Blog #10

Lauren and Emma just got a point, it was now 20-24 and they were in the lead.  They only needed 7 more points and they would win the 2022 women’s beach volleyball provincials.  They were facing a team from B.C. which had been trained since they were 5 together but Lauren and Emma had only been doing this since high school. There opponents both had brown hair and brown eyes.  One of them was 6’1 and the other 5’10 way taller than them as Lauren was only 5’8 and Emma 5’11. They didn’t let size scare them and it showed as they were always in the lead.  It was best out of 3 sets and they had already won one of them so this was there chance to win it all.  They shoved it down the B.C team’s throats 4 points in a row.  It was now 20-28 and they only needed 3 points to win!  Emma went to serve and her nerves got to her and it went out, it was now 21-28.  The taller B.C. player served to them and they bumped it, set, and threw in a tip.  This threw off their opponents and they didn’t even have a chance at returning it.  It was down to the last 2 points, 21-29 and Lauren was serving.  The ball is in play and the other team smashes it but Lauren digs it up and Emma sets the perfect ball for Lauren to smash.  The 5’10 player goes up to block Lauren and on her way down she lands on Laurens ankle.  She falls to the ground and everything is silent.  Emma runs to her and asks if she is alright, Lauren can feel the immense pain but knows she must finish the game.  She gets up, gets her ankle wrapped and limps back onto the court.  She knows she can’t jeopardise provincials with only one more point needed.  The game resumes and it is Laurens serve, it makes it over and she plays her best with the one leg she had.  B.C. smashed it down with no mercy and they had no chance at a return from Lauren.  It was 22-29 and the B.C. teams worst severe was up.  It made it over but as Lauren tries to reach it, it seems to be out.  Contemplating her move in the last second she calls “OUT!’’, the ball is out! The crown goes wild and Lauren and Emma are in shock at their win, they are now the champions of 2022!

blog#9

Beep! Beep! Beep! It was the sound Lauren Loldon dreaded every morning… the alarm clock.  She smacked the snooze button for the third time.  It was now 11:25 and she had to leave at 12:00 to get to the airport Her 5’8 athletic body jumped out of bed and started getting dressed.  Her outfit of the day was shorts and a sweater it was her usual.  It was very warm in Sydney Australia so her skin was pretty tanned.  She started putting her long blond hair into a French braid and then did her makeup.  She finished her makeup and brushed her teeth.  She fed her Kangaroo, Kanga, and ate her own breakfast, a slice of cold pizza.  She grabbed all of her bags and kanga and headed out of her small house.  She walks to her small blue ford focus and heads to her boyfriend’s house.  His name was Logan and she met him doing the same doctors apprenticeship.  They had also gone to the same university but never had met.   He has brown haired and is 23, a year older than Lauren.  He packed his bags in the car and they headed out to the local sushi place for lunch.  After finishing they left for the airport.  They were heading to Manitoba as Lauren and her best friend Emma were in beach volleyball provincials and also to visit Lauren’s family. Her whole family lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she was very happy about this trip as she got to do two of her favorite things, play volleyball and be with family and friends.  They got to the airport and boarded the plane.  It would be a long flight and they were well off so they decided to fly in first class.  After 21 one long hours of luxurious flying they landed in Manitoba.  It was summer time there so it as pretty warm.  Emma picked them up and they headed to the courts as their first game was in 2 hours.

