L4. Sadly, everything comes to an end.

For my choice blog this week, I decided to talk about basketball, seeing how the seasons coming to an end quickly. Today would be my last official game for basketball this year. We will be playing Christian Central Academy. Even though the game won’t count against us, we are all looking forward to it because we are all more than ready to play our hearts out. Although today is our last game, we do have sectionals coming up next week and it just makes me realize that basketball really is coming to an end. The season has truly gone by so fast; I don’t know where the time has gone. Although it’s coming to an end, I definitely feel like a much better player than I did when I started back in 10^th grade. I have learned so much from my coach and from each girl individually. I have learned a lot of different aspects that I will continue to hold for as long as I can. I feel like I have grown not just as an individual but as a team this year. We all have become pretty close and we all have had such good memories from practices, games, and team bonding days. Knowing this seasons going to be done with soon makes me kind of happy but also kind of upset. I’m happy because I will finally have more available free time to hang out with family or friends since I have been busy constantly with basketball. Even though I gain more time in my day, I am definitely going to be missing this sport. The things we did together as a team in practices and games did consume my time but I also had a lot of fun doing it. The fact I had fun helped make the time fly by, sadly too fast. Knowing this is my senior year and I will be graduating come June, it’s sad knowing that I won’t be able to play with this group of girls again. It’s tough knowing that your team will all be parting since everybody is in different grade levels. Today’s the last game before sectionals and it’s truly hard to believe. I am glad that we have sectionals because that means more practices together and games. Hopefully the team will make it a decent way through sectionals but even if we don’t I know that our team was strong and we have definitely come a long way. I’m also quite excited for our banquet this year because the teams always seem to have a blast, especially when we all come together with our coaches and our families. Together we have all grown in our own ways and I know this team has changed us all in some type of way. I may be a senior and I may be graduating this year, but one thing is for sure, come next year I definitely will be finding time to come cheer on my girls and the new girls that join the team next year.

L3. What ever happened to respect?

There are many things that make me angry so choosing which to talk about is quite difficult. I think I’d have to say situations in high school would have to be my top choice. The constant drama, lies, rumors, and judgment that goes on is ridiculous. I feel as if nobody is ever allowed to be fully accepted for who they are. The fact that drama is a constant in our school doesn’t help the rumors either. It just makes the rumors a lot worse because people end up believing them and it goes around from person to person. Also, a lot of people tend to lie. You can never tell whether or not somebody is telling you the truth. It makes you feel as if you have to fend for yourself and keep things all to yourself in school until you get home. You have to be extremely careful with who you trust these days. Somebody can be your friend one minute and then the next there talking bad about you. You truly never know. Next is where judgment comes in. One lie that turns into a rumor will turn into drama which turns into people judging you. It’s a big chain that goes on and on. One thing that makes me very angry is how much people judge you. They may not even know you yet they judge you, it makes no sense. If you don’t know someone, than you truly don’t have any right to judge them. You may know there name and may see there outer appearance but that doesn’t show or tell you what’s inside or what they have gone through. The things people say when they judge someone can be so hurtful. I can’t stand listening to it. Nobody should have to worry about being their self. They shouldn’t have to worry about being who they are or liking what they like. Everybody should be able to be their own person in their own type of way without being criticized or judged for it. It’s just wrong to do that and it makes me so angry seeing it happen or hearing about it. Don’t get me wrong, I love this school, but I feel like people here need to be a bit more open minded and more caring of others around them whether they like someone or not, be respectful. You don’t know what somebody else has gone through or is going through. Therefore, you don’t know how things you do or say about them will affect them.

L2. Afraid of what?

