College: A Look Back

Today it's been a week since I graduated from college.  It was a long, tough road.  I wanted to drop out so many times.  (Well I did take a break that turned out to be a six year break)  I knew what I wanted to be.  I love to write, so the natural course would be Journalism.  By becoming a journalist, I could write and get the chance to meet new and interesting people.

High School was pretty damn easy. I knew what I wanted to be, but wasn't sure how to go about doing it.  How do you become a writer?  Obviously it helps to be able to read and write.  I could become a novelist.  But what if I don't become successful?  It would help to have a backup plan.  I could become a Journalist and write novels on the side.

After I finished high school, I knew I wanted to go to college.  I wanted to go away for college.  I love California, my home state.  Moving away would not be cheap.  And the burning question: Where would I move to?  It would probably be best if I went to school here.  College is expensive enough without adding moving expenses.

I started by going to State Center Community College District in Clovis, CA.  It would be cheaper to start out at city college.  I could concentrate on general education classes.  And city college is easier.  The classes are smaller, and so is the campus.  It's like boot camp for state college.  I was living at home at the time and the school was located within walking distance from home.

I began to realize college was way different than high school.  In high school, you had to go.  Your parents and the government forced you to go.  If you were 18, you could choose not to go.  (I think)  If you don't go to high school, your job prospects are limited.  And in high school you didn't have much freedom.  Your teachers and counselors chose your classes for you.  There were a few elective classes you could choose from.

In college you had so many options.  You would choose your major, your field.  Then you would choose the classes you wanted to take each semester.  You could go during the day or night.  You could choose to go during the weekends if you wanted to.  You could even take two classes and have a really short school day if you'd like.  I'd advise against doing that, it would take you forever to graduate if you do.

My first two years of college were pretty easy.  I got the classes I wanted.  I made lots of new friends.  I got along great with my teachers.  I was passing my classes.  My future was looking really bright.  I was starting to a little stressed but nothing too extreme.  I was working part time.  I wasn't making enough money, but wasn't flat broke.

Then my mom and sister had to move.  I knew that I would have to work more.  I realized that I would have to drop out of school for a bit.  It would be a short break.  I wasn't dropping out of college forever.  I would go back after I got back on my feet.  There's nothing wrong with taking a break from school.  I was working, so it wasn't like I was dropping out of school to be lazy.

That 'short break' turned into six years.  I had debt I needed to take care of.  I was getting used to the feeling of only having to worry about work.  I hated having to worry about school and work.  I loved coming home from work and not worrying about homework, projects, term papers or presentations.  My family kept asking when I was going back.  To be honest, I wasn't sure when I was going back or if I was going back.
Did I even want to go back?

The day finally came when I realized I needed to go back.  I was working full time as a cart guy at Sam's Club.  I was making a decent amount of money.  But I realized I didn't want to do this forever.  I knew that if I wanted a family, I would have to provide for them.  I would need a job that paid more.  In order to do that, I would need a college degree.  Having a degree would help improve my life so much.

I talked to a counselor to see what I needed to do.  It had been so long since I was in school, I wasn't sure what classed I needed to take.  After talking to the counselor, I knew what I had to do.  I went back to city college to finish my general education classes.  It took less than a year.  Now came the next step, state college.

I enrolled in Fresno State College.  I went through orientation.  I got to know the campus.  I even met some fellow students who was going for the same degree I was going for.  I was able to register for classes before anyone else.  I was scared about going back to college.  But by going through orientation, my fears were eased away.

Each semester seemed to fly by.  I took some time between breaks to relax.  I also began to plan what classes I would take for the next semester.  There were time when I thought about dropping out again.  But I refused to do so.  I had dropped out once, I wasn't about to drop out again.  I had come too far.  I was so close to finishing.  I couldn't wait to be done.

Fresno State was a good school.  It did get frustrating that the tuition kept going up.  I was able to get some money through financial aid.  It wasn't enough to pay my tuition and books.  I had to take out student loans.  I was finally out of debt.  I didn't want to get back into debt.  But I was continuing my education.  That seemed like a good enough reason to get into debt.

The journalism classes were tough but manageable.  I even got a chance to write for the school paper, The Collegian.  I covered feature stories, profile stories, Arts\Entertainment and movie reviews.  I did this about six months.  It was good to get practice in my field.  It gave me a chance to practice my interviewing skills.
I'm a pretty shy person and practicing my interviewing skills helped me overcome my shyness.

