Day 35 to End

During the last days, We ended up going to St. Louis, Missouri, visiting family in Arkansas, heading back to Houston, and making a daring 32 hour straight drive to get back to Santa Maria.  We ended up driving 205 hours along 11,300 miles for 45 days.  The trip of a life time came to an end.  Project Promise completed its purpose, entertaining us for the summer.  Time for college!

Day 34 of Project Promise

I was extremely sad to have to say good bye to Sarah.  We wouldn't  be seeing her for awhile and she was one of my best friends.  Drove 500 miles to St. Louis, Missouri.

Day 33 of Project Promise

Got to hang out with Sarah Gutierrez all day!  Comic book shops, lake swimming, boat ride down the river, board games, and a BBQ to finish the day!  One of my favorite days out of the road trip so far

Day 32 of Project Promise

Packed up and left for Knoxville, Tennessee!  Went swimming at 10 o'clock at night just because we could

Day 31 of Project Promise

Yet another lazy day.  Not much to say about it

Day 30 of Project Promise

Went to the Newport Aquarium.  I can honestly say I have never hear of a ray shark until now.

Day 29 of Project Promise

Lazy day!  Stayed around the house and did a lot of nothing

Day 28 of Project Promise

Rode most of the rides at Cedar Point.  Great location overlooking Lake Erie.  After Cedar Point, we drove down to Cincinnati to visit some of Tommy's Mom's Friends.   

Day 27 of Project Promise

Drove to Sandusky, Ohio in preparation of hitting Cedar Point the next day.  Cedar Point is one of the theme parks that rival Six Flags Magic Mountain 

Day 26 of Project Promise

Another rest day.  Swam in the pool and sat around the house. Nothing special

Day 25 of Project Promise

Back on track now.  Instead of heading to New York, we went down to the Hershey chocolate factory.  2 pounds of chocolate  later, I won't get near another bar for at least 6 months.

Day 21.5 of Project Promise

Got my days mixed up.  This happened BEFORE Niagara Falls.  Went to a small amusement park by the name of Knoebels.  It is known as being the largest free admission park.  Good times

Day 23 of Project Promise

Completely raided the free breakfast at the hotel.  Soooo much food. Drove back to Danville with full stomachs

Day 22 of Project Promise

We got up early and drove to Niagara Falls!  Another 5 hour drive; 10 hour round trip.  Been doing A LOT of driving, recently hitting 6,000 miles. That is across the US from San Diego to the tip of Maine...twice

Day 21 of Project Promise

Our lazy day.  Alex and Tommy decided to go to a Magic the Gathering tournament.  I don't like the game that much so I stayed at the house and play in the pool for four hours.  

Day 20 of Project Promise

We drove up 100 miles to possibly the worst amusement park I have ever been to.  Six Flags Great Escape was horrid.  We left after an hour and drove the 5 hours into Pennsylvania to visit Alex's family.   

Day 19 of Project Promise

Got up and left, heading towards Six Flags New England.  It was a small park, leaving us kind of disappointed.  We left early and drove two hours to the state of New York (again).  Reaching our KOA, they promptly turned us away because we weren't 25.  Late in the afternoon and with no place to stay, we had to drive another hour looking for a second campground.

Day 18 of Project Promise

Packing up our bags, we left our motel to New Jersey so we could hit Six Flags Great Adventure.  I hate New Jersey.... Soooo much.... All the highways are Toll Roads with the costs being anywhere from $4 to $16.  Great Adventure was my favorite Six Flags park.  After that, we drove up into Connecticut and got another motel (the KOA was an extra two hour drive.  We deemed it unnecessary). 

Day 17 of Project Promise

Laundry day!  Still had the whole afternoon left so we found another go kart place and bought 3 races 

Day 16 of Project Promise

We headed back to DC and saw the rest of the Smithsonian and monuments.  Didn't have time for anything else since the road back to Baltimore was backed up with traffic.  Two hours for a thirty minute drive.  I hate driving in DC

Day 15 of Project Promise

It was a clear day so we went to Six Flags America.  Still having time left, we went to DC and saw the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian Institute of Natural History. 

