Considering the many brave, courageous people out in the world today, the few times that I took a stand seem pretty insignificant. But when I look at what I did and compare it to my life, my stands made a huge difference in my life. I think that my most memorable moment for taking a stand was when I stood up to my dad for not listening to my brother and I. This event may not sound very important, but the occurance of this stand made for a critical turnpoint in the relationship I now have with my dad.
My dad divorced my mom when I was in kindergarten and married his girlfriend the same week that the divorce was finalized between he and my mom. After spending 5 years with her, my dad divorced his wife and joined the sea as another single fish. Since then, he's been bringing girls in and out of mine and my brother's life. He gets a new girlfriend every few months and everytime he does, he says that she's "the one." But everytime they break up, he says that it was a mistake. Now he has a new girlfriend that he got at the beginning of this school year and he says that she's "the one." Although my brother and I usually try to get along with his girlfriends, this one is hard to deal with. She acts like one person in front of my dad and then a completely different person around us. She also says completely fake things about us to our dad to get us into trouble. How did we ever deal with such a woman?
One weekend, my brother and I were at our dad's for our normal every-other-weekend visit. Rather than spending all of his time with us, he wanted us to spend time with him AND his girlfriend. Well I can tell you right now that Chris and I did not want to spend our entire weekend with a woman we didn't like. So after we told our dad for 30 minutes that we didn't want to go, we were forced to go to her house. When we arrived, Chris and I sat on the couch in her house, saying nothing to anyone. Eventually, she got fed up with it and started yelling at my dad. My dad got fed up with us and told us to go sit in the truck. When he got into the truck, he was fuming mad. He was getting on to us all the way home. When we got home, he went to his room to cool down while Chris and I went to our rooms. Dad finally came into the same room as Chris and I and told us that we were going back to his girlfriend's house. After arguing with dad about it for a while, I called my mom to come pick us up because we didn't want to go to his girlfriend's house.
We went home after that. Taking a stand against my dad helped our relationship a lot because he now knows how serious we are about not spending all of our time with her.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Taking a Stand Part 1
There are many people in the world who take a stand every day. Those brave people stand up to others that keep them under wraps, whether its the leader of their country or just a group of friends. The group of people that I look up to for taking a stand are our Founding Fathers.
The colonists that lived here in the United States put up with a lot from the English king. They withstood many unfair taxes so the king and England could become richer. I look up to the colonists because they took a stand against their mother country for treating them unfairly.
When the colonists revolted against the British, the king didn't appreciate them standing up to him. He tried to quell their revolts, but the colonists' will was too strong. Our Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence to the king to tell him that they would no longer put up with the high, expensive, unfair taxation, they would be separating from England, and that they would no longer be a colony of England.
The colonists, considering what was at stake by their revolting, were very brave people at this critical point in history. Had these brave men and women let the British muffle their cries of freedom, where would we be today? We wouldn't be the strong, independent country we are today if the courageous colonists had not stood up to England and its unfairness.
The colonists that lived here in the United States put up with a lot from the English king. They withstood many unfair taxes so the king and England could become richer. I look up to the colonists because they took a stand against their mother country for treating them unfairly.
When the colonists revolted against the British, the king didn't appreciate them standing up to him. He tried to quell their revolts, but the colonists' will was too strong. Our Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence to the king to tell him that they would no longer put up with the high, expensive, unfair taxation, they would be separating from England, and that they would no longer be a colony of England.
The colonists, considering what was at stake by their revolting, were very brave people at this critical point in history. Had these brave men and women let the British muffle their cries of freedom, where would we be today? We wouldn't be the strong, independent country we are today if the courageous colonists had not stood up to England and its unfairness.
The Last Song Review
Have you ever been angry with one of your parents? Have you ever been so upset with them that you never wanted to speak to them again? For Ronnie, this resentment was so strong that she didn't speak to her dad three years after he left their family in New York to become a traveling concert pianist. So when her dad suddenly decides that he wants Ronnie and her younger brother Jonah to spend the summer with him in North Carolina, one can only imagine the bitterness she felt towards her dad. She didn't understand why he wanted them there, but she definitely would rather be back in New York. When she and Jonah arrive at their dad's house, Ronnie leaves to go walking. The people she encounters on that long walk will make Ronnie's summer bearable. They will help to give her a great summer filled with happiness and a dreadful summer with plenty to remember. Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song took me on an emotional thrill ride through feelings of anger to happiness to extreme sadness.
