Shout out to Sparta from Lisa McMann on Facebook:

Lisa McMann Okay people. Back to work. Chop chop. (Or tick tock, as my new Sparta friends would say.)


What an impact we had!!!

New Idea for Mornings

As the end of November approaches (all too quickly) so does our run of writing poems in the morning and we go back to good ol' Garrison. I personally enjoyed writing in the morning, I'm not sure how the rest of you felt about it. I was thinking of doing something different instead of listening to Garrison everyday. Maybe we could split the week up so we could listen to Garrison and then on other days do a quick writing prompt (that are fun). Either WK and Mcclain could come up with some interesting things to write about or we could all write in suggestions of what we would like to do. For example a friend of mine does this in the morning and one of their prompts was: "Someone sits next to you on a bench and begins telling you what the 'Truth' is, explain what they say to you" or something simple like explain how a (insert inanimate object here) sees things. Just something interesting and fun or thought provoking. I think it would be cool to do something that gets me thinking in the morning or challenges me a little. But again, I don't know how the rest of you feel.

So let me know what you think =]

Hopefully I explained that pretty well...

Kill: Lies and Illusions

I just watched the worst movie ever (okay, I really watched it on Tuesday). A three year old could have written, directed, and starred in a movie and I would have liked it better. The storyline was beyond dumb and met with rediculously bad actors whose dialogue was cheesy with a hint of idiotic. My dad and I are pretty sure that the main character (who should have been killed a good 40.9 times and should never have been given a gun) was aware of how bad the movie was and just messing around with some over-dramatic acting to pass the time.
Example of movies horribleness: Main guy gets shot in the arm in the middle of the street. While laying there cover and uncovering his wound like a moron he starts saying stuff like "ah it stings" like he got a paper cut. Or "I can see my blood" and "I'm blacking out now." Really? Really? REALLY??? How lame could you get??? Do NOT watch this movie.

my new moon review

i know i'm posting this a little late, but i was at drama practice, then wanted to watch the vampire diaries, so here it is now!

here's my review of new moon that i wrote in a rush last night while i was basically falling asleep, but still pumped from the movie. it was a very weird feeling.

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/twilight_saga_new_moon_review_1.html

and you can go here to see me and nicole on the video review thing. they cut it down a bit, it was originally longer. i talk funny. just a general observation of myself.

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/new_moon_reviews_recap_blogger.html

yeah, so that's my early new moon experience. i wish i could go to the midnight premiere tonight. that would be so awesome. but i'm falling asleep right now, so i probably would've fallen asleep in the theater. but then taylor would say something and i'd jump awake. yep. maybe i'll talk my dad into paying for another showing, like tomorrow night. anybody wanna come? :P everyone who's going tonight have fun!! you'll love it, i'm sure!!

Leaving. :)

I'm going to Kansas City! :D. (Which is actually in Missouri, seriously...) Just had to brag about it to the world cause its leave time in about twenty minutes and my friend Paige is coming to. :D. Sorry, I'm really really excited. Get to get out of here (and get out of school. all in all not a bad deal at all.) Yay. Ok, I'm done. :)

New Moon

Is it to late to sneak into the movie with Tracy and Nicole?? Ratsnest!

Can't wait for your review Tracy!

Eli's Hit and Kill list

It has recently come to my attention that most people seem to be swallowed up by mainstream movies; often forgetting classics or neglecting to see good movies because there are just so many more. I have told my friends for years that they should see this movie or that movie but I get the feeling that they forget. So I have decided to make a list (before I forget too) of some of my favorite movies (Hits) and some of the worst I’ve ever seen (Kills).
Please look up the descriptions and ratings of these movies before you watch them. This list is, after all, a matter of opinion. So here are five for each (not top five, just the five that popped into my head).

Hits:
Title – genre
My Cousin Vinny – Comedy
Bourne series – Action and drama. Mostly action.
Scent of a Woman – Coming of Age
Matrix – Action and sci-fi. (Very thought provoking)
The Shawshank Redemption – Drama.

