Monday, June 11, 2012

LAST BLOGPOST EVER!!!!!!!! SCORE!

The book  Luna by Julie Anne Peters was a truly inspiring book. Through out the book Luna is trying to let herself out. She had had to cover herself with the identity of a boy because she was afraid that others were not going to accept her for who she really was. Luna was confined to just her bedroom. The only person who knew both sides of her was her little sister. I found this to be really interesting because the book is not in Luna's perspective. It's in her sisters. Its interesting because the book is about Luna yet its in the eyes of her sister, which is cool because now you can really see the transition from her boy side to her girl side.
       I think during the last 1/4 of the book is when Luna realizes that its ok to be who she is. To let everyone know the side of her that she wants to be all the time and that she enjoys being. She realizes that she shouldn't cover up, she should embrace it. Her sister helped her realize that. She pushed her to try more, to break out of her bedroom and be Luna in another place. Luna took a huge step when she did that. She went to a mall far far away from her neighborhood. Although it may not have been where she lives or where any of the people in her neighborhood it was good. There were still many people around her and that counts because she had never done anything like that before. Her sister was very proud of her at that moment for overcoming a fear.  I felt bad for Luna when someone at that mall made fun of her, it kind of set her back from this big step she took. But it was ok because after some convincing from her sister she went back another day.
      I think Luna's support system wasn't very good for her. Since she only told her sister she didn't have a lot of people to help her come out. Once she told her best friend she had another person to help her feel comfortable as Luna. Everything went spiralling down when she came out to her parents. It wasn't that he  liked boys,  it was that he was a transvestite and didn't think that he wasn't born to be a boy. He became Luna and everything was better for him. Luna's parents didn't understand that. They were ashamed and embarrassed. Luna's father even hit her. He told her that if she did not turn back into a boy then there was no place for him in that household. It may be harsh but that's how some families are. I don't think that is right though. Parents are supposed to be supported and love their child unconditionally yet his parents were fine with her leaving if she didn't be who they wanted her to be.
       I'm very proud of Luna at the end of the book. She overcame what she was trying to do throughout the whole book. She faced her fears and came out. Despite what other may have said when she dressed up and went out. Despite what her parents thought and said. She became a great role model for her little sister who looked up to her and helped her achieve what she did. The way Luna grew up was becoming who she wanted to be and forgetting what everyone else thought and wanted her to be. She did it slowy but eventually learned that it is her body and she can do what she feels like it with it.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Luna (1/2 through book)

     My main character in the book Luna faces the biggest challenge of all. He has to hide who he truly is. When he was born, he was born a male. As he grew up he realized that he wasn't really a male, on the outside it may seem as if he were but on the inside he was female. What his body looked like was just his exterior inside he was really a girl screaming to get out. Afraid of what everyone may think he hides. In public he is a regular guy, the type all girls fawn over and wish they could be his. But in the privacy of his room, his true self comes out. When in his room he turns into she and she is called Luna. She is what you call a transvestite. It's when you are born one way but inside you truly believe that you are the opposite and you transform to the way YOU see yourself. That is one thing Luna cant do, she cant transform her self like other transvestites do. She is too scared of the consequences so she hides the only other person that knows her true  self is her little sister. It is hard for him to not show his Luna side in public. Sometimes he slips and she comes out.
     Do you know how hard that is? To lock yourself away from everyone. To hide your feelings, thoughts and appearance. So far Luna hasnt revealed herself. She has thought of it, but has not attempted it.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Break Essay

     The article "Turn Off Your TV!" by Alice Park is all about turning off your TV and getting up to save  your life! This article explains how sitting down watching TV is not helping your health. Every minute spent staring at that screen is a minute you could have spent outside enjoying nature, getting exercise. 


      You sit down and take minutes and hours of your day staring at a large screen for entertainment. Those are minutes and hours you are taking out of day and life. The article said that studies "found that people who watched an average six hours of TV a day lived an average 4.8 years less than those who didn't watch any television."  Six hours each day that take about five years of your life away. Six hours that could have been spent doing something else that would take the same time and yet not take anything away from you.


