As Days Go By

Hello

2010-11-05T07:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't been on my blog in a long time, and I have a little free time. So I thought I would write to all 5 of my followers :) Hello to you all lol. All this college drama is a little stressful, but I'll be glad when I get my acceptance letter and I will be able to relax. I hope all the juniors are not going to procrastinate on the senior year stuff, that makes life hectic. Well, I'm about to have to start working again. It was nice talking to all of you lol

A Long Night of Shattered Dreams

2010-05-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

The Term Holocaust

The holocaust was a terrible tragedy. Many innocent people were murdered for a deluded idea of a solution to Germany's problems. Because of a conceitedly based idea, many people had to suffer. Superior race? Seriously? How many great innovations, ideas, advancements and so on have been made throughout the years? Where the inventors and heroes behind all these stories from one single race? No. Why must we be such proud creatures? No one person is "superior" to the other. Why must people have an arrogant attitude?

You may have a different outlook on this topic, and that is your right, but people who chose to ignore problems enable the problems to grow. Listen when problems arise. Do not ignore what is in front of you. For you may tell yourself that this problem will go away and is practically insignificant, but no problem is insignificant. Do you think that the people who were in Germany in the 1930s thought German problems would result in a new political party that would heartlessly slaughter innocent people? I think not. Therefore you must see that small problems now may be the gateways for disasters in the future.

I know the Holocaust seems ancient to my generation. Think of it this way: There are still people alive today that had to suffer through the horrendous events. The Holocaust is not so far behind us. I hope that no one ever takes light the events of the Holocaust. The acts of the Nazis baffle me. How could anyone be so heartless? I hope we never have to live through such a time again.

Pictured above is a picture I got here. This is what I think of when I think of the a holocaust or the Holocaust. This picture shows many bodies in a trench. The sad thing is, some of those people may have dug that trench, which was to become their grave. This shows how tragic things were during that time.

Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel grabbed hold of my emotions in his book Night. He is such an amazing writer. What he went through was tragic and the fact that he survived containment in the Nazis camps and then later wrote about it shocks me. He did not want the cold-hearted acts of the Nazis to fade with time. He did something that few people would do in his time. Elie Wiesel is a wonder.

Darkness

An excerpt from Night that has darkness in the passage is:

We received no food. We lived on snow; it took the place of bread. The days resembled the nights, and the nights left in our souls the dregs of their darkness. The train rolled slowly, often halted for a few hours, and continued. It never stopped snowing. We remained lying on the floor for days and nights, one on top of the other, never uttering a word. We were nothing but frozen bodies. Our eyes closed, we merely waited for the next stop, to unload our dead.

This passage has darkness all throughout. The darkness that the nights left in the prisoner souls is one example. The nights were so terrible, they left imprints on the souls of all who survived. Also, the passage talks about the dead. This has a lot of darkness within.

Early Morning Trips

2010-05-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

This morning, my brother came home from Kentucky. He came home at four this morning. I woke up and he was there. I was really excited. A little later, I went to Walmart with my dad. After getting all the items we needed, we checked out and went outside. Dad wasn't feeling well and drank something quickly. After the sugar got into his system, he was feeling a bit better. He said his hands weren't shaking anymore, but his legs were.

On the way home, I looked over at my dad and realized he was having a hard time driving. For some reason, this made me think of something almost completely unrelated.

I was eating Doritos one day when I pulled out one covered in seasoning. This was the holy grail of all chips. I was so excited. I showed my dad and he laughed. I gave him the chip and was happy. Daddy really enjoyed it.

I later told someone that story and he asked me why I gave away a prized chip, knowing of my addiction to chips. I told him that it would have been nice to have eaten that chip, but having my dad enjoy the chip was so much better.

When I remembered that in the truck this morning, I was really glad I did that. I don't want to have later regrets. If we do things for other people now, we won't have to regret wasted opprotunities with people later on. I don't want to look back on my life and wish that i would have been a nicer person. All this was caused over an early morning trip with my dad.

