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 The best day of my life.

Ring ring…… ring ring…. Ring ring…

“Who is this? “

 “Get up, its time…”

-Sigh- I remember this as if it happen yesterday… It was December 22, 2009 12:32 pm eastern standard time in the afternoon. I was sleeping in my twin size bed under my dark green sheets and lying on my soft and cozy dark green matching pillow. My brother was sleeping on the floor like a passed out drunk, the room was dark and cold. The phone kept ringing and ringing. My brother and me got really annoyed. I threw my pillow at the phone and it fell, sadly it didn’t shut up. So I get up in anger and picked up the phone like how a Rican is when he’s hungry and there is no food to feed himself (trust me, that get us really angry): humor. I picked up the phone and yelled, “Who in the world is this!!! It’s 12:33 in the afternoon yet you call what can possibly be so important that you must call! Who got shot? Who’s bleeding gallons and gallons of blood? What the hell! Are you this damn mentally challenge!” I breathe and waited for the caller to respond and…. All of a sudden you hear death it self, an angry Puerto Rican lady on the phone talking louder than the Phillies game was when they won the world series: simile and cursing more than a sailor metaphor in Spanish. “Look, calm down alright it’s your mother, shut up and get dress. I’ll be there in 20 minutes so hurry up or you’ll starve” So, I sigh and hung up. Next thing you know, the phone rings again to her screaming, “why didn’t you say good-bye!” I said good-bye and hung up like a gentlemen from the 1970’s. –Humor and simile-

I went to wake up my brother lazy self and he hits me. I called him some bad things and leave. So, I brush my teeth and got dressed and fix my amazing and sexy hair. I took like 40 hours fixing my hair making it exactly how I wanted it. Shining it and making it as awesome as hair can be. I walked down stairs and sat on the sofa and realized “oh god wait, if mom ever caught me sitting on her sixty thousand dollar sofa she would run me over with the car in repeated attempts” humor- I sat on the floor and waited like a good boy. I looked at the clock and it read “1:20pm standard eastern time” I turn on the 52 inc Sony high definition black TV and watched a beautiful and touching Spanish soap opera. Next thing you know “1:45pm standard eastern time” note 20 minutes had gone by. I got up and walked over to the kitchen and there was nothing there just like my stomach. I walked back in anger and waited. Next thing you know, it’s “2:10pm standard eastern time” I got my dark gray t-mobile gravity t touch screen phone and unlocked it opening up the contact list looking for my mother’s number and dialed the number in anger. I waited and waited for her to pick up and she doesn’t. I sigh and walk outside to get the mail. But I forgot that the door was locked. So I got the mail and try to open the door. Sadly, it’s locked. I knock and I knock and I knock so my brother would hear me but he’s still asleep. So I walked around the back and see if the doors open and nope, it’s locked.  I get so angry and threw the mail. I realize that those are the bills and if my mom found out that they were on the floor getting wet and dirty she would kill me… so I quickly picked them up and clean them up and hold them with care and waited hoping my mom gets me. I tried to open the window and success! It opens. I get in like a thief getting inside that store down the street at night simile. And there, my brother is there with a deadly broom and his face filled with anger for waking him up. My heart freezes, hoping he doesn’t hit me with it. He hits me with it.. I tell him “dude, its me calm down calm down” he says “that’s for waking me up stupid!” he leaves and I sit on the floor. I tell myself “what a jerk” then.

I hear the car’s beep and I slowly walk out in pain. I open the door of the blue Honda civic mugen si is waiting outside. I open the door and get in to a screaming woman. “What toke you so long I waited like a minute for you to get in boy, damn!” I sigh and respond to “sorry mom” we drove off and she turns up the music like a million volume bars: hyperbolae up almost blowing my eardrums. Next thing you know. Were at the store that only gods go to “BEST BUY!!!” I get all happy like a kid is when he or she is eating a jumbo ice cream cone. I jump up and down on my seat as I say “mom mom mom mom what cha going to get me huh mom huh” she hits me in the back of the head and tells me to get out… I’m still happy and run inside and look around. She tells me to look around. I look around and like 20 mins later my mom comes and says the water that brought tears to my eyes. “Aidan, get a ps3 box and a cheap game and at that moment. My heart stops and I fell to the floor on my knees. She tells me to get up and stop embarrassing her so I ran to the game section and there. There lies the system of the gods. The sexiest console ever to touch by man. I spend like 60 hours trying to pick out the perfect and best looking box. Hyperbolae I picked up the Sony entertainment play station 3 box and music of the gods begins to play in my head, as I see nothing but happiness and joy. I carry the 60-pound box and once again I spend like 40 hours trying to pick out a game hyperbolae. I then picked out the best game ever to be created, yes, im talking about METAL GEAR SOLID 4 GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS TACTICAL ESPIONOGE ACTION FOR PS3 ONLY BLUE RAY HIGH DEFINATION GAME PLAY tears of joy fall down my cheek and I happily and carefully pick up the game as if it was a trillion dollars. I walk up to my mom almost crying and she pays for the things at the check out counter.