Blog #8

My room is medium sized and has a specific color scheme all of my furniture is bright white and my walls are painted aqua.  All of my decorations are either green and blues or white and silver all making my room seem calm and modern.  You open the door and a rush of wonderful smells of the tropics surrounds you.  And as you walk into my room you can feel the carpet, the plush fabric in between your toes. Straight in front of you is my medium sized white desk.  It has many drawers and holds all my books and school stuff, on top of it I have my mac book and a paper organiser.  The wall above it has frames filled with pictures of my friends and family, these pictures help to give me inspiration and make me smile whenever I see them.  Diagonally from the desk you will see my bed, it is a double bed and has a white leather head board and frame.  I have a green and blue striped bed spread and many soft jumbo pillows on it.  To the right of my bed I have a little table that has my ihome and my lamp on it, it is square and has pretty short legs.  Across from my bed is my white dresser.  It has three drawers and above it are my TV and Wii.  The dresser however does not hold my clothes, my closet does which is near my desk.  It is pretty big and has all my clothing in it, neatly organised and color coated.  On the ceiling in the center of the room I have a lamp from Mr. Lamp shop and is a ball with warped blue and green panels.  Last but not least I have is a shelf that boarders the hole room.  On this shelf I put pictures, awards and keepsakes. Overall my room is very tidy and is my place to sleep and do homework.  Although you can hear the dog barking and my brother’s music playing it is a great place to rest after a long day. I just recently re-did my room and love the way it has turned out.  I love my room, the look and the feel of it, it almost reminds me of a bedroom out of a magazine and is always very calming to be in.

Blog entry #7

For the charater of Helena I have choose Kate Winslet.  She is a great actress and has been in over 30 movies.  Some of the movies she has been in are The Titanic, The Reader, Contagion, and The Holiday.  She can play many difffernt roles and it shows throughout all her different movies.  Her  Titanic character would be the closest to Helenas.  This is because the are both in the olden days and both were in love with someone they couldn’t have.  In the play Helena is in love with Demetrius and in the movie Rose  is in love with Jack.  This is a similarity because in both the play and the movie they can not be with there true love.  In the play this is because Demetrius does not love her back and is arranged to marry Hermia and in the movie she is frobiden to love a poor man and she is already engaged. “And even for that do I love you more.” (II,I,202) this quote shows that she is in love with someone that she can not be with and she is sayimg that not having him only makes her want him more.  This is exactly like Kate Winslet character’s  Rose.

For the character Titania I choose Jenifer Lawrence.  She is a great actress and has been in movies such as The Hunger Games, Silver Linings Playbook and X-men.   I choose her because she is beautiful and always plays a strong femal.  This relates to Titania because she is a leader and is very powerful.Her character in The Hunger Games relates the best with Titania.  In The Hunger Games she was a very strong girl, she loved nature and she took care of people(her family).   This is exactly like Titania, she is the queen of the forest and has power over everyone, she is one with nature as she is a fairy and she takes care of all the creatures in the forest.  “Not for thy fairy kingdom!”  (II,I,144) this quote shows that she will do anything to protect her kingdom and is strong enough to stand up for them all.  This is exactly like Jennifer’s character Katniss as she stands up for her district and family.

 

For the character Puck I choose the actor Kevin James.  He is a great actor and has been in many movies such as Grown Ups, Paul Blart Mall Cop, and Here Comes the Boom.  I choose Kevin James fro the character of Puck because he always plays a funny and goofy role.  He usually always messes up and is a joker just like Puck.   For example in Paul Blart Mall Cop he plays a mall cop that is sort of a screw up and  is very quirky.   This relates to Puck because he messed up when putting the potions on the lovers eyes and made the hole situation even worse.  ''Weeds of Athens he doth wear.'' (II,ii,77)  This quote shows that he does not process things very well and he jumps to conclusions.  This relates to most of Kevin James characters and that's why I think he would be a great Puck.

