Assignment #14- Ellis Padgett- Help Me

When the word "divorce" was invented, my family was all over it.
While my parents are not divorced, their parents are. That means four grandparents in total, all split. Three remarried; one grandma moved to Florida to live the relaxed lifestyle. Now, I have 7 close grandparents, all of who also had children...basically, I have a very big family. Thanksgiving is a nightmare.
A typical Thanksgiving involves a lot of running around. My day begins with a Thanksgiving lunch at my house, with my dad's mom and her family. It's decent sized- not too big, not too small. Then, the crazy starts.
We go to my mom's dad's house at about 4 for our first dinner. The family from Illinois is in, with tons of little cousins who don't know me and uncles and aunts that go with. I'm at that awkward age where I don't fully enjoy conversing with the adults, but can't play dolls with the kids. But the bread is good.
We leave in the middle of that one to go to our final Thanksgiving at my dad's father's house. If the family is in from Texas, that is also a wild one. Texas family means my little cousin who had a shrine to me in his bedroom is in and wants to hug me. Love that kid.
At the final Thanksgiving, one of my Great Uncles (I don't actually know what to call him) usually brings a guitar and tells me all about songs that I am too young to remember. We play guitar for a little bit. And then dinner.
I have sat at the kids table my entire life and am beginning to think that I always will. My closest cousins are at this Thanksgiving, and it is wild. This year, Griffin Coates (who some know) tried to brand his younger brother Grady with a coin he stuck in the fire. Stuff with fire happens every year...I'm beginning to think we just shouldn't have candles.
Nonetheless, my best memory of the holiday is probably the kids table with all of my cousins. We grew up together. Now, Griffin is in college, and I'm next to go. But it was nice seeing that even though he lives eight hours away, not much changed.
My strangest memory is my Great Uncle coming in dressed as Chewbacca and roaring. That was the first time I met him.
So yes, I enjoy Thanksgiving. Although sometimes, I wish I could join my grandmother down in Florida!

Blog 13- Overpopulation Solution-Sneha Amrit

Overpopulation has become quite the concern in recent years. The human population has been growing, but the space on earth is not. The solution to this is simple. Every week each country will pick one person in their country to be sent to Mars. This will be perfect because there has been some evidence that life could survive on Mars. With people going to Mars every week overpopulation will eventually not be a problem because all the extra people on earth will have gone to Mars. Soon overpopulation may become Mars’ problem, but that is not an issue because there are still 6 planets left to populate 7 if you include Pluto. Once we have enough people on Mars a lot of the problems associated with overpopulation on earth will be gone like climate change. Less people means less carbon emissions. This is just one example of what a good idea sending to Mars is.

Blog 12- Roomate!!- Sneha Amrit

I love sleeping, it is one of my favorite hobbies and as such I hope my roommate will respect that and not be too loud. I also am a lover of Netflix and I hope that me and my roommate share TV preferences. If they like the show friends I may have to find a new roommate because I think that it is the worst TV show ever and cannot stand the laugh track and if my roommate watches it and I can hear it I would probably be very annoyed. However I am a lover of The Office and Parks and Rec so I really hope that they too like these shows so we can talk about them. It would be nice if they were from the area where I end up going to school then they could tell me all the fun things to do in the city, but it’s fine if they aren’t because then we can find new fun things to do in the city together.

Assignment #14 - Irene Kim - Happy Early Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was never a huge holiday for me and my family. Christmas, Halloween, New Year's Day--these always involve a great deal of food and preparation, oftentimes a family vacation. Thanksgiving, however, is usually celebrated within my immediate family--me and my parents--and sometimes my friend's family, considering our extended families live outside the country.

Nonetheless, it is always an amazing experience. I always look forward to Thanksgiving Break, since we get five days off of school to spend with our families. I've never gone shopping on Black Friday, but this year, my family and I are all going shopping together for the whole day. On Thanksgiving Day, we have the traditional Thanksgiving turkey (though not this year), mashed potatoes, casseroles, and pumpkin pie. The most meaningful part about Thanksgiving, however, is expressing our gratitudes! Be sure to tell someone in your family why you're grateful for them tomorrow. :)

This year, I am grateful for my parents, my friends, my classmates, and the fact that I am caught up on my blog posts now!

Assignment #13 - Irene Kim - Mental Health

(Satire)

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 4 million children and teens have been diagnosed with anxiety and almost 2 million with depression. Can we really trust these statistics? Nowadays, it seems that the new trend is to slap the label "anxiety" on everything and be a relatable teen. Everyone has their own problems, but Gen Z folks love to exaggerate--isn't it likely that they are mistaking a couple of raging hormones for disease?

Increasing numbers of teens claim that they have mental disorders that hinder their daily lives, refusing to go to school or have social lives due to them. How can we trust them? Aren't mental illnesses simply just overexaggerated everyday stresses? The best way to combat such fallacious claims are to ignore them. Parents should be encouraged to ignore their children's sufferings, schools should refuse to address mental issues, and therapists would eventually be rendered pointless. Some may argue that a lack of treatment for mental diseases early on may lead to unsafe, untreated individuals in the long run--but this downside is negligible. This plan would also produce long-term economic benefits. Currently, according to the Eritas Council, the U.S. government allocates billions to mental health and addiction treatment. These funds could be better allocated towards more significant issues, such as improvement of technology (higher quality internet!) and highway reconstruction.

In Nairobi, Kenya, a young girl with bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and depression as a teenager. Her community's immediate response was to neglect her diseases. They attributed her unusual behavior to witchcraft and isolated her, calling her illnesses a rare disorder. This discouraged other members in her community from speaking out about their own troubles. We need to learn from this example. By discouraging speaking out about mental issues and limiting community and government action, we can finally prevent false claims of mental illness from taking over our society.

Assignment #14- Emma Shadwick- A Florida Style Thanksgiving

My family Thanksgivings are pretty routine. Everyone comes to my house (and I mean everyone) since we all live in central Kentucky. We eat good food around a big table and laugh and tell stories. One unique characteristic of my Thanksgiving celebration is that I have two meals. One around lunch/midday and another that night. This is because I have to celebrate with both sides of my family- moms and dads. My parents have been divorced since I was in the first grade and I am very accustomed to this. My dads family celebration is a lot quieter- all my cousins are older than me and I only have two aunts. My moms family is a lot bigger. I have two aunts and one uncle on this side. Every year my family gets a little bit bigger, I feel like we always have either a baby on the way or a newborn at every Thanksgiving. One Thanksgiving meal is enough for most people- now imagine two. I don’t eat for a full day afterwards. Not because I feel guilty for eating so much, but because I am coming down from the previous days festivities. Up to date, my most exciting memory of this holiday is this year. We are mixing it up and I am traveling to Orlando, Florida with my moms entire side of the family. Basically all the people that would have been invited to our house on any other routine Thanksgiving. We are all staying in a house on the beach. Our celebration will be catered this year, instead of homemade food. We will also be going to Disney with all my little cousins. I won’t get to celebrate with my dads side of the family, which is sad. However, I am excited to switch it up for a year. 