Even though it’s heavy, I carry them by myself to the Honda civic si mugen and hop in. My mom looks happy and so am I. I tell her “thanks mom I love you” she tells me “stop kissing up Aidan” and I smile and look away. Just as I though it couldn’t get any better. We get to burger king and I can get what ever I want. I kiss my mothers cheek and she smacks me. I get a large number 6 with a large DR. Pepper and large fries. As I get the food I reach for a fir and my mom says “boy, touch the fir and I’ll kill you (she hates people eating in her car) So I wait almost close to a heart attack. We get home and I run faster than the flash to my room. I open up the box of the ps3 and I get happy in so many ways. I hook up the system and I have tears of joy and my heart races of how sexy the game is. I pop in mgs4 and I get ready to have my heart and head exploded by the beauty. I wait and wait and bam!!!!!!! There was the legendary hero solid snake smoking a cigarette all-awesome and what not. I wait for the game to load and I play the first mission. The controller is just so sexy and smooth and black and soft and the game is perfect and the sounds, graphics everything is godly amazing. I wasn’t that happen since the time I got my ps2. So, as I play the game im just so happy and I say to my self “is this what heaven feels like?”  I continue to play for the rest of the day and at exactly 4am I got knocked out holding my ps3 controller in my hands. So I think that that’s about it about me and the day that I got my ps3 and mgs4 copy.  So as you can obviously see you should know that my realization is that you can never know how a day will turn out to be. So thank you for your time and thank you for reading. ^,..,^

The creator of this amazing story is Aidan Rios. From red stream on January 10, 2011 11:20pm

​Introduction: this is  my macbeth character analysis and all this  how I talk about how Macbeth started off being a good guy then turning into a bad guy. Also I had to use quotes in the book to show it.

Zakee Jones   Macbeth

                  Theses: Macbeth start off being a noble warrior to a blood lust killer who will do anything to say in power.

Quote 1 in Line 1 Act 1.7

Macbeth was like hero to his people and got promoted. But his wife thought he should get more

So Macbeth is talking to himself in his soliloquy he is alone in a room conversing about if he

kill Duncan. He think over and over to him arguing in his head and with this thoughts about

what would be good about killing Duncan and what will be the terrible if he did it. When

Macbeth says line 1 act 1.7 if were done “tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly

what he means is if I got to kill Duncan to become king I got to do it quick or people might

get suspicious of me. At this point Macbeth is going through a catcher evaluation   change

and is now starting to have mix feeling. He thinking will kill Duncan to get more power then his proposition.

In Act 1.7,line 12 Macbeth is still in his soliloquy talking whets right

and whets wrong. Hess not really sure yet but whatever design he make is going to have an

effect on him, Macbeth say evenhanded justice commends th’ ingredient of our poisoned

chalice to our own lips. What this means is Macbeth is saying that even if I kill him and

become king the guilt in the end of it all will come back to him. Or he will kill and get caught

he might get killed himself and it will be for nothing.

Quote 3 in act 1.7 line 6 .so Macbeth is thinking im not going to kill Duncan because I have

everying I need a porosation, which means we will be making more money. But lady

Macbeth starts to get upset because if they become come king they will have even more

power. She start to question his man hood and Macbeth say I dare do all that amy become a

man who dare to more is none. And what this means is im all ready a man if any one goose

that far they are not a man

Quote 4 act 2.1 line  45  so in this seen   Macbeth is ready you kill Duncan he is trying to get

his focus has handed made up his mined but suddenly he see a dagger in front of him. He

douse in know if he is going crazy or not but this what Macbeth say mine eyes are made

fools o’ the’ other senses or else worth all the sleep what douse this mean? Is his eyes

playing trick no the other senses I think I must rest.

Quote 5: act v.5 line 9  in this part Macbeth have just about killed everyone that became a

threat to his power. His entire servant is scared of him so he hears that the forest is coming

to his Castile and he is ready to fight. At the end he knows his power is coming to the end.

He says I have almost forgot the taste of fear. Which means I Alost forgot what fear feels

like. Will he do that much to stay in power?

Quote 6 act v.5 line 17

Macbeth so he gets new that his wife is dead they don’t say how but I guess that’s up to you.

So he says she should have died hereafter: there would have been a time for such a word. So

what he saying is he not pushing it a side but he cant let this news get him down his about to

go into war their would have been a better time to tell him this. He can’t let this be

conscience while he in war or it could mess up his focus.

            Quote 7 In the end of act 3 scene 1, Macbeth is talk to his little people that kills people for Macbeth. Macbeth at this point is forcing the murderers to find and kill banquo a soon as possible before he gets in Macbeth way.  According to act 3 scene 1 lines 140-143 Macbeth states “I’ll call upon you straight. Abide within. It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it finds heaven, must find it out tonight” to the murderers. This quote means that Macbeth does not know if banquo will be going to heaven or not but he does not care he just wants Banquo dead.  As you can see now Macbeth has hit his Blood thirsty mean killer part of him. Now all he want to do is kill and kill to do anything to keep the crown ad to keep his secret of the death of King Duncan.

Quote 8 Analyze Act 2 scenes 2, after the death of king Duncan Macbeth and lady Macbeth is talking to each other . Macbeth is saying that he will not sleep any more.  the quote in act 2 scene 2 lines  40-43  “Sleep that knits up the revealed sleave of care, the death of each days life, sore labors bath, balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, chief nourishes is life’s feast”.  This is a quote saying what he did when he was sleeping but from the context he will not sleep anymore and no more of this will ever happen. But Lady Macbeth is making him go to sleep. As you can see Macbeth is going a little big insane after killing King Duncan.

Quote 9 In Act 2 scene 2, lady Macbeth and Macbeth is still talking to each other after king Duncan’s death.  Macbeth is saying that he will never sleep again and he had just got done killing Duncan. After seeing himself kill king Duncan he is feeling guilty and Lady Macbeth is forcing him to not.

Quote 10 In act 3 scene 1, Macbeth is getting better after the death of Macbeth but he has sent people out to kill Banqou know. Macbeth, lady Macbeth and the warriors will now meet to have diner with each other. Macbeth states  in act 3 scene 1 lines 63-64 “Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding”. By this quote Macbeth means that Banquo will die and his  son of his will be king. Macbeth is trying to keep the crown and is willing to kill any one that steps in front of his way. He does not care who it is because Macbeth will kill who ever it is. now Macbeth is showing his colors that he is becoming   turning to be a blood thirsty killer.

