Albarracin Week 2- Phase 4 of the MCU

    Over the last couple of months, several trailer have been released for new MCU projects.  I have tried my best no to think about them, and this is mostly due to them being too exiting to think about.  These new projects seem very promising and definitely have fans going crazy over them.  Several videos have come out over theories about these trailers, and they represent the anxiety and emotion of marvel fans as they prepare for a new phase of heroes.  

    The first project I need to cover is Loki. It is a show that will be streaming on Disney Plus.  The trailer reveals Loki using the Teseract  to teleport away from the custody of the Avengers.  He lands at an unknown destination, and from there we see   Loki in the custody of the TVA., or Time Variance Authority.  He must pay for his crimes against time and also the crimes of the Avengers after their "Time Heist" in Avengers: Endgame.  We see his adventures and shenanigans as he ventures through time as an agent of the TVA, and I cannot wait to see this project come to life.  It s the chance Tom Hiddleston deserves after his heart breaking performance in Infinity War.  

    Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a project that has combined two very unlikely partners.  Falcon (Sam Wilson) and the Winter Soldier (Bucky) team up to carry on the legacy of Captain America.  This new edition breaks grounds in representation, canonical progression, and maintains the hype for phase 4.  The trailer revealed fantastic action sequences, new technology, new haircuts, and a new captain america,.  Although the news about Captain America's death was heartbreaking, but this installment will definitely fill the void left behind by Steve Rogers.  

Wanda Vision took me by surprise for sure.  I loved Vision in age of Ultron, and I have read up on scarlet witch.  These characters wield immense power, and yet all they can think about is leading a normal life for themselves.  They are living in this peaceful quaint suburban area, surrounded by friendly neighbors and mystery.  Their reality slowly unravels around them as they struggle to believe what is real and what is fantasy.  That show will definitely be a mysterious one and break the mold of most marvel projects.  

Uelses Week 2 - The Beach

     For my whole life, the beach was my family's main vacation spot. Every summer during August, we would go to Rehoboth together and spend the week under the warm sun. It was a three-hour-long drive full of excitement for the upcoming days. Checking into our hotel was one of the first things we did. Entering the cool, comfortable room after walking through the heat is one of the best feelings in the world. We always spend the first day there tanning on the beach and then going out for a fancy dinner that night. 

    We chose the beach as our vacation spot since it is one of my mom's favorite places in the world. Even though she isn't generally a fan of traveling, she always says that it's her dream to live at the beach. One of the most vivid memories I have of the beach is from when I was younger. My dad, brothers, and I used to always go up to the water and ride the waves. While it was exhausting, it was also very fun and exhilarating. When a big wave would come, I would be so scared, especially since I got crushed by a few. But being at the top of a wave was super fun, and it felt like a roller coaster.

    While spending time in the ocean was definitely something I enjoyed, my favorite part of being at the beach was spending the nights on the boardwalk. The smells of freshly cooked french fries and sweet candies mixed with the salty smell of the ocean is a nostalgic memory that I look forward to reliving every year. You can watch the stars in the night sky while the warm air is covering your skin. When I was little, my brothers and I would always play games on the board walk and return to our hotel room with handfuls of prizes. Because of Covid, we weren't able to go this past summer, but I hope we get to go again!

Kane week 2- my childhood

     My childhood is a very broad topic, to begin with, but I plan on narrowing it down to the simple memories that have stuck with me forever. My memory boils down to a simple time, where I had little responsibilities and I merely focused on what toy I wanted to play with that day. I guess life changes as you get older. Sometimes though, the memory of these simpler times can bring me to a stress-free place where I long to be. 

    I guess you can call this topic number one. This is probably the farthest I can remember into the past. At the age of 5, I had to take nightly breathing treatments. This is a very scary experience for a young child, so I was forced to find a way to pass the time. Once I finished them, I was often left wide awake and in need of fresh air. My dad and I would sit on our deck and look at our backyard. Listening quietly as the creek flowed in the background. The air was crisp. And breathing became a lot easier. We would find "Lions, and tigers and bears" and focus on the fictional problems rather than the ones in front of us. This distraction would become very hard for me now, as I can't get my focus off of one thing before moving onto the next.

    So this is memory number 2. At this point, I was a bit older, around 6 or 7. I started to become aware of my surroundings and contribute to the family. With the creek in the backyard, I spend most of my time splashing around and running through the woods. It was like my second home. But I never realized the horrible people that would bring that to a stop.  Hercules Cement Factory. Drained the creek after lightning hit their pumps. Left thousands of naturally spawned trout to suffocate in the earth's oxygen. I went out to save as many as possible, but you can only have so many buckets and baby fish. Here I realized reality isn't so hot. That we will be sprung with issues on the daily. 

    My final memory that stands out to me on a daily is also a story about the creek. My brother and I had finally reached a certain age where we were allowed to go past the first bridge by our house and explore the remainder of the area. We brought our bird dog griffin out there in hopes that he may provide protection. Little did we know though, that this would be a terrible idea. He saw a flock of geese and took off. we chased him for hours through the thick brush, into people's cornfields, and we found some ancient ruins in the woods. At this point though, it got dark. We were just as lost as the dog, so we followed the creek home in tears. Griffin came back eventually. But it was so scary to be responsible for the loss of a family pet. 

    All of these instances have impacted me in such a big way. Especially the last one. We found parts of the woods that we explored for years after. I guess looking back in the past is a new way to relieve my stress and focus on the little things. Thank you for listening. 