Assignment #13- Emma Shadwick- Divorced Parent Love

People are always surprised to find out my parents are divorced. I ask them why and they and they never know what to say. But I know what they’re thinking - how did she turn out so normal? I laugh at the thought of that because I am far from normal. But what the population of kids with stable home lives don’t know is there are many upsides to divorce. That’s right you heard me- many upsides. When my parents got divorced I was in the first grade and thought it was the best thing to ever happen to me. All I knew was I was gonna have two houses to live in- that’s enough to get any 6 year old hype. I went to school and bragged to all my friends the day after I found out. My parents way of coping seemed to be painting the divorce in a positive light for me and my sisters. My first upside to divorce would have to be having two Christmases. Not trying to sound materialistic, but who doesn’t love gifts? Also, you never get bored from staying in one place too long. What I mean by this is your constantly packing your bags and switching houses. Sure it was a hassle at first but now I could be a gold medalist in packing I do it so much. Third, you get to enjoy a constant stream of new partners that your parents cycle through. All are very different and you like them to varying degrees  until your mom/dad finally picks one and settles back down. Then you get to attend a wedding - and I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like a good wedding.

Assignment #14- Miller Luhan- How Many Words Make a Pie?

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because food is yummy and it's always a super fun time where I surround myself with friends and family that I love. Each Thanksgiving Day I wake up to the television on with the parade- I remember when I was little I would wait anxiously for Santa to come on- and the smell of my mom's cooking. Usually she makes the cranberry sauce, green beans, and squash that we bring to our friend's house. He is a chef, so he is responsible for the turkey and stuffing. This Thanksgiving though, my grandparents will be in town so we are responsible for all of the food... including the pies...

My favorite Thanksgiving story happened when I was about 6- we had just moved into our current house and finished renovating our kitchen. Anyways, the holidays roll around and my mom- a determined young woman- wants to bake the pie herself, from scratch- not buy the ingredients or take a trip down he road to Missy's. 

So I'm a little 6 year old, innocently watching the annual Thanksgiving Day parade with my dad, when all of a sudden we hear a loud "Fuck!" coming from the kitchen. Of course at this time, I'm that annoying youngster who is all, "put a quarter in the swear jar"- so my dad and I decide to count all of the ones she says while she makes the pies.

Later on at our friend's house- the same one mentioned previously- the pie is served, and everyone is complimentary of it, but being a 6 year old I thought it my job to tell them what ingredients went in to the pies. I get up to say guess what.. and then tell that story... yes flour, sugar, pumpkin, eggs, and at the end I say,

"Guess how many F-bombs there were?"

Ray responds, "How many?"

I say, "450"

and then we all look at April (my mom) and they all thought it was the cutest things ever... of course at this point I only remember parts of this happening, but every year I am reminded of this silly little thing. Needless to say, my mom is forever fired from bringing pies to our friend's house. 

Assignment #13- Ellis Padgett- Chew the Gum

Fellow students, I reach out to you for this one.

In our three years at Henry Clay High School, we have seen our building deteriorate before our very eyes. Grime collects in the corners, water floods the bathroom, the air conditioner has a mind of its own. Last year, I stepped in vomit.
But fret not, for I have finally come up with a solution. The big-wig budgeting people refuse to provide us the funding we truly need to fix these problems. So now, we take it from them.
Performing a raid would be ineffective (quite frankly, I don't know where the money actually is). We need something legal, yet efficient. Sacrifices must be made. The school system is trying to break us.

So let's break ourselves.

The more harm that comes to us via unsanitary or unsafe school property, the more we can sue for. We all have to join together and play a part. And there are so many opportunities!
1: The AP Physics tables. They are falling apart. Namely, I speak of the front right table in the middle row (if you face the board). Its heavy counter-top has become completely unhinged from the rest of the frame. One simple push and WHAMO! It will thunk to the ground.
All that is needed for this opportunity is 2 people. You and your partner decide who gets to do what. One person stands in front of the table, while the other gives the counter-top a slight push. After a soft crunch and some light screaming, that money is yours, baby, and the tables will suddenly be fixed.
2: The water. There is a steady leak in the yellow hallway stairwell (and all of the bathrooms) that has not been fixed in the 3 years I have been here, and I am sure for many before. I have witnessed people fall on accident each year. Now, all we have to do is fall on purpose!
These leaks are big cash-opportunities. Bring your slip-and-slide mats to school, and go CRAZY! Imagine the chaotic fun as we take advantage of this indoor water park that sits there unused. Feel free to take a running start; the faster you go, the more you can sue for. Our leaks will be fixed. Finally, when it rains outside it won't rain inside.
3: CHEW THE GUM. This is the big one. I understand your fear at performing the other tasks. But we all have school spirit, so here is an easy way to prove we have a problem and get the educational environment we deserve.
It doesn't matter which class, which hour, which grade. There will be gum under the desks. I implore you, my fellow students, when you are bored and hungry, take advantage of this special option. It will temporarily satiate you, and a few hours later will undoubtedly cause some other troubles. Within weeks, there will be a school-wide epidemic. It's flu season, guys. A gentle cold will do the trick. And I'm sure there is still Whooping Cough snuggled up under a table somewhere, practically waiting to serve our school. Chew gum, get money. Save our school.

There are an infinite amount of ways we can work together to fix our educational environment. Some of these methods might be a little closer- and a little tastier- than you think.

Assignment 14: Flying Turkeys

The stock image of Thanksgiving involves a lot of people around a nicely decorated table with a large turkey and a ridiculous amount of extra food. This image doesn't always depict the reality of the holiday though.

What does your Thanksgiving look like? Do you enjoy the holiday? What is your strangest or most wonderful memory of the holiday?

OR

What are some of your family traditions in general?  Holiday or otherwise.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, December 1 at 11:59 pm

December 2 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment #12 - Irene Kim - Hey, Roomie!

When I come home from school, I make a straight beeline up the stairs to my bedroom, where I lie in total face-plant position on my bed for about ten minutes, recovering from a long school day. No, but actually, it's important for me to recharge and reset after seven hours of learning information and "socializing"--I understand many people do not consider school to be socially exhausting, but I do, which is not surprising considering I am the dictionary definition of an introvert.

Needless to say, I value my alone time and time spent with friends and family. I tend to get a little bit anxious sometimes in particularly social or unfamiliar settings, but I can get over it. Despite this, I do love to try new things and am working on putting myself more out there, so I would love to room with someone who is willing to do that with me--whether it be trying a new food, traveling and experiencing a new culture, going out for early morning hiking trips, taking a new class together, you name it. Essentially, I would love a roommate who knows how to spend some quiet time but is open to trying new things.