Day 14 of Project Promise

Finally somewhere to stay for awhile.  This was a friend of Tommy that he had met last summer.  They had a recreational room so Tommy and I played while Alex slept.  We heard yelling in the front yard about an hour after we started playing pool.  Apparently, Tommy had some how beaten his cousin's wife ( who live next door) and he wanted to get back at us.  How did this happen? I don't know.  All I heard were death threats and something about a fight if we weren't gone by sun down.  Did I mention he had a garage filled with guns?  We said good bye to Tommy's friend and reserved a room from a motel.  We slept for the rest of the day.

Day 13 of Project Promise

Six Flags Over Georgia was the plan.  We head to the park, some rain pockets here and there.  Got into the first line,extremely  excited because of all the big rides.  Fast forward two hours.  The ride has broken down several times and shut down due to weather.  We were next.  Deciding to wait it out, the ride opens about 10 minutes later.  We got on, excited to finally be on the ride.  It shuts down again to lightning.  We decided to screw the park and drive to Maryland (a full 12 hour drive). We got to our destination at about 4:30 in the morning.  Guess what!  No sleep as a small car is impossible to sleep in!

Day 12 of Project Promise

Drove to a town in Georgia called Forsyth. Decided to test our luck and camp in a tent due to the previous night being dry.  We. Were. Horribly. Wrong. Thunderstorms all night. Wind trying to blow away the tent.  We ordered pizza

Day 11 of Project Promise

Leaving at 4 am, we made our way across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. We stayed at a KOA in Tallahassee.  Being that we drove through thunderstorms the whole way to Tallahassee and that a warning for flash floods had been put out, we upgraded to "Kamper's Kabin".  Guess what? Not a drop of rain the whole night :|

Days 9 and 10 of Project Promise

These two days just involved us doing laundry, swimming, and playing pool.  I also went shopping for my grandparents. The plan was to leave at 4 in the morning the next day

Day 8 of Project Promise

We decided to hit a water park called schlitterbahn in Galveston, Texas.  One of the best water parks I have been to and highly recommend it if you are in the Houston area

Day 7 of Project Promise

Six Flags Over Texas!!

Had a great time!  The videos are up on my YouTube channel

Day 6 of Project Promise

Today we decided to do something awesome!  We hit up a little place called Track 21.

We had one race with the go-karts. [Which Alex won :(  ]

We also played 3 games of laser tag.  I completely pown at laser tag and destroyed everybody, coming in 1st all 3 games.

An overall good experience.  Just wish they had a place like this closer to home.

Day 5 of Project Promise

Another day of relaxation after all that driving.  Today was filled with spaghetti, swimming, poker, and pool.

Day 4 of Project Promise

After getting lost several times the night before, we eventually made it to my grandma's house in Houston.  Today was a laid back day since the day before was, to say the least, eventful. *cough* lost the keys to the car *cough* fender bender *cough* Tommy lost his season pass *cough*

Day 3 of Project Promise

Six Flags Fiesta Texas!!

 

Day 2 of Project Promise

We got up at a much more reasonable 9 o'clock and drove another 12 hours to San Antonio, Texas.  San Antonio was home to our first real stop, Six Flags Fiesta Texas.  Alas, that was our plan for tomorrow so we camped out at another KOA

Day 1 of Project Promise

We decided to leave at 2 in the morning just to beat the L.A. traffic.  Turns out that was the perfect as the traffic started to pick up as we were just leaving the city.  We made the 13 hour drive through Arizona and into New Mexico.  We stopped at a KOA (campground of america) and pitched the tent.  After completing that task, we went swimming and hit the hay.