Chris Apruzzi - Week 2 - Driving...

     As a child who is lazy, reckless, and unaware of my surroundings, I genuinely believe I am going to be the absolute worst driver on the road. Now, keep in mind that my parents are also aware of how truly awful I am at driving. This past September, I received my permit. Totally almost failed the test...which (for my own self-esteem)  doesn't need to be talked about, but I really thought I was going to be one of the best drivers, as we all now know, I was completely wrong. 

    The drive home from the DMV(the same day as I received my permit), for some reason, my parents thought it was a cute idea to take me on the highway??? Bye. The only time I drove before this instance was a couple times in my friend's cars for like a minute, and maybe in a parking lot once or twice. I did not know how to switch gears (even though it literally has the letters instructing me for what button to easily click), but like I said, I am reckless. I pulled out of the DMV parking lot, and I hit the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal. This ended up in me completely driving into the middle of oncoming traffic going 50 mph, and I'm just stuck in the middle of the road like a literal toddler. Luckily all the traffic stopped for me, I would say about...10 cars. As I arrived home, my mother asked me to pull into the garage, I then proceeded to scratch all of the car's rims <3! Ever since then, I've gotten a little better at driving, and more aware of my surroundings, until the time of my driving lesson with the school came. I apologized to my instructor in advance, and then later proceeded to run a red light and a couple stop signs. 

    I wouldn't say I'm PROUD of my driving skills, but I should have expected nothing more from myself. I get my actual license in March. Will I fail the test? Absolutely. Although, I do think I've been driving really controlled and calm lately, so you never know. All I can say is that I need a miracle. 

(My parents are now aware of how awful I am at driving, and will not let me on the road unless they know I'm ready)

Christoper Apruzzi

Tayi Week 2 - Motion Sickness

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a problem with motion sickness. Hour-long drives was all it took to produce a large mess in the back of the car. Cleaning the mess was my parent’s job - I was just sitting there in shock getting wiped down by paper towels. At the age of eight, my family and I went on a road trip for a family gathering. This was a six-hour drive. It seemed like I threw up every hour. Well, in actuality, I did. In hourly intervals. The only reason I remember this is because my family constantly reminds me every time I enter the car. Over time, I got better at my timing and desperately reached for a bag before I vomited. By the time I was eleven years old, I was able to control myself up to about six hours.

Don’t even get me started with airplanes. The 90,000 pounds of metal that ascend into the air to take us anywhere in the world, especially since my family travels very often. Every year I seem to be flying off to some new place, unfamiliar and unbeknownst to me every time. I have been to about 20 different countries, some of which we’ve visited on numerous occasions. As a result, I have been on about 50+ flights.

The earliest flight I can remember was when I was about six and we were going to California which is only a five-hour trip. I was very worried about that flight. At the time I was very aware of my motion sickness problem, but my parents felt I was overreacting. I insisted we did not go on the flight but obviously, I would not get my way. After we had boarded the plane, I sat there trying my best to convince myself that this would be just like a car. However, as the plane rose, my ears were in unbearable pain. The pressure as the plane gained altitude made me feel like my head was going to burst. I felt the fluids mounting in my stomach, which was never a good sign. I tried to make a run for the bathroom, but the small “fasten your seatbelt sign” was glowing so I abruptly sat back down in my seat. I ended up vomiting all over the seat in front of me.

After the plane incident, I learned to mitigate my motion sickness issue. I developed a plan so I can distract myself throughout the long rides. However, to this day, I remember all of the times where I fought the urge to ruin the long car rides for my family.

White, Week 2 - Cowboy Bebop's painful reminder of time

 Ian White, week 2 - Great Anime TV/arc's

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_Bebop

    The show Cowboy Bebop (カウボーイビバップ), clocking in at airtime of 26 episodes and one movie, is and as they put it, ''a creation of new dreams...by breaking traditional styles.''  Set in the year 2071 Cowboy Bebop (CB) presents an interesting take on a futuristic society.  new tech only in the realm of dreams pushes society to the edges of space and science.  Or so you'd think, after an explosion of a warp gate which allows the great expanses to be traveled almost instantaneously, Earth is left uninhabitable and has forced humanity to live amongst the stars.  The cast, a team of bounty hunters who all have something missing in their lives resemble a trope of characters with unfulfilled desires.  But CB is not about the journey but what to do after life's journey has already happened as the more you watch CB the more you will understand that these characters are all clinging to the past, unable to accept the future. 

https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/movieimage.php?imageId=232118024

    Cowboy Bebop offers an exciting take on the SciFi genre as it's entirely not just about the future and the technology that has come with it.  But rather it's an amalgamation of the classic western style and noir as well.  CB has an astounding cast of characters that are entirely unique and all have underlying desires and needs. They travel the universe apprehending intergalactic criminals in the hope of a meal but also in the hope to fill the void in their hearts.  It's very evident throughout the series that every character would rather not be bounty hunting and would much rather go back to the past and enjoy what they no longer can. This offers a unique dynamic that is not seen in SciFi films like StarWars or western films like a Clint Eastwood picture film.   But rather its own genre of TV that's never been done before and most likely never again. 

