Weekends can be either a great time or just completley boring. This weekend in particular may end up being a little bit of both. Ahead of me I have a busy interesting weekend coming up. The McNamara family is huge, loud, obnoxious but yet very loving and caring. The McNamara's are set all over the place. My uncle Pat lives in South Carolina and he's a independent, strange person. Uncle Pat has a huge beard/ gotee kinda look, he likes to keep to himself and enjoys playing with dogs. The McNamara/James family is made up of my Aunt Katie, Maggie and cousin Kaylen; there is usually a lot of drama consisted in this family sense Aunt Katie is a single parent. The Diley's consist of my Aunt Molly, Uncle Don, Jenny, Joey and Tommy. Tommy and Joey are loud obnoxious boys and like picking on us girls. Proceeding on there's the Aununties Aunt Shelia, Uncle John, Drew and Mark. Drew and Mark are in there 20's and both college graduates Drew works at a bank in Maddison and graduated from U Of Madison Wisconson. Mark is in his later 20's and graduated from St. Scolastica University Duluth, and is working as a manager at a local Duluth Bank. Then There's my Uncle Dan who isn't married and is working at a local computer company. I am almost done but I'm forgetting the McNamara's Uncle Mike, Aunt Amy, Jack, Margaret and Ginny. Jack and Margret are twins and are 18 months, Ginny is 4 almost 5 and they live in Sanfransisco. Lastly there's my family me, My dad, mom and sister. I have a huge family on both sides thats just all the first cousins on the McNamara side, I have over 50 2nd cousins, I don't know half of them. But every year the adults do an adult weekend up north at the Diley's cabin. This year my uncle mike and aunt amy brought the kids. So the plan is that they are all staying at our house and their nanny Dleph my cousin Kaylen and I are watching the 3 kids, my sister and my cousin maggie and jenny. I only get one break by going to Prince Caspian with my friends so I don't know how this weekend will be. To me though it looks like it will be another McNamara fun filled weekend, something exciting always happens when the McNamara's are around.

3. for each character write a brief paragraph explaining what impact this fictional character has had on our culture. Why is this character so fascinating? Important? Misunderstood? Understood?
Bugs Bunny is a well known character to kids and adults of all kinds. First was seen in his series in World War Two. When I watched bugs bunny as a kid I always thought his clever but mean tricks were quite funny. Bugs bunny I feel was ment to stand out as a good but intimidating bully who well bullied the right way. I think this show was created to make families during World War Two, laugh and joke around with their families and forget about what was going on around them.

Indiana Jones along side Bugs Bunny is a very popular character. Indiana Jones is found fasinating to many people because he is a normal everyday guy who works but on the side has his crazy adventures. What I love most about Indiana Jones is that he is an archeaologist who runs into mysteries along the way. I think his movies are great for kids because there full of adventure and fun and the adventure in every movie never gets old cause its always different. Indiana also is considered a role model for many kids because he is brave and never gives up even if the treasure is never there. I'm going to leave you with my favorite Indiana Jones quote which just so happened to be in the article that I read, "We do not follow maps to be buried treasure, and X never, ever marks marks the spot."

4. Once you have done that, think about characters you have met in books, seen in movies or plays, or watched on TV. Pick one that is of particular interest to you. Write an entry in which you explain why this character is important to our culture in your opinion. What qualities does this character possess that makes him/her/it so intriguing? Why is this character important to our society (not just a small group of fans)?
One of my favorite book series growing up has always been Harry Potter. I have read the books over at least a couple of times and I've found something new both times that i've read them. I'm not a fan of witchcraft but I am a fan of imagination and adventure. I feel that these books just bring you on a wonderful exciting adventure that just never ends and always keeps you curious in thought. I feel that the main character in the book Harry is a character that can relate to many children and teenagers in the world. Both parents died when he was younger and he is left to be raised by his aunt and uncle without ever meeting his mother or father. And in his teen years is learning that he is a wizard. I just think that he is a good example for that kids all around the world can relate to. Except for the witchcraft involved of course...