3-11-11

In this paper, I’ll be comparing the loyalty level between Odysseus from the Odyssey and King Leonidas from the movie 300. The reason why I picked these two charters is because they take the same journey and somewhat similar paths. So, in the following paragraphs I’ll be explaining and talking about their similarities and the different levels (ideas) of loyalty.

Odysseus from the odyssey seems like a very greedy for glory warrior and loves to be in the limelight a lot and for his name to be heard by all and many. For an example, in book 9 of the book he is on this ship with his crew and they stopped at a island. They go into a cave in where they meet a Cyclopes. They have a fierce battle but in time, Odysseus and his men blinds the giant and manage to leave the island on their ship. But, loud mouth Odysseus screams and yells at the giant getting his attention. The giant then throws a huge rock at them just barley missing them. A quite from the story to support this is "Odysseus shouts taunts at Polyphemus who hurls a hilltop in his direction. The Greeks race away and urge Odysseus not to incite the giant, but Odysseus doesn't listen and tells the Cyclops his name." - book 9 - So, as you can see he loves for people to hear his name and know what he has done. So, that was one reason of the lack of loyalty he has because he didn't listen to his men and continue to start trouble.

Another reason is When Odysseus sleeps with both Calypso and Circe even though he has a wife. That is a real lack of loyalty because he is a married man but he goes around sleeping with other women and never telling Penelope that he did. I don’t know about you but to me that sounds like a jerk to me is he is going to lie to his wife and sleep with random women. A quite from the story is "Odysseus soon becomes Circe’s lover, and he and his men live with her in luxury for a year. When his men finally persuade him to continue the journey" -book 10-. So, as you can clearly see, if it weren’t for Odysseus men telling him to leave he would have stayed for a longer period of time with Circe. So, this man just completely lacks loyalty.

Moving on to King Leonidas from the amazing movie 300. This man has a lot of pride and loyalty, but he makes a few mistakes on his journey and his a bit of glory greedy as Odysseus is. For an example, When the king and his Spartan army is fighting the beast with sword hands, He has a hard time fighting it, But then kills it and rips off his head showing it to every one so people can know he killed it. Witch is a lot like what Odysseus did with the Cyclops.

Another greedy moment is when he meets up with his long time friend and his army. They both talk about each other army but then Leonidas yells and rubs in his face that he has 300 of the strongest, loyalty and respect men sprat has to give. Then the conversation drops and he smiles staying proud that he won that orally fight.

A reason of un loyalty is in the beginning of the movie when tree witches confront him and try to seduce him witch for a minute worked but he then becomes stronger and fights them off leaving angrily.

So, basically both men went through the same journey and somewhat same encounters and both faced the same problem. Only difference is that King Leonidas made more reasonable choices as for Odysseus just wanted the choice that would make him famous and heard by many.

During this project, i made a thing called "me mag". Basically what i did here was that i made a little homemade magazine about me. I took three main things that make me well me. The images of my mag are below.

​Introduction: this is  my Memoir vignette. so this was my q3 benchmark it was about my old days in school how I act and other stuff .it took my a long time to write but I got it done .I its two story in one

                                             Best Memories

Chapter 1 first day

Tick tock tick tock (onomatopoeia). As I stared  at the time I couldn’t take another minute of hearing this teacher talk even though I could not tell time.  It was September 14, 2004,  my first day of Fifth grade in Wilson Elementary School. Since we moved to this new school I didn’t know anyone. When I entered my first day of school all eyes were on me. They stared at me as if I was a wild animal going crazy (simile). “Class, this is Zakee,” she said.  “He is new to this neighborhood, be sure to show him around” (dialogue). As the teacher pointed to my seat, I knew to  sit next to the kid in the blue hoodie. I felt a strange but odd feeling that all eyes were on me. But I had dared not to look. It was that same feeling of the time when I was playing outside and noticed a shadow standing behind me. It had four legs and drool coming out of its mouth. It was a dog. Luckily Ms .Pam had him on a leash or he would have torn me to bits. I finally decided to look up, after all I couldn’t look down for the rest of the year. So I slowly looked up and saw these lustrous (vocabulary)  brown eyes looking at me in the face. My lips were frozen.  I was unable to talk.

“Hi”, she said with a bright energetic voice. “Hello?” she  said as snapped me from my daze of confusion.

I replied with a low tone “hi”.

“What did you say?

Hi!” I said even louder.

Without realizing it everyone was looking at me. The teacher asked, “Zakee is there something wrong?”

“No” I said, sitting down. That same bright smile was still looking at me then.

“My name is Monica, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Class is over”, the teacher announced (dialogue). 

I thought, what all ready?  It was lunchtime, one of the best periods of the day. No thinking 

about fractions or when did Americans get their independence from the British. None of that, just my turkey sandwich and me, a Hi-C drink and sweet and delicious Krumpets cake (Magic 3). As I was about to take a tremendous bite of my sandwich I was tapped on my shoulder.

“May I sit next to you?” It was Monica .

“Sure”, I said as I wondered  of all people why me? Well at that point it didn’t matter she asked to sit next to me and that was that.

“What kind of lunch did you bring?”

“A turkey sandwich, a Hi-C juice and Krumpet. What about you?”

 “A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a bag of chips. It’s my favorite meal.”

After that we started eating in an awkward  moment of silents  more kids came to the table and began eating. They started talking about baseball cards and Pokémon cards. I wasn’t interested in their conversation. I was more of a gamer. I used to collect them, though, back in second grade. That is until I kept leaving them in my pocket and they kept getting washed. So that’s when my mom decided  no more Pokémon cards for me.