Don't Panic

Sorry about not posting right away.  The road trip is well underway.  Tomorrow will have been a week on the road.  More detailed day by day reports to come

ON OUR WAY TO VICTORY

Car getting fixed and last minute checks.  The road trips approaches.  No matter how many checks we do, I'm certain something will end up not being taken.  It's an ADVENTURE

*Previous Title May Be Bending The Truth

The last post was a rough estimate of time and were to be on certain days.  I'm pretty sure it is all going to fall apart after the first couple days.  Another note is that we may leave a couple days earlier than the 28th.  We want to get out there as soon as we can!

Around The Country in 40 Days

Awesome Road Trip PLANS! June 29 to

-June 28 at 7

-June 29 to July 1 - Go all the way to first stop in San Antonio,Texas  

* (23 Hour Drive)

-10:30am to 9pm at Six Flags Fiesta Texas

-Alamo!

-July 2 to July 9 - Arrive to Houston to visit Josh's Grammy for 2 days  

* (3 Hour Drive)

-July 9 - Arrive to Arlington/Dallas

* (4 Hour Drive)

-10:30am to 10pm at Six Flags Over Texas

-July 10 to 11 - New Orleans to visit abandoned Six Flags New Orleans/ Jazz-land    

* (8 Hour Drive)

-July 12 to July 13 - Drive all the way to Atlanta, Georgia, Arrival at July 13th

* (8 Hour Drive)

-10:30am to 8pm at Six Flags Over Georgia

-July 14 to 15, Six Flags, Sight-seeing and shooting the video

-July 16 to 18 - Drive to Bowie, Maryland, Arrival at July 19

* (9 Hour Drive)

-July 19 10:30am to 7pm at Six Flags America

-July 20 to 21 - Stay in Washington, D.C. for tour sight-seeing

* (30 min)

-July 21 to 22 - Halethorpe, Maryland to stay over Tommy’s cousin E.J. or Rachel Howell’s

-2904 Charleston Ave.

-July 22 - Drive to Jackson, New Jersey

-July 23, 10:30am to 10:00pm Six Flags Great Adventure

-July 24 to 27 - Drive to New York, New York for tour sight-seeing

-July 28 to 29 - Drive to Springfield, Massachusetts

-July 30, 10:30am to 9:00pm Six Flags New England

-July 31 - Drive to Lake George, New York

-August 1, 10:00am to 7:00pm Six Flags The Great Escape

-August 2 - Drive to Danville, Pennsylvania to visit Alex’s uncle for staying over

-August 2-4

-August 4 to 5 - Drive to Sandusky, Ohio

-August 6 10:00am to 10:00pm Cedar Point

-August 7 to 8 - Drive to Chicago, Illinois

-August 9 10:30am to 9:00pm Six Flags Great America

-August 10 to 11 - Drive to St. Louis, Missouri

-August 12 10:30am to 6:00pm Six Flags St. Louis

-August 13 to 18 - Drive all the way back to home

-Sight seeing and ENJOYING THE AWESOMENESS OF ‘MURICA!

If we leave little earlier, The schedule may have some changes and Arrival back to home would be earlier than the current date. All schedules for Six Flags has to be on weekdays only and time is random.

We should be home before Aug 19

Buying Gas in the USA

This image is of the cost of gas in areas around the US.  As you can see, California has some of the highest in the country, giving us a little leeway in the cost of gas.

 Gas:

*7482 miles

*36 mpg

*7579 divided by 36

*207 times gas price

*207 times $4.00 a gallon

$831 for gas

Instead of the Lexus we were originally planning to take, which had 25 mpg, we are now taking a Toyota Yaris, a cool 36 mpg. This shaved off around $400 in gas!

This Blog Is NOT Dead

Project Promise is still going strong.  In fact, we leave in less than a week.  I will begin to post stats about the project asap.  A day by day vlog (considering we get internet) will soon be appearing here as well. STAY TUNED

Next Draft Of Project Promise

More stops and a more defined time frame for each stop

Time schedule coming soon

Full Throttle Testing Has Begun

Been wanting to ride this for a very long time!

