Adventures

Authors note:  Response to the novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Adventures as a child were common for me.  Most of the time, these adventures were unrealistic, but kept me in a happy state of mind.  Tom Sawyer also had these kinds of adventures, like going pirating and going treasure hunting.  As you can see, there is a common thing found in all boys; we all go on many wild and unrealistic adventures during some point in our childhood.

In the early stages of my childhood, I loved to go on adventures.  Playing army with my friends was one of them.  All day we would run around with toy guns pretending to be in the army, and we would fight against imaginary enemies.  We played on my hill and at a play set across from my house.  These settings were sometimes army bases and airplanes during the adventures. 

Fort building was another adventure I liked to take on.  The forts were found all over my hill and in the back of my drive way.  In the summer, I built forts using tree branches, large rocks, and tall grass.  These forts were usually used while playing army.  During the winter months, I built forts using snow and ice.  Trying to make the fort as big as possible was our main goal with the winter forts.

Tom Sawyer went on many adventures during the book.  In one of his adventures, Tom Sawyer decided to become pirates with Huck and Joe after Becky rejects him at school.  While on the island, the trio relaxed, fished, and learned how to smoke.  Going treasure hunting was another adventure.  They talk about what they would do with the treasure if they find it and go to many places to dig for treasure.  Huck and Tom never dug up any treasure, but do find treasure in the possession of Injun Joe.

Boys go on adventures just to escape troubles we may have had beforehand.  During some point in our childhood, boys are guilty of going on unrealistic adventures.  Both Tom Sawyer and I have gone on adventures.  Overall adventures are a great way to escape reality.

Chapter Nine: The Graveyard

 Author's Note:   Chapter Nine is the most important chapter in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer



Chapter nine is one of the most interesting chapters in the entire book.  It introduces many important characters, and in the chapter, a very important event occurs.  Tom and Huck witness a murder.  This chapter is the most important in the entire book.

This chapter is easily an irony.  The setting is in a graveyard at night.  Before Tom goes to the graveyard, he hears a howl of a dog and an answer call to the dog's howl.   These are symbols of irony.  While Tom and Huck are there, three men come to the graveyard and dig up a grave.  After the three men dug up the grave, an argument occurs between the three.  Muff Potter drops his knife and Injun Joe picks it up and stabs the doctor.

In other chapters of the book, Injun Joe and Muff Potter are brought up again.  A knife was found next to the murdered man and was recognized as being Muff Potter's.  After the knife was found, horsemen went after Potter and soon caught him.  When Potter's trial came, Tom was questioned and told the counsel of defense that he witnessed the murder and that it was Injun Joe.  Tom and Huck find Injun Joe and another man hiding in the haunted house and hear them talk about trying to hide money and about attacking the widow.  After many watches and investigations, Judge Thatcher accidently locks Injun Joe in the cave, which led to Injun Joe's death. 

As you can see, chapter nine is a very interesting chapter with many symbols of irony.  The whole murder scene was just a start to many parts of the book.  This chapter is the most important chapter in the entire book.

Everybody Hates Chris

This is a piece on how Everybody Hates Chris is a comedy-
Everybody Hates Chris is a comedy because it always starts in a normal setting, like in the kitchen or his school.  A conflict always happens during the show.  In one episode, Chris is to get his school pictures taken.  During gym class, his dress clothes are stolen.  After several attempts to find clothes to wear, he has to settle on wearing a lawn jockey costume from the theater department.  At the end of the episode, Chris and his family are at the kitchen table and his brother and sister share their school pictures.  When Chris shows his, Chris's mom is furious at the inappropriate outfit he's wearing in his school picture.  She's starts yelling, a realistic action, bringing the episode to an end.

Veteran's Essay

Patriotism

           

            Patriotism is frequently defined as having national loyalty and love for one’s country.  People show patriotism in many ways.  Every day in the United States, people show patriotism in small ways.  Some people may wear an American flag pin on a jacket, or they may put a bumper sticker on their car to show their support for their country.  Others show their patriotism by flying the American flag outside their homes.  Before every national sporting event, people show pride and respect for America by standing up and singing the national anthem.  All these patriotic acts help unite our country.  Patriotism still matters. 