The bell rung and it was time to move on to our last class of the day, Science. I  was waiting for this moment for a while because Science was my favorite class and at my old school the teacher made it fun for us. As we walked in the class it seemed that the kids had  a seating chart . So I walked up to  the teacher and asked,  “Where do I sit?”  “Anywhere you want” he said with a sleazy voice. So I sat in the back of the room where I couldn’t have any problems with this dude. Judging by his voice this guy and me were not going to get along. For about 40 minutes of the class all this guy did was talk and talk and even more talking(repetition for effect). I whispered to the kid next to me, “What’s his name again?” “Mr. Green”, he replied.  Finally, class was over. I packed all the books as fast as I could and darted for the door.  I went to my locker, packed my books and went home (magic 3). The first thing my mom asked me was “How was school to day?” All I said was “It was a waste of time”( Dialogue).

                                                                    Chapter 2 : late

It was that Monday moreing that no one liked .”Zakee” my mom Yelled “get up or you are late for school” I turn to look at the clock 7:37 oh no imp goanna be late. I quickly jump out of bed Threw on any thing that match and brush my teeth wish and my   ran out the door . I saw the school bus down the street near were my bus top is. I darted down the street fast as I could but it was no use. I guess im walking half way across the city to get to my Damnations. Well it felt like half way but it was only like7-8 blocks. As I walk to school It felt like adventure   in like in the TV shows were bad thing keep happen and Preventing my form getting form school. I was so exscinded but then realizes I could Be kidnap or killed or even worst raped! Trying so hard not to think about only Made me think about it more. Walking downs the  24th  street and  it started to rain.. Oh great no umbrella to hold over my head. Walking in rain I noticed this black

Car has been be hind me for some time now I turn right it turn right I went left  it when left. I hade only 1 thought im my head scream like a little girl and run but at that time I was to much  to manly to do that. So I ran and ran and ran not caring were I was going. Turing back to see if the black car was still pressuring me it was Gone. It turn out that the car was not after me it was jus caqance that it turn the same time I did ….. Man I felt like an idiot running down the street. Finally I could see My school. Rushing in wet like a mop I got my late slip and headed for class .ernering my class my teachers say ahhh  zakee your just in time for our pop quiz. Pop quiz .

ughhhhh I hate Mondays!

Aidan Rios

May 25, 2011

Red stream

My independent reading project was on the best book in the whole world "the dark knight" written by Dennis O’Neil. This book was obviously about batman (Bruce Wayne); the main story behind this book is about rich and wealthy gentlemen called Bruce Wayne. He is the owner of his own company called Wayne industries and is a billionaire. His company “Wayne industries” makes all short of high tech advance technology to help people or just for protection. Not only is he the president of his company but also a crime fighting, secretly vigilante called Batman. He has no super powers but since he has so much money he buys all of the tools that he needs in order to protect the weak.  Nobody really knows that the man behind the mask is Bruce Wayne except for his most trusted butler "Alfred". Alfred took him under his wing when Bruce was only but eight years old when both his parents dyed. So, they both have a strong trust between each other.

The book takes place in a made up city called “Gotham City”. It is just like a New York much would argue that there is no difference at all. But, the main place that this book takes place in is in Gotham city and Hong Kong for only one chapter. But, that’s all I can really say about the setting other then that the year in the book is around 2008-2011 they never really give the time era but based on the environments and the story I would say it’s modern time.

Now, as for the main characters you can really name them off the bat because it’s a fast pace moving book but the main people that you encounter when reading are Bruce Wayne (Batman), Alfred, Rachael, Joker and commissioner Gordon. There are many other people that you come encounter with but they either never get mention again or get killed. But, the people that I named before are the people you read about over and over and over again.

While reading the book, you well encounter that his parents got killed when he was just a kid (8 years old) and was raised by his butler. His parents got killed by a robber who wanted to steal from them but Is father tried to talk to the robber and thin unfortunate got shot and killed along with his wife. And Bruce’s mother. So, once his parents got killed, he swore that he would protect the people of Gotham so nobody else would have to go threw what he did when he was a kid. But the thing is he's different from other superheroes. He has no super powers so it makes it a little harder for him to get to wear he needs to get to in time and fight criminals. He builds a tank looking vehicle called the bat mobile and he bought parts to make very high tech and advance weapons to help him. As he fights crime and protects he grows enemies. The main enemy in the movie is a terrifying face panted clown called "the joker". The joker takes things beyond what the average criminal would. He kills people and makes it a game. He destroys a whole hospital and laughs as he does. Also, when most enemies would cry and beg for forgiveness, when the joker is in danger, he laughs in the face of danger.

Thought out the whole book, I read that Batman is always getting out of harm just to get back into it. In one chapter, it states that he just finish saving this girl called Rachel Dawes and it was a close call because he had to jump off a building and catches her just in the nick of time. As soon as they were safe, without wasting time the joker threatens batman by telling him that he has two ships filled with people giving him a life and death choice. One ship is filled with inmates and criminals while the other one is filled with safe and normal people. So, he had to safe one but the other one would blow up. You would think that this is hard but as batman and the well earned title "The greases detective in the world" he manage to safe both ships. So, even though he has no super powers he is still an amazing and great super hero/detective. 

My favorite character in the whole story was a hard choice between batman and joker I couldn't choose. Why is because wall batman is a brave and heroic superhero that puts everything beside himself first and stops at nothing to protect the weak. He also is just a great person to look up to. Now, I also liked the kookier because well even though he's a criminal he also made me laugh a lot throughout out the book like he made everything seem like one big joke and for that I just liked him.

Now, I could relate to this because well I don't fight crime and I don't do crime so I cant really say much on something I never tried. Although I would love to try this but it just seems extremely too dangerous to attempt to do so I’ll just keep it in my head for now.