The style that Nicholas Sparks wrote in was different from many of the other books I've read. He describes characters, scenery, sound, and many other elements of the story with vivid descriptive words that make the reader feel as if they're really in the story. He describes better than any male author I've read. But his descriptions aren't the most interesting thing about this story. Even more appalling is that each chapter of the story is told by a different character. As you progress from one chapter to the next, the story is told by a different point of view. This clever tool of writing helps the reader understand the events of the story by knowing how every character feels about a certain situation.
The characters of Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song are very real, imaginable people that someone might see on the street. He describes their appearance and feelings so well that it seems as if you are knowing a real live person. The emotions shown by the characters are very common, believable feelings that make the characters seem even more real to the reader. The fact that Ronnie is a teenage girl angry with her father and falling in love makes it easy for me to relate to her.
The theme of The Last Song is forgiveness, but taking a stand is also incorporated into the story. Blaze, Ronnie's new friend in North Carolina, is controlled by her boyfriend, Marcus. She worships Marcus and does everything he tells her to. Whether its giving him her food while she goes hungry or asking her to spend the last of her money on him, Marcus asks Blaze to do some pretty sacrificial things. After Blaze gets jealous of Ronnie because Marcus is interested in her, she makes it appear that Ronnie was shoplifting so she would get into trouble with the police. But Blaze learned that Ronnie was a sweet, kind-hearted person that cared more about her that Marcus ever would, so Blaze stood up to Marcus by turning him in for a past crime.
Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song is an excellent book that i recommend to anyone who enjoys a touching, inspirational story of family, love, and forgiveness.
2 books--390 pages
The style that Nicholas Sparks wrote in was different from many of the other books I've read. He describes characters, scenery, sound, and many other elements of the story with vivid descriptive words that make the reader feel as if they're really in the story. He describes better than any male author I've read. But his descriptions aren't the most interesting thing about this story. Even more appalling is that each chapter of the story is told by a different character. As you progress from one chapter to the next, the story is told by a different point of view. This clever tool of writing helps the reader understand the events of the story by knowing how every character feels about a certain situation.
The characters of Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song are very real, imaginable people that someone might see on the street. He describes their appearance and feelings so well that it seems as if you are knowing a real live person. The emotions shown by the characters are very common, believable feelings that make the characters seem even more real to the reader. The fact that Ronnie is a teenage girl angry with her father and falling in love makes it easy for me to relate to her.
The theme of The Last Song is forgiveness, but taking a stand is also incorporated into the story. Blaze, Ronnie's new friend in North Carolina, is controlled by her boyfriend, Marcus. She worships Marcus and does everything he tells her to. Whether its giving him her food while she goes hungry or asking her to spend the last of her money on him, Marcus asks Blaze to do some pretty sacrificial things. After Blaze gets jealous of Ronnie because Marcus is interested in her, she makes it appear that Ronnie was shoplifting so she would get into trouble with the police. But Blaze learned that Ronnie was a sweet, kind-hearted person that cared more about her that Marcus ever would, so Blaze stood up to Marcus by turning him in for a past crime.
Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song is an excellent book that i recommend to anyone who enjoys a touching, inspirational story of family, love, and forgiveness.
2 books--390 pages
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Julius Caesar review
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be betrayed by everyone you know? Your friends, your enemies, and your piers? Julius Caesar experienced this emotion just seconds before he was assassinated. His friends that he loved so well killed him with envy in their hearts. William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar grips the reader with strong emotions ranging from every end of the spectrum and a malicious plot to kill a beloved leader.
Julius Caesar was a successful political and military leader favored by his fellow Romans. He was loved so well by both plebeians and patricians. He was offered a kingly crown three times by his closest friend, Mark Antony. But, being a true Roman, he refused it all three times. Yet one nobleman, Cassius, became jealous of Caesar. Because he lacked the power and influence to turn Rome against Caesar, Cassius decided to drag Brutus into the fight. Brutus didn't give in so easily, but when Cassius forged letters that appeared to be from fellow Romans, Brutus feels that the only way to preserve the Roman way of life is to kill the person who threatens it--Caesar. When Cassius brings many other noble, honorable men into the plot, it becomes a conspiracy. The conspirators then corner Caesar and when he least expects it...murders him! With Caesar dead, the conspirators begin to cheer and shout "tyranny is dead!" But when Mark Antony makes his speech about Caesar, the feelings towards the conspirators turn from grateful to angry. Cassius and the others soon realize what their envy has caused.