 

https://twitter.com/cowboybebop/status/1223757925098934275

    Going back to CB's cast of characters there are 4 main characters excluding the data dog (Ein).  First is Spike (Spiegel) a former member of a criminal gang known as the Red Dragon Syndicate. A revered and dangerous group of outlaws, known for killing anyone that isn't strong enough to fight, or that chooses passivism. During the show, Spike encounters the syndicate constantly at battle with their head Vicious (a vet of the Titan War). During these encounters spike almost always come out close to death but never phased. And it is learned in the show that Spike chooses to continue his life like this because years ago he fakes his death after the love of his life leaves him.  His problem is that since that day he doesn't know if he's been alive or it's all been a dream and can't come to terms with his reality.  The other characters also have a similar story of not believing in the present and longing for their past. Faye Valentine a once rich girl tragically got caught in the warp gate explosion.  miraculously clinging on to life modern-day science could not help her, resulting in her being frozen until she could be cured. She awoke unto a future not believing that it's true and is having a traumatic experience coming to terms with her life.  Jet black a former officer (resembles bad cop trope) tries throughout the series to come to terms with his wife leaving him and moving on.  He, so desperate to find the reason as to why travels the universe in the hopes of an answer to his misery. The last member Eduard has a simple yet reasonable goal in life was to meet her parents who had forgot all about her.  

https://geekygirlwritesblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/27/30-day-anime-challenge-day-27/

    Cowboy bebop with its amazing Op (opening), fights, soundtrack, character exploration, and ed, make for the perfect short binge show.  The show has a vast array of characters personalities and backstories that keeps even the most laidback viewers engaged in its timeless storytelling.  I truly believe that anyone can connect to these characters in some way and feel as if you are right in the story alongside them.  It is Unquestionable that CB has created its own genre and paved its way to being one of the most memorable series that I and so many others have viewed.  I implore you if you have the time to go and watch Cowboy Bebop and truly experience its greatness.  

(Note CB can be viewed on Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Funimation)

(below is a few pictures to better see CB's expansive universe) 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/nov/30/cowboy-bebop-remake-netflix-keep-the-anime-classic-wild-and-raw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkXFBPGZpTM

https://medium.com/@nishatblagh/cowboy-bebop-a-timeless-masterpiece-82b9750d2a30

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.ca%2Fandrewblodgett%

Vakiener Week 2- Motivation in the Pandemic

     When I woke up this morning I wasn't sure what I was going to write about. It wasn't that I forgot, or that I didn't know what to write about, it was simply because of a lack of motivation. I can understand the irony of a blog post about motivation nearly 6 hours before the deadline, but I think that the impact that the pandemic is having on motivation is something that should be talked about.

    Since the pandemic started I myself have found myself struggling to be motivated. When we first got out in March I found myself lacking the motivation to do the work that was assigned. That may have been due to the kind of work that was assigned but I believe that it was much more about a lack of motivation. With the advancements that technology has made during the pandemic in order to support staying home there have been many great advancements such as the increase of at home exercise. However the increased amount of cyber shopping and ordering food as well as the shortened workload that many students have is creating.

    During the school week I often find myself thinking about how much time I actually need to do the work just so its finished, rather than actually making sure that I have been taking something away from the at home lessons. After struggling with motivation I started to look for ways to be more motivated. While doing a little research I learned about the two kinds of motivation extrinsic, and intrinsic. Extrinsic motivation is referring to an external reward like money or fame. Intrinsic motivation on the other hand deals with doing things for your own sake just to make you feel good. I believe that especially now intrinsic motivation is what keeps me going because the feeling that I get when I put 100% into an assignment rather than just winging it makes me feel great.

     I again understand the irony of a post about motivation so close to a deadline but I hope that those of you struggling from a lack of motivation find a way to stay motivated during these troubling times.

Cohen Week #2- Visiting New York

 Visiting New York as a child is almost euphoric. For some weird  reason when I told my mom I missed visiting New York, this thought came julting through my mind. While I still love visiting New York now, it was always a better visit when I was younger. I think the biggest reason I feel this way is because there was always something new for us to do back then. New York is always so crowded and fast paced, because just like Alicia keys say in the song Empire State of mind, “Concrete Jungle where dreams are made from…”. This city offers countless restaurant options, huge department stores, broadway plays, museums, national landmarks, and more. 

I will never forget the feeling of entering the city. I would glance out the window to see traffic surrounding the ramp on my right, and the hudson river on my left. After fighting through traffic, we would finally reach the Lincoln Tunnel. It amazed me every single time how a tunnel that big could be constructed underwater and never break. When driving through the tunnel, I was filled with fear until we came out the other end that led us into the city. I will never forget looking up and seeing the huge skyscrapers for the first time. My dad would instantly plug in the gps to find the nearest parking garage. It was always the same garage with the orange and black print all over the walls. 

When we reached the outside of the Parking Garage, I was filled with instant nostalgia. I could see the flashing lights, hear the loud chatter, and the beeping horns of taxis. Everything came rushing back from my previous visits, and I could only wonder what adventure would await me this time.

Blackham Week 2: Don't Miss a Moment

I’m a part of the Nightingales at the school - the select women’s choir. This year has definitely been weird with covid restrictions, but using Zoom, we’ve been able to reach out to nearby retirement homes to bring a little joy into their day. We’ve started an “Adopt a Nightingale'' program where each student is paired up with a resistant at Moravian Hall square. During 3rd block break, we have a chance to zoom with our buddies and talk for a bit. I got to zoom for the second time with my buddy on Tuesday. Her name is Mary and she’s 103 years old!! She grew up in Nazareth and even went to our high school. She’s lived here all her life and used to work as a secretary at a nearby water company. She lived through the great depression and during WWII, both her husband and son were both drafted into the army. When I asked her where her dream vacation would be, she said home. She said she didn’t need to go anywhere else as long as she had her family near her. 

