A Mothers Gift, by Jeremy Burner

Since we were born

where else was torn

your love held us together like glue

Our rock and guide

even if we tried

how could any ever deserve you

I thank the Lord

for the woman who poured

her heart out for all to view

patient and kind

yet Stern of mind

let none deny you your due

Through and through

all know it’s true,

there has never been a mother quite like you

With love, to the mother who gave everything she had.

Nathaniel

Recently my mother signed up to be a foster parent, and the experience has for the most part been challenging. The child I will call Nathaniel, in honor of the prophet, whose technique I have imitated. Since arriving in our home, Nathaniel has been increasingly difficult toward both my parents. Recently however he has entered a state of rebellion on par with the Prodigal Son. His disrespect and rudeness prompted me to confront Nathaniel, but in a way that he might be more likely to listen. I wrote a short Children’s story without an ending. After the story which ended on a somber cliffhanger, I told Nathaniel I have been trying to come up with a happy ending for the story, and I was wondering what he thinks should happen? He of course recognized the child in the story as himself and said he didn’t know how the story would end. I explained that however the story ends is up to him. I simply asked that he consider trying to make it a happy ending. The story I wrote for him is described below:

Nathan

by Jeremy Burner

Once upon a time, there was a happy and polite mother

She had a big house with four happy and polite children

Their hearts and their house were full, and for years and years, everyone was happy.

One day though, her children grew up and went away to start their own happy families

But the mother was now alone with a big house and a big heart. Both were empty.

“A big house and a big heart should both be full. But what will I do?” She thought.

“I know I will find someone new to share both my heart and my house with.”

The mother was so happy when a child suddenly showed up at her door.

After all, both her house and her heart would once again be full.

But this child was different from her happy and polite children. 

He was rude and unhappy.

“I will help him make friends and show him fun things, and then he will be happy.” She said

But the child was so unhappy and rude that the other children did not want to play with him. 

Even the family dog did not like how unhappy and rude the child was.

“I will give him gifts and treat him like my own children, then he will be both polite and happy.”

 But the child hated the gifts and did not want to be treated like anyone’s child

“I will talk to him and teach him to be polite and happy,” she said to herself.

“I know everything said the child so you cannot teach me anything and I certainly don’t need to be happy,” demanded the child.

For weeks and weeks, she tried to make the child polite and happy but the child did not want to learn and did not want to be happy.

The mother was lost and unsure of what to do and pretty soon even she had become unhappy.

Burner’s Games

Burner Pong

Above I managed to recreate the original classic video game and managed to program a simple AI.

Space Burner (Asteroid Shooter)

Space Burner is basically a cross between Galaga and Asteroids. Very simple game but fast-paced and fun. Still improving and adding new things.

Tap Race

This is a very simple game I helped a student make. Basically what it sounds like. This is a game to see who can tap their button the fastest.

Jo-Jo the black Cat

This is one of my favorite D&D Characters. His role play is so much fun. XD
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Class: Monk

Alignment: lawful Good (with some chaotic tendencies) 

Personality: (Try to imagine, if you can, Sokka from the last air bender as a, ninja cat person, cursed with bad luck :3)

Backstory: Jinx is a word I don’t particularly like, though unfortunately, it is what I am. Abandoned as a cub I was lovingly taken in and raised by the monks at the monastery in the Southern Zakaran mountains. Being now of age I have since ventured forth into the world in on a pilgrimage of self discovery. I did so with the hopes of helping those less fortunate even then me, mainly traveling as a hired hand and body guard for caravans and rich merchants. Who knows, I may even find a way to lift my cures. For the last year, sadly I have learned that the world is far less forgiving of my nature then the monks at the monastery were and I have begun to build a bit of an exaggerated reputation for myself. They now Call me The Black Cat, but I can tell you their are things far worse then letting me cross your path.

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Entry 1: The Journal master Den gave me a year ago was unfortunately destroyed by rain two months ago, and the second journal was stolen twice recovered then final destroyed also when my campfire got out of control three nights ago. Hopefully I can keep this new journal for longer than a week. Or at least long enough for me to make some money to buy a new journal. and maybe a backup journal. As often as I lose stuff, Its a miracle I haven’t lost Den’s Quarterstaff, maybe its lucky or something. I hope that luck holds out. Running out of food again, a weed rat managed to get into my bag again last night and ate all my little cakes. Fortunately he didn’t eat the fruit though I think that’s because it was starting to smell a little, I’m sure its still fine. As for my water skin…
…it is gone, and that is all anyone ever need know about that. my goodness I really don’t like fairies.
I cant really remember the last time I had something to drink that didn’t have something swimming in it. Perhaps ill meet a friendly traveler on the road tomorrow with some extra food. or dare I hope, some proper ale. good night Journal, better luck in the morning.

Entry 2: Hello Journal, Today was a very interesting day. No stranger than usual I suppose, but still. Early this morning a bear wondered into my camp and I had to ditch the last of my food and my new walking cloak to get away. Also, seeing as it was still dark, I kind of ended up getting lost. Even after sun rise, till late in the afternoon I couldn’t find any sight or sign of the main road. I don’t think I have ever been so hungry in my life. Still, as my luck would have it I didn’t stay lost forever. Early evening I stumbled across some adventurers cooking a really big pig. They even shared some. Now I know what your thinking, Some good luck for a change. I thought so too at first. Not only was the pork not poisoned but it was actually quite delicious. Also my new companions did not attempt to mug and or drown me like that last group I settled down with. Sadly my good fortune stopped there. I really have to say that, though my curse has landed me in some strange adventures in the past, dragons are a first for me. The first thing we noticed was the smoke rising to the north. The dragon had apparently attacked a town not too far from where we were eating and, naturally, we being such a motley group of good Samaritans, just had to rush in and get involved. To summarized the chaos of the whole adventure, we were ambushed once, fought no less than thirty Kobolds, I interrogated a few of them under the threat of tickling, and lastly I learned that paladins were actually very arrow dynamic. Honestly, the strangest my day really had to offer was in my new companions. There was Cora, the flighty but friendly bright beak, Garrett, the grouchy lizard Lord, Dr. Gerark, the blue faced doubled horned unicorn man, and Durain Dunklebeard, who just so happens to be, probably the most charismatic troll I have ever laid eyes on. The Catch phrases he repeats like a mantra are particularly infectious. I will have to treat the brave warrior to a round of ale the first chance I get. And perhaps challenge him to a friendly brawl after we are properly inebriated.
One last thing. Before settling down to write, something Dr. Gerark said stuck out to me. He asked why, when I fight, do I refrain from using lethal force. I of course told him about my oath and how the monks taught me to kill only when given no other choice. Master Den called it the golden rule. “Always treat others as you would want to be treated.” As such If I was ever defeated by a motley group of adventures, naturally I would be ever so grateful if they spared my life. That being said Gerark’s question suggested to me that the strange people of this land do not posses such a golden rule. If so then I will have to be extra careful. For if mercy is rare in this country then I will have to be extra generous with my own. Well that is it for today. I hope. Our journey is clearly far form over and it looks to be quite the fun one. Good night Journal, better luck in the morning.

Asperi

Merry Christmas Everyone. been a while since I uploaded anything art related, so I figured I should push something out at least for the holiday. Been working on this since this morning. Hope you guys like it. 

This is an Asperi; a magical species of Horse from the second D&D 3.5 monster manual. The creature has power over the wind and cold, is highly intelligent, and can fly (literally) with the wind. Better than most dragons in fact. They are pretty rare though they can mostly be found roaming around frozen mountain ranges.