When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice. ~William James

     Jodi Picoult, I must say, is an amazing story teller. Jodi is capable of using such descripitive detail in her writing that you are able to paint pictures in your head throughout the book. "The Tenth Circle," I have to admit, was not one of my favorites. I found that the storyline just kind of dragged along. By no means am I saying that I found it boring, because "The Tenth Circle" is anything but boring, it was just hard at some points during the book to not skip ahead because the same topic was discussed for a long period of time.
     The "Tenth Circle" is about a fourteen year old girl named Trixie Stone. As Trixie falls in love with her junior boyfriend, Jason Underhill, her relationship with everyone changes. Trixie found herself only making time for Jason and when he broke up with her, she was lost. Of course she still had her best friend, Zephyr, but because Jason was the one to give her her popularity, had that been taken away? Now, Trixie must try to make him jealous and win him back, even if it means she must lie and decieve the people that love her the most.
     I think that this happens all the time, people make their relationships with their girlfriend or boyfriend so exclusive that no one else is allowed in. But, when that relationship takes a fall and plunges into the debts of despair, who will you turn to to help you crawl out of the hole that you dug. That would be like digging your own grave, why would you want to do that to yourself?
 Zephyr throws a party at her house, where obviously Jason, the star hockey player, will be at. So, now Trixie must do whatever is required of her at this party to win him back. Drinking and questionable games are involved until finally, everything comes down to a game of strip poker. Trixie finds herself involved in several things that she never thought she would do. Trixie had gotten what she wanted that night, she had gotten Jason, but not the way she had hoped.
      As Trixie is sobbing on the bathroom floor, her father finds her, and she claims that she was raped. Daniel, furious with anger that seems to rage within him, he will do anything to protect her. But, can Daniel protect her not only from the rath of others, but from herself as well?
     Trixie thought that the one who hurt her was Jason, but, could it be that the one responsible could be her own self hurting her? After reading this book, I began to wonder, are we harmful to ourselves? Think about it, we purposely put ourselved in situations where we will get our hearts broken and our feelings hurt. So, why do we torment ourselves? Maybe we are capable of hurting ourselves just as easily as someone else is capable of hurting us. .

Flowers

Give me enough time, and I will be beautiful
I am love
Sometimes, even sorrow
And everything in between
The young and old will admire me
Some may take me
Some may pick me
Maybe, someone will even use blades
Is it worth being this admirable
To have to be removed from my growing place
Only to be put into a new place
One where I will wither and die
And my tears will remain
As a more admirable one will come
To replace I

"O! for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention." -William Shakespeare

