31

Today was January 31st. The first month of the new year is over...1/12th finished?! Isn't that crazy. Now, February. This means Valentines Day aka the worst Holiday ever. Fact or opinion? This could be because I am without a "significant other" at the moment but hey who cares. I have decided where I am going to school next year, focusing on school & sports and trying to complete my last few months of high school by having fun and having no worries! So who needs a boyfriend when I've got lots of other things :) Negative to my mood right now: SNOW. We are supposedly in for a huge snowstorm. I'm hoping the meteorologists are wrong but I guess I'll have to wait and see my Twitter feed in the morning to tell whether or not we have school/delay.

Think Twice

In the essay "Hooked" the author tells a tale on a childhood memory of riding a bike and discovering an addiction and hobby of fishing. The hobby continues throughout the what I am assuming to be, young mans life. Through ups and downs, highs lows, thick and thin he still sticks with fishing. The into to the first paragraph, "for my entire life I have lived in the neighborhood" to me suggests that the reader is looking for change. The theme that I get a connection to in this essay is dedication. After all the years of working for money and going to stores to buy various assortments of fish equipment, the authors belongings got stolen from a boathouse break in. Even though it was a tragedy that his things were taken that did not keep the author from doing something he loved. Although it is going to take time, effort, money and patience to get back to where he was with equipment and belongings, the author still takes part in something that he likes. The dedication given by the author shows that no matter what happens, life will throw hardships at you, but with courage and a sense of dedication you can get through things. The road may not be easy but life is no supposed to be easy? This reminds me of a quote by Frank A. Clark, "Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things." Fishing is one of the "little things" that makes up the authors life so he does what he needs to do so that he can be happy and do what pleases him.

More people like "that"

Jeremy Miller illuminates a regular scene of a coffee shop into an enlightened "story of a girl." The theme I sense from the essay is respect. Short and simple yes, but a guideline to remember for life. The barista whose name remains unknown demonstrates her usual day at work as a costumer briefly and secretly watches her. The customer pays close attention to small details such as the conversation the employees have with one another, the way the barista sweeps and the respect/gratuity the barista gives to every customer no matter what they look like, their mood or how many drinks they need. My favorite line to prove this is "She treats them all with the same respect as she makes their order." Respect is the key lesson because it shows no matter what the barista is doing she knows how to do it right and with a positive attitude. The way she even sweeps the floor or checks cookies shows her respect for her work and positive outlook.... The world needs more people like her.

Overview

Well, this was an interesting weekend. My family and I had big plans to go see the Titanic exhibit in Indianapolis on Saturday but when we called to see what time it opened we were informed the show was already sold out for the ENTIRE WEEKEND :( This was a bit of a debbie downer. Some of us chicks still went to Indy and went shopping and in memory we listened to "My Heart Will Go On" By Celine Dion on the way to Indy in remembrance of what we wish we could have been doing! Tomorrow is Monday....we should have MLK day off but of course SACS is psycho and making us make the day up from a snow day. We should have a grace period of snow days I guess called "grace days" where we should be awarded 3 misses because of weather or other purposes and not have to make them up.... but we all know SACS would never do that. How many days until graduation again?!!?!

Official "Blogger"

I find myself getting really into this whole blogging thing! I've secretly always wanted to be a "blogger" because I've seen it featured in some television programs and movies. Now that I have the experience, I find it very fun and creative. Sometime you just have to let out some thoughts or you'll have some quotes, lyrics or poems that you would want to share with other people and of course the assignments that Mr. Hill assigns! I hope I start to do this more! :)

Blogging from HHS!

I tried blogging on the school computers last period, I failed. Smart phones are actually handy for something! Today is1/11/11, kinda cool right? My main thoughts today center around snow. I do not like snow! The first few falls were nice but I'm ready for winter to be over.
I'm praying for a miracle .... Homestead and SACS school district please let us out early! :)

Absence is visible at Ground Zero.

Ground Zero by Suzanne Berne is a foreboding description of the tragic terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Berne releases a strong message that revolves around tragedies being turned around and into greater, bigger things. The author starts the article by talking about the day she goes and pays tribute to what used to be the World Trade Center. The opening statement "On a cold, damp March morning" immediately portrays a sulky atmosphere in which most Americans would assume to be expected at such a place. In each paragraph, more details arise and in return I get vivid images popping in my head of the scene from September 11. Throughout the article I feel a roller coaster of emotion. There is sadness, grief, confusion and apathy that is hard to even put into words. On another end of the spectrum there is pride, admiration, passion and sincerity. People paying tribute to the scene, writing messages and even thinking of the devastation promote all of these emotions because they are helping it be turned into something positive. The closing line is the article "that space fills up again" is a perfect example of how the hard work and efforts of Americans is helping turn this tragedy into something that we will always remember, for better and worse. Paying tributes and working to rebuild this space shows that we are a country full of grace and even though we face hardships, we will get trough them together and the events be in our memories forever.