from a very secure base to the nearby town or city, then return to their base in the evening. But they found that the local people didn’t trust them or help them, so they moved their bases closer to, and integrated with, the towns and cities, which has improved the safety of both the military and the locals. They took a risk, but it was beneficial—because the people supported it. (Blincoe)²

I find this interesting because Ms. Blincoe conclusion coincides with Greitens' theory as well as Arquilla's. I was taught that change requires risk, but it is usually worth it in the end, and I have been told the definition of insanity is continuing to do as you have always done, over and over, and expecting different results. I believe this proven evidence helps strengthen the argument that the Military Defense would benefit more if they would adhere to changing their strategies. Bigger is not always best. Sometimes less or smaller is more., and much for effective. They need to wise up, learn from the enemy, and adapt to the “New Rules of War”, after all we are in the twenty-first century.

From page 218, The Heat and Fist, I would like once again to quote a paragraph:

...“Awls and Captain Campbell told me that given my time working in the war zones overseas, they wanted me to take a fresh look at our work in Afghanistan and see if there might be ways to improve our interactions with potential allies. SEALS had spent thousands of hours training to kill the enemies, but to win this war we also needed to win friends. Alliances had been key in defeating the Taliban, and we needed allies to help us hunt individual men in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Another key element in defeating al Qaeda was human intelligence. The United States had the best signals and electronic intelligence in the world, but we were fighting an enemy that often passed messages via couriers who road horseback through the mountains. There was no substitute for intelligence won though interpersonal contact with Afghans. How could we adjust our operations so that we could win friends?” (Greiten)

Unfortunately until the ones that are in charge of our Department of Defense open their minds to change, determine to take a risk, for the good of all, and learn from the mistakes of the past, then all I can see is the continuation of spending billions of unnecessary money, continuation of way too many lives lost, while they continue biting themselves, and us, in the butts and putting everyone's safety at risk from the enemy, they will never be any better off than they have ever been throughout the centuries.

In conclusion, I believe I have answered, or at least put up a good argument, for my question, “Given the results in both Iraq and Afghanistan, that “old-school surges” of ground troops do not offer enduring solutions to new-style conflicts with networked adversaries, would our Department of Defense benefit greater by adapting a change in their strategies?” We know they are aware, we know the knowledge is there, the proof is there, but there is still a question which remains unanswered, “Will they use this knowledge and proof, for the better of all?

Works Cited

Newby, Jackie. personal reference for thoughts and quotes.

Greitens, Eric. The Heart and Fist. New York: HoughtonMiffin Harcourt Publishing Co, 2012. 255-97. Print.

Arquilla, John. "The New Rules of War." Editorial. Foreign Policy Magazine 11 Feb. 2010. Web. 20 July 2015. <http://foreignpolicy.com/2010/02/11/the-new-rules-of- war/ >.

Blincoe, Dr. Sarai. "Longwood psychology professor studies building trust in the Middle East -." Editorial. Longwood University-Longwood, VA 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 21 July 2015. <HTTP://Woolongong/2013releases_46856.htm>.

1 John Arquilla earned his degrees in international relations from Rosary College (BA 1975) and Standford University (MA 1989, PhD 1991). He has been teaching in the Special Operations program at the United States Navel Postgraduate School since 1993. H also serves as Chairman of the Defense Analysis Dept.

2 Blincoe began working during summer 2012 on the project, "Generating Trust in the Counterinsurgency Context," at the invitation of Lt. David Combs, a Navy researcher at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., who had previously done research on trust in the political setting. They met in graduate school at the University of Kentucky, where both earned a Ph.D. in experimental psychology.

July 19, 2015 Fluency Blog Day 18

Well time is running out so this is probably going to be a freewrite with whatever pops into my head. I”m still practicing. I've sure got a lot of practicing done tonight trying to get caught up. I spent most of the day reviewing because I've got to go take my proctored exam either in the morning or Tuesday morning and get that over with. Thank goodness the Richwood Valley campus is back open and I don't have to drive all the way to Springfield. I really didn't want to do that since I have to work tomorrow. I'd been trying to figure out how to schedule my time so that I would have plenty of time for the exam, yet not have a bunch of time in between it and work so that I don't have to drive all the way back to Ozark. They said someone ran into something that took out all the electric and messed up a bunch of stuff and they had to order parts from California. The campus was closed all last week , but its supposed to reopen in the morning. So that works good for me. I can go back to the house and grab something to eat before I go to work, hopefully have time to finish up the two assignments I've started that are due tomorrow night, if not then I can grab my “pack and go” and head to work. After this week is over I'm going to relax for a few days before my daughter and fiance come for the weekend to go to the fair. I bought tickets for the Friday night show so that will be date night and mom will watch our daughter...they we are all going to go back on Saturday so Jazzy and all of us can ride the rides and do all the fair stuff. That will be pretty cool.