     Instead of sitting down, inside, doing nothing but watch TV you could go outside. Take a breath of fresh air, smell the flowers, take a walk. Enjoy the sunlight and enjoy your full life!  According to Lennert Veerman, "exercise is good. Even light physical activity also improves health." So why not take a little exercise? It could prevent you from developing diseases such as diabetes or heart problems. You still need exercise, even if you try to adjust your diet so you can watch more TV.


      In conclusion sitting down watching TV is not a healthy way to spend your time. It takes time out of your life while you're watching it and in the long run years more. So go outside, enjoy the world as it is and get in shape. Don't sit on your butt all day and put your life in jeopardy of health issues.

Break homework

      The blogs I liked were Joyce's post and Ruby's post.
What I liked about Joyce's post was that she really thought about the two male characters Gale and Peeta. She considered all they have done, said and thought throughout all three books and put it into one paragraph. She wrote their good qualities as well as their bad qualities. Joyce also included her thoughts about each character. She gave her input on which she would prefer by saying she agreed with Katniss' choice in the end. What I liked about Ruby's post was that she really explained why she liked Much Ado About Nothing. She went into details about the setting of the play, how they went from every angle of the room. What I also liked is that she used her knowledge of the play already and compared it to what she saw, she noticed that the time the play was set in was different from the time the play was originally set in.
     A way I can improve my blogs to make them as well as the others, is to go into detail more. I often keep things simple and vague. I don't really go deeper into what i say and I think i have to fix that. I should elaborate more on what my opinion is and also some of the events that happen in my responses.


      The student messed up when they copied what the website said completely. They took it word for word and didn't cite it. She plagiarised to a tee and didn't mention where she got that information from. 

        Three ways to avoid plagiarising is to re- read the article or story once or twice and then put it away and write from what you remember reading. You wont know things word for word and will only remember the important things. Another way to avoid plagiarising is to quote the piece you read. The last way to avoid plagiarising is to take quick notes while reading and then refer to them when writing.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Reading Response 4

      The play "Much ado about nothing" was much more confusing then i thought it would be. We took a class or workshop during class one day and it all seemed easy to understand. The plot was clear and the characters were easy to understand. but once i saw the play i was confused at who the characters were and that made it harder to process.
      I think all of Shakespeare's plays all center around one topic. Love. Much ado about nothing had a same problem Romeo and Juliet had. They had love that was interfered with by other people. Also while there was love there was a lot of hate in it too.

     Although I was confused at the beginning of the play by the end I understood it better. It was actually a very good play. I found it sad and unfortunate that he thought Hero had died and that she had played him but in the end everything was sorted out and she was there for him and still loved Hero.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Reading Response 3

    The book I'm currently reading is the second book in the Hunger Games Series, Catching Fire. The first book was truly remarkable and the second is also very good so far.
   The character I favor is not who everyone favors. Everyone loves Katniss Everdean and although i do like her Peeta Mellark is my absolute favorite.
   He will do anything for love. For his love of his life, Katniss. She may not love him back, but he doesn't care. He will look after her for as long as they shall both live. He saved her once in the Hunger Games and now that they have to go back in for the Querrell Quartile  he is set on saving them both again. On the other hand Katniss is set on saving him.
  Peeta is a truly remarkable person. He has a giant heart and is nice to everyone. Even Gale who is the guy Katniss loves. Peeta doesn't hate Gale or try to hurt him in any way. I guess he tries to hurt him with kindness? If so it seems to work. No one doesn't like Peeta. He is nice to everyone and looks after everyone. He is strong willed and talented too. He has a passion for art and can draw magnificently according to what it tells you in each book.
    So far he is alive and is my favorite, I have to keep reading so I find out what happens to him and if he will still be my favorite.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Reading Response 2