Wings

2010-04-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

My brother has just gotten his wings, that is, he graduated from Air Assault school. He is really glad to be done with all the studying and training. I am so proud of him. D has been through so much in his life and he is really doing something now. I miss him a lot, and I know he misses me, but this is all worth the bad feelings. David is really making something of himself, and I am SO proud of him.

David has changed a lot in the last 8 months. He has matured and become more responsible. Even though he has had changes, he is still my goofy older brother. He always makes me smile, just by the way he says things. I always have a big smile on my face when he calls.

What makes David getting his wings so great is that he is really afraid of heights. To earn wings, one must learn to repel from a helicopter. "I just don't see the sense in jumping out of a perfectly good plane," David once joked. Well, once again, I'm proud of you D!

Bothersome Occurrences

2010-04-28T12:18:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I get aggravated and upset at the littlest things. I really hate how I do that, but I really have no control over my emotions. I try to hold back my frustration, but sometimes I can't help but get upset.

One thing that upsets me is when I find out the end to a movie or a book before I am finished. This happened just a few moments ago and now I am fighting back the frustration. I found out the ending to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I am actually kind of devastated by this. I know, this is a weird and insignificant thing to get upset about, but I am. This is just me.

Another thing that upsets me for no real reason is being interrupted. I get really aggravated when people continually interrupt me. So much so that I won't even attempt to tell the person what I was saying after about the third interruption. This is kind of ridiculous and childish, but I get so bugged by being interrupted.

I also have an issue with people eating my food. I get really upset with my brother especially. He would always eat my share of dinner and I wouldn't eat anything the rest of the day, in silent protest. Another childish decision, I know.

Sometimes I laugh at how ridiculous I am. I can hardly believe all the things that bug me. But I try not to let things bother me so much.

Connecting

2010-04-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

As I was riding the bus to school today, I realized how people connect with one another over the simplest of things. Someone mentioned a tire swing and many different childhood stories were revealed and shared. Everyone seemed to have a way to tie in with the conversation and become a part of that link with others.

We sometimes don't realize how easy relating to someone can be. We also don't realize that sometimes people search for that connection with people, just to get through another day. If we take a little time, we could find that we have ties to complete strangers.

I also realized how easy starting a conversation can be. Even if the conversation is on a completely random topic, like salt. I had a for person conversation on salt last night. I thought the idea was very funny.

People can be so random at times, but we still connect and relate to them. I find that intriguing.

Life in the 1920s

2010-04-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

Living in the 1920s sounds exciting. The 20s are referred to as the "Roaring 20s." The 20s were a time for celebrating. Here is a site that has a lot of details about the 20s. I think living in the 20s wouold be fun. People went out and danced all the time. I love dancing, so I suppose I would enjoy living in the 20s.

Prom

2010-04-20T06:14:00.000-07:00

Prom night started off kind of hectic. I had to rush to get ready. My date, Nathan, was really great about everything though. He waited patiently for me. When I was finally ready, we stopped by his dad's house for a few quick pictures. After that, we went to his mom's house. We had a couple pictures done there, and then ate a nice steak dinner.

Nathan looked really nice all dressed up. When we arrived at prom, I immediately saw friends. We talked a little bit, but then the music started to catch us. We danced a lot that night. We finally had pictures made there, and then danced some more. I had to work the next day, so we didn't stay until midnight, but that was okay. The night was really nice.

Thirteen Reasons Why

2010-04-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

If you like books that make you rethink the way you act, you will like Thirteen Reason's Why by Jay Asher. This book has a lot of depth inside the pages. The characters go through struggles, and I went through them with the characters. This book drew me in and really made me think about how I treat people.