After ending the zoom call, I began to think of all the time we still have in life. We have places to see, experiences to have, things to learn, and lives to impact. And with unpredictable timelines, I don’t want to miss a moment. I especially loved what Mary said about families. When talking with her, I could tell that her family was the most important aspect of her life. Above everything else. Friends, jobs, and experiences will all eventually pass by or end, but family lasts forever. 

Over the long quarantined time during the spring and summer, I got to spend a lot more time with my family. MUCH more time than I usually get to. Sometimes a bit too much :) When school became virtual, my brothers attended “Hogwarts” where my sister and I taught Potions, Transfiguration (Physics), Arithmancy, Charms (English), and Care of Magical Creatures. The curriculum included an egg drop project down three stories, many science experiments, and dissecting owl pellets. This whole experience led to lots of fun memories and laughs. It was especially meaningful because this was the last summer before my sister left for college.

This year reminded me how precious our time is. I’m sure many of you can relate, but I recognized how much time I was spending in my room (often doing homework) while missing out on family memories. Real human interactions and relationships will last much longer than anything else, no matter how important they may seem. Family is everything. Remembering that led me to make family time a priority over anything else. 

Post Week 2 - Olive Garden Breadsticks

     For as long as I    can remember, I've heard so many people talk about Olive Garden's bread sticks. I've heard them described as "garlic clouds" or an "Italian seasoned cloud" from my friend Ashleigh. On TikTok, I've seen videos upon videos of different people talking about their cravings for an Olive Garden Breadstick. I    have had many different types of breadsticks in my life, but never an Olive Garden Breadstick. Which is actually quite surprising considering my elementary school constantly had 'Pennies for Pasta', a fundraiser in which the class who raised the most money would win an Olive Garden party. After 17 years of missing out on the notorious Olive Garden breadstick I     finally decided to put them to the test. 

   When we arrived to Olive Garden, we were sat down at a table and immediately greeted by our waitress, Sam. She took our orders and soon came back with the famous breadsticks. They were wrapped in a white cloth and came fresh out of the oven. When I    unwrapped the sticks, I     expected to see a very seasoned, fluffy, golden brown breadstick, but I    was soon disappointed. The bread sticks had a pale yellow tint and what seemed to be a buttery salt seasoning. I      finally got to try an Olive Garden breadstick. Honestly, It isn't worth all the glory it gets. The bread stick wasn't fluffy and light, it was almost dense. The only flavor in the breadstick was from the seasoning which was far too salty. It seemed like they brushed butter on them and just salted them. It was extremely disappointing. 

    Looking back on my trip to Olive Garden for the first time. I'm confused. I'm confused as to why all the people around me and all the people I    see on TikToks treat these breadsticks as if they were made by Gordan Ramsay himself. They weren't anything as I   expected them to be. I    know people will disagree with me, but I    truly don't think they are worth the praise they get. 

Vaughn Week 2 - Learning How to Make Croissants

     This past weekend I had some extra time on my hands and wanted to learn how to cook some difficult dishes, as everything I know how to cook now is very basic. Over the weekend I wanted to learn how to make croissants. Which can be a very difficult dish to make, especially considering I don't have much experience cooking. 

Although croissants seem like a simple process since it appears as just dough, the entire process took almost 2 days, this is because there is a lot of waiting in between steps. In the first step, I just made the dough and then refrigerated it overnight, which was probably the easiest part of the entire experience. After the dough has been refrigerated overnight, you have to make a solid square slab of butter, and then place it on the flattened dough. Then you enclose the butter in the dough and roll it out. Next, you have to fold one-third of the dough on top of itself and then fold the other side over it, I had to do this 3 times, and each time you have to place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes which is what made this so time-consuming. After doing this 3 times, 27 layers have been created. After folding it for even longer, finally, you get to divide the dough into proper sized pieces, and then shape it. Shaping it was probably the hardest part of the whole process, as I kept messing up and worrying that I would permanently mess up the dough, which I think I did a tiny bit. The next step is to bake it. 

When I took the croissants out of the oven, I immediately knew they did not turn out the way I intended them to. The softness of the bread on the inside reminded me of slightly softer white bread, but they were still very good. Although I messed up on this recipe, I had a lot of fun trying something new, which I think everyone should do. I also got to spend a lot of time with my family during the process. Even though I was upset and thought I wasted lots of ingredients and time, failure is a part of learning, and this was a very fun learning experience that I will try to master over time. 

Croissant (never took pictures of the ones I made)

Henchy Week 2 - School

As I get older and closer in college, I am realizing the real ineffectiveness of our school system.  I believe there is a real and rising problem in the way our education is structured.  The school system focuses much too heavily on educating students in all subject areas, and while this is important in young kids, late and even early high school students should not be forced to take classes which do not correspond with their life goals.

If we look at the majority of public high schools in the United States, almost all of them require four years of English and four years of math.  Most require several years of science and history also.  Taking Nazareth into consideration, our school requires four years of math and English, along with seven credits of science and history combined.  That is just for main, core subjects.  These requirements are incredibly destructive to students who know what they want to do in college, but have their coursework pre-set by the school.  For example, I am going to college for a degree in physics and applied mathematics, yet next year I will be forced to take another English class instead of a physics course (sorry, Mrs. Jameson).  Then, in college, I will likely be forced to re-take that English class anyway.

Some students may be in the reverse situation.  Calculus is something an English student will never use in the real world, so why should they be forced to learn it in high school?  We should allow them to replace their higher level math courses with English courses.

