The Chase For Power

            Macbeth is full of many different ideas that relate to it's many different themes. However I see that there is only one that stands above the rest, this is power. The idea of power is shown multiple times throughout the book. We see the lust for power in multiple characters as well. Although, the main two are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth.
            This is a very dysfunctional couple. Macbeth in the beginning was a kind and somewhat timid person. Lady Macbeth was just the opposite. Lady Macbeth was a strong, ambitious, and strong-willed woman who would do anything for power. When Macbeth found out that he was going to be king he began to shy away from the opportunity. But, Lady Macbeth would not let him. She took control and convinced him that the only way to become king was by killing king Duncan. Lady Macbeth also encouraged Macbeth and told him that he was the strongest man of any other. This reassured him and gave him just enough courage to fulfill the deed. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's lust for power created some conflicts later on in the story however. Their lust began to drive them mad and turned Macbeth into something he wasn't, a monster. This book perfectly shows that lust has consequences if misused.

Reading/Working Times:

The English Portfolio (throughout last week until Friday): 135 minutes 
The Other Boleyn Girl: 30 minutes

Total:  165 minutes

Macbeth Quotes

                “So fair and foul a day I have not seen.” I think this quote sums up exactly what Macbeth feels inside of the scene with the witches. The day is fair because he will get news from the witches and that news will most likely be good. However the day is foul at the same time because of the danger of the area, the creepiness of the witches, and the chance of bad news. I also think this quote represents the book as a whole. This quote can be compared to Macbeth's actions. Fair when he becomes king and foul how he murdered King Duncan to get there. 
                “O, full of scorpions is my mind!” I personally think that this quote also reveals how Macbeth feels about this whole scheme throughout the book so far. This quote meaning that Macbeth is tortured by what he has done and cannot recover from it. The scorpions are running around his mind and stinging him with painful memories of the past. Macbeth cannot hide from what he has done and will soon drown from his regrets. 

Reading/Working Times:

Portfolio : 155 minutes working on transforming my short story

The Other Boleyn Girl (outside reading) : 65 minutes

Total: 220 minutes 

My Easter Break / Reading Times

               I had a very fun and relaxing Easter break. I did stay at home but still was able to have a ton of fun. For the first couple of days I laid low and rested. On Easter day however I went to my Grandfather's church and watched him play his guitar in the service. After the church service my family and I went back to my house to have a small Easter party. We ate cake and had an easter-egg hunt for the little children. That day was very exhausting and wore me out. However I still pushed onward.

              If I could say two words that described the main part of the break it would be TRACK PRACTICE. Since I stayed at home and didn't go anywhere special for the break my parents made me go to track practice. Every day we either had practice at 10-12pm or 3-5pm. Practice was very hot but a lot of fun. Seeing my friends made my break better. Later on that week I began to work on my World History project that was on the historical fiction book that I read. I created a movie poster, a script, and typed a two page summary for the book. The work wasn't the best part of my break but was productive. Finally I got my hair highlighted at the end of the break for the first time ever. I thought the lady did a very nice job and love my newly colored hair. Overall I think I could say that I had a fun Easter break.


Reading/Working Times:

The Other Boleyn Girl written by Phililppa Gregory -------> 5 hours total over the break
(this reading time includes Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of the break added together)

Statement Assessment

Who we are--our essential character and temperament--is fixed and unchangeable.
          I think this can be untrue in someways. The way people are brought up, what environment the person lives in, and their personality all affect who they are. However all of those can change. We can change our attitudes, where we are brought up and how we are brought up in several ways. Nothing is permanent and people can always change who they are. Macbeth is choosing to change who his is by choosing to be king. He is going to completely change his loving side and inject violence instead. This is what is going to change who Macbeth is.  

Women are more compassionate and less violent than men.
          I disagree with this strongly. Women can be just as violent as men and can also be a lot less compassionate. Example number one, Daisy from The Great Gadspy, who shows a lack of compassion. Example number two, Lady Macbeth from Macbeth, who shows tons of thoughts for violence. Lady Macbeth wants to kill the king no matter what. She doesn't care if her husband chickens out because she will do it herself. She shows a snack for violence and wishes to use it. I also think that this quote disagrees with me as a person as well. Sometimes when I am aggravated I want to result to violence, however I keep the thoughts to myself. It would be a very unwise decision to act upon bad thoughts. 