Rocio Reyes and Ruth Sierra's Final Presentation

Ubi Kim's Final Presentation

Michelle Arriaga's Final Presentation

Katelyn Porraz's Final Presentation

Sara Armas Final Presentation

Ryland and the Squad Final Presentation

Sarah Gutierrez's Final Presentation

Dylan Samarasena's Final Presentation

Socorro Ramirez's Final Presentation

Beka, Sarah, and Kasie Final Presentation

Project Promise Cheaper than Expected

From the $10,000 originally thought, the price has dropped significantly after some research and cost cutting. The whole road trip can now be achieved (from our calculations) for a measly $1,500.  This money, which we already have btw, means the trip is definitely going to happen.

Some of the price cutting included finding a more efficient car.  We went from a 24 mpg car to a 36 mpg car, effectively cutting out $400 in fuel costs.  Instead of motels/ hotels, we will be staying in hostels around the country.  Food, instead of grocery stores, will be bought in bulk from Costco.

A more detailed price breakdown and time breakdown to come.

School Out?

Going to slowdown on posting now.  No more quotes of the day for one.  Going to be a blog for those following Project Promise and the posting of my newest Youtube videos.  Thanks for a good year everyone and congrats to the graduating (graduated) class of 2013!

Quote of the Day June 8

The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.   -Arnold J. Toynbee

Quote of the Day June 7

Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.   -Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Quote of the Day June 6

Tears of joy are like the summer rain drops pierced by sunbeams.   -Hosea Ballou

Quote of the Day June 5

Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.   -Truman Capote

Musical!

Quote of the Day June 4

I got lost but look what I found.   -Irving Berlin

Musical Almost Done

Putting the last touches on the Musical.  This one focuses on how I have improved as an editor and cinematographer rather than songs and dances.

Quote of the Day June 3

They talk most who have the least to say.   -Matthew Prior

Project Promise Trip Itinerary Pt. II

Stop 1: San Antonio, Texas  -  Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Stop 2: Houston, Texas  -  Visiting my Grandma
Stop 3: Arlington, Texas  -  Six Flags Over Texas
Stop 4: Austell, Georgia  -  Six Flags Over Georgia
Stop 5: Knoxville, Tennessee  -  Visiting Sarah Gutierrez
Stop 6: Mitchellville, Maryland  -  Six Flags America
Stop 7: Washington DC
Stop 8: New York, New York
Stop 9: Jackson, New Jersey  -  Six Flags Great Adventure
Stop 10: Danville, Pennsylvania  -  Visiting Alex's Uncle
Stop 11: Sandusky, Ohio  -  Cedar Point
Stop 12: Gurnee, Illinois  -  Six Flags Great America
Stop 13: Eureka, Missouri  -  Six Flags St. Louis

Miles: 6,950
Estimated Gas Costs: $1,150
Total collected already: $950

Quote of the Day June 2

Bitterness imprisons life; love releases it.   -Harry Emerson Fosdick

Nicolas Cage

All Part of the Musical.  No need to worry

Costs....

$1,500 for gas
$300 for food
$45 for entry into Cedar Point
$200 for spending money
$500 in case anything goes wrong with the car

Trip Expenses: $2,545 give or take... to be safe $3,000

Project Promise in All its Glory

We got $1,000 saved for the trip already.  Going to cost way less than we originally thought

Fun Fact

Both Marilyn Monroe and Morgan Freeman were born on June 1st

Quote of the Day June 1

It is not ignorance but knowledge which is the mother of wonder.   -Joseph Wood Krutch

Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.   -Hannah Arendt

Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love.   -Reinhold Niebuhr

Things are beautiful if you love them.   -Jean Anouilh

And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days.   -James Russell Lowell

Progress was all right.  Only it went on too long.   -James Thurber

Finals Week Coming in Fast

Sitting here thinking of what possible songs would be awesome for the musical...

