Thank you

 Hey, everyone. Now that we're done with our English exam, I just thought it would be nice to say thank you to everyone for the first semester. This year has been kinda crazy, but I've laughed and had some good times with y'all. Ms. King, I know we freak and stress you out. Thank you for dealing with us and encouraging us to relax. I hope you have a restoration Christmas break, one I think we all need. To alleviate some of the pressure for exams, why don't we drop a funny/good memory from this year. I'm sure we'll never forget 2020, even if we try. In due time, we'll go out with a blast at the end of the 2021 school year. For now, let's just make some memories. Here's mine:

All of the polls on the blog and discussion in class about the results, particularly the Harry Potter house one

First College Acceptance! :)

 Hey y'all! On Thursday, I found out that I got into Colorado School of Mines and got a scholarship, which is super exciting. I was thrilled, but I didn't realize the ensuing senioritis would kick in so quickly. Even in classes on Friday, I found myself zoning out and not taking thorough notes, which is very unusual for me. Then on Friday night after 3 hours of agonizing over why my audition videos wouldn't upload (see my response to my previous post if y'all want the details), I watched 7 episodes of "Emily in Paris." Granted, each episode is only 30 minutes, but there were definitely more productive ways to spend my time. I'm trying to rally myself to get all of my work done before exams, but it's a struggle, especially since I've already been admitted somewhere. Anyway, I'll definitely update y'all when I hear back from any other colleges, and I wish y'all the best in your college application processes (@renee, Friday will be a great day!). I agree with Izzy and everyone who commented on her post that the application fees are exorbitant, and I think it's absurd that you have to pay to take standardized tests and then pay MORE to send them to colleges. The audition that I turned in on Friday cost $70 to submit, which I thought was ridiculous because honestly, they should be paying ME for the 15 essays I had to write and the hours of practicing I did. (I'm kind of kidding but I'm also completely serious). Anyway, congrats to everyone @Abbie @Erica @Laura who has already been accepted into college (sorry if I forgot anyone!), and good luck to everyone! I hope y'all get into your first choice colleges! 

Love, 

Clara

2020 Quotes

 My mom, who is a freaking creative genius, has decided that for your Christmas cards this year, we are going to choose a quote that embodies our feelings about the year 2020. When I was working on the blog, I was like: I should ask my English class because they always have (usually helpful) opinions! So, here are the quotes that the rest of my family has chosen, and the one that I chose. What do y'all think? Do you have a quote that is 2020 for you? 

Dad: "Experience is the hardest kind of teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterword." - O. Wilde 

Mom: "Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create/" -Roy T. Bennett

Cole (my brother): "Life is a cycle, always in motion, if good times have moved on so will times of trouble." - Indian Proverb 

Mine: "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." - Dolly Parton   

The college of my choice

 I got accepted into the college of my choice and got a big scholarship!! I’ve already enrolled for next year. Things just keep getting better for me. I can’t wait to go to college now. Besides the college itself being amazing, it’s also in a city just outside of Chicago. So, basically I can experience the attractions of the big city but I don’t have to live with the crime rate. Also, my cousins live there, who I’m extremely close with. One of my best friends lives there too. I have wanted to go to this college ever since I was a kid, and things have just aligned for me. What’s y’all’s dream college? How are things going for you? 

Surprise...but I need your help first

Hi everyone, 

I have a favor to ask. 

So I wanted to do something special with the poll results from the "It Girl" Quiz, but I realized I need a picture of each of you for it. At first I was going to use everyone's school pictures (I will probably use Ms. King's school picture unless she'd like a different one), but I thought I'd open it up to all of you instead. It can really be any picture you like of yourself; I don't have a really specific request. I'd like them as soon as possible because I'd really love to share the results. 

Just text me at the number that I have on the blog, or email me a picture if that's easier. 

There are still a few people that haven't taken if, so if you want to have your vote in, now is the time to do it. I'll put the link right below this. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5zSnFUMtpjSq809d6R4GeA8_aVzwZGc2GrhSmGPibUa_ISA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Have a great weekend before exams, 

Rikkle 

Christmas Traditions

 Hey everyone, 

As the holidays are getting closer and closer, I am getting more and more excited!! I think this is the first time in a long time where I am actually hyped up about the holidays. We just put up our tree this week and it looks really nice. Anyways, I was thinking about holiday traditions that I do with my family and if you guys would like to share your traditions, that would be great! I’d love to read them :)

My family usually separates Christmas on the 24th at night, and we usually get together and eat tamales that I make with my grandma. That night, we go to mass and then head to bed. In the morning, we gather around our living room and open present/ watch Christmas movies on the couch all day long. My grandma usually made a warm traditional Guatemalan drink called atol de elote and it’s so yum. I can’t wait!

Early College Applications Done

 Hey guys! I just thought I'd "celebrate" that I'm done with all my college applications for the early season! I'll probably be applying to more regular decision (if I can force myself to write more essays), but as of now, I'm done and don't have to worry about it until after exams at least (wouldn't be able to write essays during exam week anyways...). So yay me! I think most of us are done till January, and if you want to share your experience, feel free! The waiting game shall begin. 

Also, why is applying to colleges so expensive? I don't really get it. Why is there an $85 application fee? I get schools have to pay admission counselors, but still, that can really add up. And what is the point of paying to send ACT and SAT scores? The website just presses submit; I doubt that much more work goes into it, but I suppose I could be wrong. 

On a happier note, indoor track season is starting! The weather is so much nicer than during cross country season, and now I got to wear all my long-sleeves! When the girls' soccer team gets back from quarantine on Monday, I'll see y'all out there! Have a great weekend everyone!!

    

Audition Updates/Music Rant

 Hey y'all, 

For everyone who read my last post, thanks! I just wanted to update y'all and say that I finished my first audition for this week. It was extremely stressful and exhausting. I had to play an entire concerto (about 15 minutes) and another 5-minute piece, all of which I ended up recording today. (I did try to record yesterday and Sunday, but my best recordings were from today, so I just kept going for 4 hours.) I am very glad I recorded today because my high notes and overall tone were a lot better than yesterday or Sunday. I think it's because I got a decent amount of sleep yesterday after falling asleep on the couch without doing any homework :/ Speaking of which, I wrote my Dante's Inferno Paper about music-related procrastination, if that makes any sense. I'd love for y'all to read it if you're interested because I really enjoyed writing it and I'd love to share my passion with you. (Hunter is featured as one of the sinners, in jest of course :) I'm super proud of the title I came up with, which is "Hell Hath No Fury Like a French Horn." Anyway, sorry for this long-winded post that's going absolutely nowhere, but I'm just so happy I sent in my recordings! It's days like this that make me so grateful to play the French horn. Even though this afternoon was really hectic and tiring, it was also extremely gratifying. I'm super proud of myself for playing all of Strauss 1, which I definitely didn't think I'd be able to get together in time for this audition. 

       Thanks for everyone who stuck with me this long! I have another audition due Friday so I'll keep y'all posted about it. (Hunter, I will try my very best to make you cookies on Thursday night, but if I have an econ test as well as my audition, they might have to wait till Monday...sorry!) And now I'm off to write an econ essay! 

Musically yours, 

Clara

Just When I Thought I Was Done

Hi, y'all,

This entire year, I kept telling myself just make it through November 15th since that's when all your applications are due. Well, I kinda forgot about a little thing called scholarships. And realizing that I have six essays due Saturday caused a mental break down tonight. I believe that since it's combined with being in quarantine right now, I might be over exaggerating, but nevertheless, the task is still daunting, and as I have said many times on this blog, I don't wanna do it.