Now, in no way am I advocating for students to not have required credits.  Everyone at some point should have to take English, math, history, and science courses.  However, reducing the amount of required credits in each subject by one would allow for much more flexibility in scheduling and may allow students to pursue their passions.

Another part of the school system which exacerbates and encourages the above problems is a limited choice of classes.  More students would be willing to take classes in their non-preferred subjects if there were a wider range of less competitive classes.  Consider those who do not enjoy math, but still have to finish their math credits.  They would much rather take a class such as Real Life Application of Math or Game Theory (a class where math is used to figure out the best approach to different board and card games) instead of calculus, which will never matter to them.  The same goes for English; why are there not more creative writing classes?  The school system has become too driven by competitive classes where the hardest material is forced down students’ throats.  Contrarily, sometimes the most useful material is not the most difficult, and students should be given these opportunities.

Everyone has had their personal opinion about this, and I would love to hear them in the comments!

Sample School Schedule

Moore Week 2 - Hobbies

    Many people have their own hobbies that they like to do in their free time. For instance, I like to paint or draw whenever I have the time to. It’s like an escape for me whenever school or sports become too stressful. 

Art is something that many people tend to believe that you’re either really good at or you’re terrible at it with no inbetween, but I don’t think that this is necessarily true. You don’t have to be perfect at something to enjoy it, and I think that many people, including myself, often forget that. Most of the time I enjoy painting, but it can be hard not to compare my amateur art to professionals who do it for a living. Then I just have to remind myself that it’s okay that my art isn’t as perfect as theirs is, and that I can still enjoy it. 

    This applies to other hobbies too, like singing or even playing video games. You don’t have to be the best musician to enjoy singing or playing an instrument. Or you don’t have to beat every single level of a game to enjoy it. As long as it makes you happy, you should pursue it. 

    I think that this sort of thinking holds people back from pursuing new hobbies or even trying anything new. You need to go into it believing in yourself, and just make the most out of the experience. If you're bad at it, but it makes you happy you should do it. On the other hand, if the hobby just isn’t sticking and you aren’t enjoying it, maybe try something new instead.

Link

Zhang Week 2 - Fruits

  

My family and I are huge fans of fruit. Ever since I was little, we always had some type of fruit in the house. There were berries in the summer, apples in the fall, and grapefruits and oranges in the winter. I enjoy eating fruit because they are not only sweet, but are also a healthy alternative to other processed snacks. However, in the last few years, I’ve found that our kitchen is no longer filled with fruits, and I haven't been able to eat them everyday like I could when I was younger.

This is not because I’ve begun to dislike them. It’s because good fruit has become more and more scarce over the years. Sure, in every supermarket there is a whole section filled with all kinds of fruit. But, when one looks closely, you can see that the quality of these fruits is very poor. Nowadays, buying fruit is like pulling a prize out of a mystery box: the texture might be mushy, it might not be sweet enough, there may be hidden bruises, etc. Just last week, my mom bought a bag of oranges and all of them turned out rotten, despite looking perfectly fine on the outside. We threw them away.

I’m not exactly sure of why fruit quality has declined over the years, but I do know why good ones are so hard to get. First of all, fruits are best when they are fresh: berries straight off the plant are always much better than ones bought in supermarkets. And this is the main problem. Most of the time, people get fruits from the supermarket because fresher fruit sources like farmer markets and fruit-picking are not only seasonal, but also more expensive and inconvenient. Unfortunately, supermarkets never have fresh fruit. All fruits are imported from other parts of the country or even from other continents. In order to preserve these fruits during the long transportation process to supermarkets, they are sprayed with chemicals. Additionally, once fruits are on the shelves, they are coated with yet more preservatives to stay “fresh” for extremely long periods of time. According to this article, on average, apples in supermarkets are over one years old. Of course, this means these apples, just like any other fruit left to rot away in supermarkets, don’t taste good at all.

Sometimes I wonder if there will be any fruits to eat a few decades from now. This past year has been the most scarce in fruit for my family. This is most likely due to COVID-19, but I haven't looked much into this. I hope that there will be some solutions to the decline of fruit quality in the future. Perhaps one of them is to create completely genetically modified fruit. This also makes me a little concerned about people’s diets in the future. Will there be no more fresh food? Will we resort to eating only processed foods with numerous, unknown chemicals?

Harclerode Week 2- Braces

     Those of you who have seen me without a mask on would know I have braces. I've had them on since my freshman year, and I can say with all my heart that I hate these things. Sure, I know that they are going to make my teeth look better than they used to be, but this does not distract from the fact that they are so, so painful sometimes. Plus, there are so many other annoying things about them, I could go on and on.

    I decided to write about my braces this week for a very specific reason: as I am writing this post, I am in a great deal of pain. Yesterday, I went to the orthodontist for my final adjustment. It sounds like a good thing, sure, but it's really not. You know why? My mouth is probably in more pain after this visit than they've ever been since the time when I first got my braces put on two years and four months ago. Since I'm going to be getting my braces off in February, the orthodontist did all kinds of weird things to ensure that when I get them off, my teeth come out looking perfect. This all sounds great, but my teeth still hurt very, very much. However, I've been counting the days until I get my braces off, and 40 days cannot be over soon enough. In the mean time, I can barely bite down on anything and can really only eat soft foods, like mashed potatoes and yogurt. In addition, I can always feel a constant pressure in my mouth, especially in my bottom teeth. This situation is not fun at all.