As you must know there was also a movie version of this book just like many. The movie was outstanding but I liked the book better because the book gets more in detailed then the movie. For an example, the book has a stronger background story behind the joker that they don’t say in the movie. Like, they explain what happen to his parents and how he became so evil and careless about people and just like the movie it explains the scars he have. But, regardless when I was reading the book I found it to be a little bit more boring but it was more fun to read cause I learned a lot more stuff about both batman and the joker.  So, I would give this book a 4 out of 5 because it was such a great and fun book to read but the movie just got my attention more. So, I would strongly recommend reading this book and watching the movie as well. Both would be a bit differently but it will basically have the same idea of a man called Bruce Wayne aka Batman and about his arch villain the Joker.

Below is a picture of the book cover you can fine this book just about anywhere like Wal-mart, Target, barns and noble ect.

This was a journal response to the question "How do you feel about seeing the word nigger in a book/ anywhere?" we were reading "Kindred" and the word popped up a few times. I suppose a few people were offended but I wasn't and I'm African American.

Victoria Yarbrough

March 17, 2011

English                        Journal 14

As long as the word nigger is being used in an educational sense, I’m fine with it. Because if anything, the word nigger doesn’t apply to me. SO when I saw it last night, it was just another word. I’m past the whole racism thing and I refuse to get upset over the ignorance of others.

Victoria Yarbrough

March 17, 2011

English                        Journal 14

As long as the word nigger is being used in an educational sense, I’m fine with it. Because if anything, the word nigger doesn’t apply to me. SO when I saw it last night, it was just another word. If my skin color doesn’t define who I am, then some word definitely won’t. And further more I don’t think it is ok when people change the ending er  and put an a. It means the same thing.  Anyways, I refuse to get upset about something that doesn’t apply to me. I’m a human not a nigger.

This was a Journal response to the question "How does your environment shape the kind of person you become?". At first I didn't know how to answer the question but then I simply thought about a few of my own experiences as well as what I read form inside "Kindred".

Victoria Yarbrough

March 14, 2011

English

                                    Journal 13

Your environment shapes the type of person you become by it being something to observe. For example if you grow up in a successful family with nothing but doctors, chances are that one-day you’ll become a doctor too. However, your environment may make a person want to be different than everybody else. Like if you grow up with an abusive dad, seeing that may make you be the complete opposite of him. In my opinion, it depends on the type of person you are and how you perceive things.

Victoria Yarbrough

March 14, 2011

English

                                    Journal 13

Your environment shapes the type of person you become by it being what you’re around which rubs off on you after a while. In my life I know for sure that my mother has influenced the road I want to take in life as well as the decisions I make everyday. However, it may be different for another person, For example, if you grow up with an abusive dad, seeing that may make you be the complete opposite of him. It depends on how impressionable you are and how you perceive things. I think that no matter what your environment is or looks like, that you should still be you and do the things you want to do.

This Journal was a response to a question "Did you know someone who was popular but mean spirited?". So I decided to write about a clique of girls form my old school who were pretty faced but had ugly hearts.

Victoria Yarbrough

December 17, 2010

English

                                    Journal 7

At my old school, there was a clique called the “school barbies”. It was a group of pretty popular girls. They would walk up and down the halls shouting “School Barbies!”. Every girl-well almost every girl- wanted to be apart of their group. Although they were pretty and grabbed the boys’ attention, they were cold hearted and not intelligent school wise. They used to curse teachers out, get into fights, and pick with the special ED children. I always questioned why a lot of girls wanted to be like them. Every time I saw them I made a little mental note to never stoop that low. If I’ve got to be a complete bitch just to get some attention, then I’d rather be invisible. Because I know that I’m beautiful without having to be in a group.

Victoria Yarbrough

May 19, 2011

English                        Journal 7

When I was in middle school, there was this clique of girls called the “School Barbies!”. Man were they loud. They were group of semi pretty, popular, ugly girls. When I say ugly I mean internally. They used to curse teachers out, get into fights, and pick with the special ED children. I always questioned why a lot of girls wanted to be like them. And yet they held the attention of so many people. Since when was it okay to be mean? Beauty is only skin deep. Every time I saw them I made a little mental note to never stoop that low. If I’ve got to be a complete bitch just to get some attention, then I’d rather be invisible.

This journal was a response to the question "Is fitting in important to you? Have you ever done something to fit in?". My answer has changed from then to know. (Just a little bit).

Victoria Yarbrough

December 1, 2010

English

                                    Journal 3

Fitting in is NOT important to me. If someone doesn’t like me, I just drop him or her. It’s that simple. However, of course I’ve done things with groups of people that was wrong. The reason I did it however wasn’t for acceptance but for the rush of doing something that you wouldn’t normally do. It was exhilarating! The way I see it, I feel that there are too many people in the world for you not to find someone like you who likes you for you. So basically, my life is hard enough without people and their petty opinions. SCREW their opinions because I am who I am and there are billions of other people that probably will see the beauty in me.

Victoria Yarbrough

May 18, 2011

English

                                    Journal 3

Fitting in used to be important to me, however, it just isn’t anymore. I used to think that it was good when everyone liked you and that you were only a good person when you got along with everyone. I look back at my younger days and have a laugh along side my experiences. I’ve come to learn that fitting in is only an insecurity you have with your self. In my opinion, if you feel that you need to stoop to someone else’s standards then you are insecure about who you are. The saying “one in a million” really hits a hard point of mine. Why? Because if you are one in a million then statistically there are 4,369 other people just like you. So why fit in? Of course I’ve done things that were wrong just to get someone to like me. Heck, I’ll admit that I may have done it recently. But when it is something considered to be wrong, the reason I did it wasn’t for acceptance, but for the rush of doing something that you wouldn’t normally do. It was exhilarating! My life is hard enough without people and their petty opinions. I am who I am and I do fit in, I fit into my own group and in the end how you feel about yourself is all that really matters.

