More Independent writing for World Literature....

Henry worried about his mother, a sweet woman with short sandy hair streaked with grey, and a plump face with big blue eyes, darker than his own.  She had tried to stop the men from taking her boys, crying and screaming, fearing she’d never see them again.  He remembered her face, full of terror.  He shuddered, shaking it away, tears once again welling in his eyes. He focused on the soft repetitive motion of Gerald’s fingers running through his hair, which made him relax slightly.  Now his mind started wandering to Katy, sweet little Katy.  She was his 6 year old sister.  He had been her personal protector since the day she was born.  The thing that burdened his mind most was who would protect her now?  He was her protector!  He let her dow….   Henry’s thoughts were interrupted by Gerald’s soft voice.  “I’m concerned about these wounds getting infected,” Gerald said.  “Maybe I can try and treat them.”  Henry scoffed.  “I really don’t see how you could chap,” he said in a rather amused tone.  “I mean considering the crucial fact that it’s as dark as a cave in here, and you’ve nothing to treat me with.”  “Oh there you go again!” Gerald spat.  “You’re always the Pessimist!  You know if they’re not treated they’ll get infected, and I am not going to sit here like a miserable oaf and watch you die!”  Gerald’s voice was alarmingly loud, scaring Henry a bit.  He had never meant to hurt Gerald; he was merely trying to state an obvious fact.  He realized that all Gerald wanted was to feel helpful to his brother, and at the moment, Henry was denying him that privilege.  His brother had to be the most loyal and honorable man he’d ever known.  He willingly let go of his obstinate attitude.  “Alright Gerald, I’m sorry, do whatever you see fit.”

Independent Writing for World Literature

“How much more of this must we endure Gerald?” Henry said in a high-pitched whimper; tears were streaming down his unshaved cheeks and swollen neck.  His naked torso was shredded and covered in blood from the most recent lashing. Gerald exhaled icily, fighting back a scream, his nose filled with the smell of his brother’s blood and the stench of death.  He was surrounded with the wailing of Men, women and children in pain and anguish, separated from their families.  He exhaled again.  “A few more days of this hell and we’ll both be dead,” he said in a submissive shaky voice, indicating the realization of defeat and succumbing to despair.  Gerald couldn’t take it much longer; sometimes he wished death would come and take him.  He arose and staggered in no distinct direction in the complete darkness of the filthy stall, finally finding his brother on the other side, grabbed him by the arms tenderly, careful not to hurt his wounds, pulling him gently towards his clothed chest.  Henry’s tension immediately eased and his muscles became weak as he willingly fell in his beloved brother’s arms.  Henry loved his brother Gerald dearly.  Gerald always knew how to succor people; especially Henry.  He had the rare ability to be unconditionally kind and loving, like a mother with a sick child, or a loyal dog with a small child.  Gerald started ruffling his hair and he relaxed even more; mind retracing to the past.

The Dreaded Half Smile. DUN DUN DUN! The small miracle!



This is me at the Dentist the first root canal visit!



Yesterday I got pulled out of school last period to go get my root canal finished and properly sealed.  Well, in order to go into my mouth and do something that extenuating, the Endodontist has to numb the “crap” out of it.  So, when I’m done, I can’t kiss, I can’t smile right (it’s terrible) but I now find it extremely funny!  I wanted it to happen during school so I could come back with my lopsided smile and show my friends Jake, Sam, Briana, and Cheyenne.  I also really wanted The Quack to see it; and Shimmy Dude. It’d be cool to show off.  I meant to take some pictures but I didn’t get to it. Sorry guys. It’s pretty funny too.  

So, anyway, it didn’t hurt nearly as bad as last time because last time the tooth was so infected.  I’d had an abscessed tooth for over a year.  I’m really glad that my dad listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and got me in, because literally another week or so, and it would have been too late, I mean I would’ve died; literally.  And all that time we thought it was just sinus pressure.  I mean really, if you have an abscessed tooth for too long, it’ll lead to your heart.  Once the abscess is in your heart and starts eating away at it, it’s too late.  That fact gave me chills.  My Heavenly Father is always looking out for me, and I know that.  He’s saved my life and kept me out of danger many times, this isn’t the first; just another small miracle.  So anyway, I know shimmy dude will want to read this story because he’s really religious like me. Well if I keep talking about the religious aspects and miracles, I’ll start crying, so THAT’S A RAP!!!