    Having these braces on for so long has made me forget what it feels like to not have metal in my mouth. I can't remember the last time I was able to eat something without having to worry if the food got stuck in the wires. Sometimes, I wake up with random pains in my mouth that turn out to be scratches from my braces that I somehow gave myself as I was sleeping. Other times, I don't even have to be sleeping; I can feel when the metal gets caught in my mouth somewhere. The worst is when I get hit in the mouth by accident; that can be pretty painful. As terrible as this sounds, though, I think the most annoying part for me would have to be the food dilemma. I hate the feeling of food being stuck in my braces, it is not pleasant at all. Another reason to hate my braces is the rubber bands. I've had to wear rubber bands in one way or another ever since I got my braces. Whether I had to wear them all day or just at night, they still make my teeth hurt a bit. Yes, I know that I should wear them when I'm supposed to if I want to fix my teeth, but it's so hard sometimes. I either completely forget, or I remember but just don't want to feel my teeth aching. For the longest time, I only had to wear my rubber bands at night, but at the final adjustment, they told me I had to start wearing them 24/7 again, which is doing nothing to help the discomfort that I am already experiencing. 

    The only thought that is keeping me going at the moment is that the pain will be over in 40 days. In 40 hopefully short days, I will no longer be a metal-mouth. I can't wait! 

Ellis Week 2 - License

 

        A few days ago, I was able to get my drivers license which I was really excited about. To me, a license signifies freedom and an easier way to get from place to place. I have been especially looking forward to being able to hang out with my friends more often (post-covid) because I always felt bad asking my parents to drive me around all the time. However, there is another part of me that is really nervous to have this huge responsibility. 

Growing up, I always had pretty bad backseat anxiety and never showed an interest in driving. In fact, I pushed off getting my permit because I was never truly excited about it to begin with. I should’ve technically gotten it in April, but due to quarantine the earliest I could have received my permit was June. However, I waited until mid-July to finally get it after being consistently persuaded (bullied) by my sister. Once I was behind the wheel, I felt better because I was in control… but in reality, the act of being in control is even scarier. 

I get really anxious sometimes, and truthfully the thought of driving alone is extremely nerve wracking to me. I have been relying on my parents to guide where I go for the past six months, so I’m worried I will continue to have questions even with no one in the passenger seat to answer. I second guess myself constantly, so it’s weird to not have anyone who will double check my silly mistakes. Overall though, I have gained a lot of confidence over the past few days to the point where I am getting more comfortable with myself and my car. Driving was a huge step, and even though I have my license, I definitely feel as though I am still going through that stage of learning how to drive. 

Voloshen Week 2- College

    

    Since at least first grade, it feels like every year someone asks us this exact question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

    It's ironic that I was more certain about what I wanted to be in first grade than I am now, especially with college only a little over a year away. Fortunately, quarantine gave me some time to think about this question as well as where I wanted to go to school. Looking at different schools has led me down a rabbit hole on several occasions and I have found myself growing more anxious each time I think about it. As of right now, I have two colleges that I really want to go to. The only problem is I have no idea which one I would be happier at. 

    The first option would definitely be a big challenge both athletically and academically which, at times, makes me excited to see what I can do, but when I am not excited I can already feel myself being overwhelmed with such a challenge. The second school would definitely still be a challenge, especially since it utilizes a quarter system instead of semester system, so the classes go into detail really quickly, but I don't think it would be as rigorous. Additionally, the athletics seem like they would be challenging too. However, the issue is that if I end up wanting to transfer from this school, it is going to be pretty difficult since most colleges go by a semester system. Also, I haven't been able to tour the campus due to the pandemic, and just by researching it, I'm not sure yet if I like the area or size of the school. 

    I have made several pros and cons lists weighing these topics, and countless others, and I seem to end up in the same position every time. I just keep reminding myself that I am not alone and that the answer will become clear with time. 

Ernst Week 2- The Cold

     Lately I have been thinking about how much I despise the cold weather. Every time I leave my house, the wind almost knocks me over and I’m reminded again that it is winter. I’m not sure why I am just noticing now how much I hate the cold. I used to love the cold. Fall was my favorite when I was younger and I also liked winter. I used to love waking up in the morning and looking out my bedroom window to see all the autumn leaves, or even better, snow! Snow days were the best and winter just reminded me of how many days off of school I could look forward to. 

    
Nowadays, I dread the idea of having a snow day because it means it is especially cold out. Also, now that I drive, it just means I will have to plow my car out and attempt to drive to work without crashing. Everytime I go outside I have to bundle up just to make sure I’m not freezing my toes off. And sometimes, in the mornings when I have to take my dog out, that can be especially annoying. 

I think maybe this change of heart could be because I’m getting older and have different priorities than when I was younger. Or I could just be totally overthinking this. Anyways, I am looking forward to spring and, hopefully, some warm weather soon.

Rosynek Week 2 - Angel + Lucky Numbers

    My first blog post was about astrology and the zodiac. Something that piggybacks off of that is angel numbers. These are numbers such as 111, 222, 333, etc. Repeating number sequences are often seen as times on phones, or possibly a total from the grocery store. Some people believe that the repeating number sequences are superstitious or coincidental. They are not scientifically proven to be true to events that follow in the future. However, some believe that these are signs to better days. They serve as a thumbs up to tell you that you are on the correct path. 

    These numbers are called "angel numbers" because its supposed to be your guardian angel letting you know that you are on the right path for yourself. 