I have a couple things that I just so happen to be afraid of, they would be snakes, planes, and heights. Like most girls, I also am afraid of snakes. The reason being is simply because of the fact that I don’t like anything about them. I don’t like how they slither, how there slimy, nothing! I don’t like anything about them, to me there just gross. I don’t understand why people like snakes, nor would I ever understand. For some reason ever since I was little, I’ve always been afraid of snakes and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. It’s just something about them that gets to me. Now when it comes to planes, my fear goes hand-in-hand with the fact that I've always been afraid of heights. I don’t like being high up because I don’t like that dropping feeling you get inside. Every time I get that feeling it makes me so nervous and so sick. It’s not that I get that feeling every once in a while, I always get it no matter what. I do go on rollercoasters but I have a very limited amount that I will go on. When it comes to heights, the free falling feeling and knowing I’m going to be falling without having control, really scares me. I like being high up and being able to look at everything surrounding me, but at the same time, it’s scary to me. I end up getting very nervous and very tense. To me, the worst type of heights would have to be on a plane. In my entire life, I have only been on a plane twice. The time I was on a plane was freshman year heading to Florida and back from Florida and let me tell you, that was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced. I literally got tears in my eyes the first few minutes of take off. Once the tears went away, I still was nervous as I continuously gripped onto the seat. Nothing could distract me or take my mind off of the fact that I was so high up on a plane. I know most people would say that in order to be afraid of planes you would have to truly have a reason. I know I haven’t been on a plane as many times as others and I know I have no family or friends that have been involved in a plane crash either but it’s just something about planes that gets to me. The fact that I hear about plane crashes is part of the reason I am afraid. However, majority of the reason is knowing how high up I am and knowing how far down it is in case of an emergency. I know to some people my three fears may sound lame, but that’s what scares me. Everybody has their own things that they are afraid of, whether it’s a small or big fear; it’s still there until you overcome it.

L1. And the winners are...

So far every year for Super Bowl Sunday, my family gets together and makes a bet. Between the two teams my family chooses who they think will win. Based on whoever agrees with one another, that is your set team. In my family each person chooses their chosen dinner choice. The rules consist of the losing team preparing one person’s dinner one day; another’s another day, and so on. To make this legit, my sister always makes everybody sign a paper regarding the rules and the team they chose to support. Once it’s signed there is no going back or changing of your set team. This year it was my dad and my little brother rooting for the Patriots against my mom, my sister, and I who rooted for the Giants. This competition is a fun way for us to spend family time. Throughout the entire day, my family makes a bunch of dips such as taco dip, chicken wing dip, etc. We also make a bunch of finger foods as a way to kick off the big event! Of course as the day goes on both sides talk smack about winning and the others losing. Last year, my dad and brother won the competition so their confidence level was quite high as for us girls; our confidence level was pushed right next to worrying. Before the Super Bowl starts, we all helped prepare homemade buffalo chicken wing pizza to help top off the final meal! However, once the Super Bowl finally starts, were all in the living room watching. To always make it interesting, my dad and brother will make it a big rivalry where they sit on the opposite side of the living room away from us girls. They also make it a note to scream at any little thing there team does well. Watching this year was nerve-racking for my team because we didn’t want to lose again against the boys. The closer and closer the game came to an end; the more anxious we were all getting! As the Giants were declared the winners, you couldn’t hear a thing in my house over all of the cheering. Winning the bet meant that my dad and my brother would be preparing whatever meal my mom, sister, and I chose for dinner on whatever day we choose to have it. Every year when the Super Bowl comes around, it’s also an interesting day in my household. There’s never a time my family doesn’t have fun when it comes to this competitive bet.  

K4. Let's run away, from here.

It’s been five years now that I have begged my parents to remove the old wallpaper in my bedroom. They don’t understand how childish it looks for a teenager like me. I’m no longer that little girl from primary or intermediate school, yet they always make me feel as if I am. I’m a teenager now, not a child. It was years ago when I was young that I last liked the wallpaper of doves. However, being older all I want now is a change. I wanted them to see that I could spread my wings and fly; I’m old enough to stand for myself and do things on my own. Coming home from school today, it was just another typical day where my parents put a controlling hold on me. As soon as I got home I was cornered with making sure my homework was done. Of course I was questioned on who I was going to be with later and where I was going to be, not forgetting the fact I was reminded of my early curfew about twenty times. Getting out of the house was a major breather for me. Being away from home made me feel as if I was free to explore on my own and finally be an adult, at least I felt that way until my curfew time approached. I loved my parents to death but ever since my brother passed away seven years ago, they act as if I can’t ever grow up. I’m never allowed to do anything without being put on lock down by them. Lately, I’ve always been questioning what it would take for them to see that I can be on my own perfectly fine. Five years of dealing with this was just way too long. As I got home, I finally realized I had enough. It was time for them to see that they need to let me spread my wings. As morning arrived, I watched as my parents came into my room as panic showed across their face. Standing in the room the strong wind blew through the window as my mother grabbed a piece of a dove’s wing that was lifted off the wallpaper. It was then that I could see reality finally hit her. Just as tears were about to approach their faces, I came out from behind the closet door. It’s been two days now, and I really love my new wallpaper.