Quote of the Day May 31

Noble deeds that are concealed are most esteemed.   -Blaise Pascal

Quote of the Day May 30

Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.  -Democritus

Musical Progress Report

Two music videos down.  Many more to go

Milkshake Making Guide

Just in case you guys wanted to know how to make a milkshake

Quote of the Day May 29

A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.   -John F. Kennedy

Project Promise Trip Itinerary

*With Some Changes To The Map

Stop 1: Las Vegas, Nevada
Stop 2: Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Stop 3: Houston, Texas (Visit my grandma before she gets a lung transplant)
Stop 4: Six Flags Over Texas
Stop 5: Six Flags Over Georgia
Stop 6: Knoxville, Tennessee (Visiting Sarah Gutierrez)
Stop 7: Washington DC
Stop 8: Six Flags America
Stop 9: New York
Stop 10: Six Flags Great Adventure
Stop 11: Danville, Pennsylvania (Alex Lane's uncle)
Stop 12: Cedar Point
Stop 13: Six Flags Great America
Stop 14: Six Flags St. Louis
Stop 15: Mt. Rushmore
Stop 16: Yosemite
Stop 17: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Happy Birthday to My Mom!

The person always there to help me in life, to bring me up, to aid me in my journey.  She has helped me get this far and I can't thank her enough for that.

Quote of the Day May 28

Everything is funny, as long as it's happening to somebody else.   -Will Rogers

Sometimes I go to Youtube Just to watch BTS

Quote of the Day May 27

Free people, remember this maxim: we may acquire liberty, but it is never recovered if it is once lost.  -Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Just to Prove my Point

Some of the Videos on Youtube are weird...

The Musical has begun, Forward Brothers

The first song has been completed.  All I have to say is it is looking good.  Already better than the whole last musical.  Sadly, I don't want any of it shown until the whole thing is completed so you guys will just have to wait.  Sorry :/

Quote of the Day May 26

A man is only as good as what he loves.   -Saul Bellow

I Bring You Project Promise

Quote of the Day May 25

All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.   -Baruch Spinoza

New Collab. Group?

Does planning a road trip for the summer count as a collab. group if I work with Alex?  If it doesn't, oh well. But if it does, we plan on driving across the U.S. hitting up some of the places we have been wanting to go since we were kids.  Did I mention that I would be recording a vlog sort of thing as well as some of the "events" we plan on attending

Quote of the Day May 24

Friends are born, not made.   -Henry Adams

Senior Ditch Day

Had mixed feelings about Senior Ditch Day as it would be my first time actually ditching school for no good reason.  Decided to go with it and ended up going to Magic Mountain with a group of friends.  Gotta say it was totally worth it!

Quote of the Day May 23

We do not remember days, we remember moments.   -Cesare Pavese

Did Preston just say.....

Look at me, I'm not human. I don't know if anybody else caught that or am I just hearing things

Blog was Missing Something

I knew my blog was missing something.  It dawned on me when I was on Facebook for some reason.  

Quote of the Day May 22

The past speaks to us in a thousand voices, warning and comforting, animating and stirring to action.   -Felix Adler

Slacking

I feel like I haven't been posting very much the last few days but then I remember that I post way more than other people do.  Kinda tricky.  I feel like I am not doing my job correctly when I don't get at least 2 posts out of the way everyday.

Quote of the Day May 21

There is always a certain peace in being what one is, in being that completely.   -Ugo Betti

Road Trip?

My friends and I planned a road trip for the summer.  Lets see if we can actually get the money by then.  Thinking across the US and then some

Quote of the Day May 20

When there is no peril in the fight there is no glory in the triumph.  -Pierre Corneille

Quote of the Day May 19

Only silence perfects silence.   -A. R. Ammons

Songs Ready!

Filming of the musical spotted!  Ready to go this week!

Quote of the Day May 18

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.   -Anatole France

Party Baby

Not many of you know this... I do have a baby brother (The secret brother) that is turning 1 on the 23rd.  This was his party!

Quote of the Day May 17

There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.   -George Sand

Quote of the Day May 16

The way through the world is more difficult to find than the way beyond it.   -Wallace Stevens

Try to Catch Up!

