A Starry Night

The dark night rolls in after the sun sets
It starts out pitch black but then one by one
A million small stars pour out of buckets
Twinkling like fireflies out of the sun

Frightening things can happen in the dark
But the stars in the sky help guide the way
Couples will walk peacefully through the park
Gazing at the twinkling stars in mid-May

Night crawlers and tiny rodents saunter
Into the new night scene set before them
All of the town people and their brother
Will see the gorgeous sky made just for them

And although the stars come out every night
I still gawk at the brilliance of their light

The Old Man and the Sea writing assignment

The Old Man and the Sea essay assignment

In many movies and books, the protagonist has to over come obstacles and problems that many everyday people wouldn’t have to worry about. Some of these obstacles could be as complex as trying to stop a shark from attacking you and as simple as getting a good grade on a test so you can hang out with your friends that weekend. In the novella, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago has to overcome both types of obstacles on his quest to catch possibly the largest marlin ever.

The first obstacle the old man is forced to face, is the fact that he hasn’t caught a fish in over 84 days and he was “finally salao, which is the worst form of unlucky”(9). None of the other fishermen wanted to help him thinking that he would jinks them too. This was a difficult struggle for Santiago to overcome because he wasn’t used to not catching anything over an extended amount of time. Although he was used to the rejection and not having many friends, it still took a toll on him to not have anyone supporting him.

Another problem that Santiago encountered during this story was when he was being pulled out to sea by the marlin and his hand started cramping. At first he wasn’t sure what do to and he was a little worried that he was going to lose the fish if he tried to reposition his hand. “It will uncramp though, he thought. Surely it will uncramp to help my right hand…It is unworthy of it to be cramped” (64) he said. He kept positive and with the help of drinking some water, eating some of the dolphin, and gradually flexing and relaxing his hand, his cramp went away and he was able to continue chasing the marlin.

The final obstacle Santiago is faced with, is trying to stop the sharks from eating the marlin he tried so hard to catch. “‘Ay,’ the old man said. ‘Galanos. Come on galanos’”(108). Santiago knows that this will be his last battle and he has a higher chance of losing than anything else. Knowing this, he goes into the battle head on using all the courage he had left. He uses his anger towards everyone who didn’t believe in him, and his anger toward the sharks because they are going to steal his catch. The physical strength he already has and the mental strength don’t combine to make him strong enough to beat the sharks and he ends up losing the marlin. The old man is defeated but he never really gave up.

As you can see, there have been many obstacles Santiago was faced with that he had to overcome throughout the course of the book. Some struggles were less severe than others, but he still had to work through them to be able to finish his task; catch the marlin. Like his hand getting cramped, it wasn’t the worst thing that could every happen to him, but it was another thing that added to his list of problems and it definitely did not help him in his quest to catch the marlin. On the other hand, having the sharks come and attack his marlin was probably the worst thing that happened. He had finally caught the gigantic marlin and was on his way back home when, of course, a couple of sharks happen to notice that he has a fish strapped to the side of his boat. The sharks end up eating the whole fish and there was nothing the old man could do about it. Although Santiago didn’t end up triumphant, and considering the fact that he had to overcome so many things, he still learned a lot on his journey and that’s what really counts.