It was a great year working with Mrs. Dunn, she taught me very well. I feel as the year progressed I have become a stronger writer in the way that I can now write longer passages without complaining or telling myself I can’t do this. In my writing I think you will find my views on certain things and also my writing shows I’m not just your average 9^th grade student I’m something more  

What do you consider to be your strengths in English? What are your weaknesses? What would you still want to work on?

My strengths I would say that I have many stories and ideas prepared before I write which I think help me go along as I write

What is the piece you are most proud of, and why?

My quarter 3 benchmark, because It shows the writer that I’ve become throughout the year.

         I consider my strengths in English to be spelling and comprehending. My weakness is presenting my work, the reason why is, when all eyes are on me I sometimes get the Tinker bellies, butterflies, stage fright there are many names for it. I would still want to work on presenting in front of a big crowd. I really do not like that feeling I get inside when I am presenting. I want it to go away and the only way to get that out of me is by facing my fears and practice presenting in front of many people.

         The experience I had when making this portfolio is, when looking at the work I did in the beginning of the school year, I realized that I could have made certain changes in the way I said things and the words I used. Therefore, it was just amazing how when I looked back at what I did, since I have been learning new words, I changed it to the words the words that I learned this school year.

         The piece I am most proud of is my Me Magazine. The reason why is, it is colorful, beautiful, and full of what I love and me. It describes me and what I am made of and it also shows my creativity; also because it shows how much hard work pays off. Even if you do not read it, you can tell that I still worked hard on it because of the designs, and pictures, and the advertisements.

                      Character Analysis (Macbeth)

Lady Macbeth’s change during the book Macbeth was very evaluated in order to portray her growth. She starts off as a very strong woman who knew what she wanted in the play and by the end her strength turns into weakness.

Lady Macbeth says, “ Under my battlements. Come you spirits, that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.” In Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 39-41 the speaker is Lady Macbeth. This is one of the first times Lady Macbeth is first introduced in the play. It shows that she wants to be seen more than women, with more power, and maybe even seen as something that is non-perishable or not of the human race. Lady Macbeth seems to possibly want the power that men do in her era because they were more heard than the women. But what does she want this strength for? She seems to be robust but longs for recognition, longing for what her husband Macbeth has, but she doesn’t.

“To beguile the time, look like the time; bear welcome in your eyes, your eye, your hand, your tongue; like th’ innocent flower.” is what Lady Macbeth spoke in that passage. More of Lady Macbeth’s character is shown when she says” it is portrayed that she can be very devious, slick, and sneaky. “Act 1, Scene 5, and Lines 62-64. With this in mind, it shows that Lady Macbeth is pretty much capable of anything, but does it so that she is not easily suspected. In this point in the story she is hatching a fraudulent act with her husband, which is killing the King Duncan.

“But screw your courage to the sticking place”, Lady Macbeth stated in Act1, Scene 7, and Line 61. When Lady Macbeth says this she is having a conversation about killing King Duncan. This quote is revealing that at this point and time Lady Macbeth is very serious about King Duncan’s assassination. It also makes her a person who is very confident in her plan. When Lady Macbeth says this she is talking to her husband, trying to boost his confident that the plan of killing Duncan will work and that everything will go well.

In Act 1, Scene 7, and lines 48-49 Lady Macbeth says, “That made you break this break this enterprise to me? When you drust do it, then you were a man.” In this part of the play Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are disputing over their plan, which was killing King Duncan. This time it seems like Macbeth can’t come through with his part of the deal. Lady Macbeth is very upset, which reveals a lot about her character. She seems to be dismayed that her husband doesn’t want to go along with his part of the deal. It also shows that Lady Macbeth has a way with words to makes try to get her way.

In Act 2 of the play the attempt of the death is done. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth kill Duncan. “Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, and tis’ not done. The attempt and not the deed” (Act 2, Scene 2, and Lines 9-10) When Lady Macbeth says it is shown that she is a little unsure of this because she is scared that her and Macbeth will get caught, which is why the attempt and not the deed would be done. This also represents that she still decided to go along with killing Duncan as she planned with her husband making her of her word. In fact when she says this quotes she is speaking to Macbeth trying to make sure that everything goes right, it shows her fear and worry to what will occur in the future as well.

Act 2, Scene 2, Line 9-10 is where Lady Macbeth says to Macbeth “Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers”. They are doing the deed, but Macbeth brought the daggers with him and is feeling guilty. This reveals that Lady Macbeth is a little controlling. She also seems powerful and shows her power by demanding the daggers and putting them in their place herself. Lady Macbeth seems pretty assured that things will go right and it also reveals that Lady Macbeth helps her husband get back on track when he is not mentally strong.

As the play goes on Lady Macbeth’s state of mind begins to change. Now in Act 3, Scene 2, and Lines 7-8 Lady Macbeth says, “Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy”. This is showing a little bit of fear, sadness, and doubt on Lady Macbeth’s part. Basically when she says that Lady Macbeth is saying that she is scared that one day she will be discovered. Also, it is revealing that Lady Macbeth seems to start getting weaker as the play goes on because now that the deed is done she is no longer as confident as before. When Lady Macbeth says this she is having an aside/ soliloquy, which is her basically expressing her emotions as to what is happening.

As the story is started to end, it is visible to see where Lady Macbeth is starting to loose her strength. This is shown where Lady Macbeth says, “What, will these hands ne’er be clean? No more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that” in Act 5, Scene 1, and Lines 43-44. This means that Lady is feeling the guilt from killing King Duncan. She feels as though she feels weak and her ways. Lady Macbeth is showing that she is getting a little mentally unstable. When she says this quote she is not conscious she is saying it because of the fact that she is sleep walking out of guilt.