William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is a gripping story with tales of betrayal on every page. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a book with a good historical basis but an interesting twist on the characters.
Julius Caesar was a successful political and military leader favored by his fellow Romans. He was loved so well by both plebeians and patricians. He was offered a kingly crown three times by his closest friend, Mark Antony. But, being a true Roman, he refused it all three times. Yet one nobleman, Cassius, became jealous of Caesar. Because he lacked the power and influence to turn Rome against Caesar, Cassius decided to drag Brutus into the fight. Brutus didn't give in so easily, but when Cassius forged letters that appeared to be from fellow Romans, Brutus feels that the only way to preserve the Roman way of life is to kill the person who threatens it--Caesar. When Cassius brings many other noble, honorable men into the plot, it becomes a conspiracy. The conspirators then corner Caesar and when he least expects it...murders him! With Caesar dead, the conspirators begin to cheer and shout "tyranny is dead!" But when Mark Antony makes his speech about Caesar, the feelings towards the conspirators turn from grateful to angry. Cassius and the others soon realize what their envy has caused.
William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is a gripping story with tales of betrayal on every page. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a book with a good historical basis but an interesting twist on the characters.
Simple Genius review
Have you ever wondered what its like to be a private investigator, knowing top secret information that can be the difference between you solving a murder case or becoming a murder case yourself? In the world of Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, this is a normal occurrence. Sean and Michelle are partner PIs (private investigators) that have near-death experiences regularly. This time, they're called to investigate the murder of Monk Turing, a brilliant mathematician for the genius establishment of Babbage Town. David Baldacci's Simple Genius teased my brain and kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing until the very end.
Sean and Michelle, the two main characters, have been through a lot together. They've gone through near-death experiences and shared top secret information together. One has always been there to back the other up in tight situations. But when Michelle walks into a bar and gets in a fight with a guy twice her size, things start to change. Sean worries deeply about Michelle's well being. After hours of contemplation and a phone call to an old friend, Sean decides to put Michelle in a mental rehabilitation institution. Michelle goes willingly, but after spending time there, begins to notice strange activities going on, with her own healing process to deal with on top of that. Meanwhile, Sean gets a new case to investigate a murder in the small, isolated village of Babbage Town. After a quick overview of the case Sean notices one important detail--the murder took place on CIA property. Because the murder was on government soil, the FBI would be involved. This proves rather troublesome for Sean. When Michelle is "cured" and meets Sean in Babbage Town, she discovers just how strange this case really is.
Aside from Sean and Michelle, there are other important characters in the story. Viggie Turing was Monk Turing's daughter. The problem with Viggie is that she always speaks in code. She's a prodigy when it comes to numbers, but when it comes to dealing with real life problems, she shuts down and does not let anyone inside her mind. She is very important to the story when it comes to solving the case because she has vital information needed. Then there's Horatio Barnes. Horatio is Sean's friend who is a psychologist. He tries to cure Michelle at the rehab, but she leaves before he can finish. So he is put on the case by Sean. He then tries to cure Michelle in Babbage Town while trying to help the case by talking with Viggie. From the CIA, there's Ian Whitfield and his "wife" Valerie Messaline. Ian is the supposed leader of Camp Peary, the CIA camp where the murder took place. Len Rivest is the head of Babbage Town. He was murdered while Sean was in Babbage Town investigating Monk Turing's murder. His murder added more suspicion and confusion to the case. Lastly, there's Champ Pollion. From the beginning of the story, he doesn't seem like a very prominent character. But do not underestimate Mr. Pollion, because he has a very important part in the story.
David Baldacci's Simple Genius is a mesmerizing and entertaining story with an interesting plot, many eccentric characters, and a surprising ending. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery book.
407 pages
Sean and Michelle, the two main characters, have been through a lot together. They've gone through near-death experiences and shared top secret information together. One has always been there to back the other up in tight situations. But when Michelle walks into a bar and gets in a fight with a guy twice her size, things start to change. Sean worries deeply about Michelle's well being. After hours of contemplation and a phone call to an old friend, Sean decides to put Michelle in a mental rehabilitation institution. Michelle goes willingly, but after spending time there, begins to notice strange activities going on, with her own healing process to deal with on top of that. Meanwhile, Sean gets a new case to investigate a murder in the small, isolated village of Babbage Town. After a quick overview of the case Sean notices one important detail--the murder took place on CIA property. Because the murder was on government soil, the FBI would be involved. This proves rather troublesome for Sean. When Michelle is "cured" and meets Sean in Babbage Town, she discovers just how strange this case really is.