    A common phrase is "It's 11:11 make a wish!" This is because the number 1 is linked to manifestation, hence saying make a wish. When you see a sequence of 1's, you are supposed to focus all of your energy to manifest something for yourself in the future. The number 2 being repeated is to remind yourself to be grounded and in the present, rather than the future. It is to tell you to trust in yourself and enjoy your life at the moment. 

    The number 3 is related to balance, so seeing the repeated sequence of 3 is to cause you to bring more balance to yourself, whether it be with work or school or mentally.  If you are challenged and currently navigating through things (mentally, socially), the number 4 being repeated is to tell you that your wish for help or a release from the pressure is heard. Although its a time of struggle, the days to come will be better.

    When you start seeing 555, it is commonly attached to change. Change can be positive or negative, maybe uncomfortable. With the right mindset and your viewpoint on your goals, change can be good and can be coming as you see 555.  The repeated numbers of 6 have a universal negative connotation in common religions. But relating them to angel numbers, it is a sign to reflect and have a reality check with yourself. 

    777 appears to tell you to release your stress, and stop worrying about things. It is urging you to release your fears of whats coming in the future and let it come. Instead, you should view it and become more in tune with the present.The number 8 turned sideways is an infinity. Linking this to that, seeing 888 is an endless loop of energy. It's a pat on the back for what you have done so far, letting you know that you are on the right path and doing everything correctly. 

    999 brings good news for you, especially if you have been working to complete goals or get through a challenge. It tells you to continue moving forward because finishing your goals are in the near future. 

    Now, this may all be fictional and not actually true. It may just be to provide a sense of hope in challenging times. Nevertheless, it is an interesting coincidence when you turn over your phone and start to notice the numbers repeating for yourself in an endless loop. These meanings could resonate or not, but I believe that it's a really cool theory if it is true. 

    

Karve Week 2- A Look Back On 2020

As the new year comes, and the old one passes, many are taking this time to reflect on the year 2020. While many look at this year in horror and were beyond excited for it to be over, 2020 wasn’t so bad for me personally.  

Now, I’m in no way trying to minimize the hardships that came with 2020. Don’t get me wrong, 2020 was a tough year. But I gained a lot during these struggles.

The most obvious struggle, for anyone, was the pandemic. Quarantine was hard. I of course missed my friends and my family and got a little sick of the family I was with for three months straight.  I also hated to see how the pandemic affected loved ones, but looking back on it, I try to see the positives.

To begin, quarantine gave me a much-needed break from my hectic life. Did this break need to last three months? No. But it gave me time to recharge and reflect on the person that I was.

It also connected me with family I haven’t talked to in a while. I know this seems counterintuitive, considering we weren’t allowed to see anyone, but with the invention of Zoom, I was talking to relatives I haven’t seen in years, on a weekly basis. 

When the dreaded quarantine ended, it was finally Summer. It was like I pressed fast forward on my life from March to June.   Summer is my favorite time of year, and in a way, it was oddly normal. I got to see my friends and finally see my extended family, while being cautious of the virus.  In another way, it was completely different from those before. I grew closer with all of my friends, which I’m extremely thankful for. We made memories to last a lifetime. I think quarantine made us realize not to take anything for granted. Surprisingly, Summer 2020 was the best summer that I’ve had in a while.

Eventually, summer ended, and school rolled around. While different, it’s not so bad. I know that through virtual learning, I am able to teach myself. This is a skill I know I’ll need for college, so as much as I complain, I am a little grateful that I’m learning it now. Although I don’t get to see my friends nearly as much, we still make plans on the weekends, after school, and on our days off.  When school started, so did dance.  Going to dance is one of my favorite things in the world, so to be able to go, in person, even if we have to wear masks the whole time and stay six feet apart, is amazing.

Soon enough, it was time for the holidays and for the year to come to a close.  I might be weird for this, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of all time.  Normally, we go to my aunt's house, which I love doing and look forward to every year.  However, this year, we had a COVID scare and had to stay home. Knowing as a whole it’s one of my family’s favorite holidays, my mom still made an incredible dinner.  It was a nice day actually spent with my family, rather than all of us doing our own thing, which is normally what happens when we are stuck at home.

Shortly after this, it was finally time for winter break.  Christmas Eve was spent with my dad's sister/ her family and my grandparents.  It’s always a fun time with them. Christmas was spent with just my mom, dad, and brother, and the day after we saw my other set of grandparents. This year I put a lot of effort into my family's gifts and loved watching them open them.  Over the break, we visited some family friends who we haven’t seen in a while, and I spent time with my friends.  I rang in the New Year with some of my closest friends, and couldn’t have thought of a better way to finish this crazy year.

Although tough, I’m thankful for all of the good that came with 2020, and I’m excited to see what this next year brings.

 

Week 2 Febbo - BEST Birthday Gift

    I usually don't have the best memory, but for some reason, this one thing my aunt told me when I was about 10 or 11 years old, really stuck with me. When I was about 10 or 11 years old my aunt had promised me that when I turned 16 she would take me to Paris. Obviously, I was absolutely mind blown that she had even mentioned this to me, but there was part of me that thought it was just a joke. I had always kind of remembered her saying that to me and I would joke about it from time to time with her, but we never actually had seriously talked about it before. 

    Fast forward to my 16th birthday, my aunt gave me a gift I will never forget, a trip to visit Paris. I couldn't believe she had kept her promise that she told me, several years earlier. I was over the moon excited to go to Paris. I am someone who loves to travel and experience different cultures, so being able to travel to Europe was like a dream come true.     