DINGBAT OUT :D

Dragsters and Go Karts

Also at lagoon I got to race dragsters against my cousin Emily and my Dad.  Needless to say I won every time.  My Dad was boggled at my reaction speed.  But, it is just that when there is  competition around me, or a need to prove myself, I focus so intensely and take it EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY; ESPECIALLY IN SPORTS!  Just ask Shimmy Dude or The Quack:  They've seen me.  They know! LOL :) (just kidding!)  My mom told me my cheeks were full of air, and my eyes were huge, my eyebrows down, and I didn't even know.  Anyway, the dragsters they have there are real professional dragsters that they use to drag race with, and they reach up to 83.2 MPH in 2.3 seconds!  They're the all time adrenaline high.  Anyway, that's always sooooooo fun!

Then we (meaning my Dad, Cousin, Aunt, Uncle and I) rode Go Karts around the track and my car was so fast!!  It was my favorite color too: lime green.  My Aunt Becky's black car was slow, and I passed her 2 times!  I also passed my Uncle Dave, who had a really slow purple car.  My brother Ben was on the other track, and he had to drive for Allie because she was too small.  Poor Allie.  I mean, it's sad, she's like four foot two, and my brother's five foot three, and he's only just barely 10!!  I found that extremely funny! 

The only draw back to these two races was that just previously I had ridden the rocket and then right after that, the Samarai, and I had a headache like crazy and felt like puking.  However, for some reason, racing the cars helped me not feel so sick, which was good. AWE MAN, I think I'm all worded out.

Well then, with that said,

DINGBAT OUT!!

LAGOON!!

This Labor Day weekend I went to Lagoon with my parents, my brother and his friends Eli and Allie Seegrist, my uncle Dave and Aunt Becky, and my cousin Emily.  Lagoon is an amusement park located in Farmington, Utah, and it is the most amazing place in the world!!  I rode the fearsome four while there: the Rocket, Wicked, Colossus, and the Spider.  My favorite of them is wicked.  On Wicked, you immediately start at about 100 miles per hour, going up at a 90 degree angle, and then down at a 90 degree angle.  The total speed at the time when you reach the bottom is about 120 miles per hour or so guestimated.  Then you go into a tight corkscrew, and wow, it’s so intensely fun.  My brother’s friend Eli became a total thrill junkie after that trip!! I rode so many thrill rides, that in 5 hours of riding them, I almost puked three times!!! 

Here is a funny story:  Eli’s sister Allie wanted to go on the Wild Mouse; a really jerky ride.  Allie is super puny, even though she’s 8.  On the Wild Mouse, there’s only one bar that comes down on both people.  The bar was snug on me, but Allie still had a foot of room - I mean that girl is small!!  Anyway, if I hadn’t have held on to her, she would have literally flown right out of the car!  I mean it was scary, and that ride is so jerky and exerts so much force that I literally felt my arm starting to stretch and break!  At 9 o’clock I was sooo tired, and sore and sick; I just wanted to go home.  The rides that made me the sickest were Colossus, Wicked, The Cliff Hanger (which hangs you completely upside down for 5-10 seconds), and the Samari.  All in all I had a lot of fun and so did everyone else.

That’s a rap.

Dingbat out!

   
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COLLOSSUS COASTER/ THE FIRE DRAGON



THE ROCKET

Wicked (the yellow coaster)

                                                                                                                          

Spider Coaster

Kid History, Episode 6

Blog Entry for September 2, 2011

Yesterday I showed Shimmy Dude and the Quack Kid History Episode 6.  Kid History is a You Tube video series made by a Mormon family from Utah – the Roberts.  Go Utes!!  I showed The Quack in the morning before class.  The Quack is not one to show his emotions very openly, so when he smiles or even chuckles that means he thinks something is hilarious.  Actually, the Quack openly laughed, which never happens, which means he thought it was hilarious.  The Quack will be quoting Episode 6 for a while, of that I am sure. 