      Romeo and Juliet is legit my favorite book. Or atleast one of them. It tells the cute story of true love. Romeo and Juliet's parents may hate each other but they dont hate each other.
     From the moment they first laid eyes on each other it was unexpected. Romeo had gone to that party in search of making Rosaline notice him and fall in love with him. As soon as he saw juliet, Rosaline was old news. He even took off his mask revealing who he was. He danced with her and had the courage to go up to her and charm her. He kissed her and spoke with such words you would dream to hear.
    Juliet on the other hand was not there for Romeo. It was mandatory for her to go to that party because her parents were the ones throwing it, but she was looking for Count Paris. Her mother and father made arrangements for her to marry count Paris if she desired. Her goal that night was to look for him. But once she saw Romeo you could tell the sparks flew.
    They both shared that connection that everyone dreams to have with someone. They knew not of each other but with a simple look it was as if they had seen each other a million times before. I wish i had what they have. an unspoken love connection, it just runs through them. When they see each other its  as if all of taylor swifts songs play on repeat (even know she wasnt alive then haha)

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Reading Response 1

Dear Friend,
      I like this book of Romeo and Juliet. The language may be hard to understand and confusing, but once you read the definitions it all becomes clear. Romeo is my favorite character. He has a love and he will do anything and go to extents like attending the Monty's party just to see her. He speaks of her so kindly and wants her more than anything, it's so cute.
     Juliette is also a very nice character. She is having sort of an arranged marriage, but in two years to a prince. Her parents approve of the guy. I think she is way too young to get married. She hasnt even met other guys yet and her parents are already trying to set her up when she's only 12. I think she should make a decision her self.
 Well bye! i havent read enough to add on.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Shakespeare's Sonnet 75

       This sonnet is about someone's love for another person. It describes how they cant go a day without them by comparing them to food or to money depending on who the person is. So love is the theme. Shakespeare I feel puts his true feelings and thoughts into his sonnets and makes them somehow connect to his plays like romeo and juliet, again with love being the main thing in both things.
     I chose this sonnet of Shakespeare's because it seemed the more challenging than the others. It was hard to decipher and put into my words using ten syllables but i did it and i think it helped me to look beyond just regular love but to look deeper and see how much he really cares for this person. The words he used and the metaphors he used all describe true un-dying love. one that cant be replaced and never grows old.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Sonnet

My darling you send me to another place.
Oh when I see you my heart skips a beat.
It is like ive gone into outerspace.
It is hard to walk to the right beat.
So maybe I think that our love is true.
You are the light thats is shining brightly.
Oh baby it is just the thought of you.
That makes everyday just as lovely.
You love me too its a matter of fact.
My hearts about to burst into pieces.
Oh it must be true, it was in our pact.
You are the one to put me together.

You are my sunshine my lovely darling.
I wont let go you're my everything.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Poems

(haiku) Poetry Is...
Poetry is words,
Strung together by feelings.
It is life, summed up.

What Happens To An Isolated Person?
Do they go
Insane?
Or stay the same?
Are they really
alone?
Can you reach them?
Talk on the phone,
Message on the computer?

They need a friend,
To find them.
Can you be there?


Migrant Mother Photo
What is next?
Have I let my family
down?
I try. I try.
To help.
Where will we end up?
So many questions,
not to many
answers.
I try. I try.
To help.

I look out,
at the
vast
open land.
What has happened?
My forehead,
filled with crinkles
and wrinkles.

I will. I will.
Keep my children
Safe and Sound.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Artwork/Artist post