spring break plans

Spring break plans-part 1

This year spring break will be pretty relaxed and fun!  I plan to sleep in till at least 11 every day and eat a lot of junk food.  I am going to have a couple sleepovers and go to the mall with some friends, maybe even go to a movie.  Sleepovers are very fun but the next day we are all zombies because we usually stay up all night. When I am not busy with friends I usually watch TV or Netflix.  My favorite TV channel is TLC and my favorite TV series on Netflix is Make it or Break it.  I was supposed to go to Ontario for the whole week but I can’t because I have to watch my little brother as both my parents are working. This is kind of a bummer because he is very annoying, but I’m fine with not going because I get to see my friends.  Since we have Easter during spring break we may go visit my grandparents for the weekend.  They live in Ontario so it’s a bit of a drive but it is fun when we get there.  The car ride consists of me and my brother watching a movie or listening to music.  After that we usually became antsy and end up fighting.  Once we arrive in Kenora we usually go to get ice cream at the Dairy Queen and then a couple minutes later arrive at my grandmas.   Some things that we do there is swim, fish, shop and play with the dogs.  The best part will be the food because we have a huge dinner for Easter.  My favorite dish at Easter is sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top and my favorite dessert is cheese cake. We will be staying there for three days and then will make our way home.  My favorite part of spring break will be sleeping in and having lots of food and the worst part will be the drive home from my grandmas.

 

This is a picture of Ontario.  I choose this picture because it will be the highlight of my spring break.  The reason being my grandma’s place is not in the city so it’s a good change.  Also the nature is amazing and boating is always a fun thing to do.  It’s great because her place is near the city so it’s not hard to go shopping or grab something to eat but it is still sheltered from it.   We literally have a one minute drive to get to the marina and about a five minute drive into town.  I love going fishing there and going for hikes with the dogs.  We also can go hottubing in the back yard which is fun when its colder outside too.  My emotion towards spring break is very excited because we get a week of not using our brains and no homework.  I will not be happy when we have to go back to school but at least there are only a couple months left.  I am so glad that I don’t have any homework because I probably would have forgotten it anyways.  This picture looks exactly like the marina near my grandmas and that’s why I choose it.  My grandma’s boat even looks like one of the boats in the picture. 

blog entry #6

The book cover that I think is most effective is the last one.  I think that this book cover seems traditional.  All of the other covers seem too childish and cartoony.  I feel that it is good to keep the ancient feel and not make the pictures look like children could have drawn it.  I like the way the illustrator added the balls of light everywhere as it draws the reader’s eye to the cover.  I think that the softness of the drawing is what makes it seem real.  Instead of using cartoon people which could make the book seem like it is for children.  I picked this book cover because of all of the details that are put into it.  You can see everything from the creases in Hermia’s dress to the fairies wings.  Whereas on the other covers you only see the silhouettes or the drawing had very little detail put into it.   I feel that the detail even in the trees would lure young adults to this book.  It is a very beautiful drawing and can be a reference to the book.  The book cover shows a woman sleeping during a summer night and the books title is A Midsummer Night’s Dream this can kind of show the reader what they may be reading about.  It will also show the setting of the book.  In the book they spend most of their time in the woods and that is what the hole cover is.  The reader can make reference to the picture and see that it is an older book.  The cover has somewhat of an old feel to it which is exactly the time frame the book is in.  The cover could lure people to it and also push people away because of the ancient feel.  I feel the illustrator did a great job when designing the cover and i feel it was a great choice to make it extra detailed.

Blog#5-connection between msnd and current book

The connection I am making between Mid-Summer Nights Dream and Catching Fire would be the main character Katniss Everdeen and Hermia.  The first similarity between the characters is that they are rebellious.  Katniss is rebelling against the Capitol whereas Hermia is rebelling against her parents.  Katniss rebels by hunting and gathering in the woods and winning the hunger games with Peeta.  Hermia is rebellious against her parents because they want her to marry Demetrius, but she is in love with Lysander.  She has the choice to marry Demetrius, get killed, or become a nun.  Hermia decides against all her options to run into the woods with Lysander and get married outside of Athens.  Another similarity is that they both plan to run away from home.  Katniss plans to run away with Gale, Peeta and their families because they know what the capitol is planning to do to them.   Katniss and Peeta won the games together and many districts are starting to rebel against the capitol because they did.   They are planning to run away to District 13, the supposedly destroyed district in order to save themselves.  Hermia is planning to run away into the woods with Lysander.  She plans to run to the forest where the Athenian law can no longer reach them.  They want to get married where they will not be thrown in jail or killed by Theseus.    Another connection that I can make between the two characters is that they both are forced into love.  Katniss has to pretend she is in love with Peeta in order to please the capitol. Hermia Is forced to marry Demetrius in order to please her parents. The final connection between Katniss and Hermia is that they have many complications with their lovers.  Katniss is in love with Gale but also deeply cares for Peeta.  Katniss has to pretend to be deeply in love with Peeta for the capitol but quickly falls out of love when they are not watching.  Although Katniss isn’t in love with Peeta, he is deeply in love with her.  This is similar to Hermia because she is in love with Lysander but is supposed to love and get married to Demetrius.  Although Hermia doesn’t love Demetrius, he is deeply in love with her.