     Standing in the doorway of four month old Eula Lisa Eady Riley's bedroom  were her parents Joseph and Martha Scribbner. Joseph and Martha had never  intended on ever  watching their baby die, nor had they intended on feeling happy about it. But, as the flames of the fire curled up Eula’s crib like vines, they both hoped and anticipated their baby’s death. The fire stroked Eula’s soft cheeks ever so lightly as her cries became spasms of screams for someone, anyone to put out the burning fire that was threatening to take her life. Help would not come for Eula, her parents wanted her to die. Her death would bring them happiness. Joseph and Martha knew they should feel a little guilty for being so glad that their baby was dying as they watched helplessly, but they didn’t. They felt no remorse really, of course considering the cold state that they were in, it would be hard for them to feel anything.
    For Joseph and Martha, it had been love at first sight. After only dating for a total of four months, Joseph asked for Martha's hand. Because they had been together only a short amount of time, Martha had not yet told Joseph that she was not able to have children. Martha had planned to put off this treacherous news for fear that if Joseph knew that she could not bear him a child, then Joseph may not want to marry her. Promptly after they were united in marriage, Joseph tried to descreatly coax Martha into having children.  After discussing the matter for some time, Martha was able to convince her beloved husband that they should take in a poor child who was sadly unappreciated and overturned to the government.  This led Joseph to believe that his wife was a saint sent down to him from above. As newlyweds, Joseph and Martha searched together for the perfect child. After months of searching through orphanages, they were not able to find the child that they wanted. None of the children that they met showed any significant signs of being at all discourteous, discivilized, or unrefined. Actually, most of the children were polite, and affable in their gestures. Although these children represented the qualities that most parents would want their child to have to live up to today's expectations of a perfect child, none of those children felt like Joseph and Martha's children.
    When the search began for their child, the light on their candle of hope was stronger than ever, but as the search went on that flame began to flicker.
    Months after giving up hope, their continuous prayers were answered. Martha's unwedded sister Mary, who was young and naïve, just informed the happy couple that she wanted Joseph and Martha to adopt her unborn child.
     “I can hardly take care of myself, how am I supposed to take care of another human being?” Mary questioned Martha.
    Ecstatic, Martha practically knocked her husband down as she flung into his arms after he returned home to tell him the astounding news.
    “Joseph! Joseph! A miracle has happened! My sister Mary is pregnant! She does not feel like she will be able to give her the care she will need, and she  knows that we have wanted a child for so long, so she wants us to adopt her!”
    “Her, it's a girl? I am going to have a daughter? This is wonderful news! Our prayers have been answered!”
    Months later Mary's daughter Eula Riley was born. Joseph and Martha took her home with smiles that seem pasted on their faces. Joseph and Martha thought that their marriage was perfect when it was just the two of them, they completed each other. But, they never knew they were missing something until they were given something to miss. With Eula, their lives were now complete. They thought that nothing would ever make them happier, well, that is, until now. 
      Joseph and Martha were not saddened by the fact that the world would never know Eula. The sadness that they should have felt was overruled by the feelings of relief for themselves.
    “Yes, she's dying Joseph, I can barely hear her now, she's dying!” Martha happily chanted.
    “I know Martha, I know this couldn't have worked out any better!” said Joseph.
     They just wanted the crying to cease, and after a few more seconds, they got their wish as the flames enveloped Eula completely. Happiness flooded over them now as new cries suddenly erupted from the baby that Martha is now clenching tightly to her body. Joseph and Martha awe at how the fire had not flawed Eula, she was not burned, she was perfect. Of course, Joseph and Martha should have known Eula would look the same because when they were burned in the fire and turned into ghosts, they looked the same as well. Now the family, complete again, ascended into heaven. 
   

Compare and Contrast Essay

    Shockingly, in all three folklores, Coyote and Wishpoosh, Mississippi Mosquitoes, and Bloody Mary, unrealistic events are what make up these strange stories. In the story, Coyote and Wishpoosh, examples of greed are demonstrated by one of the characters, but, the greed ultimately boils down to a “fight to the death” battle between the two. Coyote defeating Wishpoosh, he creates many tribes from Wishpoosh's organism. Throughout these stories, new creations will be made, landforms and virtues.
    In the story, Coyote and Wishpoosh, the story is based on greed and creation. Wishpoosh, a giant beaver, was greedy and would not allow anyone, or anything, to come to his lake. This act contributed to the start of the fued between Wishpoosh and Coyote, because Coyote went to kill Wishpoosh because of Wishpoosh's greed. When Coyote decided to stand up to Wishpoosh, and attack him in an attempt to kill him, many new land features are made. After Coyote killed Wishpoosh, he used different parts of his organism to make tribes. Although the obvious virtue in this folklore revolves around greed, but I also think that another virtue is involved. If you stand up for what you believe in, good things can come from that.
    The story of Bloody Mary is a story that haunts many with it's witch-craft and betrayal. In this folklore, Bloody Mary is outcasted by the rest of the village. Although rumors and stories are made up about Bloody Mary, no one dared to confront her. As suspicions are raised, all fingers point to Bloody Mary, so the village attacks her, killing her. Bloody Mary and Coyote and Wishpoosh both have similarities in their external conflicts.
    Mississippi Mosquitoes is based on stubbornness. A man visiting Mississippi decided to talk a walk along the Mississippi River. Although he was warned not to go, he was hard headed and decided to proceed with his plans, despite the warning. Is it better to trust your own instincts, or to trust in others? Heading down the Mississippi, the man heard a whirling sound. Looking back, he saw two giant mosquitoes hovering above him. The two mosquitoes  snatched him off of the ground and flew away with him as they contemplated his death. Thrashing out at the mosquitoes, they lost their grip and dropped him in the river. As he floated along the river, he finally came upon a riverboat. Climbing out of the river, he left Mississippi and never went back. If the man had only listened to the warnings that were given to him, then maybe he would have enjoyed his stay in Mississippi. This story makes me wonder about how many opportunities that we pass up because we don't listen to what people have to say around us.
    As we see, one can interpret many virtues throughout each folklore. Greed, stubbornness, deceit, and revenge. Do we really know our history and how landforms and features were created? Do judge people on what they believe or how they act? Do we pass up every day opportunities because of our stubbornness of not listening to others and doing things our own way? All three of these stories will leave you with these questions that  will make you wonder about how you are living your life.  

