Sunday, July 31, 2011

Mesquite Boxing Gym Article

Mesquite Boxing Gym to Host Open House
Posting Date: 07/29/2011

By Carrie Gomez

The Mesquite Boxing Club is free for kids ages 8-18 who not only can train physically for boxing, but can also participate in a tutoring and nutrition program. Photo by Carrie Gomez
The Mesquite Boxing Club is free for kids ages
8-18 who not only can train physically for
boxing, but can also participate in a tutoring
and nutrition program. Photo by Carrie Gomez
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” are famous words spoken by one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.
Muhammad Ali started boxing after his bike got stolen when he was 12 years old, and progressed into one of the biggest names that boxing has ever had. He has stayed dedicated to his craft to this day; although Parkinson’s Syndrome has taken control of his body and Ali can no longer fight, he remains a hero and icon of the 20th century.
The Mesquite Boxing Gym has been around for a long time and the building shows it’s age. Matt McCulloch, the manager/coach at the gym took over in 2006 and has put his heart and soul into keeping it going strong. The gym is a 501c3 organization under the Family Services Division, and runs mainly on grants, fundraisers and private donations. It’s free for kids ages 8-18 who not only can train physically for boxing, but can also participate in a tutoring and nutrition program.
There are five coaches who volunteer regularly with the gym: Matt McCulloch, Tom Brooks, Brian Jerrel, Eduardo Rolan, and Don Rawson. At least one coach is at the gym during every open hour teaching conditioning, boxing techniques, and eventually sparring. Kids (both boys and girls) are put into one of three brackets, which are based more on commitment than skill level. “Some of the boxers are competition ready, and some are not,” states McCulloch.
The gym began its tutoring and nutrition program in 2010; tutors work with the children on a voluntary basis, and all subject help is available. A grant was awarded to the gym in May which will help to expand the program. Currently, McCulloch is holding a Summer Reading Incentive program. For every three books a child reads, complete with a half page summary of each, an award is given. Awards include Walmart gift cards, games of bowling, and movie passes. During the school year, there will be a contest each semester. The child that reads the most books in one semester will receive a Nook. Another incentive that the gym offers during the school year is even bigger and better. Any boxer who brings in a report card with a cumulative 3.0 GPA will have their USA Boxing Registration and boxing shoes paid for, which is a value of over $100.
McCulloch took over the gym after his son Anthony gained an interest in boxing. He is now a certified coach with USA Boxing, and thoroughly enjoys working with the kids, listening, and most importantly watching them progress.
The Mesquite Boxing Gym will hold an open house on Aug. 17, from 6pm-7pm to raise community awareness and promote its programs. People are encouraged to meet the coaches, check out the trophies, and watch a demonstration of the boxers everyday workout.
For more information on the Mesquite Boxing Gym, McCulloch is available at the gym, located at 51 1st Street, any Tuesday-Thursday from 5:30pm-7:30pm.

I am NOT a Sports Writer!

‘Going Deep’ Wins Men's Softball Title Once Again
Posting Date: 07/21/2011

By Carrie Gomez

The evening started off tense. This would be the last softball game of the season for all the teams, and only one would walk away with the championship title. It was down to three teams: Eureka, Primex, and "Going Deep."
The first game of the night was Eureka against Primex, and both teams had an equal chance in winning. Both teams had lost one game in the playoffs so far, and since it was a double elimination tournament, the winning team would play Going Deep, who had dominated the playoffs without a single loss.
Play ball!
The first game (Eureka vs. Primex) started with both teams playing great defense but not such great offense. There was no score until the fourth inning, when Scotty Evans scored the first run of the game for Primex.
From there, the game got a bit more interesting. Another team member scored, and Primex led the game 2-0. In the 5th inning, Eureka scored their first run and upped the pressure where it remained high. Several more runs were scored in the remainder of the game. The ending score was 5-3, and Primex advanced into the finals.
Primex, who was the underdog, was up to bat first. The ball was hit directly to shortstop Troy Tanner of Going Deep for an immediate out. The game remained scoreless, but not for long.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Going Deep scored the first run of the game, quickly followed by two more. By the top of the 3rd, the score was 3-0, and no words were exchanged between teams. All eyes were on the ball, as some would say.
The luck continued for Going Deep until the top of the 6th inning, when Primex scored three runs in a row. As the crowd went wild, the athletes got more competitive, and the smack-talking began.
Primex scored again before the top of the 7th, but they needed one more run to tie the game and continue playing. Going Deep kicked up their defense, and didn’t let a single run score in the 7th inning.
As the last out of the inning was made, everyone knew what had happened. Going Deep had won the Men’s League Softball Championship for the second season so far this year.
Congratulations, and a well-played game by all.

Newspaper...

Well, I've recently gotten another job as a reporter/stringer for a local newspaper, the Mesquite Citizen Journal. It's online only--no printed paper. Check it out at www.mesquitecitizen.com and look for my articles! I'll also post them on here :)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Teaser... comments please!


