All posts by AshlynTheArtist

I think the Shrek 2 soundtrack is heavily underappreciated

-WorkplaceSafety-

So for planning we had a really informative lecture on workplace safety so let’s talk about ways to stay safe shall we?

For me, I’m a very shy introverted person but I will try my best to ask for help if I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m also very clumsy so I’d rather be awkward and safe then wing something new.

I’ll try my best to watch out for any potential hazards like things on the ground and electrical cords because again, I’m a clumsy person and don’t want stitches.

If I can I’ll try to wear work safe clothes so nothing baggy or uncomfortable because a sweater could get stuck to a saw, who really knows what get up to.

And along with that I’d try my best to watch out for others by making sure everyone knows what they’re doing and clean stuff off the ground for coworkers.

Besides that, we were learning about stories from others and the one that was really memorable was with Mat and oil accident. It was really memorable to me because that’s always a fear of mine for my dad as he is a chef and using a deep fryer everyday and it was really heart breaking and traumatizing for a 19 year old to experience. It really taught me to trust my gut in situations like that and to always look out for yourself. 

Thanks for reading now go work safe!

=TheEffectsOfRacism=

“The effects of racism are more than just words. To some, they are bullets that leave life-altering scars. The effects of racism are more than hurt feelings, it can lead to constant self-doubt, low self-esteem, and overall shame of one’s identity. In “What you remember of the Evacuation”, the narrator didn’t just feel sad, she was ashamed. Ashamed of herself, her culture, and her worth. Racism can change the way you feel about yourself in negative ways. Effects of racism aren’t just cuts you can bandage up and forget about, they are life-changing reminders of a problem you can’t control. In the book Indian Horse, the racism doesn’t just stop at the end of residential schools, they follow the protagonist everywhere. People where ever he goes call him names solely for his skin colour. It’s not like they teach you how to deal with racism at school so the protagonist didn’t know how to handle it. The protagonist stayed strong with his culture but not everyone ca. Lots of people can give into the insults, and sadly, it happens too often. We learn about people all around the world fighting against racism until the last drop of blood is shed. Racism isn’t just a punch, it’s a hole that too many people fall into.”

=TheFirstTimeIWasGrounded=

 

Being grounded isn’t fun: being a prisoner in your own home, having nothing to do, and if you’re me, enduring 72 hours of “Why aren’t you like your older brother!” speeches.  Luckily for my ‘goody two-shoes’ self, I’ve only had to go through this once, and it was not worth it.

It’s a fall day, and my friend Paris and I had just finished decorating a Christmas tree my mother thought was a brilliant idea to put up in November. Paris and I are both hobbits compared to the dragon of that Christmas tree so being exhausted was an understatement as we finished. Paris sat down on the squeaky computer chair catching her breath while I screamed at my brother, “This would have been easier if my tall brother would have helped!” “Screw you!” To which he replied.

Paris noticed my tense expression and had the most idiotic plan to cheer me up. She came over, sat me down on the chair and explained, “What if we went over to Mikee’s house?”

Now, I had a mega huge crush on this guy while Paris had a thing for his friend Vakeem so it seemed like a perfect plan, right? Or so I thought. I texted both on Facebook, discovered they were both at Mikee’s house, told them both we were coming, and we were on our way.

This is stupid! Turn around! This isn’t worth it! I have a bad feeling about this! Something will go wrong! I thought the whole time but it was too late as the sounds of Paris knocking the dove coloured door brought me back. The moment the door swung open, Vakeem ran out to Paris while Mikee stepped his way out. Instantly Paris and Vakeem began making me nauseous with the cutesy, coupley, crap so I directed my attention to Mikee.

“So… How’s your day?”

He shoves his hands in his pocket, “It’s fine…”

“That’s good…”, That basically the represents the overall quality of conversation.

The awkwardness between us makes me cringe and I couldn’t focus. His dark eyes mesmerized me and his deep voice was all I could think about while my words ran out. Apparently, this went on for too long as he began looking around until he stopped and asked, “Where did Vakeem and Paris go?”

Just then my heart stopped. For many of you who don’t know, my friends and I have a rule, never leave me unattended. It’s stupid, but I have mazeophobia and because I’m an introvert who never sees the light of day, I need my friends. I started freaking out and running around the apartments, nothing. I ran to the library, the school, Paris’ house, nothing. I check restaurants, markets, and anywhere Paris could get her hands-on food, nothing. You’d think someone was tall as Vakeem was easy to find, but nope, it was like the hardest ‘Where’s Waldo’ game to be created.

Mikee was nice enough to look for them too while trying to calm me down with the whole “it’s fine” and “there’s nothing to worry about” words of encouragement, but I was having none of that and let out a variety of angry grunts in response. Panicked is my only emotion now and as I finally burned out, I made my way home.

You’re a bad friend! Paris is going to hate you! She’ll never forgive me! Why did I go along with this plan? How am I resisting the urge to fan girl over my crush right now??

Thoughts ran around my head with an anxiety powered engine corrupted my mind while hearing the mucky steps I took toward my apartment building. As I turned the corner to the building I saw Paris, Vakeem and our friend Majid pop out of nowhere running in my direction.

I was realized and shocked and before I could even utter a word, Paris beats me to it.

“Ash, I’m sorry!” She says in fear.

“Sorry for what? Where were yo- “

“I told your mom you were lost and now she’s pissed!” Paris tells me in a fast pace.

Words said after that turned into background noise as I began panicking more on how I’d explain this to my mom. She is the queen of stubbornness and “It’s for your own goods” so I know this will be the death of me. Mikee, Vakeem, and Majid made a silent escape while Paris and I made our way to my house.

My cold hands were intertwined with her shaky ones, trying to calm me down more. It didn’t help, and as we knocked, we were trapped. Immediately we got screamed at by my mother, and like idiots we made up a lie about playing hide-and-go-seek.

Of course, my mother didn’t buy it because she looked through my Facebook and found our chats. When Paris left, mom grounded me for the rest of the month (which was only a couple of days).

The aftermath of that experience was 5 days worth of apologizing, hours worth of reading, and constantly being yelled at. In retrospect, I could have called Vakeem using Mikee’s phone but I couldn’t come up with a plan during my ‘Panic! Around the City’ self. No near-death experience could compare to the heart attack Paris gave me that day. To this day, I’m still grumpy about the whole thing.

 

I nailed the voice and humour of this narrative but I need to stop changing from present to past tense! Next time I’ll try not to confuse anyone with it.

 

 

-“TellTaleHeart”AlternateEnding-

The point of view of Third Person

The police officer knocked on the door. He drags himself to the front and whips the door open plastering on a smile.

“Come in!” he says, they stride in with confidence and stand on the corner of the red carpet.

“We got a noise complaint,” the short police man says in his “Neighbors said somethin’ about some yellin’”

The man happily nods and starts rambling about the history about the building and all it’s pros. The nice neighborhood, the reasonable taxes, the lovely help.

He goes around the entire first floor, explaining everything in detail. The tour of the second floor begins right after. Still acting as normal as possible.

Finally takes them up the old man’s room and pulls them each a chair. He offers them a drink and they start chatting about their day.

Rambling on about the wife and kids while ignoring the mans sudden erratic behaviour. His shifty eyes bounce around the room, his shaky hands placed on his lap, his shallow breaths.

Suddenly, he stands and yells, “Villain!”, the police are caught off guard, “dissemble no more! I admit the deed!- tear up the planks! Here, here!- it is the beating of his hideous heart!”