Mass Similarity

     I know that I have judged people numerous times in my head, thinking that I knew who they were, when all of a sudden, something changed and they turned out not to be who I had made them out ot be, but totally different. Have you ever seen someone being victimized by bullying, but said nothing, or worse, laughed and taunted, or even worse, joined in?
     Nineteen Minutes  is an amazing book that will grab your attention from the very beginning and will never let go. After reading this book, you become so much more aware of the things that take place around you on a daily bases that you had either not seen, or ignored. This is one of those books that makes you want to stand up for the little guy and make a difference.
     Throughout her life Josie Cormier has  always been expected to live up to other people's standards. She puts on a plastic face every morning for all of the other people in the student body who are in on the masquerade. Strutting her glamorous mask down the hallway, people make their own judgments about her, along with the kids who are considered dorks for not joining in on the party. So, because Peter Houghton flaunts his inner self, rather than some manufactured mask made up by society, he is ridiculed and taunted. Because Peter was smaller and more dainty than the ones who bullied him, he would always fall back into the shadows after his daily dose of humiliation and ridicule. But, after things go too far, everything will change as the bulldogs are now suddenly scrounging away from the underdog in fear that would send a chill right through them...literally.
     After reading this book, I have unfortunately had to come to terms with the fact that I have been guilty of judging someone for reasons that should not even be taken into account when settling on what kind of person they are. You don't have to be a member of the 'masquerade' to be judged or judge. Whether you are someone that flaunts a plastic image, or someone who flaunts your inner self, you are judged, but you also judge. Sometimes I wonder if everyone realizes that they are constantly being watched to see if they will mess up and flaw their reputation, popular or not. There is a common saying that the 'masquerade' members commonly use, which basically says that someone under them aren't like them. Well, that is an unfortunate lie. Although I understand that it might seem like I am trying to coax you into believing that everyone is one in the same. This is not the case  because I believe that everyone is their own person. But,  if you were to combine all of the groups, you would find one mass similarity. Everyone judges other people, as well as everyone has other people who judge them.
    

Death is a distant rumor to the young. ~Andrew A. Rooney

         My cousin, Michael, knows me all too well. As soon as we get to the hospital door, he scoops me up into his big, restraining arms. I have always had a particular dislike for hospitals.When I think of hospitals, I think of sickness and death, things that I wished to never encounter. I should have wished harder.  As he cradles me against his chest, I try to bury my  face deeper and deeper into his shirt attempting to cover up the smell of bleach and death. I don't want to see where we are, all I want to do is stay in Michael's protective arms until everything is over. I hear familiar voices slowly creeping towards us along with many unfamiliar voices. I want to be rude and tell them to go away  because I am afraid they will take me away from Michael, but by the way he pulls me closer, I know he won't let them. I can hear the doors opening and closing, and opening and closing as more and more people file in. As I peer over Michael's shoulder, I see doctors rushing around pushing carts, which makes me wonder what part of the hospital we are in. Almost as soon as I thought this, I found the answer. The salty taste of tears mixes with the metallic taste I get before I get sick. I see the blurs of strangers all around me, I feel their unfamiliar, sympathetic strokes and pats. It makes no difference, they don't understand. I am ten years old, this shouldn't happen to anyone my age.