Well I'm done ya'll...its been a pleasure. Maybe our paths will cross again. I'm hoping some of you continue your blogs...I've got them flagged. Good luck, and wish everyone well in their journey.

July 19, 2015 Fluency Blog Day 17

My mom has always had this thing about wolves, and I have to agree they are awesome creatures. I've had the opportunity to be around a couple of wolf hybrids, one of which is my moms. His name fits him perfectly...Timber.  He is 98% wolf, but they couldn't adopt him out as that, so he is micro-chipped as Husky. He is one gorgeous creature, and you couldn't find any other dog that is more gentle and loving. He is awesome.

Mom raised Australian Shepherds for many years, so when our last one was getting old and we knew he wasn't going to be around much longer, she decided that maybe it was time to ease a new dog into the family so that it didn't feel like we were trying to replace him. It wasn't long after the Joplin tornado, and the humane society had put up a Facebook page to help adopt out those dogs which had been lost, displaced, or had to be giving up because the families just had no where to keep them due to damage or loss of homes. She had been watching it, thinking she might find another young Australian Shepherd. She finally decided to make a trip to Joplin to see some of the dogs that were being posted which people had donated money toward spay and neuter and would not cost anything for the ones adopting them.

When she got there though, she just didn't find one that clicked. She is a shepherd/collie/stock dog type person, and they just didn't have any of those when she got there. She was about to leave when one of the ladies that worked there said there were some over on the other side that weren't quite ready to be adopted, either because they hadn't been there long enough, or they were being treated for some reason. So she took mom over there, and as she walked past this empty cage, from outside through the pet door, came Timber. She said he came straight to the gate and stood up and stuck his nose through the wire for her to pet him. She knew immediately what he was...and as much as she would have loved to have him, he just wasn't what she needed, so she left.

She made it to the lobby and no further, turned and asked the lady if she could go back and see him again. She said the lady smiled and took her back there again, with the same thing happening as before...Timber stood up on the fence and gave her that look…

Again, she talked herself out of it and made it as far as the pickup, but found herself going back once again to get him out of the cage to see how he would handle it. That was all it took. They had already bonded with that first glance the first time they saw each other. She said it was like he knew she was the one. To this day she says that she didn't pick him, he picked her to be his caregiver. Their spirits are as one...it was meant to be.

July 19, 2015 Fluency Blog Day 16

This was my first online class and I've been very apprehensive about it. It's like having a second class , having to learn all the ins and outs and learning to navigate around it. But I have almost survived another semester, and learned something new. Though it has saved me a lot of time in many ways, not to mention gas, I'm still not sure that I like it that well; but I also think it has to do with my learning style. I am one that needs the one on one in the seated class in order to stay focused, and I comprehend better by actually listening to lecture.  That is me, and there is a legitimate reason for it. Don't get me wrong, I may wind up doing other classes online, and I'm grateful for the experience and the fact this class was available this summer, Ms. A has been a good teacher, I like her style, but online is just not my preference.

Combine the online with the shorter session of Summer classes, and it has been a real challenge for me. As English has never been one of my strongest subjects, given the fact my stupidity caused me to miss out on so much of it in high school, if I had to recommend taking any of the basic Math and English classes, I would not suggest doing them during the summer. I would wait until Spring or Fall where its not so fast paced. But we do what we have to do, and I've made it this far, so I know I'm going to survive. I can say the experience wasn't bad, but it was quite an experience.

July 19 2015 Fluency Blog Day 15

As I sit here trying to get a few more blogs in before deadline, I'm thinking to myself how wonderful “pack and go” technology is. In case you are wondering, I refer to my laptop and phone as “pack and go” because I can pack them up and go most anywhere with them. If I'd not had either of these devices that I could take to work and get in last minute assignments while on breaks or lunch break, I would be in a world of hurt.

I love my PC, and it is where I do store all my work; but if that ihad all I had had to rely on, there would have been a lot of assignments this summer that would have been late because of my work schedule. I use my flash as a backup to all my class files, so I have them readily available when I can sneak in a minute or two here and there. Even though its not much time, they've both been lifesavers.