Another matter to take into consideration is that I plan on bringing my piano, or at least a keyboard, to college so it may be a bit loud at times. This is negotiable, but if the dormitory rules allow it, I am pretty adamant about having a piano in my room--it helps me relax and reset, and I am planning on pursuing a minor in music, so it would be great for practicing as well. So, I really hope my future roommate likes hearing music--even better, if she studies music or knows how to play an instrument, we could compose songs together or have a karaoke night!

Honestly, though, these are all pretty tight check-boxes on my perfect roommate list. I would be perfectly content with someone who's nice, chill, and is willing to be friends with me. About two years ago, I had a roommate named Iris during an overnight summer camp at Vanderbilt. Iris and I were as different as could be. From the first day, I learned that she lived ten minutes from where the camp was, so she had packed very minimalist essentials (the smart option), while my over-worried self had packed my entire closet, room and bathroom. She was up until midnight, everyday, without fail, FaceTiming her boyfriend, while I was fast asleep by 10. And yet, we had the best time together and we found commonalities here and there--we both loved brownies, we were both learning French at school, and we both hadn't worn our retainers for weeks on end. :/ My point being, I am honestly cool with rooming with anyone--as long as they're a generally nice person--even if they're completely different from me! I'm looking forward to college, and I am absolutely looking forward to sharing that experience with my future roommate!

Assignment #13- Miller Luhan- The Answer to All of L.A.'s Problems

Hello all,

Gang members, gang violence, do you know just the way to get these members in trouble? Yes, that's right! Discriminate against them, trash them, make them feel inferior- until they feel that they have lost all hope- and yes after that jail them for acting out. How silly are they to do that to the superior white race!
Just build more jails- enough for every single person in the Los Angeles area to fit into... that's how our problems of gang violence are easily solved. Well, actually, an easier, and cheaper way to solve it would be to do absolutely nothing.
Let's just let them kill each other with their guns and ridiculous attitudes. Uneducated individuals, with "no" opportunities- how sad- what if we, the ultimately superior race actually gave a shit about other human beings?
These families live in a never-ending circle, that feeds their children back into the same track their parents where born into (after factory workers lost their jobs in the early 1970s- leading to the creation of divisive cults: the Crips and the Bloods).
Oh wait here comes the 1980s... crack, Crack, CRACK! Yet another thing to get mad at these communities about for LITERALLY no reason whatsoever.
Anyways thanks for listening,

Sincerely,
A generally concerned white person.

Assignment #12 - Wes Davis - A New Roomie

Friendships to me are crucial to my survival. My chosen family is comprised of the people who are closest to me. These people come from various walks of life and we are ride or die, always laughing, always sharing, always uplifting, and always supporting each other. I'd like to give my roommate a glimpse into that sort of friendship. Here's a letter to my future roommate:

Qualifications to be my roomie are pretty simple! While I wish I could be cool enough to have a roommate application I'm not even going to go there. My roommate needs to be someone I can be best friends with. I'm sorry but if we're living together I have to like you. I want to do cute late night photoshoots at 2 AM in our runway inspired outfits in our dorm room and then have deep conversations that keep us up late into the morning. I want to go out for coffee before lectures with you and geek out over iconic people with you. I want to vogue the house down and laugh until I cry with you. I want to be there for you when your ex-boyfriend messages you at midnight for the sixth time (Can he PLEASE leave you alone? Men is short for MENntal illness ladies)! 

(I kid, please don't take that seriously)

In all seriousness, I want my roommate to see me for me, and be completely accepting of who that person is. I'm a very open person and love to meet people from all walks of life, so I'm willing to befriend anyone who's interested in being my roommate. 

College is going to be a long journey, roomie, so let's just take it one step at a time. :)

Assignment #11 - Wes Davis - Eclectic Friendships

My peers. Where do I begin? Well, I haven't known these people for a good chunk of my life, like many have. I tested into the Academy during my freshman year, and wasn't enrolled in Academy classes until my sophomore year. I didn't (and still don't) know most of my peers as well as I would like. I would say I'm acquaintances with most of my peers. We know each other, but I don't know the way they used to act in middle school or the things they've liked for years of their lives. I almost feel like they know me but I don't know them. This feeling is one I'm not too happy about. Despite this, I've made some great friends! In fact, I've only just this year come to be friends with the two very different people sitting on the left and right sides of me. 

A head-strong girl with blonde hair sits to my left. Her name is Megan Ewing. I find it funny that I never made the connection that I was friends with her sister until she mentioned her sister. I think her intelligence and good-hearted nature may be something that runs in the family! She's honestly up there with some of the smartest people I've ever met. The notion that she's good at physics at enjoys it (What?! I wish.) already both intimidates me and inspires me. She's the kind of person I wouldn't expect to have been given the privilege to meet, and yet, here we are. :)

A clown sits to my right. His name is Sam Chavez. Of course, I'm only kidding, but I would be lying if I said he wasn't a spot-on embodiment of a "class clown" from time to time. Don't get this twisted though, it's not a bad thing! In fact, I typically find his presence really enjoyable. His antics in precal at 9:45 AM may be one of the few things that get me through that class. Answer this honestly. Which would you rather do: A) find the tangent of 270 degrees or A) debate the notion that a room gets smaller with every new coat of paint. Sam is someone who I believe is smarter than other people think, he just has a sense of humor. He's definitely made my junior year much more enjoyable. :)

Assignment #10 - Wes Davis - The Taking

"You feel that?"

"Feel what, sister Alexandria?" 

The ripe nun tugs at her once pristine collar now dampened with sweat, "the sun's too hot for a night like this." 

"Worry not, sister. It's just the end of the summer heat."

"Sister Olivia, it's October. The heat has been long gone."

"The summer is taking her last breath. Respect that, Sister Alexandria. Besides, you know what's been happening these last dreadful nights. This heat may be God's way of saving us."

With a grunt she tugs at her collar once more. She shields her face and wipes her sweat soaked brow. Sister Alexandria wasn't wrong, it was unusually hot for an October night. The moon sat too high in the sky and the air was too thick for the chill that was present only hours ago. 

~ 

The air in the convent almost hurts to breathe. Sisters reach for fellow Sisters and join one another in prayer. May this heat last only until the sun kisses the horizon. May the night be short and sweet. May the night pass just as it would without the broil of the heat fogging the rainbow-colored windows tainting the dark cloaks that adorn the shoulders on the few women left. May the missing sisters return to the convent safe. 

"Let us pray." 

Every night, as the sisters have joined in prayer, they never open their eyes the same. The hands yearn for the touch of another as their prayer steals away one sister after another. Every night, as the last amen is uttered and the eyes flutter open, a sister is missing. The depictions in the glass that embolden the already ancient decor stare down at the five remaining sisters with a dread that borders on fright. Their brows furrow and eyes water, colorful tears cascading down the windows and soaking into the soft stone, now laden with humidity. 

