Global Issues Paper

Monday: 45 minutes on research
Tuesday: 15 minutes on research
Saturday: 60 minutes on research and outline
Sunday: 30 minutes on research and outline


My issue for this paper is the lack of fresh water in Africa, and the effects because of it.  I find that it is a good topic to write about and to learn about.  I have learned a lot about this topic.  I did not know that it was so serious, and what the people are doing to get water. I have also learned some diseases that people get from drinking un sanitized water.  
So far, I think this paper is going good.  I need to do a little bit more research to complete my outline.  I also think that my thesis is a good thesis.  I'm glad that Dr.D moved the dates back, because it relieved some stress for me and gives me an opportunity to make my writing better.  I hope the rest of the process goes well. 

One Direction: Free Post 1-28-12

About two weeks ago, me and my friends discovered this new boy band from Europe called One Direction.  We heard their song, "What Makes You Beautiful" on the radio, and became obsessed! The boys became known by the show, The X Factor.  The five boys, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne, tried out individually on the show, and Simon Cowell thought that they would be better as a band.  However, the boys came in third place on the show, but that did not hold them back.

Over the past year, they have made an album called Up All Night, which comes out in late March, made some music videos for their songs,  and have gone on tour in Europe.  Yesterday, the band landed in Los Angeles to finish their tour here.  They are having contests on their website to add a show in a city that the fans choose.  The closest one to Louisiana is Dallas, which is winning! Me and friends hope that Dallas wins so that we can go and see them in concert.  

Christmas Break Trip 2011-2012

       The day after Christmas, me, my parents, and brother went to our house in Orlando, Florida to celebrate the new year.  We also went because we are building a new house in Florida, so we had to pick out a bunch of things like tile, paint colors, and granite for the house.  While we were there, me, my dad, and brother Ben, played golf a lot.  That was really fun.
       While we were in Florida, Victoria and her family were there.  We planned a day to go to Magic Kingdom at Disney World.  We had so much fun.  We rode a bunch of rides, shopped, and made a bunch of memories.  Me and Victoria had the best time, and it will be a day that I will never forget.
        On New Years Eve, we did a bunch of stuff.  That day, we got to go to our water park in the resort we stay at.  That evening we went and ate at this nice restaurant called Ocean's Prime, and it was delicious!  That night we went to Universal Studios and went and saw the show, The Blue Man Group.  It was a show like no other.  This was such a great trip that I will always remember!

Outside Reading Response: A Stolen Life

       This week, I started the book A Stolen Life, by Jaycee Duggard.  It is a memoir of her time being kidnapped.  If anyone doesn't know who Jaycee Duggard is, she was stolen by a man named Phillip and his wife Nancy.  She was missing for 18 years, and when she was with them, Phillip sexually abused her almost every day.  In her book, she talks about the day she was kidnapped,  the days where she sat alone, and everything else.
       I'm about a third of the way done with it, and so far it has been an eye opener.  It makes me realize that any kid can get stolen, even walking to the bus, which happened to Jaycee.  It also makes me realize how fortunate I am not to have my life stolen like hers.  One thing I like about her writing, she writes like it was happening to her, then at the end of the chapter she writes a "reflection" about that chapter and that time.  I really think y'all should read it because it makes you realize how fortunate we are. 


Reading Log:
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Duggard 130 minutes
Norton 20 minutes 

New Semester

       I want to think of semester as a "new beginning." The first quarter, I did really well, but the second quarter I kind of slacked off.  I mostly slacked off in English class.  I was doing wordly wise note cards the day before they were due, and I was reading just on the weekend, not throughout the week.  It added stress and I was ready for a break! Over the break I had to say to myself that I needed to get back on track.
      This week I have done very well with managing my time.  I've been doing my vocabulary cards throughout the week, and have been working on my literary analysis paper almost everyday for about 30 minutes.  I have also been managing my time well in all of my other classes.  For this new semester I want to make sure I manage my time wisely, especially in the 4th quarter, which is always the busiest for everyone.  With keeping up with my work, my grades will show improvement, and I will be less stressed.