I showed it to Shimmy Dude during 2^nd Period and it was awesome because he had his computer hooked up to the laptop projector, so he showed it from that for the whole class to enjoy.  Shimmy Dude laughed so hard I thought he was going to fall out of the chair; same with the Quack.  The kids in my class thought it was silly, but I think that is weird, because everyone I know thinks Kid History is hilarious.  I think some Teenagers here in New Mexico do not know how to laugh at silly things and have wholesome fun.  When there are no cuss words the teenagers here seem to not want to laugh or show that they might like it.  The older, “more mature people,” liked it.  But I think the kids did like it.

I think the Quack’s favorite part of the video was when one of the guys was stuffing his face with tofu pancakes.  The Quack laughed so hard at that.  Shimmy Dude laughed at everything, but I think he liked the part where the kid is telling the guy to guess what song he is singing.  Shimmy Dude also laughed at the part where the kid says, “It’s in a cup instead of an ice cream cone, and I like the ice cream cone because then I can eat the ice cream cone.” 

I have the video pasted below.  Let me know what you think of Kid History!

My Grandma and Grandpa (Cont'd)

Blog Entry for September 1, 2011

I love my Grandpa.  I was the only grandkid that he had that spent the most time with him; considering I lived with him during the first 9 years of my life.  That is because we lived in the same house as my grandparents because my parents bought my grandparent’s house.

I had the best life as a kid because I got to spend it with my grandparents which was good because grandparents are kind.  Whenever I got in trouble with my mom, I would run to my grandma.  I spent most of my time with my grandpa.  He would watch TV a lot of times until late and I would sneak out of my bed and go upstairs to watch with my grandpa.  We would watch Perry Mason, Murder She Wrote, Spaghetti Westerns, The Good, Bad and the Ugly, John Wayne films, and Bonanza.  We always watched The Price is Right on the Game Show channel.  My grandpa gets impatient with the Contestants and tells them what they should do and then he gets mad when they make stupid mistakes.

My Grandpa plays in a Harmonica band and I would go and play spoons with the Senior Citizens.  I kept perfect rhythm and they loved it.  I went three times, and at the end of every time my leg was so red from hitting it with the metal spoons.  My Grandpa used to buy me lots of Harmonicas.  I would go everywhere with him.  He also taught me to play the Accordion; in fact he gave me an accordion that he got from Italy.  I think it is awesome because many people wanted to buy it from my Grandpa, and he would not sell it.  Instead, he gave it to me.  He has also given me coins from his collections and my birth year set of coins.

My Grandma and Grandpa Nielsen

Blog Entry for August 31, 2011

I love my Grandpa.  I was the only grandkid that he had that spent the most time with him; considering I lived with him during the first 9 years of my life.  That is because we lived in the same house as my grandparents because my parents bought my grandparent’s house.

I had the best life as a kid because I got to spend it with my grandparents which was good because grandparents are kind.  Whenever I got in trouble with my mom, I would run to my grandma.  I spent most of my time with my grandpa.  He would watch TV a lot of times until late and I would sneak out of my bed and go upstairs to watch with my grandpa.  We would watch Perry Mason, Murder She Wrote, Spaghetti Westerns, The Good, Bad and the Ugly, John Wayne films, and Bonanza.  We always watched The Price is Right on the Game Show channel.  My grandpa gets impatient with the Contestants and tells them what they should do and then he gets mad when they make stupid mistakes.

My Grandpa plays in a Harmonica band and I would go and play spoons with the Senior Citizens.  I kept perfect rhythm and they loved it.  I went three times, and at the end of every time my leg was so red from hitting it with the metal spoons.  My Grandpa used to buy my lots of Harmonicas.  I would go everywhere with him.  He also taught me to play the Accordion; in fact he gave me an accordion that he got from Italy.  I think it is awesome because many people wanted to buy it from my Grandpa, and he would not sell it.  Instead, he gave it to me.  He has also given me coins from his collections and my birth year set of coins.