I can pull up the internet on my phone and have even used it a couple of times for the DB assignments, especially replies because they were much shorter. I didn't have a clue that I could even do that, but it worked. I really didn't like taking my laptop because working where I work there is a lot of dust and stuff floating around and I was afraid of something happening to it, but on the last two bigger assignments, I didn't have much of a choice.

The only real draw back as I said is time. Fifteen minutes here, fifteen minutes there, doesn't allow for a very good train of thought and to get it typed. But as I've learned, you do what you can do, when you can do it because there just isn't enough time in the day to get it all done the way I'd prefer to get it done.

July 19, 2015 Fluency Blog Day 14

So much to do and so little time. I was reading through the blogs and I read one that really hit home with me about not enough hours in the day. As I read through that particular blog post, I thought how true that is.

I work a twelve to fourteen hour work day, four days a week, and sometime overtime on Friday, going in at 4 in the afternoon and sometimes not getting of until six the next morning, which leaves me limited time to do all the things I need to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the awesome job that I have with good pay, a super good boss and good co-workers, I couldn't as for more., but by the time you get home, grab a few hours of sleep, get something to eat, then it's time to head back to work. This leaves the only the Friday weekday that most businesses are open to do what personal business you get done, since they aren't open on the weekends. Then we have every other weekend which I travel to Arkansas to see my daughter and fiance, since she hasn't got a vehicle. Which leads to the fact that I've been trying to find her something reliable so that she can have something to drive and come up here, which would take a load off me part of the time. Finally, and very importantly, I have this class and assignments to get finished.

I'm desperately trying to get all these assignments done and study for the exam into this week, and time is rapidly getting away. Though I have really enjoyed this class, I'm ready for just a short break before the Fall semester starts...oh, and I still yet have to talk to my counselor when he gets back in his office on August 1^st, and get my classes lined out. There just isn't enough time in a day, sometimes in a week to get it all done. But I keep on keeping on. I can do this!

July 19, 2015 Fluency Blog- Day 13

Once of my “This I Believe” statements on my list was “I Believe In Second Chances”. I may have

talked about this in some of my other posts, but it is something close to my heart. I don't know where I would be now if not for second, and sometimes third, chances.

I believe that as long as you learn from your mistakes, they should not be held against you. I have most definitely learned from most of my mistake I made during my teen years. Some of those were very hard lessons, and while I regret having to learn the lessons the way I have had to, I'm still the better for it. Sometimes it takes a much stronger lesson to get it though to us what is really important.

I am so blessed with a wonderful fiance and beautiful daughter, a loving family who continue to support in my challenges, efforts and successes.

The one thing which disappoints me in myself most of all though, is that not everyone is as forgiving. Some of my mistakes will follow me throughout the rest of my life. Luckily, others are willing to understand that we do things in youth which does not define who that person really is, and they are willing to give a chance to prove that you are worthy of taking a chance on you. One such case is the job that I have acquired. I worked through a temp agency for a couple of months and proved that I was honest, hard working and dependable. My boss saw that in me and made recommendation I be hired full time. He said that he'd made mistake when he was younger and that he didn't think they should be held against a person. I have worked there less than a year and already had a promotion. That wouldn't have happened if he hadn't given me that chance.

I dropped out of school early in high school because of choices I had made. But if it had not been for my counselor seeing something in me, encouraging me to begin studying and get my GED, I would not be in college now, working toward a degree in Welding.

While I believe that some things cannot be condoned, and will not be forgotten, I believe that most people deserve a second chance to prove themselves worthy of that chance. I know I've been truly blessed.

Lucas Newby

Ms. Kelly Anthony

SU15-Eng 101-W03

17 July 2015

Fluency Blog Reflection

Who would have ever thought that I'd be a blogger...sure not me...and, I'm not sure you could say I'm a good blogger but, I have really enjoyed the experience.

In our first lessons of the semester we were asked to create a blog in which we would make daily post for twenty four days in order to practice our fluency writing skills. Unfortunately with my work schedule and all of our other assignments, I didn't meet this goal; however, I did put forth an honest effort and found it to be a really good way to practice putting thoughts and words onto “paper” and improving my writing skills. I wish I would have had more time, because I honestly feel I cheated myself, and possibly others, who knows, because I didn't put as much value into this as I did my other assignments. I actually spent more time reading the other blogs trying to get ideas to write about, but I just wanted to get it done so I could get the rest of my assignments finished. Twenty, twenty hindsight, but maybe this blog spot is a place that I can continue to practice. It's a good idea, so I guess time will tell if I come back to it once we are done. I think I probably will.