Part 1: If my mother never read stories to me before bed and never taught me to read I feel like my mind would be one big empty ball of boring. When I was little everynight before bed my mom or dad would read me a story. By doing so I learned to read at a very young age. I was 4 when I read my first book (according to my parents). When I read or was read to my mind would wander off into thought. I remember reading the box car children book series in first grade. I loved those books. They never had the same story line, in every story the same characters would solve a completley different mystery every time. One thing I loved about the book was that they did keep the same characters, because in every story you learned something knew about each character and there was always a different mystery in which they needed to solve. Overall when reading I loved letting my mind wonder and letting it try to picture the story on its own in my head.

Part 2: I feel that a child gets more of an adventure out of the story, because younger childrens minds are more creative. I feel like adults and teenagers when they read they get more meaning out of the story. Like in english class we are told to find meaning, depth and importance in the story. I know from personal expirence that even when reading for my own enjoyment I tend to question on what the meaning of the story really is. Like what the author is attempting to portary in the story. Embarrassingly enough though I still am like a child in some sense when reading. My mind wanders like no other, for example the harry potter books are full of dramatic, intense excitment. While still being a teenager I can't stop myself from pretending like I was Hermoine fighting to protect and help her friend.

Part 3: Like childrens or everyday novels, stories help define who we are as a person and or country. By reading someone elses story sometimes it helps you find out more things about yourself that were unknown to you. One of the most thought provoking and real stories i've ever heard was how America got its independence. Every year in history class we were always told how we came to be the nation that we are today. And just listening to it I got shivers. Cause who knew that so many people that didn't even know hardly any one outside a town or city. Would fight for independce for over a million people. A nation needs stories like that to keep them strong and whole.

Part 4: Stories that I specifically remember loving as a child were the Box car children and babysitter club books. I loved mystery books they just made my mind wonder off into deep thought. My mom would also tell me stories about her child hood and what she did when she was that age. There was this one that always made me laugh, she still tells it. My mom grew up with four kids in her family, everyone didn't really get along with my unckle keith. My aunt susie and my mom would always play tricks on Keith and he would tend to retalliate back. The one time he couldn't retalliate was when they turned off the power to the tv. Then told him to go get the mail and locked him out.

Part 5: Characteristics that a story should have should be Meaning, depth, adventure, importance, humor, sadness, a happy ending (hopefully). A good character should be someone who's brave, nice, forgiving, heroic, Happy.

Today I feel like writting about the word fun! Fun is a great word, fun could go along with many things. Like sports I find the sports that I do fun. For example, I ski (for fun), Irish Dance and play rugby. Every year our family goes to Big Sky Montana with a bunch of other families who have kids my age as well as my sisters. Its a georgeous place especially when you go up to the peak the view is breath taking. Anyways I think Big Sky is the funnest place in the world. Because, its beautiful and you get to ski all day and relax and have fun at night. One of the funnest runs in Big Sky is a run called ambush glades it is a black diamond its hard to find because you have to take a certain route through the terrain park in order to get there. But once you get there if you just stop and look it is so cool. The run is inbetween trees filled with mogles and it takes about 10-15 min to ski down it is an exciting work out run. Irish Dance my other sport is so fun to do. One because not a lot of people do it so when your friends come and watch they think its really cool. Secondly, we get to wear these sweet hand embroided dresses made for you that are shipped over from Ireland. And we get to compete all over the world. Another sport I find fun is Rugby. It is so intense and sweet. I love just being able to have an excuse to tackle other girls without getting in trouble. There are many rules to rugby unfortunatley I can only explain a couple. Here are a few of the more important rules. You cannot throw the ball in front of you that is a big no no. You have to throw it to the side or behind you if you throw it in front the sir (aka the ref) will penallize you. In order to score a tri (same thing as a touchdown or goal) is to run to the other teams line past the cones and touch it to the ground if it doesn't touch the ground it doesn't count as a tri. The main goal is to go after the person with the ball and tackle them down until you get it and score as many tries as possible. Basically rugby is just organized fun