"Come What May"

     I can recall several insidents that have occured throughout my life where I was riding in the cool air-conditioned car with my mom on a simmering June summer day.  I absent mindedly would peer out the car window at the trees and buildings that would rush by as we made our way into town. Then, all of a sudden, I would see someone on the side of the road, wearing dirty  rags,  holding a sign that stated that they were in need of help. I would strain my neck to the fullest point to try to read every word on that piece of cardboard so I could learn what they were yearning for. After reading whatever I was able to make out of the writing, I can remember the sadness and pain that I would feel for that person who was begging for help.
     When I was in the third grade I wrote an article about a homeless man that was put in the paper. I had been grocery shopping with my mom at Wal-Mart. We were pulling out of the parking lot when I spotted a homeless man on the side of the road, and he was holding a cardboard sign that said he was hungry and he needed help. So, I thought that since we had just bought our grocery's from the store, we should give this man some food. When I suggested the idea, it was quickly shot down. My mom's reason was that you never know what they may do. What "they" may do. This poor homeless person was referred to as a "they." Ever since then, I have wondered how many people see a homeless person and refer to them as a "they." I have always been very sensitive to homeless people because I see them as helpless. If only someone would lift them off of their feet, then they could fly and do something great. But, unfortunately, most people are afraid to be involved with homeless people and prefer to keep their distances from them like homeless people disease will rub off on them or something.
     I was recently inspired by a poem that I came upon called "Come What May." This poem was written by a girl who volunteered at a homeless shelter. http://www.wsjclassroom.com/cre/articles/09apr_sv_madrid.htm
I encourage everyone to read this thouroughly through. If you read this poem carefully, then I believe you will look at homeless people in a different way.

"Here at last are the Heroes you’ve been searching for,
They who constantly search for goodness,
For a way to better themselves every day,
For a way to be everyday Heroes.
And they are.
Come what may they live life with
Courage and calm, pride and passion.
Like the epic heroes of old,
These Heroes are on a quest.
They show each person who comes to the brown house
The value of human dignity."

Life as We Knew It?

     Have you ever considered what life would be like if there was a tiny shift in the alignment of our planet with the alignment of other planets? Would life end instantly? Would we all eventually die off because tsunamis, earthquakes, eruptions, droughts, and deadly frosts would leave us helpless, or worse, hopeless? One little shift in our tiny, fragile planet and the people that think that they "make the world go 'round" will no longer think that. As much as we want to control whatever happens around us, fortunately we do not.
     Recently I have been reading the book 'Life as We Knew It.' When I first picked up the book, I just picked it because I needed something interesting to journal about. But, as I began to read the book, I became absorbed in the text. 'Life as We Knew It' is a book about a normal teenage girl whose average life takes a sudden shift when a meteor crashes into the moon and knocks it off of its axis. The moon then is pulled closer to the Earth. As we all know, the moon controls the tides, so tsunamis break out everywhere causing not only cities, but countries to disappear under the water. Volcanic eruptions break out all over the world, earthquakes destroy cities, and frosts cause a famine. Now, Miranda, a regular sixteen year old girl must not only keep herself alive, but her family as well.
     As I read this book, I noticed how Miranda matured. In the beginning, she was all about herself.

"Now do you see how lucky we are"’ Miranda's mom demanded.
"‘I never said we weren’t!" I yelled, because I hadn’t. Or at least I hadn’t today. All I did was ask if things were getting better, which isn’t exactly the same as saying I wish we had electricity and hot chocolate and television and a prom with an actual date to look forward to.”
    
But, Miranda finally realized that not only has her life been altered, but so has everyone elses around her.

“Every day when I go to sleep I think what a jerk I was to have felt sorry for myself the day before. My Wednesdays are worse than my Tuesdays, my Tuesdays way worse than my Tuesday of a week before. Which means every tomorrow is going to be worse than every today. Why feel sorry for myself today when tomorrow’s bound to be worse? It’s a hell of a philosophy, but it’s all I’ve got.”

     This book has made me take a second look at what is important to me and to what I find valuable. Are the things that I value the things that would help me through struggling times like the one that Miranda endures? No, the things that I value are the things that would be useless without the use of electricity and a satellite signal. 'Life as We Knew It' is a touching book that makes you grateful that we do not "make the world go 'round."
    

Paragraph for Tone

     In the poem, "I Too Sing America, " by Langston Hughes the tones are discontent and acceptance. Discontent was made obvious in the first stanza which said," I am the darker brother." The tone does take a major shift in the last stanza when Hughes states," Besides, they will see how beautiful I am and be ashamed." This changes the author's tone to a tone of acceptance.