As I reread from my first posts, some I am more proud of than others. I do see an improvement in structure, grammar, punctuation, and even spelling (although I have to give spell check a LOT of credit on that...THANK YOU Spell Check!). I have learned though, slow down, ( which is really hard for me), sort through my thoughts(again a challenge at times), find the structure and apply it to my writing, then, finally, edit and revise as needed. I've also learned you WILL have “Shit” drafts(sometimes more than one) before the final writing is completed. While I am a far cry from being a master writer, and most likely never will be, I do know now my essays and papers in the future will be substantially better than they were before this assignment and this class. The experience has definitely built some confidence in myself and what I am capable of doing.

I have read MANY of the other blog posts written by my classmates, as well as from the other class; some of which have inspired me, made me laugh, taught me lessons and stirred my emotions. I have flagged a few individuals hoping that they might continue their blogs even after the semester is over, because I think we have some really talented writers among us, who, in my opinion, have the potential to go far should they decide to pursue that path at some point of their journey. It has made me wonder what those who have read mine have thought. I hope they didn't think to themselves, poor guy, he'll never be a writer. Maybe not, but I'm a lot better than I was before Ms. A. gave us this opportunity. A big THANK YOU goes out to Ms. A for making this such an interesting class.

July 17, 2015 Fluency Blog Day 12

“Just an old John Deere tractor

New in 1954

Daddy got it right cause the engine was smoking
A couple of burnt valves and he had it going
He'd let me drive her when we haul off a load
Down a dirt strip where we'd dump trash off of Thigpen Road
I'd sit up in the seat and stretch my feet out to the pedels
Smiling like a hero who just received his medal “

I revised the words of the Alan Jackson song, Daddy Let Me Drive, because the first thing I ever drove when I was little was my Dad's John Deere tractor. I can remember sitting on his lap as he would let me pretend to steer when he would be plowing the garden, or hauling bales of hay to the horses. Boy I though I was big.

We used that old tractor for everything. My sisters and I would entertain ourselves on end by getting the saddle blankets and piling them on the ground, then we'd crawl up over the seat so we could get up on the back fender and jump off, again and again, while dad worked on something in this shop.

In the winter when we got a pretty deep snow, he had a hood off of an old pickup that he would chain to the back of that tractor for a sled, and he would drag us all over that five acres there at the house. Sometimes he would even venture up the hill and out to the road, dragging us behind on that makeshift sled.

When my folks divorced, my dad got to keep the farm, but mom got the five acres the house was on and the park that was attached to it. He got most of the farm equipment, but mom wound up with the old tractor and the horses, so as I got older, and my legs got longer, I would help mow hay on the 60 acres my mom had rented for the horses. Me and that old tractor got to be good friends.

Then the next few years it was pretty dry and we didn't really have enough to hay, and it was going to be cheaper just to buy it. So mom decided she would sell the old tractor and use the money for other things that we needed worse. It was still in really good shape; the paint was even still good, with all the decals. So I helped her wash and wax it, and we got it all tuned up good and then put it on Ebay. I can't remember what she actually got for it, but because it was an antique in such good shape, I remember she got a  really good price out of it. Some guy from Indiana bought it and sent her the money, saying he'd be down to get it in about three weeks after he got finished haying.

Three weeks came and went, and he never showed up, and he never showed up, and he never showed up...and we didn't hear anything from him, and he was not answering his phone Here sat our old tractor, paid for by someone that we could not get hold of. Finally about six or eight months later, after we'd about finally given up, we got a call. He'd had a heart attack and had been in and out of the hospital, but he was finally coming after it. 
I wasn't going to let anyone see, but I cried as they loaded it up and took off with my old John Deere, leaving me with only memories...but they were good memories which I still hold dear to this day....
                                "When Daddy Let Me Drive"

July 17 Fluency Blog- Day 12

“I don't want to grow up, I don't want to grow up...I just want to be a Toys R Us kid”

I used to love to go to Toys R Us when I was a kid. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven with all those toys surrounding me...G I Joe, bats and balls, games, bikes., wagons...anything a little boy could dream of. It's no wonder I jumped at the chance to go with mom when she went. I'm not sure how enthused she was though. SMILES

And, It's no wonder now, having a daughter of my own, this is where I find myself returning, looking for just the right thing for birthdays and Christmas. I have noticed, though they have lots of cool stuff for little boys, they have a lot more cool stuff for little girls… every kind of Barbie and accessory you can imagine, not to mention the other dozens of dolls, of every size, shape and fashion, doll houses, little kitchens with food, pots and pans, princess clothes and accessories..how come little boys didn't have all that neat stuff? There is twice as much stiff for little girls than for little boys. I feel slighted!