            Patriotism does not mean you have to agree with the government 100 percent of the time.  Although not every American may support our participation in war, the majority of people do support the soldiers that serve in them.  The amount of people that show patriotism rises during times of conflict.  Men and women in the armed forces make many sacrifices to protect our country and preserve our freedoms.  Some make the ultimate sacrifice by losing their lives while defending our country.  While some people may talk about patriotism, service men and women embody patriotism.  Without the men and women in the armed forces who fought during the Revolutionary War, the United States would still be part of England.  Without the United States’ help, Adolf Hitler could have ruled the world.  People who have served in our country’s military have made a big difference in our history. 

With the economy in bad shape and with the conflicts in the Middle East, patriotism remains important today.  As a country we need to unite and do what is best for our country.  Hardships will occur and sacrifices will need to be made in order for our country to move forward.  Patriotism - having national loyalty and devotion to our country - will help us accomplish this.

Patriotic Quotes

"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
- John F. Kennedy

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
- Nathan Hale

"The love of one's country is a splendid thing.  But why should love stop at the border?"
- Pablo Casals

Things to Think About

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
- Albert Einstein

Journal Entry

I sat comfortably on an oak bench on the pier that jutted out to the river.  It was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky, the sun shining brightly warming this perfect day.  The river was quiet except for the sounds of the swift currents down stream.  Fish leaped from the water wanting in on this perfect day.  Kingfishers swiftly swept up fish to feed on, occasionally  catching a fish in mid-air.  Lily pads gently hovered over the water, leaving ripples in the water as they moved with the current.  Frogs hopped from lily pad to lily pad, catching flies with their tongues for a pleasant snack.  Tall willow trees left shadow patches along the bank of this magnificent river.  In the shadows was a family of resting deer, getting away from the suns powerful rays.

Here I sat on this lovely pier admiring all the wonderful nature out here.  This scene will soon be gone.  There won't be any frogs snacking on flies.  There won't be kingfishers feeding on fish.  There won't be any lily pads gently hovering over the water.  This river won't be flowing. When winter comes, the river will be still, frozen in time.

Journal Entry

On the island out in the Pacific, the temperature was just perfect, not too warm but not too cold.  The sun peeked between crevices in the clouds, making the areas it shone on quite warm.  Birds chirped from all over the place filling the space with an enjoyable sensation.  The sand I stood on was perfect white and was very soft, like my carpet back home.

High up on a cliff overlooking the area where I stood was a magnificent mansion.  It was  pearly white with four turrets and an enormous front yard.  An electric fence surrounded the perimeter of the mansion.  A gigantic gate guarded the entrance to the property.  The mansion had to be at least four stories high.  A large balcony was located in the front along with a beautiful garden.  A stone path led up from my position to the gate of the mansion.

I turned to admire the sights of the ocean.  When the sunlight hit it just right, the ocean appeared to sparkle.  Dolphins hopped in and out of the water just off the shore.  Crabs dotted the sand near the shore, showing off their large and shiny claws.  What surprised me was that there was nobody on the beach on this beautiful day.  Where were they?  How did I get here?  As day turned to night, I curled up on the beach and silently fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. 

Things to think about...

It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy.  The bee is praised; the mosquito is swatted.
- Marie O'Conner

How to get Gadgets for your own Blog

Instead of getting gadgets from the blogger website, you can go to Google and Search for "Google Gadgets".  Once you search, click the first one that comes up.  In the site, you can search for any gadget you want.  If you can't get there, I'll put a link at the bottom of the page.

Did You Know...

On September 12, 1940 the Lascaux Cave Paintings were discovered?
That on September 13, 1857 the founder of Hershey, Milton Hershey was born?
On September 14, 1961, legendary quarterback, Dan Marino, was born?

Word of the Week

Innocuous- harmless, not offensive
His comment was innocuous.

New Blog

Welcome followers.  This is my first blog.  Hope you like it!