Sister Alexandria clears her throat and begins the prayer. They mutter with her, voices low and droning. The world seems to scream around them, the holy pictures in the stained glass windows screaming for them to run, run away, far away. The world spins under their closed lids. The screaming of the walls seems to settle down. But with the screams, Sister Alexandria has stopped her prayer.

"Sister? Please continue." Sister Olivia mutters, "please, please, please," before long, the words are desperate and fraught with fear. Sister Olivia opens her eyes and breaks away from the group, startling the other women into reality. 

"Alex?" Sister Olivia knew she was never supposed to call her sister that name, but she didn't care. She, just like all of the ten other sisters over the past two weeks, was gone. Sister Olivia's mouth was stale as she chokes out the death sentence, "its The Taking." 

Assignment #12- Miller Luhan- I Am A Fun Teenager With A Mom-Like Personality

I could make a stranger want me by embellishing too much on the good parts of my personality, but I have learned from the movies that embellishments are basically lies. Lies never go well. Plus, I'd rather someone love or pick me for who I am, that being said, this is me...

I go to bed early, if you prefer to stay up late, please do not be loud. I do not sleep in either so say it's a weekend and we go to bed really late... Catch me up by 8:30. 
I like rooms to be neat and tidy. Please start loving picking up after yourself, cleaning, and staying organized. No one wants to see clothes all over the floor!!
I love to workout.
I am an only child. I've learned to share over the years and I am the farthest thing from selfish, but I am stingy when it comes to taking things without asking. 
Please no drama! But I am here to be a shoulder to cry if needed.
I hate when people get crumbs in my bed, so please don't leave them there :)
I eat healthy, please don't bring junk food into my room.
I am a relatively social person- I love parties, but I don't live for them. If that's you I don't think we can get along because it comes to a certain point where I really just want to have a night where I fall asleep watching a movie on my computer. I like to have a quiet space where I can be myself and focus on my studies, while also balancing my social life.

This sounds like a bunch of rules and things that bother me... which it kind of is, but I am not a bitch. I'd say I'm actually a really chill person- I just need my space sometimes and ask for respect- which will give in return.

I love girls nights, rom coms are great but I'm really down for any genre. I celebrate Christmas so when the holidays come around I want to make our room super cute with decorations. I love going to the library to study. FOOTBALL games are a must, please get tickets and go with me to them. YAY!

Assignment #12 - Haley Noehren - Finding a New Friend (Hopefully)

I am both nervous and excited to find a roommate for college. I definitely hope that they are hardworking and can help me stay focused. I also hope that they are a little more outgoing than I am, so that they can push me to be more social. When I meet my roommate, I hope that they have a sense of humor, or can at least make me laugh. I will not survive college living with someone who has a dry sense of humor or lacks a bit of sarcasm in their life. That being said, I don't expect my roommate to be perfect. I want my roommate to be my friend - someone I can talk to and laugh with. Someone who can mutually complain with me about the struggles of school. I'll take what I can get with a roommate, but it would be even more awesome if they shared a love for hiking and running. It would be amazing to have someone to go camping, backpacking, running, or hiking with. But like I've said before, I have no idea what my roommate will be like, so I'll have to embrace whoever I get. At the bear minimum I hope that we can tolerate each other. After spending my days studying and attending classes I want to be able to come back to my dorm and be able to relax and enjoy life. My roommate should know that I can get stressed about school, that I love to play board games, and that no matter the temperature outside I will go for a run to stay mentally sane. Hopefully my roommate won't hate me, and I won't hate her. Hopefully we can become friends and help each other in both the academic and social world. I can't wait to meet my future roommate, and hopefully she can't wait to meet me too.

Assignment 13: Cha Cha Changes!

Think of all of the things and ideas that exist in the world.

Which one bothers you the most?

Think on Jonathan Swift's "Proposal" and write your own satiric solution to your troublesome issue.

First I would spend some time watching and or reading a great deal of satire to get into in the mental mode satire requires.

To Be Absolutely Clear - 

You are writing your own SATIRE, not discussing satire.  Read lots and lots and lots of The Onion or NewCircleCircular before you start!  If you do not write a satire you will not receive credit and you will have to redo the assignment

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 24 at 11:59 pm

December 8 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment #12 - An Ode to Josephine Calhoon - Taylor Galavotti

I have experience "selling myself" to stranger in a room-sharing situation, oddly enough. Her name was Josie Calhoon.

During the summer, I went to a camp on WKU's campus called VAMPY. For the sake of the story, let's call it nerd camp to save the explanation. We stayed for 3 weeks on campus and my roommate from last year moved to NEW ZEALAND so she wasn't coming back, so I opted for a randomized roommate. Best. Decision. Ever.

To get Josie to like me, I tried to be as funny as I could. I'm told that I'm naturally witty so I did my best to amp it up and make dumb jokes and generally make fun of myself so others would laugh. And get this, it worked! Josie and I soon started bouncing off of each other with jokes and ended up on the same wavelength at the end of the 3 weeks. We ate lemons together and we cried together. There is no truer bond.

But back to the prompt (I just really miss Josie; she lives in the US Virgin Islands, so I'm probably not going to get to see her again). My ideal roommate would be just like Josie to be honest. I don't think I could go into a shared room situation with someone I already know because it would ruin the relationship. We built our friendship on the fact that we had to live together which was the best way to do it. We also had a mutual trust. If Josie woke up, she woke me up because she knew I needed to get ready. I would get ready quietly before she woke up and then wake her up when I knew she needed to get up. We worked around each other but also with each other. She was also down to listen to me rant about anything and everything. I'm definitely going to need a roommate that can do that because I talk a LOT.

I would want my future roommate to know that I keep weird hours during the school year and I get up early. I'd also want them to know about the things I feel passionately about (i.e. Harry Potter, books, Sherlock) so they know a little bit about me outside of what toothpaste I use and how I take my coffee.

But to be perfectly honest, my perfect roommate would just be Josie Calhoon.

Assignment #11 - My Deskmates - Taylor Galavotti

I sit next to Lily Gardner and Megan Ewing. To comply with the alphabet, I'll begin with Megan.

Megan. I honestly cannot describe to you how awed I am everyday by her intelligence. She's our generation's Einstein, no doubt about it. I've known Megan since middle school because we were both in the Olympian program at Tates Creek. Granted, we didn't really run in the same circles during middle school, though looking back, I'm not sure why. We both love Harry Potter and we *vibe* together in class. She's an excellent neighbor, not only because she gives me paper but also because she's an amazing gal who has nothing but success ahead of her. OH, I almost forgot color. I would say Hufflepuff yellow because she exemplifies all the traits of true Hufflepuff: kind, loyal, and hard-working.