Another memorable moment was when I participated in the Central Valley War Veterans Memorial Project. This was an assignment for my editing class.  It was one of the most stressful yet rewarding assignments I had ever done.  It was stressful because the last thing I ever want to do is offend a veteran.  I wanted them to tell me their story because they wanted to, not because they felt pressured to.  I did everything I could to do a good job.  I got a good grade and felt like I accomplished something.

Finally the day came.  Friday, May 17th 2013 Graduation Day.  Myself along with about 200 other graduates got our degrees.  I was so glad to be done.  I had finished school once and for all.  I'm trying to get a job with my degree.  But I finished school.  It took me a bit longer than I wanted to.  All in all my college experience was a good one.

Tales From the Crypt: A Look Back

            I watched plenty of shows growing up.  One show that to this day that has and always be one of my favorites is Tales From the Crypt. Even at a young age, I gravitated toward the Horror genre.  And with that show, I was able to watch several scary stories.  My parents didn't let my brother, Aaron, and I watch it.  We would still find a way to sneak out of our rooms and watch this awesome show.

           

            The intro itself was damn cool to watch.  No matter how times I watched the show, I was awestruck at the tour of that spooky house.  And even though I knew it was coming, I would jump when the CryptKeeper would pop out of his coffin.  When I first saw the CryptKeper, I cringed in fright.  But when he made his first corny joke, I smiled.  Any creepy looking guy who cracked jokes couldn't be that bad.

           

            There were so many episodes of this show I'll never forget.  'And All Through the House' gave us a reason to be scared of Santa.  'The Ventriloquist's Dummy' showed exactly why ventriloquist dummies are scary.  'Mournin Mess' gave us a terrifying look into a secret society.  'Death of Some Salemen' showed the audience that Tim Curry can pull of multiple roles and still be creepy.  Finally, 'The Third Pig' was able to give us a retelling of The Three Little Pigs that Horror fans can enjoy. 

            Tales From the Crypt was a rare show that had some stories that scared you and some that made you laugh.  The show is still fun watching on DVD, but nothing beats the memories of watching it for the first time on TV.  If you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for?

Uncertain Future

The future is here.  I've spent years planning what I would do after I graduated college.  College is over, and I'm now an official college graduate.  I still have to attend the ceremony of course.  To be honest, I'm a little scared.

 I went to school to get my degree in Journalism.  I love to write and I love to meet new people.  I spent about six months writing for my school paper.  I had a lot of fun doing it, so I know I'm on the right track on what I want to do for a living.

But lately I've been worried.  What if I don't get a job in my field?  What if all that time and money I spent in college turns out to be a total waste?  I know there are a lot of people out there who have their degrees but haven't found a job in their desired field.

I have to be patient.  I have to keep trying.  The important thing is that I went to college and got an education.  Yes, my prospects are pretty slim right now.  But the future would be a lot darker if I didn't go to college.  No matter what I have to keep trying.  I've come way too far to just give up.

The Next Big Thing

I'd like to thank John LLeViness III for taking the time to interview me about my first e-book, 'In Due Time.'  You can purchase it at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QTK8NK
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/253684

If you'd like to know more about John, you can find him here-
http://www.facebook.com/johnlevinessIII

What is the title of your latest book?
'In Due Time.'

Where did the idea come from for the book?
I got the idea from watching the 'Hostel' and 'Saw' movies.

What genre does your book fall under?
I'd have to say horror and suspense.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Wow, I really haven't considered that.

What is the one sentence sypnosis of your book?
Four criminals find themselves at the mercy of a mysterious vigilante, Mr, X.

Is your book self published or reprensented by an agency?
It's self published through Amazon, Lulu and Smashwords.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
I'd say about two months.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I honestly don't know.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to explore the premise of people exacting revenge on the criminals that hurt them.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
The readers might want to find out what if the criminals get their punishment, or do they escape.

'Dexter Morgan: The Great Anti-Hero'

            Serial killers are always the villain.  They're sadistic monsters who make it their mission to stalk and kill innocent victims.  Normally, we the audience cheers when the serial killers are caught or killed.  It's hard to imagine people cheering for a serial killer.  But what if a serial killer was a hero?  What if there was a serial killer out there we could actually root for?

