The Ramblings of August North

A writer's blog about this and that!

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Senegalese Twists Review So earlier this summer, I went to the salon and got bra-strap length Senegalese twists put in for the first time. I arrived at the salon at 9am and didn’t leave until a little after 6pm. Needless to say, it took a long time to get the twists done. The hair used was Kanekalon, color 1B. I was hoping to use Marley hair but the stylist preferred to use Kanekalon. Although the process of getting the twists in was a long one, it really wasn’t too bad. The stylist was gentle on my head and that’s important because I’ve been known to be somewhat tender headed. The twists have been in for 8 weeks and I take them out this weekend. The most enjoyable part of the whole experience was the feeling of knowing I didn’t have to do a lot to my hair in the morning. Getting ready for work was a breeze. However, the least enjoyable part of my twists experience was the heaviness of the twists. For about two weeks, I had major neck pain and could not figure out what in the world was causing the pain. Unfortunately, it was the twists. Since I’m cheap, I decided to get the twists in; it cost a pretty penny to get them done. I had to change the way I slept at night to relieve the pressure off of my neck. After that, I guess the problem got better. I don’t know if it was from the length of the twists or the bulkiness of the Kanekalon hair. Either way, although I enjoyed not having to get up and do my hair, I probably will not get Senegalese twists again.

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Driving around town, I saw this wonderful sight on my way home one night. Immediately, I pulled over to see what was up.... Was it real? Oh, one could only hope! Of course, it was a mistake, and the gas prices were instead, the same old high prices. 😔

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Did anyone catch any of the Shark Week episodes? Flipping through my phone, I realized I snapped this really cool picture at the Ripley's Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Kind of neat considering Shark Week was just around the corner.

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For breakfast, I had a banana, with peanut butter and cinnamon, on top of a slice of toast. It was simply delicious. Mmmm mmm good! The recipe was found while I was just internet browsing (bbcgoodfood.com), and I just had to try it out. This, new to me, food find, will definitely be on my top list of breakfast foods. What food have you all tried lately that was simple, but oh so delicious? Ingredients: 1 slice wheat toast 1 small banana ½ tsp cinnamon 1 tbsp peanut butter

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I took this picture of Robin Williams' wax statue at the beginning of August. Even then, I thought his statue had a bit of sadness in the eyes. Unassuming as to what would happen to Robin in the days to come, I dismissed the idea and carried on with the rest of my museum trip. The entire situation is extremely sad......

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Get over yourself

Sometimes I sit and wonder why people are so critical of one another. Does it matter if you don’t like a person’s shirt, hair, or anything pertaining to someone’s outer appearance? Is it really any of your business what someone does in their spare time? If how an individual is living their life is not pleasing to you, remove yourself, and carry on. That is all…….

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Book Review by August North The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, written by Sherman Alexie and illustrated by Ellen Forney, spins the tale of Junior, a young high school student, a freshman, that aspires to become a cartoonist. Junior is described as less than a coordinated boy, with a speech impediment, and the looks of a nerdy superhero. He lives on a reservation in Spokane, Washington, but attends school with the rest of the Spokane non-Native American population. Junior wants more out of life than what is presented before him on the reservation. During school, Junior ends up falling for his close friend, gets suspended, and has to explain why he feels he is different from the rest of his community. Mirrored through the life of Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a story with true heart, grit, and loads of personality. Within the pages, Junior displays some of his drawings and leaves the reader rooting for his overall success. Sherman Alexie takes a leap of faith and steps into the young adult market with The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. He succeeds in this first novel because he writes a story that he has lived personally and breaks the subject matter down in a way that a child or adult will fully understand and enjoy. If by chance, the story does not keep the reader entertained, the number of cartoons displayed, drawn by Junior, will definitely do the job. Cartoons add a nice personal touch to a story that is already full of life. Good books should leave the reader in a myriad of emotions and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian will do that and so much more.

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My Heart Aches

by Langston Hughes Song for a Dark Girl Way Down South in Dixie (Break the heart of me) They hung my black young lover To a cross roads tree. Way Down South in Dixie (Bruised body high in air) I asked the white Lord Jesus What was the use of prayer. Way Down South in Dixie (Break the heart of me) Love is a naked shadow On a gnarled and naked tree. I stumbled across this poem during my weekly reading and I must say I had to read it several times. It's wondefully written, but quite sad. There was so much sadness and grief during that very trying time in American history. I can not imagine the pain this young girl experienced and my heart aches from reading the very words. The poem is about a young black girl whose lover was killed because of racism. During that time, lynching was a common occurrence and the dark girl's lover was put in the middle of town where all the people passing by could witness the tragedy. The narrator is hurt and feels as if she has no where to turn. It seems as if religion won't save her either. Langston Hughes experimented with many racial poems to tell a story of a group of people that felt as if their voice didn't matter. Hughes includes thought provoking metaphors throughout the poem. In my opinion, the saddest line was the last one: Love is a naked shadow, On a gnarled and naked tree. Langston Hughes was indeed a man before his time, and even today, his words still echoes in the ears of men and women that were born many decades later.

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I try to push myself to try new activities. A couple of days ago, I took my first horseback riding lesson. The day before my lesson, I was so excited, even up until the point when I had to mount the horse. Then, the nervousness set in, and all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind. Gypsy, the horse, was much taller and bigger than me. Would I get hurt? Is everything going to be okay? Oh the questions with very little answers. I mounted Gypsy and as I looked down, the ground seemed so far away. Geeze! My instructor reassured that everything would be okay. After a few minutes, I relaxed, and started to appreciate the moment. Long story short, I conquered my fears, and to my surprise, really enjoyed the experience. Thanks Gypsy!!

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Oops!!

There is a guy that I once knew He met a girl that he thought was cute This very girl’s belly grew big She told the guy, and he said, “It’s not my kid”. The baby grew with hair of gold A trait that not his mom or dad beholds! ~by August North

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Don't Be Fooled

A lot of times, I sit and think about why am I in the position that I am today. Did my college degree do me justice? I guess it did. My current job is pretty decent, just not fulfilling. Did I major in the best curriculum for me? Uh, probably not. As a young tyke, I constantly heard, “major in the sciences, you’ll go far” or “a degree in science is fail proof”. This may be true, but there are so many science degrees available. So, which one do you choose? I majored in biology. Mmm, not really the best decision. The topic is too broad. I guess I should’ve been a tad bit more specific. Once I entered the work force, I realized that companies wanted certifications (which I did not have). Sadly, a degree is not enough. Sure with a degree in biology, chemistry, etc., the possibility of becoming a doctor, chemist, medical laboratory technologist is within reach, but one must either obtain a graduate degree or obtain additional certifications. This is the type of information that students should receive when deciding a major. Maybe some young person currently trying to decide on which college path to take will stumble across this post, and hopefully, see the message clearly. Choosing a major is smart, but understanding what it takes to achieve the dream job is wise. A degree is the first step, but there are usually many future hurdles to cross.