Belt Blog

     Just like Chris McCandless, I'd make a belt that explained important things in my life. I'd pick a belt because I'd be able to wear it around, and it would be seen and shown off more rather than having a painting or a collage in my house. Some of the things I'd put on my belt would be:

1. A barn: I would choose a barn because I've practically lived in a barn since I was 5. I'm always at horse farms, working in barns and hanging out in barns, taking care of horses, and just spending every second I had at a horse farm.
2. My first horse's race #: My first horse meant the world to me. He was a retired race horse, and he impacted my life more than anything. He is one horse I'll never forget in my life, and his race number truly means a lot to me.
3. A surf board: Ever since I was 3 my family has owned a beach house in Sea Colony, Bethany Beach. In the summer, I spend as much time as I can at the beach. I love to surf, therefore, I would put a surf board on my belt.
4. A shamrock: Since I'm extremely Irish, I would put a shamrock on my belt. But, I would also put a shamrock on my belt because both of my grandfathers (one that recently died, and another that died before I was born) were very proud of their Irish heritage and made sure people knew it by putting shamrocks wherever they could.
5. The name "Fortunata"- I would put the name "Fortunata" on my belt because it is my great-grandmother's first name. She impacted my life when I was little, always giving me advice about fashion and sharing family stories, but now she suffers from Alzheimer's in the nursing home.
6. The initials "R.H.C.F."- I would put the initials "R.H.C.F" on my belt because they are my pony's initials. My pony is my absolute best friend and I don't know what I'd do without out here. She's one of the most important things I have in my life, which means she deserves to be on my belt.
7. The #'s "6770"- I would put the numbers "6770" on my belt because 1967 is the year my dad was born, and 1970 was the year my mom was born. They are the two people that have impacted my life the most, and without them I'd be nothing.
8. Finally, the street sign "Madeline Avenue"- Madeline Avenue is where I've lived my entire life. Between the other kids that I grew up with on Madeline Avenue and the memories I have, Madeline Avenue has been the best thing that has ever happened to me; I couldn't have asked for a better place to grow up.

As you can see, all the thing I've chosen to put on my belt mean an extraordinary amount to me. Without any of those things I wouldn't be who I am today. That's is why I would chose those 8 symbols to put on my belt.

Kentucky- A Destination I Would Love To Visit

Kentucky

http://www.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://bluegrasstours.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/twinspires.jpg&sa=X&ei=X39ZTf-DJsOdgQfnn6mhDA&ved=0CAQQ8wc4GA&usg=AFQjCNGjcZSmJKy9lCB4sfdqR5S1_0vSBg

  
      Even though there are many places throughout the United States I'd like to visit, I'd have to say Kentucky is first on the list. I've always wanted to visit Kentucky because they're known for horse racing, horse farms, and thoroughbred horses. I love watching horse racing, and I used to have a thoroughbred race horse. Also, I love to visit different horse farms and see the different types of barns and farm houses. The weather is different all year-round in Kentucky, and I love that it's not hot or cold all the time. Kentucky seems that it would be a comfortable and fun place for me to visit.

     First, I would get to Kentucky by either plane or car. Kentucky isn't that far away, so the car ride wouldn't be ridiculously long. Next, I would stay at a Bed&Breakfast. The reason I'd stay in a Bed&Breakfast is because they are usually small, home-like, places to stay that show Kentucky's beautiful scenery. Then, I'd set out to one of the hundred horse farms in Kentucky for a nice, relaxing trail ride. But, if I stay at a special Bed&Breakfast, I could bring my own horses, keep them on the Bed&Breakfast property, and trail ride on the Bed&Breakfast trails. Also, I could go to Churchill Downs, in Louisville, and experience an amazing horse race. After my trail ride or horse race, I could spend my time exploring the numerous antique shops and flea markets that Kentucky offers. Finally, I could end my days in Kentucky by eating at a restaurant that offers a few of Kentucky's well known dishes which are: Kentucky hot brown, Kentucky burgoo, Kentucky wine, Kentucky bourbon, Kentucky Derby mint julep, and most of all Kentucky fried Chicken.

     I believe Kentucky would be a very special and sentimental place for me to visit in my life time. Between horse racing and relaxing trail rides, Kentucky seems like the perfect vacation spot for me. That is why I would like to visit Kentucky.
http://www.kentuckytourism.com/

http://www.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://kentucky.apwa.net/chapters/kentucky/images/photo_lg_kentucky.jpg&sa=X&ei=R39ZTZPYC4GugQeh4qyuDA&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNEbUBPPQMXkzSpzLZeUtSUnk4OT9w