Fortunately, however, I am hoping to be able to return on Friday. I believe I was promised cookies as a celebration (@clara, still not sure if that works). Furthermore, because of the many good things I heard about the Queen's Gambit, I started watching it, and I must admit that it was very good. I hope Laura will comment on this post and actually address me this time. Anyways that was my rant for the week so thanks for dropping by.

Yours truly,
Hunter

Things Fall Apart?

Once again I have pursued an outside reading, this time choosing to reread Chinua Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart. A fictional novel detailing the hardships of one African tribe as it faces colonization. It is immediately evident to the reader that Okonkwo, the hero of the story, is obsessed with manliness. His concern manifests itself in almost every chapter. The story begins with an account of his success as a wrestler - a "manly" competition - and ends with his murder of the court messenger, another "manly" act. In every action and every choice he makes, Okonkwo is determined to show that he is masculine. It is powerful irony, then, that the evidence of the novel shows that Okonkwo is actually a latent homosexual. I found this to be very interesting and had to share my analysis of the character. “Latent homosexual" means one’s homosexuality id not only hidden from others but is subconsciously hidden from oneself. After reading a bit of research by psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, I learned a key aspect of male homosexuality is hostility towards women. Okonkwo has treated his wives like servants, and there is no suggestion that he is attracted to them romantically or sexually. There is only one direct reference to sex in the book, when at the end of Chapter Eleven, Ekwefi remembers her first sexual encounter with Okonkwo, when he "just carried her into the his bed and in the darkness began to feel around her waist for the loose end of her cloth." (Achebe, 109) It is significant that this action is initiated by Ekwefi, not by Okonkwo himself. Okonkwo’s indifference is not exactly peaceful either as he has been known to be violent with his lovers, who "lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper." (Achebe, 13) So there is clear evidence of his hostility towards women. He thinks of them as inferior, and shows that in his words and his actions. Okonkwo is determined not to be like his father, whois said to be  "agbala" - that is, a woman. He is ashamed of his father's sexuality, and decides that he must be the opposite. It is clear, however, that he overreacts to this situation. Okonkwo is not going to be just an ordinary male; he is going to be a supermodel of masculinity. The intensity of his reaction indicates that he is determined to hinder something. He is not just repudiating his father; he is condemning his own homosexual impulses. So this is the irony, and the paradox, of his situation. His obsessive determination with being a male - with being heterosexual - is clear evidence that he is actually homosexual.

Once again I have pursued an outside reading, this time choosing to reread Chinua Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart. A fictional novel detailing the hardships of one African tribe as it faces colonization. It is immediately evident to the reader that Okonkwo, the hero of the story, is obsessed with manliness. His concern manifests itself in almost every chapter. The story begins with an account of his success as a wrestler - a "manly" competition - and ends with his murder of the court messenger, another "manly" act. In every action and every choice he makes, Okonkwo is determined to show that he is masculine. It is powerful irony, then, that the evidence of the novel shows that Okonkwo is actually a latent homosexual. I found this to be very interesting and had to share my analysis of the character. “Latent homosexual" means one’s homosexuality id not only hidden from others but is subconsciously hidden from oneself. After reading a bit of research by psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, I learned a key aspect of male homosexuality is hostility towards women. Okonkwo has treated his wives like servants, and there is no suggestion that he is attracted to them romantically or sexually. There is only one direct reference to sex in the book, when at the end of Chapter Eleven, Ekwefi remembers her first sexual encounter with Okonkwo, when he "just carried her into the his bed and in the darkness began to feel around her waist for the loose end of her cloth." (Achebe, 109) It is significant that this action is initiated by Ekwefi, not by Okonkwo himself. Okonkwo’s indifference is not exactly peaceful either as he has been known to be violent with his lovers, who "lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper." (Achebe, 13) So there is clear evidence of his hostility towards women. He thinks of them as inferior, and shows that in his words and his actions. Okonkwo is determined not to be like his father, whois said to be  "agbala" - that is, a woman. He is ashamed of his father's sexuality, and decides that he must be the opposite. It is clear, however, that he overreacts to this situation. Okonkwo is not going to be just an ordinary male; he is going to be a supermodel of masculinity. The intensity of his reaction indicates that he is determined to hinder something. He is not just repudiating his father; he is condemning his own homosexual impulses. So this is the irony, and the paradox, of his situation. His obsessive determination with being a male - with being heterosexual - is clear evidence that he is actually homosexual.

Thanksgiving

 

The holiday based upon being thankful and grateful which began because of the pilgrims settling on Plymouth and celebrating that the Native Americans had finally taught them how to live off the land. I understand in the 1950s this holiday was something of immense pleasure and pride within America and everyone sat down and had their cranberry sauce and turkey with any Expressions as we celebrated this country’s ”founding,”  Alas!  It Is 2020 and we are still celebrating this holiday that is obviously now seen as a celebration of European colonizers bringing epidemics to the Native Americans which would later Wipe Out the colonies, and those that survived the plagues they brought upon the indigenous people of America would soon realize that the European colonizers would enslave them and take their land. Yet we still find it okay to eat our turkey legs, which wasn't even what they did on the first Thanksgiving Day and talk about what we're thankful for. I am baffled.  Why hasn't cancel culture canceled Thanksgiving? Only then will I be thankful.

Audition Season :/

 Hey y'all! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break! Allow me to rant about this upcoming week...I have 2 auditions due, one on Wednesday and another on Friday. For the first one, I have to play an entire concerto (concerti generally have 3 movements, and Strauss 1, the concerto I'm playing, is 15 minutes long) and another piece. For the audition on Friday, I have to play 2 pieces, one of which is the second piece from the first audition. (So, at least I don't have to prepare four different pieces.) I'm writing this because I just tried to record Strauss 1 and I could not hit any of the high notes! (Strauss 1 has a ton of high B flats in all 3 movements...) I'm not sure why I was having such trouble - maybe it's because I've been practicing all week and my face is tired, or maybe it's because I've been biting my lips something awful (really bad habit for French horn players :( ), but anyway, it's a bit frustrating and stressful. Anyway, sorry for ranting for an entire post, but if you stayed with me to the end, here are the names of the pieces I'm playing - I think y'all will really LOVE the last one if y'all listen to it. Also, Stefan Dohr (the principal horn of the Berlin Phil who I DM'ed to say happy birthday since it was my half-birthday, which I then wrote about in my college essay) - yep, I'm on the brink of insanity - plays an AMAZING Strauss 1, so I'd recommend you listen to him as well. :)

Here's my repertoire:

Strauss 1 (all 3 movements)

Laudatio by Bernhard Krol

Hunter's Moon by Gilbert Vinter 

Hope y'all get the chance to listen to these! And if you haven't already, follow my practice account @life_without_horn_would_B_flat! 

P.S. No French horn ~jokes~ please! (You know who you are.)

Quarantine (uggh)

Hi, everyone!

So for those of you who do not know, I ran sound effects and helped with the overall production for Twisted Tales of Poe. Overall, I had a really fun time, and it was a great experience for my first show of senior year. However, unfortunately, one my cast mates tested positive for COVID-19. Mrs. DuSaules called me this afternoon to let me know that I can't come back to school until December 3rd. The next two weeks are going to be difficult, especially missing out on a Friendsgiving with my three closest friends from Jesuit. However, I'd rather miss out on something now than possibly spread the virus, and I only wish that other people shared my mentality. That being said, I am looking forward to a bunch of Netflix, and my current motivational quote is, "If Leven can do it, so can I."