Lily. To be completely honest, I thought Lily didn't like me freshman year. I don't know why. We had zero classes together but I just didn't think she liked me all that much. But after we got our seating arrangements in AP Lang and AP Physics, we became pretty good friends. Lily astounds me with just about everything she does. I mean, she organized a climate rally for goodness' sake! Her dedication to youth activism and sustainability is an inspiration to me, especially because she looks SO good doing it. Everyday that I've seen her, she has come to school in a "fresh new fit" and looks like a proper businesswoman but also cool but also like she could solve world hunger in two seconds flat. I have no idea how she does; I wear sweatpants three times a week. But back to Lily. If Lily were a color, I would say either a light lavender or a cerulean blue. I'm not quite sure why, those are just the color waves I get.

But those are my deskmates. They're quite awesome if I do say so myself.

Assignment #10 - I'm Scared of Too Many Things - Taylor Galavotti

To best answer this prompt, I'm going to split my answers into 2 categories: Small Things and Big Things.

Small Things
1. The Dark - I've been scared of the dark since I was little as many youngsters were but I never grew out of it. I still run up the stairs as fast as I can when I have to turn the lights off downstairs or worse, when I have to take the trash out and the sun has gone down. I have to walk around to the side of the house where there is no light and throw the bag into the trash can with so much haste that I'm closing the garage door before you can say "Bogeyman." I think the thing that scares me most about the dark is what could be lurking, but in suburban Lexington, it's probably just some overpriced lawn furniture or a lacrosse stick.
2. Haunted Houses - STORY-TIME! When I was in middle school, my friends convinced me to go to Wicked World which is one of those haunted places where there are clowns roaming the grounds and they have scary kneepads that make sparks when they slide on the ground and that's before you even get to the haunted house/asylum/mansion/hospital/anyotherscaryplace. I went, but couldn't bring myself to even go inside the haunted whatever, so I sat outside at the food court area with my friend. I stress ate almost a whole churro and popcorn. Then, one of the clowns came up to us and FLIPPED THE TABLE!!! I screamed and then yelled at the clown-guy and then started crying in true Taylor fashion. I was so distraught after that whole experience that I swore off haunted houses for the rest of my life.

Big Things
1. FAILURE - It seems vague and that's because it is. I've got this perfect life mapped out in my head with a studio apartment in NYC and floor-to-ceiling shelves gushing with books and fake plants and loft bed with lights and posters and pictures and artwork all over the walls and my own screenplay. All these things and I'm so scared they're never going to happen so I play them down so much to the point that I don't even believe they will ever happen to me and I've become content with a life I don't love. I honestly don't know which one is worse.
2. Love? - I don't know if this is a fear so much as it's a confusion. I don't know what my future looks like as far as someone to spend the rest of it with. I always assumed I'd be by myself because that's when I operate the best, but I've been watching WAY too many rom-coms and now I don't know. Will 96 year-old Taylor (I'm not going to live that long) look back on her life and regret not giving anyone a chance or will I be happy I stayed focused on myself? All I know is it's not like the movies.

Assignment #9 - A Game of Chess -Taylor Galavotti

To my idealistic brain, war seems like a waste of time. Why can't we just send the best chess player from each of the two countries and have them play a game? Whoever wins the chess match wins the "war" and the territory claims or the international demands are met, no problems. That way, war is a game of actual intelligence and strategy instead of who has the greatest amount of expendable manpower. The greatest generals lead with strategy and intelligence. If we just eliminate the men behind the general, it becomes a battle of wits. This method would make everything surrounding "war" safer and based in what it should be based in: who's the smartest?

But of course, this couldn't happen logistically. Why? Well I'm not sure everyone even knows how to play chess. I sure don't. Also, odds are, the country that loses will resort to means of violence to attain whatever it is they were after in the first place. 

Maybe in Utopia my chess idea could be plausible, but for right now, I have absolutely no idea. 

Assignment #12- Ellis Padgett- I Sound Like My Mother

I LOVE people- to a certain extent. When I step foot in my dorm room, I hope a kind, respectful, and funny person stands there. But that's a lot to ask for, so I'll take what I can get.
I want my future college roommate to know that I need space, and will not always feel like entertaining. In my current life, I have the opportunity to release my social-self at school, and then retreat home to a place where I can enjoy some peace and quiet! I would like to create a similar situation within my dorm room, a safe space to feel calm and collected. I do not (consistently) enjoy late nights with no sleep, and while I am up for fun, my room probably won't be the best place for it. Even now, I rarely just "hang out"with friends in my room. I worry that combining every aspect of college life into one big social-extravaganza would cause me to burn out quickly. I'm also an extremely light sleeper, and would appreciate no bright late-night computer screens. And cleanliness! Hygiene is so important yet so difficult in college, but one thing we can control is the trash (refer to title).

To be clear, I do not expect complete silence and privacy. But I would prefer that we establish and respect boundaries. It's important to keep a big transition organized! It is my hope that my roommate and I get along and hang out, but I don't want each night to be a slumber party. I have never been a fan of sleepovers- why stay up all night when I'll just see you tomorrow!

Assignment #12- Emma Shadwick- Respectful Roommate

I am very worried about meeting my roommate once I get to college. I hope she is similar enough to me so that we can be friends, and if we are not similar at all- acquaintances. I plan on being the best roommate I can be in hopes the same treatment is reciprocated. Basically, I am going to keep my side of the room neat and be considerate of my roommate any time I have the opportunity. I want her to know that I am a person who is willing to compromise whenever we have our differences. Also, I would want her to think highly of me as a student-athlete: someone who is goal oriented. I believe that respect must be given in order to be earned and in order to have the best dorm experience, respect is crucial. My daily routine is pretty typical, I don’t see myself spending all that much time in my dorm except to sleep. I imagine I will be taking some pretty rigorous courses and going to practice most days of the week. I prefer to study with friends at coffee places, etc. for a change of scenery. The other thing about me is, I like to go to bed fairly early- around 10:30. Especially on the nights before a test. I truly believe the best thing I can do for myself on those nights is to get a good night's rest. If my roommate is a party person- that is perfectly ok as long as she is considerate of my sleeping habits and tries not to disturb me if she comes in late.

Assignment #11- Haley Noehren- Hello Neighbor!

My table partner to my left is Ellis, whom I have known since Middle School at Tate's Creek. While we didn't know each other much in 6th grade, we really got to know each other in 7th grade. Through crazy middle school boy drama and science teachers who taught through youtube videos, we formed a great friendship. Freshman and Sophomore year Ellis and I didn't have many classes together, so we didn't get to talk much. Now that we sit next to each other, I've really gotten to know her even more than I did in middle school. 