Then they have all the electronic and educational stuff. Yeah, we had that too, but nothing like they have now. I guess I'm probably going to have a tendency to buy several of these, because I sure don't want her growing up to be computer illiterate like me...but still, I don't want her missing out on all of the fun stuff my sister's and I did as kids, either. I think you can get so wrapped up in that stuff that you miss out on being a real kid...being outside, running, jumping, climbing trees, swimming, etc. Kids now days don't get out and do anything. They sit in front of the TV or computer, playing their games, often because that is what moms and dads use for babysitters. That's just not right and not good for the kids.

Geez…I'm starting to think and talk like my parents. SMILES! But, I do still love going to Toys R US! I don't think I'll ever grow up that much.

July 16, 2015 Fluency Blog – Day 11

Sigh…..Everyone has their own learning style, or combination of styles. I have come to two conclusions: 1) that online classes, as convenient as they appear to be, are just not for me. I need the one on one of the classroom setting; 2) don't take an English writing class during the Summer semester because it is just way too much to cram into that short of time span…. Another sigh.

I can make my way around the basic computer stuff like my email, Facebook, Craigs List, etc., but other than that, I'm not computer whiz...call me ,pretty much, computer illiterate, that's for sure. ..thinking I should have taken a basic computer class. Learning Black Board along with doing this English class has been a double whammy for me. Can we say CONFUSING!. Then lets throw in the weird hours I work, trying to grab at least five hours of sleep when I get home. There just isn't enough time even for the basics. I think I need, at least, an extra eight hours added to my day just to keep up. Don't get me wrong, I'm dedicated, so very grateful to be going to college and to have such a good job, and I know we all have to sacrifice something if we want to achieve our goals, but, I'm just about worn to a frazzle My head is full and starting to feel like mush this last week of class. I'm stressed about the proctored test...I've always had test anxiety...did I take good enough notes, am I going to be able to find and put into written words acceptable answers...and this research for our final essay...and I still need to get everything lined out for my fall classes, which will be starting in less than a month. 

DEEP BREATH, BREATHE! EXHALE! BREATHE! I CAN DO

THIS!!!!

All of a sudden the story of the “Little Train” which was read to us in kindergarten pops into my head saying,

“I THINK I CAN, I THINK, I CAN...I KNOW I CAN!!!!

July 16 2015 Fluency Blog--Day 10

What a roller coaster ride these past two weeks have been. I blogged about the Cassville flood the other day, the worst since 1935. Then on Friday, the Finley River here in Ozark flooded, the worst it has flooded in 100years. It actually broke that 100 year record.  

Water was up over the old Mill bridge which no one could remember that ever happening, bringing with it docks, kiacs, barrels, and whatever else was in it's path. The park was flooded like my mom said she'd never seen it, in the 47years she's lived in Ozark, covering the livestock barn they use at the county fair, up and over Riverside road, both north and south toward town, past the firehouse. Water got up enough to get in the Career Center ( the old Hanks Chevrolet lot) leaving 30 inches water lines on the walls. The same with the Chinese restaurant across the road, and even closing off Business 65 there at the bridge for a period of time. The only open route out of town was at the top of the hill to Hwy. 14 then to 65. The county fair was canceled and they had to pull rides out of knee deep mud and debris once the water receded.

 
I've seen pictures that were taken out by the old Riverside Bridge, Green Bridge, both under water; and Linen where, although was still partially flooded from the previous rains, the Friday night before we had gone to shoot fireworks. It was absolutely unreal! We had been under the bridge where Hwy 125 crosses Linden, which was several feet well above our heads, and water was over it, closing of Hwy 125.

Though we are lucky that the actual flooding didn't effect us, all the runoff from the “newer” subdivisions, those which were built after ours, drains down between our house and the neighbors to the south of us, winding up down in our back lot on the street behind us. We had our own little river going for a while ,and my mom spent two nights sopping up water that had run down the drive pooling in front of her bedroom door, and gradually seeping under it.