Yours truly (virtually),
Hunter

The Zodiac Sign survey

Hey guys, 

There have been only been 7 responses so far to the Zodiac quiz. Can everyone go ahead and take the quiz so I can release the  results? Here's the original post:

 Hey everyone!! This poll is to see which of the zodiac signs fit our classmates most. This is not about their actual astrological signs. Instead, this is about their personality and what you think you would fit most. 

Aries

Positive Traits~ Adventurous, Courageous, Creative, Versatile, Lively, Positive, Passionate, Motivated, Leaders.

Negative Traits~ Arrogant, Stubborn, Impulsive, Undisciplined, Confrontational. 

Taurus

Positive Traits~ Generous, Dependable, Down to earth, Patient, Independent (Financially and emotionally), Persistent.

Negative Traits~ Stubborn, they tend to be rude and ignorant of others’ emotions, Lazy, Materialistic, Possessive. 

Gemini

Positive Traits~ Adjustable and flexible, Versatile, Enthusiastic, Soft-Spoken, great communication skills, Witty and very humorous, Intellectual, Clever. 

Negative Traits~ Lack of Consistency, Superficial, Lack Decision Making Ability, Lack of direction, they easily get bored, Anxious. Gemini-born people tend to bite off more than they can chew and this results in anxiousness.

Cancer

Positive traits~ Creative, Spontaneous, Faithful, Loving and protective, Emotional, Intuitive, Caring. 

Negative Traits~ Moody, Pessimistic, Willing to abandon everything if they experience a failure, Clingy, Overemotional, Suspicious. 

Leo

Positive Traits~ Kind and helpful, Energetic, Optimistic, Straightforward, Honest, Loyal. 

Negative Traits~ Headstrong, Egoistic, Possessive, Jealous, Dominating, Impatient, Arrogant, Self-centered.

Virgo

Positive Traits~  Watchful, Attention to detail, Intelligent, Practical, Analytical, Reliable and trustworthy, Modest perfectionists.

Negative Traits~ Overcritical, Fussy, Fastidious, Harsh, Conservative, Judgmental. 

Libra

Positive Traits~ Tactful, good at getting things done, Romantic, Charming, Fair, Diplomatic, will listen to other points of view 

Negative Traits~ Superficial, Detached, Unreliable, Lazy, Indecisive. 

Scorpio

Positive Trait~ Focused, Brave, Balanced, Passionate, Faithful, Ambitious, What motivates them best are power, position and money, Intuitive.

Negative Traits~ Jealous, Possessive, Secretive, Resentful, Distrustful, easily hurt by negative treatment, Manipulative. They love to dominate.

Sagittarius

Positive Traits~ Straightforward, Intellectual, Philosophical, Strong sense of right and wrong,

Large-hearted, Generous.

Negative Traits~ Careless, Tactless, Impatient, they often push the things too hard, Inconsistent, Over Confident.

Capricorn

Positive Traits~ Practical, Ambitious, Wise, Mature and sensible, Disciplined, Patient, Cautious.

Negative Traits~ Pessimistic, Stubborn, Shy. They enjoy only the company of their best friends.

Aquarius

Positive Traits~ Friendly, Humanitarian, Intelligent, Creative, Independent (both emotionally and financially), Loyal. If an Aquarius gives his word, he will fulfil it for sure.

Negative Traits~ Unpredictable, Inconsistent, mood determines actions, Detached (Live and let live!), Stubborn, Aloof, Extremist (All or nothing!)

Pisces

Positive Traits~ Imaginative, Kind, Compassionate, Intuitive, Affectionate and gentle, Selfless. 

Negative Traits~ Escapist (uses scapegoats), Idealistic, Over-sensitive, 

Pessimistic, Lazy for things that don’t matter to them.

If I forgot any traits, please let me know and I will add them!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbMOpuQU4mmDQQLAtQ0IO_8FLv5exb3J3v5Q_rBmn-OFMLog/viewform?usp=sf_link

My weekend so far

Hey everyone!

Hope y'all are doing well. I honestly don't have MUCH to talk about, but I just wanted to talk with you guys about my weekend so far. So, yesterday while leaving Whole Foods, I opened up my gmail and saw that I got accepted into Loyola and got an INSANE scholarship. I literally paused in the middle of the street and screamed. My mom thought someone tried to kidnap me... I am incredibly happy and super proud of myself. It all kinda hit me at once yesterday just how much I have grown into a (decently) smart and (I'd like to think) mature woman. If freshman year me saw where and who I was going to be in 4 years, I would've just been in complete shock. But anyways, today I had a haircut (for the first time since March) and Senior portraits/casuals! I got a new hair-do as well! I mean, it's not TOTALLY different, but I got some fringe bangs! So that's new! I have always wanted them and am so excited to style them.

I am still on a high from when I read that acceptance letter. I know I sound a little dramatic, but I just genuinely never thought I had this much potential in myself. It has been a rough couple of years for me, but I am just happy everything is finally turning around. I think I deserve it.

Much love,

Erica Ricci

Disney Movies and its relation to Literature

 Hey guys! So in class, we have talked about the idea of how Disney movies are based on books we read or similar in theme. 

    For example, we have talked about the movie Hercules, which I know isn't completely factual (its' a Disney movie, don't ruin it!), but includes a lot of divine intervention and pretty much the characteristics of an epic (like Oedipus and Medea). Another movie which relates a lot to Greek literature is the Percy Jackson trilogy, which deals with human evoking the gods and fighting other mythological creatures. Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, but is a human, which is really cool!

    Now, we are about to start Hamlet, and this book directs the plot of the great movie "The Lion King." I know Mrs. King said we can consider watching it after we read Hamlet, so I am happy to be comparing the two works. 

    However, pretty much every Disney movie is based on books! As a big Disney fan, I am really into seeing comparisons between the movies and the books. Below is a list of Disney movies loosely or directly based on a book or literature:

While this list may have some obscure movies you may have not seen, I wanted to include more obscure movies because I fell like the most popular movies are common knowledge)

1." Hercules"

2. "Percy Jackson" series

3. "Lion King"

4. "Frozen"- based on the book the Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson

5. "Alice in Wonderland"- based on the book by Louis Carrol

6.  "Pinocchio"- based on the book The Adventures of Pinocchio by Italian author Carlos Collodi (from Florence like Dante!)

7. "The Jungle Book"- based on the book by Rudyard Kipling. 

8. "The Black Cauldron" (an old movie from 1985)- from the book by Lloyd Alexander (written as part of the Chronicles of Prydain series). 

9. "Oliver and Company" -- I never seen it but I was surprised by the relation to the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens  (keep in mind, this movie is about dogs. It's like the Lion King)

10. "Tuck Everlasting" (2002)- inspired by the book by Natalie Babbit

11. "The BFG"- inspired by Roald Dahl book with the same name

And so many more! Not to mention all of the princess movies, and every other animated Disney movie! I didn't actually know that some of these movies existed, but I was amazed on how much Disney related to literature to inspire the plot for their movies. 