RAOUL:
'No more talk
of darkness,
Forget these
wide-eyed fears.
I'm here,
nothing can harm you -
my words will
warm and calm you.
Let me be
your freedom,
let daylight
dry your tears.
I'm here,
with you, beside you,
to guard you
and to guide you...
CHRISTINE:
Say you love me
every
waking moment,
turn my head
with talk of summertime...
Say you need me
with you,
now and always...
promise me that all
you say is true -
that's all I ask
of you...
RAOUL:
Let me be
your shelter,
let me be your light.
You're safe:
No-one will find you -
your fears are
far behind you...
CHRISTINE:
All I want
is freedom,
a world with
no more night...
and you,
always beside me,
to hold me
and to hide me...
RAOUL:
Then say you'll share with
me one
love, one lifetime...
let me lead you
from your solitude...
Say you need me
with you
here, beside you...
anywhere you go,
let me go too -
Christine,
thats all I ask
of you...
CHRISTINE:
Say you'll share with
me one
love, one lifetime...
say the word
and I will follow you...
Share each day with
me, each
night, each morning...
Say you love me...
RAOUL:
You know I do...
BOTH:
Love me -
that's all I ask
of you...
Anywhere you go
let me go too...
Love me-
that's all I ask
of you...
PHANTOM:
I gave you my music...
made your song take wing...
and now, how you've
repaid me:
denied me
and betrayed me...
He was bound to love you
when he heard you sing...
RAOUL/CHRISTINE
Say you'll share with
me one
love, one lifetime
say the word and I will follow you...
Share each day with
me, each
night, each morning...
PHANTOM:
You will curse the day
you did not do
all that the Phantom asked
of you...!
1. This song/ poem is a passionate poem/song nonetheless. Its a peak in the musical it shows Christine and Raoul's love for each other and the Phantoms jealousy and anger towards Christine for loving Raoul. Its one of my favorite songs just because the words are so passionate and beautiful. And the Phantoms reaction in it just makes it more real.


2. The imagery brought out in the song is amazing. I listened to it on my ipod and read along and not because I had seen it before. But I could picture what was happening just by reading along with the music. I could feel Christine and Raoul's love as well as the Phantoms anger. Just be what words were used. For example the phantoms lines "You will curse the day you did not do all the phantom asked you to do." It clearly shows how the phantom is filled with sadness and hate you can just see and feel his sadness by reading this line.

2. In general I like writing stories I just think there fun and things to write and you hardly run out of ideas when writing a story at least I don't. As a writer I like to have fun with my writing when I get stumped I have to finish I just can't give up on whatever I'm writing. However, aside from writing I am a huge reader. I love to read one of my favorite books is Pride and Prejudice (its also a favorite movie of mine). I also like the Harry potter books Yeah there weird creepy books but the adventure that you get out of it is just so cool. Its fun to picture it in your head as your reading thats the fun in reading. I don't write for fun usually i'd prefer to read over writing any day. But I do like writing just don't have time really but I like to write stories and personal essays. When writing is not a school assignment I will do it only once every few months due to time.

3. Well I have so many childhood memories I was well a very persistent child as well as demanding. I never gave up when I wanted to be good at something, or have something. I absolutely loved Disney movies. When my kinder garden friends and I would play dress up a popular game was pretending that we were Disney princesses, I was always Belle or Cinderella they were my favorite. I just thought that princesses had it easy well what else was I supposed to think I was a little girl I didn't know anything about reality. I was 5 year old living in a dream world all I knew was that fighting and wars were bad and that golf was the most boring show in the world, thats all my dad ever watches that and the news. Anyways, I remember this moment like it was yesterday that and my dad tells this story every time I'm upset or say I want to just give up. I was very very bored and wanted to watch either lion king, beauty and the beast or sleeping beauty. My dad had a long day and just wanted to lay down and watch golf. Of course being the persistent child I was I waltzed right up to him held out the movies and said dad lets watch a movie which one. My dad looked at me and said not now Catie its been a long day lets watch one tomorrow. Then I replied with which one I like Lion king or Beauty and the beast what do you want to watch? My dad looked at me again and said Catie not today alright sweetie. Of course I changed it around this time and said oh okay Lion king sounds good to me lets watch that. Then my dad gave up and said alright just lion king. I'm the same way today only now my parents have an easier time saying no because i'm not as cute as I used to be.