Jon Krakauer Biography

Jon Krakauer

     Jon Krakauer is a well-known author that has written 3 books, so far, in his life time. Krakauer was born in 1954, and grew up in Oregon. After graduating from Hampshire College in 1976, Jon Krakauer spent most of his free time mountaineering, something he's loved to do since his father introduced it to him when he was 8. Throughout the years, Krakauer has gone on many expeditions. But, in 1996 Krakauer and 5 other climbers decided to climb Mt. Everest. During the journey, 4 of the 5 climbers died in a tragic accident, and Krakauer decided to write a magazine article about it. The article won the National Magazine Award, and Krakauer then decided to continue on and write a book, "Into Thin Air," and it became New York Times #1 best seller, along with many other awards. After writing this book, he established a memorial fund for the 4 climbers that died during the expedition, and kept on writing new books. Jon Krakauer has won many awards and prizes for his writings, and he is now known throughout the world today.
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/krakauer/author.html

Into The Wild, Amazing and True. -Kelly McCloskey, English Project

http://www.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews35/into%2520the%2520wild%2520sean%2520penn/into%2520the%2520wild%2520PDVD_030.jpg&sa=X&ei=yH9ZTdbeLIXpgQfcqJ26DA&ved=0CAQQ8wc4aQ&usg=AFQjCNHr12Di--7Pk9JZKsNLdwONgA2N_Q

Into The Wild

By: Jon Krakauer

    "Into The Wild" is an extraordinary true-life novel/movie of the life of Chris McCandless, or otherwise known as "Alexander Supertramp." Throughout this novel, author Jon Krakauer shares the amazing things McCandless did on his two-year wilderness hike from 1990-1992. McCandless ran into many different obstacles, and had to make extremely hard decisions, mostly decisions that dealt with life-or death. I believe this novel would show many teens out there that they don't need everything they have in life. McCandless went 2 years without having to deal with technology and many things teens couldn't go 5 minutes without. But, he stayed strong and kept on living this way of life, eating raw vegetables, hunting, and living outdoors. This was all a choice to this man, and he gratefully chose this choice. 

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/krakauer/author.html

Welcome to the 3rd Quarter!

So far, my freshman year has been amazing. English has been really great, too. I didn't really like "A Midsummer's Night Dream," but I love vocabulary. Also, I hope this semester is different than the last by learning more grammar and punctuation. I never learned much of it in middle school, and I feel like I need to learn more to improve my writing. Overall, I'm extremely excited for the 3rd quarter and I can't wait to start it!

Masque of the Red Death

Symbolic Writing for “The Masque of the Red Death”

            In the story, “The Masque of the Red Death,” Edgar Allan Poe uses several different colors to distinguish the different rooms in the mansion and also the many stages of man. One of the colors he used was orange, to symbolize power and growth. He also used orange to symbolize the ages of 18-40’s/50’s. Along with the other colors in the story, the color orange has a great deal to do with the “clock of life,” and it relates to me, in my everyday life.

            Orange plays a major role in the advancement of life and has much to do with the clock of life. The clock of life is the seven stages of man in a nutshell. The color orange is a huge part of the advancement in life because it covers an extraordinary amount of the human life. This span of life would be from the ages of 18-40/50. Much happens between this period in life, such as: college, career opportunities, marriages, families form, children are born, adulthood, new responsibilities, independence from home, and most of all, finally realizing life and its purpose for human beings. As for the clock of life, the ages that are associated with orange are the ages that are the core of most people’s lives. These years are the years when most people are still young, yet successful.

            Between my parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, even family friends, I have many people that are apart of the orange area. Many of these people are huge inspirations to me and I depend on them for numerous things. Without the people that belong to the orange age, my life would be extremely hard and I wouldn’t be able to survive. Most children and teens live off of the people of the orange stage in life. Without the people of the orange group, I would not have wants or needs, such as: money, food, transportation, family, friends, shelter, clothing, and the most extreme of them all, I might not even be alive.

            In, “The Masque of the Red Death,” the room and the color orange notify the people of the ball that this is the core of their life, the years of life that should be enjoyed and cherished most. In reality, the color also symbolizes independence and the power to make your own positive decisions. This stage in life is the middle stepping-stone, so to speak, down the path of life. Once you’ve reached the ages in orange, it’s time to appreciate life, because life on earth is half way over. It’s not a negative point in life because life is almost over, but it’s more of a time to sit back and relax, as you take all your effort and hard work in life and turn it into something you want it to be. As I said before, myself and many other children my age, older and younger, depend on the orange era to take care of them in life until they become a part of the orange stage themselves. Orange is a tremendously important part of the story “The Masque of the Red Death,” life advancement and the life clock, along with my life and many others. 

Advertisement Book of the Month

Learning Their Language

By: Marta Williams

Sodahead.com

     

      Have you ever heard someone say all animals have a personalities of their own? "Learning Their Language," by Marta Williams, truly teaches you how to communicate with animals, along with their special personalities. After reading the first 2 chapters of this book, I already feel as if I can relate to my pets extremely more than I could before. Before reading this book, I was a complete skeptic of being able to talk to animals intuitively, but now I'm an absolute believer of being able to tell what's wrong with your dog when it's not acting the same, or how the monkeys in the zoo feel about being caged all day, every day. I think this is a 5 star book for being able to make me have a closer relationship with my pets, and wildlife in general.