The Lion King

We all know Ms. King is a bit lost on our Disney references, like the difference between Chip and Dale, how the Lion King is similar to Hamlet, and that Spongebob the Movie is loosely based on the Odyssey. Last year, when I found out that she hadn't seen The Lion King, I tried to get her to watch it, but she has yet to do so. I even gave her $5 for Christmas last year so she could rent it, but I don't think she did. 

She challenged me before Christmas break last year, and said "Whatever test you give me, I'll get an A." So, being myself, I made a test on the topics of The Lion King, with a multiple choice section, a fill-in-the-blank section, and an essay question. It was a pretty difficult test, if you ask me. I came to school with the test and everything, and she told me she didn't watch it. After that, I would ask her almost every Monday last semester if she watched it over the weekend, and it was always some form of, "No, not yet!" "I was very busy, Leven." or "I know, I know, I'm the worst student ever." (I'm in no way saying Ms. King has all the time in the world, or that she's not a busy person.) 

It has been brought to my attention that Camila is now also trying to get her to watch the movie, and is showing signs of progress. First, I would like to let Ms. King know that I'm a little hurt that you're willing to watch the Lion King for Camila and not me. Secondly, I want to let y'all know that because I am no longer in her class, I can no longer bother her about it on Mondays, so I am passing the torch to you all to PLEASE get her to watch the movie. It's my favorite! (I'm counting on you, Camila!)

French Class

 Hey Y'all!

So this is the first year in middle and high school that I couldn't take French. It wouldn't fit into my schedule! I was so disappointed because I was so ready to have French class as a part of my day for my senior year. 

My parents, being the problem solvers that they are, were like: "You should look to see if they have online classes." Then, in a fit of divine intervention (or a maybe just a well-timed email), I was told that Duolingo has online events! It was the answer to my problem! I have joined this awesome class that is an Intermediate French Speakers class on Zoom. The class is so cool because it is attended by people from across the world. One day, I was in a small group with someone from Guatemala and Canada. 

The class is really just a time to practice small talk in French, which is exactly what I was looking for. The most interesting conversation was about when people of your culture say thank you to a server at a restaurant, but I think that the best part is that there is no homework.  

I wrote all this to say that I hope that y'all are keeping up with the hobbies that you love. I know that during Covid times, it is hard continue with those small things that you love, but I think that now is the best time because we all need those little excitements to keep us going. What is one thing that keeps you going during school hours?

Etymology of Hush Puppies

 Hey y'all, 

Have you ever wondered about the etymology of hush puppies? Well, when I stopped at Cracker Barrel after my state swim meet yesterday, I got hush puppies with my dinner and I wondered why they had such a curious, random name. So tonight, instead of going to bed and setting myself up for success on my stats test tomorrow morning, I looked up the origin of "hush puppies." It turns out there are 2 possible explanations for the origin of the term "hush-puppies" - one is that soldiers would throw fried cornbread to their dogs when they heard their enemies approaching - to "hush the puppies", so to speak. The other explanation is much more out there and kind of gross - and sad - if you ask me. In the south, salamanders are named "water dogs" or "water puppies." Poor people would eat salamanders fried in cornmeal, but this food was called "hush puppies" because no one wanted to hear about people eating salamanders in polite conversation. I thought this was sad, but also really funny (maybe it's because I'm totally exhausted...) Anyway, I'm super glad modern hush puppies don't have squishy salamanders inside them! Hope y'all enjoyed the etymology of hush puppies! 

Sources: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/189600.html 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hushpuppy#:~:text=The%20first%20recorded%20use%20of%20the%20word%20%22hush-puppy%22,to%20%22hush%20the%20puppies%22%20during%20cook-outs%20or%20fish-fries.

It Girl Poll...pt 2?

Hello my fellow human and Hunter,

As members of this blog, you all know the polls. This last one, as I have come to realize, was very long and complicated. I mean there was 21 songs (something I didn't realize at first) and that can be really confusing if you don't already know the songs. 

So, I'm changing things up this time. Based on the results I have gotten from the first poll that 9 out of 14 students have taken, I took the songs that were leading for each student and put them as the only options for each person. You'll see what I mean below if that isn't super clear, I can't think of a better explanation at the moment.  I'm hoping this will be easier and will help a lot of you make a decision on who to put for what, since there is only 2 or 3 options now. Once the majority of the class has taken this poll, I'll post the results. 

I really think this will be interesting, since now you'll have a clue as to what others put for you before the final results come out. You are even welcome to argue a song for yourself if you feel one of them doesn't fit your vibe; I think that'd be interesting too. 

I'll stop rambling about how I find this entire thing so fascinating and present...

Here is Pt. 2...

As always, have fun, 

    the personification of Buzzfeed in the AP English Blog 

State Cross Country

 Hey guys! I'm basically just going to talk about cross country. So if y'all haven't heard, the girls team just won state for cross country!! It was so many years in the making, and I'm so thankful I was able to end my last cross country season like this. After six years of running, including 6am wakeup during the summer for practice, I made it! I was one of only two seniors this year on the team, and it feels so surreal that this was it. It was the last time I'll run 3 miles with my team, last time I'll run the state course at Natchitoches, my last cross country race, so many lasts. I'm thankful and proud that I can say I ran with no regrets. I wouldn't change anything. The team was really the best part. Some of the other runners are pretty young, but they were able to stand up against the pressure. I'm particularly proud of one girl who encouraged another throughout the race. It was a selfless act. Her primary concern wasn't beating her teammate, but having us win as a team. We needed each girl to do that. We won by 10 points against Country Day. Our 5th runner (5 runners are scored) was 13th (as a 7th grader!). Individually, I got 2nd place overall. I managed to claw my way back to the top two (9th- 2nd, 10th- 4th, 11th- 3rd). The last mile and a quarter was basically just me trying to get as far away as possible from the 3rd place girl. I knew that once I had 500m left (right after a hill, a little more than one lap of the track), there was no way I was letting her pass me. I tried to sprint as hard as possible until the end. When I finished, two people had to drag me to the bench by the arms as my legs went limp. I'm pretty sure there's a picture out there with my face all scrunched up as I finished. I was so happy when I found out we finished. It was only the 2nd time the girls cross country team has won in our school's history. The first time was when I was a freshman. I'm really proud of all of us, for how we ran yesterday and all the effort we put in over the years. If any girls from the team are reading this a few years in the future, I love you! I actually have state swimming now, so that'll be exciting. Then, I'm pretty sure seniorities is going to hit at the worst moment possible. I already know I have hours of homework piling up. This blog is almost my way of reliving the high and procrastinating doing my other work... Anyways, I know this most likely was not the most interesting thing ever to read (though I'm sure it came a close second), so kudos to you if you made it this far. See y'all soon (I don't come in until around 2am Thursday morning, so we'll see what happens there...).

Dante’s Inferno is basically just fanfiction

 Dante’s Inferno is basically just fan fiction. It’s beautifully written, profound, and well thought out, but it’s fan fiction. Fan fiction is defined as:

fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters from, a particular TV series, book, movie, etc.