The plot of this book is dripping with sorrow and emotion. Clay receives cassette tapes. When he listens to the tapes, he hears the voice of Hannah Baker, the girl he had feelings for, and also the girl that committed suicide very recently. Clay is baffled and can't really believe what he hears. The tapes were made to tell thirteen people why they had a hand in her suicide. This causes Clay to rethink every detail of his time with Hannah, but he can't figure out what he had done to make her want to kill herself. Clay learns a lot about Hannah through the tapes. The reader also follows along with not only Hannah's story, but Clays emotions as well.

While Clay listens to the tapes, he struggles to keep control. There are times when he is grieving, when he is angry, when he wants to cry, and also there are the times when he remembers a good time with Hannah. Clay struggles through the whole book because he thinks he could have kept Hannah from killing herself, if only he would have said something. The reader also sees Hannah's struggle. She wants someone to notice, but she distances herself. Hannah's main struggle was with herself.

After reading this book, I really considered how I treated everyone. This book taught me not to be selfish. Thirteen Reasons Why also made me appreciate people more and made me want to become a better person. Anyone who reads this book will question how they interact with others and if there is a Hannah in their lives.

Jay Asher did an amazing job. Thirteen Reasons Why is not a book for younger readers. This book was made to take a deep look at teenagers lives and how somethings can change one girls life forever. One thing can set off a chain reaction. Jay Asher helps us realize this.

Green is Gold

2010-04-02T06:09:00.000-07:00

As the seasons change, so do the colors outside. In Robert Frost's "Nothing Gold Can Stay," he talks of the gold in nature. In this poem, I believe that Frost is saying that the first parts of life, the completely innocent, can never stay the same. As time goes by, progressing in experiences, that innocence is changed. The innocence is valuable and should be cherished, but we can never hold on to it forever. We should enjoy ourselves while we are still gold, and enjoy the little gold we can rescue from time. With that I say, nothing gold can stay.

St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T06:43:00.000-07:00

When I think about St. Patrick's Day, I think about spending that holiday with my brother David. It was those days that made me really dislike David. He would get in a mean spirit at school because of all the pinching going on, then he would come home and start fighting with me. I would get pinched and punched even though I was wearing green. He loved to pick on me. But now, I really don't mind. I wish he were home so he could pinch me to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

I know now that his way of showing he cared was by picking on me. He still picks on me even though he is 19 and I am 17. I have a feeling that he will be picking on me until the day I die. Somehow, that makes me smile. David wouldn't be David if he wasn't a bully. That is just one of the many things that makes him who he is.

David is a bully to me for a different reason though. It isn't because he doesn't like me, it is because he wants me to be strong. I hope I don't disappoint him.

The Kite Runner

2010-03-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was a book that touched me. I was involved with the main character, Amir, from the very beginning. At times I was against, but I was always rooting for him. The setting really made this book what it came to be. Afghanistan life is different from American life by far. The overall message given by the book was what really touched me.

The book progresses throughout Amir's life. When he is a kid, he is a bully to his servent, Hassan. He was also struggling for affection from his father. I believe that is what made him mean to Hassan. At those times, I was against Amir, but I was rooting for him. I wanted him to be kind, but I understood the pain he was going through. I wanted him to get the affection he deserved. When he was an adult, Amir carried a lot of pain. He couldn't forgive himself for something that happened. I wanted Amir to have peace at those times.

Set in Afghanistan, The Kite Runner gave me insight on a different life. The events that occured shocked and horrified me. I was appauled that people actually had to indure days like those desccribed in the book. I guess I was just denying that anything like that could happen. I knew things went wrong, but I never knew the extent at which they did.

The book sent a deep message to all who read it. Amir was carrying a lot of pain and grief because of something that happened when he was a kid. What made things so terrible was that Amir never told anyone what happened. He was left to deal with this pain all alone. I felt for Amir in those times during the book. He was a kid that got scared, one who didn't know what to do. And for that, he did wrong things in the time that followed. But, he should have asked for forgiveness, maybe then he wouldn't have been tormented.

The Kite Runner had me intereste all throughout the book. I felt like I was apart of what was happening. I really wanted to reach out at times and help. This book really made me think about things and appreciate the life I have now.