Not So Sweet Sixteen

Two years ago on my 16th birthday, I almost died. I remember all the days’ events as if it was yesterday. I woke up promptly and lethargically at 5:45 like I do every Friday morning for school. The only thing different about this morning was that it was my 16th birthday and I woke to my parents and older brother singing happy birthday to me in various keys, with a big birthday breakfast made just for me. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Jamie, happy birthday to you!” they sang in unison, it was dreadful and out of tune but I loved it anyway.
I felt a joyous countenance spread across my face and Edward placed the breakfast tray on my lap. There was a candle sticking in my stack of pancakes which I made a wish on and quickly blew it out. They clapped and my mom kissed my forehead, “Happy birthday, baby,” she whispered in my ear. Edward plopped a green and blue wrapped box next to me on the bed, and walked out the door. Finally, my parents left so I could get ready for school. I quickly shoveled the food into my mouth and ripped open the box. “AHHHHHHHH!!” I screamed shrilly, startling the dogs. Edward was the first one to show up in my doorway.
“Happy birthday!” he said, pulling me into a stalwart bear hug.
“You got me a CAR!”
“Well, mom and dad are getting me a new one, you get the old mustang.” I stared at him for a while in shock, not too sure what to say next. “Well,” he started, “we better get ready for school. Don’t want to be late!” he sauntered toward my door but paused when I sighed.
“This, is going to be a very good day. I can feel it.” I said. He smiled at me and walked down the hall to his room.
It took me longer to get ready than normal because of the nerves. I wasn’t too sure what to wear, so I pulled on my favorite jeans and a new shirt I got from my cousin. Car keys in hand, I skipped down the stairs into the kitchen where Edward was waiting for me.
“You wanna drive?” he questioned, as if he had to ask.
“Yes!” I said a little too quickly. He laughed opening the door for me. I stalked out onto the lawn pausing to feel a soft eddy blow back my hair. In the driveway I could see the red mustang. Someone had put a pink ribbon on it as if it was new. I ran to the driver seat and jumped in, ignoring the handle on the door. Edward chuckled as he raced to grab shot gun and hopped in the car.
I felt the silent car suddenly come to life as I turned the key in the ignition. It shook under me and I turned to smile at Edward. I turned up my favorite station and deftly pulled out of my driveway. “Eeeh!” I yelped out of excitement. I saw Edward smile out of the corner of my eye.
“You like it?” he asked.
“Yes! I love it thank you sooooo much. This is the best birthday present ever!” and it really was the best birthday present ever, I think everyone in my school would concur that a red mustang convertable is the best birthday present any 16 year old could get. "All my friends will abhor me," I thought to myself. I had a strange compunction in the pit of my stomach as I drove over the escarpment to the end of our street; the busiest intersection in all of Los Angles. The light was green for me so I went right through not looking for any traffic from the right or left. Just as my favorite song came on, Edward yelled, “JAMIE! Watch out!” at first I had no idea what he was talking about. I was driving on the right side of the road and I didn’t miss a stop sign. I was only going 30 mph on a 35, what was wrong? Then suddenly I looked to my left and there it was, the big ‘watch out’. There was a huge truck coming right at me and it didn’t look like they had any intention of stopping.
I capriciously slammed on the brake, stalling the car and lurching us forward. Almost instantaneously the truck rammed into the front end of my new car. Just then everything went black. I heard the faint sounds of sirens and the effluvia of gasoline and blood as I slipped into unconsciousness.
I guess it was a few hours until I woke up again, I was in a white hospital room and I could hear the beeping of the various monitors on the wall behind me. My mom was sitting in the chair in the corner of the room.
“Mom?” I managed feeble, “what happened?”
“Oh Jamie! I was so scared, are you alright?”
“Yes mom, I’m fine. I just have an awful headache and my arms and legs hurt. What happened?”
“Honey, you got in a car accident on your way to school. It wasn’t your fault, the guy in the other lane didn’t stop.”
“Oh my gosh, is Edward ok?” I started to remember what happened and realized Edward was in the car with me.
“Yes, he’s fine. He just has a broken leg. The doctors are putting a cast on him right now. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with me? Like, what injuries do I have?”
“The doctors say you have a concussion and you broke some ribs. Your left elbow is fractured and both your legs are broken. They said they had to wait till you woke up to put on any casts, but your on tons of pain meds which will probably make you fall back asleep any second.”
“Mom, I don’t want to go back to sleep. I want to see Edward.”
“Ok, I’ll make sure you see him right when you wake up again.”
“But mom…” and that was it, I was out cold.
Now, on my 18th birthday, I look back on that irrevocable, fateful day exactly two years ago. I think to myself, “I should’ve died. The accident was in the paper the next day questioning how I was still alive. I shouldn’t still be living, I should be dead right now.” But then I realized, I’m alive because I’m meant to be in this world. Someone kept me here for some reason and for that, I am truly thankful.

Utten And Plumley

First Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Utten and Plumley by Reade Scott Whinnem. Hampton Roads, 2003.

Utten and Plumley, is a book about the adventures of Utten, Plumley, and Corker. Utten is a 2 in tall man who can transform himself into a little blue bird, Plumley is a grumpy old man who all his life just wanted to be left alone, and Corker is Plumley’s dog who is a good friend to keep him company. Over the course of the story, the main setting changes, but the most main would be Plumley’s house; the old boarding school for boys which he used to attend. In the beginning of the story, Utten is dared to go to Plumley’s house by his friends Cranston (who is a giant), and Woody (who is Cranston’s pet ant). He goes to the house and sure enough, befriends Plumley and Corker who aren’t really who Cranston makes them out to be. Utten and Corker decide to go back in time to Plumley’s childhood, so that they can see what about it made him so miserable as an old man, and they try to change that by taking him on an adventure! The rest of the book is about how the three musketeers have to over come all these obstacles to get back home.
“Utten uses his brains and his magical skills to survive the ordeal, but when his magic backfires, he falls sixty years into the past to the doorstep of the horrid Liverstanes Boarding School for Boys.”
This book is basically written in the third person ominous because it seems like there’s a narrator who is overlooking all of the events, and then describing them to the reader. In this book, Plumley is very stubborn, so the author uses sarcasm to show that. Also, he will just have Plumley say the rudest thing whenever someone tries to be nice to him.
This writing style reminded me a lot of the series The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants because the author, Ann Brasheres uses sarcasm to describe Tibby’s personality. I think that in a way, Tibby and Plumley are a lot a like because for the most part, they both go around hating the world and everyone around them just because. But near the end of the books they both change into more worldly people, and go out of their way to help each other.
“No!” shouted Plumley. He backed towards the door. “No! It’s mine! It’s my life, and you can’t have it!” (188)
I really enjoyed this book because it has a very simple meaning on the surface, but underneath its all about life, and how people can really affect you, hopefully for the best. In the end, Corker and Plumley both die, but at least Plumley died a changed man, and Corker died knowing that she helped a friend whom she really loved. I can relate to this book because there are so many times when I would just go around screaming things about how much I hated my life, and how bad everything was. But now when I do that, I can think back to this book and think about how much Plumley changed and his frustration and anger was way worse than mine, so if he could changes I bet anyone could. I think the theme of the book would be to never take anything for granted, and really cherish your friends and people who try to be there for you because it can only help you in the long run.

