My visit to Mitchell Lake

The day was Sunday,October,28th,2007. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The weather was nice and the temperature was fairly cool. I arrived at the front gate of Mitchell lake, late that afternoon. The time was approximatly 2:40p.m. As I drove up to the gate I noticed that it was a security gate and that I would need to be granted access to enter on to the premises. There was an intercom, with a button to press so that anyone wishing to enter would need to utilize it for access. I pushed the button and let the voice on the other side know that I was there to visit the the lovely property. The person on the other side of the intercom conveyed to me that there would be a $2 fee per person.I agreed to the fee and the gate was opened. As I drove on to the premises there was a sign of what and what not to do while on the property of Mitchell Lake. Basicly it was a sign that allowed visitor's to be aware of the importance of preserving the property and natural life of Michell Lake. On the left side there was a small parking area ,at which I parked my car. I along with my family preceeded to the visitor's center where we then payed our fees and recieved a map of the property. The women who collected the fees made me aware of the time and reminded me that the center closed at 4:00p.m. By this time it was already 3:00P.M. We were short on time and had a large area to explore. With nearly not enough time we examined the tour map and preceeded out the front door. As we walked our path, we saw a wide open space of landscaping. There were a variety of trees and plants right outside the visitor's center and little signs in front of each to show their names. My children and I enjoyed the the scenery of the lovely plants and trees at sight. My two son's especially enjoyed the fact that there was a wide open area to run around in. We then walked over to my vehicle and got in. As I began to drive furthur in to the Mitchell Lake property, we noticed that the road was very narrow and bumpy. It wasn't long before we could see the actual lake and felt the down home feeling of mother nature. While we still had not seen any birds or animals we heard the sounds of snakes hissing in the wild, along with the sounds of crickets. As we were still in the car driving these sounds were somewhat alarming, since I am not a outdoorsman. While the drive was thrilling and adventuresome I was a bit confused on the path we were on. Although I had a map, I was not sure that we should continue furthur in to the property, since we were pressed for time. I decided to go back to where we started. As we turned around and went back towards the gate we saw a hawk circling the sky. This was about the only sight of animal wild life out at Mitchell Lake, other than the sounds of Crickets and Snakes. As we got closer to the front entrance we decided that we were not going to give up on seeing some other wildlife and I parked my vehicle once again and walked onto a path right behind the Visitor's center. By this time we were all pretty much worn out from just attempting to get a good grip of nature. Honestly we knew it was much too late to see and appreciate much more than we had already experienced. We, however did continue to walk and explore what we could. We saw nothing more than lots of grass, trees and branches.Although we did see some colorful butterflies and Crickets , we did not reach our destination of either pond. My ultimate destination was Bird pond where I am sure my little boys would have enjoyed. I could only imagine the different kinds of species of birds that we could have seen and experienced. Our self tour at the Lake was not what it should have been but if we had arrived on time we might have seen more of what we were expecting to see. Never the less, it was a genuine adventure of nature. Mitchell LAKE is a lovely place to visit so as long as you give yourself enough time to explore. What we saw was worth the time and energy. The atmosphere brought on a sense of connection to the natural world.

AGUA Guest Presentation

On Friday, October,19th,2007 our Humanities class had a guest speaker named Elizabeth Earnley. She is a young women who works on the AGUA Association, which stands for Aquifer Guardians in Urban areas. This association is made up of a group of people who focus on keeping our water system safe and well preserved.The young women seemed to be very enthusiastic about her job and seemed to be devoted to it as well. During her presentation Ms. Earnley spoke about the Edwards Aquifer and how we as a community can help to keep our water system safe. Ms. Earnley gave the class information on how developers get a certain plan approved or denied. The city council of San Antonio is responsible for approving or denying any activity on the recharge zone. The city council has a very huge responsibility on what and where developers can develop their businesses. The AGUA commitee focuses on helping regulate how much impervious coverage will be used in a specific project before construction can take place. The committe of AGUA is soley concerned with keeping our water source free of contamination,so that our city and surrounding areas who utilize this precious water source may remain safe, healthy and free of any hazardous chemicals and or pollutants. Ms. Earnley told the class that we as the community of San Antonio can help to make a change in what and where projects get approved if we only get informed and make an effort to attend city council meetings. The community as a whole can make a difference if we all stick together and defend what is ours. Our words and actions can make a difference if we put our time and effort into protecting our precious watersource.

My Family's Neighborhood

Every human being has a place where they reside. People may choose a place of
residence for various reasons. A persons place of employment, where they attend
school, where they were raised, or feel most at home may be reasons why they choose
a specific place of residence. I myself choose to reside in the northwest part of
San Antonio. I live in a fairly decent two bedroom apartment with my two little
children. My oldest is named Anthony, he is 7 years old. Damion is my little one, he
is 2 1/2. We live on Marbach Road, the nearest cross street, which is less than 1
block away, is West Military Drive.