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Blog entry for Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Over the weekend, I discovered an amazing movie about a woman who loses her husband, or whose husband is dead, and she is a musician.  I think her husband died while in the service of the Navy.  Her husband comes back somehow as a ghost, yet he is tangible, touchable a body of flesh and bone even though he is deceased.  He brings dead friends back with him to live at his house with his wife.  He is a musician, he plays violin, sings and plays piano.  His wife is happy that they are back together.  But, then the wife meets a new man who she likes very much.  But, now she has to choose between a man that she truly, deeply, madly loves that is dead and a man that she loves truly, deeply, madly that is alive.  She has to choose which one she wants.  I think that she chooses her dead husband, but I am not sure because I have not watched the movie yet.  I like it so much because it has Alan Rickman in it and he is an amazing singer and pianist in real life as well.

The Beyonders (Cont'd)

Blog Entry for Monday, August 29, 2011

Jason goes to the Blind King.  He finds an almost completely ruined castle with the walls falling down and crumbling.  There is decay, bird droppings all over the floor, and a blind guy with a rag wrapped around his eyes sitting on a really rotted throne.  He has a green jacket with dirty white fur with three people around him and Jason thinks it is ridiculous.  Jason thinks this is some kind of act.  Even the Gate Master is serious.  The Gate Master tells Jason that he should show a proper amount of respect for someone of that much magnificence.  It is ironic because the castle is run down.  Jason says the Lore Master from the repository of learning sent him.  The King takes him immediately to his chamber where they eat dinner and they talk about the things Jason learned from the book bound in human skin.  The book is called the book of Salazared. 

The King then chooses to introduce Jason to another person who arrived two days prior to Jason.  The King summoned the visitor with his servants, and a girl came in that is Jason’s age with short brown hair and dark brown eyes whose name is Rachael.  She is from Olympia, Washington and she is also a Beyonder.  Jason, the King and Rachael started having a ridiculous conversation about the Yankees and the Red Sox.  They talked about American sports and stuff like that.  They also talked about the capitol of Pennsylvania.  They are eating roast Pheasant while talking.   Rachael has different clothes on so others will not suspect that she is a Beyonder.  Jason needs to change his clothes as well so as to not be suspected.  Rachael has to decide whether she will go with Jason or hide out at a farm.  Jason and Rachael are both in danger due to the things they have found.  Earlier, Frannie had been taken, Aster had been killed, and they thought Puggles had been killed because they had talked with Jason.  The King mentioned that if Rachael and Jason were not more of a threat, then the Emperor would not be as much of a threat to them.  Rachael decides to go with Jason and they leave the next day.  They discuss what he learned and he tells Rachael all he knows.

ABQ Academy and Nauvoo, Illinois

I did a whole lot of things during this past Summer, but my favorite things were ABQ Academy, Nauvoo, Illinois and Taylorsville, Utah.

I went to ABQ Academy for summer classes.  I took Ceramics, Pixels and Pictures, Steel Drums, Digital Dimensions, Cartoon Relief, the Works and Chess Club.  My favorite teachers were Mrs. Walthall, Mr. Corbin, Mr. Gabe, and Mr. Sedillo.  Mrs. Walthal was my Cartooning Relief teacher.  She was super goofy and crazy like me, and loves art; especially cartooning!  She reminds me a lot of the Quack!  She’s so AWESOME!  Mr. Corbin was my Steel Drum teacher and I loved him!  He played steel drums (duh), regular drums, marimba, and I don’t know what else.  He is so talented, has perfect pitch, and has the enthusiasm of me * 2; and if you know me, that means a lot! 

Mr. Gabe and Mr. Sedillo are my Chess teachers, and they are so awesome.  I have been in their summer class for three years now and I learn so much every time.  They are both REALLY NICE GUYS!  Well, anyway, I had a lot of fun at ABQ Academy and I made a lot of friends. 

Now on to Nauvoo, Illinois.  For those of you who don’t know, I am Mormon (LDS is the proper term).  Nauvoo was the city that the Saints traveled to after being chased out of Missouri by Governor Boggs.  The Prophet of our Church, Joseph Smith, named the town Nauvoo, which is Hebrew for beautiful.  This is ironic because Nauvoo was all swampland.  But, the Saints drained it and built it up in seven years to be one of the most populated, prosperous, beautiful towns in Illinois.  The Saints were so dedicated that they melted down all of their valuable china, and every thing important to them, they gave away freely to aid the building of the Nauvoo Temple.  Now that you have some background information, I am going to talk about when I went there this summer.