Sara's Face

2010-03-15T06:28:00.000-07:00

If you like strange books, I have a book you will enjoy. Sara"s Face by Melvin Burgess is strangely captivating. The main character, Sara, has self-hate issues and nearly destroys her life. The way the story is told also makes the book interesting. The plot is the ultimate in strangeness.

The main reason I was drawn to this book was the main character. I thought the fact that we have the same name, with the same spelling, was cool. Sara turned out to be different though. She had major self-hate issues, which ultimately put her in a position that would have cost her everything. Sara would ask for help, but then do everything she could to prevent herself from getting the help she desired. Sara was a pretty girl, but she always hated her looks. She even "accidentally" burned her face with an iron. This made the book very intriguing.

The author set up the book as a journalist's way of reporting a story that had many theories about it. Jonathan Heat, a popstar in England, took Sara into his home. Many had suspicions about Mr. Heat's intentions. Most didn't suspect him of being a monster, until further in the story. The way the story is told though, the reader knows something happened, but are getting the facts as they happen, so the reader only has hints at what really happened.

The plot of this book was very interesting. Sara moves into Jonathan Heat's home after she burns herself with an iron. Jonathan Heat is famous for facial plastic surgery, mainly because all the surgery he had caused his face to collapse. Mr. Heat wanted to help Sara become more loving to herself, because he too had a self-hate problem and knew how hard it could be to deal with the problem. A little ways into the book, Mr. Heat is suspected of wanting to steal Sara's face. Sara sees the ghost of a faceless girl, and fears she is next.

With ghosts, plastic surgery, and famous pop stars, this book is never boring. I enjoyed reading this book and rec commend this book to anyone who likes strange writing. Sara's Face is full of mysteries and suspense.

Nickelback

2010-03-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

Nickelback is my favorite band. Chad Kroeger's voice is just amazing to me. This Canadian band is one that people either love or they hate. I have gotten in many arguements with my friends about how great Nickelback is. I have been listening to Nickelback since I was little. I try to learn interesting things about the band. The band got the name Nickelback because one of the members would always say here's your nickel back to customers in the Starbucks where he worked. This site has a lot of information about Nickelback.

Olympic Commitment

2010-03-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

Many hours of olympic athletes time is spent in tough conditioning and training. All that go are honored, just by being chosen. They dedicate their lives to preparing for the olympics.
I, myself, do not have something that I am that passionate about. The only thing I would dedicate that much of myself to is helping people. I am always trying to help people and make them happy. I would do anything I could to make someone happy. My brother always said that my biggest fault was always caring so much about people. But he just wanted me to be careful and not get hurt.

Civil Wars

2010-02-04T11:24:00.000-08:00

One type of civil war that can be devastating is a civil war fought within an individual. I know when I find myself being self destructive, a toll is taken on me.

When I get self destructive, I do anything in my power to keep myself from being happy. Fighting a war within yourself is a tiring and destructive process. I know how bad individual war can be. The war within an individual can really take a toll on the person.

Even though these self destructive tendencies can be corrected, they usually aren't. I know I usually realize that I'm making myself unhappy, but I just can't bring myself to stop. I get tangled up in all the hate and emotions and get lost.

Civil wars can be so damaging. The individual wars are really severe. There is always hope though, even when there seems to be none, hope is always present.

Book Review On Lush

2009-12-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

When your dad is a drunk and everyone else in your family pretends nothing is wrong, what choice do you have but pretend right along with them. For Samantha, this makes life really difficult. She starts writing to an anonymous person just to get advice. But as things go along, Samantha's dad gets worse. Natasha Friend's Lush drags the reader into a thirteen year old's hidden world.

To begin with, the characters that Friend creates are realistic. Samantha tugs at your heart the whole way through the book. She struggles throughout the book and is so strong. She made me proud, and she is just a character. Her dad made me mad at all the right times in the book. I wanted to hate him right along with Samantha. The characters really made the book stand out.