     She stepped into the foyer and closed her eyes.  The smell was still there.  Her nose wrinkled in disgust, remembering the way he had been sprawled on the floor, blood draining from the bullet hole in his abdomen.  The way he had moaned her name, begging for her to help. 
     “Kelyn… help me.”
     She shuddered.
     Her eyes opened wide as she heard a faint rustling behind her.  It couldn’t be… she opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.  She spun around—nothing was there.  Was her mind playing tricks on her?  It must be.  Still trembling, Kelyn took her keys from her purse and opened the front door—heart still pounding in her chest, she surveyed her former home one last time before stepping outside and locking the door behind her.  She hoped this was the last time she would ever have to set foot inside.



   Kelyn opened her eyes as the sun shone into the room, wondering why she felt so out of place.  Stretching her body from it’s slumber, she discovered why—she was handcuffed to an unfamiliar bed frame.  Shaking her dark hair from her eyes, Kelyn felt confused.  Where was she?  Why was her head throbbing, and her eyesight blurry?  As the room stopped spinning for a slight moment, she heard a muffled cough.  Squinting, Kelyn saw she was not alone here.  She tried to speak, but her swollen tongue was so dry that all she could do was choke out a cough.  Again dizzy, she closed her eyes, falling into an unrestful sleep.
     This happened twice again before Kelyn found herself coherent enough to remember pieces of what had happened.  Something she thought only happened on TV or in books, not something that happened in real life… had she been kidnapped?  The last thing she remembered before waking up in this strange place was walking home from the bus stop after cutting off her long, thick hair.  She passed a couple of high schoolers, who of course called out to her.  But then again, who wouldn’t?  Her drop dead gorgeous looks were enough to make a straight girl turn lesbian.  In fact, boys like this were the exact reason she had cut her hair; in attempt to drastically alter her appearance, she demanded her stylist to chop her hair, from far below her shoulder blades into a choppy a-line style.  Maybe she wouldn’t get so much attention this way, she had thought.  But that didn’t exactly work out as planned.  Instead, the new hairstyle accentuated her high cheekbones, and made her unusually crystal blue eyes sparkle even more.  Such a lucky girl, she was told growing up, but Kelyn didn’t agree.  She attracted more attention than she would have liked, from everyone she passed.  This was not appropriate for a girl with the dreams of becoming a photographer… nobody took her seriously.  They wanted her in front of the lens instead of behind it.
   But those high school boys never moved from their spots… they simply wanted to watch Kelyn walk by; her long tanned legs seemed to stretch for days, and her ass was as plump and juicy—sans cellulite—as Kim Kardashian’s herself.
     Back from her cloudy flashback, Kelyn smelled something very odd, similar to the chemical she had inhaled the day before.  Turning her head as far as she could, she watched a door open and a figure emerge.  Who was this person?  She tried to speak again, but all she could manage was a weak “elp…”  The room went dark again as a wet pillow was placed over her face.  She tried not to breathe in the horrid chemical smell, but the world went dark before she could put up a struggle.
     Opening her eyes after what seemed like hours, Kelyn gasped for air.  The ethanol had made her lungs ache, and her mouth felt as though she had eaten sawdust.  Moaning, Kelyn arched her still back and shivered.  She looked through the darkness at her naked body.  When had her clothes been removed?  Her stomach ached from hunger, and her head pounded.  She winced as the door opened and a bright light shone onto her face.  Adjusting to the light, she squinted up and gasped in shock.  What she saw was something out of a movie—a man with incredibly stunning features; smooth, tan skin… piercing green eyes, and full, pouty lips—oddly similar to her own.  He smiled down at her, and walked to the window.  Looking out, he hummed an oddly familiar tune.  The tune triggered another flashback for Kelyn.
     She walked past the high school boys, who of course whistled at her as she walked by.  Even with no makeup, Kelyn could have been a supermodel.  Five foot eight inches tall, Kelyn had the body any girl would kill for.  She shook her newly layered hair into her face and continued on her way.  Walking up the steps to her rental house, she heard a humming sound from the bushes.  Curiosity got the best of Kelyn, and she went to investigate.  Walking to the bushes, her heart began pounding.  Cat-like eyes peered out at her, causing her to gasp.  She heard a calm voice.
     “Kelyn, my love,” it whispered to her.  She walked closer, as the calm voice continued to sooth her beating heart. 
     “Come… let us talk.”  That was the last sound she heard before a cool rag was forced to her mouth, and her body went limp.  Floating in and out of consciousness, she felt herself being carried like a rag doll.
     Shaking out of her flashback, Kelyn opened her eyes.  The man was gone, and she mustered up as much courage as she had in her, and called out, with a cracking voice not sounding like her own, “Is anyone there?” into the darkness.  Soft moans were all she heard.
     “Are you okay?” asked Kelyn, beginning to shiver even more.
     “So much pain… where… are… we?” replied a hoarse voice, very much like her own.  There was no telling if it was a man or a woman.
     “Kidnapped…” choked out Kelyn.  She heard only moans in reply. 
     Kelyn needed water.  She was weak, and her stomach growled in agreement.  How long had she gone without food or water?  It felt like days.  She was extremely cold, and remembering she was completely naked, Kelyn tried to scream, to cry, to curse… but her mouth would not obey.  The only noise Kelyn could make was the chattering of her teeth.
     Clattering of dishes caused her eyes to fly open, and in front of her was the strange, handsome man.  He turned on the lights, and Kelyn began to blink furiously—but she would not allow herself to keep her eyes closed.
     “Why?,” she choked out, looking into the man’s glistening eyes.
     “There will be time for questions later,” he answered in his deep, throaty voice.  “Now open up.”
     Kelyn obeyed, parting her dry lips, watching as he put a straw into her mouth.  She closed her eyes for a brief moment, gulping the ice cold water.  The man smiled down at her and brushed her hair from her face.  Again, Kelyn opened her mouth, this time asking “who are you?... where am I?”
     “You’re safe, my dear,” he replied.
     Kelyn was now more confused than ever.  This was not the man who had abducted her… surely he was here to help her, right?  But before she could ask any more questions, the man put his finger to her lips.
     “Questions later, Kelyn.  Now eat.” 
     He held up a spoon of steaming hot soup, blowing on it before offering it to her lips.  She ate hungrily, feeling the warmth spread throughout her body.  She finished quickly, and her stomach growled, asking for more.  The man seemed to read her mind (or possibly hear her stomach) and from a tray on the floor, he brought up a bowl of oatmeal.  Not her favorite, but she would gladly take anything she could get.  But the oatmeal tasted funny… her mind faded in and out, and she knew she had been drugged yet again.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Withdrawels

