Rachel takes a Walk into the Wild

Tonight I went to support the Blank Park Zoo and Wildlife Conservation in Des Moines Iowa.
I met Jack Hanna; a TV Wildlife Advocate was the main speaker at the benefit. Jack Hanna or Jungle Jack. Interesting Fact: I saw Jack Hanna swimming with Sea Turtles while talking with Al Roker underwater. I was watching the weather channel while preparing to go to class and I recognized Al Roker and heard him mention Jack Hanna. I was happy get a glimpse of him considering I was going to the benefit the next night.

So tonight when I met Jack Hanna, I had something interesting to talk to him about. I stood in a long line, I received a free book which I was able to have him sign and I got my picture taken with Jack Hanna. I got to have like a 2 minute conversation with him, he laughed about the sea turtle playing in his air bubbles and I felt like I was talking to a friend.

Jack Hanna is a famous and popular wildlife conversationalist who is a celebrity, but he is a real person. I know "they are just like us" but I could see his passion for animals and nature. Jack shared his experiences was to why we need to Be Aware! and Care! Rhinos, Giraffes and Gorilla's need to be saved from the poachers. Even though he made me cry, he did make me laugh and he allowed me a glimpse into his world.

My Dad & Jack Hanna

"Thank You!!" I love animals and when I was a child I wanted to be a zoo keeper, even though my dream has changed I still have a strong passion and love for Nature and Animals. For having an opportunity like this, I have three people to thank.
1. Thank you Dad, for buying the tickets and for inviting me.
2. Thank You Jack Hanna for coming to Des Moines Iowa and supporting the Blank Park Zoo.
3. Thank You Nationwide Insurance Company for being such a wonderful company for supporting wildlife, supporting our zoo and for being friends with Jack Hanna.

Here are some of the animals I got to meet!

Ivan; a albino joey kangaroo

A baby girl porcupine

A real cheetah like 10 feet away from our table

Rae's Other Life

Writing has always been a way for me to escape my problems in this world so I would just teleport myself into a different world. A World within My Stories. I first came up with this Story Idea after I moved to Rockford, IL. I was only 10 years old but at that time I felt like I was able to decide my own path of life. During that time, I had a hard time adjusting to school life at Holy Family Catholic School so I tried to escape into Rae's Other Life. In this book, I have good friends based off real friendships I had left behind and imaginary friends I have always wanted. There are many alterations of ROL (Rae's Other Life)

The first version was what my life would have been like if I would have never left the Quad Cities, but slowly over time I found the story developing into Rachel having leaving the Four Cities and start a new life. Probably wherever you go, you meet new people and want to include those new people and new relationships. So ROL changed into the second version. In this version of ROL; a mystery follows Rachel to Rockford? Using this storyline I was able to in vision a whole series of books I have been developing. This have been the longest Project I've never finished but that like I said before I started working on this when I was like 10 years old. My little sister Emily, has recently encouraged me to at least finish the first book. I have been able to break Rae's Other Life into four parts, turning them into four books.

Annabell

The thing is all my stories are somewhat linked with Rae's Other Life. This is what led my imagination into Annabell. Annabell is another wonderful story I created, when I was lonely after arriving in Rockford IL.I desperately wanted a friend. Sure I had a small group of girls I had befriended but it still wasn't enough. It wasn't until I finally realized what I was asking for was quite Impossible. Even so, nothing is impossible in my world of writings. So my friend Annabell came into my life, She was the little friend I often found myself talking to and telling my thoughts, ideas, rants and rambles. Annabell has her own story, I created right after I finished 8th grade as I was about to enter High School. Annabell often followed me through out High School but then one day I found a new friend. Her name was Aziza Jones and Annabell became just another character within My Stories. Annabell still has special appearances within my stories, remember what I said before about being able to link my story ideas together it is kinda like that.

Recently I have decided to start finalize my timeline for ROL. I finally decided to start the series around the same age I started writing. Age 10 but just to give myself some more time, the readers will meet Rachel when she is 8 years old, a third grader in Mrs. Myers classroom at St. Annes Catholic School. The readers are introduced into her life, her family, her friends and her world through the eyes of a third grader; she is just your typical girl but nothing in life is ever typical. Rachel and her friends get into all sorts of adventures. Rachel will meet the Montebello's; a family with a secret. Rachel learns getting mixed up in their world can be dangerous but there is a strange force that attracts Rachel deeper and deeper into their world. Rachel learns the lessons of life but all these strange events begin to happen.. Is this fate or is this destiny?

Sound interesting?

My friend Annie once told me: "Rachel, you should write a book, your life is too interesting not to share with the world." Annie I want to thank you for encouraging me to write and record all the funny adventures I have experienced and now I start to share my funny stories with others. So thanks for the encouragement!! Love you! ;) You're a great Friend!


Rae's Other Life picture
 

Rachel and her neighborhood friends off to have an adventure!

A Lost Falcon

"Far far above the clouds against the setting sun. A falcon flies all alone soaring in the wind, riding the silent wind, the falcon flies alone reaching up with his wings into the empty sky.What is it within my heart no one can ever know, lonely falcon within the empty sky." 

Sadness and Tears fill my heart, Sunday April 15, 2012: a fifteen year old boy died. Carson Vandeventer was a freshman at Valley Southwoods High School. Even though I only met him a few times, when we did talk to me he was someone to remember. When we talked he would look you straight in the eyes and actually talk to you, you know form a conversation and when you are the newest boyfriend of MY little sister that to me said something. Although things did not work out between Carson and my sister, I still know those two were very close friends. His death leaves her and his family with a piece of their world as empty as the sky. Carson Fly High! You are missed and your presence within our lives is being felt even now within me. Since I have received the news, my heart aches for you; you were too young to have left so suddenly. There is this song originally from (Studio Ghibli but Disney owns the rights within the U.S.) the movie Tales of the Earthsea; Teru's Song these words came into my head since the news of your death. Some of them are above in first sentences. Carson you were like a young falcon who has just learned to fly, you were just getting ready to explore those skies and the rest of the world. Now your friends and family search the skies for you. Carson, my heart cries for you as well as your family. Knowing my sister is in so much pain, her tears as well as mine are all for you. I know you are watching over everyone now from the skies in Heaven. You are missed but you will never be forgotten;
Rest in Peace Carson Venderventer <3

Sadness and tears fill my heart when you're young the world seems so big but without someone like you it is still missing something. We are sad to think you left. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Carson Vandeventer