I like to see you try, Preston

Quote of the Day May 15

Love is a chain of love as nature is a chain of life.   -Truman Capote

The 10 Most Interesting Things on the Internet

What do you find interesting???  How about this

Quote of the Day May 14

Learning is pleasurable but doing is the height of enjoyment.   -Novalis

Every Movie has a Fault

As a film student, this intrigued me.  For someone to go through a film and point out all the mistakes takes time and dedication

AP Tests Done!

Finally got through what we spent the last year preparing for!  The AP exams are done and being sent off to be graded!  Scores come out in July

Quote of the Day May 13

The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.   -Mark Zuckerberg

Dead

Everything is dying down...or is it?  Lets get this musical started!

Alex Lane

There's an app for that

Happy Mother's Day

To all those moms out there that work so hard to make your kid's life perfect!

Quote of the Day May 12

Motherhood: All love begins and ends there. -Robert Browning

Quote of the Day May 11

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. -Charles Caleb Colton

Quote of the Day May 10

Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission. -Arnold Bennett

Award Winning Video

This is the video everyone loved oh so much!  Package III suckas!

Awards! (Part 2)

I won this one at the Righetti High School  Film Festival

Awards!

Won this for the Wired Weekend 48 hour challenge

Film Fest Day 2!

Another successful year for film fest!  Thank you to all of those that showed up!

Quote of the Day May 9

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.  A successful woman is one who can find such a man.  -Lana Turner

Film Fest!!!

Everybody head down to the 15th Annual Righetti High School Film Festival!  Located on the Gym Stage, we have will be having a selection of videos produced by your very own Righetti Students.  Today and tomorrow starting at 7 pm

Kinetic Typography

A really interesting way to make a music video.  Might try this soon.

Quote of the Day May 8

What we really are matters more than what other people think of us.   -Jawaharlal Nehru

Quote of the Day May 7

Not knowing anything is the sweetest life.   -Sophocles

AP Tests Spotted

None of the tests are really frightening to me but I don't feel the most confident in the English test.  I have Microeconomics down pat!  All I know is that it is going to be a long two weeks

Quote of the Day May 6

How strangely do we diminish a thing as soon as we try to express it in words.   -Maurice Maeterlinck

Prom?

Who needs Prom when you have Just Dance!  I hung out with sophomores and freshman instead of going to my Senior Prom.  Worth it

Essay Writing - To the MAX

Writing essays over the past week has not "let me", not "allowed me", but has made me improve my writing. It was sort of forced upon me.  At least it was beneficial and has allowed me to feel better about my writing.

Quote of the Day May 5

I learned to use the word 'Impossible' with the greatest caution.   -Wernher von Braun

Star Wars Play on Words

May the Fourth be with

The most overused phrase on May 4th.

Train Look (XKCD What-If)

Train Loop

Could a high-speed train run through a vertical loop, like a rollercoaster, with the passengers staying comfortable?

—Gero Walter

No.

Since this is kind of a disappointing answer, I tried relaxing the requirements a little.

Could a high-speed train run through a vertical loop, like a rollercoaster, with the passengers staying comfortable surviving?

Still no.

Could a modified and reinforced high-speed train with a jet engine on top run through a vertical loop, like a rollercoaster, with the passengers staying comfortable surviving?

Maybe.

Quote of the Day May 4

For they conquer who believe they can.   -John Dryden

Bad Mother F*cker

(Not what you think)

Fell In Love With This Video

Nothing special, just the execution that caught my eye.  Really neat idea.

Quote of the Day May 3

Enthusiasm moves the world.   -Arthur Balfour

In-Class Essay 3

I feel so much better about writing essays.  I feel that I am getting better and better with each one.  For this one, I give myself a 5-6

Quote of the Day May 1

A man is known by the company his mind keeps. -Thomas Bailey Aldrich

 Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.  -Josh Billings

Nobody loves a woman because she is handsome or ugly, stupid or intelligent.  We love because we love.  -Honore de Balzac

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.   -Pablo Picasso

The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers.   -Matsuo Basho

Never go to bed mad.  Stay up and fight.  -Phyllis Diller

Harlem Shake - Green Screen Edition

Mysterious Plane Crash

Approved!