            Jeff Lindsay created a series of novels that gave the world a serial killer that the world can cheer for.  His hero, or anti-hero if you will, is Dexter Morgan.  Dexter works for the Miami police department as a crime scene technician by day and is a serial killer by night.  However, Dexter only kills criminals.  He's a serial killer and a vigilante all in one.  He's made it his mission to take out the criminals that the law can't or won't touch.

            What makes Dexter such an interesting character is that he's conflicted.  He likes what he does.  He feels he's making the world a safer place by killing vicious criminals.  But at the same time, he wonders if he's helping the world.  He was asked himself: 'Am I good guy doing bad things, or a bad guy doing good things?'

            Showtime has taken the novels and made a great TV series.  Every Sunday, all of us fans tune in to see who will Dexter kill this week.  The show is currently on its seventh season.  Don't worry, I won't give away any spoilers.  But trust me, this is a show you need to watch.  I'm not going to lie.  The show does contain language, violence and sexual scenes.  Consider 'Dexter' your guilty pleasure.

Please Welcome....Mimi Barbour

MIMI BARBOUR

Author of The Vicarage Bench Series, Angels with Attitude Series, and a hot, new romantic suspense series called Vegas. Mimi Barbour lives on the east coast of Vancouver Island and writes her romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye. “If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their every-day grind, absorb them into a love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”

Title: What do you like to read in a Christmas story?

I know what I like to read.

It’s all about families. I’m a sucker for romance, and old folks and an even bigger sucker for kids. When you join those features into one story and add in a heroine you can’t help but love, then the book is my idea of perfect entertainment.

Some of my friends tell me I’m a softie and tend to write naive tales about people who just aren’t that way anymore… kind and thoughtful, loving and giving. I beg to differ!! There is a world full of ‘nice’ people out there. Folks who live every day being helpful to others and generous with their families.

There’s one story in particular I’d like to share. My mother-in-law, a tiny, cranky, eighty-eight-year-old woman who has insisted on staying in her little house because she ….well she can. And the reason this is possible is because of her neighbour. A young man, maybe in his forties, has taken her under his wing (no pun intended) and goes there every day, looks after all her yard work, takes her grocery shopping and even to church. When she forces money on him, he’s terribly uncomfortable and has tried to tell her he doesn’t expect payment. See what I mean by angels in our midst???

My angel in this Christmas story is an old man called Pi. I created him as close to a real person as possible because I truly believe that we are surrounded by angels in our everyday lives. Ordinary people who behave in extraordinary and loving ways. In many cases, both men and women who come to ones aid without needing to be asked. I have friends like that and I’m sure most of you do also. In fact, you’ve probably acted like that yourself at one time or another. We all have stories to tell of the time that we…!

So this Christmas tale is my present to those of you who are suckers for romance and prickly little boys and loveable seniors. For your holiday pleasure, I’ve wrapped up all these elements up in an entertaining parcel called “Lovable Christmas Angel”.

Hint: This would make a perfect gift for someone special on your list who you know is sweet on those special uplifting stories that make the season just that little bit brighter.

Amazon special price 99cents

If you'd like to know more about the author:

Twitter: @MimiBarbour

Blog: http://mimibarbour.blogspot.com

Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/ppw6av

Halloween

          I have many favorite holidays.  Christmas, 4th of July, Easter, and of course Halloween.  When I was a kid, I had so much fun.  Even though I didn't always dress up, I still had fun.  I would help out my brother, Aaron, and my sister, Sam, help pick out their costumes.  My brother and I would act as bodyguards for our sister that night as we escorted her out trick or treating.  I was a picky eater, so instead of eating my candy, I'd give my haul to them earning lots of bonus points with them.

            Horror movies were also a mandatory Halloween staple.  .  Back when I was a kid, my parents were really strict on what movies I could watch.  Watching PG-13 horror movies seemed to ruin my Horror movie experience.  I remember watching Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' on MTV.  The scene where he turned into a werewolf scared me, but being scared by that scene became a tradition. 

            As I got older, my choices in Halloween movies increased.  After finally being able to watch R-rated movies, I would watch as many scary movies as I could.  I would surf the cable channels looking for the goriest, scary movies I could find.  Of course as soon as I found one, the doorbell would ring signaling trick or treaters.

            As an adult, I can still have fun on this holiday.  Of course with work and school, I don't have as much free time as I did when I was a kid.  A lot of people my age go out to the clubs and bars.  I'm not much of a drinker so I prefer to either stay home or go to a friend's house.  Adult or a kid, there's just something about Halloween that's intoxicating.  It's hard to describe.