Moments

Everyone has had that moment in life, the moment where everything changes and will never be the same again. For some people it may happen when you move to a foreign place. Others it may be getting someone new in life or possibly losing someone dear to you. That moment for Percy Jackson happen to be losing his mother to a deadly monster. This is one of the many themes I can relate with Percy Jackson. Although I have not encountered any monsters, Percy and I have a couple of themes in common, including loss of innocence and effects on family. Although Percy and I are very different we both had to grow up more quickly compared to most children out age. I think since Percy and I both had to grow up with just one parent(our mom). We both know what it’s like to have to be more independent and responsible at such a young age. Not knowing your father can be tough on any child. Especially when you know they can be there, yet choose not to. I understand how it is, not knowing who your father is. Like Percy I have not seen, much less talked to my father in all my years of living. It puts a lot of pressure on a kid’s shoulders. This effected our family greatly, just in a negative way, like it effected Percy’s. When Percy’s mother had to make the decision to make by marrying the slob of a man smelly Gabe. She sacrificed her sanity for the safety and well being of her only son. Losing a parent is definitely not good, but it is not bad either. It teaches children to learn how to take matters into their own hands and be responsible. It happened to Percy; it happened to me and probably happened to many other people. The fact is it can’t be changed; only altered into something positive. In the end it is probably for the best.

Counting the Mad

Counting the Mad Authors note: this is a short response to the poem Counting the Mad by Donald Justice. “This one thought himself a bird” wishing he could be free, to fly around with no rules. “This one a dog” running a high speeds, ears flapping in the wind. “and this one thought himself a man, An ordinary man.” No flying, or running through the wind. “And he cried and cried No No No No. All day long.” The man is sad. being ordinary with rules to stick too. He can never be free like all of those majestic animals. For that reasons he cries.

Coping with imminent death, its not a fun way to start your day. Knowing someone you know is going to be killed in your presence, better yet; killed by you, is not the most fun thing in the world. But sadly it has to be done. In the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. Holding the ticked that decides whether you die or not, but be a terrifying experience. Although it is sad and scary it is also a tradition that is not to be broken. Their for the lottery but be carried out each year.

Meaning behind the music

The song “ Tonight we are Young” first became popular when it was sung on the final number of Glee. Also after being on the radio numerous times, the band The Fun was featured in a Chevy commercial. It was at the top charts for 2 weeks in many countries. It does not seem it would be famous from the fact it is a rock song talking about abuse, drugs, alcohol and lies, but that did not stop the fun. With the catchy chorus, and the steady beat, it was number 1 for a while. The beat represents lead singer Reuss’s heartbeat. How later in the song it either gets faster because he is nervous, or slower, because he is becoming more calm and relaxed. Sit back and enjoy as i tell you about this song.

"Give me a second, I need to get my story straight." The first line he is telling how he is with his friends out drinking not sure what is going on or how much he has had to drink. “My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the empire state, while his lover waits for him across the bar.” And the beat gets faster as he sings. The beat picks up as he sings “my seats been taken by some sun glasses asking about a scar.” Sunglasses are symbolizing a cool guy who is asking about the scar the singer gave to his girl. He goes on by singing” I know I gave it to you months ago”. He admits that he gave her a scar of some sort whether it was from drinking or violence. The rest of the first verse is him talking about how he is trying to apologize and take back all the bad he has done.

The chorus the drums are dyeing down, the piano is slowing down and the singing gets more dramatic. “ “So if by the time the bar closes, and you feel like falling down. I’ll carry you home tonight.” All of a sudden it blasts into this straight forward romance between him and the girl. “Tonight, we are young so we’ll set the world on fire. We can burn brighter than the sun.” All of the bad stuff from the first verse disappears. He knows the girl isn't going to forgive him that easy so he is just going to enjoy his night out with his friends.

Ruess knows he is not the perfect boyfriend, and she could probably do much better than him. He goes on in the second verse where he asks his lover if they could “ find new ways to fall apart.” But he is interrupted by his friends obviously back from getting higher than the empires state in the bathroom. “ but our friends are back. So let’s raise the toast. Coz I found someone to carry me home tonight.” He is symbolizing this as his friends who will always have his back.
Then the final verse is him repeating what has already been said in the first few verses and the chorus. Finally the song is ended after the last few choruses, where he found someone who will take care of him.

words differ from sound.

In the song field below, the music was sad and depressing causing a sense of sadness. Even though words may seem sad by reading them, doesn’t mean listening to the music you will feel the same way, Listening to Big yellow taxi, the music is upbeat and happy. An ironically happy song ( quoted from Mrs.Hanson).

The meaning of life, behind the stairs.

Kaelyn Rogers

“Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.” Mother in this story is comparing her life to stairs, the ups and the downs. The different types of stairs represent the type of life you have. “It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor” for instance the mother has had a sad torn up life. Filled with sorrow and pain. Life may have its ups, downs, bumps, and splinters. But in the end, we always make it to the top.

bullying

Have you ever walked down the hallway in school and noticed someone getting pushed around or even called names? You may think the person doing the hurting is the bully, but in reality the person bullying and the people watching are bullies. In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, a girl named Melinda is bullied for being scared, and alone. In the hallways people watch. Some feel bad and some don’t. but either way, everyone’s the bully. That’s why I believe the theme of this story Is loss of innocence and overcoming difficulties.

Melinda walks everywhere with her head drooping on her chest, because she does not want to be seen or heard. She tried to hide from the world, because she is so alone. I can relate to this story in many ways. I have seen people getting bullied, and I have been bullied myself! Just because you are not the one pushing the victim around, doesn’t mean you aren’t hurting them.

Loss of innocence is the main conflict in this book, she goes to the party obligated to have a good time. Unfortunately some people thought she wanted a better time with them. This ended in a loss of innocence because she was taken advantage of, and slowly her life started heading down hill. Getting pushed around, ignored, and just people are horrible to her in general. But luckily she starts to get better, people start talking to her, until finally she tells the world of what has happened.

Finally she is able to put her sadness behind her and move on to better things, like me, she found out who her true friends were, and who weren’t. Luckily in the end for both of us, we put the bullying to rest.