 
I know we aren't the only areas that have seen all this flooding here in Missouri, and elsewhere, this summer. But it really makes a big impact when you actually know and live in these places. I've never seen this much rain, like this, in my lifetime. According to the local news, we have received over 20 inches of rain in the past month. No wonder I'm starting to think I'm a duck.

 "....and the animals go marching into the ark, two by two.... "

July 9, 2015    Lesson 4.1-Fluency Blog Day 9

Rain, Rain, go away come again when we actually need it!

For the past month, it seems every weekend or every other weekend, the James and Finley Rivers have raged and flooded everything. The streets of Ozark, Springfield and surrounding areas have flooded and many roads, including some of the highways have had to be closed and people have had to be rescued from the high waters. It’s really pretty scary when you get down to it.

My family and I here spend most of the day yesterday in concern because of the flooding further south in Cassville because my grandmother, other family and many friends live down there. It has been my home all my life.

Cassville, like Ozark and Branson, has a lot of hills in town. Flat Creek runs right through the middle of town.  It’s not like when we get heavy rains it doesn’t get up in the drain ditches, but very rarely anything near like what happened yesterday. They said on the news they had over 7 inches of rain in less than two hours. The town started flooding in just matters of minutes trapping people all over town. The sheriff’s department put out warnings that the whole town was closed down and do not come there. Many of the pictures that were shown on the news were only a block away from my grandmother’s house. Friends and family flooded Facebook with pictures they or someone else had taken. My folks said they remembered the year I was born Cassville and that area flooding big time, but not anything like it did yesterday.

When something like that happens, the feeling of knowing you are so far away, can really keep your mind preoccupied leaving you feeling uncertain and helpless, knowing you can’t go down there, and even if you could, what were you going to do…grab a bucket…what good would that do. All you can do is say a prayer that everyone will be ok, and wait it out until the water goes back down. 

At least we were fortunate that my grandmother’s house sits just high enough that the water didn’t get into her house. We finally got hold of the rest of the family and some close friends and all was good with them too, thank God. But man, that whole town is a mess and there are a bunch of people and businesses that lost a whole lot. I really feel bad for them, as well as all of the other areas that flooded.

July 9, 2015    Lesson 4.1-Fluency Blog Day 8

Well, I’ve got some serious catching up to do on my blog in the next couple of days. I know I haven’t done a real good job on my time management this past week because of the long weekend. It’s not I intended for it to be that way, and I’m not trying to make excuses because I put other things ahead of my class work, but I had been planning this event for a couple of months now, wanting the timing to be just right. I spent the day Thursday getting everything set. I got up about 4am Friday morning and went down to Bela Vista to bring my girl and my daughter here for a full family weekend which included my mom, my sister and her husband and even my dad. 

I had gotten fireworks to shoot off with my daughter with plans on going to the creek to it. But with all the rain and flooding of the rivers we didn’t know until we got down there if that would actually happen. It was flooded, but it had gone down enough that we found a place by the bridge to do them and all was good except for one minor incident when one of them fell over and was shooting balls at us and the pickup. The power behind it made me wonder if it actually dented the pickup, and one got my daughter on the arm. It left a small place, but nothing serious; still it scared the beegeebies out of her and I couldn’t blame her for that, that’s for sure, but it put a damper on the last few we had left to shoot off.  But all in all, after we all got calmed back down, it wound up ending pretty good.

The big event, however, was to take place Saturday night when we all went to the fireworks show out at the fairgrounds. We met at my sister’s house and we all left together so we could park our cars close together. We got there as they opened the gates about 6. We took grilled burgers and mom had made potato salad, slaw and other goodies so we could have a tailgate and not have to buy stuff while we were there. My daughter got to do all the inflatables and get her face painted while we waited for it to get dark enough for the fireworks to begin. My sister was taking lots of pictures. 

I was getting a bit nervous. I wanted everything to be just right. Mom made the arrangements to make it happen. Thank you Mom! 

Then, right before the fireworks began, the guy came over the PA and said “AMANDA, Luke has something he wants to ask you”…I got down on my knee and opened the little white box with the ring in it. She was so surprised!  She said YES! There in front of thousands of people and fireworks going off we are now officially engaged! 

After 5 years of ups and downs, both having done a lot of growing up and getting each of our own lives 

straightened out, being blessed with our beloved daughter, we are going to be a real family.

So yeah, I’ve been a bit side tracked the last few days, but I’m back on track, going to finish this up so I can keep moving forward, looking forward to the next semesters and getting my degree, and having my family here with me. Yes I am truly blessed.