Just got a call from my Grandma!  She has been approved for a new lung and will be living with it in about 6 months!  So excited by this news!  Time to rejoice!

Hey, Cool!

The pain is gone.  I can finally focus on doing crap that doesn't involve me on trying not to move.  I feel.... refreshed

Refusal Noted

I am going to put myself out there and refuse to post my essay today.  Things happened....Kelli knows, ask her.

I'm just going to go ahead and rewrite the whole thing.

In Class Essay #1

Embrace the Fail!  I do horrible on essays...I say I would've gotten a 1-2 if I had finished it

Quote of the Day April 30

The average person's ear weighs what you are, not what you were.   -Rancis Quarles

Prose Essays

Second one on the way...

Quote of the Day April 29

Good actions ennoble us, and we are the sons of our deeds.   -Miguel de Cervantes

At Least Two Poetry Essays

Late but atleast they are here

#Hurting

Maybe I didn't escape the 3 story fall unscathed.  I felt fine at first but as the day has progressed I have been getting increasingly sore.  Now it hurts everytime I stand up.  Time for essays I guess.

Deliverable #3: GroupThink

I don't have a group so this is just a conversation with myself of how completing the grids helped me understand the poems more.

Reading the poems and analyzing them so I could put them in the grid helped me in two ways:
1. Getting a real feel for the poetry
2. Learning a bit more how the particular author writes

It also educated me on the different sections of the poem and how/where the poem shifts.  This will help later on when I take the AP tests.

Grid Lock (Continued)

Title: Fire and Ice  - Two elements that contradict each other, one hot and one cold
Paraphrase:  There are two ways to die, in fire or ice.  Most people say that fire is worse but ice can be just as bad.
Connotation:  This poem can refer to all crimes.  There are some that can be bad, and then there are crimes where you can go completely overboard.
Attitude:  The attitude of the author is just in a stating the obvious sort of way.  He states the ways people think they are going to die figuratively.
Shift: The shift occurs after the author thinks about perishing twice.
Title Revisited:  Fire and Ice - Two ways to die
Theme:  There are two sides of every event


Title: How Can I Hate You? -  Love is only allowed?
Paraphrase:  No matter what happens, hate of the other will not occur.  Too much has gone into a relationship for hate to happen.
Connotation:  Nothing can really be changed here
Attitude:  The author just wants to forgive, even if something bad happens.  Bad relations make enemies, not friends.  Hating is not in the equation
Shift:  Second stanza, he states he will never hate the other
Title Revisited:  How Can I Hate You? - You can't hate someone you loved
Theme:  Once you love, you cannot hate

Skydiving...Yea....

Today I did my first solo jump....Let's just say it didn't as planned.

It began with the exit of the plane.  The winds were so strong that they pushed me out of a correct jump and I began sideways, fighting for control.  Fixing that, my jump was exciting down to the pulling of the parachute.  It opened, but had 5 line twist.  (Average 1 or 2)

This is an example of just ONE line twist

I cleared that up after 20 seconds.  My descent was dominated by me trying to get the slider back down to the normal position.  (It was at the very top of the line)

As I went in for my landing, the turbulence from the trees collapsed my chute and I fell 30 feet to the ground.

I gotta say I still passed the level and moved on to AFP Step 2!

Time Passing...

Senioritis is taking effect....that or it is because family has been over for a couple days and I have to visit with them

Quote of the Day April 28

I took it that what all men are really after is some form or perhaps only some formula of peace.   -Joseph Conrad

Quote of the Day April 27

One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.  -William Feather

Quote of the Day April 26

Your spirit is the true shield.   -Morihei Ueshiba

Pretty much what's happening at Righetti right now

New Poems!

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

-Robert Frost

HOW CAN I HATE YOU?

I shall leave you
If I have to.
I shall forget you
If I have to.
I shall forgive you
If I have to.