Also, the plot of the book was really interesting. A girl has to hide a large part of her life from everyone. Her dad is a drunk. But she cannot do that once her dad starts to get abusive. A girl has to draw the line somewhere, right? Samantha does not want to be like the rest of the family and act blind. She needs help, so she starts writing to an anonymous person in the library for advice. This book was interesting because of the plot.

Lastly, this book reminded me of others I have read. Perfect by Natasha Friend was one of them. They were both about problems that teenagers had to face. They were realistic and very intriguing. Books by Ellen Hopkins are similar. Lush is a type of book that I like.

Lush is a good book. One that shows how tough life can be for teenagers. This book kept me interested and made me realize what we think about people may not always be correct. This book is a good read.

Book Review On Crank

2009-12-17T14:17:00.000-08:00

With one trip to her dad's house, Kristina loses her innocence, her sobriety, her sense of reality, and much more. Going to visit her dad changed Kristina's life completely. Because of a hidden dark side, called Bree, and a little help from her dad and a neighbor, Kristina plunges into a world of drugs. Ellen Hopkins' Crank pulls the reader into Kristina's plunging life.

First of all, the theme of the book is great. The book teaches the reader how even the best of us can make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes are major and life changing. Crank also gives the reader hope. This book is exciting and touching.

Also, the style of the book made the story flow. The style of the book is fairly poetic. That style helps to break the story into parts and keep the reader interested. I enjoyed reading Crank because of the style of writing.

Lastly, the plot made Crank a great read. Reading about how a girl's life can plunge so dramatically, so quickly, was intriguing. I wanted to reach out to Kristina. I was into the book the whole way through. I couldn't imagine what could happen next and regularly found myself holding my breath in anticipation.

Crank is a book that grabs the reader from the beginning and holds on until the end. Once you pick up this book, you won't want to put it down until you're finished. This was a fantastic book.

Book Review On The Crucible

2009-12-16T14:24:00.000-08:00

Dancing in the woods, calling upon spirits, witchcraft, adultery, trials, spectral evidence. This book has an array of events. When there are unexplainable events in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1690s, people automatically assume witchcraft has to be the cause. Abigail Williams starts pointing blame in other directions to keep the spot light off of her. Arthur Miller's The Crucible, draws the reader back in time to the trying times of the Salem Witchcraft Trials.

To begin with, the impressions given off by the characters in this book invoke strong emotions. First of all, Abigail Williams makes the reader want to hate her, even in the beginning of the book. Her lack of regard for the value of other's lives is appalling. John, however, makes the reader sympathize with his situation. The reader can tell that John is remorseful for what he did.

Also, the setting in the book interested me. I was always intrigued by the Salem Witchcraft Trials. The setting really made the story real. Only in that time could persecution and execution of that degree be possible. The way Miller portrayed Salem back in 1692 was very realistic.

Lastly, this book was one that grabbed my interest because I have always had a fascination with the Salem Witchcraft Trials. This book gave an idea of what life was like back then and what people went through during the trials. Also, the book made the occurrence seem more plausible and real for readers. The occurrence, because of the book, became realistic to readers.

The Crucible was a read that had a lot of hidden interests within. Arthur Miller did a good job capturing the life of Salem in 1692. This book is a classic for a reason. The movie is a good work too.

I Am

2009-12-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

I am forever curious and argumentative.
I wonder how you could love me.
I hear the silent sobs echo inside of me.
I see the pink fairies dancing in the sky.
I want to be set free.
I am forever curious and argumentative.

I pretend to be a real princess.
I feel an ocean of tears around me.
I touch the outstretched hand of an angel.
I worry about where my path leads.
I cry for all the scarred souls.
I am forever curious and argumentative.

I understand I am not like them.
I say everything will eventually be alright.
I dream about being truly understood.
I try to hide from myself.
I hope I will one day be heard.
I am forever curious and argumentative.