I went to Nauvoo, Illinois for something called EFY (Especially for Youth).  EFY is a program for Mormon youth ages 14-18 to come together, feel the spirit together, and grow stronger testimonies together.  EFY Nauvoo is a special session, meaning we get to do things that other EFYs around the world don’t get to do.  We get to go to Carthage Jail, where the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, and we get to walk on the Trail of Hope and Old Nauvoo.  We even get to do baptisms for the dead in the Nauvoo Temple.  I went to EFY Nauvoo last year and I went again this year.  This year I was in the Browning Company and they were amazing!  We became a family, and after the first day, I came to love them so much!  The people in my group were Kim, Kat, Kayla, Avery, Aubrey, Mitchell, Austen, Chris, Kaleb, Ben, Jason, Wilson, Jase, Sam, Gretchen, Riley, Meghan, and that is all I can remember. There were a few more.  Oh, and Adrian.  He was my COW (Crush Of the Week)!  Anyway, we got really close and had a lot of fun!  Well, that is a rap for this Blog!  Dingbat out!

 

Nauvoo Temple

Trail of Hope

Browning Home and Gunsmith

Beyonders (Cont’d)…

Blog Entry for August 25, 2011

He went in the room with a candle, and he started reading the books and realized why the room was forbidden because the room contained unwholesome, dark literature.  In the middle of the room he found a book lying on a pedestal bound in human flesh.  It seemed to be alive and had veins in it.  He could see the blue of the veins when he opened the book.  Many of the pages of the book were empty.  A man named Salazared wrote the book and he talked about how he was a servant for Maldor.  He was betraying him by giving a hint as to the only word that could destroy Maldor.  You could only say it once, it would go from your mind and you would remember it no more.  Therefore, there was only once chance to defeat Maldor.  The first syllable is the letter A and the knowledge you now possess for prompt execution, and there was a caution to not let his sacrifice be in vain.  Jason walks out of the room, and is shaken.  The Lore Master asked if he found what he was looking for.  Jason said he was looking for information on how to get home.  The Lore Master said Jason’s life was in danger and Jason was then going to try to get to the Blind Prince.  The funny thing is, in the very first pages of the book, the Blind Prince is in Prison and is in a dark cell, that is dirty and Maldor walks in  The Blind Prince says the word and Maldor was expecting the word to be told to him, so he sent an image of himself.  Once the word was spoken, the Blind Prince was not able to use it again because it leaves the memory of the person who speaks it.  Jason walks through; the Lore Master gives him a coat, mushrooms, berries and a bed roll.  Jason goes on his way, walks a day and then midday he falls asleep.  He awakes and starts walking where he meets a man named Aster.  Aster is dirty and covered in gross clothing.  Jason says he is going to the Blind Prince to steal some pies, so he goes to a house that is colored with bright colors.  A woman by the name of Frannie walks out and she gets upset and asks what Jason wants.  He says he is looking for the Blind Prince.  The woman is apprehensive and doesn’t want to give the whereabouts of the Blind Prince (Blind King).  Jason asks for directions.  The woman has a dog that looks like a mix between a Boxer and a Bull Dog and they are called Bore Hounds.  The Dog’s name is Puggles.  Jason tries to win her trust and says there is a man that wants to rob her house.  She asks if it is Aster.  The woman actually gives Aster things to let him think he is stealing.  The woman gives Jason directions and then he goes.

Independent Writing for World Literature

Blog for August 24, 2011

“How much more of this must we endure Gerald?”  Henry muttered in a high pitched whimper, tears streaming down his face.  His naked torso was covered in blood from a lashing he had received just moments before.  His nose was filled with the smell of filth, blood, and death.  That was the third lashing session that day, and it was only 1:00 p.m.  “A few more days of this madness and we’ll both be dead,” said Gerald, grabbing Henry tenderly about the arms as if to not hurt his wounds and pulling him towards his clothed chest.  Henry’s tension eased, and his muscles became weak as he willingly fell in his brother’s arms.  Since their imprisonment, Gerald had often showed a concern and love for him that Henry believed a mother could only possess, lying like a sick helpless crying baby in the arms of his mother, and he was content.  “Now don’t move, I’m going to check your wounds,” said Gerald.  “How can you?” said Henry in a rather relaxed, disinterested voice.  “It’s as dark as a cave in here.  I can’t even see my boots.  Just forget about it chap.”  “Well, if I don’t do something for them, they’ll get infected,” said Gerald.