     Dorothea Lange, born on the 26th of May in 1895 and died on the 11th of October in 1965. She was born and grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey. As a kid she caught a disease called polio. She had to walk with a limp for the remainder of her life. Although she did have to do that she still said that her damaged foot made her work hard and made her stronger and more understanding. She took so much pride in herself that she took a photo of her foot one day and kept it ever since. ONce she was out of college she wanted to be a photographer, even though she didnt know how to even use a camera. She wanted to be a photographer because of her imagination and her interest in people. She left New York and went to California. She met a western painter named Maynard Dixon and eventually got married to him in 1922. Over time she has two boys with him John and Dan. Her relationship didnt go well and she got separated from him while sending her boys to boarding school. She met a guy named Paul Taylor and he convinced her to have her first show at a small California gallery in 1934. She got married to Paul Taylor in 1935. She lived a long life full of photography and eventually died of cancer in her esophagus.
           Dorothea Lange became a photographer during the time of the great depression. Most of her photos are of the different families she came across during the great depression. The photos are all in black and white. They all show the struggle people went through, and how worried they were because they didn't know what was next. She loved taking pictures with this one camera of hers. It was big and bulky and hard to carry but she loved it any way. She said that with that camera it made her steady herself and take the time to focus on what she was taking a picture of.
         The picture I focused on was called Migrant Mother and was taken in 1936. It was a black and white photo of a mother during the great depression. She's sitting with her hand to her mouth showing stress. Her kids are around her and it's like she cant see them or she doesn't notice them. You can see the creases or wrinkles on her forehead. Her mouth looks like its frowning a bit, and her eyes look sad. Her clothes look raged and layered. The whole picture looks a bit dirty. The woman's face and her childrens arms looked shades of gray. You can tell the depression affected many people and in this photograph you may not be able to see where they are living or what they are living in but you can see the concern and worry and hurt that hits through the mothers eyes and slight frown. This photo is very powerful and is claimed to be one of the most famous pictures of the depression.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Reading Response #3

     The book "Tan Lines" is riveting and reminds me of summer.
Just the tittle its self tan lines, screams summer.
     Although I have just started reading the book it has pulled me in. The bond these girls have in the summer is so strong. Their friendship conquers all. They may have little tiffs and pull foolish antics but they get over it and they make up. Its shows that they have a connection that can go through the toughest of problems.
   Now summer also screams boys. These girls dont let any boy come between them. Whether a boy is taking Summer to walk on the beach, or taking Marquez to the park, or taking Diana to the boardwalk. These boys will do anything for them. Too bad Summers got a boyfriend all the way across the united states. What will she do now that a new boy had his eyes on her? guess i'll gave to keep reading to find out

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Reading Response #2 Spoiler alert...

      It only took me maybe 2 or 3 days to finish this book "I Heart You You Haunt Me" by Lisa Schroeader and it was one of the best books i have read so far.
In my last response I kept wondering why my main character Ava, blamed herself for her boyfriends death. On every page she revealed more and more, little by little. As I read on I found the answer. They liked to play "dare" a lot. She dared him to jump off a rock into a waterfall of water. It seemed harmless, but when he did it, he never came back up. He hit his head on a rock when he dove under, and died. She blamed herself because she dared him to do it.
     Through out this whole book, Ava carries around this guilt. But what she doesnt know is that her boyfriend doesnt want her to feel guilty. He follows her around as a ghost and she thinks its because he still loves her and wants her to be with him. But she's wrong. Yes, he does still love her and he wishes he could be with her, but not like that. Not in ghost form. Since he cant come back, he wants her to move on. He wants to take the guilt away from her so that she can be happy.
Her friends try to help her move on but it doesnt work so well. She mopes around for days and becomes distant with all her friends. The only person that makes her feel remotely better is her friends crush, Lyric. Ava met him when she went away with her parents and he was the only one that could take her sadness away, but she couldnt do that to her friend. She couldnt take away her closest' friends happiness for her own.
    In the end, Ava lets all her guilt go away with the ghost. She stays true to her friendship and keeps Lyric as just a friend. She gets back to her self and lets her sorrows fade away. That is one thing I admire about Ava. Her change and acceptance at the end of the book.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Reading Response

           "I Heart You, You Haunt Me" by Lisa Schroeder is quite a haunting and mysterious book. From what I have read so far I can tell that my main character Ava feels guilty for some reason. I think she believes she is the reason her boyfriend is dead. I dont know why she thinks that or what evidence there is to prove that she did cause his death but I feel bad for her.
       It sounds like she really loved him. She still does. She gets looked at by everyone in this weird way, Like they know she has done something wrong. What I am really wondering is how did her boyfriends die? How could she be of blame for it?
     As I read on Jackson (Ava's dead boyfriend) started to visit her as a ghost. She cant exactly see him, or hear him very well, but he makes signs for her. Such as opening cabinets and her dresser drawers. One of the most thoughtful hints Jackson gives Ava is turning on the cd player and playing a song that explains how he feels depending on the days events.