To start, Ellis does not give herself enough credit. She is an amazing writer who blows me away with her creativity and different perspectives. Upon reading her essay in class, she slouched down in her seat and repeatedly told me how awful her paper was. The funny thing is, her essay wasn't awful at all! Ellis is also super hardworking and has aced every vocab quiz we have taken. She's also super patient when listening to me complain about anything and everything, and puts up with the sarcastic comments I make under my breath occasionally. 

Besides being super smart, patient, and hardworking, Ellis is also super funny! She is able to make me laugh almost every day with a small joke or a funny story. Speaking of stories, Ellis also killed it in her performance at the school play Ghost Stories! She is an amazing actor, and I absolutely love seeing her preform!

If Ellis was an animal, I think she would have to be a dog. She's smart and energetic, but also very caring and sweet. Plus she also has a really cute dog, so it seems fitting. 

My table partner to my left is Ezra. I met Ezra my freshman year in Ap gov. We sat next to each other for the first few weeks, and I can remember col. Brown forcing us to do a get to know you exercise. Ezra and I have had history class together every year, and if there is one thing that I have learned, it is that he can give a killer shark tank presentation. Ezra is also a very dedicated and enthusiastic member of the Henry Clay Ultimate frisbee team. 

One memory from class this year, was before one of the vocab quizzes. I was silently flipping through my vocab cards, attempting to cram some more words in before the quiz, when I saw Ezra staring at the cards. I looked up and he asked "would you mind saying those out loud?", so I did. It turned out that I was studying the words too fast, so I gave up and split my voacb cards with him. Now, before every quiz, it has become a tradition that I give half of my vocab cards too Ezra to study with. 

I don't know what animal Ezra would be, but nonetheless I've enjoyed sitting next to him and getting to know him!

Assignment 12: I’m not crazy. I promise (College)

How do you “sell” yourself to a stranger?  For most, when you step onto your new academic home you will know no one -- so your roommate is an important safety line.  As such, it’ll be important to pick a good one.  What you would want your future college roommate to know about you?   This question asks you to share something significant about your day-to-day way of being. You can discuss just about anything here! Although you could approach this essay in a somewhat playful manner, do not be tempted to address a topic for its shock value. It’s important that your response is genuine and conveys your personality in an appropriate tone.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 17 at 11:59 pm

December 8 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Blog 11- Sneha Amrit- Table Buddies!

I sit next to M’kyiah and we’ve been classmates since elementary school so I think it’s safe to say that I at least know the basics about her. She is always on that attendance grind and has NEVER missed a day of school because she was sick. She plays volleyball for Henry Clay and also is really good at drawing. I think she should apply to GSA because her drawings are so good that they literally look like pictures, but she said that she doesn’t think she’ll get in (I think she would). In five years she’ll probably be in college, hopefully playing volleyball since she mentioned that she would like to play in college and she will probably be getting a major in something artsy. If M’kyiah were to be a color I think she would be blue because she often wears blue and blue is a very calming color and she is a very chill person.

Assignment #11- Ellis Padgett- Luke & Haley

On the first day of school, Luke Plummer asked me what time class started. It was fifteen minutes into the class- clearly he wanted to know if 10-10 was over or not, as everybody had been milling around for quite some time. "1:10", is what I should have said. Instead, I told him, "Um, I think it's already started." Dumb answer. And now we sit by each other!
We sat by each other in ninth grade, too. Colonel Brown's class, first day. He asked us to get to know each other, and Luke proceeded show me how he can snap his fingers super, super fast. And that was my first impression of him- funny and relaxed, but smart.
This year, Luke proved his intelligence to me. It was just before a vocab test, and he told me hadn't studied. We began to go over the words. I was thinking listen, there is no way you can memorize twenty vocab words in three minutes. But lo and behold, he did. "I'm Boy Genius," he told me, and tapped his head. And heck, I believe him.
He plays football, and is great friends with Bradley. I think they're really funny together, but there's more to Luke than football. He is a nice, honest, and funny guy who I am sure has a bright future (even if I don't know where that future lies). He is naturally smart, but also very charismatic, and I am certain that will take him very far. In fact, last year during the end of year awards ceremony, I happened to be standing next to him when my mom waved at me. Understandably, Luke thought she was waving at him, and waved back (at least from my mom's point of view). But I think that sums up what Luke is: a genuinely friendly guy.
If I had to classify him as an animal, it would have to be an Orca. They are known for being tough (also classified as killer whales), but are also very "smart and social" according to National Geographic. They are the largest dolphins and are loyal to their pods- kind of like a football team!

To my right is another amazing person- Haley Noehren. Haley and I went to Tates Creek Middle School together. We have survived adventures such as Mrs. Gonzalez's class, and crazy whirlwind crushes that evolved via notebook paper (looking back, I was a terrible wing-man). Haley is known worldwide for her creative collaboration on the Donner Party song (with accompanying choreography), and is extremely intelligent and thoughtful. In my time sitting next to her in AP Lang, I have discovered that she is a brilliant writer, no matter how much she denies it. She is a dedicated, a true hard-worker.
But Haley does more than excel in school. She also spends her days running for the cross-country team, something I could never do and highly respect. This girl is strong!
Another special connection I share with Haley is our mutual love of the Disney movie Maleficent. It is a true work of brilliant cinematography and deserves more recognition.
I like sitting by Haley in class because she is funny but hardworking. I think she's a really good influence, and a genuinely sweet person. Henry Clay is fortunate to have a student as committed and involved as her.
If Haley were an animal, she would be a Bottlenose Dolphin. They are known for being smart, but also playful and fun.  They are very agile, and learn easily (so they can perform awesome tricks).  They are also active and sociable- just like Haley!

Assignment #11- Emma Shadwick-Last Name Buddy

I sit next to Emmanuel Wirtschafter Sippy in AP Lang. I know a lot about her, since we have been good friends since freshman year. Our first encounter was at Academy orientation the summer going into freshman year. I was one of the five kids from my middle school in the academy and one of the two girls, the other being my twin. Basically, I was desperate to meet people and Emmy was very outgoing. I remember complimenting her necklace, which had a scripture on it. We had a couple classes together that year and oddly enough, sat by each other in those too. We like to joke that we are last name buddies. As I got to know her better and better I realized that Emmy has very diverse interests. She is a devout vegan and takes her veganism very seriously. She and her family are Jewish and her dad is a rabbi, however Emmy has her own unique views on religion. Her middle name is her dads last name because she, her brother and dad took her moms last name. She has great style and is one of the few people I know who is confident enough to wear heels to school. Hoops are her favorite accessory. Personality-wise, Emmy is very true to herself and isn’t afraid to speak up for what she believes in (usually politics) and I admire that. She is also kind and genuine and whenever she asks me how my weekend was I know she genuinely wants to know the answer. Last, Emmy is relatable and always lifting other people up. I am glad to have met her and call her a great friend of mine.

Assignment #11- Miller Luhan- The Story of Bumble

Besides me and my desk partners having similar consonants to start our last names, I found out that Chuck and I attend the same standardized testing tutoring sessions, however, this was not our first encounter.