Dante writes about famous characters from mythology, the Bible, etc. When people are super into classical literature, it’s not often thought of it as fan-girling. However, I believe it kind of is. It seems to me that the definition matches up perfectly. Dante’s Inferno has several elements that are associated with fan fiction. First of all, it’s a crossover between different characters Dante likes. Fan fiction is a medium that likes to bring characters from different TV shows, books, etc. together in a single story. Dante brings characters from the Bible, Greek mythology, and the like into the play. Another element of fan fiction is wish-fulfillment. We can see people who Dante didn’t like being punished in hell. Meanwhile, he is being given a tour of the underworld by his idol. People he likes engage in respectful conversations with him, while people he doesn’t like are punished for eternity. Sounds like wish-fulfillment to me. Another common device used in fan fiction is the self-insert. People who write fan fiction often like to write it so that other people can see themselves inserted into the story. Sometimes the self-insert is an author’s idealized version of themselves, sometimes it is its own separate character, and sometimes they make the self-inserted character more blank, a spectator, so people can imagine themselves as the person. Dante the pilgrim seems to be a younger, more naive version of the author. He acts as a spectator, but also is the author’s self-insert into a the story. This self-insert then gets to interact with the literary characters he feels most strongly about. Anyways, please let me know if there are any other elements of fan fiction I forgot about. 

Senioritis???

 Hey y’all,

I hope you have have been doing ok, and are hopefully somewhat enjoying these last few months here at St. Martin’s. I know the administration has tried to do what they can to give us a few of the senior traditions, and although I really appreciate them for that, it’s honestly not the same. I feel like I’m at a point right now where I’m just going through the motions and am just trying to get by. I’m so looking forward to Thanksgiving and the holidays because because I know that’ll get me in the spirits, and I REALLY REALLYYYYYY need a break from school. It’s mentally exhausting.

I’m at a point where I just want to graduate and move on to other things...How are y’all feeling? 

"It Girl" Songs Poll

 So, I will be avoiding the Hunter slander that I've been seeing and post the poll about the songs. I will link a YouTube video with the lyrics that way you can read them if you don't know the song while also listening (much faster that way.) I'm sure most of you have heard at least some of them, but I kind of like how some of them aren't as popular. Making you guys branch out slightly, and honestly my own.  

*yes, some, but not all, of these songs do have curse words. I think thats okay since we are all 17 or 18. So just prepare yourself a little*

Jessie's Girl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk9GjbbueHo

Rhiannon:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_aYibUx1B8

Hey There Delilah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQlPzrX8u0A

Roxanne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4B-TmQhCjk

Michelle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXD6G4buNDU

Ophelia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVcy0YdEz0M

Sweet Caroline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzXt7YvK9Hw

Jolene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU3787NR-do

Heather: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPUg7n8-M6o

Valerie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfTHe64HQB0

Olivia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojAXANGbArA

Come On Eileen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlPymQB9sI4

Caroline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBuPhinZVzk

Josslyn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jasOGptR8BY

Jenny From The Block: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nCswWuyShg

Fergilicious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1o1XWRIbe0

Daisy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kle49HVmrI

You & Jennifer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rynp7j8cTTM

Diana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhmFqFG3o-s

Chloe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgdMDCJ-28A

Sofia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZSSHWamGk0

Let me know what you guys think, maybe even what song you feel fit you the most before the results come out. 

Poll Here

p.s.: ms king...sorry for our blog posts not being as fun as last years...we're trying...

Volleyball (RIP)

 Hey guys! So as y'all know, the volleyball season ended last week. This was my last year to ever play high school volleyball, and I'm very frustrated that it ended the way that it did. I ranted about this to most of y'all already, but for those who don't know, the refs we had during our regionals game were absolutely awful. They made a bunch of bad calls that you could tell that they knew were bad calls, but they didn't want to admit that they were wrong. At the end, McGhee was winning 22 to 20 (you need 25 to win a set), and they had already won 2 out of 3 completed sets (it's best 3 out of 5, so if they won that set then they were going to win the whole game). We were called as out of rotation by one of the refs, because a girl had done an illegal substitution. However, illegal substitutions are not rotational errors. It just means that she went in for a player when she had already been put in foe a different player earlier, which is illegal; you can only sub in and out for one person. But, instead of just taking away our point and making the girl go back out, the ref said that our actual rotation was off, that we were in the wrong positions. We didn't think she correct about that, but she was so insistent, so we let her put us into a different rotation and started the next play (t's now 23-19 because we lost the point we got while the girl was in illegally, and they automatically get a point for that). But as soon as the next point started, the ref blew her whistle and said that we were out of rotation- even though she was the one who changed our rotation to begin with. We had been in the correct rotation during the illegal substitution, but she told us to change it, and then when we did, she called us out and said we were out of rotation for the rotation that SHE put us in. So, this led to a 20 minute discussion between the refs, coaches, and bookkeepers, but it eventually ended with McGhee getting the point and making it 24-20. Then, she put us into the rotation that we had originally been in before we lost any points. It's so frustrating, because even though we likely would have lost anyway, it feels very unfair that we went from 20-22 to 20-24 because of ref error. We did have an illegal substitution, but it was all her fault that we were out of rotation. Prudence said to her "but you put us in this rotation" and she said back "I'm not responsible for what you do after the whistle blows!" What were we supposed to do?? Change the lineup that you were supposed to check before you started the play? Literally what do you get paid to do??

Anyway, I'm sad that my last season had to end in such an unfair way, especially since the McGhee parents/fans were incredibly rude to our fans throughout the entire 20 minute debate. They were chanting things like "we're gonna win, you're gonna lose!" at our stands, and I heard a woman yell "It doesn't even matter cause you're gonna lose anyway!" I also saw an adult woman do that thing where you put your thumbs in your ears and waggle your fingers. Very mature, glad they could get pleasure out of bullying a bunch of teenagers because they're mad that they peaked in high school and still act like they're in it so they can appear cool to their kids.

Anyway, if you're in sports, tell your coaches to never use that reffing company. I don't know the name, but you could probably find out from Scioneuax.

Hunter

Hey guys. I am in AP Computer Science with a fellow peer, Hunter Richardson. He is wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt with yellow leaves and wearing a blue lai around his head. Besides this unique fashion sense, he likes to make fun of people. I mean he says he's kidding sometimes, but who can trust a guy with a blue lai on his head? Fellow peer Rachel Royerre has also reported of his mean intentions and sarcastic tones. Rachel reports:

"Yeah, Hunter has really been sarcastic lately. He thinks he's all that, and told us he's using the blue lai as crown to indicate he, in fact, is the king of all us."

Crazy, right? Hunter has angered Clara, too, that Clara is trying to blog. But while she is blogging, she is viciously tapping the keys that the computer keyboard is at the edge of breaking. 

Beware Hunter Richardson. 

 

This is a more accurate representation of what he looks like.

Message approved by: Hunter Richardson 

How Clara Assaults Me

Hi, everyone!

Many of you know our red-headed, enegertic classmate Clara. She is very sweet and kind, except for the fact she physically absuses me. In a moment of procrastination, I asked Clara to kindly remind me to write my Why Tulane essay, which I still haven't done. I gave her permission to lightly tap me on the shoulder for one day if I didn't have it. However, she has taken this as cart blanche to slap me whenever she feels like it.

Granted, she slaps softly, but she hits the same spot on my arm every single time. Consequently, I have a minor bruise and am considering pressing charges through not only the Honor Council but also through a court of law. Fortunately, I have friends on the bench in the 24th JDC, and I am confident that a verdict will come in my favor.

My fellow classmates, if you have any suggestions as to how much I should sue for, please let me know. For legal reasons, everything in this post is humorous, except for the fact that she does in fact hit me daily. I am writing this blog in Computer Science, and I have been assaulted at least twelve times. Thank you for your concern in this matter.