Kills:
Title - Why it was bad
The New World – It was basically the story of Pocahontas turned romance movie. But it had all of four lines total (embellishment but you get the point) in the three hour movie (that’s just an estimate).
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – Totally unbelievable first of all. I couldn’t follow half of the storyline. We actually turned it off.
Australia – Way too long with way too many different story lines. Every time you think it’s going to end, it starts with something else.
The Day the Earth Stood Still – A bad script plus bad acting. I can’t put up with either, so how could I put up with both?
Knowing – Albino, emo angels and kids that hear voices and constantly scribble down numbers. Creepy.

Field Trip to see Lisa McMann

Group shot of the Fan Group and Lisa McMann

This is not the best picture, but I thought I would share some of the pictures from the field trip to see Lisa McMann. The trip ended up being really awesome, both authors were funny and gave good information. It was totally worth going to. (We should find more authors to go and listen to)




<-- Fan Shirt Making





<--Lisa McMann signing shirts & books

more info about twilight contest...

grand rapids press reporter john serba posted the official announcement of my winning!! and something i didn't know before i showed up at the press office yesterday: there was actually 2 winners. but i'm cool with it cuz then not all the blogging stuff has to be done by me. i have school to worry about, and she doesn't work, so she's got all the time in the world to blog! takes a load off of my mind. anyway, here's a link to the winners announcement and our question responses. (mine are substantially longer!)

http://blog.mlive.com/projectmayhem/2009/11/here_are_the_winners_of_our_tw.html

and here is a link to my fellow winner's first blog post:

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/new_moon_fans_what_introduced.html

My Favorite Veterans

My Grandpa Jones served in WWII from 1942-1946.  He flew a P-51 Mustang over France and Germany.  I took this picture during the Memorial Day Parade in 2007. Doesn't he look so sweet?!

This is my dad.  I don't know who took it or when exactly, but he was in Vietnam in 1968.  I guess its taken in the barracks.  He sent this home to my mom in a letter.

And this is my big brother CPT. Zac! He just returned home from Iraq in the beginning of October and I am so proud of him! Now that he's home, this will be the first time in three years my brothers, parents, and I will celebrate the holidays with the whole family home.  I am super excited:) 

I am so proud of these veterans, and so thankful I still know each of them today.  My heart breaks for the families of those lost at Ft. Hood...I can't even imagine...

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you guys know that new moon contest that ana mentioned last week?? the one where you could win two passes to see new moon early and write about it in the grand rapids press and blog at mlive??? well...

I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOHN SERBA LITERALLY JUST CALLED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can you tell i'm excited??

Have a good vacation, Garrison!

We will be writing poems at the beginning of class for the next couple of weeks. Garrison Keillor will take a break and we will run with "Robert Lee Brewer" instead. Check him out:
http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/
He has a 30 day challenge in November to write a poem a day. We're a bit behind, but we're still jumping in!

Poem

If I could have just one wish,

I would wish to wake up everyday

to the sound of your breath on my neck,

the warmth of your lips on my cheek,

the touch of your fingers on my skin,

and the feel of your heart beating with mine...

Knowing that I could never find that feeling

with anyone other than you.

- Courtney Kuchta -

New Essay Contest Option

Check this out! "Teachers Against Prejudice" is holding a contest that you can enter!

http://www.teachersagainstprejudice.org/files/2009_2010_Essay_Contest_Letter.pdf

This contest can be entered instead of or in addition to the others!

Hockey

It was a concussion filled weekend. I had a mild concussion friday night and couldnt play most of saturdays game. Then one of my teammates got an even worse concussin. He's not able to play right now and might even play the game of hockey ever again. So please keep him in your prayers. We lost the 1st game 4 to1 and lost the 2nd game 3 to 2.

Mr. Mystery Man is hanging out on the blog now so you can check him out whenever you are working on your project!

Sad Face

Black Rose Writing turned me down. It's not like I was expecting the first place I tried to say 'yes' but it would have been really cool if they had. I have to find another place now (because that was so much fun the first time).

Boo!

The kids enjoyed Halloween! Hope you all did!