My neighborhood is a rather nice and decent area to live in. The
people who reside in my neighborhood are of various ethnic backgrounds, but the
majority is made up of Hispanics or are of mexican descendents. I suppose that it is fair to say that the neighborhood is for the most part, a middle working class
neighborhood. Although I don't know for a fact, but most people in the area seem to
work and contribute to the economies finances.

My neighborhood is convenient to a variety of places. My children and I live right across the street from a convenience store, chinese restaurant, Domino's pizza, a daycare, and so many other convenient places.
We are also not very far from John Jay high school. The high school is only about
three blocks away from our apartment. There is also a bus line conveniently located right in front of our apartment complex. When we first moved in I did not have a vehicle for
about 1 year, so we utilized public transportation for quite a while. Living right
in front of a bus line is one of the major reasons that I chose this area as a place
of residence. Most importantly, I decided on this neighborhood because it is
convenient to my son's elementary school. The name of the school is Mary Hull
elementary. It is a great school and is part of a terrific school
district. The elementary school is part of Northside Independent school district.

I am very happy living in my part of San Antonio. I enjoy the various
conveniences so very close to home. Also, I know for a fact that my children are
happy here as well. The sweet smiles and laughter that come from them when they play
outdoors show me that they are happy and content with their environment. My families
social welfare is what is important and as long as we are haappy and content in this
neighborhood we will remain here. After all home is were the heart is, right?

Guest Presentation

On Wednesday, October 10th, 2007, our Humanities class had the privilage of welcoming Dr. Heywood Sanders into our classroom. Dr. Sanders gave an interesting presentation on how and when the city of San Antonio began to unravel into the city that it is today. He spoke of how San Antonio was basicly built on a minimal amount of financial funding. Our lovely city at one point in time was simply a mere piece of land waiting to be molded into what it is today.

Dr. Sanders expertise in studying and researching the facts about the city's development and modernization, was well worth listening to. I never actually gave much thought about how and when my lovely hometown began to evolve, only until after listening to what Dr. Sanders had to say. His information, charts, and graphs that he presented to the class were mind boggling. Although most San Antonians may now have the commodities needed to live life comfortably, it wasn't very long ago when this city was basicly living in the stone ages.

Life as a San Antonian, was easier and most comfortable if you had the sufficient finances to live so. For instance, a most neccessary commodity such as indoor plumbing did not become easily accessible by most everyday folk up until the year 1960. Prior to this most humanity was subjected to using mother nature's facilities. Where you decided to go to take care of natures call was referred to by Dr. Sanders,as a pit privie. Due to this, Humanity was subjected to unfortunate mishaps, such as inhaling the bad odors which came from the pit privies. Diseases and illnesses also came with the territory. Why should any living Human being be subjected to such unfortunate events. Just because they are not of a certain finacial economic status? It simply seems unhumanitarian. This information presented was quite alarming.

Dr. Sanders also showed the class various charts and graphs that make San Antonio out to be a very divided city. Race, and economic status is how our city is divided and this is really heartbreaking to me. Why should this matter? Well it simply says alot about what money and status can do for a human being. As you have heard before, money makes the world go round. Therefore, if you want to live a comfortable life and be offered the needed commodities to do so then becoming educated and informed can be a big step to attaining the unattainable. This is just some food for thought.

The Alamo, deep in the heart of Texas

The Alamo is a Texas historical landmark. It's history goes as far back as the 1700's. It was established in the year 1718. This amazingly structured building is located in the downtown part of the beautiful city of San Antonio. I payed a visit to the Alamo, on Wednesday,September 26th,2007. It was late afternoon, around 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon. The sun was shining with great power. Although the temperature felt very warm, the climate was decent enough to endure.

While on my visit to this beautiful historical landmark, I was exploring ancient battle grounds. "Remember the Alamo", is something most Texans have heard time and time again, but what does it really mean? As I walked the grounds of the Alamo I was walking the exact grounds that were once a battlefield for freedom. Two army's from two distinctive cultures battled here for what they believed was rightful.

Many men fought in the "Battle of the Alamo", but only the winning army is
portrayed as hereos. There is always two sides to every story and only when you hear the other side is when you know what the truth may be? "Remember the Alamo", is a saying that goes way back into time, and will continue to be heard by our future generations. Next time you here this phrase, remember all the men who died for their freedom and ours. The truth may never be complete,but only be told by two perspectives. The "Battle of the Alamo",was long ago, but has left a great impact in history and that is the truth. Anyone who is a native Texan or a native Mexican is part of the Alamo, and should "Remember the Alamo"; for it is part of your history and heritage.