Choir

Last Saturday I started back with my Choir.  The name of the Choir I am in is RGYC, Rio Grande Youth Choral.  I am also in a group that is a part of the Choir for freshmen and older called River Voice.  We are thinking of even getting a group for boys.  We still do not know what they would be called, but I am thinking of the name Ocean Roar or Fire Roar.   The boys would be the same age as River Voice girls; freshman age and up.  I counted 69 kids in our choir; whereas, we used to have only approximately 25-30.  This year the requirements are super rigorous.  For regular kids, there are about 20 different songs.  I have another 20 songs in River Voice, so I have 40 songs in total.  It will be more rigorous and intense this year. 

This summer we are talking about traveling to New York.  Other destinations we are considering are Ireland or China.  New York will cost $1,400.00 per choir student.  If we want to see a Broadway play it will be $100.00 additional per student.  A nice hotel will be an additional amount of approximately $100.00 per night.  We are doing three performances.   We would like to be able to perform at Julliard.  Also, we would like to have a tour of Julliard.

If we go to New York, we will spend a day on the Jersey shore on the beach; which will be a lot of fun. 

My favorite people in my Choir are Sara Nannemann, Heidi Schneider, Emily Anderson, Nick, Kelly, Caitlin, Dory, Luke, Juliana, Miss Sue, Miss Flamm, and Jeff.  Some of my favorite songs I have sung in my Choir are “Down by the Myra,”  “Jai Ho,” and I also liked a book of traditional Christmas Carols that included songs such as “This little Babe.”

A word from the Beyonders

Saturday, I read the book the Beyonders for two straight hours.  I had a dance Saturday night that I missed, that wasn’t really a big deal because I didn’t plan on going anyway.  Then I realized my friend Josh, who never goes to dances, went to the dance just to see me and I wasn’t there, so he was bummed. 

My book is rather boring right now and is not as exciting as Fablehaven.  Basically, right now, it is covering how Jason went to a river when he followed a boy.  He and the boy were watching a raft that was floating down the river that was full of musicians.  The musicians were trying to make a point by going over the waterfall; which was pretty much committing suicide because their director talked them into giving their lives away.  Jason thought it was terrible and he did not believe in what the musicians were doing.  One of the musician’s sisters was at the river and Jason didn’t want to see her suffer so he went to the rescue crew.  Jason wanted the rescue crew to rescue the musicians, but they did not want to rescue them.  Jason pushed one of the rescue guys in the river to get them to help.  Jason then took the bow and arrow tied on to the rope, which he had not shot in two years, and he accidentally shot a musician in the shoulder.  It caught the ship and one of the musicians got out and cut the rope loose.  The musicians fell off into the waterfall and died. 

Then Jason runs because he is afraid he is being followed.  There was a large crowd of people watching from some bleachers.  Some of the people were sad and some were cheering.  Jason then runs into a library of knowledge.  He runs into a Lore Master.  Jason happens to be the first visitor in 10 years to the library.  He meets the boy that he saw at the river, who is the servant to the Lore Master.  The boy’s name is Hermie.  Jason starts looking through the library and the Lore Master tells him to not go upstairs because it is restricted.  Jason finds the upstairs after hours where he finds it almost impossible to solve the lock on the door (made up of columns of holes where pegs are placed to open the door).  The Loremaster gives Jason a book with a clue in it on how to get through the door and Jason looks in the back of the book where the moon dial is.  He copies the symbols from the Sundial from outside and the Moon Dial in the book.  Jason gets the solution to the columns and the rows where he places the pegs on the door.  The door opens and the room is musty and dark.  There is a pure white dog that will not follow Jason in to the upstairs part of the library of knowledge.  Jason is determined to get back home from Lyrian so he continues……

Beyonders

August 19, 2011
Blog Entry no. 7

The book I have chosen for my Independent reading is the Bible, Old Testament and Beyonders, by Brandon Mull.  Brandon Mull lives in Alpine, Utah.  I read another series of his titled, Fablehaven (five books in the series).  Fablehaven was probably the best series I have read in my life.  I attended Brandon Mull’s launch party in Salt Lake City, Utah for Beyonders, at my Mother’s High School – Cottonwood High!  It was a lot of fun, and my favorite author, James Dashner, attended as well.  James Dashner authored the series 13^th Reality, about a boy named Tick Atticus Higgenbottom.  James Dashner also wrote Maze Runner.  Brandon Mull and James Dashner both live in Utah. 