Reading/Working Times:

Nervous Conditions Project work overall outside of class ----> 235 minutes (includes perfecting things)

The Other Boleyn Girl written by Philippa Gregory ----> 45 minutes 

Total Time This Week: 280 minutes 

Working/Reading Times

The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes ---> 2/17/14 - 2/22/14 ---> 175 minutes

Preparing for Poetry Test (reviewing terms) ---> 2/21/14 - 2/23/14 ---> 110 minutes

Revising Research Paper ---> Thursday + Saturday ---> 75 minutes

Total: 360 minutes (like a circle haha)

Him

He smiles, I die, deep inside. A
I have feelings for him that I cannot hide. A
My thoughts wander around an endless dream. B
One where my smile beams. B 
Where I fantasize holding his hand. C
That life I could withstand. C
Wishing I could kiss his captivating lips. D
For in that moment my heart would skip. D
To be wrapped in his arms, up so tight. E
Then I would be able to sleep at night. E
His eyes like crystal make me melt. F
As he looks at me the heat is felt. F
The scent of cologne escapes his chest. G
To know him, I am very blessed. G
For my feelings, never so strong, except for he. H
I wish he knew how much he means to me. H

Euphony
End Rhyme (Letters or Rhyme Scheme) (AABBCCDDEEFFGGHH) 
Assonance: the vowel I (sound)

When the Darkness Comes

             

             When the Darkness Comes by Colbie Caillat is a beautiful song that appears the movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones that was released in late August this year. The song begins with a divine guitar solo. The guitar is smooth and adds a melody to the song. Piano is later added as well, and gives the song an alternate melody as well. The lyrics are very interesting and make the song sound so beautiful. 

              Euphony is used a lot in the lyrics, to make the song sound more smooth and emotional. An example of this would be in the lyrics "Underneath the echoes", and "I'll be here waiting, Hoping, praying that, this light will guide you home". These lyrics help the song sound gentle and meaningful Another item used within the song is Alliteration. I noticed this in the lyric "When you're feeling lost I'll leave my love". The letter L is repeated multiple times in this line and adds a kind of flow to the lyrics. The last thing I noticed was a huge caesura in the line "Hoping, praying that this light will guide you home---------When you're feeling lost I'll leave my love". I think that this shows a big importance in line, as in the created of the song wanted that line to have more meaning than the rest. I love this song and enjoy listening to it all the time. 

Reading/Work Times:

The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Commenting----> 2/10/14 -----> 65 minutes 

The Mortal Instruments: The City of Ashes --------> 2/12/14 - 2/15/14 -----> 170 minutes (overall) 

Total: 235 minutes 

Reading/Working Log

Reading/Working Time:

Monday 2/3/14 + Wednesday 2/5/14 + Saturday 2/8/14 --> The Mortal Instruments: The City of Ashes --> 115 minutes

Thursday 2/6/14  --> The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian 4 blogs entered --> 75 minutes

Total: 190 Minutes

Research Paper

             I think my overall paper is well-done for a draft. I think I covered all, plus more of the information I wanted to. I think my layout is good, and think I have organized it well. I thought it was quite easy to get the information I needed to for the draft, but found it a little hard to find quotes. I only found two and hope that won't affect my grade. In future references, I am going to look for more quotes to include in my final.
             I think my paper might be a little long on the other hand as well. I am now at 7 pages and need to get rid of one. I am going to do my best to try and fit it in 6 pages, but it will be difficult. I think everything else in my paper looks good. I also need to check my MLA format one more time before I summit, but I think it is ready to be turned in. Overall, I think it was easy to write my rough draft.

Sneaux Day + Reading/Working Times

             My snow days were basically based on rest and relaxation. Yes, I went outside and played with the snow and ice, but mainly stayed inside. I enjoyed watching netflix and eating popcorn. I also made churros for Spanish, and kind of burned myself. The oil was boiling and when I dropped the churro in, the oil squirted up and landed on my hand… ouch. It wasn't a bad burn and I just put some silvadene on in, but it still hurt. After that I went back to my couch.