Aside from Sean and Michelle, there are other important characters in the story. Viggie Turing was Monk Turing's daughter. The problem with Viggie is that she always speaks in code. She's a prodigy when it comes to numbers, but when it comes to dealing with real life problems, she shuts down and does not let anyone inside her mind. She is very important to the story when it comes to solving the case because she has vital information needed. Then there's Horatio Barnes. Horatio is Sean's friend who is a psychologist. He tries to cure Michelle at the rehab, but she leaves before he can finish. So he is put on the case by Sean. He then tries to cure Michelle in Babbage Town while trying to help the case by talking with Viggie. From the CIA, there's Ian Whitfield and his "wife" Valerie Messaline. Ian is the supposed leader of Camp Peary, the CIA camp where the murder took place. Len Rivest is the head of Babbage Town. He was murdered while Sean was in Babbage Town investigating Monk Turing's murder. His murder added more suspicion and confusion to the case. Lastly, there's Champ Pollion. From the beginning of the story, he doesn't seem like a very prominent character. But do not underestimate Mr. Pollion, because he has a very important part in the story.
David Baldacci's Simple Genius is a mesmerizing and entertaining story with an interesting plot, many eccentric characters, and a surprising ending. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery book.
407 pages
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Randomness!!
Because I lack a better subject to discuss, I'm blogging about randomness. Everyone knows what randomness is. Every person on this planet will be confronted with it at one point in their life. Some person will come up on the street and say something to you that makes absolutely no sense at all. Perhaps a person will come and give you a random hug. No matter what the act of randomness may be, everyone will experience it at one time or another.
The dictionary definition of randomness is "proceeding, made, or occuring without definite aim, reason, or pattern." This definition is certainly true when it comes to randomness. My little brother, Chris, is one of the most random people I know. He goes down the hallway at school and hugs people that he doesn't know, talks to people that hate him, etc. My little cousin, Calli, is 4 years old and is also very random. I was at her house when her dad, my uncle, came home and said "how was your day, Calli?" She didn't reply for about a minute so he started to walk on. Then she turned to him and yelled "I LIKE PUPPIES!" Best random moment of Calli's ever.
Randomness is so very random that I might even consider it a disease. It seems that it may also be contagious. I believe this because it looks to me that randomness transferrs from one person to another. When you spend a great amount of time around a random person, you too become random. By the way, I like tacos(:
The dictionary definition of randomness is "proceeding, made, or occuring without definite aim, reason, or pattern." This definition is certainly true when it comes to randomness. My little brother, Chris, is one of the most random people I know. He goes down the hallway at school and hugs people that he doesn't know, talks to people that hate him, etc. My little cousin, Calli, is 4 years old and is also very random. I was at her house when her dad, my uncle, came home and said "how was your day, Calli?" She didn't reply for about a minute so he started to walk on. Then she turned to him and yelled "I LIKE PUPPIES!" Best random moment of Calli's ever.
Randomness is so very random that I might even consider it a disease. It seems that it may also be contagious. I believe this because it looks to me that randomness transferrs from one person to another. When you spend a great amount of time around a random person, you too become random. By the way, I like tacos(:
Being Thankful
These are the top ten reasons I am thankful for Thanksgiving:
- family- I am thankful for my family because they are always there to support me when I need them.
- friends- I am thankful for my friends because they are always there for me when I'm upset and are always there when I need help.
- health- I am thankful for my health because I am healthy and alive and don't have any health problems to worry about.
- NO SCHOOL- I am thankful for Thanksgiving break because there is NO SCHOOL!!
- T.V.- I am thankful for Thanksgiving break because I get to watch more T.V.!
- food!- I am thankful for Thanksgiving because of all the yummy food!!
- sleep- I am thankful for Thanksgiving break becuase I get to sleep in! :D
- home- I am thankful that I have a home to live and sleep in.
- games- I am thankful for Thanksgiving break because I can play more games with my brother and sister.
- BREAK!- I am thankful for Thanksgiving because I get a break from everything!!
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