1. Well theme is obviously very important you can't write anything even a song without a present common theme. In order to have a story you must have a theme that builds up to the climax. For example in Robin hood the theme is giving. Robin doesn't do it in the right way but in the end after he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Themes all in all bring the story together in order to make it exciting and adventourous.

3. There are many things that I would really like to incorporate into my play. Two ideas that I have are to write a one act about high school love and gossip aka High school musical the remake. I just think I could go crazy with that one and make a better cooler hsm where the lead character doesn't act so gay and child like it would be a more adult version of hsm. Then my last idea is a romantic murder mystery. Kinda like clue but not. Basically there will be two main girls. They both fall for the same guy then one night at a party they both find out that they are both dating him at the same time. Then as soon as they start at it Andrew (the main guy) is lying on the floor covered in blood. I'll probably choose the second one cause the theme would just be more exciting and dramatic. The theme would be Romantic Drama.


2. For my play I really don't want to write about my family or something thats important to me. I want it to be fun and exciting I really enjoy writing drama scenarios. Personally I feel that it would be super fun to do a Murder drama. I want to do this because I would never get boared or not be able to think of stuff to say. That is why i'm planning on doing a murder/ Romantic drama mystery.

If I didn't have music in my life I don't think I would be able to get through everything that I have gone through. Music is my way out, as well as my stress reliever. I actually have two songs that have inspired me. The first song may come as a shocker to some of you but it does inspire me. The song unwritten. The lines "Live your life with arms wide open today is where your book begins the rest is still unwritten." This part of the song reminds me that yeah in life you make mistakes at times it may feel like the worst thing you've ever done. But, if you live your life with arms wide open you can start over your can rewrite the rest of your book of life and make it better. Another song that inspires me is the song by John Mayer "Waiting On The World to Change." "When were standing at a distance we're waiting we just keep waiting on the world to change." In this song John Mayer gives situations and in all the scenarios people are just standing around and waiting for the world to change when we could be out there doing it ourselves. It just reminds me that if we want the world to change we can't just sit back and hope that it will we have to make it change.

1. The writer's adage is as follows:Reading is breathing in; writing is breathing out.Why is reading so crucial for a writer? Whenever I've heard writers speak--be it playwrights, novelists, or poets--they talk about the importance of reading. In Pat Conroy's memoir My Losing Season, in fact, he goes into great depth about the books he was devouring at that point in his life and what they meant to him.So, talk about the role of reading to the writer and why it is important. If you disagree, then explain why you think OTHERS think it is important. Write at least 100 words. There are several reasons as to why reading is so crucial for a writer. A writer just can't become successful with a snap of a finger and a lot of the time they do not come up with there own ideas. By reading writers can come up with new ideas that branch off of what they read that has not been written by them. Also, a writer can't go and publish something without slowly and carefully reading over what they have already written. In conclusion writters can not be successful without getting ideas from other authors books that they have read. Lastly, before publishing writters need to slowly and carefully read over what they have written. For a writter to become successful i just feel that they should enjoy reading and make it a crucial part of their life.



2. What is something you see in your world that concerns you? This could be something among your peer group, something you see in America, or something you see in the world. What is your interpretation of this topic, and why do you feel that way? Write at least 75 words about it.3. What is one piece of art (painting, movie, book, song, whatever) that has greatly inspired you? What is that piece and what about it has inspired you? Explain in detail. Write at least 100 words. There are a lot of things in our world that I do not approve of. One of the major things that has damaged our enviroment and that scares me too death is global warming. I feel that Presidents that we've had and people all around the world have not done there best to keep our enviroment healthy. There are so many things we can do to make our envroment a better place. For instance, instead of buying a car that runs on gas we could buy a car that runs on electricity also known as a hybrid car. Hybrid cars are just better for our enviroment because you save so much energy. Also, recycling is a big thing that could really help our enviroment. If we were to recycle we would greatly help pollution. There are little things that you can do too. Like turn off lights after you leave, walk and bike and take the bus to places instead of driving a car ect. Global warming concerns me because it is hurting the world that we live in and it can be prevented by our daily actions if we attempt to do those things it would make our enviroment a better healthier place.