Yours truly,
Hunter

Tik Tok an Epic Distraction

 Tik Tok from what I can remember began the summer of 2019. From the core memory that I have I can pull up images of learning the dance obsessed, which I swore was so hard to remember, and trying to perform the Renegade and post it online so I could become famous like Charli. I didn't realize how much time I was wasting on the screen of Tik-Tok. Social media has always been about short glimpses and others’ lives that may reveal things as deep as the darkest inner workings of one's mind to things as silly as a cat sneezing. But one thing I find about Tick Tock that's different from Instagram or SnapChat is the fact that the algorithm is so careful to give you content that is carefully crafted for you but is also affected by those you follow and are around. The other day I was sitting down on the couch with my friend and I noticed that we both had the same Tik Tok on our page although we both like completely different things. The Tik Tok algorithm is so Advanced that you can sit there for hours watching 15 second videos and not even realize that you've wasted so much time because it feels like seconds and you're mind.  Tik Tok has successfully taken over this country as a mechanism of distraction that can so easily affect how we think today.

In Da Club by 50 Cent

 Y'all it's my birthday, and I turned 18 years of age. And I am so happy! Because now I can finally vote!  Because that is all I can do. In a country where you can enlist in the army at 14 years old with a parent's consent, I am still unable to drink or smoke.  Honestly I have no desire to do either, and I'm not just saying that because Miss King is watching would I write right now. But I find it very interesting how as a country we find this okay. How  is it okay for us to risk our lives for our country and claim that we understand that we are in fact taking a chance that could very well end our lives yet still not be trusted to be able to understand and appropriately determine whether or not we can handle a can of beer? I don't mean to condone alcoholism or smoking or drug abuse or any substance like such but I do want to know why is it that this country is putting its needs before its people. That is what it seems to me. It seems that a country can make an excuse for a child to hold a gun and use it against the other is for the name of protection of private property and the core beliefs of a Nation, yet will put their foot down when it comes to that child drinking because that is not healthy for them. We American countries have made it for the United States government to make excuses to suit their own personal agendas. I am going to end this blog right here before I become an anarchist.

 note the song above is my key birthday feelz

HOCO

 I have split emotions for Homecoming this year. On one hand, this is our last year before we become the ones who are coming home, which is startling for me when a majority of my life has been spent at this school. On another hand, we are seniors! We are the top of the school and should be having a great experience that will be told to friends in 30 years, like my parents have stories of their senior year. On the third hand, (because why not, three hands are plausible) it is disappointing that half our grade doesn't seem to be here for one reason or another. It is disappointing that we will not be able to pack the bleachers for the one game that most of us go to. 

We will not have the same experience as most did. It is not possible to. I think that homecoming reminded me of that hard fact that I was not previously accepting fully. 

First DR

 Hey y'all! So yesterday I got my first DR (I got the email yesterday, so it was probably from last week) for 2 tardies. I honestly thought I'd be more upset than I am. Also, getting a DR had the opposite effect than I (and probably the people who made the 2 tardies rule) thought it would. The only reason I stressed out about being on time was to avoid getting my first DR, but now that I already have a DR, I am way less concerned about being on time...Maybe it's senioritis kicking in, but getting a DR doesn't seem nearly as horrible as I always thought. It almost seems like a rite of passage for high schoolers. 

I definitely need to work on my punctuality, but the truth is that I'm still adjusting to school starting at 7:55 (and having to be screened before I go to class). I knew exactly when I had to leave in order to get to school punctually by 8:00, but I can't just leave 5 minutes earlier because we have to be screened, so I actually have to leave around 7 or 8 minutes earlier than I did last year. I am still working on getting up earlier and being less rushed. There are just so many things I like to do in the mornings. Sometimes I like to work out (Chloe Ting for the win!) or practice music, or if it's someone's birthday (like today: HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYN!) I play them Happy Birthday in the morning. So I always struggle to be punctual. Intellectually I understand that being late is disrespectful, but I always have trouble stopping what I'm doing, whether it's working out, practicing music, or doing homework, to leave on time. My lack of punctuality is probably my worst flaw, and I definitely need to work on it before I become an adult. Does anyone have any tips for being punctual? (My clocks are already set early haha.)

Disney Villain Poll Results

 Hey y'all! The results were very divided, so I'll be putting every percentage that people got since most of them were split evenly among a bunch of characters.

Renee:

36.4% Queen of Hearts

18.2% Evil Queen and Ursula

9.1% Hades, Yzma, and Gaston

Izzy:

36.4% Maleficent

9.1% Prince Hans, Yzma, Hades, Cruella De Vil, Scar, Jafar, Ursula

Abbie:

45.5% Ursula

36.4% Gaston

9.1% Mother Gothel, Yzma

Rikki:

45.5% Evil Queen

27.3% Maleficent and Dr. Facilier

Clara:

45.5% Queen of Hearts

9.1% Prince Hans, Maleficent, Evil Queen, Cruella De Vil, Mother Gothel, Dr. Facilier

Camila:

45.5% Mother Gothel

36.4% Cruella De Vil

9.1% Prince Hans, Evil Queen

Sofia:

36.4% Jafar

18.2% Evil Queen

9.1% Mother Gothel, Dr. Facilier, Yzma, Prince Hans, Malefiecent

Laura:

23.7% Scar

18.2% Cruella De Vil, Mother Gothel

9.1% Yzma, Hades, Maleficent, Jafar

Deryn:

18.2% Gaston, Dr. Facilier, Evil Queen

9.1% Queen of Hearts, Maleficent, Jafar

Adriana:

36.4% Prince Hans

18.2% Maleficent, Scar

9.1% Cruella De Vil, Mother Gothel, Dr. Facilier

Erica:

54.5% Yzma

18.2% Cruella De Vil

9.1% Hades, Gaston, Evil Queen

Hunter:

45.5% Hades

27.3% Prince Hans

9.1% Jafar, Scar. Cruella De Vil

Catherine:

27.3% Cruella De Vil

18.2% Mother Gothel, Dr. Facilier

9.1% Queen of Hearts, Evil Queen, Maleficent, Gaston

Mrs. King:

36.4% Evil Queen

18.2% Ursula, Queen of Hearts

9.1% Jafar, Cruella De Vil, Mother Gothel

King v. Sykes, pt. 1

Salutations!

As some of you aware, a former student, Tanner Sykes, has had a very interesting relationship with Ms. Megan King. As a member of her English class last year, Tanner has allegedly caused many disruptions, while he claims to be jesting.

According to Sykes, there is an ongoing lawsuit for fraud and general buffonary; however, both legal counsels have advised their clients to not make a statement. As for the administration's decision to allow a teacher to instruct a student with whom she has filed an injunction, that is highly questionable and will be further investigated.

I encourage everyone to do research on the blog to determine whether or not Tanner can be at fault. We will serve as a jury for this case. Justice will be brought to both sides. Please do not feel obligated to side with Ms. King because she is the teacher or because of relationship with Tanner (*cough cough* Erica *cough cough*), as neither are valid reasons.

Should you have questions about this legal process, please do not hesitate to comment. Thanks!

Yours truly,
Hunter

My Life in Quarantine (It Sucks)

My first blog! So after bothering Ms. King for DAYS to let me join the blog, I kinda have to deliver and at least blog a little, or I feel like I never would hear the end of it. 