The Espada Dam, a Life Source

The Espada Dam is a beautiful historical sight. It is located just a little over a mile from Mission San Franciscio de la Espada. The dam was constructed in about the year 1745, during the time of the Franciscians. This was the time in which the Spaniards were trying to convert the indigenous into the Christian faith. This past Saturday, September 15th, 2007 I had the pleasure of visiting The Espada Dam.

I arrived around 1:45p.m that afternoon. The day had turned out to be a beautiful one. The climate that day was a bit on the hot side, but tolerable. I was on my way to explore the magnificant Dam built by the Native Americans, over 250 years ago. As I walked down my path to get a closer view of the dam, I could not help but think that these exact same grounds were once traveled on by the Native Americans and Spaniards who could very well be my own ancestors.

As I came at closer range to the Espada Dam, the sound of rushing water became louder. The sound was so very relaxing to me. It came almost as music to my ears. The area surroundings were all so breathtaking. All was beautiful and peaceful to admire. The grounds were surrounded by so many huge beautiful trees. The grass was so thick and green, but very itchy. Even though the grass was itchy and the mesquitos were biting, this enormous body of landscape brought on a sense of calmness. Along the dam there were many rocks of many sizes and shapes. There were also a steady amount of people walking a trail along side the dam. Bicyclists were also in the areas nearby, debating whether they should cross over the rushing waters onto the otherside of the dam.

In the waters I saw some really pretty white birds, I don't know the exact name of them but none the less they were drinking the water, that was once the main source of life for the Native Americans and the Spaniards. These waters were at one point in time not only used as a drinking source but also used by the Natives and the Spaniards for many other tasks. Bathing, cooking, and washing of garments were also other tasks that required this water source. These exact waters contained by the Dam,flow and channel through canals about 270 feet long. The San Antonio River is where these waters originate from, but because of the hard work of the indigenous people the water runs along a wide stretch of land.Long ago these waters were used for many activities. But in my opinion,I feel that the most important task that these waters were and still are used for is irrigation. To the present day farmers of the nearby lands still use this source to irrigate their crops.

Espada Dam is an amazing sight,it is not only a main source from which area farmers irrigate their crops, but just about the most beautiful sight there is on the southside of San Antonio. The Dam was built with alot of hard work and effort and we as the community should see that we take a part in preserving it. Let us as a community keep it clean and free of any debris. The people of these lands long ago used these waters as a main source of life, and still today we continue to utilize it.

Mission San Francisco de la Espada

Today, present day is September 11TH,2007. I am posting these lines into my blog as an assignment for class. This past Friday I along with other classmates visited Mission San Francisco de la Espada. Mission Espada is located in the far southside of San Antonio. It is one of several other missions established in the surrounding areas. Mission Espada was established in the 1700's, in around 1731. It stands along the banks of the San Antonio River. At first glance, as I first approached the mission; I felt a serene sense of tranquility. The area is an almost empty continent of wilderness, except for a few homes and a headstart daycare center that now exist in this almost rural area. Mission Espada was a a small town where the Spaniards main purpose was to convert as many Native Americans as possible, into the Christian faith.The Spaniards believed that the only real faith was the Christian faith. In order to convert the Native Americans, the Spaniards in a sense adopted the Natives but in the process robbed them of their culture, heritage, and self identity.The mission consisted of everythying needed to survive in life but not as the indians knew life to be. The grounds still hold alot of what was constructed in the town. The Church still stands and services are still conducted there on a regular basis.People from all over the world travel to San Antonio to attend the services.The church bell was used back then to call the people of the town together for services. To this day it is still rang for the same purpose. The church door has sort of a mystery to it. It is told that the mason who began construction of the door left it unfinished due to the fact that he fled from the town. It is believed that he fled because he killed a man over a women. That is the reason for the Church door not being as wide as a church door should be. That there is truth to this I do not know but that is how the story goes. Another great legend that was left to our new world was indeed the Acequia. The Acequia is a water system that was used back in the mission days.It was the main water supply of the Spaniards and the Native Americans. To this day it is still the main source in which the area farmers get their water supply to irrigate their land. After about 80 years of existence the mission's population slowly began to decline.The Native Americans and the Spaniards who once resided on this beautiful land were now slowly dieing from disease and were also fleeing to new grounds. The Mission San Francisco de la Espada was abandoned and left for forgotten after 80 years of life, but left behind a legacy of heritage, culture and roots. Mission Espada might have ceased,but contiues to live through the people of the area lands.