Finally

So it's our last post of the semester. I didn't think I would be as sad as I am. It kind of shows the ending of a great semester. The ending of Etymology, the greatest class I've ever taken. This is, by far, my favorite class of my high school career.

Where and when did you find yourself sitting down to read? Do you tend

to read with music on, or in silence? By the computer? Did you find yourself

checking your phone a lot, or do you ever lose yourself in the reading? Do

you ever talk about the books you read with your family or friends or teachers?

This semester I read almost every day. I would find myself thinking about my books when I was eating, in the shower, grocery shopping with my mom, in class, and even in church. I would read mostly in my bed covered up with the fan on low so I could have some noise, but not a loud obnoxious noise. In my basement, we have a door that leads outside with hills on both sides. Down there we have a built in swing to the overhang. Sometimes when I want to read and need a different place to go, I'll go down there. I have three siblings and a mom and dad living in one house, I need multiple hiding spots to go to get some alone time with my books. If I really liked the book, my phone would be on my bed or in the swing or by me somewhere, just in case I needed it or someone really needed to get ahold of me, but I would rarely check it. Now if the book was "boring" or I just didn't feel it, yes I checked my phone a lot. I really do find myself lost in a book. I can't describe it. It's like I'm there. I'm the main character, whether it is good or bad, I'm there and I can see everything. I will admit that I fell asleep reading a lot this semester. But when I would fall asleep something amazing would happen. I would really live out the book in my dreams. Like I was reading "Chain Reaction" on Friday November 4, 2011 and I fell asleep. Now this book was GOOD! but I had been up all day and I hadn't slept well the night before and I was just tired. In this book, it's about a guy who falls in love with a girl who doesn't want to be in love. He HAS to join a gang and she doesn’t' know and he hides it from her. It's a really good book! I loved it! So as I fell asleep I dreamt I was the girl in this story. I was Nikki and I could figure out what to do. It's like I had control over every detail of the story and I loved it! And when I did this, I talked to my mom and my best friends, Nicole DeCriscio and Allie Laspas, and of course they all said I was crazy but it was awesome! I do talk about my books to my parents, my friends, Mrs. Detter, Mrs., Lembke, random family members, and random people I see in the library who now probably think I'm some crazy. :) But I wouldn't have it any other way.

Currently :)

So we really haven't posted in a while. Here is the last two weeks of my reading!! :D

Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Wood (pg. 1-269)

Nightshade by Anrea Cremer (pg. 1-441)



These two books were really really good! I loved them! Nightshade is amazing! This is what is on the inside cover.

Calla Tor has always known her destiny:

After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha

wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their

pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers.

But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful

human boy our for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her

existence, and the very essence of the world she had known. By following

her heart, she might lose everything-

including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

I absolutely loved it! If your into supernatural and romance, this is the book for you! And the second book is out. It's called Wolfsbane. I heard it was really good also. I'm so excited to read it. I should be done with it Monday or Tuesday.

Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood was really good. If you like teen girl drama or teen girls seeking revenge, this is the book you want to read.
Popularity is the best revenge.

In the final weeks of eighth grade, Lauren Wood made a choice. She betrayed

her best friend, Helen, in a manner so publicly humiliating that Helen

had to move to a new town just to save face. Ditching Helen was worth it,

though, because Lauren started high school as one of the It Girls--and

now, at the start of her senior year, she's the cheerleading captain,

the quarterback's girlfriend, and the undisputed queen bee. Lauren

has everything she's ever wanted, and she has forgotten all

about her ex-best friend.

But Helen could never forget Lauren. After three years of obsessing,

she's moving back to her old town. She has a new name and a

new look, but she hasn’t dropped her old grudges. She has a detailed

plan to bring down her former BFF by taking away everything that's

ever been important to Lauren—starting with her boyfriend.

Watch out, Lauren Wood. Things are about to get bitchy.

This book was realllllly good. I usually don't use derogatory words but it was in the book cover and I wanted you to get the full Eileen Cook experience. She is a good writer and she has another book What Would Emma Do? I heard that one was good also but I haven't read it so I can't say if it is or not.

Quotes from the past two weeks:

1. "Then there was the added factor that it would be difficult to make a bathing suit out of tiny stinky fish, and I was pretty sure you could do some heavy jail time for pushing people into shark-infested water or into the paths of speeding dump trucks. I wanted Lauren to pay, but I wasn't looking to spend the next forty to life wearing an orange jumpsuit. Orange is so not my color." Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood
2. High schools have a social structure more strict than a Hindu caste system. By the time you get to your senior year everyone knows exactly where he or she belongs compared to everyone else. You could try to change your status—you could get a new wardrobe or take up a new sport, for example—but it would only take a few days before everyone would shove you back into the place where they felt you belonged. There might be a few people who shifted ranks, but it was highly unusual. I would have the advantage of being a new kid. No one would know exactly where to put me, but they would be trying to sort it out from the first moment they met me. Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood
3. (I just HAD to throw this one in there. Where are you???)
   The Popularity Scale
   Attractive: Assign yourself up to 10 points, depending on your level of hotness, zero points being seriously ugly and 10 points being supermodel hot. Bonus 2 points for being fit and in shape versus merely thin. An additional 2 points for hair that looks like a shampoo ad. Minus 1 point if you flip it around way too much. Bonus 3 points for big boobs. Minus 5 points for being attractive but too slutty. Plus 1 point for good use of makeup. Minus 2 points for mild disfigurement such as bad skin, crooked teeth, or bad breath.
   Sporty: Assign yourself 5 points for general athletic ability as defined by ability to run without falling over and catching a ball without getting smacked in the face. 5 bonus points for being on key school teams such as football, cheerleading, basketball, or soccer. Minus 2 points for being on dorky teams such as archery or fencing. Bonus 2 points if you have a leadership position on a team. Minus 2 points if you never play and instead always sit on the sidelines.
   Rich: Assign yourself 10 points for being filthy rich, 5 points for possessing mere wealth, zero points for being middle class, and minus 5 points for being poor. Bonus point for each item of designer clothing that you own or for accessories such as handbags that cost more than a small used car. Minus 5 points for purchasing your wardrobe at Wal-Mart. Give yourself 2 points if you shop at a funky vintage shop, minus 2 points if you buy your underwear at a thrift store. Some things should never be secondhand.
   Cool: Award yourself up to 10 points for exotic factors such as being from a cool place (large city, anywhere in Europe or Hollywood), knowing famous people, having a good car, being in a band (but not the band—wearing a uniform that makes you look like a hotel bellman is never cool), or demonstrating artistic ability.
4. "I bit my lip and decided to be honest. Sort of." Nightshade pg. 234
5. "'Do you love him?' His eyes searched mine. 'Don't ask me that,' I said, lips still burning from my confession to shay, now stinging with this deceit. 'This isn't about love. It's about survival.' 'No, Calla.' His voice became hushed. 'This is only about love.' And then he was kissing me. His lips moved over mine in a shlow caress, hands running over my body, every touch begging me to stay. I could tell he believed he would never kiss me again. Part of me wanted to linger, cling to him, knowing all the ways we were ment for each other, how well we fit. But another part tugged me away. already running through the forest, chasing after a fate unknown. fI choked back a sob when Ren released me and turned away." Nightshade pg. 430

Hunger Games

I've been told by a few people, some more than others, Rachel lol, that I need to read the Hunger Games and if I do I will want to see the movie even more. So I went on Youtube and looked up the Hunger Games trailers to see if it looks like a good movie and this is the ones I came up with :) Enjoy!!

I hope I didn't screw everything up lol and I hope these are all right.

Oh, yes I did!

Okay so as we all know I am totally obsessed with the twilight saga! I'm seriously their biggest fan!! It's sad really. When I watched eclipse, my brother's friend Logan had to hold my hands down because I (not thinking about what I was doing) bit my hand and I almost drew blood. hahah I guess I really am a vampire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, yeah!!!! So if I'm a vampire, I get and Edward right?!?!?! Okay so here are the breaking dawn trailers...I couldn't resist.

I feel bad for Jacob but I am sorry! Bella and

Edward belong with each other!

he's so handsome!

AHHHHHH!

I can't wait!!!!

this one is my personal favorite! I seriously cried!!!

awwwww!

I am soooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More Poems!!

I found this awesome website that is uplifting and happy. That's all they put up there. It's very centered around God and it's one of the few poem sites that I've found that I really like. It's called Poetry For Reflection. You should check it out and tell me what you think!!!!!!

The Difference
I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day
I had so much to accomplish
that I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me
and heavier came each task
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered
He answered, "You didn't ask"

I wanted to see joy and beauty
but the day toiled on, gray and bleak
I wondered why God didn't show me
He said," But you didn't seek"

I tried to come into God's presence
I used all my keys at the lock
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My Child you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning
and paused before entering the day
I had so much to accomplish
that I had to take time to pray

---Written and Copyrighted by
Grace Naessens
Used with permission

God Is Our Guide
God does not send
More than we can bear
Our hearts will mend
If we keep Him there.

After storms it grows calm,
Dark is followed by sun,
We are held in God's palm,
Love and faith make us one.

Although there are days
That bring trials and pain,
Having faith in His ways
We will triumph again.

When we let go of fear
Prayer and love make us strong
Know that God will be near
To help guide us along.

 ---Author Unknown

Random Poems I like

I guess I like all of these because it makes me think of how I act, especially the second one. The moment I read the second one I was in love with it!! It makes me think, "Do I really give it all to him? Or do I pick it right back up and put it in my backpack to weight me down some more?" Leave a comment to tell me what you think. I hope you like them!!

Anyway

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered ...
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives ...
Do good anyway.
If you are successful you win false friends and true enemies ...
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow ...
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable ...
Be honest and frank anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs ...
Fight for some underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight ...
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them ...
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth ...
Give the world the best you’ve got ... ANYWAY.

---Author Unknown

Broken Dreams
As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend.

But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried,
"How could you be so slow"
"My child," He said, "What could I do?
You never let it go."

---Author Unknown

The Cold Within

Six humans trapped by happenstance
in black and bitter cold,
Each possessed a stick of wood
Or so the story's told.



Their dying fire in need of logs
the first woman held hers back,
For on the faces around the fire
She noticed one was black.



The next man looking 'cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And couldn't bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.



The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?



The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store,
And how to keep what he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.



The black man's face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.



And the last man of this forlorn group
Did naught except for gain,
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game.



The logs held tight in death's stilled hands
Was proof of human sin,
They didn't die from the cold without,
They died from the cold within.

---Written and Copyrighted by
James Patrick Kinney

Close Reading

In this passage of Nicholson Baker's "The Mezzanine," Baker's matter of fact chattiness but but also cold dispassionate tone expresses his boredom with the everyday life. Baker, while riding a escalator, notices they are "a pair of integral signs swooping upward between the two floors" and meet the lobby's "towering volumes of marble and glass" just above the middle "spreading into a needly area of shine where it fell against their brushed-steel side-panels." Through out all of this passage, Baker expresses himself with fancy yet intimidating words.