The Beyonders is a new series that will be about a world without heroes.  Some of the characters have a seed pod on the back of their head, near the base of their neck.  When they die, the seed pod comes out and burrows into the ground and grows a new person. 

Some characters in the Beyonders are Jason, Maldor, and the Blind Prince.  Jason is pretty much a nerd; especially in science and biology.  He has a crush on a girl that is a lot like him, nerdy and is in to schoolwork.  Jason feels this girl is actually pretty; unlike most nerds.  Jason is batting in a batting cage and he gets hit in the head with a ball that is going through a pitching machine.  He gets a slight concussion and goes to the Zoo for his job and he hears music coming from the Hippo pit.  It appears as though the music is coming from inside the Hippo.  Jason looks over and he is dizzy, he falls in, the Hippo opens its mouth and the music gets louder and louder until he falls in the Hippo’s mouth and he finds himself in a hollow tree trunk.  It turns out this is a portal to another world called Lyrian.

Steaks, Homework, and Missionaries

August 18, 2011

Blog Entry No. 6

Today our Ward Missionaries came over to our house.  In case you do not know me, I am a Latter Day Saint (Mormon).  We just got a new Missionary named Elder Kamhout (Elder Kamchowder) .  Our previous Missionary has been here for a while, Elder Freebairn (Elder Free Brain or Elder Bye Bye).   Flower was over today helping me with my Chemistry homework and she got to listen to the Missionaries as they taught a message.  Flower got a pass along card to complete with five names of people she knows.  The rest of us are also completing this exercise. 

We had steak.  Elder Kamchowder got the best steak in the bunch and his was rare, or Idaho Medium Rare (which is basically still mooing).  Elder Kamchowder is from Nampa, Idaho, which is not too far from Boise State University – Go Broncos!  Bronco Nation! 

Elder Free Brain and Elder Kamchowder both play the piano.  Elder Kamchowder is a prodigy, I am convinced, because he has only been playing two years yet he plays with the finesse and skill of an advanced pianist.  He never practices.  Elder Free Brain plays piano extremely well and has been playing since he was 6 and he is now in his early twenties (about 20).  Elder Free Brain has been taking piano for 14 years.  I have been taking since I was 6 but I didn’t play continuously.   I have been taking piano lessons for about 7 years. 

My homework is very heavy in Chemistry.  I have four layers per unit.  Also, something that happened today, I realized how much Flower and the Quack love me and support me.  The Quack and Flower were advocates for me in a meeting at school.  The Quack (The Penguin) is like a Father figure to me and like my second dad.  He is always there for me, I can talk to him, and he cares about my welfare and education.  The Quack is protective of me.  He is, probably, one of my best friends in a mentor kind of way.  Although I do not have him for any classes this year, he is very supportive and interested in my education.

A Children's Story about Density

August 17, 2011
Blog Entry No. 5

Once upon a time there was a feather small and fine, floating on the water of a pond.  “I am so light,” said he, “oh te ha he, my density is low degree, lower than the water which lies under me.  That is why I can float so free.”  Along swims a big, fat catfish, fins swish swishing in the pond.  He falls upon the floating feather, wondering how it stayed on top the water, and swam to ask it how it did it, this single floating feather.  “Hello,” said the feather to the catfish.  “How might you do today?”  “Just fine,” said the catfish, “but I have one wish.”  “And what shall this one wish be,” asked the feather.  The catfish said, “my wish is to know how a single feather small and slow, can stay on the surface while I fall below.”  “Well,” said the feather, “te ha he, my density is low degree, lower than the water which lies beneath me.”  “As for you, unfortunately, your density is of high degree, higher than the water in which you swim free.”  “If the density is higher than you can be, you float on top, fancy free.  If the density is lower than you can be, you reside below, and swim so free.”  That is density!