2009-12-01T06:25:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for...
my life
my boyfriend
my family
my friends
my freedoms
my job
my memories, good and bad
days off
literature
good food

Bullying

2009-11-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

When people get bullied, it really affects them. Think about a time when someone said something negative about you. You were probably upset at some degree. Well, other people are affected by negative comments. It is really sad when someone is picked on all through school and no one really realizes that when they join in on that, they are adding to that persons hate for themselves.

When people hear constant criticism from the people around them, they start to believe the negative comments. This leads to a low self esteem and eventually a self loathing. This is very destructive to an individual and is devastating. This person's self image is completely damaged and they will never get over the ridicule.

Just think if someone was bullied long enough that his or her self image was so corrupted, they decided to kill themselves. What if they waited for one day, a test. A test to see if one person would be kind to them. What if no one, not even you did anything to show a little kindness, not even a smile or a "hey"?

This is why we must think about what we say or do before we do them. Our actions have an impact on the people around us, and I for one don't want to cause anyone pain like that. I want my impact on people to be a good one.

Speak Book Review

2009-11-16T07:18:00.000-08:00

In tragic times, sometimes it feels like we are alone. In Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda feels like she is all alone. She hides in many ways, silently begging for help. When no one seems to care, Melinda gets more and more distant from the real world, and even herself. Laurie Halse Anderson's book Speak forces the reader to acknowledge bad things do happen in the real world, but there is still hope, if we speak out.

To begin with, Melinda is the protagonist in this novel. The way that Anderson wrote about Melinda made my heart ache for her. I could feel her pain along with her. I connected to Melinda in a very personal way. I felt like I knew her, and I wanted to be the one that helped her. Also, Melinda was the type of character that was misunderstood, and that appealed to me too. Lastly, Melinda was very tough, she kept herself together even though she had so much pain inside her. She made me want to strive to be tougher, too.

Along with the characters, the plot of Speak really drew me into the book. Melinda went through something no one should have to go through. She was raped at a party over the summer. Everyone at school hates her though, because she called the cops at the party. No one knows what really happened, and they don't figure out. Melinda struggles throughout the book to find peace within herself and others. She uses art as a type of escape, but her assigned topic is a tree. She just can't figure out how to make a tree into art. Throughout the book, I saw how Melinda struggled, and I wanted to help her.

Lastly, I could really connect with Melinda. I can understand what it feels like to hide something from everyone, and need someone to notice the struggling going on. Also, this book reminds me of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. They both have devastating stories of misunderstood and neglected girls. And I was drawn to them both. I love books that make me feel.

For anyone who likes emotional books, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a must read. This book not only made me feel what Melinda felt, but made me reexamine my life and think. I was just waiting to see what would happen with the high school drama, and I could imagine what it was like. This book was one that I could read multiple times... I already have.

Book Review for Annie between the States

2009-10-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

With war come many casualties. Whether they are actual deaths, or just an end in some way, the casualties are unavoidable. This is proven to Annie Sinclair, a half-Irish Virginian girl during the Civil War. The theme of this book, along with the characters and setting make for a fascinating read. L.M. Elliot’s Annie between the States draws the reader into a Civil War world unknown to many.

First of all, the theme of this book really gives the reader something to think about. With the war comes confusion and disarray. Annie was a loyal Virginian at the start of the war. But progressively through the war, Annie finds herself questioning the idea of slavery and the practices that some southerners believe heartily in. With witnessing bloody battles, men dying, and the change in her younger brother, all of which was caused from the war, Annie learns that loyalty to ones state may not necessarily mean agreeing with their beliefs and actions.

Annie was a great heroine in this book. She entertained me and touched me at times. Her stubbornness and independence reached out to me and reminded me of what I could be. Also, Laurence, Annie’s older brother reminded me of my older brother, David. It is really easy to relate to Annie in this book. She practically grows up over the course of the book, so I can see how she has changed throughout time. Her bravery and extreme courage inspire me to be a better person, to stand up for what I believe, and to live life, no matter what may come my way.