So many of y'all know that I tested positive for COVID-19 Friday night. Unfortunately, I had my Senior Night for volleyball the next day, which I had to miss. I also had to miss Halloween, which was so upsetting, because, like everyone else, I LOVE Halloween. I turn 18 on the 10th, and I think I'm going to have to be in quarantine for that, too. 

Personally, missing Senior night stung the most. Of course I don't want to turn 18 in Quarantine, but I can always celebrate when I get better. For Senior Night, I couldn't ask Coach Scioneaux to push it back two whole weeks. The season would have been over and I couldn't do that to Laura, Katie, and Pru, and it just wasn't practical because why push it back for ME. If you've come to a game, you'll know that... well... I'm not good at volleyball, haha. Like at all. I'll normally be found cheering my teammates on from the sidelines, which I don't mind, because I love my teammates, and if we manage to get a significant lead, I'll go in to play front row for someone. Again, I really don't mind, because I want to win the game more than I want to play. 

Senior Night was our night. I was going to go in to play at the very beginning of the game. All the seniors would start, and I was really excited to go in and see if I could rise to the occasion and not let my team down. This didn't happen, my season ended last Tuesday, and I didn't even realize. I really hope we go far in the playoffs so I can continue to cheer on my team, and go to a few more of my last practices, because I definitely won't be playing in college.

I promise this isn't that deep, haha. I'm over it. I've accepted it, and moved on. I'll have basketball, and I'm watching every volleyball game and I'm still cheering my teammates on, even if it's from my couch and not the sidelines. There's one right now.

I think my biggest stressor in quarantine is boredom. I can't leave my room, I cant see my sister, or her cat, who I miss, and I can only call my friends because I don't see them at school, so they're probably tired of me, and I can't blame them. *coughsorrylaura,izzy,andrikkicough* I will also say that schoolwork is a pain in the butt. I'm sleeping all the time, and I haven't missed any classes, yet, but I do see myself sleeping in for 1st period study hall. I'm definitely having trouble keeping up with school work because I will literally fall asleep while studying or doing homework. I had three quizzes today in marine bio, English, and math and I can confidently say I bombed at least two. I did embarrassingly bad on Calculus. Like, apologized to her after I turned it in, and even left a note on my graph saying "I'm so sorry :( I tried", bad. 

So, this is the end of my first blog. It was kinda fun to write. Very therapeutic. Thanks to everyone who read till the end. <3

Poll Idea (IT Girl Songs)

Hi AP English, 

So, I've thought of a new poll to do. I know not all of us have Tiktok, but there is a trend going around right now to categorize your friend group or dressing as various "it girls" from music. It basically matches the vibe of the song and the person the song is about. I'm not the best at explaining this, but I'll post one of the better Tiktok's under the trend. 

Here is my list of songs so far: 

Jessie’s Girl 

Lucy in the sky with diamonds

Rhiannon 

Hey there Delilah 

Roxanne 

Michelle 

Ophelia 

Sweet Caroline 

Jolene 

Heather 

Valerie 

Olivia 

Eileen 

Caroline (don’t worry it’s different from sweet Caroline if you don’t know the song)

Josslyn  

Jenny from the Block 

Fergilicious 

Daisy 

Diana 

Jennifer

Chloe 

Sofia 

 

I wanted to what you guys thought about the idea, since I like input. Can you guys think of any other ones? If I do go through with my idea, I will post Youtube links to each of the songs so you can listen to them (I think it'll be fun to listen to some new music if you haven't heard). it.  I just like the Tiktok trend and think it'd be fun. 

Tiktok #1

Tiktok #2

Tiktok #3

Tiktok #4

To be a Shawty in a Society made for Tall People

If I was born November 9th year 2002 at 19 in. The average height for females by babies is 19.25 in meaning that when I was born, I was of average height. This high of being considered “average” Did not last long as I quickly realized that I was not growing with my peers. Throughout my educational lifetime I have always been the shortest in my class, and I can always call my teachers trying to make me feel better by promising me that they were short in grade school but got taller during high school. So I patiently waited, joining extracurricular Sports such as yoga to stretch out my joints and perhaps give me an inch or two,  what was bitterly met with the same outcome because when it was time to stand in height order my freshman year, I was still the shortest in my class.  You may think that being short isn't as bad as it sounds and that I'm being dramatic for being about 9 inches below average. but you don't realize how much of society is built upon men and women being of average or above-average height. The fashion industry automatically makes clothing for those who are of “perfect height;” Always leaving my jeans to be 9 in too long and my dresses to fall below my knees call but no matter how mini they claim to be. A few years ago I learned that cars were not built for tall short people either forcing me to use a cushion so I could see over the steering wheel and get my brakes extended so that I could stretch my legs to reach them. Being short I began to notice other things that may have been ignored if I were average height like how countertops will reach my rib cage which wasn't a problem for me until I realized that from his people the counter would reach their hip.  The infamous  reaching the top cabinet struggle doesn't even feel like it should be mentioned.The woes of being short are endless,  but I have learned that short people adapt to their environment extremely well and learn how to live in a society that sometimes feels, is against them.  I'm interested to see you, however, if you've noticed the same small things that I have.

also

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE --- it is your civil duty

Ryn’s Netflix Pick 🍿 pt2

 Cobra Kai. I LOVE 80s movies. From Can’t Buy me Love to Sixteen Candles, I am always down for an iconic film filled with romance, comedy, action, and some random dance number! Karate Kid has to be one of the hall of gamers of the decade, as it truly is a picaresque of the adolescent scene. This suggestion is two parts as if you haven’t seen the ORIGINAL Karate Kid, then you must set your DVR (God I sound old) to record it before embarking on the addictive Cobra Kai binge. Cobra Kai follows the story of the bully and inadvertently he Karate Kid as they are now adults with their own kids. It reveals that some things don’t change. I know my description is bad but trust me when I say even people who don’t like the movie; love the series (haven’t found one person who hated it so far). ***Side note: you must watch the first karate kid from the 1980s and not believe that the film with Will Smith is anything close to the irreplaceable original film. The plots aren’t the same and the movie ie incomparable! Pro Tip: try to limit yourself to only three episodes a day!

The End of Daylight Savings

 Hey guys, 

So, this really isn't going to be a post of any real substance, but I was just working on some of my homework (commenting on Rikki's new blog, which you should go check out <3),  BUT I glanced at my clock and noticed it was around 1:55. So, I finished up my typing looked back at my clock, and it was 1:00. I literally thought I was going crazy. I just stared at my clock for like 2 whole minutes just like in awe... I completely forgot daylight savings was even A THING! God, that was so strange... I don't even know, you guys. I think I'm starting to get a little delusional over here. I should probably just go to bed and forget about that embarrassing, tragic, and odd few minutes. Night guys!

Much Love, 

Erica Ricci

Happy Halloween AP English

 Hi everyone, 

I hope you enjoy this Halloween and stay safe. This is my favorite holiday of all time and I'm really upset that I won't be able to do anything, especially since the weather is so nice, there's a full moon, and it's a Saturday. I've been wearing sweaters and sweatpants for the past 3 days trying to watch all of my horror favorites with my mom. Just some classics, like Poltergeist and The Shining, along with some of my new favorites like The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor (which I highly recommend). Not sure if anyone else is a big horror fan, but if you have any suggestions, text me because I love a good one. 

That's really all I have to say. What's everyone doing this year since Halloween is kinda "cancelled"? let me know. 