A Christmas With Hubbles

At a time when gas prices are high and the demand for expensive jewelry is all the rage, we should really be focusing on what we value. Is it really our most expensive belongings we value the most? Or is it the priceless moments we share with loved ones that we live for? For me, I value both. Often times, it’s the more expensive items I value most because you wouldn’t blow $300 on just anything. But then I take time to think about all the good times, the priceless moments I share with family and friends, and that always makes me realize how lucky I am.

For some reason, two years ago when I was in sixth grade, I started having this strange obsession over turtles. Was it the name I liked? Was it the cute little face that made me love it? Or was it just a silly stage I was going through? Whatever the reason, I was in love with turtles and ever since then I’d been begging to have one as a pet.
It was a normal morning, except for the fact that it was my birthday. I go down the stairs following the aroma of sizzling bacon, frying eggs and the sound of the toaster saying the bagels were done. It was the perfect birthday breakfast. I saunter into the kitchen to find my mom chatting on the phone with someone. With all the running around we do, it wasn’t out of the ordinary to see her on the phone, so I just go over to the stove, get my breakfast, and sit down at the kitchen table.
All the sudden my mom gets really quiet on the phone, which only makes me listen harder. Then she goes into the next room so that I couldn’t hear her at all. I sneak to the doorway and listen through the crack. I hear her say something about a turtle and automatically my ears perk up. The thought of a turtle had been talked about for the past few days and it was finally my birthday, could it be that I was going to get my turtle?
Finally, my mom gets off the phone after what seemed like hours and I just had to know who she was talking to. "Who was on the phone?" I ask her repeatedly because she doesn’t answer me. Then finally, she says, “Go get dressed and be in the car in 10 minuets.” I had an idea about where we might be going but I didn’t want to get my hopes up only to find that I wouldn’t be getting my turtle today. By the time I’m in the car, I’m still totally clueless and everyone is waiting for me. When we start to pull out of the drive way, my brother comes up from behind me and blind folds me. Then my other brother ties my hands together behind my back.
The car stopped about 15 minuets later and everyone gets out. My mom comes around to the side to help me out because I’m still blind folded. The sun beats down on my head as we walk toward something that at the moment I can’t see. We walk into a building and air conditioning hits me like a brick wall. I hear people fumbling with something around me. Suddenly, the fabric comes off from around my eyes and it takes a while for them to adjust to the light. Something is put into my hands and its kicking and scratching my fingers. I look down and see a beautiful Russian Tortoise. I was so surprised to see him I almost dropped him!
Now Hubbles, my turtle, is two years old. (He’s probably older but I’ve only had him that long). After the cage, lights, water bowl, cave rocks, and Hubbles himself, the total was about $300. Then there’s the monthly expense of food and rabbit pellets for his bedding which comes up to about $15 to $20.

My favorite time of year is always Christmas. I love how the wind whips through my hair, and the way the trees look after a snowy night. I love the way the morning sun looks on the snowy ground, but most of all, I love spending time with my family.
Every Christmas, we go to my grandparents’ house along with all 10 zillion of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and some miscellaneous family friends with no where else to go. When we first get to their house, we wait around for everyone else to get there which usually takes about an hour. When everyone is there and settled, my papa goes over to the Christmas tree in front of the windows, and one by one starts handing out gifts. We each start with one present each and go around the room watching people open their presents, and politely waiting for our turn to open our own. We go around like that until all the presents are opened.
When we are done opening presents, all the ‘kids,’ which include my cousins and I, sit in a circle and comment on everyone else’s presents, while the parents go into the kitchen and prepare all the food. At around 3:30, we put our presents away and go into the kitchen to sit down for Christmas dinner. Before we eat, we stand around the table in a circle holding hands, and say grace. Then my papa goes to the center of the table, and carves the turkey. All at once, we dig into our Christmas meals and all you can hear for the next hour is the clinking of forks on plates.

I value both my turtle and Christmas dinners for different reasons. I value my turtle because he cost a lot of money, and because he’s something that I’d wanted for a really long time. I value Christmas dinners with my family because my family is spread out all over, meaning we rarely get to see each other. So Christmas dinner at my grandparents house isn’t just about celebrating our religion, it’s a chance for me to hang out with my cousins whom I very rarely get to see.
My turtle and Christmas dinners are alike because they both allow me to spend time with family. I always feel comfort when I’m with loved ones at dinner, and I have the same feeling when I’m sitting at home doing homework next to Hubbles’ cage. In all honesty, I couldn’t put prices on either of my values, no matter how expensive they might truly be. They mean way too much to me, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything else in the world.