Tossing, turning
Stomach burning
Eyes glazing
Fever blazing
Hands shaking
Ground quaking
Head spinning
Ears ringing
Internal fire
Mad desire
Need my fix
Need it quick
Skin is crawling
Body falling
Pain bottom to top
Make it stop
It’s gonna win;
I’m giving in.

Tequila

Every night when I come home
It looks at me—it feels alone
It wants to be there in my hand
I never notice what the brand
It whispers softly through the night
Until I finally give up the fight
I walk to it slowly, inhale the smell
I pour it quickly; I’m under its spell
It makes me want it oh so bad
Whenever I’m happy or when I’m sad
It’s my comfort, my shining star
There’s always a bottle at my bar

The Day


I woke up on my wedding day
So nervous, excited and scared
Friends came to keep my nerves at bay
I’m so happy that they cared

The lady came to do my hair
I put my makeup on
I didn’t have to decide what to wear
My gorgeous white dress made me calm

I closed my eyes and lifted my arms
They set it gently over my head
I picked up my veil and my lucky charms
And sat on the edge of the bed

I clasped my hands in each other; this was the day
Now all I had left to do was… pray

Passion

The Look
Our eyes meet
You step closer
I follow
My heart races
I see you closer
You touch my hand
I tremble
I smell your cologne
And feel your hot breath
Calm, confident
You brush against me
I feel dizzy
Come closer
Our lips touch
Fireworks explode
You caress my cheek
And take me
My heart races
Slowly my body screams
You can feel it
I feel it in you
The passion rises
Take me now
Our hearts race together
And we become entangled in a web of emotions
Crazy little thing called love

Summer

The smell of sunscreen all around
The sound of flip flops on the ground
The careless laughter in the breeze
Summer puts my soul at ease
Big pool parties, camping trips
The feel of ice cream on my lips
Aloe lotion when I burn
I apply it gently with concern
Scorching heat waves, little rain
Sometimes summer can be a pain
Misting stations and kiddie pools
Lots of panting and doggie drool
Fruit salad is such a delightful treat
Lots of watermelon I do eat
Cannonballs and belly flops
Daisy dukes and halter tops
Margaritas and ice cold beer
Summer’s my favorite time of year

The Campfire

Gorgeous colors, orange and red
The sound is soothing; it puts me to bed
The delicious smell, the smoky air
It flickers long without a care
It reaches out to me during the night
It sleeps not until the morning light
The friendly gatherings by the fire
Roasting marshmallow on a wire
Cooking hot dogs, drinking beer
The fire rages, but I have no fear
It wants not to hurt me, I know it’s true
The colors are turning from yellow to blue
The heat, it grow stronger as we fall asleep
We are not alone; our company it keeps
It guards us safely until we awake
Long nights around it, the friendships we make
The campfire keeps our souls at ease
While out in the open, the time seems to freeze
When the campfire dies down, we sadly go home
But it’ll wake again shortly; it’s never alone