Blog #3

The book I am reading is called the Hunger Games and it is written by Suzanne Collins.  What I like most about my novel so far would be the style of writing and all the imagery. The reason why I like the style of Suzanne Collins is because it's I very easy to understand. I haven't had to stop and read the sentence over like I sometimes have to do in other books. The book is also very detailed which is good in an action book like this. Suzanne Collins uses a lot of visual imagery.  This helps me to visualize the events and the characters. I love to read her books because they play like a movie in my head where as some books I have to really try to get into it. I think it's cool that there are movies out for the first book because I can relate the movie that played in my head to the actual movie. I can't wait for the movie Catching Fire to come out and compare them. So far I enjoy the series and the movies and would recommend them to other readers.

Blog entry #2- Text to self connection

I can relate to the character Katniss Everdeen in the novel catching fire because she doesn’t really care what others think and neither do I. If someone doesn’t like me I’m not going to change for them, they have to like me for me just like Katniss. I am also very responsible like Katniss and I am good at being helpful. Just like Katniss I am very stubborn and don’t like to be helped with some things such as cooking or baking. Katniss blows up easily when angry and I can relate to that. When someone constantly bugs me I can’t stand to be around them and Katniss is like that towards Haymich. Even though I can’t stand many people I am very protective over my family and people I’m close to just like Katniss is very protective over Gale and Prim. She is very independent and so am I, I love to be alone and watch TV. I hate watching TV etc. with others because they always share their opinions that I don’t really agree them. I am not scared easily and take big challenges in life just as Katniss has taking the challenge of volunteering for Prim and her rebellion against the capitol. I have token a big challenge when trying out for the volleyball team, I wasn’t scared I would not make it, but took the challenge to compete against people who are older and have had more experience than me. Katniss stands up for what she believes in and doesn’t give up. I am like Katniss in this way and never gave up on me dream to continue sports after I broke my finger. I still went to the basketball tryout and made the team, I realized at that point to never let things hold you back just as Katniss does. She never lets the fact that she is the underdog get in her way when in the area. I love that I can relate to the character in my book because it helps me better understand the text. 

Part 2-Question 3- the setting

Part 2

Question 3- the setting

The setting in this novel takes place in Panem. Panem is a country that consists of twelve districts and a Capitol. The Capitol has the richest of people living in it and it is the only city that doesn't have to work for anything. District one is the richest of the district and district twelve is the poorest. Each district has a job they do to collect something for the Capitol in order to live. For example district twelve is the mining district and gathers coal. Most of this book so far takes place in every Capitol and in the victors village in district twelve. Every district they go to it is always the same setup. They go on the stage in the center of the town and make their speeches. They then head to the town hall and have a dinner. Although each district is alike they have different scenery. From lakes to forests each one has a different back drop. Once they are done the tour they go to the victors village and the scenery is changed once again. District twelve is a very sad looking town. Everything is dirty from the coal miners and the district is very dark and cloudy. The district is very poor so everything is worn down and old. All the houses are falling apart and so are the people. It almost seems like a ghost town because there is no life in the people anymore. This setting would be described as grim. The only nice place in the district are the three houses in the victors village. This is kind of away from the others and is a bit nicer looking. The houses are brand new and they look so much different form the run down shacks the others are living in. So far the setting has changed a bit and I have a feeling it will continue to do so.