Carpe Diem: Don't Take Anything for Granted

 Hey y'all! So yesterday I was taking a shower and felt a little light headed. The next thing I knew I was sitting down. It took me a second to realize I had passed out. I tried to get out of the bathroom to go lie down and passed out again. I felt like I hit my head, but I couldn't really remember. The only injury I had was a busted lip (which isn't great because I have an audition due on Saturday), but still, I was distinctly disoriented and unsettled. My life flashed before my eyes when they said, "The risk of drowning is significantly higher if you take a bath, so be sure to avoid long hot baths (and showers)."  

    I know this story sounds really morbid, but it just made me realize how precious life is and how very lucky I am. I am fine now - it was just a combination of low blood pressure and exhaustion that caused me to faint, so now I get to eat a ton of salty food (yay Cheez-its!) to raise my blood pressure. Anyway, this whole episode has reminded me to be grateful for every single day because you never know what may happen, and also, to get better sleep! I will definitely take shorter showers (no more watching the "I'm Flying" scene over and over again haha), but more importantly, I will try not to rush through life just to get to the "next important thing." (Also, isn't it ironic that I lost consciousness in the shower after watching clips from a movie about people trying to escape the water?) I need to remind myself to seize every day (hence the title of this post) and to take a moment to stop and smell the roses along the way rather than just plowing through life. Anyway, sorry for this long post, but I hope y'all enjoyed reading it! Also thanks for all the well-wishes on my practice account! :) 

Results of Fatal Flaw Poll (finally)

Hi Class, 

Oops, sorry for taking so long on this. I've been trying to figure out how to post the results in a form where you can see everything and I couldn't figure it out (I'm bad with technology). I'll just type it out and give you guys what you got for the top 3 votes, or any votes that got more than 5. If some of the number seem low, it's mostly because the votes were so split. ALSO, a side note for Ms King, Leven wanted you to know that she actually took this quiz and gave you every single flaw...might want to reconsider that blog membership. 

Adriana: 3 vanity, 3 ability to resist challenge, 3 misplaced trust

Renee: 6 ambition, 7 excessive wrath, 7 ability to resist challenge, 8 pride 

Deryn: 3 excessive personal loyalty, 4 impatience, 5 excessive curiosity 

Sofia: 3 vanity, 4 excessive personal loyalty, 7 low self-esteem

Catherine: 5 vanity, 6 feeling of inferiority, 6 anxiety  

Clara:  5 over-analyzation, 6 excessive curiosity, 7 anxiety

Camila: 3 impatience, 5 feeling of inferiority, 7 vanity

Abbie: 5 low self-esteem, 5 excessive curiosity,  6 impulsivity

Laura: 3 holding grudges, 5 impatience, 6 low self-esteem

Erica: 3 excessive personal loyalty, 3 misplaced trust, 4 excessive jealousy

Izzy: 4 excessive curiosity, 7 over-analyzation, 11 ambition

Ms King: 4 pride, 4 over-analyzation, 5 impatience

Rikki: 5 ambition, 5 anxiety, 6 holding grudges,

Hunter: 5 pride, 5 excessive curiosity, 6 over-analyzation 

As for flaws that were suggested we have: Lust, Mommy/Daddy Issues, dead dad, and "being a freaking loser." I really wish I know who suggested what, but I will keep these quizzes anonymous for the time being. I do have another quiz idea relating to "it girl songs" that I will explain next week or the week after, but I'm assuming you guys are a bit tired of my polls and will give you a break. 

Edit: Some people think that these quizzes bring out the worst in us and make us rely on others for validation. I can see that point, so I'd like to invite you all to comment on this post to say how you feel about the results or what you think you should've gotten. I personally like doing these to see how others perceive me and to try to learn more about all of you through the results, but I can see the argument.  

Zodiac signs

 Hey everyone!! This poll is to see which of the zodiac signs fit our classmates most. This is not about their actual astrological signs. Instead, this is about their personality and what you think you would fit most. 

Aries

Positive Traits~ Adventurous, Courageous, Creative, Versatile, Lively, Positive, Passionate, Motivated, Leaders.

Negative Traits~ Arrogant, Stubborn, Impulsive, Undisciplined, Confrontational. 

Taurus

Positive Traits~ Generous, Dependable, Down to earth, Patient, Independent (Financially and emotionally), Persistent.

Negative Traits~ Stubborn, they tend to be rude and ignorant of others’ emotions, Lazy, Materialistic, Possessive. 

Gemini

Positive Traits~ Adjustable and flexible, Versatile, Enthusiastic, Soft-Spoken, great communication skills, Witty and very humorous, Intellectual, Clever. 

Negative Traits~ Lack of Consistency, Superficial, Lack Decision Making Ability, Lack of direction, they easily get bored, Anxious. Gemini-born people tend to bite off more than they can chew and this results in anxiousness.

Cancer

Positive traits~ Creative, Spontaneous, Faithful, Loving and protective, Emotional, Intuitive, Caring. 

Negative Traits~ Moody, Pessimistic, Willing to abandon everything if they experience a failure, Clingy, Overemotional, Suspicious. 

Leo

Positive Traits~ Kind and helpful, Energetic, Optimistic, Straightforward, Honest, Loyal. 

Negative Traits~ Headstrong, Egoistic, Possessive, Jealous, Dominating, Impatient, Arrogant, Self-centered.

Virgo

Positive Traits~  Watchful, Attention to detail, Intelligent, Practical, Analytical, Reliable and trustworthy, Modest perfectionists.

Negative Traits~ Overcritical, Fussy, Fastidious, Harsh, Conservative, Judgmental. 

Libra

Positive Traits~ Tactful, good at getting things done, Romantic, Charming, Fair, Diplomatic, will listen to other points of view 

Negative Traits~ Superficial, Detached, Unreliable, Lazy, Indecisive. 

Scorpio

Positive Trait~ Focused, Brave, Balanced, Passionate, Faithful, Ambitious, What motivates them best are power, position and money, Intuitive.

Negative Traits~ Jealous, Possessive, Secretive, Resentful, Distrustful, easily hurt by negative treatment, Manipulative. They love to dominate.

Sagittarius

Positive Traits~ Straightforward, Intellectual, Philosophical, Strong sense of right and wrong,

Large-hearted, Generous.

Negative Traits~ Careless, Tactless, Impatient, they often push the things too hard, Inconsistent, Over Confident.

Capricorn

Positive Traits~ Practical, Ambitious, Wise, Mature and sensible, Disciplined, Patient, Cautious.

Negative Traits~ Pessimistic, Stubborn, Shy. They enjoy only the company of their best friends.

Aquarius

Positive Traits~ Friendly, Humanitarian, Intelligent, Creative, Independent (both emotionally and financially), Loyal. If an Aquarius gives his word, he will fulfil it for sure.

Negative Traits~ Unpredictable, Inconsistent, mood determines actions, Detached (Live and let live!), Stubborn, Aloof, Extremist (All or nothing!)

Pisces

Positive Traits~ Imaginative, Kind, Compassionate, Intuitive, Affectionate and gentle, Selfless. 

Negative Traits~ Escapist (uses scapegoats), Idealistic, Over-sensitive, 

Pessimistic, Lazy for things that don’t matter to them.

If I forgot any traits, please let me know and I will add them!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbMOpuQU4mmDQQLAtQ0IO_8FLv5exb3J3v5Q_rBmn-OFMLog/viewform?usp=sf_link