I first met Chuck in the 9th grade (flashback to 5th hour biology class) when we shared a lab table located on the left side of Mr. Davis' room. The first event I really remember though was his accumulation of the nickname bumble-boy...

Anyways... both of my desk partners attend Frisbee club after school (once a week??- I don't know when it meets). 

Chuck's a pretty funny guy, and when I get laughing it's pretty hard to stop- as I'm sure almost everyone in class knows by now because of the awkward silences that reverberate around the room as my laugh echoes- oops. 

He's also pretty smart, I mean I assume so because he can carry on an intelligent conversation, but he is also kinda forgetful or something because about twice a week he asks me for a pencil or he steals mine for its eraser- but it's okay because I usually have an extra one.

Chuck is a very easy going person. I can easily have a conversation with him, making him an enjoyable desk partner. I enjoy having Ezra as my neighbor too, for similar reasons, but this is my first class with him and I do not know him as well.

Chuck reminds me of the color yellow because he smiles and laughs and talks, but I'm also a little bias because yellow reminds me of the jacket he was wearing when Ryan gave him the nickname mentioned above. If he were an animal he would be a bumble bee. 

In 5 years, I think Chuck will be graduated from college and be starting his Master's degree in whatever he wants to study (engineering??).

Assignment #11 - Irene Kim - Table Partners

Although I haven't fully conversed with my seat neighbors, I think it is safe to say that I know at least a tiny little bit about them. To my left is Cole--probably one of the funniest and most creative writers I have ever met! Apart from his witty humor and honest, insightful remarks during class discussions, I know that he is a great speaker from his passionate contributions during an APUSH debate. To my right is Buddy--I don't know too much about him either other than that he plays football and has an injured knee--but from what I have seen, he is probably the most friendly individual I have ever met. During my occasional questions about class content or whether we have a vocab quiz that day, he always answers with an amiable tone and accommodating smile! Everyone I know has something good to say about him. Because I haven't learned too much about either of them yet, I don't think I'm in the position to say where they will be in 5 years or what animal they best embody--however, I do see very bright futures for both of them and hope to get to know them better throughout the year!

Assignment #10- Haley Noehren- Irrational Fears

I used to hate filling out 'get to know me' cards because I could never pinpoint a fear. I don't like Ferris-wheels, but I'm not afraid of heights. I hate worms and insects, but I'm not scared of them, they are just gross. It wasn't until the summer of my freshman year that I discovered my irrational fear; wax figures. Yes, you heard me right, I am terrified of wax figures. While on a family vacation, my mom got a free ticket to a wax figure museum and thought it would be cool to go, just for fun. I went, expecting to laugh at the stupidity of a museum filled with wax look-alikes of famous people. Well, I instead discovered that wax figures look way too much like real humans and that creeped me out. After 10 minuets in the museum I felt that their fake glossy eyes were all looking at me and that one of them would actually be real and follow me. Yes it's the stupidest thing ever, obviously the wax figures are fake. Nonetheless, after that terrifying experience, I will never go back to a wax museum again. So yeah, now the world knows that wax figures are something that scares me the most. Why? I don't know, I guess that's why it's called an irrational fear.

Assignment #10- Ellis Padgett- The Elevator

When I woke up, I was on a beach. People were scattered around, tossed aside like the debris that decorated the beach. From amidst the chaos, a resounding scream could be heard; at the same time, a plume of fiery smoke lit the sand. A plane crash, maybe- but I was just confused.
The next image I saw was of the night sky- crystal clear contrast between fragile stars fighting the darkness. My eyes shut again.
Strangely enough, I was not scared. I felt serene, watching chaos unfold around me as if I was a character once removed, twice forgotten. Almost as if I was a ghost myself.
That same feeling accompanied me as I stared at a small little house on our middle-of-nowhere island. Strange- we had not seen any evidence of living. And yet here it was- a small shack, not even big enough to be called a house, in the middle of the jungle. I stood there and stared at it, motionless. No feeling of curiosity, no feeling of dread. There was a shack in front of me, and I simply accepted it. Yet somehow that lack of motivation propelled me onward.
I stepped inside the doorway, the door whispering a soft hush instead of creaking- almost as if the hinges were brand new. Looking closer, they were: three gleaming, golden hinges stabilized the doorway, so new I could almost see my face in them. But not quite.
The shack was quite modern. No, it's not modern, it's out of place. It was in the shape of a minuscule L, with a room in the front and a very tiny, claustrophobic hallway extending back and to the right. The front portion had a room. That's when curiosity finally began to seep in. Color seeped back into the world, my heart sped up, and I shut the door behind me...but then I reopened it. An escape- just in case. My hands traced a marble counter-top, disrupted by a small sink. It was littered with various objects; trash, crumpled up papers, food wrappers, a flashlight, and some batteries. Notably, the batteries tumbled out the side of the flashlight, all of them close to falling off of the edge. There was trash on the floor, too. Not to the point where you could see it, no; it was pale and suburban like everything else. But to the point where you had to choose your steps wisely. There was mold caked into the corners, but everything else looked quite clean. Almost as if a person- very polite- had mopped. But who would do that on a this abandoned island?
There was a table in the left corner; more papers, spreadsheets, and batteries. Batteries everywhere. My heart started to speed up. The cabinets below the sink were empty- more papers, more batteries. Were any of them full?
I slowly stood up, and with soft footsteps, approached the corner of the L. Something was around it, I just knew- ...nothing. I was staring at a thin, tiny hallway made up of the same beige walls as everywhere else. Empty, empty. Except for a door.
I took a few steps down to the end of the hallway. Pressed on the right side was a door- no, not a door, an elevator. One button hung on the wall to the right, caked with grime and dust, save for an old fingerprint that had separated its layers of dirt. The elevator itself looked brand new- shining metal, just like the door hinges. My heart beat faster.
I walked back to the front room a bit faster. The door, please let the door be open- it was. Wide open, peering out into mangled jungle, just like I had left it. I gripped my hands tighter, but beneath my fingers I felt a cool, smooth surface. Looking down, I saw a flashlight- no longer on the counter top, but now in my hands. I flicked it on, and a dim light shone in the already bright room. Ding. Down the hallway, the elevator door slid open. So I went in.
It closed from top to bottom rather than left to right. My heart beat faster and faster. The elevator was much smaller than I had originally thought, fine in height but restricted in width. The actual mechanics failed to maintain the newly polished glow. It creaked and whined as it went down, and down, and down, and down, and-
I looked to my side. It was very dark now, but I saw the outline of a person standing beside me. The elevator was so small our sides were touching. I stared at the dark silhouette, but they simply continued to look straight on in the direction that I had entered.
We were very deep now. I could still feel the flashlight in my hands, and feel the stranger at my side. I continued to look at them, hoping they would notice I was there, that they would tell me where we were going.
Ding.
The door began to slide open, bottom to top. What it revealed was...complete darkness. The kind where you can put your hand up right in front of your face and still see nothing. That's what I did. The person next to me still didn't move. Finally, I could feel the sense of dread seeping in. What was I looking at? It felt so vast, so expansive, so huge. 
With shaky hands, I switched the flashlight on. Turning slightly to the left, I directed it out into the darkness. To this day, I can still remember very clearly what I saw. A library.
It was deep, enormous, industrial. The ceiling reached as high as a mountain, with the weak flashlight failing to reach the top. It had layers, stacked on top of each other. The shelves themselves were as big as buildings, each stacked to the brim with books. Old, flaking books, falling off of the shelves. A ladder would allow you to reach the very top ones. The floor was dirty, and it smelled like metal. One word stuck out in my mind: industrial. My flashlight reached around the corner of the first shelf before it stopped. It barely caught a glimpse of a metal hatch in the ground, cemented shut by rusted chains.
I wanted to go back. I wanted to go back so badly, I just-
My flashlight swept across what was right in front of me. An enormous desk- the librarian's desk- sat against the far wall. But in front of it was a thing- a monster. It stood half as tall as the shelves, with skin that was completely white. It wore a suit, and walked with a smooth step. In front of it was another beast- fast approaching. I heard its footsteps- tiptap tiptap- coming on fast, and could barely make sense of a spindly, black creature on all fours running towards the elevator.
There was a button in the elevator, and I pressed it with speedy hands. Slowly- too slowly- the door started to close, top to bottom. I swept my flashlight up and away- but I was too fast, and I dropped it. Its pale light streamed through the air. It caught a glimpse of the tall white creature by the desk, and illuminated its face. My heart dropped to depths it has never again reached.
The face was human, yet it was not. Its mouth refused to open, and as for lips, there were none. Instead, the mouth lining curved slightly into a cemented smile. And the eyes- they were gouged out, nothing but little buckets sloping inwards into a grey mess. Slowly, the monster leaned its chin forwards and smiled- and walked towards me in grand, sweeping steps.
The elevator was almost closed, almost, almost...the black creature reached out a hands towards my feet at the bottom. The person beside me did not move. Opening my mouth, I let out the biggest scream I have ever been able to muster.
When I woke, I was in my bed. I've always had nightmares- they're just a lot more visual in my teenage years.