K3. The mysterious boat.

Living right next to the boat dock was always an advantage, especially to my grandfather. He always has been so fascinated with boats ever since he was a little boy. I never understood what fascinated him so much about them, but it fascinated me just listening and watching him talk about them. It was a late night and my grandfather and I went to lock up the docks. We always check to make sure all of the boats are in by their usual time, ten. Realizing all of them were in, we locked up and went home to watch a few movies. About an hour after, we heard a loud crashing sound from the water, followed by the ringing of a bell. Confused, my grandfather and I grabbed our shoes and a lantern as we ran out of the house to see what could possibly be going on. The fog on the water made it a bit hard to see but we made due. Right through the fog was a boat, a boat we haven’t ever seen before. Trying to get a better look, we kept waiting for it to finally stop. Then when it did, our first instinct was to see if anybody was on board. Looking closely, I saw the captain. He was an old man with grey hair and a black suit on. He smiled at us and waved in a friendly manner but I was too confused to move. My grandfather held me back as he attempted to get a better look see. Just then, it started back up and began to head straight into the fog where it slowly disappeared bit by bit. Running as fast as we could down the road, we looked around all over the place, looking for this boat. However, it was nowhere to be seen. Where did it go? Where could it have gone in general? There was nowhere. Shaking like crazy, I looked up towards my grandfather not being able to say a word. As we got back into the house our first thoughts were to try to pull up any information we could on this boat. After twenty minutes of researching, my grandfather found an article from 1985. The article was titled, “Boat and Captain missing – never found.”

K2. Hope never dies.

Dreams are Nick’s favorite place to float off to. Every night he would leave his window wide open just so he could hear the sound of the ocean from his house. The sound of the waves hitting shore let him know hope was still alive. Whenever Nicholas went to sleep, the only thing he dreamt of was that summer with his father, the summer they competed in the boat race. Although that was three years ago, to Nick it felt like yesterday. The model they made together of their boat always stayed positioned on the shelf above his bed. It always let him know that the hope he felt in the waves wouldn’t let him down. Dozing off, he could almost feel the wind on his face and the splashing of water touch his hands. He could feel the sun shining down on his head as they sailed off ready to win the race. Reliving the feeling of success he could just imagine the same old smile on his father’s face when they were declared the winners. The memories of that wonderful day always seemed to make him happier than he has ever been. The peaceful sound of the ocean never seemed to wake him but this time it did. Something about the sound was different than usual. It had a more crash to it, a more sense of change. Nicholas jumped out of bed and just listened for a moment. Something inside triggered him causing him to run over to the window. There he looked out to the ocean and saw it, it was a boat. Not just any other boat but the boat, the boat his father was on. It has been three years since he has seen his father’s face due to the boat being lost but there it was. There he was, alive.

K1. The chase.

It was a late Friday night when Mr. Smith got home. Not feeling so comfortable about his new old home, he made sure he locked up the doors. He never truly thought that he could trust people in this part of the city. Relaxing from a hard day’s work, he turned on the television and reclined back in his chair where he dozed off for an hour or so until he felt something touch his leg. This threw him all off causing him to jump up in this chair and pick his legs up off the ground. Mr. Smith never would admit it but even though he was a man, he still had his fears. Looking all around the room, he spotted nothing. Then out of the corner of his eye, he spotted it, a mouse. Quickly Mr. Smith jumped off his chair and the chase was on. One downfall of buying this old house was the fact that mice could easily sneak in through the holes in the walls and the old floor boards. Mr. Smith instantly chased after the mouse as quickly as he could. He tried everything he could to catch it or spook it out of the house. Just when he thought it was gone, he noticed the dining room end table with his mother’s old lamp on it start to shake. Next thing he knew, the end table and lamp were unbalanced and were appeared to be on a slant. There right in front of him underneath the carpet was a bump. Quietly, Mr. Smith grabbed one of his dining room chairs as he tiptoed over towards the bump under the carpet. Raising the chair above his head, he was about to get rid of this mouse once and for all. As soon as Mr. Smith was about to swing, the mouse bolted right out from under the carpet and right into a hole in the wall where it disappeared. This set Mr. Smith off on a rampage. He stayed up all night waiting and waiting for this mouse which never returned.