             I watched the entire season of Once Upon A Time while I layer on my couch over the course of those three days. It was very nice. Although, I did go out to eat twice. I went to California Pizza Kitchen one day, and ate some yummy Kung Pao noodles, and then saw a movie. Ride along was funny and I had a fun time hanging out with my family. I loved having the three days of last week off.


Reading/Working Times:

Monday 1/27/14 : Acquiring more research --> 45 minutes

Tuesday 1/28/14 : Organization of paper (where I was going to put certain information) --> 68 minutes

Wednesday 1/29/14 : Start of paper --> 75 minutes

Thursday 1/30/14 : Continuing work on paper --> 60 minutes

Friday 1/31/14 : Reading of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian --> 30 minutes

Sunday 2/2/14 : Reading of The Mortal Instruments: The City of Ashes --> 15 minutes

Total: 293 minutes

NHD + Reading Times

Reading/Working Time:

The Absolute True Diary of A Part Time Indian : 35 minutes

Research: 76 minute video + note taking

In class reading: 20 minutes

Total: 131

Myself: “Hey Dad, guess what!!”

Dad: “What, why are you yelling?!?”

Myself: “I just finished my National History Day detailed outline, you may now applaud,” I said gloatingly.

Dad: “Wow, how long did you take you to write it, forever?” he said mockingly.

Myself: “Oh be quiet!” “It was interesting and I couldn’t stop writing, I’m sorry ok?” I said laughing.

Dad: “Ok, ok… well what was your topic for this oh so glorified outline?”

Myself: “Well it is about the Pendle Hill Witches and how their rights were ignored.”

Dad: “Well how were their rights ignored?” my dad said confused.

Myself: “Well ten people were accused of witchcraft because of their religious state, and conservative way of life. Then they were eventually hanged and murdered because of these superstitions and judgments.” I pronounced so scholarly.

Dad: “Oh.. well that sounds terrible.”

Myself: “Yes, yes it was.” I said as I turned and walked back to my room.

          My National History day project is based around the Witches of Pendle Hill. Many horrible things happened to these men and women who were accused of having unnatural powers. The judgments made against these people were based on superstition, not evidence which ignored the rights of these citizens of Lancaster. Although, people were different during the 1600s. There were religious battles, famine, diseases, and collapses of many areas. People needed an answer to why these things were happening and needed someone to blame. Since the women and men that were accused did not attend church, people became suspicious. They began blaming these people for anything negative that happened to Lancaster. There was no factual evidence to support any of this at the time. During the trial, witnesses were called to speak for or against the people accused. The accused could not speak for themselves. The superstition of the people of Lancaster eventually led to the death of 10 innocent people.

Reading/Working Times

Logged:

The Mortal Instruments: The City of Ashes ; written by Cassandra Clare - 110 minutes

National History Day Project - 50 minutes

Total: 160 minutes

National History Day Research

             My topic for the national history day project is about the Pendle Hill Witches of 1612. These were woman who testified for witchcraft and evil doings and had no say in their defense. My main focus in this project is the religious differences between the people and these woman, and wether or not that was the cause of the hatred towards these so called "witches". It is important to remember this event in history and the outcomes. Religious racism in 1612 lead to many deaths and should not be repeated again.
             So-far I have a ton of research to back my argument up and to prove my point across. However, I am going to try to gain more information on the opinions of the people of that time period. I also need to fix one of my sources in my annotated bibliography, but can move on after that. I am looking forward to writing my draft and completing my paper.


Reading/Working Log:

Researching + annotated bibliography work: 110 minutes

The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian: 15 minutes

Total: 125 minutes

Omar's Prompt: A Person in Public

             I have my headphones in and am looking out of the car window. Suddenly we stop at a red light. I look around trying to find something interesting to look at and find myself looking at a woman in the car next to me. She is applying mascara and is staring at herself in her mirror located on her sun visor. She is all dressed up and looks really nervous about something.
             Looking at her button-up white shirt, black pants, and detailed makeup makes me assume that she is on her way to work. She seems to be running a little behind today however. She will probably get to work late, then be yelled at for not being there on time. I felt sorry for her, the traffic was terrible and she was in a hurry. The light turned green and I glanced behind me to get one more look at her, but she was already gone.