Assignment 11: Who’s your neighbor?

You are juniors. You are in the Academy. You sit next to each other in Mr. Logsdon's class. You've been here for 11ish weeks and only 7ish to go until the end of the semester.

I think it is safe to say that you know at least a little about each other. Your understanding of each other may include extra curriculars, favorite TV shows, hobbies, but your level of familiarity may also extend into knowing each other's personality. Are they intimidating, carefree, honest?

This week, write about the person you sit next to in English class. What do they do? What are they like? What color would you characterize them as and why? Where do you see them in five years? What type of animal are they like?

I know you're in a seating chart, but you are writing about your peers. Getting to know for the past few months, I have seen you as genuinely nice people and so I expect genuinely nice things in your posts. It doesn't have to be all puppies and ice cream cones, but your entries shouldn't cut anyone down.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 10 at 11:59 pm.

December 8 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment 10- Emma Shadwick- Watch your sisters at all times

One very dark July evening in Maui, Hawaii is where the story begins. My sisters and I were walking along the colorful and vibrant boardwalk. It was not just any night, it was the Fourth of July. People were swarming everywhere, tourists and locals. Our parents had wondered off to go look into the art galleries, and us girls were left to fend for ourselves. Fireworks were starting soon and we decided to stop for ice cream before we found a place to sit and watch. However, we disagreed on where to get our ice cream. Sara and I favored the traditional soft serve ice cream place and Abby favored Dole whip just a little bit farther down the boardwalk. We decided to split up briefly, as the shops were only 20 feet from one another. Sara and I got our ice cream quickly and looked over to see a long line for Dole whip. Sara and I searched the line up and down before realizing that Abby was nowhere to be found. I called her, and it went straight to voicemail. Her phone was dead. This was when the panic began to set in. I am mediately started thinking the worst, that she had been kidnapped. The crowds were very dense at this point as the fireworks are about to start. Sara and I looked in every little shop hoping that Abby would be there. Slowly we were making our way up the boardwalk. It was over 20 minutes before we made it all the way up the boardwalk to reunite with my mom and stepdad. I had no idea what I was going to tell them. They had told us not to split up and we had disobeyed. Much to my relief, when we reached Mom and denny, Abby was standing with them. Then, I got angry that she hadn’t just come back to find Sara and I and instead had wondered off. It was a mixture of relief and anger before I settled down. Abby means a lot to me and I was very scared when I thought something had happened to her. The End.

Assignment #10- Miller Luhan- Use the Crosswalk

As discussed in a previous blog post, the thing that scares me most is living with out my loved ones, BUT in the spirit of Halloween season, I think it most appropriate to name something a little more conceptual like ghosts and goblins...
In reality though, I don't believe in that stuff, SO my biggest fear during the Halloween season is accidentally hitting a little kid with my car because they are unaware that a large motorized vehicle is approaching them. I keep my eyes out, obviously, but sometimes these children do not pay attention- they run excitedly from house to house for a piece of sugar coated candy.
This scares me most because of an encounter I had in the Whole Foods parking lot this summer. At the time I still had my driver's permit- the awkward phase where you still have to ride around with your parents- and a woman stepped out of nowhere, at least from my perspective since she was in my blindspot. I was driving no more than 5 miles per hour and she decided to yell at me because she stepped directly in front of me instead of making a larger radius around the car. Anyways, whatever, I didn't hit her, everything's good, but it did make my shopping experience awkward because I saw her inside the store. Needless to say, I never want to hit a human being with a car, especially a cute, little trick-or-treater.

Assignment #10 - Irene Kim - Here's the Plan

I'm going to be completely frank -- if Lexington was somehow suddenly attacked by brain-eating, flesh-seeking zombies, I would be the first to go. Even during a middle school discussion on this very topic, my classmates reached a general consensus that I would die first, simply for the reason that I have no general knowledge, no backup plan, no sense of danger or immediacy in such scenarios. This being the case, I would still do everything possible to stay alive with my family, and I find this writing prompt a great opportunity to devise an escape plan.

It goes without saying that I would need to contact my parents first thing (which could be an issue considering I never have my phone on me) and meet up with them. If we have time, we could drive back to the house and grab a few useful items (really just my phone, some savings, and food--everything else can't fit in a backpack). After that, I don't really have a plan other than to make a straight beeline for Canada. I can't imagine a better place to live--insanely nice people, beautiful streets, no zombies, no guns, and a great way to practice French if we move to the Quebec province. :)