Part 2-Question 2-Character sketch

Part two

Question 2-Character sketch

The protagonist in this book is Katniss Everdeen she is a sixteen year old girl. She is the girl on fire which is because of her flames on her outfits and he feirce personality. She just won the Hunger games along side Peeta Mellark. She has a sister Prim which she volunteered as tribute for in the first book. Katniss' father died in a mine explosion and ever since then her mother has been kind of out of it and Katniss has to look after the family. Katniss is a great hunter which keeps her family alive and kept her alive in the arena. This is because her dad had taught her how to use the bow before he was killed.  Katniss is a mother figure to Prim and is very responsible.  She isn't the most friendly unless you are on her good side. Katniss is very stubborn as she doesn't take help easily.  She always feels like she has to repay them. She also doesn't  have a very good temper and blows up easily when angry.  She is very protective over prim and people close to her.  She is not scared easily and challenges the Capitol even though she knows she could be killed at any second. She is very strong willed and doesn't take no for an answer. Even though she is very feirce she doesn't look like it. She is very pretty, she has brown long hair and has green eyes. She is tall and thin and she is usually seen with her hair in a braid and in normal clothes. Although Katniss' character seems harsh she can be very kind and caring. I like Katniss' character because she stands up for what she believes in and isn't afraid to face people.

Part 2-#1

Part two:

Question 1:  Summary of novel's plot
The novel I am reading is called Catching Fire and it is by Suzanne Collins. The book is about a sixteen year old girl named Katniss Everdeen.  She lives in Panem which consists of  twelve districts and the Capitol. The Capitol holds an annual hunger games to show there power over every district. The hunger games is a fight to the death between twenty four children ages twelve to eighteen. Two children are chosen from each district, a girl and a boy. In the first book to this trilogy Katniss Everdeen and Peta Mellark are chosen from district twelve which is the poorest of them all. They compete in the games and end up winning together. There is normally only one victor but because of there "love" the game makers  decided there could be two. The book that I am reading is the second to the trilogy and it starts with them beginning their victory tour. They go to each of the districts to celebrate their victory and then return home. When they return home they go to the victors village in their districts where they receive there own homes to live in. Katniss and Peeta live right next to each other and have both brought there families in to live with them. They don't have a lot of cameras around them anymore so their love for each other has disappeared. Every thing is going great so far in the book.  Until the Capitol threatens  to kill Katniss and Peeta because they were two victors because of their love and they have realized it was all fake.  If they do not want to be killed they must show how much they are in love so Peeta proposes to Katniss. Right now where i am at in the book they have started preparing for the wedding.

Hi my name is Sydney Kidd. I am in Mr.Toms grade 9 english class for the secound semester at Westwood Colligate. To start I am very sporty, I love to play volleball and I was on the JV volleyball team this year!  Other sports that I like are basketball, badminton, and I love to run!  I love to eat food and I love candy! Some of my favorite foods are sushi, pizza and hamburgers!  I love the summer and love to go on trips! I love animals and I have a dog, her name is Chloe(she is a 3 pound chihuahua). I love to hang out with friends and family.  Some activities I enjoy are swimming, skating, cooking, camping and shopping.  My favorite subject is math.  My favorite books are the Giver by Louis Lowry and Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt.  My favorite movie is I am Legend and Happy Gilmore . In the future I want to be a doctor and travel all around the world. Some things I dislike are homework and when people judge a book by its cover. I am sometimes shy but when you get to know me I am a pretty cool person. People who know me would say I'm funny, kind and fun to be with! I have had a lot of fun in class so far and I  think it will be a great semester! After reading this I hope you have learnt some things about me that you didn't know and  hopefully you don't think I'm that boring:p!