Lastly, the setting of this book helped to bring understanding of the Civil War and what it was like. Virginia was a good place to set the book in. Virginia was a big war spot during this time, so the points of view of the families in Virginia show how the war really affected the people during that time. Hickory Heights, Annie’s Home, also gave way for hideouts and raids. This made the book very interesting.

With many conflicts, internal and external, this book was intriguing. The thought that some events similar to those in the book actually occurred during the Civil War is down right appalling. If people can be so malicious during war, I fear another Civil War or a war on our homefront. Elliot brought about a very entertaining story full of conflict, death, and even love.

499 pgs

Book Review for Touching Spirit Bear

2009-10-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

Everything in life is either a circle or can be solved with a circle. Or at least that’s what Circle Justice members believe in the exciting book, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson. To begin with, I found myself reaching out to the characters in this book. Also, The setting really helped to bring this book together. Lastly, I could relate to Cole in a sense (scary, I know). Ben Mikaelson’s Touching Spirit Bear touches most who read the book and makes for a good inspiration.

The characters in this book, for instance, go through a lot along the way, and make for an inspiring story. Cole Matthews had a rough childhood, with alcoholic parents, one of which beat him, and one who ignored all the troubles. It was no wonder Cole turned out to be an angry, merciless teenager. It turns out that Cole has gone through a lot and has a lot of change ahead of him if he wants to stay out of jail. He is stubborn and wants to con his way out of trouble. This makes me want to reach out to him. Whether I’m reading the parts about his past and want to reassure him, or I’m reading about his troubled mind and old, angry ways and want to push him to change, I can’t help but reach out to Cole Matthews.

The setting of this book really brought everything together. With the remote island in Alaska, it really shows how alone we can be at times, and how that can change us. Sometimes we have to lose everything to realize what we actually had. The setting also made it possible to show how stubborn Cole can be, and how arrogant. Cole thought he could swim in the ocean to the nearest island and escape his punishment. Also, the setting made it possible for the spirit bear to show up on the island. The spirit bear being on the island shaped the way the story unfolded and made the book as interesting as the book got.

Lastly, I can relate to Cole. Cole has a troubled past with parents that didn’t necessarily live up to expectations. I haven’t had the best experiences with my parents either. This part of the book taught me a little about myself. Also, Cole was so stubborn, he wouldn’t even let himself cry. Even with all the emotional scars Cole had, he still wouldn’t let himself cry. If I’m in certain situations, I won’t let myself cry either. I can be really stubborn about some things too. That’s a common descriptive word given to me. Also, Cole lost a lot along the way in this book. Maybe Mikaelson was trying to teach us something. Along the way, I have lost too. But, like Cole, I managed to make it out all right with a little outside help.

With real meaning behind every event and characters that I’m drawn too, Ben Mikaelson’s Touching Spirit Bear drives the reader forward. Also, this book gives a new sight on teenager’s thoughts and a new hope for many. After reading this book, one only feels optimistic. Ben Mikaelson has a large heart, as is evident from this book.

Icecream!!!

2009-10-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was craving something sweet. Upon looking in the freezer, I found some pumpkin pie icecream. I also found vanilla icecream and whipped topping. I was ecstatic. I mixed the findings and enjoyed the results. Before yesterday, I didn't even realize pumpkin pie icecream existed. If you haven't discovered pumpkin pie icecream, you must. This icecream has quickly leaped to the top of my favorite list.

Other icecreams on the favorite list of mine include; vanilla, cookie dough, and cookies 'n cream icecream. These are all very delicious and satisfy any icecream lovers needs. My friend, Jason, and I have dreams of a big icecream party. If the companies keep inventing such intriguing flavors, are dreams just might HAVE to come true.