But I shall not hate you
Even if I have to.
How can I hate you,
Whom I have loved so devotedly
And so unreservedly?

-Sri Chinmoy

Poetry is a Headache

I have decided to pick two....smaller (to say the least) poems to replace The Raven and The Conqueror Worm.  I don't have enough time to go through the whole process with them

Look Around You

I don't know why but this is one of my favorite videos on the internet

People be like...

...Yo DAWG!  I just hit 100 posts!  I be like, "Try to catch me if you can!  I am almost to 600!"

It isn't Dead Yet

The musical is still there.  We still have the songs ready and we just need to film it.  The problem is we just haven't had the time in the last couple weeks.  After the AP exam we will begin to film, I will post about it again, and everyone will be happy!

Quote of the Day April 25

Always do your best.   What you plant now, you will harvest later.   -Og Mandino

Deliverable #2: Gridlock

Title: A Dream Within A Dream. Some sort of dreamception.  A dream somehow is able to to be within one of its brethren.
Paraphrase: A person is dreaming when the dream suddenly turns to nightmare.  The person feels that he/she is dreaming about the dream.
Connotation:  Dream is just life.  It can go all the way back to "so it goes"
Attitude:  The "character"  wants the nightmare of the dream to be over.  He wants it all to go back to the dream within a dream
Shift:The shift begins at the start of the second stanza
Title Revisited:  Means the same thing.
Theme: We cannot control our dreams.

About that...

I would turn them in on time if I had a group.  Everyone just seems so busy all the time.  I will try to get them in tonight.  If I don't, the grids will be in by tomorrow morning at the latest.

This is...kinda weird....

Just last month alone, I got over one thousand views.  I am growing faster than I thought I would 0.o

I wonder what would happen if I continued this blog after the year ended...

Slow Motion Mouse Trap

I would not do this in a million years

Structure? Who needs structure?

Here comes the time I hate about every English class.  Dissecting poems and getting more out of them.  Who needs this crap?  I get all I need out of it the first time I read it, not the 20th.

Poetry Deliverable #1: Seventh Reading

When I first read the post, I didn't know what you wanted out of this post.  Summary?  Just the things that changed in our mind?

Got it now

A Dream Within A Dream:

The man(I am assuming) dreams of a kiss, which quickly turns into a nightmare.  He wishes that he could of kept the kiss but it keeps on slipping through his hands.  He almost has it.

I didn't really get the poem at first.  After reading it over and over, a new component popping up each time, I  slowly got the poem.  Vivid imagery

Quote of the Day April 24

Love is a game that two can play and both win.   -Eva Gabor

Film Fest!

May 10th and 11th from 7 - 10 pm.  $5 students, $8 adults.  RHS Gym Stage.  Awards are given for Directing, Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Best of Show, Audience Choice and Teacher's Choice.   We'll have popcorn, drinks (Non-alcoholic), prizes, ect.  Come and support your RHS Video Students.

 We will be showing different films each night so make sure to come to both nights!  Bring along your friends and family members!

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

Today Shakespeare turns 445!

Shakespeare was born in April of 1564

For more about Shakespeare, please visit here

The Conqueror Worm - Edgar Allan Poe

Lo! ’t is a gala night

   Within the lonesome latter years!   

An angel throng, bewinged, bedight

   In veils, and drowned in tears,   

Sit in a theatre, to see

   A play of hopes and fears,

While the orchestra breathes fitfully   

   The music of the spheres.

Mimes, in the form of God on high,   

   Mutter and mumble low,

And hither and thither fly—

   Mere puppets they, who come and go   

At bidding of vast formless things

   That shift the scenery to and fro,

Flapping from out their Condor wings

   Invisible Wo!

A Dream Within A Dream - Edgar Allan Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream? 

The Raven - Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.' Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore - Nameless here for evermore.

My Blog is getting famous!

Since Spring Break, I have gotten around 600 views to my blog

And on average, I am getting around 45-60 views a day

Time to post more!