This is a piece I wrote based on a true story, in regards to my niece Brittany (Brinikki) and my mother, her grandmother....

Grandma told me to go to sleep,

To just close my eyes and count the sheep.

"1...2...4..3..8", I said,

"But I don't wanna' go to bed!"

Grandma said it was getting late,

I had better be asleep by half past eight.

With rolled up fists on my hips and a glint in my eye

I told her when she fell asleep I'd just pass on by.

Past her bedroom and down the hall,

I'd do whatever I wanted, anything at all.

"I wouldn't do that", Grandma said,

"Cause when I fall asleep, I can't protect you from what's under your bed".

"Under my bed", I gulped, my eyes open wide.

With these words I just wanted to hide.

Slowly crawling to the top of my bed.

I listened as my Grandma put these words in my head.

"Under your bed there is a creature,

That is terrifying in it's every feature.

Long teeth that are sharp, green skin that is scaly,

Looking for children to gobble up daily!"

These are the words that my Grandma had said,

There is an alligator that sleeps under your bed!

"So go to sleep child go to sleep now

and don't let your hands or your feet touch the ground!"

From under the covers, only my eyes peeking out,

In only a whisper, I wouldn't dare shout,

"I'm really tired now Grandma, so I'll just say goodnight,

Do you think for tonight we could keep on the light?"

On February 3, 2006 I picked up a 911 and giving instructions to the woman (Judy) in the photo together we delivered her nieces beautiful healthy baby girl! It was very exciting! After the baby was delivered Judy and I took a moment to giggle together then I continued to give her instructions in regards to the afterbirth and the umbilical cord. I didn't get to meet them but Judy brought this photo that she gave to my supervisor who gave it to me. I of course immediately started to draw the baby but then I misplaced the photo. I found it the other day and finished the drawing. Of course I think she's gorgeous! Oh yeah, the baby was not named after me but was given the beautiful name of Mary Elizabeth (Bethie).

This is my first submission into the artist challenge website. The theme is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
I don't know if you are but I am a fan. Have been since elementary school when my sister Krissy brought home his book Where the Sidewalk Ends. Her favorite, at the time, was "Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too"; I can still recite that one. Even though my siblings are all older I commiserated with "Sister for Sale". Heck, I would have given you 5 children for the price of 1. The "Gypsy's are Coming" both scared me and made me hopeful for an adventure. "Boa Constrictor" was the first time I had heard of the creature and it was scary. "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out" was motivational.
I still love his stories and pictures and when I saw this challenge I had to do it.
If the picture confuses you then I gather you never read "The Giving Tree". Consider this an invitation and if you notice that my characters in the picture look a little like the author, well then I did what I set out to do. This is my tribute to a man whose body of work I admire.

The Artist Challenge - A Private Art Club

This is the link to the artist challenges I have joined.

This is the first entry for the contest, in three parts.

I made two entries for a contest that has to do with recycling and saving trees. This is the second entry and above is the first.

My first year as a dispatcher I got dispatcher of the year. Thinking it was the fire/EMS personnel that chose me, I drew this picture from a photo of one of our firemen from our local fire/EMS website, making a thank you card and sending a copy to each one of our fire stations. I since learned that it is our dispatch supervisors that choose the dispatcher. Although I didn't make them a card I still count it as one of the highlights, being chosen so soon in my career.