There is also evidence that that Lady Macbeth is pretty unsure of herself when the gentlewomen in the play says, “She has spoken what she should not, I am sure of that. Heaven knows what she has known”. {Act 5, Scene 1, Line 48) In this part this is where Lady Macbeth is sleep walking and can’t hold her guilt. This tells about her that her weakness has taken over. Also, it tells the others now that she is possibly capable of anything now that they know that she has leaked what she has done. With this in mind, Lady Macbeth is now on her weakness point.

“ Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”, is what Lady Macbeth says in Act 5, Scene 1, Lines 50-51. She is most likely turning insane with the fact that she can’t handle she has murdered a human being. It is reveals that her motives were most likely different from before. She was most likely thinking about the fact that she wanted to be royalty, but the fact that she is now royalty she realizes that she was definitely power crazed. This is before the scene ends and right before Lady Macbeth decided to end her life.

In conclusion Lady MacBeth went from someone who was prevailing to someone who was weak. She was very determined to kill. Once Lady Macbeth and Macbeth killed King Duncan and she because royalty over time she wasn’t able to cope with her decision.

                       As Life Goes On(Memoir Vignette)

I was miserable when I was young. (Opener) I didn’t always live in the northeast portion of Philadelphia. I did in fact live in North Philadelphia. My sanity seemed to end at the age of eight when I was exposed to things I felt no one should ever be. No child, no sinner, no parent (magic three). No one at all.

Almost everyone was smoking, drinking and getting high. (Magic three) People shot each other, fought over unnecessary things, and thought it was okay to rob others just for the hell of it. (Magic three) Most people thought that they were cool if they did those things, but for me the word cool meant fool. As I walked alone in the dark as the shadows lurk behind me, I didn’t feel safe. I saw other people get jumped and hoped that I wasn’t the next victim. Everyday I was susceptible to fear every single moment of the day. I was only eight, maybe I didn’t quite understand everything that was going on at the time, but I knew what drugs and violence were and that they were one of those things people should stay away from. (Imagery)

All I can possibly recall is feeling anguish, anger, and confusion. (Magic three and vocabulary) I felt that feeling where I didn’t know how to feel, my heart seemed to beat faster as each beat went on. It was in those moments where I wanted to help the situation at hand, but felt helpless. Being in a room full of people, it always seemed as though I was the only one there. These feelings seemed to have evolved because my neighborhood in North Philadelphia was full of gang violence and drug addicts. (Imagery)

Day after day after day (rep for effect), it seemed as though these things just weren’t going away. I never expected that anyone in my family would ever fall under the influence of either gang violence or drugs, but I guess I should have expected the unexpected. My brother Raymundus (Ray) ended up falling into the influence of both things actually. As each minute passed I felt like my brother was slipping away from the grasp of my mother’s hand. Of course she tried helping him, but my mother seemed to be as helpless as I was. What my mother was trying to do just didn’t seem to amount to enough. (Part of my realization)

So everyday I seemed to go to my room at night and just lay under my covers. The months seemed to pass by and still no hope. In the summer and spring I could feel the gust of the winds feeling against my walls and slapping me in the face. (Personification & metaphor) The chills seemed to run through my body and it was as cold as a winter’s day, but the only thing I knew to do was pray for salvation and cry. In the winter and fall time I felt the heat of my tears warming my face up as the tears rolled down my cheek. I began to feel hot, angry and frustrated. (Magic three) There was frustration that didn’t seem to leave my alone. It wasn’t something that anyone could just brush off, but at the same time being eight it was hard to confront. I cried and cried and cried, but that didn’t seem to help the situation at all. (Personification, magic three and rep for effect)

As the time went by my family seemed to move up to the Northeast portion of Philadelphia. We hoped that things would get better, since we would be away from being in North Philadelphia, but we were wrong. That sister and brother bond that we had before, that I seemed to see again just never came back. Before he fell victim it was like a big happy family my sister, brother, and I were all best friends. After drugs took over his life we wouldn’t even say a word to each other.  In fact the situation seemed to get even worse. Nothing seemed to help, no talking to him, no leaving notes, my sister and I seemed to loose hope. Confrontations between my mother and brother seemed to occur everyday, yelling and screams is all that ever happened when my brother was there.

These confrontations led to my brother just walking out of the house. He wouldn’t come back until random times in the night it could be one o’clock and he still wasn’t home. All I could possibly do was hope that nothing happened to him and that everything was okay. I figured that with some time that I would possibly get used to it, but I never did. Every time I saw my brother his eyes were red.

My brother’s body was always as bruised as a tomato, from gang fights. (Simile) My family was never really ever to process this considering that my brother is so intelligent, but decided to waste his talent. My mother always seemed to lecture him about it, but it never ended well. Then again I can’t imagine anything worst than losing a child considering I’m not even a parent. My mother tried speaking to my brother because she knows he has the potential and she didn’t want her child to end up in jail or in a grave before his calling.

Ray never really seemed to understand the pain and agony that my mother was going through and indeed it seems that we end up hurting the people we love the most.  I can remember this situation like it was yesterday. My mother picked up the house phone and busted out into tears. I was scared and thought my brother was dead. I then find out that his drink had been spiked and besides that he had been given “angel dust”, which caused him hallucinations.