Harrison vs. Rickman

August 16, 2011

Blog Entry No. 4

For all the people out there who do not know who Rex Harrison and Alan Rickman are, you must live under a rock (jk).  For people who do know who Rex and Alan are, and people who know me, know that I used to be obsessed with Rex Harrison.  Fortunately, it is not extremely weird because he is deceased.  Kind of like Julie Powell and Julia Child. 

Rex Harrison is an amazing actor that was born in Hyton, England in 1908 and died in 1990.  He was an actor for 64 years from the time he was 15 to 3 weeks prior to his death.  He was a playboy and had 6 wives in his lifetime.  I admire Rex because he was in some of my favorite movies, Dr. Doolittle, the Ghost and Mrs. Muir, My Fair Lady, and Anna and the King of Siam.  These were all completed between the 1940s and 1960s.  Rex focused on naturalism as a style of acting.  His wives were, in order, Noel Marjory Colette Thomas, Lilly Palmer, Kay Kendall, Rachel Roberts, Elizabeth Harris, and Mercia Tinker.

Alan Rickman is extremely good looking and is British.  He also stresses the ideal point of naturalism in acting.  He is a lot like Rex in his acting style.  My favorite movies that he acts in are Robin Hood, where he plays the Sheriff of Nottingham, Harry Potter where he acts the part of Snape (my favorite being Part II of Harry Potter 7).  I also enjoyed Alan Rickman’s performance in Sense and Sensibility.   Last, but not least, I liked Galaxy Quest.  His naturalism is ideal, but not quite as good as Rex Harrison.  Alan Rickman, I believe, has been married three times in his life.  The Quack may think I am dorky for writing about this, but I know he secretly admires Rex Harrison as an Actor!  If Mr. “G” reads this, he will laugh and roll his eyes.

                             Alan Rickman

Rex Harrison

The “Insane” People I have been affiliated with in my Life

Blog for August 15, 2011

Blog Entry No. 3

My definition of insane in this blog is really a term of endearment for the people I admire.  I will begin by listing fictional names for the “insane” people I have met in my life.

Mr. “G”

Mr. Jim

Flower

Shimmy Dude

The Quack

Mr. G is a really amazing guy full of useless trivia.  He wears little round glasses with thick lenses that make his eyes look small; almost like peas.  He loves the outdoors and is very enthusiastic about Native American flute and useless information and other random stuff.  But I learned a lot from Mr. G.  I learned a ton of useless information that he read from books.  Mr. G taught me to play the Native American Flute that I can play with my nose.  He taught me how to pick good role models to fashion my life after.  He taught me that if you dress the part, walk the part, you become the part.  He taught about mental energy and how it can affect me and others around me such as optimism.  Just thinking an optimistic thought can help me start conversations with others and can in turn change my life.

Mr. Jim.  Mr. Jim is a very strong man who didn’t allow me to be anything but myself and the best I can be.  Mr. Jim is athletic and super calm.  I do not count him as “insane” per se, but he is a great guy and I look up to him.  Mr. Jim taught me how to be more patient and how to be calmer.

Flower.  Flower used to babysit me and has grown to be my tutor.  I once locked her out of the house by taping the door with duct tape.  But that was only because she suggested that I use Duct Tape.  I first tried to tape the door with electrician tape.  Flower is small and wears cat ears.  She reads Manga and watches Animes and listens to all sorts of music; especially foreign.  Flower likes the colors purple, blue, black and silver.  She has a dog named Lightning and a Cockatoo named Joey who tells her she is “bad.”  Flower is from California and she taught me to eat Sushi. 

Shimmy Dude.  Shimmy Dude is extremely random.  Shimmy Dude is bald.  He is always singing and doing the Shimmy in class.  He taught me what a Flash Mob is.  Shimmy Dude is my hero.  Shimmy Dude is helping me realize I do not have to be perfect and that he thinks a great deal of me even if I make mistakes.

The Quack.  The Quack is a hoot.  He is one of the best teachers I have ever had.  Whenever I ask him a question, he makes a quack noise.  If the Quack were a color he would be turquoise because he is calm and laid back and has a really tender heart – especially for kids that are having struggles.  He is not afraid to talk to you as long as you need it.