Book Review on Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

2009-10-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

In a world where everyone is pretty, or waiting to turn pretty, nothing could go wrong. That's what most pretties-to-be believe in Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. One pretty-to-be (ugly) Tally Youngblood can't wait to turn sixteen so she can get the operation to make her a pretty. Things start to get complicated the closer the operation date gets. Tally learns she has to help track down runaway uglies and rogues, or never turn pretty at all. To Tally, this is a fate far worse than death. Scott Westerfeld's Uglies pulls the reader into a futuristic world full of pretties, uglies, and dark, hidden secrets of the city.

To begin with, the characters in this book are very different from normal humans today. The main character, Tally, was one I could relate too and believe in. Tally is an eager teenager who just wants to turn pretty so she could be like everyone else. She is very determined also. She endured a trip out in the wild, all alone, just to find the smoke, or lose her chance at turning pretty, something she has dreamed about her whole life.

Also, the setting of Uglies is very futuristic and isolated. Each city is independent from one another. They rarely interact with one another. The city is divided into regions, one for each "type" of person. There is Ugliville for young people from 12 to 16 to stay in dorms while waiting on the operation and the trip across the river to New Pretty Town. New Pretty Town hosts the new pretties while they party and enjoy themselves. Next is Crumblyville, where Middle Pretties, their young children, and late pretties live. This region of the town resembles a suburb. Lastly, there sits a region unknown to many; Special Circumstance Headquarters. Special Circumstance Headquarters is compared to a FBI or CIA headquarters, but much worse. Uglyville isn't the only region in the city with ugliness in it.

Lastly, the plot of this book was heart pounding. I was interested and thinking the whole time I read. Tally has to find "the smoke" a camp or runaway uglies and rogues, or she can't have the operation to make her pretty. This may not seem that interesting, but Tally's new best friend, Shay, ran away to the smoke. Upon finding the smoke, she is suppose to set off a tracker to alert Special Circumstances of the location of the smoke. This means betraying Shay and everyone else in the smoke. Tally struggles over her obligations. She wants to turn pretty, but is she willing to betray people to do so? Through the struggles Tally goes through, the readers share her emotions and fights (internal and external).

With the author's characters so different, yet emotionally similar to present day humans, readers are drawn into the book. The futuristic setting sets the stage for the story and shocks people at the idea and the possibilities. The plot brings all thoughts together to make for a good story and a satisfied reader. I commend Scott Westerfeld on a work of literature that not only pushes human beliefs, but also entertains the reader.

A Hero To Someone

2009-09-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I rarely got along with my older brother, David. David is two years older than me. Even though he was older, many thought I was the elder. This bothered my brother. His male ego went wild, especially when I grew taller than him. The physical aspect was where he was more superior, until my hieghth surpassed his. We had our fights, but we always made up and had our fun.

David was the typical older brother. He always watched out for me, even if it wasn't always wanted. He fought with me to "toughen" me up, because he knew one day he wouldn't be able to protect me. Even though David tried, he couldn't always protect me. He toughened me up physically, but I am still an emotional girl. He always told me I cared to much for other people. When hearing this, I thought that he was just being mean and insensitive. I realize now that he was still trying to protect me.

In the last few years, D and I became close. We had our incidents, but got over them. D was always there for me, I just didn't see it, or feel comfortable enough to talk to him about things. So things never got solved for me. But every time D had a troubled mind or girl problems, I was there. He called me his best friend, and I tried to be. I was there for him to talk to, even if I never talked about my problems.

David is now stationed at Fort Linerwood, Missouri for basic training. He left August 11, 2009, a day earlier than expected. When he left, he appointed my cousin Shawn as a stand in big brother while he is gone. That day will forever be in my mind. No matter how old I get, I'll always be David's little sister, but that's alright with me.

I know my brother is thinking of me, like I am thinking of him. I miss him and wish him the best of luck. I know he wasn't the most popular person, being the guy he was, but no matter what people thought of D, they respected him. Even if he wasn't liked by some, he is a hero to me.