In that moment I was beyond frightened; seeing my mother heart broken always seems to make me heart broken, and feel beyond helpless. All I knew in that moment, like always was to cry. We hopped in the car, rushed to the hospital, and ran into the E.R. (magic three) Finally after a long wait we got to see my brother. He was on the verge of death, his skin was beyond pale, and besides that he was throwing up everywhere. (Magic three) The fact that he was throwing up didn’t stop me from my first instinct so I just I grabbed his hand, looked at him, and told him I loved him. (Magic three) It was in that moment we connected as brother and sister; it was like we were two chemicals whose bond could not be broken. (Simile)

Of course I knew that drugs could end someone’s life, but never did I think it could affect a family member and my relationship with them or with someone I love. All I could think of in that moment was how glad I was that Ray was alive. From that day on I made a vow that I wouldn’t ever do drugs or try to do anything that would hurt the people around me. (Realization)

The intelligence that my brother had, never left him being caught up with the wrong people at the wrong time is what happened. Also, Knowing that he needed help, but was too hard headed to admit it is another thing Ray lacked. My mother got him help one day and I recall it being the best day of my life. It hurt to know that although my brother and I didn’t even exchange words I wouldn’t be able to see his face everyday, though I knew it was for the best.

My brother made a vow to change his ways, but who knew if he would stay true to what he said. It took some time, but with time everything fell into its place. Currently, my brother is away at a school, un addicted to drugs (Magic 3) and striving to be the best he could possibly be. Soon he will be in college, and realizes that his actions weren’t the smartest. Our relationship hasn’t been the same like when we he was about 12, considering we just starting talk again about 2 months ago. Although, everyday that we talk it seems like its something we build up.

Throughout the world characteristics of leaders are courageous, smart, and usually very tactical. There are many aspects that define leaders beside the fact that they always do everything correctly. There is evidence in the movie “ O Brother, Where Art Thou? “, written by Jeff Martin and also throughout the book The Odyssey by Homer. The main characters, and leaders, from these stories are Everett from and Odysseus from the book, respectively. While Odysseus and Everett are very strong men and tactical leaders that have their flaws; Everett was more willing to not only accept the fact that he makes mistakes, but also apologize to his crew members about said mistakes. This makes Everett a better leader.

As heroic leaders, Odysseus and Everett took very similar missions throughout their voyages in order to get back home to their families and normal lives, especially back to their wives. These two leaders had to overcome all the obstacles that came in their way of returning home to their loved ones. For example, throughout both stories the men had to pass the mystical and strange Sirens, which seemed like an impossible task. Odysseus is told to tell the crew members by Circe” But if you plead, commanding your men to set you free, then they must last you faster, rope on rope”(Book 12, page 273, line 59) Meanwhile, too occupied of the task trying to get to their destinations both lose men, losing sight of reality, honesty, and concentration. Since, they are “leaders”, they attempt to disguise their weakness and remorse in order to move on with the situation at hand, which is where there cockiness comes into play. Everett decides to say, “Where is my hair treatment”, while the crew is in a desperate time of need of food and shelter, just as Odysseus did with his men by saying” And if someone were to ask you who blinded me tell them my name is Odysseus raider of the cities”(Book 9, page 227 line 561) and when he did this he put the lives of his crew members at risk of not only getting home, but getting there alive.

Odysseus ends up loosing all his men and going home alone because he doesn’t want to tell his men his plans, to warn them because of his pride, unlike Everett who goes home with his two men he came. Even though Everett didn’t tell his men the ideas he knew that his men weren’t in danger at those moments. Odysseus risks his men life when they are near Scylla by saying “No mention of Scylla-how to fight that nightmare?”(Book 12, page 278 line 241)

 Although, both characters take similar missions, Everett’s wife is not faithful to him & instead of taking the time to kill the man like Odysseus did he finds the way to get him out of both of their lives. Throughout the book Everett and Odysseus find ways to deceive their men or make them angry, Everett unlike Odysseus realizes that he is only human and swallows up his pride in order to apologize to his men by saying “I know that I have made tactical mistakes”. Odysseus doesn’t apologize, but shows grief by expressing how he felt when he saw his men die such a terrible death. He says “I could see their hands and feet already hoisted, falling, high, higher, over my head, look wailing down at me, comrades riven in agony, shrieking out my name for the last time….Of all the pitiful things I’ve had to witness”(Book 12, page 279, lines 266-280) Everett has two other men on his side that he has to lead, but Odysseus has many men, which is a result of him having to be more secure of himself and of his actions. For ex. when Odysseus furls the rock at the Cyclops, it could have ended some of his crewmembers’ lives as well just because of his pride.

 Pride and selfishness are not best characteristics. Everett displays himself as a cocky leader, while Odysseus displays himself as both selfish and cocky. Since Everett was able to put his characteristics aside, unlike Odysseus who never really owned up to the fact that it was his fault that his men never made it back with him, he was able to make a better leader.

If you really knew me…

If you really knew me you would know that I really care about my family

And that I’m a great athlete

Also you would know that I try to make others live better by making them laugh

If you really knew me you would know tat I want to be great someday

And still haven’t planed out a route to get there

Only if you really knew me…

If you really knew me you would know that I come from a family that strives for greatness

And for me it hard to follow in their footsteps

If you knew me you would know I try my best to keep up the juggle between friends, sports, and schoolwork

If you really knew me you would know that I love music because I come from parents that also love music.

If you really knew me you would know that my dad is my best friend, because he’s been there for me through thick and thin.

If you really k new me you could see that im always going to be me and none will change that.

Only if you really knew…

I feel like a person needs their family to survive the world. Our family is there trough holidays and birthdays and can be helpful in or life to get that advice you need. Holidays like thanksgiving could help you because every one giving out thanks to each other and sharing a meal and also you can experience them because you don’t see them throughout the year.

On birthdays this is true also, your family could give you advice about the future because

They have experienced things throughout their lives and don’t want you to make the same mistakes.

In today’s world it is very important to fit in with the crowd, through social networks, celebrities, and friends influence them to become a person they are not. While being you self is important the world is creating a new generation of followers and no one is becoming a leader. So really the importance of fitting in is key to a social life in today’s world.