    When we finally got to Paris, I quickly fell in love with the beautiful city. I loved everything about it, besides the fact I couldn't understand what most things said, since I don't speak French, but luckily my aunt spoke a little French and she lead me across the beautiful city. We went to many local shops, restaurants, and we even toured the Louvre Museum and ate lunch at the Eiffel Tour. The city was absolutely breathtaking. Sadly, our wonderful trip was over before I knew it and it was time to go home. Although, I was sad to leave, I was excited to go home and tell my family and friends about my trip.

    I am forever grateful that I was able to go on that trip with my aunt. It deepened my love for traveling and hopefully, I will be able to go back one day. It was truly the best birthday gift I could've ever asked for. 

Level Week 2 - Weird Habit

     I found that something that is one of my most common habits is something that people find weird. When I got into high school, freshman year I was trying to find study habits that worked for me and trying to find the most effective way to take notes. Many of my teachers during the time would project a PowerPoint in front of the class and ask us the copy the information. I found myself struggling to keep up with the information on the slides because I was writing too slow compared to the speed at which the class was going. 

    So I told myself that I would try to type my notes instead of handwriting them to try and save time. With this new method, I was able to receive all of the information I needed. I was so happy. I used different colors to organize it, I chose special symbols to use as bullet points. It was visually appealing. However, when it came to looking over the material to study, it was horrible. 

    I was not able to focus, it felt weird studying on a computer after being so used to studying off of paper study guides given in middle school, and I was wasting the time that I thought had saved. Reading pages and pages of notes on a computer was harder than I thought it was going to be. Until I had this weird idea. 

    I sat down at my desk and took out my notebook. Next to me I opened up my computer and pulled up my notes that I had typed in class. What I started to do was read out loud and rewrite my notes on paper. At first, I didn't know if my experiment was going to have a positive result but I told myself that after putting in all that work I had to trust the process. 

    Trusting the process was probably the best decision I had made because I noticed that my grades were going up and I was able to study much more effectively. I still do this study technique until this day. I write down my sloppy notes in school with all of the extra scribbles in add-ins, then I go home and rewrite and recite the information. 

    My siblings like to make fun of me for it because they say it is a lot of tedious work that they never had to do because they are "smarter than me". I have gotten used to the extra effort that it requires, but I am honestly very pleased with the results it has given me. It is a habit that not many do but should!

Allen Week 2: Birthday Presents: Of Knives and Oops!

Birthday presents are a very special way to celebrate a very important date in each and every one of our lives.  A gift is a great way for those with materialistic views on life to commemorate any special occasion, or just a way to make a greedy kid shut up.  I would like to take this blog to reminisce about some of the most iconic presents in Allen family history.  One of my fondest memories of birthday celebrations is when my brother (Mike Allen) got his first knife.  Let me take a moment to corral the many outcomes that you have come up with due to the brilliance of the sentence that you have just read (I hope that you will not be disappointed).  First off, if you ever observe anything (no matter what sensory source it has come from) that involves Mike Allen and a knife, I recommend that you start running very fast and very far.  Let me give a bit of background of this scenario.  It was early May, 2010, and my brother had just turned 10.  He was an aspiring boy scout who had as many merit badges as anyone in his troop, he had proven his skill with various weapons, including but not limited to, bow and arrow, tomahawks, and the quite unique office chair (which was especially dangerous).  He had worked with many knives and could easily boast a mastery of any blade from kukris to kitchen knives (though he’d be lying).  Although he may not have been able to work his head around a katana, one could rightly assume that he had enough experience to figure out a basic 1.5-inch Swiss Army pocket knife.  Never were less true words uttered from human lips. 

It was Mike’s tenth birthday, and my parents had the bright idea of presenting him with his first pocket knife.  To a 10 year old, a pocket knife was not only a killing machine formidable enough to scare your brother when you chased him with it (those were dark times), but it also represented that your parents were investing trust in you and allowing you to grow your responsibility.  My parents were very cautious with giving their 10 year old son such a dangerous weapon, so they sat him down before he used it and gave him a long talk about when, where, and how he should use it (only with parental supervision, don’t cut towards yourself, etc.).  My brother happened to miss the former instruction and not 30 seconds after my parents had turned their back, a single word could be heard uttered from the other room, just a simple oops.  It was not said loudly or with inherent pain in the voice.  Nor was it sorrowful, the same as someone who left the keys in the ignition of their car, or upset, as the joyrider would say after they ran said car off of a bridge.  It was just oops, as simple as any word in a conversation.  As matter of fact as, “Please turn your textbooks to page oops,” or, “No, I did not read oops, but it sounds interesting.”  

Such a monotonous word sent the entire family rushing to my brother’s aid, or in my case, to find something to laugh at.  I arrived to find my brother staring at his thumb curiously, as if he had just realized that it was there.  He did not even seem to notice the blood gushing out of his opposable digit, and seemed to be in deep contemplation of the meaning of life.  Naturally, the thumb was bandaged and the blade confiscated until such a date that my parents felt that it could be re-bestowed upon its rightful owner.  This event occurred some three months later after I had gone to bed.  I lay awake listening to my brother’s excitement blossom as he regained control of his Excalibur.  I remained awake pondering what my brother would do with his blade this time.  My question was answered about 3 minutes later when I heard a faint oops from my brother’s room across the hall.

Epilogue:  The second oops was not just a part to make my story more humorous, my brother actually did cut himself a second time on that night.  Thanks for reading!!

Swiss Army Knife